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Bonfire at Ægissíða - New Years Eve ©nordicvisitor

New Year's & Northern Lights

Best of South Iceland & New Year's Eve Party

(6 days / 5 nights)

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Ring in the New Year in style in Iceland

Make it an unforgettable New Year's with a celebration out of the ordinary – an unforgettable trip to Iceland! Join in the seasonal traditions with a guided city tour with a local guide, including a bonfire, and a festive evening of gourmet dining and the biggest, loudest fireworks show you’re ever seen. A blend of adventure and relaxation, this tour package also includes guided small group Golden Circle tour and northern lights tours, a tour of the scenic south coast and a soothing soak at the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. Guests will also be able to attend a New Year's Eve party at an elegant venue in Reykjavik with a good view of the fireworks.

*Please note that the details regarding the 2024 New Year’s Eve party will be available as soon as possible.

Want to stay in Iceland longer? You can easily add extra days before and after the tour during the booking steps to extend your holiday. Or explore other New Year‘s tours in Iceland.

6 days / 5 nights

Price p.p. from

The amount will be charged in ISK

Approx 391838 ISK

— Why book with Nordic Visitor

  • Hassle-free & seamless travel experience
  • Quality and value for your money
  • Local experts in Iceland and trusted suppliers
  • Customisable and personal tour options
  • Carbon offsetting included

Read more

— Book With Confidence

  • Optional cancellation insurance
  • Affordable deposits from 10%

Terms and conditions apply

Tour Highlights

  • Explore the famous Golden Circle route
  • Feel the power of the thundering waterfall Gullfoss
  • Marvel at eruptions at the Geysir geothermal region
  • Hunt for the majestic northern lights
  • Bathe in the world famous Blue Lagoon
  • Enjoy the cascading waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss & Skógafoss
  • Photograph the jagged basalt columns & sweeping black sand beaches
  • Go on a New Year’s Eve guided tour of Reykjavik during the day
  • Visit a bonfire on New Year’s Eve, a local tradition
  • Attend a festive New Year’s Eve party, with a gourmet dinner, wine and entertainment

Travel style

Multi-Day Tours i

Interest

City Break i, Classic i, New Year’s i, Northern Lights i

Season

December

Departure

27 - 30 DEC

Interest

City Break i, Classic i, New Year’s i, Northern Lights i

Itinerary

A day-by-day plan to guide your journey.

  • Day 1: Welcome to Reykjavik & Northern Lights

    On arrival to Keflavik International Airport, you will be greeted by a professional driver who will take you to your accommodation in Reykjavík. After settling in, the rest of the day is free for you to explore Reykjavik. You can stroll the charming capital city, visit museums, and explore landmarks. Downtown Reykjavík offers numerous excellent restaurants, cafés, coffeehouses, and bars, for those who want to experience the renowned Reykjavík nightlife.

    In the evening, get ready to search for the otherworldly northern lights. You will join a guided small group bus tour with a knowledgeable driver that will find a great spot to view the white, green and sometimes red lights dancing and flickering in the sky.*

    Spend the next five nights in Reykjavik.

    *Please note that the northern lights are a natural phenomenon, so sightings cannot be guaranteed. We book the Northern Lights Tour on your first day to optimise your chances of a sighting during your trip. Should the excursion be cancelled due to adverse weather, we can rebook you later on during your stay.

    Please note that the order of activities on this itinerary may vary depending on your arrival date.

    Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 2: The South Coast – Glaciers and Black Sand Beaches

    Enjoy a guided group tour along the striking south coast of Iceland on another day of adventures. Start your journey with a stop at the picture-perfect, 60-metre-high (197-foot-high) Skógafoss waterfall. Next you’ll stop at Reynisfjara, a hauntingly beautiful black sand beach. You will then continue towards the town of Vík where you’ll make a photo stop at the local church, which offers expansive views of the landscape.

    Then it is time to head back along the south coast. You will stop at Sólheimajökull glacier where you will learn everything about glaciers and the area. The last highlight of the day is the picturesque Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which is 40 metres (131 feet) high. Its main attraction, besides the scenery, is the pathway leading behind the waterfall, giving you a chance to admire the falls from all angles. Later, you’ll return to Reykjavík.

    Spend the night in Reykjavík.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 3: Exploring the Golden Circle

    Today you visit some of Iceland’s most famous attractions with a small guided group tour of the classic “Golden Circle” route in South Iceland. You will start the day heading to Hveragerði where the bus will make a short stop before continuing on your journey.

