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Iceland – The Northern Lights at New Year

  • Details

Details

Celebrate the New Year in Iceland during this four-night holiday. This iconic island offers a wealth of unforgettable experiences and we include some of the highlights. Search for the Aurora by coach, explore the Golden Circle and reach a unique Northern Lights vantage point by boat.

This four-night Northern Lights short break lets you hunt the Aurora, celebrate New Year in style and take in some of the island's incredible natural wonders. This holiday has been designed to help improve your Aurora viewing potential at night during two dedicated activities, whilst leaving you free time each day to tailor your stay. This is a much more independent holiday than some others which you will find on The Aurora Zone as Iceland lends itself so wonderfully to our guests setting their own agenda and priorities. 

Iceland has always had a great reputation for the Northern Lights, but to really capture the best displays you must get away from the light pollution of Reykjavik and head out in search of darker skies. Therefore, on two nights we have included Aurora hunting activities for you. Firstly, you will travel by coach to some of the best Northern Lights viewpoints, away from the city lights and hopefully allow your guide to outrun any localised cloud cover. Later in your holiday, you enjoy an Aurora boat trip which takes you out of Reykjavik harbour and out to sea, where there is no light pollution. With luck, your Aurora efforts will be rewarded with a show. 

Whilst the Golden Circle tour is included in your holiday, the days are primarily free for you to explore Iceland your own way. You can be as active or relaxed as you like. We have a range of tours available and more information can be found in the personalise section of the holiday page. You might like to unwind in the idyllic Sky Lagoon or experience the thrill of whale watching. Alternatively, you can sit back on a coach tour and take in the city's sights or some of the best natural wonders that Iceland has to offer such as Gulfoss Waterfall and the amazing hot spring geysers. 

To top it all off, as you are in Iceland for New Year, you can relish in the exciting New Year's Eve celebrations that take place all over Reykjavik city. You will be collected from your hotel and driven to renowned restaurant, Bryggjan Brugghus. A delicious buffet will be on offer overseen by head chef, Hjálmar Grétarsson. The restaurant is perfectly situated beside the harbour; an optimal spot for viewing the magnificent fireworks this evening. 


Image Credits: © Mandritoiu - stock.adobe.com, © zinaidasopina112 - stock.adobe.com, © jamenpercy - stock.adobe.com and © BBandSIRI - stock.adobe.com 

Itinerary

Upon arrival at Keflavik Airport, you will make your way to the transfer bus to be taken into central Reykjavik where you will check in to your hotel.

Tonight, you will plunge straight into a Northern Lights adventure as you take a Northern Lights coach hunt. Relax in a warm coach as you are taken from viewpoint to viewpoint, searching the skies for the Aurora. Your expert guide will use the latest forecasts in order to ensure your route offers the best possible Aurora potential. If a display does appear then it will be a truly memorable start to your holiday.

Please note, this is a much more independent holiday than some others which you will find on The Aurora Zone as Iceland lends itself so wonderfully to our guests setting their own agenda and priorities.

Included Meals:  None
[KEF] Keflavik Intl. Airport, Iceland To Hotel Island
Flybus Transfer
Duration
00:00
Hotel Island - Check In
Address : Reykjavik, Capital Region, Iceland

You will begin with a trip to Fridheimar Greenhouse where you will learn about the magical methods of managing pests by using biological controls. You will also learn how to grow delicious tomatoes in an eco-friendly way with the aid of geothermal heat which Iceland has in abundance. 
 
Next up is the Geysir Geothermal Area, named after the now mainly dormant geyser called ‘Geysir’, which has lent its name to all such exploding hot springs around the world. The biggest geyser here is Strokkur, which erupts every few minutes, shooting water 30 metres into the air.
 
You will then be taken to see the ‘Golden Waterfall’ of Gullfoss, which rushes down from a height of 32 metres. Great sections of ice cover parts of Gullfoss during the winter, giving a wonderful display of ice formations.
 
Lastly, you will head to the beautiful Thingvellir National Park, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you can see the Mid-Atlantic Ridge above ground and get a sense of the power of Nature at work. The Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are pulling the island apart by a couple of centimetres each year. Iceland’s ‘Althingi’, one of the world’s oldest existing national parliaments, was founded at Thingvellir in 930 AD, making it a place of much historical significance.

