Studlagil Canyon Tours

An hour inland from the cruise port at Seyðisfjörður, a glacial river slides between walls of basalt columns so regular they look cut by hand. Stuðlagil (Studlagil without the Icelandic letter) stayed under deep, muddy water until a dam upstream lowered the river, and now it is one of the most photographed places in East Iceland. From every tour that reaches it on GetYourGuide and Viator we handpicked six: the classic coach excursion, two small-group hikes down to the river, one with the Vök Baths afterwards, a waterfall day, a reindeer day and a private car. What each one costs, how long you really get at the canyon, and what the listings leave in the small print.

  • Best water: June and JulyThe river usually runs blue-green before the reservoir upstream spills over in late summer
  • Book with your ship's dateThe small-group hikes take fifteen people at most, so reserve as soon as you know your day in port

In a hurry? Our top pick for a first visit is BusTravel Iceland's canyon excursion: ~$224, Stuðlagil and Gufufoss in five hours from the ship, rated 4.5 by 385+ travelers on GetYourGuide. Book it here.

Book on GetYourGuide Book on Viator Compare all 6

Stuðlagil tours at a glance

  • 5 to 7 hours from the shipAbout three of them on the road. At the canyon you get one hour on the coach tours, more on the hikes and the private car
  • Two banks, two canyonsThe west bank has stairs and viewing platforms above the water. The east bank means a walk of about 3 miles (5 km) there and back, down to the river
  • From Seyðisfjörður or EgilsstaðirEvery tour here collects at the cruise port. The two Tanni hikes also pick up in Egilsstaðir, the main town of the east
  • Turquoise most days, never promisedGlacial silt turns the river gray when the reservoir upstream overflows, usually from about August

The canyon and the road there, photographed

Evening light on the columns
Looking down from the rim
Midsummer on the east bank
Spring snow along the gravel road
A rainy day at river level
Walkers on the rim path
A waterfall on the highland plateau
Seyðisfjörður, where the ships dock
The canyon wall in the rain

If you only have a minute

Which Studlagil Canyon tour should you book?

If a friend stepped off a ship in Seyðisfjörður and asked us what to book, this is what we would tell them over a coffee by the harbor.

For most first-time visitors on a ship day, the best Studlagil Canyon tour is BusTravel Iceland's canyon excursion, from ~$224. The coach meets you at the terminal, crosses the mountains to the canyon, gives you about an hour at the columns and stops at Gufufoss on the way back, all inside five hours. More travelers have reviewed it than any other Stuðlagil tour, with 4.5 from 385+ on GetYourGuide and 4.6 from 178+ on Viator, and it is one of the cheapest seats on any of the routes.

Want to stand at the bottom of the canyon by the water? Only a walk on the east bank gets you there, and Tanni Travel's small-group hike does it from ~$328 with fifteen people at most. Add the hot pools afterwards with Tanni's hike and Vök Baths day from ~$407. Saga Travel gives you more time on the west-side platforms and two waterfalls, Magic Iceland adds a reindeer park and is the cheapest at ~$212, and a party of four or more can share a private car.

None of them can promise a turquoise river, and none leaves much time to spare before all-aboard. Check what a Studlagil Canyon tour really costs and which bank of the canyon suits you, see how long each tour gives you at the canyon, then read what the listings play down before you pay.

Our pick

The Stuðlagil tour we would book: BusTravel's classic

Not the longest stop at the canyon and not the smallest group. It is the simplest, most proven way to see Stuðlagil and be back on board with time to spare, at a price well under the hiking days.

A long wall of upright basalt columns rising straight out of the turquoise river at Stuðlagil Our pick

Studlagil Canyon Shore Excursion from Seyðisfjörður, BusTravel Iceland

4.5 / 5 from 385+ reviews on GetYourGuide · 4.6 / 5 from 178+ on Viator

The coach waits at the cruise terminal with the tour's name in the window, and the day is built around your ship's time in port. From the fjord the road climbs over a high mountain pass, sometimes with snow beside it into June, drops to Egilsstaðir and follows the ring road west into the long, empty Jökuldalur valley. The guide fills the drive with the story of the place, including the dam upstream that lowered the river and uncovered the canyon only a few years before it became famous.

