This morning was bitterly cold as we set off towards Lake Mývatn. A highly active geo-thermal area around a spectacular lake. We travel through a mixed landscape of lava rock, expansive fields and dessert with geo-thermal springs filling the air with the wonderful smell of sulphur.

We stop at a lake in a crater near the Krafla power-plant. Construction work on the power plant started in 1974/5 with drilling and a contract for the two units was signed. Unfortunately volcanic activities started in the area at the same time giving a lot of difficulties in drillintg and harnessing the geothermal field. For a while it was uncertain whether Krafla would ever actually enter operation when, early on, large-scale volcanic eruptions occurred only two kilometers away from the plant, posing a serious threat to its existence. Work continued, however, and phase one of the power plant went on line early in 1977.

Viti (meaning 'Hell') in Krafla is an explosion crater. It is one of the two most famous Viti craters in Iceland, the other being Viti in Askja. This particular Viti was formed in 1734 by a massive eruption in the Krafla volcano, known as Myvatnseldar, that lasted for five years. The diameter of the crater is around 300 meters and it has a green lake inside it. It is quite surreal to see the lake with a border of deep snow while raging hot steam Is emitted from the ground above!

Everyone is amazed that Steve is strolling round in his t-shirt while the rest of us are bundled up in several layers. I inform them that they are lucky he has his trousers on!

Next stop is the bubbling mud pools at Námaskarð. Situated on the north side of Lake Myvatn, this geothermal wonder of hot sulphuric mud springs and steam springs (solfataras and fumaroles if you're a geology nerd) is otherworldly. Black rivers and bubbling pools of sulphuric mud cut through a landscape that's rich with colourful minerals and is continuously steaming. While picturesque, one of Námaskarð's most notable characteristics simply cannot be captured by photography -- the smell. The eggy stench from the sulphuric mud and steam is pungent and unrelenting. There's a reason why you won't find vegetation in Námaskarð. Take in one deep breath in the place and you'll know right away. Another characteristic is the noise, the sounds made by the pressure of water and steam escaping through the earth's crust is astounding.

We we are all looking forward to relaxing in the thermal pool at Myvatn Nature Baths, especially after the disappointment of Hveravellir.

Bjarnarflag is a thermal zone on the lower slopes of Dalfjall, a long, faulted ridge pushed up by subterranean pressures that runs northeast to Krafla itself. Bjarnarflag has a small geothermal power station (Iceland’s first, built in 1969), whose outflow has been harnessed to create the Jarðböðin Nature Baths, the local version of Reykjavík’s Blue Lagoon.

It’s an exceptional setting – fractured orange hills rise behind and the poolside overlooks Mývatn itself – where we loll to our heart’s content in milky-blue waters heated to 38–40˚C. Too late for me but by now we are accustomed to removing silver jewellery before entering the water, since the high sulphur content of the water can cause tarnishing.

The spectacular view gives the experience a surreal backdrop and we can't quite believe where we are.

The sun has come out and it is really warm as we walk around the lava rock formations at Dimmuborgir. Dimmuborgir is a lava field with rocks in many unusual shapes. This area has several meanings for Icelandic folklore: it is said that Dimmuborgir is somehow connected to hell, and at the same time the home of homicidal trolls.
However, the children of the evil troll family are apparently not as bad as their parents; at Christmas they even get to play at being Santa Claus. Meanwhile in Westeros: Dimmuborgir was the place where Mance Rayder set up his camp.
Some of the group are going whale watching which was postponed from yesterday so it's a quick return to Husavik harbour to drop them off. This leaves us with a leisurely 3 hours to relax before we meet them for dinner at 8.