Included Meals:  Breakfast
Hotel Island - Stay
Address : Reykjavik, Capital Region, Iceland

Following breakfast, you can book one of the optional activities listed in the ‘Personalise’ section, or simply take yourself into Reykjavik for some exploration. You might decide to take a guided tour of the city to ensure that you don’t miss any of the best sights, or you may prefer to take in the city independently. There is simply so much to see and do here that the hardest thing will be knowing where to start.

Tonight, there will be a great number of celebrations around the city to bring in the New Year. There will be firework tours, but we have found in the past the firework displays can be enjoyed from pretty much anywhere in the city. Your evening will begin with a short transfer from your hotel to Bryggjan Brugghus, famed for its delicious food and friendly service. The restaurant features its own micro-brewery, cocktail bar and wine room. Located beside the old harbour, it’s the perfect spot for watching the New Year’s Eve fireworks. A return transfer to your hotel is also included.

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel Island - Stay
Address : Reykjavik, Capital Region, Iceland

This morning, you are once again free to choose from our range of activities. You might like to relax after last night’s celebrations, in which case we recommend a visit to the famous Sky Lagoon hot spring and spa. Unwind in the misty blue waters as you admire the striking volcanic landscape. More active exploits are also available.

This evening you will be transferred to the harbour and travel out into the North Atlantic Ocean. Watching the twinkling lights of Reykjavik fade into the distance as you head out to sea is a really special sight. On a clear evening, you can even see the mountains outlined above the city.  Few places are less impacted by light pollution than the ocean, so fingers crossed there will be clear skies, good solar activity levels and you will be rewarded with a wonderful Northern Lights display on your final night in Iceland.

Included Meals:  Breakfast
Hotel Island - Stay
Address : Reykjavik, Capital Region, Iceland

After a final breakfast in your hotel, you will end your trip and be transferred to the airport ready for departure.

Included Meals:  Breakfast

Hotel Island To [KEF] Keflavik Intl. Airport, Iceland
Flybus Transfer
Duration
00:00
Hotel Island - Check Out
Address : Reykjavik, Capital Region, Iceland

What's included?

  • Return scheduled airport transfers
  • 4 nights at Hotel Island in a superior double/twin room
  • 4 breakfasts and 1 dinner
  • Northern Lights chase by coach
  • Golden Circle Tour
  • Northern Lights tour by boat
  • Fully qualified guides and instructors during activities

What I Like About Iceland

Andy Marshall

Celebrate the New Year in Iceland during this four-night holiday. This iconic island
offers a wealth of unforgettable experiences and we include some of the highlights.
Search for the Aurora by super jeep, enjoy delicious local cuisine and reach a unique Northern
Lights vantage point by boat

Accommodation

Hotel Island
     
 

This hotel is situated close to Iceland’s largest outdoor thermal pool, Laugardalslaug, as well as the Reykjavik Botanic Garden, which are both open all year round. It is within walking distance (approximately 30 minutes) of the city centre, where many shops and fantastic restaurants can be found.

The hotel is a dedicated wellness and spa hotel, with comfort and well-being central to its character. It has 128 rooms, many of which offer views of the mountain range that surrounds Reykjavik.

Hotel facilities

  • The modern restaurant Hekla prides itself on quality, nutritious food and its menu is designed to make the most of the delicious local produce available
  • The Silfra Spa is the perfect place to relax and unwind, with hot tub, cold tub and a pool. Access to the spa and gym are included with our superior rooms.
  • Free WiFi is included so that you can stay connected
Upgrade Northern Lights Coach Tour to Super Jeep Tour
No of Days: 1

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Tour Map

Additional Info

Price is based on 2 persons travelling

Tour terms, click here  

Booking conditions click here

Key Facts

Duration 3 - 4 Nights
Pace Relaxed
Holiday Type Land Only
Max Group Size NA
Cities / Destinations Iceland, Reykjavik
Brochure Code 29019
Price from
£1,415 pp
5 days

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Iceland – The Northern Lights at New Year

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  • Award-Winning: Best Travel Company to Northern Europe 2023
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