At Stuðlagil you get about an hour among the columns, which stand up to about 100 feet (30 m) tall above water that runs blue-green on a good day. On the way back the coach stops at Gufufoss, a broad waterfall just above Seyðisfjörður, and if the clock allows you are dropped near the town's painted Rainbow Road before you board. The coach carries up to 59 people and has Wi-Fi; reviewers mention a toilet on board, which matters on a five-hour round trip.

Price
from ~$224 per person on GetYourGuide, about $231 on Viator
Duration
About 5 hours, about 3 of them driving
At the canyon
About 1 hour
Rating
4.5 / 5 (GetYourGuide) · 4.6 / 5 (Viator)
Pickup
The cruise terminal in Seyðisfjörður, timed to your ship
Group
A coach of up to 59
Ages
2 and up
Cancellation
Free up to 24 hours, pay later on both sites
GetYourGuide Viator

Live availability and prices on GetYourGuide

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How the day runs, step by step

Start times follow the ship's schedule. The order below follows the listings and what recent guests describe:

From the ship

  • Meet the coach at the cruise terminal, signs show the tour name
  • Over the mountain pass to Egilsstaðir, then west along the ring road

In Jökuldalur

  • The last stretch on road 923 up the valley
  • About an hour at Stuðlagil among the basalt columns
  • Back east toward the fjord
  • A photo stop at Gufufoss above Seyðisfjörður
  • Drop-off at the ship, or near the Rainbow Road if time allows

What the price covers

The ticket buys the transport, the guide and the timing around your ship. Food and drinks are on you, so bring something from breakfast.

Included
  • Pickup and drop-off at the cruise terminal
  • A guide on the coach
  • Wi-Fi on board
  • Stops at Stuðlagil and Gufufoss
Not included
  • Food and drinks
  • The walk down to the river on the east bank
  • A small group
  • Children under 2

Between us, before you go

A word from one canyon lover to another. The hour at Stuðlagil goes fast. One guest found that by the time they had walked down and taken their photos, it was time to climb back to the coach, and would have swapped a waterfall stop for more canyon. A few German-speaking reviewers felt the price was high for what is mostly a bus ride, and with up to 59 people you are part of a crowd at every stop. The guides are why the scores stay high: several are praised by name for their stories and their calm.

Wear shoes with grip for the steps, and pack a rain layer even on a bright morning, because the valley makes its own weather. Our packing guide for the canyon covers the rest.

Why it beats doing it on your own

Without a car, Stuðlagil is out of reach from the port in a day. This coach is timed to your ship, which removes the one worry that ruins shore days, and the guide turns three hours of driving into the story of the valley. If you do have a car, driving to Studlagil on your own explains the roads and the two car parks.

Who we would not send on it

Hikers who want to stand by the water, who should take Tanni's small-group hike down the east bank. Travelers who hate crowds, who will be happier in a private car split with friends. And anyone who wants a soak after the walk, who should look at the hike with the Vök Baths.

Book it if

You have one day in port and want to see the canyon without any planning. The coach is at the terminal, the timing is built around your ship, a guide explains the valley on the way, and Gufufoss comes as a bonus. All you bring is a rain layer, a snack and shoes with grip.

Skip it if

Ready for the columns?

Both sites let you cancel for free up to 24 hours before and reserve now, pay later. GetYourGuide is a few dollars cheaper and has twice as many reviews; pick whichever account you already have.

GetYourGuide Viator

The day itself

How a Studlagil Canyon tour works

Every listing on this page comes down to two questions. Will you look down on the canyon from the platforms or walk to the river on the far bank? And which month, with the water anywhere from turquoise in early summer to silty gray after the reservoir spills?

Coach tours · the viewpoints

Stairs and platforms

BusTravel, Saga Travel, Magic Iceland

1 hat the canyon, a short walk and many steps

The coach tours keep to short stops at the viewpoints; Saga names the west bank, where a staircase leads to platforms that look along the canyon from above. Quick and dramatic, with nothing harder than steps, though you never stand beside the river.

East bank · the walk down

Down to the river

Tanni with Vök Baths, Tanni small group

5 kmthere and back on a gravel track, two gentle climbs

A walk of about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) each way past a small waterfall framed by columns, then down to the canyon floor. The best view of the place, for anyone who can manage the distance.

