Home / Multi-Day Tours / Reykjavík / Adventurous Iceland Christmas Holiday: 5 Day Tour
You will find no place like Iceland, when it comes to the perfect location for your Christmas Holiday. During this dark period, the Icelandic sky is often brightened by Northern lights and Icelanders are generally in a joyful holiday spirit which will quickly transfer on to you. Concomitantly, we created an unforgettable Iceland Christmas Holiday tour. It is probably the best combination of relaxation and adventure hunting. The tour is also the perfect Christmas present for yourself or your loved ones.
If you are interested in receiving more information about this tour, please click on the “Request a quote” widget on the left side of the page. A quick form will open up where you will provide us with more information about your travel expectations. You will then be connected with your specialized travel agent who will assist you throughout the planning a provide a fully detailed quote.
Please note that this itinerary can be adjusted and customized to meet your travel needs and preferences. The package can also be offered as a privately guided tour if a self-drive option is not what you had in mind for your Iceland experience.
NC-06
Christmas
Guided Group Tours
5 days / 4 nights
South Iceland
Welcome to your Iceland Christmas Holidays. Our private chauffeur awaits you in the arrival hall of Keflavík International Airport and transfers you to your accommodation in central Reykjavík.
During the day, we recommend you to explore Iceland’s beautiful capital city and “prepare” yourself for the evening, by visiting the Northern Lights Centre in the old harbor. Learn more about this breathtaking phenomenon, before you will (hopefully) witness the beauty of the lights in real life during the night. Experience true Icelandic bathing culture at this unique oceanside geothermal lagoon.
Because today is all about relaxation and pampering yourself during your Iceland Christmas Holiday, you will first visit the breathtaking Sky Lagoon before going Northern Lights hunting.
Because of Iceland being situated so close to the Arctic circle, the country is one of the best places in Europe to see the Northern Lights. So, you will have the chance of spotting colors in the sky. They can range from green to red and even purple. After witnessing this natural phenomenon, you will drive back to Reykjavík. You will be back at your accommodation at approximately 01:00 a.m.
Today‘s tour is basically ‘Iceland in a nutshell‘ and because we like to go the extra mile, we will send you on a super jeep tour. The jeep will take you to Þingvellir National Park, a must-see for your perfect Iceland Christmas Holiday. There, you will walk in between two tectonic plates, the Eurasian and the North American. You will also visit the oldest parliament of the world (UNESCO World Heritage).
You think that is impressive? Wait until you go to the Geyser Geothermal Area and witness one of the world‘s major geysers erupt. The ‘geysir‘ hot spring, gave the name to every other hot spring in the world. The old Geysir has been dormant for years now, but its’ ever-reliable counterpart Strokkur erupts roughly every 8-10 minutes, so you are guaranteed to see this miracle of nature.
The next stop will be Iceland‘s most famous waterfall, the Golden Waterfall, or ‘Gullfoss‘, as we say here in Iceland. Trust us, he really lives up to that name. ‘Gullfoss‘ is particularly beautiful during the winter months. Parts of the waterfall are covered in snow and ice, which makes him the perfect location to shoot your Iceland Christmas Holiday pictures. Finally, you will drive up to Iceland‘s second largest glacier, Langjökull. The glacier is located within the Icelandic highlands, which makes this trip a truly unique experience. While being there, enjoy the panoramic view and glacier´s beauty.
In the evening of December 23rd, Icelanders celebrate Þorláksmessa. It is an Icelandic Christmas Holiday tradition to spend the evening in the city, where all shops and cafes are open until 23:00 p.m. Join the locals and listen to street choirs singing traditional Christmas carols and have a hot chocolate at one of our many cozy cafés.
Your day will start with a real adventure, because we send you on a guided ATV tour through Iceland‘s Southern Peninsula. The area is famous for the Blue Lagoon, but has a lot more to offer which you will sure find out during this trip. The ATVs are automatic and thereby easy to drive. On your mountain safari, you will ride through moss-covered lava fields along shipwrecks. On the mountain Hagafell, you will be blown away by the panoramic view of the area.
After the ATV adventure, you will spend the afternoon in the most relaxed way possible. You cannot fly back home without visiting the Blue Lagoon, or ‘Bláa Lónið’, as we say here in Iceland. We know it is quite a mouthful and so is the lagoon itself. The water in the spa contains algae, minerals and silica. Because of the latter, the lagoon got its’ unique blue color. Furthermore, the combination of all three will lead to silky smooth skin.
To end the third day of your Iceland Christmas Holiday, we can arrange for a nice Christmas dinner within the heart of Reykjavík.
Today, you will be heading down South. We hope, you are feeling relaxed after your trip to the Blue Lagoon, because today is all about adventure. Have you ever heard of Seljalandsfoss or Skógafoss? No? Let us teach you some Icelandic than. ‘Foss‘ is the Icelandic word for waterfall. Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss are concomitantly two waterfalls.
The next Icelandic word you have to learn is ‘jökull‘ (glacier), because you are heading straight to Sólheimajökull. There, you will go on a 1 to 1,5 hours glacier hike. We think, exploring the majestic landscapes of Sólheimajökull Glacier is simply a must when visiting the beautiful South coast.
You will also see the black sand beach Reynisfjara. According to National Geographic, Reynisfjara is one of the most stunning beaches in the world. See the Reynisdrangar basalt rock stacks that rise from the sea and have a look at Garðar, a shallow cave with basalt columns.
