New Year in Reykjavik

Enjoy a guided Reykjavik City Tour and explore the highlights of Iceland’s exciting capital. Take in the charming city centre, Parliament, the harbour and Hallgrimskirkja with it’s iconic steeple. You will pass the Harpa concert hall and visit Perlan, a remarkable building with a viewpoint and housing a restaurant. The city tour ends around noon with the afternoon at leisure. Perhaps opt for a bit of retail therapy or visit the many museums, galleries, and exhibitions, such as the Whales of Iceland exhibition or visit the Perlan Museum. Here you can walk through a unique indoor ice cave which is a replica of an ice tunnel dug straight through a glacier. You might even choose to take an afternoon whale watching boat trip.

Enjoy a guided Reykjavik City Tour and explore the highlights of Iceland’s exciting capital. Take in the charming city centre, Parliament, the harbour and Hallgrimskirkja with it’s iconic steeple. You will pass the Harpa concert hall and visit Perlan, a remarkable building with a viewpoint and housing a restaurant. The city tour ends around noon with the afternoon at leisure.

Perhaps opt for a bit of retail therapy or visit the many museums, galleries, and exhibitions, such as the Whales of Iceland exhibition or visit the Perlan Museum. Here you can walk through a unique indoor ice cave which is a replica of an ice tunnel dug straight through a glacier. You might even choose to take an afternoon whale watching boat trip.

In pictures

Head out to explore the Golden Circle, first stop being Thingvellir National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will stroll around the country’s most sacred site, home of the oldest existing national parliament in the world. With fascinating natural beauty, a spectacular geological vista, set on a vast plain flanked by large fissures, right by Iceland’s largest lake, Thingvallavatn. The Mid-Atlantic rift, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates slowly pull apart, is clearly visible. Next, you will be taken to the mighty waterfall of Gullfoss – the Golden falls, before exploring the active geothermal area of Haukadalur which contains the geyser Strokkur erupting hot water and steam to an elevation of 25 metres (82 ft) every 5-7 minutes. You will pass the greenhouse town of Hveragerdi and continue over the mountain pass Hellisheidi, an area with large lava fields and steaming valleys. Passing the geothermal power station Hellisheidarvirkjun you will learn how Icelanders use geothermal energy to produce electricity and hot water for house heating. Early evening you will be transferred from your hotel to Perlan where you will be greeted with a welcome drink and the option to a Northern Lights Planetarium show. Afterwards enjoy a festive 4-course dinner with wine pairing. Later during the evening, there will be music and a DJ to keep the party going throughout the evening. You will also have access to the observation deck that has 360° view over Reykjavik’s capital area to watch the fireworks

Head out to explore the Golden Circle, first stop being Thingvellir National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will stroll around the country’s most sacred site, home of the oldest existing national parliament in the world. With fascinating natural beauty, a spectacular geological vista, set on a vast plain flanked by large fissures, right by Iceland’s largest lake, Thingvallavatn. The Mid-Atlantic rift, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates slowly pull apart, is clearly visible.

Next, you will be taken to the mighty waterfall of Gullfoss – the Golden falls, before exploring the active geothermal area of Haukadalur which contains the geyser Strokkur erupting hot water and steam to an elevation of 25 metres (82 ft) every 5-7 minutes. You will pass the greenhouse town of Hveragerdi and continue over the mountain pass Hellisheidi, an area with large lava fields and steaming valleys. Passing the geothermal power station Hellisheidarvirkjun you will learn how Icelanders use geothermal energy to produce electricity and hot water for house heating.

Early evening you will be transferred from your hotel to Perlan where you will be greeted with a welcome drink and the option to a Northern Lights Planetarium show. Afterwards enjoy a festive 4-course dinner with wine pairing. Later during the evening, there will be music and a DJ to keep the party going throughout the evening. You will also have access to the observation deck that has 360° view over Reykjavik’s capital area to watch the fireworks

In pictures

This morning you will travel to Reykjanes Peninsula with its dramatic seashores, fascinating geology, moonscapes, lava fields and fishing villages. You will make a short stop at Bessastadir, the residence of the President of Iceland before continuing onto the bridge over the continents and the lighthouse at the edge of the peninsula. You will reach the Blue Lagoon in the afternoon, an oasis among the lava that owes its existence to a nearby geothermal power plant. Enjoy lunch and a refreshing bathe in the pleasantly warm mineral-rich water, reputed for its healing properties. Later return to Reykjavik.

This morning you will travel to Reykjanes Peninsula with its dramatic seashores, fascinating geology, moonscapes, lava fields and fishing villages. You will make a short stop at Bessastadir, the residence of the President of Iceland before continuing onto the bridge over the continents and the lighthouse at the edge of the peninsula. You will reach the Blue Lagoon in the afternoon, an oasis among the lava that owes its existence to a nearby geothermal power plant. Enjoy lunch and a refreshing bathe in the pleasantly warm mineral-rich water, reputed for its healing properties. Later return to Reykjavik.

In pictures

Transfer to Keflavik Airport in time for your flight home.