New Year's Land of the Northern Lights — Self-Launched Iceland Winter Road Trip
5 days · Iceland
On The Go Tours charges £1,690
No-markup version: ~£615 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of On The Go Tours' 5-day New Year's Northern Lights group tour — same Reykjavik, Reykjanes, South Coast and Golden Circle highlights, done under your own steam. You'll base yourself in a Reykjavik hostel, take a public bus or shared shuttle out to the Blue Lagoon, then join small-group day tours (or a self-drive rental if you prefer) along the South Coast and Golden Circle. New Year's Eve in Iceland is the real headline: enormous public bonfires and fireworks in towns and in Reykjavik itself, which are free and open to everyone. Chase the aurora with a budget minibus hunt from Reykjavik (many operators offer free re-tries if the lights don't appear). This is a lively, wintry, sociable trip — but note that December/January means short daylight hours, ice on the roads, and no guarantees on the aurora. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP, assuming dorm beds and shared transport.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Reykjavik — old town, harbour and city hall map
Reykjavik
Fly into Keflavik (KEF) and take the Flybus or Airport Direct shuttle into Reykjavik's BSI bus terminal (roughly £22-28 one way, book online in advance for the cheaper fare). Check into a central hostel dorm around Laugavegur or the old harbour. Spend the short daylight doing a free self-guided wander: Hallgrímskirkja church tower, the Sun Voyager sculpture, Harpa concert hall and the harbour. Pop into Reykjavik City Hall to see the huge 3D relief map of Iceland — a great, free way to get your bearings on the country's volcanoes and glaciers. Cheap dinner from a hot-dog stand or a hostel kitchen; stock up at Bónus supermarket (the budget chain) for breakfasts and trail snacks.
🚌Flybus/Airport Direct shuttle Keflavik to Reykjavik BSI ~£22-28 one way; everything else on foot
🛏Hostel dorm bed, central Reykjavik (e.g. Kex Hostel, Hostel B47 or Bus Hostel) — £30-40/night in peak New Year season
- →Self-guided Reykjavik old town walk
- →Hallgrímskirkja tower
- →Sun Voyager & Harpa
- →Reykjavik City Hall relief map
Reykjanes Peninsula, Blue Lagoon and an aurora hunt
Reykjanes Peninsula & Reykjavik
Book a small-group Reykjanes Peninsula half-day tour (GetYourGuide or a local operator such as Reykjavik Excursions — roughly £60-75) covering the geothermal fields at Gunnuhver, the bridge between continents at Sandvík, the bird cliffs at Krýsuvíkurbjarg and the fishing villages of Grindavík and Hafnir. Pre-book a Blue Lagoon Comfort ticket (from around £55-70, includes entrance, towel and a drink) or swap it for the cheaper Sky Lagoon/Secret Lagoon if your budget is tight — note Blue Lagoon access has been affected by recent volcanic activity near Grindavík, so check the operator's status before booking. Back in Reykjavik, have dinner at the hostel and join an evening Northern Lights minibus tour (from about £45-60; many operators offer a free repeat if the aurora doesn't show). Dress in serious layers — thermals, waterproof outer shell, hat, gloves.
🚌Included minibus pickup on booked day tours; no public transport needed
🛏Hostel dorm bed, central Reykjavik — £30-40/night
- →Small-group Reykjanes Peninsula tour
- →Blue Lagoon (pre-booked ticket)
- →Hot springs, lava fields and bird cliffs
- →Evening Northern Lights minibus hunt
South Coast waterfalls, black beach and New Year's Eve bonfires
South Coast & Hella
Join a South Coast day tour (from about £75-95 via GetYourGuide/Klook) calling at Seljalandsfoss (walk behind the waterfall if the path is open), Skógafoss's 60-metre drop, the Skógar Folk Museum (£10-12 entry if you want the optional stop), and the black sand at Reynisfjara with its basalt columns and bird cliffs near Vík — keep well back from the water, sneaker waves are lethal. Views of Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers en route. For New Year's Eve, either return to Reykjavik for its legendary public fireworks (free, city-wide, unofficial but spectacular) or book a night in Hella/Hvolsvöllur (guesthouse £45-65) and attend the traditional community bonfires, which are free and open to all. Skip the £90+ four-course dinner — a supermarket picnic or a pub meal keeps costs realistic.
🚌South Coast day tour minibus ~£75-95; if staying in Hella, a public Strætó bus back to Reykjavik the following morning (route 51, ~£15)
🛏Hostel dorm in Reykjavik, or a guesthouse in Hella/Hvolsvöllur for the bonfire night — £40-65
- →Seljalandsfoss waterfall
- →Skógafoss waterfall
- →Skógar Folk Museum (optional)
- →Reynisfjara black sand beach and Reynisdrangar sea stacks
- →New Year's Eve bonfires and fireworks
Golden Circle — geysers, Gullfoss and Þingvellir
Golden Circle & Reykjavik
Take a Golden Circle small-group tour (from around £65-80 on GetYourGuide/Klook) or, if you have a group, rent a car for the day (about £50-70 plus fuel, split between passengers — check road conditions on road.is and only drive if you're confident on winter roads). Highlights: the erupting Strokkur geyser at Geysir, the thundering Gullfoss waterfall (often partly frozen in winter), and Þingvellir National Park where the tectonic plates split and Iceland's ancient parliament met. Many day tours add a stop at a geothermal greenhouse or an Icelandic horse farm — both are good low-cost extras. Back in Reykjavik in the late afternoon, treat yourself to a bowl of lamb soup or a fish-and-chips dinner, then either rest or take a second aurora chase if the forecast (vedur.is) looks promising.
🚌Golden Circle day-tour minibus ~£65-80, or shared rental car ~£25-35 per person plus fuel
🛏Hostel dorm bed, central Reykjavik — £30-40/night
- →Strokkur geyser and Geysir geothermal area
- →Gullfoss waterfall
- →Þingvellir National Park
- →Optional geothermal greenhouse or Icelandic horse visit
- →Second aurora hunt (weather permitting)
Reykjavik morning and shuttle to Keflavik
Reykjavik to Keflavik
Use the morning for anything you missed — a soak at a local public swimming pool (Sundhöllin or Laugardalslaug, around £7-9, the cheapest hot-water experience in Iceland), the National Museum of Iceland (about £13), or a last coffee on Laugavegur. Pick up any remaining groceries or souvenirs, then take the Flybus or Airport Direct shuttle back to Keflavik (about £22-28) with at least 2.5 hours before your flight — winter weather can slow the road down. If you still haven't seen the aurora, note that many operators let you rebook a hunt within your stay, so leave the final evening flexible if your flight allows.
🚌Flybus/Airport Direct shuttle Reykjavik BSI to Keflavik ~£22-28
🛏None (departure day)
- →Public geothermal swimming pool
- →National Museum of Iceland (optional)
- →Last-minute shopping on Laugavegur
Self-launched vs. On The Go Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | On The Go Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£615 | £1,690 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,075 per person (64%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more On The Go Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£615
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does New Year's Land of the Northern Lights — Self-Launched Iceland Winter Road Trip cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £615 per person for 5 days in Iceland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with On The Go Tours?+
Yes — On The Go Tours charges around £1,690 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £615 — a saving of roughly £1,075 (64%) per person.
How long is the Iceland trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Iceland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, budget, festivals trip through Iceland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.