Christmas Land of the Northern Lights – Self-Launched 5-Day Iceland Winter Circuit
5 days · Iceland (Reykjavík, Reykjanes & South Coast)
On The Go Tours charges £1,600
No-markup version: ~£715 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, hostel-and-guesthouse version of On The Go Tours' 5-day Christmas Northern Lights tour, covering the same circuit: Reykjavík, the Reykjanes Peninsula and Blue Lagoon, the South Coast waterfalls and black sand beach, and the Golden Circle. Instead of a guided coach, you use the public Strætó city buses, the Flybus airport shuttle, the cheap long-distance Strætó/routed buses to Hvolsvöllur and Hella, and independently-bookable day tours (GetYourGuide, Viator, or direct with operators like Reykjavík Excursions, Gray Line or BusTravel) for the South Coast and Golden Circle. Costs are realistic winter backpacker estimates and assume you cook some meals at the hostel and pre-book Blue Lagoon (or swap for the cheaper Sky Lagoon / local pools). Note: Iceland is expensive even on a budget — the savings come from dorms rather than 3-star hotels, supermarket food and public transport rather than a private coach, not from cutting corners on experiences. Book Blue Lagoon, South Coast and Golden Circle tours and your Christmas Eve dinner well in advance; late December departures sell out.
Day-by-day
Arrive Keflavík → Reykjavík: DIY city highlights
Reykjavík
Land at Keflavík (KEF) and take the Flybus or Airport Express shuttle into Reykjavík (~£20-25 one way, 45-50 min, book online in advance). Check into a downtown hostel dorm (Kex Hostel, Hlemmur Square, Loft Hostel or Galaxy Pod Hostel all have good winter dorm rates). In the afternoon do the guided city highlights yourself: Hallgrímskirkja church tower, the Sun Voyager sculpture, Harpa concert hall, the old harbour and the colourful streets of 101 Reykjavík. Warm up at a local geothermal pool such as Sundhöllin or Vesturbæjarlaug (~£6-8 entry) rather than a tourist spa. Eat dinner from Bónus supermarket supplies or a cheap bakery/hot-dog stand (Bæjarins Beztu ~£4). Tonight and any clear night: check the aurora forecast (en.vedur.is) and walk or take a city bus to the Grótta lighthouse/ Seltjarnarnes peninsula away from lights — a free aurora hunt.
🚌Flybus airport shuttle from KEF to Reykjavík BSÍ ~£20-25 one way; walk/Strætó city bus in town (~£3.20 single, day pass ~£10)
🛏Downtown Reykjavík hostel dorm (e.g. Kex Hostel or Galaxy Pod Hostel), ~£35-45/night in winter
- →Hallgrímskirkja tower
- →Harpa & old harbour walk
- →Sundhöllin geothermal pool
- →Free Grótta aurora spotting
Reykjanes Peninsula & Blue Lagoon (Christmas Eve)
Reykjanes Peninsula / Reykjavík
Book a half-day Reykjanes Peninsula tour on GetYourGuide or directly with a small local operator (~£45-60) covering the Reykjanesviti lighthouse, Gunnuhver hot springs, the Bridge Between Continents and the fishing villages of Grindavík and Hafnir. Combine it with a pre-booked Blue Lagoon slot (entry ~£70-90 with towel in peak Christmas season — book weeks ahead; the cheaper alternative is Sky Lagoon ~£60 or a local pool for under £10). Return to Reykjavík for a festive Christmas Eve dinner: Icelanders traditionally eat hangikjöt (smoked lamb) or skate — book a table at a mid-range restaurant (~£35-45) or pick up a supermarket Christmas plate if you'd rather keep costs low. If the tour runs at night instead, swap the order and chase the aurora on the peninsula — it's one of the darkest, closest spots to the city.