    One of the many highlights you’ll see today is the impressive Kerið Crater. Other attractions include the magical two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall and the spouting hot springs of Geysir. While Geysir lies dormant, its neighbour Strokkur erupts every few minutes, gushing steam and water high into the air.

    The last stop of the day is Þingvellir National Park, a place of great historical and geological significance. It is also one of Iceland’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Þingvellir is the site of the country’s first parliament and is located along the edge of the great rift between the Eurasian and American tectonic plates.

    Spend the night in Reykjavík.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 4: New Year's Eve Festivities in Reykjavík

    This morning your Icelandic New Year's Eve experience begins with a local guide showing you some of the main highlights of downtown Reykjavík, allowing you to take part in local traditions. You will have a chance to taste some local food, admire the city's Christmas decorations and enjoy fireworks that the guide will set off. You then have the afternoon to spend at your leisure.

    Tonight, you will attend an exclusive New Year’s Eve party hosted by Nordic Visitor and Héðinn Kitchen & Bar.* This New Year’s celebration takes place at a beautiful venue in the Grandi district, in the heart of downtown Reykjavík. Mix and mingle with other guests over an apéritif and then enjoy a gourmet 3-course dinner, paired with selected wines, and live entertainment during your meal. Afterwards, you and fellow dinner guests will be taken to a large neighbourhood bonfire to celebrate with Icelanders. You will then return to Héðinn Kitchen & Bar for dessert, sparkling wine and the exciting countdown to the New Year. Once the event finishes, you can head to the city centre and continue the party, like the locals, with music and dancing late into the night.

    *Please note that venue location and more details about the 2024 New Year’s Eve party will be available as soon as possible.

    Attractions
  • Day 5: Relax at the Blue Lagoon

    Today, you will be picked up for a visit to the famous Blue Lagoon. Relax in the heated geothermal pool, which is rich with silica and soothing for your skin. You can also enjoy some time in a sauna or steam bath as well as an array of spa services (which must be booked in advance).

    If you are up for more adventure, you can book a northern lights excursion. For instance, you could take a northern lights boat tour to escape the bright city lights of Reykjavík and go hunting for the majestic lights dancing in the night sky.

    Attractions
  • Day 6: Departure from Iceland

    Your winter getaway to Iceland has come to an end, and you will have a semi-private transfer from your accommodation to Keflavik International Airport. If you are departing in the afternoon and are interested in adding an optional activity, please arrange with your travel consultant in advance, as there are a limited number of activities available due to the holiday.

    See Activities for this day

Optional extras

Customise your adventure with these Optional Extras.

We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.

Map

Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.

Essential information

Everything you need to know about this tour before you book

We recommend that you read carefully through the following information before booking this multi-day tour in Iceland. We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions here so you know what to expect. You’ll also find more practical advice and attraction recommendations in our online Iceland Travel Guide.

On a multi-day tour, Nordic Visitor books your accommodation and excursions for a self-guided travel experience. That means you’ll enjoy some free time to explore on your own as well as planned, guided day tours. 

Each activity is run by a different tour operator, so you’ll get to meet a few local guides throughout your trip. 

You can rest assured that Nordic Visitor only works with a small number of handpicked suppliers that meet our high standards. The activities you’ll participate in are all extremely well rated so you’re sure to have a memorable time.

During your tour, we’re with you every step of the way. On arrival, you’ll receive personalised information, including an itinerary, map and detailed Iceland Travel Guide. Plus, you’ll always be able to reach us on your trip by calling our 24/7 helpline.

Yes, when you book your Iceland tour with Nordic Visitor, you always get airport transfers to and from Keflavík Airport included. This will be a private, shared or bus transfer, depending on your itinerary. Please check the details of your tour to confirm.

If you add extra nights to your stay before or after the scheduled trip, we’ll rearrange your transfers to fit your new itinerary.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with your travel consultant if you have any specific requests about optional activities or services.

Due to the nature of this tour and activities included, it’s not recommended for families with young children. That said, it is suitable for well-travelled, active children of 12 years or older. If in doubt, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Yes, you can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades. 

If you have something specific in mind, get in touch with your travel consultant and they’ll create your dream trip.

Your day-by-day itinerary will be modified based on your arrival date. Except for some fixed events, the other days will be rearranged by your travel consultant to make sure you take full advantage of your time in Iceland.

On your multi-day tour, you’ll stay in accommodation that’s been hand-picked by our local Iceland travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels and guesthouses based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience.