East Iceland weather and crowds, month by month

  • How busy the canyon gets
  1. Jan32°F high0 °C

    Snow and ice, few visitors, no port tours

  2. Feb32°F high0 °C

    Icy paths, short days

  3. Mar34°F high1 °C

    Still winter in the valley

  4. Apr39°F high4 °C

    Thaw begins, gravel roads soft

  5. May46°F high8 °C

    First ships, snow on the pass

  6. Jun55°F high13 °C

    Light all night, the river usually blue

  7. Jul59°F high15 °C

    Warmest and busiest, turquoise most days

  8. Aug57°F high14 °C

    Reservoir often spills, water turns gray

  9. Sep50°F high10 °C

    Last ships, autumn colors, often gray water

  10. Oct41°F high5 °C

    First snow, quiet roads

  11. Nov36°F high2 °C

    Dark afternoons, icy steps

  12. Dec32°F high0 °C

    Midwinter, few hours of daylight

Temperatures are rough daytime highs around Egilsstaðir; at the canyon the wind can make a summer noon feel like spring. The bars show roughly how busy Stuðlagil gets. Highlighted months are the ones we would pick for blue water, long days and running tours. The year in detail.

How long you get at the canyon

  • From the itinerary
  • Walk to the river
  • Our estimate

Magic Iceland's and the private tour's times come from their itineraries, and BusTravel's from guests. Tanni and Saga give no figure, so their bars, and the dashed ends, are our estimate from the length of the walk and from reviews. Every tour adds about three hours of driving between the port and the canyon.

  1. Check the ship's hours firstFive hours is the shortest day here and seven the longest. Leave a cushion before all-aboard. Shore days from Seyðisfjörður.
  2. Pick your bank of the riverPlatforms and stairs on the west, a walk to the water on the east. Tanni's hikes are the ones that schedule the walk.
  3. Mind the monthFrom about August the river can turn gray for weeks. June and July are the safer bet for turquoise.
  4. Dress for wind and rainA waterproof jacket, shoes with grip and a warm layer, even in July. What to bring.

When the river runs turquoise explains the reservoir upstream, the light in June and the weeks when the canyon turns gray.

How to choose

How to pick the right Stuðlagil tour

The photos in every listing look alike. What differs is which bank you stand on, how many people share your bus and what else is packed into the day.

Platform or riverbank

The coach tours stop at the viewpoints for about an hour. Tanni's hikes walk you down the east bank to the water. East side or west side?

Group size

Tanni takes fifteen at most, the private car only your party. BusTravel, Saga and Magic run coaches of 50 or more. Shore days from the port.

What else is in the day

Gufufoss and Rjúkandi on most tours, a reindeer park with Magic Iceland, hot pools with Tanni. The waterfalls on the way.

Who is coming

Coaches suit families and slower walkers; the east-bank walk is about 3 miles (5 km) and not for back or mobility problems. What to wear and bring.

The month

June and July give the bluest water and the longest light. Late summer brings gray glacial water some weeks. When to go.

Price

From ~$212 with Magic Iceland to ~$407 for Tanni's hike with the baths, per person, and ~$1,176 for a private car. Every price in one table.

Everything else to do around Seyðisfjörður

The 6 tours

Six Studlagil Canyon tours, side by side

We read every Stuðlagil listing on both booking sites and kept the six we would book ourselves. Price, rating, operator and the catch for each, with a button for each site that sells it.

The canyon seen from above, its column walls dropping to a blue river with patches of snow on the rim Our pick

Studlagil Canyon Shore Excursion from Seyðisfjörður, BusTravel Iceland

The one we would hand to a friend with a single day in port.

A coach from the cruise terminal over the mountains to Stuðlagil, about an hour at the canyon, then Gufufoss on the way back. Timed to your ship, with Wi-Fi on board and a guide who tells the valley's story on the drive.

  • DurationAbout 5 hours, about 1 hour at the canyon
  • OperatorBusTravel Iceland
  • RatingGetYourGuide 4.5 (385+) · Viator 4.6 (178+)
  • PickupThe cruise terminal, Seyðisfjörður
  • StrengthsThe most reviewed, timed to the ship, a low price
  • Ideal forFirst visits on a cruise day

Good to know: A coach of up to 59, and the hour at the canyon feels short to some. Food is not included, and a few reviewers found it pricey for the time on site. About $231 on Viator. Shore days from the port.

~$224per person
GetYourGuide Viator
Two bathers raising glasses in a hot pool at the Vök Baths with the lake behind them Highest rated

Stuðlagil Canyon Hike and Vök Baths, Tanni Travel

For walkers who want the river at their feet and a hot pool after.

