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.
Explore Reykjavík, the lunar landscapes of the Reykjanes peninsula, and the Golden Circle route with the Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, and Geysir hot springs. 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.
Most New Year’s programs in Iceland are based in Reykjavík and include superior class hotels and gourmet restaurants. As an out-of-the-box alternative GJ-Travel offers a casual New Year’s adventure where you stay in simple hotels and cottages in Reykjavík and South Iceland; all rooms with private bathroom. We spend two nights in Hella, a small village in South Iceland where you will be able to discover and experience how Icelandic countryside people celebrate New Year’s Eve. We promise that even in a casual program the meals and drinks will be delicious. Did we mention the Northern Lights? Árhús cottages in Hella are located in a large and dark garden where it is very easy to see the Northern Lights, also called Aurora Borealis, if the weather conditions are suitable. Our expert tour guide provides you even with a fact talk about the Northern Lights and gives you some tips on how to take photos of this natural phenomenon. On the 1st of January, the program includes fine dining at a restaurant downtown Reykjavík.
We look forward to celebrating with you the start of 2022 in the Icelandic countryside!
What you'll do
Day 1: Arrive in Iceland
Fly to Keflavik airport
Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle bus from Keflavik airport to your accommodation in Reykjavik. You may explore Iceland’s capital city on your own if time allows.
Overnight location:
Hotel Cabin, Reykjavík. Dinner is on your own. (50km / 31mls)
Day 2: Explore Reykjavik
Enjoy a full day to explore Reykjavik at your own pace
Overnight location:
Hotel Cabin, Reykjavík.
Day 3: Reykjanes Peninsula & Northern Lights
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.
Overnight location:
Arhus Cottages, Hella. Breakfast included. Lunch & dinner is on your own. (220km / 137mls)
Day 4: South Iceland
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 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 4-course dinner starts around 20:30 and is served at Árhús Restaurant on the river banks 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.
Overnight location:
Arhus Cottages, Hella. Breakfast included. Festive 4-course dinner (200km / 124mls)
Day 5: Horse Riding & Golden Circle
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.
Overnight location:
Hotel Cabin, Reykjavík. Breakfast included. Culinary dinner experience (200km / 124mls)
Day 6: Explore Reykjavik
Enjoy your last full day in Iceland to explore at your own pace
Overnight location:
Hotel Cabin, Reykjavík. Breakfast included.
Day 7: Fly Home
Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle bus from your accommodation in Reykjavik to Keflavik International Airport.
Fly back to UK
Breakfast included. (50km / 31mls)