During the booking process, you can choose from single, double or triple rooms. Please note that in Iceland room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America.

For example, a double bed often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. Twin rooms are 2 separate single beds. Triple rooms include a double bed along with an extra bed, rollaway or sofa bed. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.

If you have anything specific in mind, please contact us to discuss customising your accommodation options.

By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.

For support and advice during the day, you can call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline. 

During your tour, there will always be a Reykjavík-based travel expert on call to handle any unforeseen situations, such as unusual weather or events.

If you’re arriving from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, you won’t need a visa to visit Iceland. 

Visiting from another country? You can find the complete list of countries whose nationals require a visa to enter Iceland on the website of Iceland’s Directorate of Immigration. If you do require a visa, they maintain a list of local embassies that can assist you with the process. 

Your passport must also be valid for at least 3 months from your departure from Iceland. It’s good to check your passport expiry date early in case you need to renew it. 

Read more about visas, airports and airlines in the getting to Iceland section of our travel guide.

Only you can pick the best time to visit Iceland for your trip. It’ll depend on how much time you have to explore, what you want to see in Iceland and any events you might like to attend.

In summer, June to August, you’ll have milder temperatures and longer daylight hours, compared to the winter. This is ideal for outdoor excursions and sightseeing. 

If you’d like to experience the top attractions with fewer visitors around then you could book your summer trip in May or September. These shoulder season months have more tour and attraction availability.

The winter months are also popular, but generally quieter, apart from the Christmas holiday season. This is the ideal time to try to spot the northern lights.

Find out what annual Icelandic events and festivals are on in our travel guide. Or read more about the best time to visit Iceland on our blog.

The festive holidays are meaningful for Icelanders. For that reason, shops, museums and restaurants usually close their doors for part of the holiday season. They are often as follows:

23 December: Open until late
24 December (Christmas Eve): Open until noon
25 December (Christmas Day): Closed
26 December: Closed
27- 30 December: Open as usual
31 December (New Year’s Eve): Open until noon
1 January (New Year’s Day): Closed

A few establishments will remain open during the holidays. For more information, you should call or check online for each spot you’d like to visit on those days.

Please note: We highly recommend you make dinner reservations well in advance if you are staying in Iceland at this time of year.

Because of its northerly location close to the Arctic Circle, Iceland has limited daylight in winter. 

Around Christmastime, from early December until late January, you can expect an average of 4–5 hours of daylight. These extended hours of darkness give you a higher chance of seeing the northern lights.

Find out what the daylight hours will be during the month of your visit in this guide to time and daylight in Iceland.

Yes! Wintertime is the right season to visit Iceland if you want to see the northern lights (or aurora borealis). You can experience the northern lights between October and March, with peak visibility from December through February. 

For the best chances of seeing them, a self-drive tour is ideal. It means you have the flexibility of deciding when and where to go. To enjoy the aurora at its brightest, you’ll want to head into or even stay in the countryside, away from city lights.

Please note that as the northern lights are a natural phenomenon, sightings cannot be guaranteed. Even if you go out on a specific northern lights excursion, you might not see them, depending on the conditions or cloud cover. 

Read our Iceland northern lights guide to learn more.

The winter climate in Iceland is generally mild compared to other Northern European countries. That said, the temperature can drop below freezing at times. And the Atlantic winds can make it feel colder than it is. 

You can expect average temperatures between 4°C (39°F) and -1°C (30°F). Throughout winter (October to April), the weather conditions are very changeable, so you could experience rain, snow, sun and cold winds. 

For more information on the local climate, read this guide to Iceland weather conditions

Please note that sightseeing is dependent on weather and road conditions. Your itinerary might need to be altered if these conditions are not favourable during your visit.

Your scheduled journey to the Blue Lagoon is by bus, with up to 70 travellers. When you arrive in Iceland, you’ll receive vouchers with all your transfer details.

Children must be at least 2 years old to visit the Blue Lagoon. And it’s mandatory for children aged 2 to 8 to wear inflatable armbands while in the lagoon. These are provided free of charge. 

Please note that only 2 children under the age of 10 can be admitted into the lagoon per guardian.

Yes, you can. The Blue Lagoon is open year-round and popular during the festive season. 

Your dedicated travel consultant will book your entrance in advance, so you’ll have a specific arrival time and duration at the lagoon. If you’d prefer a different time, please let us know as soon as possible.

