Are you looking for a truly unique way to ring in the New Year? Why not take a trip to witness the magnificent Northern Lights? Iceland is one of the best destinations to see this fantastic natural spectacle, and the locals are famous for ringing in the New Year in their own inimitable style. It’s a party to end all parties.

New Year and Northern Lights

Flying into Reykjavik and then spending a few nights at Hotel Ranga is a fabulous way to start your trip, giving you the best chance of experiencing the famous Northern Lights. Iceland is one of the Nordic countries famous for its light sightings (other countries include Sweden, Norway, Finland, Greenland, Alaska, and Russia). This magnificent natural display is unlike any other on Earth and you will be mesmerized by the intensity of its beauty, its scale and the glorious spectrum of colours. The hotel’s dramatically isolated location makes it the perfect place to experience the phenomenon.

exciting volcanoes

During the build up to the New Year, you will have the opportunity to join fabulous local tours. The volcano and glacier tour is a real highlight and will take you exhilaratingly close to the crater of the famous volcano, Eyiafjallajokull, which erupted just four years ago. You will be escorted by a guide and driven in a jeep over lava fields past a myriad of magnificent volcanic features, some old and some very new. These so-called Superjeeps are geared up for off-road driving, and you’ll be able to experience them in action as you head across the glaciers towards the top of the volcano. From here you can hike up to the volcano, which is definitely worth the effort for the incredible panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.

picturesque waterfalls

If volcanoes aren’t your thing, the Golden Circle tour can be an exciting alternative. This tour is all about the dramatic and breathtaking landscapes for which the country is so famous. A 4×4 vehicle will take you around the Golden Circle, visiting Gullfoss waterfall, a constantly erupting geyser, and Haifoss, one of the best known (and highest) waterfalls in the country. The Golden Circle tour is a wonderful introduction to the landscape of a country that is wild and raw in every way, serving to put a little humiliation on any visitor who honors its presence.

new year celebrations

At New Years, the country’s capital, Reykjavik, hosts its own Northern Lights display! Iceland celebrates the New Year in style and it is a very exciting and fun time to be in the city. After exploring the city’s museums, shops and quaint harbor, you can enjoy an impressive fireworks display from the comfort of one of the country’s most eclectic restaurants, Perlan. You’ll experience the incredible cuisine and wine of this renowned restaurant, and have one of the best vantage points in the city to watch the fireworks. In a peculiar turn of events, you’ll be interrupted after your main course to be taken on a tour of the many bonfires lit throughout the city. Accompanied by raucous and joyous celebrations, these bonfires are the locals’ way of ringing in the New Year. You can then head back to the restaurant for dessert, more fireworks, and dancing the night away.

To experience a unique taste of science, geography, culture, New Years celebrations, and the Northern Lights, Iceland is the ultimate destination.