A minibus of fifteen at most, a stop at Rjúkandi waterfall, then the walk down the east bank to the canyon floor, about 3 miles (5 km) there and back. The day ends in the geothermal pools of the Vök Baths near Egilsstaðir, entry included.

  • DurationAbout 7 hours
  • OperatorTanni Travel
  • RatingGetYourGuide 5.0 (22+) · Viator 4.8 (32+)
  • PickupSeyðisfjörður port, Egilsstaðir, the Vök Baths
  • StrengthsThe walk to the water, a small group, the baths in one day
  • Ideal forFit walkers with a full day in port

Good to know: The priciest per person here. Bring your own swimsuit and towel, and food. Not for non-swimmers or anyone with limited mobility. About $409 on Viator. The canyon and the baths.

~$407per person
GetYourGuide Viator
The narrow canyon floor with turquoise water running between two dark walls of basalt columns Small group

Small Group Stuðlagil Canyon Hike, Tanni Travel

The canyon at water level, without paying for a pool you may not use.

The same east-bank walk as Tanni's baths day, about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) each way on a mostly flat gravel track, with time on the canyon floor and a stop at Rjúkandi. Fifteen people at most, collected at the port or in Egilsstaðir.

  • DurationAbout 7 hours
  • OperatorTanni Travel
  • RatingGetYourGuide 4.9 (9+) · Viator 5.0 (4+)
  • PickupSeyðisfjörður port or Egilsstaðir
  • StrengthsTime beside the river, guides praised by name
  • Ideal forHikers and photographers

Good to know: Only a handful of reviews so far, and one guest found it expensive. Meals are not included, and it is not for back or mobility problems. About $349 on Viator. East bank or west bank.

~$328per person
GetYourGuide Viator
A visitor in a red jacket standing on the rocks below a powerful waterfall Two waterfalls

Stuðlagil Canyon and Waterfalls Tour from the Port, Saga Travel

Our favorite for travelers who like a good storyteller at the front of the bus.

Rjúkandi waterfall, then the west side of Stuðlagil with unhurried time on the viewing platforms, and Gufufoss on the way back. Local guides in English and German talk about life in this remote corner of Iceland the whole way.

  • DurationAbout 5–6 hours, starts about 9 am
  • OperatorSaga Travel
  • RatingGetYourGuide 4.7 (35+) · Viator 5.0 (5+)
  • PickupSeyðisfjörður port, guides in red jackets
  • StrengthsThree sights, time on the platforms, bilingual guides
  • Ideal forCruise guests who want waterfalls and the canyon

Good to know: Lots of bus time and no lunch stop. On a tender day two guests struggled to find the meeting point. Not for children under 3. About $247 on GetYourGuide. The waterfalls on the way.

~$231per person
GetYourGuide Viator
A woman crouching on the grass to stroke a reindeer with tall antlers Lowest price

Hidden Stuðlagil Canyon and Reindeer Tour, Magic Iceland Travel

The day the kids will still be talking about on the flight home.

About an hour at Stuðlagil, then some forty minutes at a family reindeer park where guests feed and pet the animals, with short stops at Rjúkandi and Gufufoss. Reindeer park entry is included, and so is a small local surprise along the way.

  • DurationAbout 6 hours, about 1 hour at the canyon
  • OperatorMagic Iceland Travel
  • RatingGetYourGuide 4.8 (21+) · Viator 4.9 (9+)
  • PickupSeyðisfjörður cruise port
  • StrengthsThe cheapest seat, reindeer, two waterfalls
  • Ideal forFamilies and anyone curious about Iceland's reindeer

Good to know: A coach of up to 57 and a short stop at the canyon. Not for back or heart problems. One guest was not met where the listing said on a tender day. About $247 on GetYourGuide. Reindeer and puffins.

~$212per person
GetYourGuide Viator
Still green water at river level between two tall walls of basalt columns under a pale sky Private

Private Studlagil Canyon Tour from the Port, Marina Travel

For a family or a few friends who would rather set their own pace.

Only your party in an air-conditioned car with a local driver-guide, collected inside the terminal. About two hours at Stuðlagil on its marked paths and viewpoints, with Rjúkandi if time allows. One guest hiked into the canyon and stopped at Gufufoss too.

  • DurationAbout 5 hours, about 2 hours at the canyon
  • OperatorMarina Travel
  • RatingViator 5.0 (6+)
  • PickupInside the cruise terminal, about 8:30 am
  • StrengthsYour own car, twice the time at the canyon, a flexible plan
  • Ideal forGroups of four or more, special occasions

Good to know: The price is for the whole car and varies with group size, so it is steep for a couple. Viator only, few reviews, and booked weeks ahead on average. Ask about the walk to the river. What it all costs.

