Name: Christmas & Northern Lights Adventure
Brand: GJ Travel
SKU: 1
Price: 1730 EUR
Availability: InStock

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Christmas lights. Northern Lights.

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13334

5 days / 4 nights

Availability : 23 - 27 Dec

Keflavik International Airport

Min Age : 8+

Max People : 40

Tour Code

GJ 24-XMAS

Celebrate Christmas in the Icelandic countryside!

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.

Explore Reykjavík, the lunar landscapes of the Reykjanes peninsula, and the Golden Circle route with the Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, and Geysir hot springs. 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.

Most Christmas programs in Iceland are based in Reykjavík and include superior class hotels and gourmet restaurants. As an out-of-the-box alternative GJ-Travel offers a casual Christmas adventure where you stay in simple hotels and cottages in Reykjavík and South Iceland. All rooms with private bathroom. We spend two nights in Hella, a small village in South Iceland where you will be able to discover and experience how Icelandic countryside people celebrate Christmas. We promise that even in a casual program the meals and drinks will be delicious. Did we mention the Northern Lights? The accommodations in Hella are located in a large and dark garden where it is very easy to see the Northern Lights, also called Aurora Borealis, if the weather conditions are suitable. Our expert tour guide provides you even with a fact talk about the Northern Lights and gives you some tips on how to take photos of this natural phenomenon. On the 26th of December, the program includes fine dining at a culinary restaurant in Reykjavík.

We look forward to celebrating with you Christmas in the Icelandic countryside!

Highlights & Experiences

Explore Reykjavík, the lunar landscapes of the Reykjanes peninsula, and the Golden Circle route.
Relaxing soak in the famous Blue Lagoon
Travel to South Iceland, a region with glaciers, waterfalls and black lava beaches
Golden Circle including a greenhouse & horse stable visit
Northern Lights program
Festive dinner (24th of December)
Culinary Experience downtown Reykjavík (26th of December)
Optional hotel upgrade

Itinerary

Click on each day for more details

Day 1Arrival Day

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.

Overnight location:
Hotel Cabin (Budget version, standard room is 10m²) or Hótel Klettur (Comfort version), or similar in Reykjavík. Dinner is on your own (50km / 31mi)

Day 2Reykjanes Peninsula, Blue Lagoon & Christmas Celebration

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.

Overnight location:
Stracta Hotel (Budget version, standard room is 18m²) / Stracta Hotel (Comfort version, studio room 24m²) in Hella or similar. Breakfast & festive 4-course dinner included (220km / 137mi)

Day 3South Iceland

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.

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.

Overnight location:
Stracta Hotel (Budget version, standard room is 18m²) / Stracta Hotel (Comfort version, studio room 24m²) in Hella or similar. Dinner on your own (200km / 124mi)

Day 4Golden Circle & Culinary Experience downtown Reykjavík

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.

Overnight location:
Hotel Cabin (Budget version, standard room is 10m²) or Hótel Klettur (Comfort version), or similar in Reykjavík. Breakfast & fine dinner included (210km / 130mi)

Day 5Departure Day

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

Breakfast included. (50km / 31mi)

NOTE: 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.

Cancellation policy for the tour

Price & Details

2026 | Price, inclusions & exclusions

Budget version
EUR 1.770 per person (double/twin room, breakfast included)
EUR 2.090 per person (single room, breakfast included)

EUR 150 Extra Single Room night in Reykjavík. Price per room per night incl. breakfast
EUR 180 Extra Double Room night in Reykjavík. Price per room per night incl. breakfast

Comfort version
EUR 1.970 per person (double/twin room, breakfast included)
EUR 2.520 per person (single room, breakfast included)

EUR 220 Extra Single Room night in Reykjavík. Price per room per night incl. breakfast
EUR 240 Extra Double Room night in Reykjavík. Price per room per night incl. breakfast

EUR 140 per car Upgrade for private airport transfer one-way 1-6 persons

Price Includes
• 4 nights budget accommodation, rooms with private showers/wc
• 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
• Daily breakfast
• 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

Price Excludes
• Any private expenses
• Any meals not listed under included
• Any additional services
• Single supplement (mandatory when in single room)

Complementaries
• Free Wi-Fi on the bus
• Entrance fees
• Use of flashlight
• Use of ice grippers spikes for shoes

Additional services
• Extra night in Reykjavik before/after the tour – on request
• Optional Northern Lights cruise

2027 | Price, inclusions & exclusions

Budget version
EUR 1.810 per person (double/twin room, breakfast included)
EUR 2.180 per person (single room, breakfast included)

EUR 150 Extra Single Room night in Reykjavík. Price per room per night incl. breakfast
EUR 190 Extra Double Room night in Reykjavík. Price per room per night incl. breakfast

Comfort version
EUR 2.010 per person (double/twin room, breakfast included)
EUR 2.640 per person (single room, breakfast included)

EUR 230 Extra Single Room night in Reykjavík. Price per room per night incl. breakfast
EUR 260 Extra Double Room night in Reykjavík. Price per room per night incl. breakfast

