New Years Guided tour - Countdown in the Land of Fire

­Arrival at Keflavik Airport. The driver for your private transfer will be waiting outside the Arrivals Hall holding a sign with your name written on it. Head to your hotel in Reykjavík

The rest of the day is free for you to explore the city. Reykjavík is decked out in its festive lights and decorations for the Christmas holiday season. It’s fun to walk through the streets and enjoy the atmosphere. A tradition at this time of the year is to enjoy a mug of hot chocolate or mulled wine and gingersnaps at one of the coffee houses in the downtown area.

Please note that hotels in Iceland start check-in around 14:00 (2:00pm), and early check-in is not guaranteed. Most hotels will be happy to store your luggage if you are not able to check in early.

Overnight in Reykjavík.

Breakfast at your hotel. This morning, you’ll board a minibus for a small group tour to the legendary Golden Circle region.

First, you’ll visit Þingvellir National Park, where Viking settlers founded their national Parliament in the 10th century. It would eventually become the world’s oldest national parliament. This is also the meeting point of the European and North American tectonic plates, which you can see as a unique canyon.

Gullfoss is a lovely double-ledged waterfall where water from a glacier drops over a canyon in a thundering cascade. In the winter, the water sometimes freezes, creating magical ice formations. Nearby is the Geysir geothermal area, where a variety of bubbling hot springs and mud pots churn away. The most famous of the spouting hot springs is Strokkur geyser, which shoots a plume high in the area every ten minutes.

Near Geysir, you’ll hop on board a SuperJeep, a special vehicle that will take you into the rugged and impressive highland wilderness. Drive through surreal black sand and rocky landscapes, a “desert” not far from the Arctic Circle. Your destination is Langjökull, Iceland’s second largest glacier where the snowmobiles are waiting! Enjoy a 1-hour guided snowmobile adventure on the surface of the glacier, a thrilling combination of ice and speed.

Afterwards, warm up with a delicious soup dinner. You’ll then embark on a hunt for the northern lights. Your driver and guide will seek out the best places to view the northern lights, based on forecast data. If luck is on your side, you'll have a front-row seat to one of the most spectacular phenomena on Earth. Your guide will take pictures of you with the aurora in the sky, ensuring the experience stays long after you leave Iceland.

Overnight in Reykjavík.

Breakfast at your hotel. Today you’ll enjoy a walking tour to get a good overall Reykjavík area experience. Your first stop is to purchase fireworks, which are only available through the Icelandic Rescue Teams. The proceeds from the fireworks sale help support the amazing work of these local heroes, whose employees are mainly volunteers. Each year on December 31st, Icelanders light up over 600 tons of fireworks — that's nearly 5 lbs. (2 kg) per inhabitant!

You’ll explore special spots around Reykjavík and discover unique traditions and Icelandic folklore related to the magical New Year's Eve in Iceland. Listen to tales about encounters between Icelanders and elves (also known as Hidden People) that have taken place between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

The excursion ends in a beautiful clearing where your group will light a small bonfire, enjoy a toast to life and love and say farewell to the passing year in traditional Icelandic fashion!

The rest of the afternoon is open for your own activities. Please keep in mind many shops and restaurants will close around 12:00pm, and the city bus services stops around 15:00 (3:00pm). Some places still will be open for visitors. A list of open places is available at many hotels and from the tourism board.

In the evening, delight in a festive New Year's Eve dinner and celebration at the famous Perlan Wonders of Iceland. Indulge in a six-course masterpiece paired with five exquisite wines, culminating in a midnight toast on the Observation Deck, offering breathtaking city views. You’ll also enjoy the joyful music and atmosphere of the evening.

Fireworks go off all night long, reaching a high point at midnight, when the sky lights up for a few minutes as fire trucks and docked ships ring their bells and blow their horns to welcome the New Year.

After midnight, the nightclubs and pubs are open for business. The downtown area becomes a veritable catwalk of Icelanders outfitted in their finest holiday glitz, with dancing and celebrations going well into the morning. The biggest party night in a city renowned for its nightlife, the New Year's Eve celebration in Reykjavík is the stuff of legends.

Note: Transfers between your hotel and Perlan are included in the tour.

Gleðilegt Ár! Happy New Year! Breakfast at your hotel. Recharge and rejuvenate from last night’s celebration with a relaxing Blue Lagoon visit.

Start with an unguided transfer from your hotel in Reykjavík to the Blue Lagoon. Enjoy the views of surreal lava terrain and the unique pollution-free Svartsengi power station as you head to the Lagoon. Relax at the Blue Lagoon with the Comfort Experience, which includes towel rental, a Silica mud mask, and a choice of one drink from the Blue Lagoon’s bar. The warm geothermal mineral water will soothe your skin and set you in the perfect Iceland frame of mind!

Soothed and relaxed, head to Reykjavík. It’s a tradition in Iceland to enjoy a nice dinner on New Year’s Day, and several restaurants offer festive dinners tonight. Reservations are recommended.

Overnight in Reykjavík.

Breakfast at your hotel. Private transfer from your hotel to Keflavík Airport. If your flight is in the afternoon, use your last moments this morning enjoying the spa located right in your hotel or walk along the harbour seafront and breathe the fresh Atlantic breeze.