Godafoss, or Waterfalls of the Gods

Our first stop, a little over an hour from Akureyri, is Godafoss, or Waterfalls of the Gods. In the summer months, tourists in campervans park up and picnic on the grassland. In winter, it’s a different beast; a majestic, icy torrent that reminds you that nature is still the boss of you. The stark, semi-lunar landscape and thick blanket of snow is eerily familiar; we’re now north of the wall.

From here it’s a short drive to Lake Myvatn, a volcanic lake formed by an eruption 2300 years ago. Again, in summer the waters are turquoise, the trees are teeming with bird life, and a famous marathon takes place around the shore. In winter, it’s wild and desolate, a lake punctuated with eerie, snow-capped lava stacks. Chris points out the archway of the cave where Jon Snow loses his cherry to feisty Ygritte. I cannot imagine a worse place to take your clothes off.

We wander amongst the lava fields of Dimmuborgir, which is famous for hiking in the summer months, and inhale the sulphurous steam vents of Hverir, where, Chris tells us, the geothermal jets of steam were used in shot to replicate blizzards in some Night’s Watch scenes. Slightly less cold; a lot smellier.

Hang out with the cast

Set-Jetting: Iceland’s Game of Thrones locations