Nordic New Year – Encore Iceland

Meet your Borton Overseas Nordic Specialist, who will escort the group to Reykjavik on Icelandair. Departure from Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport at 6:25pm. Borton Overseas can assist with arrangements for departures from other US locations – please inquire!

Morning arrival into Iceland. After luggage collection, group transfer to Viking World for a welcome breakfast and a brief history of Leifur Eiríksson’s journey to the New World. Following breakfast, we will depart for the famous Blue Lagoon where we will enjoy relaxing in the geothermal waters after our long flight. The mineral rich water is a milky shade of blue – the soothing and healing effects on the skin have been experienced by visitors during its 40 years of existence. After a refreshing soak, transfer into Reykjavik city center and to the hotel. There is some free time to get settled and relax. Late this afternoon, we will combine sightseeing with our dinner experience as we sample authentic Icelandic cuisine on a walking food tour of Reykjavik. This is one of the best ways to get acquainted with the city and its culture. In addition to a walking tour of the city with a local guide, we will also stop at various dining establishments across the city and sample some of the best native Icelandic treats.
Overnight at CenterHotel Arnarhvoll, Reykjavik

After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart Reykjavik and travel the famous Golden Circle route. This tour takes you on a wondrous circular journey through the heart of Iceland’s Southern Region, stopping at some of Iceland’s most iconic sites. Þingvellir National Park is an attraction of great historical, geological, and cultural significance. Located in a rift valley where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet, the UNESCO designated world heritage site is also the birthplace of the Althing—Iceland’s parliament founded in 930 AD. The tour continues across an area of picturesque scenery to the mighty Gullfoss waterfall. Once there, you can take more than one path to view the two tiers of cascading water from a couple of vantage points. Onward to the home of “The Great Geysir” hot spring, which all geysers are named after, this area is an impressive collage of bubbling mud pools, hissing steam vents, and colorful algae deposits. Strokkur geyser puts on quite the show every few minutes blasting boiling water high up into the air. Extra time is allotted for a lunch break at Gullfoss or Geysir.
Overnight at CenterHotel Arnarhvoll, Reykjavik

Today is free to sightsee independently in the city or you can choose to participate in an additional tour.

Optional Day Tours:
• South Coast Tour – Venture out to the south coast of Iceland. Here you will visit amazing sights seeing; the lava fields and Eyjafjallajökull, a volcano last erupting in 2010. The tour will visit Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, Sólheimajökull glacier, and the black sand beaches and basalt column cliffs of Reynisfjara, which are rich in bird life, and an amazing beach cave called Hálsanefshellir. $152 per person / Duration: 9-10 Hours

• Sky Lagoon Geothermal Spa: Pure Pass – The Sky Lagoon is a breathtaking a geothermal spa in Reykjavik capital area. Relax and unwind in the great outdoors and experience the 7-step ritual for rejuvenated. $134 per person / Duration: 2-3 Hours

• Northern Lights by Bus – This Northern Lights tour takes you to see a spectacular natural phenomenon which happens during the winter months. The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are caused by the interaction of particles from the sun with the upper atmosphere near the North Pole. Northern Lights in Iceland are visible during the winter months, from September to April. The locations visited during the Northern Lights tour vary from day to day depending on weather conditions. $135 per person / Duration: 3 Hours

• Wonders of Iceland – Your all-access pass to Perlan, one of Reykjavik’s top museum attractions includes access to Perlan, the Observation Deck, Áróra Northern Lights Show in Planetarium, and all Wonders of Iceland exhibitions. Please note: Transportation to and from the museum is not included. Public bus service or taxi options available locally. $43 per person

Overnight at CenterHotel Arnarhvoll, Reykjavik

The morning and afternoon are free for sightseeing, and shopping or exploring Reykjavik on your own. We will meet for a multi-course New Year’s Eve dinner to start our holiday celebration. After dinner, we will tour the impressive bonfires of Reykjavik where we will experience the Icelandic New Year’s Eve traditions dating back to the Viking Age. We will celebrate with the locals at a couple of bonfires and then watch the impressive & ongoing fireworks display from the city.
Overnight at CenterHotel Arnarhvoll, Reykjavik

Partake in one last Scandinavian breakfast this morning, with time to relax and pack. After check-out, midday transfer by coach to the international airport Keflavik for check-in for the flight with Icelandair, departing at 4:45pm. Early evening arrival back in the Twin Cities, MN.