EUR 140 per car Upgrade for private airport transfer one-way 1-6 persons

Price Excludes
• Any private expenses
• Any meals not listed under included
• Any additional services
• Single supplement (mandatory when in single room)

Complementaries
• Free Wi-Fi on the bus
• Entrance fees
• Use of flashlight
• Use of ice grippers spikes for shoes

Additional services
• Extra night in Reykjavik before/after the tour – on request
• Optional Northern Lights cruise

Children discount: 20% discount for children 8-11 years of age if sharing room with 2 adults. Tour is not recommended for children younger than eight years of age. Triple rooms are double rooms with an extra bed and ideal for two adults and one child.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I meet the guide?
Meet with your tour guide on day 2 in the lobby of your hotel. If you booked the comfort version please be in the lobby between 8:30-08:45 and if you booked be budget version please be in the lobby between 08:45-09:00.

When and where does the tour start?
The tour starts on on day 2, just before 9:00 am in the lobby of your hotel.

What are first and last days for?
Arrival and departure days are to make your flight arrangements easier and to have a free day of leisure. You can either arrive or depart at any time on first and last days. The tour will always start on day 2 and will end the second to last day.

Do you arrange airport transfers?
GJ Travel provides airport transfers with the Flybus, available on arrival hall at KEF airport.

In what language is the tour?
All of our tours are English-speaking.

When can we see the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights season is from September to mid-April. We carefully choose locations to maximize your chances to see the northern lights with the help of a professional tour guide.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed on this trip?
The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis as they are also referred to are one of the many natural wonders of the world and are a natural phenomenon. As a naturally occurring phenomenon, the appearance of the Northern Lights is notoriously difficult to predict any further in advance than about two hours before it happens. So much is dependent on solar activity, we cannot accurately predict when they will occur nor how frequently. Every endeavour will be made on this trip to see the Northern Lights if it is the correct time of year to see the lights, however, this is not guaranteed.

Can you assist with booking additional accommodation?
Off course, we can help you book pre/post tour accommodation if you wish to stay in the same hotels as the ones we use on the tour. We always have some rooms on allotment for pre/post nights. If you would like to stay an extra day in Reykjavík before or after the tour, please contact our team.

I’m a solo traveller, is there a single supplement?
A single supplement is mandatory for this trip if you want to have your own room.

Is it possible to book a triple share accommodation?
Yes, both single, twin and triple rooms are available. The price per person is the same for twin and triple rooms. If someone wants to stay in a single room, there’s an additional fee though. Please contact our Sales team to arrange this.

What is the age range?
The minimum age limit for this tour is 8 years old and we don’t recommend it for younger children. There is, on the other hand, no maximum age for this tour.

Are the flights included?
Flights before and after the tour are not included.

What is the suggested budget for meals?
Somewhere between 8000 and 15.000 ISK per person per day is a good budget for meals while on the tour.

Are there locations to purchase food while we are on the trip or must the meals be pre-packed?
We will make stops during the tour at restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations where meals, drinks and snacks can be purchased while on the tour.

How much time is spent at each attraction?
We stop for about 40 minutes at each attraction.

Start & End Location

Keflavik International Airport (with Flybus shuttle)

Tour Pick-up Time

08:45 on day 2 from Hotel Klettur & 09:00 from Hotel Cabin (subject to change).

Optional glacier hike

Please note: This tour is temporarily unavailable due to current conditions on the Sólheimajökull glacier

Duration of this activity is approximately 3 hours in total, about 90 minutes on the ice and about 30-40 min walk (one-way) from the car park to the glacier edge itself. The minimum age for the glacier hike is 10 years. You need to bring warm clothing, rain gear and hiking boots. Subject to availability and booked on the tour operators’ website.

Map

Photos

3 Reviews

Sort By:RatingDate

Client from Flight Centre

Couple Traveller

Good content & activities.
Auguste keep things running to plan + was helpful with any questions.
Hotel Cabin – very small basic room struggled to find room for suitcases & 2 people. Stracta – Happy with this level of accommodation.
Meals that have provided as part of the tour have been good – great breakfast – (Buy your own meal at Stracta was very expensive.
Our coach driver was excellent and very professional. Made us feel safe even in difficult conditions.

December 26, 2023

Client from All Iceland UK

Solo Traveller

Had an amazing trip, our guide Simone could not have done better.
We packed in so much in the time we were in Iceland.
I couldn’t rate this trip higher, thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish, and didn’t want to come home.
Glad I’d added some extra days to the end of the trip so could see more of Reykjavik.

December 30, 2021

Client from On the Go Tours

Solo Traveller

Our guide, Simone, had both a deep love for and abundant knowledge of Iceland which shone through every activity. Her enthusiasm for the country was contagious. Her skills of photography and storytelling made the whole tour memorable and unforgettable! I did not want the tour to end.

If you are going to visit iceland, I recommend Simone de Greef . She will show you the “real” Iceland – you will certainly come away delighted and a whole lot smarter. She will also give you great advice on how to take photographs of the Northern Lights.

December 27, 2021