~$1,176per group
Viator

A small heads-up. These are GetYourGuide and Viator affiliate links, so when you book through one we earn a little commission and you pay exactly the same. It keeps this guide going and never touches our ranking or the catches we point out.

Before you go

Eight things about Stuðlagil tours that no listing puts in big letters

None of these sits at the top of a booking page, and each one decides whether you come back to the ship thrilled or wondering why the river looked like milky tea.

What you should know

  1. The turquoise water is not guaranteed. A reservoir upstream fills through the summer and usually overflows from about August, sending gray glacial silt down the canyon. When the river runs blue.
  2. An hour at the canyon rarely reaches the river. Standing at the water means the east-bank walk, and Tanni's two hikes are the tours that schedule it. Ask the private driver if you want it. The two banks compared.
  3. Half the day is driving. BusTravel counts about three hours of road in a five-hour tour. The canyon sits deep in a valley well beyond Egilsstaðir.
  4. "A day at the canyon" can mean one hour. Magic Iceland's itinerary gives Stuðlagil about an hour, and BusTravel's guests say the same. The private car allows two.
  5. Tender days cause the most trouble. When ships anchor and send guests ashore by boat, two reviewers could not find their meeting point at first. Ask where the guide will stand.
  6. No tour includes lunch. Bring a sandwich and water from the ship, especially on Saga's day, which has no planned meal stop.
  7. The steps and the gravel are wet more often than dry. Shoes with grip and a rain jacket matter more than the forecast. What to wear.
  8. Swimming is not part of the canyon. The river is glacial, fast and very cold. The warm water comes later, at the Vök Baths. The baths after the hike.

Everything in one table

Six canyon tours, catch included

The six tours side by side, with the strength and the catch of each one in the same row.

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →

Tour Ideal for Price At the canyon Pickup Operator and rating Strength and catch Book
BusTravel classic (our pick) A first visit from the ship ~$224 About 1 h, 5 h in all Cruise terminal BusTravel Iceland
GetYourGuide 4.5 (385+)
Viator 4.6 (178+)		 Most reviewed, timed to the ship. Coach of up to 59, short stop.
GetYourGuideViator
Tanni hike and Vök Baths Walkers who want a soak ~$407 East-bank walk, 7 h in all Port, Egilsstaðir, Vök Tanni Travel
GetYourGuide 5.0 (22+)
Viator 4.8 (32+)		 River level, baths included. Priciest, bring a towel.
GetYourGuideViator
Tanni small-group hike Hikers and photographers ~$328 East-bank walk, 7 h in all Port or Egilsstaðir Tanni Travel
GetYourGuide 4.9 (9+)
Viator 5.0 (4+)		 Fifteen people, the canyon floor. Few reviews yet.
GetYourGuideViator
Saga Travel waterfalls Canyon plus waterfalls ~$231 West-bank platforms, 5–6 h in all Cruise port Saga Travel
GetYourGuide 4.7 (35+)
Viator 5.0 (5+)		 Storytelling guides, three sights. No lunch stop.
GetYourGuideViator
Magic Iceland reindeer Families on a budget ~$212 About 1 h, 6 h in all Cruise port Magic Iceland Travel
GetYourGuide 4.8 (21+)
Viator 4.9 (9+)		 Cheapest, reindeer park included. Big coach.
GetYourGuideViator
Marina Travel private car Groups, special days ~$1,176 per group About 2 h, 5 h in all Inside the terminal Marina Travel
Viator 5.0 (6+)		 Your own pace and guide. Costly for two.
Viator

About the numbers. Prices are "from" rates in US dollars per person (per group for the private car), the lower one when a tour is on both sites, and ratings are what each site showed when we compared. Dates, group size and offers move them a little, so peek at both. The booking page has the final word.

Who went

Reviews from travelers who stood among the columns

Eighteen travelers, some who found the river at its bluest and some who got gray glacial water, on what won them over and what they would do differently.

★★★★★Canyon + Gufufoss classic

We were off the ship by half past eight and the coach was right at the terminal with the tour name in the window. The drive over the pass had snow lying beside the road in June, and the guide used the time to explain the dam upstream and why the river only turned blue a few years ago. An hour at the canyon sounds short, and it is, but it was enough for the platforms and a lot of photos. Gufufoss on the way back, then a stroll down the Rainbow Road before boarding.