🚌Organised half-day tour minibus included in activity cost; no public bus realistically serves the peninsula in winter
🛏Downtown Reykjavík hostel dorm, ~£35-45/night
- →Reykjanes Peninsula half-day tour
- →Blue Lagoon bathing (pre-booked slot)
- →Gunnuhver hot springs & Bridge Between Continents
- →Christmas Eve dinner in Reykjavík
South Coast: Eyjafjallajökull, Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara
South Coast → Hvolsvöllur/Hella
Take a full-day South Coast minibus tour (GetYourGuide/Viator or direct with Reykjavík Excursions, Gray Line, BusTravel — ~£95-120 in winter) hitting the same stops as the original: Seljalandsfoss (walk behind the 65 m curtain if it's not icy), Skógafoss (62 m), the Skógar Folk Museum turf houses (~£10 entry, often included) and Reynisfjara black sand beach with its basalt columns and bird cliffs near Vík. Eat a packed lunch from Bónus to keep costs down. Some operators include a stop at Sólheimajökull glacier or Diamond Beach/ Jökulsárlón if daylight allows — note the original tour's own reviews flag Diamond Beach is weather-dependent. Instead of returning to Reykjavík, ask to be dropped in Hvolsvöllur or Hella and check into a guesthouse there (Hotel Stracta in Hella or a Hvolsvöllur guesthouse, ~£55-75/night; dorms and shared rooms are cheaper). Evening: walk out of the village lights for an aurora watch — the original tour's Hvolsvöllur/Hella Christmas lights tour is essentially this, minus the coach.
🚌South Coast day tour minibus ~£95-120 (booked independently); alternatively public Strætó bus 51 Reykjavík→Hvolsvöllur/Hella ~£15-18 and local walking/taxi for waterfalls if you have your own day — slower and less practical in winter
🛏Guesthouse in Hvolsvöllur or Hella (e.g. Hotel Stracta or a local farm guesthouse), ~£55-75/night
- →Seljalandsfoss waterfall
- →Skógafoss waterfall
- →Skógar Folk Museum turf houses
- →Reynisfjara black sand beach & basalt columns
- →Aurora watch from Hvolsvöllur/Hella
Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss + Icelandic horses & greenhouse
Hella → Golden Circle → Reykjavík
Join a Golden Circle day tour (~£80-100 booked independently), covering Þingvellir National Park (UNESCO, walk the rift valley between the tectonic plates), the Geysir geothermal field with Strokkur erupting every 5-8 minutes, and Gullfoss waterfall. To replicate the original's extras, pick a tour or add-ons that include an Icelandic horse farm visit (short ride ~£55-75, or free stable visit/presentation with some operators) and a Friðheimar geothermal greenhouse stop (~£10-15 for tomato soup and bread, or included). Dinner: Icelandic lamb soup or a farm-to-table meal in Hella or back in Reykjavík (~£25-35). If you stayed in Hella, the tour can pick you up there or you can take Strætó bus 51 back toward Reykjavík (~£15) and rejoin the tour the next morning — check pickup zones when booking. Return to a Reykjavík hostel for your last night.
🚌Golden Circle day tour minibus ~£80-100 (independently booked, includes hotel/guesthouse pickup); Strætó bus 51 Hella→Reykjavík ~£15 if needed
🛏Downtown Reykjavík hostel dorm, ~£35-45/night
- →Þingvellir National Park rift valley
- →Geysir & Strokkur geyser
- →Gullfoss waterfall
- →Icelandic horse farm visit or short ride
- →Friðheimar geothermal greenhouse
Reykjavík farewell → Keflavík
Reykjavík → Keflavík
Final morning in the capital: browse the Kolaportið flea market (weekends), the National Museum of Iceland (~£15) or the Settlement Exhibition, and pick up last souvenirs on Laugavegur. Grab a cheap lunch and take the Flybus back to Keflavík airport (~£20-25). If your flight is late, consider a final aurora attempt with a budget small-group northern lights tour the night before (~£45-60) — a cheaper substitute for the original's guided Christmas lights chase. Allow 3 hours before departure for winter weather delays.
🚌Flybus/ Airport Express Reykjavík→KEF ~£20-25
🛏None (departure day)
- →Kolaportið flea market
- →National Museum of Iceland (optional)
- →Laugavegur shopping
- →Optional budget northern lights tour (~£45-60)
Self-launched vs. On The Go Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | On The Go Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£715 | £1,600 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £885 per person (55%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more On The Go Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£715
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Christmas Land of the Northern Lights – Self-Launched 5-Day Iceland Winter Circuit cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £715 per person for 5 days in Iceland (Reykjavík, Reykjanes & South Coast). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with On The Go Tours?+
Yes — On The Go Tours charges around £1,600 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £715 — a saving of roughly £885 (55%) per person.
How long is the Iceland (Reykjavík, Reykjanes & South Coast) trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Iceland (Reykjavík, Reykjanes & South Coast).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, backpacker trip through Iceland (Reykjavík, Reykjanes & South Coast), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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