South Iceland has plenty to discover from the stunning waterfalls of Skógafoss, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss to the famous black sand beaches of Reynisfjara in Vik.
Luxury Holidays in South Iceland
A word from our travel specialist
I visited South Iceland and explored Reykjavík, geysers, waterfalls, and lagoons. While the main attractions were beautiful, I especially enjoyed the peaceful rural areas around the waterfalls. They felt untouched and quiet, offering a nice contrast to the busy tourist spots. The less commercial lagoons were also a highlight—calm, natural, and a perfect place to relax without the crowds. It was a refreshing experience that gave me a deeper appreciation for the country’s raw beauty.
Emma
Head of Operations
Inspiration for Holidays in South Iceland
Iceland Blue Lagoon Northern Lights Escape
Experience Iceland's Northern Lights, Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon and luxury geothermal retreats on this unforgettable autumn escape.
Iceland Family Adventure: Volcanoes, Glaciers and Geothermal Wonders
Discover Iceland's volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls and hot springs on a luxury family adventure across the Land of Fire and Ice.
Iceland and Scandinavia Grand Discovery: Volcanoes, Fjords and Nordic Capitals
Discover Iceland and Scandinavia on a luxury journey featuring volcano tours, glacier hiking, Nordic cities, fjords and the Lofoten Islands.
South Iceland Super Jeeps and Snorkelling Adventure
A thrilling journey through South Iceland featuring the Golden Circle, ice caves, snorkelling, super jeep adventure, and unforgettable Northern Lights...
Panorama Glass Lodge in Iceland
Panorama Glass Lodge in Iceland allows you to get immersed in Iceland’s most dramatic landscape.
Icelandic Spa Retreat
Five-star hotels, private guided transfers, helicopter excursions, and some of the finest dining
@ Jonfromiceland
South Iceland, Designed Around You
There are plenty of amazing and unique accommodations and experiences to be had in Southern Iceland. Whether you are looking for a standout property to stay in or experience some of the magical tours and activities that are possible in this area of the world we have you covered! Below are some of what we believe to be some of the highlights of this region but there are plenty more so speak to one of our Nordic Experience Curators today who can help you plan your dream trip!
Where to Stay: Handpicked for You
Stay just steps from waterfalls, black sand beaches, and glaciers—our South Iceland picks combine location, comfort, and unforgettable scenery.
Miðgarður by Center Hotels
Stylish Reykjavík hotel offering Icelandic hospitality, Nordic design and easy access to Iceland’s natural wonders.
Skáld Hotel Akureyri
Stylish boutique hotel in North Iceland offering Arctic adventures, geothermal wonders and elegant Nordic accommodation.
Seljalandsfoss Horizons
Luxury retreat in southern Iceland offering waterfall views, volcanic landscapes and unforgettable nature experiences.
Hotel Jökulsárlón
A boutique hotel that go above and beyond in sustainability management
Silica Hotel
Refined comfort and luxury in an stunning setting, private lagoon access
Hotel Umi
Connecting to nature, with peace and quiet in the Icelandic countrysideThe Guidebook
Explore South Iceland
South Iceland has plenty to discover from the stunning waterfalls of Skógafoss, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss to the famous black sand beaches of Reynisfjara in Vik. Reynisfjara is a very famous location used in film and television and it also has basalt columns there too.
Further along the south, there is the famous diamond beach located by Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Jökulsárlón itself is fascinating to discover and see the icebergs floating within the lagoon.
Other places to discover are the LAVA Centre which displays the geophysical activity in Iceland, there is the National Park of Þingvellir where you can step between the two tectonic plates.
What makes the south so perfect to explore is the ability to travel there almost year-round – if you are after combining see the natural wonders with the possibility of Northern Lights then look to travel from September through to March!
Getting There
There are many flights to and from Iceland all year round. International flights arrive at Keflavík International Airport, just to the south of the city. There are no railways in Iceland but the city centre does have bus services as well as taxis.
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
Reykjavik and Iceland are 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.
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
We did! Everything was truly wonderful! I think the Holman Husky Lodge was our favourite place. Beautiful accommodations, but best of all, wonderful people! Everyone was so friendly and accommodating, excellent food, we really enjoyed our time there. We also greatly enjoyed Bergen! Opus XVI was beautiful and we loved being able to walk to restaurants and bars and take in the sights. All of our drivers were punctual and friendly. The itinerary was full but not overfull.
Thank you so much! It was an epic trip, we are taking home wonderful memories!
Shelly
My family and I traveled to Sweden to see The Northern Lights in March of 2023. From the planning process to every detail of the trip, I could not have been more pleased with our experience. Alex was exceptional to work with. His guidance on the time of year, where to stay, activities to do and how to get to and from everything was spot on. I have never used a tour company before but thought a trip of this kind would be easier with some help. I am so glad that I did. The entire week was seamless and completely stress-free, allowing us to truly enjoy Sweden and our time together as a family. I will be recommending Off The Map travel to friends and family and will certainly be using them myself again in the future.
Emily
What an amazing trip we are having. It is incredible. Many many thanks for arranging such an incredible trip.
Giles
We really enjoyed our Norwegian adventure despite the -22 days! Unfortunately no real experience of viewing the Lights but we did capture a couple of images on our last night – too much cloud otherwise so lots of snow. We really enjoyed the husky lodge – not at all what we had tentatively imagined. Thanks for your assistance, maybe next time we will see the Lights in all their glory.
Andrew
Arctic Retreat was simply magical. Graham and his team were superb. Their entire focus was on ensuring we had an outstanding experience. The accommodation, setting and food were all excellent. The team, experienced professionals, each brought their own personal touch and local nuance. It was faultless. The dog sledging trip directly from Arctic Retreat was also superb. We would return to Arctic Retreat in a heartbeat.
George
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
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
Well-organized trip to Norway and Svalbard with great accommodations and activities. Gwen was communicative and responsive to requests. Highly recommend!
Russell Snook
We have loved it so much here that we have extended our stay and will come back to Bjornfjell and stay in one of their cabins until Jan 3 then we are staying in the igloo hotel the night of the 3rd. 😊We added a few excursions this week – we did the whale trip on the RIB boat (wow!), toured the igloo hotel (which is why we decided to book the last night!) and did the reindeer sleigh at Sorrisniva. You were so right, the bonfire excursion was incredible!!It has been an absolutely amazing trip!
Kristen
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 – the whole family – loved the whole journey!!
The accommodations, the activities and especially the great people – thank you very much for this fantastic organisation !!!
Barbara