MHMargaret H. · Southampton, EnglandTurquoise river
★★★★☆Canyon + Gufufoss classic

Big coach, good guide, gray water on our late August day. Still glad we saw those columns with our own eyes.

PKPiet K. · Utrecht, NetherlandsGray glacial water
★★★★★Canyon + Gufufoss classic

The cheapest way we found to see the canyon from the port, and it ran like a clock. Plenty of driving through empty green valleys, a comfortable bus with Wi-Fi and a guide who kept us laughing. Wear shoes with grip for the steps.

LSLucía S. · Valencia, SpainTurquoise river
★★★★★Canyon hike + Vök Baths

Five kilometres of gravel track that I barely noticed, because every bend opened another stretch of columns. We passed a little waterfall framed in basalt, then went down to the water and I put my hand in the river, which was so cold it ached. After that the warm pools at Vök felt earned. Our guide set off at the pace of the slowest walker and never once rushed anyone. Pack your own towel and swimsuit, they are not included, and leave room in your bag for a dry layer.

ATAndrew T. · Christchurch, New ZealandTurquoise river
★★★★★Canyon hike + Vök Baths

Rain on the walk, sun in the hot pool. Our guide set a pace my father could keep.

RBRenate B. · Graz, AustriaGray glacial water
★★★★☆Canyon hike + Vök Baths

Expensive for a shore day, no getting around that. But fifteen people on a minibus beats sixty on a coach, and being at river level is a different canyon from the one you see on the platforms. We forgot towels, so pack yours.

JWJason W. · Portland, OregonTurquoise river
★★★★★Small-group canyon hike

Small group, a guide who grew up nearby and enough time at the bottom of the canyon to just sit on a rock and look up. The walk is long but easy, and the last steep bit down to the water is optional.

SNSofia N. · Gothenburg, SwedenTurquoise river
★★★★☆Small-group canyon hike

We came in the last days of August and the river had gone a milky gray. Our guide had warned us in an email two days before, which I appreciated, and she explained that the reservoir upstream spills over at the end of summer. Standing on the canyon floor the columns are enormous whatever colour the water is, and the walk in along the gravel track is gentle. One star off only because the day costs a lot for what is mostly a walk, and I wish we had come in July.

DODavid O. · Cork, IrelandGray glacial water
★★★★★Small-group canyon hike

Quiet path, tall columns, cold clear river. Exactly the day I hoped for.

YMYuki M. · Sapporo, JapanTurquoise river
★★★★☆Canyon + two waterfalls

Our ship anchored and tendered us in, and for twenty minutes nobody could find the red jackets, which was stressful with a fixed all-aboard time. Once we were on the bus it was a lovely day. The guide told stories about winters in the valley all the way to Rjúkandi, where the spray soaked my glasses, and then we had a good stretch of time on the west side platforms looking down into the canyon. There is no lunch stop, so bring snacks from the ship. Gufufoss at the end was a nice close.

CFClaire F. · Montreal, CanadaTurquoise river
★★★★★Canyon + two waterfalls

Guide in German and English, told it twice and never repeated a joke. Best commentary of the whole cruise.

HLHenrik L. · Hamburg, GermanyTurquoise river
★★★★★Canyon + two waterfalls

The river was more gray than blue when we went, and still the platforms gave us the whole length of the canyon below. Three waterfalls in one morning, and the driver stopped wherever we asked for photos.

MGMaria G. · São Paulo, BrazilGray glacial water
★★★★★Canyon + reindeer park

My two boys fed a reindeer calf from their hands and now want one at home. The canyon hour went fast, so head straight for the viewpoints and take your photos first, then look around. A good mix for a family that cannot do a long hike.

ECEmily C. · Brisbane, AustraliaTurquoise river
★★★★★Canyon + reindeer park

Petting reindeer at eleven, staring up at basalt columns by noon. A good day off the ship.

GPGiorgio P. · Turin, ItalyTurquoise river
★★★★★Canyon + reindeer park

I booked this one for the reindeer and came home talking about the canyon. The coach was full, so we were a big group at each stop, but our guide split the time well: about an hour at Stuðlagil, which was enough to walk between the viewpoints, then the reindeer park, where the owners told us how the herds arrived from Norway centuries ago. The water was gray on our September day and I did not mind. Two waterfalls on the way home and back at the port with an hour to spare.

