New Year's Northern Lights Adventure 2024-2025

This is an escorted tour program taking you to the Icelandic countryside to celebrate New Year’s Eve in a casual and Icelandic way. We recommend booking early, as this program is only available for a maximum of 40 persons.

You explore Reykjavík, the lunar landscapes of the Reykjanes peninsula, and the Golden Circle route with the Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, and Geysir hot springs. You travel to South Iceland, a region with glaciers, waterfalls and black lava beaches. Of course, a warm and relaxing soak in the famous Blue Lagoon during the cold winter days is also included.

Stay in simple hotels and cottages in Reykjavík and South Iceland; all rooms with private shower/wc. Discover and experience how Icelandic countryside people celebrate New Year’s Eve. Oops, did we mention the Northern Lights?

Highlights:

• Explore Reykjavík, the lunar landscapes of the Reykjanes peninsula, and the Golden Circle route.
• Travel to South Iceland, a region with glaciers, waterfalls and black lava beaches.
• Relaxing soak in the famous Blue Lagoon
• Discover and experience how Icelandic countryside people celebrate New Year's Eve.
• Fine dining at a restaurant in downtown Reykjavík
• Choose from Budget or Comfort Accommodation

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 - Welcome To Iceland! (50 km/31 mls)

The Flybus shuttle brings travellers from Keflavík International Airport to Hotel Cabin in Reykjavík where you spend one night. We provide you with ideas on how to explore Iceland’s capital on your own.

Accommodation: Hotel Cabin or similar. Breakfast included.

Day 2: REYKJAVIK CITY TOUR AND THE BLUE LAGOON (220 km/137 mls)

At 09:00 meet your tour guide who shows the group the highlights of Iceland’s exciting capital. Then we head out to the Reykjanes Peninsula with its hot springs, mountains, moon-like landscape, bird cliffs, lighthouses and fishing villages. In the afternoon we bathe in the Blue Lagoon.
Drive along the south coast to arrive in the village of Hella where we stay for two nights in simple cottages.

In the evening, we hear about the Northern Lights from our tour guide. Naturally, once darkness falls, you are out in the garden waiting for the Northern Lights.

Accommodation: Hotel Stracta or similar Breakfast included.

Day 3 - South Iceland with optional Glacier Hike & New Year's Celebration (200 km/124 mls)

Today we travel along the south coast. We reach the area beneath the Eyjafjallajökull volcano and glacier. We stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall and visit Skógar folk museum of early Modern Iceland with its turf houses. At lunch, we visit the Skógarfoss waterfall.

In the afternoon we offer an optional glacier hike. The hike is on the Sólheimajökull glacier tongue which extends from the great Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Booking for the hike is made directly with the operator. When booking make sure it is on the 3rd day of the tour and the 14:30 (02:30 pm) time slot.

If you don’t book the glacier hike, then the tour continues further south where you walk on the famous Black Lava Beach at Reynisfjara, observe the Cap of Dyrhólaey and the Reynisdrangar Sea Cliffs before visiting the charming village of Vík.

In the evening we celebrate New Year the Icelandic way. Before dinner, join a guided bus tour to visit the bonfires in the villages of Hvolsvöllur and Hella. The traditional Brenna bonfires of New Year’s Eve had their origins in the Middle Ages when people built bonfires to burn the old things they no longer needed. In Iceland, there are bonfires all around the country where inhabitants gather, shoot off fireworks, sing and dance as they wait for the New Year to come in.

Your festive dinner starts around 20:30 and is served at Stracta Hotel in Hella, which is a small village in South Iceland. Afterwards, we walk through the village and celebrate New Year’s with a bang when at midnight the sky opens with thousands of fireworks set off in the village by the local inhabitants. This is an experience of a lifetime; you will never forget. Drink a toast of sparkling wine as you enjoy a real special Icelandic New Year’s celebration.
If the night is clear, you might be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights swirling in a wild and carefree dance across the heavens in dramatic shapes, colours, patterns and sizes.

Accommodation: Hotel Stracta or similar Breakfast and Festive 4 course dinner included.

Day 4 - Golden Circle & Culinary Experience (200 km/124 mls)

In the morning we learn about the Icelandic horse, its unique qualities and history and visit a geothermal greenhouse. Then we travel the Golden Circle route, see steam rising from the Geysir geothermal fields and admire the double waterfall of Gullfoss. We end the afternoon at Þingvellir National Park, the location of the ancient Viking Parliament and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The program includes a culinary treat at a restaurant located in the heart of downtown Reykjavík. Return transfer included.

Accommodation: Hotel Cabin or similar. Breakfast and Culinary dinner experience included.

Day 5 - Departure Home (50 km/31 mls)

Individual transfer by Flybus airport shuttle from your accommodation in Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport.

CHANGE OF PROGRAM: Itineraries may be subject to change at short notice during severe weather conditions and certain outdoor activities/day trips may be canceled during the winter season in Iceland. In these rare cases, where situations of force majeure apply, excursions/activities cannot be refunded but the local guides will try their best to find reasonable alternatives where and whenever possible. Accommodations are subject to change.

Tour details

Travel Dates: 29.12.2024 - 02.01.2025
Group Size: Standard group tour, 40 people max

The price is from £1,825* per person based on 2 people sharing a double/twin room
*Price is subject to availability

This tour includes:

• Return flights from the UK including hand luggage, taxes and fees
• Arrival & departure airport transfer by FLYBUS Plus shuttle (no guide)
• Fully escorted 3-day bus tour with an English-speaking guide/driver guide
• 4-nights budget/comfort accommodation, in rooms with private shower/wc (upgrade options available)
• Daily breakfast
• Bonfire & New Year's celebration tour
• Daily breakfast
• Festive dinner on the 31st of December
• Fine dining at a restaurant in downtown Reykjavík on January 1st including transfers
• Blue Lagoon with entrance and use of towel
• Skógar Folk Museum & Turf houses
• Northern Lights program during two evenings
• Visit Icelandic horse stables & a geothermal greenhouse
• Use of winter & Northern Lights Explorer equipment: simple non-slip snow & ice grippers spikes for shoes and a flashlight
• Free Wi-Fi on the bus
• Financial Protection (ATOL)

Not included:

• Optional excursions
• Travel insurance
• Anything else not specifically listed under "this includes"