Christmas and Northern Lights Adventure 2024

This is an escorted tour program taking you to the Icelandic countryside to celebrate Christmas in a casual and Icelandic way. We recommend booking early, as this program is only available for a maximum of 40 persons. You explore Reykjavík, the lunar landscapes of the Reykjanes peninsula, and the Golden Circle route with the Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, and Geysir hot springs. You travel to South Iceland, a region with glaciers, waterfalls and black lava beaches. Of course, a warm and relaxing soak in the famous Blue Lagoon during the cold winter days is also included.

Stay in simple hotels and cottages in Reykjavík and South Iceland; all rooms with private shower/wc. Discover and experience how people of the Icelandic countryside celebrate Christmas. Oops, did we mention the Northern Lights?

Highlights:

• Reykjavik
• Golden Circle
• Blue Lagoon
• Black Lava beach
• Northern Lights program
• 4-course festive dinner (24th of December)
• Culinary Experience at Perlan (26th of December)

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 - Welcome To Iceland (50 km/31 mls)

The Flybus shuttle brings travellers from Keflavík International Airport to Hotel Cabin in Reykjavík where you spend one night. We provide you with ideas on how to explore Iceland’s capital on your own.

Accommodation: Hotel Cabin breakfast included.

Day 2 - Reykjanes Peninsula, Blue Lagoon & Christmas Celebration (220 km/137 mls)

At 09:00 meet your tour guide who shows the group the Christmas spirit of the capital and the Reykjanes Peninsula with its hot springs, mountains, moon-like landscape, bird cliffs, lighthouses and fishing villages. At the end of the day, we get to soak off our travels in the warm blue waters of the famous Blue Lagoon. We stay for two nights in simple cottages in South Iceland.

In the evening we celebrate Christmas the Icelandic way. Before dinner, we join a guided bus tour to visit the Christmas lights in the villages of Hvolsvöllur and Hella. The traditional Christmas lights had their origins in the Middle Ages when people needed to keep the lights in their abodes during the Winter Solstice. In Iceland, the tradition finds its roots in the Pagan Old Norse beliefs when people would keep the fire alive inside the central pit of the Viking longhouses to keep the darkness of the Winter Solstice outside.

Your festive dinner starts around 19:30 and is served at Stracta Hotel in Hella, which is a small village in South Iceland. Drink a toast of sparkling wine as you enjoy a real special Christmas Celebration. Naturally, once darkness falls, you are out in the garden waiting for the Northern Lights.

Accommodation: Stracta Hotel or similar. Breakfast & festive 4-course dinner included

Day 3 - South Iceland with optional Glacier Hike (200 km/124 mls)

Today we travel along the south coast. We reach the area beneath the Eyjafjallajökull volcano and glacier. We stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall and visit Skógar folk museum of early Modern Iceland with its turf houses. At lunch, we visit the Skógarfoss waterfall.

In the afternoon we offer an optional glacier hike. The hike is on the Sólheimajökull glacier tongue which extends from the great Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Booking for the hike is made directly with the operator. When booking make sure it is on the 3rd day of the tour and the 14:30 (02:30 pm) time slot.

If you don’t book the glacier hike, then the tour continues further south where you walk on the famous Black Lava Beach at Reynisfjara, observe the Cap of Dyrhólaey and the Reynisdrangar Sea Cliffs before visiting the charming village of Vík.

If the night is clear, you might be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights swirling in a wild and carefree dance across the heavens in dramatic shapes, colors, patterns and sizes.

Accommodation: Stracta Hotel or similar. Breakfast included.

Day 4 Golden Circle and Culinary Experience downtown Reykjavík (210 km/130 mls)

In the morning we learn about the Icelandic horse, its unique qualities and history and visit a geothermal greenhouse. Then we travel the Golden Circle route, see steam rising from the Geysir geothermal fields and admire the double waterfall of Gullfoss. We end the afternoon at Þingvellir National Park, the location of the ancient Viking Parliament and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The program includes a culinary treat at a traditional restaurant located downtown Reykjavík. Return transfer included.

Accommodation: Hotel Cabin. Breakfast and fine dinner included.

Day 5, 27.12: DEPARTURE HOME (50 km/31 mls)

Individual transfer by Flybus airport shuttle from your accommodation in Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport.

CHANGE OF PROGRAM: Itineraries may be subject to change at short notice during severe weather conditions and certain outdoor activities/day trips may be cancelled during the winter season in Iceland. In these rare cases, where situations of force majeure apply, excursions/activities cannot be refunded but the local guides will try their best to find reasonable alternatives where and whenever possible. Accommodation is subject to change.

Tour details

Travel Dates: 23.12.2024 - 27.12.2024
Group Size: large group tour, 40 people max

The price is from £1,695 per person based on 2 people sharing a double/twin room
Solo traveller: £1,795
*Subject to availability

This tour includes:

• Return flights from the UK including hand luggage, taxes and fees
• Arrival & departure airport transfer by FLYBUS Plus shuttle (no guide)
• 4 nights budget accommodation, rooms with private showers/wc including breakfast (upgrade to comfort pagkage including 3 star hotel available)
• 3 days escorted coach tour with English-speaking guide/driver-guide
• Arrival & departure airport transfer by Flybus shuttle (no guide)
• Christmas lights tour & Christmas celebration on day 2
• Festive dinner on the 24th of December
• Fine dining at culinary restaurant on the 26th of December, incl transfers
• Blue Lagoon, entrance and use of towel included
• Skógar Folk Museum on early Modern Iceland with its turf houses
• Visit Icelandic horse stables & a geothermal greenhouse
• Northern Lights program during two evenings
• Use of winter & Northern Lights Explorer equipment: simple non-slip snow & ice grippers spikes for shoes and a flashlight.
• Free Wi-Fi on the bus
• Financial Protection (ATOL)

Not included:

• Optional excursions like the Northern Lights cruise
• Travel insurance
• Anything else not specifically listed under "this includes"