East Iceland is best known as Austurland, a part of Iceland that perhaps gets overlooked far too often given that it has lots to offer.
East Iceland
© Icelandic Explorer
© Icelandic Explorer
A word from our travel specialist
East Iceland is one of the most peaceful and untouched parts of the country. The landscapes are wide and dramatic, with deep fjords, winding coastal roads and little fishing villages dotted along the way. My favourite town in the Eastfjords is Djúpivogur, it has a rich history, and also it’s just super cute!
The area is great for birdwatching, and one of the most striking landmarks is “The Eggs”, 34 large granite eggs arranged along the harbour. They sit on old stalls that were previously used for the fishing industry and each one represents a different bird species found in the area. Quite a sight!
Helga
Nordic Experience Curator
© Icelandic Explorer
East Iceland, Designed Around You
There is plenty to discover in East Iceland making it an absolute must if you are planning on exploring the whole island rather than just it’s city and southern region.
The Guidebook
Explore East Iceland
A short plane ride from Reykjavik City Airport will see you land into Egilsstaðir, or you can drive along the south coast (just make sure you plan some stops along the way), this is the perfect location to head out and discover some more hidden parts of Iceland that really are worth seeing.
For a start, there are the stunning beaches that exist in the area including Djúpivogur black sand beach, then in Breiðdalsvík you’ll discover Meleyri, and then further inland are the highlands to discover.
Here you can witness Iceland’s highest mountain Snæfell not to mention that you are not too far from Vatnajokull, the largest glacier in Europe!
There is the stunning bay of Seydisfjordur and for hikers, one can head out to find the circle of waterfalls before hopping into a hot pool at Laugarfell.
So, when you plan to visit Iceland, make sure you make time to visit this part of the country.
Getting There
There are a couple of ways of getting out to the East – the first is the option of flying over on a domestic flight from Reykjavik City Airport to Egilsstaðir airport. From here you can pick up your car hire and begin to explore this area.
The other option is to drive from Keflavik – to do so you will need to look to plan in some nights along which our Nordic Experience Curators will help put together for you.
Climate
Despite its name, Iceland is not necessarily that cold. Winter temperatures are an average of 3.6°C, and summer temperatures average around 15°C. In the summertime, you can enjoy long, extended hours of sunshine and in the wintertime, the nights can get dark enough for you to see the Northern Lights as long as you are away from light pollution!
Geography
Iceland is world-famous for its geology and geography. With huge mountain ranges and an active geothermal country with many geysers, hot springs and volcanic formations to be found – it is a breath-taking landscape for those after an adventure.
Iceland offers some of the best waterfalls in Europe, such as the Dettifoss regarded as the most powerful waterfall in the whole of Europe.
With a latitude of 64° north, Reykjavik offers a perfect base from which to embark on an Iceland Northern Lights adventure.
Shared Experiences
From Our Customers
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.
Rosie
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!
Sophie & Guy
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!
Tori
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.
Alex
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.
Karen
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!
Jim & Kris