Iceland’s winters are chilly although not as cold as you may expect. As you’ll probably spend a lot of time outdoors, we recommend bringing plenty of layers to stay warm and dry.

Here is a recommended winter packing list for your trip to Iceland:

  • Durable insulated jacket, which should be waterproof
  • Robust walking boots with a good grip
  • Mid-layers such as a fleece or woollen jumper
  • A few pairs of warm hiking socks
  • Hat, gloves and scarf
  • Swimwear for visiting geothermal pools or spas
  • Backpack for daily adventures
  • Electronic equipment such as smartphone, external powerpack, and travel adapters
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Sunglasses and sunscreen for exploring in the snow or glacier excursions
  • And don’t forget your camera!
     

For more information, check out this Iceland packing list.

Breakfast at your Iceland accommodations is always included when you travel with Nordic Visitor.  For the rest of your meals, the amount of spending money you need will depend on the standard of restaurants you decide to go to. 

That said, we recommend budgeting between 2,000–3,000 ISK for lunch per person, each day. Dinners at casual restaurants might cost between 3,000–6,000 ISK. Meanwhile, at upscale restaurants, you can expect to pay 7,000 ISK or more. This does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages.

It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking. 

Nordic Visitor offers 10–20% deposits so you can reserve your trip as early as it’s convenient for you. The remaining balance is due 30 days before you travel. 

Many tours are also open for the following year if you like to plan well ahead. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us

After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip. 

At that time, they’ll confirm the availability of your tour. Then the booking process starts, which may take a few weeks. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. You will also receive more information about what to expect during your trip.

No need! Nordic Visitor is already working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours.

Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund. 

You can get in touch with our Iceland travel experts ahead of your trip if you have any questions. The live chat option is useful for getting a quick reply as someone answers live every day during office opening hours.

Once you’ve booked, we’ll provide you with a travel guide packed full of local tips and top attractions for your visit. You can also check out our online Iceland Travel Guide where we’ve compiled useful information about topics, including:

After you have booked your tour, it will only take a few days to confirm its availability. But it may take a few weeks to create your itinerary and book everything. Once your trip details are finalised, we’ll email you copies of your travel documents.

When you arrive in Iceland, you’ll receive a welcome bag with hard copies of your itinerary, attraction and tour vouchers, the Nordic Visitor Iceland Travel Guide and more.

So when do you check in? And what can you expect upon landing in Keflavík?

After picking up your luggage, you will be greeted by a driver holding a sign with your name in the arrivals hall. The driver will hand over your welcome package with hard copies of your travel documents. You’ll then be driven to your hotel in Reykjavík.

Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts between 2 PM and 4 PM. 

You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel so you can start exploring before check-in. Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your arrival if you’d like an early check-in.

When you depart may depend on the time of your return flight. Check out early if you’re heading to the airport for a morning flight. On the other hand, if you’re flying home later in the day, you might like to enjoy a leisurely day or visit one more attraction.

You will need to check out from your room, but will be able to store your luggage at the hotel reception. Simply return later to collect your bags before catching your transfer to the airport.

All bookings are billed in Icelandic Króna (ISK), the official currency of Iceland. 

Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate as issued by the Central Bank of Iceland. This means conversions from ISK to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.

Reviews

We don’t like to brag, so we’ll let our happy customers do it for us.

We really enjoyed our tour

Our tour was very informative. We didn't feel pressured to get back to the bus quickly. We really enjoyed seeing all of the sights.

Nordic Visitor was very helpful

When I was not sure where to be, I ended up getting phone calls rather than being left behind. I was glad that I did not miss anything due to my confusion. Nordic Visitor was very helpful and responsive.

Stress-free vacation!

Excellent experience! So nice to have everything planned and booked in advance. Stress-free vacation!

Accommodation

Relax in a top city hotel or guesthouse that is highly rated by visitors and handpicked by local travel experts.

Look forward to sleeping soundly in Iceland. The accommodation you’ll stay in is conveniently located in Reykjavík for pickups for your day trips. Rest assured that you’ll stay in one of the best possible properties, as we only choose accommodation that has received excellent reviews from previous customers.

Comfort Plus

In this category, you’ll stay in standard rooms in good quality and comfortable 3-star hotels, guesthouses or charming country hot..

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Superior

With Superior accommodation, you’ll enjoy standard rooms in 4-star hotels or boutique guesthouses. You might also stay in superior..

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Price per person from

The amount will be charged in ISK

Approx 391838 ISK

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