NANadia A. · Toronto, CanadaGray glacial water
★★★★★Private car from the port

Six of us split the private car, which made it cheaper per head than we expected. The driver had us at the canyon before the big coaches arrived and gave us two full hours there. Worth asking about the walk down to the river when you book.

TRTom R. · Denver, ColoradoTurquoise river
★★★★★Private car from the port

Our own guide, our own pace, and a quiet moment at the canyon that I will not forget.

IBIsabelle B. · Lyon, FranceGray glacial water
★★★★★Private car from the port

I planned this as the backdrop for a proposal, which is a strange thing to explain to a tour company by email, and they handled it perfectly. Our driver-guide picked us up inside the terminal, timed the drive so we reached the canyon before the coach groups, and then made himself scarce at exactly the right moment. She said yes beside a wall of columns with the river running blue below. On the way back we stopped at Rjúkandi and he told us about growing up on a farm in the next valley. Pricey for two people, and every krona well spent.

SKSanjay K. · London, EnglandTurquoise river

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Rain jacket on

Book BusTravel for your canyon day

If your ship gives you one day in Seyðisfjörður and you want to come back on board having seen the canyon everyone photographs, we would book BusTravel's classic excursion. A guide on the long drive, an hour among the basalt columns, a waterfall on the way home and nothing to plan.

More than five hundred travelers have rated it across the two sites, and both let you hold a place now, pay nearer the day and cancel until 24 hours before. Pack a rain layer and a snack.

~$224

per person · about 5 hours · from the cruise terminal

GetYourGuide Viator
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
  • ✓ Reserve now, pay later on both sites
  • ✓ Timed to your ship's hours in port
  • ✓ Gufufoss waterfall on the way back

Good to know

Why nobody saw Stuðlagil until recently, and what you are looking at

Five minutes of reading, and the columns, the color of the water and the farmers at the car park will make a lot more sense.

Picture the Jökuldalur valley twenty years ago. A big, brown glacial river roars through a gorge, so full and so muddy that nobody gives the walls a second look, and the farms on either side have seen it every day of their lives. Then a dam is built far upstream in the highlands, the river drops, the water clears, and walls of perfect hexagonal columns step out of it. That canyon is Stuðlagil.

01Lava that cracked into columns

The columns began as thick flows of lava that cooled very slowly. As the rock shrank it split into long prisms, mostly six-sided, the same process behind basalt columns around the world, called columnar jointing. Where the lava cooled from more than one side, the columns curve and fan out, which is why some walls at Stuðlagil look like organ pipes and others like a closed fan. How the canyon formed, and how it compares with Iceland's other column sites.

02The river that hid it

The Jökulsá á Dal, known locally as Jökla, flows from the great Vatnajökull ice cap, and was once among the most sediment-heavy rivers in Iceland. It used to carry about 120 tonnes of silt an hour out to sea, and at that level it filled the gorge with fast, opaque water.

03The dam upstream

The Kárahnjúkar hydropower plant, completed in 2009 and the largest power station in Iceland, holds the river back in the Hálslón reservoir and sends much of it through tunnels to another valley. The flow through the canyon fell from about 205 to about 95 cubic meters a second. In most late summers the reservoir fills and spills over, and the old gray water returns for a while. When to see it blue.

The moment most visitors remember is not the first photo. It is the quiet at the bottom, with columns on both sides and nothing but the sound of the river.

04A name from 2016

The columns were out of the water by about 2009, yet almost nobody knew. In 2016 an Icelandic photographer and travel writer walked in, photographed the walls, asked the landowners for permission and wrote the first article about the place, naming it Stuðlagil after stuðlar, the Icelandic word for basalt columns. An airline's in-flight magazine picked it up, and the visitors followed.

05Farms that became a sight

The land on both banks belongs to local farms, and the farmers now run the car parks, the paths and the platforms. That is why you pay for parking and why the rules are theirs. The east-bank walk starts near the farm at Klaustursel; the west-bank stairs start near the farm at Grund. Driving there yourself.

06Manners at the canyon

Stay on the marked paths, because the grass on the rim tears easily and the edges are undercut. Keep out of the river, which is glacial, fast and cold enough to numb your legs in seconds, and do not climb the columns for a photo. On the platforms, let the next group have the rail after your shots.

