Christmas & Northern Lights Adventure
You 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. 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.
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 shower/wc. 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. Oops, did we mention the Northern Lights? Árhús cottages 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 also 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 panoramic restaurant at the Pearl in Reykjavík. We look forward to celebrating with you Christmas 2019 in the Icelandic countryside.
Tour Itinerary
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, Reykjavík (Standard room is 10m²). A la Carte dinner is on your own (50km / 31mls)
A la Carte dinner
Hotel Cabin, Reykjavík (Standard room is 10m²)
Flybus shuttle brings travellers from Keflavík International Airport to Hotel Cabin in Reykjavík
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 4-course dinner starts around 19:30 and is served at Árhús Restaurant on the river banks 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: Arhus Cabins, Hella. Breakfast & festive 4-course dinner included (220km / 137mls)
- Breakfast & festive 4-course dinner
- Arhus Cabins, Hella
Today we travel along the south coast. We visit the state-of-the-art educational Lava Centre and experience volcanic eruptions in a cinema auditorium! We continue to the area beneath the Eyjafjallajökull volcano and glacier and stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall. At lunch, we visit the Skógarfoss waterfall.
In the afternoon 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: Arhus Cabins, Hella. Breakfast included. A la Carte dinner on your own (200km / 124mls)
- Breakfast, A la Carte dinner
- Arhus Cabins, Hella
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.
Overnight at Hotel Cabin. The program includes a culinary treat at a traditional restaurant located downtown Reykjavík. Return transfer included.
Overnight location: Hotel Cabin, Reykjavík (Standard room is 10m²). Breakfast & fine dinner included (210km / 130mls)
- Breakfast & fine dinner
- Hotel Cabin, Reykjavík (Standard room is 10m²)
- Return transfer
Individual transfer to Keflavík Airport. Breakfast included. (50km / 31mls)
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Keflavík Airport
Customer reviews
I wanted to thank you for such a nice trip to Iceland over the winter. It was a lovely break from reality and getting to explore such a magical place was a lot of fun. The scenery of that country is unreal. The hot springs, mountains, glaciers, and geysers were so beautiful. The fireworks show was something right out of a movie! The hot spirngs and bubbling pools were so great. The national park was cool and learning about the Icelandic horses was something I found particularly interesting since I used to ride horses as a girl. Thank you again for making this trip so wonderful.
Sharon Wolff