To end your Iceland Christmas Holiday, we can arrange for you a nice Christmas dinner within the heart of Reykjavík.
Today, your Iceland Christmas Holiday sadly comes to an end. Transfer back to Keflavík International Airport by shuttle bus (Comfort) or via private transfer (Quality).
Thank you for traveling with Iceland Unlimited.
Comfort accommodations offer access to private facilities (shower and toilet). This type of lodges belongs to the 3-star hotel category. Most of these properties have an in-house restaurant. This section offers an upgrade in comfort and service compared to the budget category. Breakfast is included.
Quality accommodations offer private rooms with en-suite shower/bath and toilet. These rooms are the best available accommodations in 4-star hotels or the highest quality lodges in each region. Luxury accommodations - the highest class of lodges, suites, and penthouses - are available upon request. Breakfast is included.
Reykjavík is the capital and biggest city of Iceland with a population of approximately 124,000. It is the northernmost capital in the world. Despite its small size, you can find many attractions and museums, making Reykjavik a popular destination.
The Aurora is a natural phenomenon caused by electrically charged particles, mainly electrons and protons ejected from the sun colliding with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen causing them to emit light that is visible to us. These hypnotic lights are known as Aurora Borealis, Polar Lights or Northern Lights in the arctic north and Aurora Australis (southern lights) around the south pole. The color of the Aurora has to do with the type of gas that these particles collide with, oxygen produces green light at low altitudes and red at high altitudes. Nitrogen produces purple Aurora. The green color is the most common and red can only be seen at the strongest of geomagnetic storms. The full understanding of the physical processes that cause the aurora are still a mystery but we know the fundamental causes of the Aurora is the interaction of solar wind with the Earth‘s magnetosphere.
There are three basic requirements for seeing the northern lights. Solar activity, darkness and clear skies. This means that you cannot see the northern lights during summer, they are still happening, there's even a phenomenon called daylight aurora, but our eyes cannot detect them as sunlight drowns out the Aurora. So the darker the better. Going out of the city is not a requirement, the Aurora can often be spotted within city limits in Iceland, however to best enjoy them going away from city lights enhances the experience. Also people should not use mobile phones if they are looking for the northern lights, as the light from the screen will make it harder for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. It‘s always a good idea to take warm clothes on your Aurora excursions as Iceland can get very cold in the winter, that means wool undergarments, warm mid layer and a windproof shell.
Sky Lagoon is a newly opened spa and wellness center just 15 minutes outside Reykjavík. It is known for its 7-step ritual, a unique experience tightly connected to the roots of Icelandic culture. Bathe in the geothermal waters in an infinity pool, relax in a warm blanket of steam and revitalize your skin with a nourishing body scrub.
Þórláksmessa is an Icelandic holiday celebrated on December 23rd, in honor of Þorlákur Þórhallsson, bishop of Skálholt, who was canonized and recognized as the patron saint of Iceland in 1984.
Þingvellir National Park is the most important historic and geological sites in Iceland. The area is part of a fissure zone running through Iceland, being situated on the tectonic plate boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Major events in the history of Iceland have taken place at Þingvellir and today the entire area is a protected national treasure.
Gullfoss, also called the Golden Waterfall, is one of the most iconic gems of the likewise named Golden Circle. The waterfall is located in the upper part of the River Hvíta. Gullfoss is actually two separate waterfalls, the upper one has a drop of 11 meters and the lower one 21 meters.
Geysir is the famous hot spring area located in the Haukadalur valley. The main attraction is known as Strokkur, which erupts energetically at regular intervals of 10 minutes or so its boiling waterjets can reach as high as 30 meters.
The Blue Lagoon is a famous geothermal spa located in Reykjanes peninsula nearby the International Airport of Iceland. It was formed during an operation at the nearby geothermal power plant. Reservations in advance are necessary for those who are planning a visit.
The Reykjanes peninsula is located on a drift zone, between two continents, the North American and Eurasian plate. It is a unique area where you can see different elements of the drift zone; very active geothermal energy, lava fields and other natural phenomenon. The Blue Lagoon and Keflavik international airport are also located in the area.
Seljalandsfoss is one of the most famous and visited waterfalls in Iceland. It located along the South Coast of the Country right by the road n. 1. The waterfall is part of the Seljalands river that originated from the famous volcano glacier Eyjafjallajökull. The waterfall is approximately 60-meter high and it is famous for its path that leads visitor behind its powerful water flow.
Skógafoss is a waterfall located on the Skógá river on the South Coast of Iceland. This picture-perfect waterfall descends 60 meters from the cliffs. Before pouring down the cliffs becoming the famous waterfall, the river flows through the Skógárgil gorge.
Reynisfjara is a famous black sand beach in the South of Iceland, just next to the village of Vik. Black sand, lava formations, and basalt columns make it a popular stop for all visitors.
Reynisdrangar cliffs are towering basalt-type rock formations situated near the shore of Reynisfjara black sand beach, on the South Coast of Iceland. The folk legend wants them to be the rocky representation of two trolls turned into stone after being caught by the sunlight after dawn.
Sólheimajökull glacier is the southwestern outlet of the Mýrdalsjökull icecap. It is about 8 km long and 1-2 km wide. It is popular for exciting tours such as glacier hikes and ice climbing.