2009The Kárahnjúkar dam is completed

30 mTallest columns, about 100 feet

2016The canyon gets its name

5 kmThe east-bank walk there and back

Want to know which bank to stand on, the high platforms or the river's edge? Our guide The canyon hike: east side or west side? weighs them up.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions about Studlagil Canyon tours

Fourteen questions we hear again and again, with the full answer.

How much does a Studlagil Canyon tour cost?

The six tours on this page cost from ~$212 per person with Magic Iceland and ~$224 with BusTravel up to ~$407 for Tanni's hike with the Vök Baths. A private car from the port costs from ~$1,176 for the whole group. Food is never included. Every price and extra is in our cost guide.

Which Studlagil Canyon tour is the best?

For a first visit on a ship day, BusTravel Iceland's canyon excursion: five hours, timed to the ship, the canyon and Gufufoss, with the most reviews of any Stuðlagil tour. To walk down to the river, Tanni Travel's small-group hike, rated 4.9 on GetYourGuide and 5.0 on Viator.

Can you walk down to the river at Stuðlagil?

Yes, but only from the east bank. A walk of about 2.5 km each way on a gravel track, 5 km in all, leads past a small waterfall to the canyon floor. The west bank has stairs and platforms above the water instead. Tanni Travel's two hikes are the tours on this page that schedule the walk. East side or west side?

Is the water at Stuðlagil always turquoise?

No. The river runs blue-green for most of the summer, but the Hálslón reservoir upstream usually fills and overflows from about August, and then silty gray glacial water flows through the canyon, sometimes into autumn. June and July are the safest months for color. When the river runs turquoise.

How long does a Studlagil tour from Seyðisfjörður take?

Between five and seven hours. BusTravel and the private car take about five, Saga five to six, Magic Iceland six, and Tanni's two hikes about seven. Roughly three hours of each day are driving, over the mountain pass to Egilsstaðir and on into the Jökuldalur valley.

Will I be back at my cruise ship in time?

Every tour here is sold as a shore excursion timed to your ship's hours in port, and the operators plan the return around them. Book with your ship's exact date and times, choose a tour that fits with an hour to spare, and on tender days ask where the guide will meet you. Shore days from the port.

How hard is the Stuðlagil hike?

The east-bank walk is long rather than hard: about 5 km there and back on a mostly flat gravel track with two gentle climbs, then an optional steep last bit to the water. Anyone used to walking manages it; Tanni's listings rule it out for people with back or mobility problems.

Are Studlagil and Stuðlagil the same place?

Yes. Stuðlagil is the Icelandic spelling, with the letter ð (eth), which sounds like the th in "this". Without that letter it is written Studlagil, which is how most booking sites and maps in English list it. The name comes from stuðlar, the Icelandic word for basalt columns.

Can I visit Stuðlagil without a tour?

Yes, by car. The canyon is reached from the ring road by road 923, roughly an hour from Egilsstaðir, with a car park on each bank and a parking fee. From the cruise port without a car, a tour is the only practical way in a day. Driving to Studlagil on your own.

Are Studlagil tours good for children?

Yes, with limits. BusTravel takes children from 2 and Saga from 3, and Magic Iceland's reindeer park is a hit with kids. The east-bank hike is about 5 km, so it suits older children who like walking. Keep small children close on the platforms and away from the water.

What should I wear to Stuðlagil?

A waterproof jacket, warm layers and shoes with good grip, even in July, when highs are only around 59 °F (15 °C). Add water and a snack, since no tour includes food, and a swimsuit and towel for the Vök Baths day. What to wear and bring.

Can I combine Stuðlagil with the Vök Baths?

Yes. Tanni Travel's seven-hour day does the east-bank hike first and then the geothermal pools of the Vök Baths near Egilsstaðir, with entry included. Bring your own swimsuit and towel. The canyon and the baths in one day.

Can I cancel a Studlagil tour for free?

Yes, all six cancel for free up to 24 hours before the start, and both GetYourGuide and Viator let you reserve now and pay later. Late cancellations and no-shows are charged in full, so cancel early if your ship changes its schedule.

When is the best month to visit Stuðlagil?

June and July, for the bluest water, the longest days and tours running from the port. May and September work too, with cooler weather and fewer people, but September often brings gray water. In winter the roads and paths are icy and the port tours stop. Month by month.

Read before you travel

Guides to Stuðlagil and East Iceland

Eleven questions that keep coming up, each with the long answer instead of the short one.