There’s definitely a hint of magic at work under the sea in the Dhaalu Atoll. Imagine a series of giant portholes looking out onto a vivid slice of pristine reef – albeit with a DJ booth and a bustling champagne bar behind you – and you’ll get the idea.

This is Subsix, a restaurant and nightclub six metres below the surface and 500 metres offshore from the luxury resort of Per Aquum. A short one-hour hop from the capital Male, it’s a place where you are as likely to encounter a killer shark as a DJ spinning killer beats.

In a place where there are more huskies than people, you might not expect a sophisticated, stylish New Year’s Eve party, but that’s just what you’ll get 200 km north of the Arctic Circle at the Icehotel in Jukkasjarvi, northern Sweden.

First built from frozen ice and snow in 1989, then painstakingly rebuilt every autumn after the annual spring thaw, the hotel throws a one-of-a-kind end of year celebration. Cue a lavish dinner, crystal-clear skies, traditional Laplander bonfires and a hand-crafted cocktail bar made from huge chunks of ice. On a clear New Year’s Eve, should you get lucky, the disco lights will be provided by the aurora borealis. And champagne is served ice cold, naturally.

An unbelievable 490 metres above sea level, the futuristic, neon-tinged Ozone is the world’s highest bar, and affords you a bird’s eye view of Hong Kong and Kowloon from the 118th floor of the Ritz Carlton.

There may be other contenders to the title – Atmosphere at the Burj Khalifa (442 metres high) or Cloud 9 at the Shanghai Park Hyatt (350 metres high) – but for sheer vertical thrill it can’t be beat. Take the minute-long lift ride for astonishing cocktails and equally sigh-triggering views.

Long-known for its mineral rich black mud and healing properties – even Cleopatra knew about its revitalising benefits – the salty, brackish Dead Sea in the Middle East offers a more laid-back, clean-cut alternative to more hedonistic, late-night New Year’s Eve parties.

A stay at the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar, overlooking the Israeli border, is also a relaxing experience: you’ll have a front-seat view of one of the most timeless, unhurried places on earth. Should you decide to liven it up a little, book ahead for the hotel’s black-tie ballroom party and New Year’s Eve dinner. The morning after, rejuvenate in the hotel’s nine pools, or clear that hangover by bobbing gently in the Dead Sea.

An adapted version first appeared in Silverkris.

Like this? Check out the best way to enjoy the New Year’s Eve Countdown in NYC’s Times Square and top hotels in Singapore for catching the fireworks at Marina Bay.