Iceland in the Autumn months is one of the best times to visit the country – with the midnight sun finally setting the colours on the horizon begin to burst with fascinating displays, some of which might also give you a glimpse of the aurora borealis whose season begins at the end of August.
It is also a perfect time to head on a self-drive trip to explore parts of the island as the weather is generally much better at this time of year and there are still plenty of hours of light for you to discover your surroundings without the threat of it getting dark so quickly.
This suggested itinerary has you spend some time in the capital city before heading out to the south to a beautiful retreat, a perfect location for those autumnal evenings gazing at the night sky!
This itinerary is just a starting point—a flavour of what’s possible. Whether you want to tweak the pace, upgrade your hotel, or deepen the culinary immersion, we’ll design your perfect trip from scratch.
You’ll pick up your car hire from Keflavik airport and then head over to Reykjavik city where you will spend your first night.
Our Nordic Experience Curators will get you booked in for a visit at the trendy Sky Lagoon which is a new geothermal spa based close to the capital – a perfect way to start your trip!
After breakfast and some additional time exploring the city, you can head out in your vehicle to being your adventure in the southern part of Iceland – starting with a stop at the famous Golden Circle and ending at your accommodation for the next couple of nights – Torfhus Retreat.
After a day of exploring with the car, you can take a break from it and instead spend the day with your own private guide who can take you to some key locations around you that are not possible to visit by standard vehicles.
You might want to discover Hekla and Mælifell or other volcanos such as Eyjafjallajökull! Those that might like something a little more adventurous can head out to go Ice Climbing, Snowmobiling, or even head into an Ice Cave!
Today you can get to discover the black sand beaches Vik, Reynisfjara Beach, and the stunning waterfalls that sit between your property and this popular location. It is the perfect location for such sights as Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss – two famous waterfalls sitting along the south coast.
In the evening you can relax and give yourselves a final chance of spotting the elusive Aurora
On your final day, you can make your way back to the airport, but make sure you plan on a route that takes in the Reykjanes Penisula which had some stunning gems to uncover.
Your trip doesn’t need to end here either – our Nordic Experience Curators are here to help design your dream trip and experience in Iceland. Get in touch and let them know what else you might like to discover and they can build a bespoke experience just for you.
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I would thoroughly recommend this company. Their planning and advice was spot on. Alex responded to my calls and emails very promptly. I will definitely use them again for future trips.
We originally hired Off the Map Travel in 2020 to set up a trip to see the Northern Lights. That didn’t happen, thanks to COVID. But, we persisted and in March of 2023, we took a 16-day trip that included both Iceland and Norway. IT WAS MAGICAL! Off the Map took care of everything! We were pampered at every stage of our trip. The people they hired and the activities they planned added up to a trip that will set the standard for any we’ll ever take in the future. Alex and his team were fabulous! We recommend them without restraint!
I used OTMT to organise a holiday to see the Northern Lights for my partner’s 50th birthday. They took the time to understand my priorities, the kinds of places we like to stay and the things we like to do. They recommended a fabulous itinerary in Norway centred around the Lyngen Experience Lodge. The holiday itself lived up to expectations and I have no hesitation in recommending OTMT. They listened carefully during the planning and delivered the perfect present for my partner.
Off the Map Travel was great! Alex helped us plan the most amazing 10 day honeymoon to Iceland. He gave us great recommendations and was so patient with us during the planning process!
The best travel experience ever on every level you can think of during a Lapland expedition (food, activities, timings, accommodation, transport, service, equipment…). I highly recommend Off The Map Travel for their outstanding level of professionalism and detail oriented mindset!
Amy was a great help with planning this trip. Our trip turned out amazing. I also was very grateful for Off the Map’s Front Desk service, which promptly handled an on the spot issue we had.
