Day Tour Combo – Laufás, Goðafoss and the Christmas House
We can honestly say that this must be the most rewarding half day tour available in Iceland: Visit the picturesque waterfall Goðafoss, Laufás Turfhouse museum and see how Icelanders lived for centuries, make a stop at “Cow Café”, a coffeeshop and restaurant built on top of a cowshed and finally visit the Christmas House, where the magic of the holidays can be felt all year long!
Highlights
- Akureyri, the capital of the north
- Mountains and valleys of Eyjafjörður
- Scenic views
- Icelandic country life
- Laufás turf farmhouse museum
- Christmas house where the Christmas spirit lives all year round
Itinerary
Goðafoss – the Waterfall of Gods plays a large part in Icelandic history. The legend tells of a local chieftain Þorgeir, who threw statues of the pagan gods into a waterfall after the nation converted to Christianity. Goðafoss is one of the waterfalls on the glacial Skjálfandafljót River, the largest and most beautiful of them all. Its location by the ring road gives easy access to this gem of nature.
Laufás turf farmhouse museum in Eyjafjörður is located by the estuary of the Fnjóská River. The old farm is a good example of a wealthy vicarage in earlier times. The house that is a turf-clad timber building, has a history that goes right back to the Middle-Ages. It has been rebuilt regularly through the centuries whenever needed. The present day construction was rebuilt in present form between 1860 – 1877.
The Old Farmhouse at Laufás was last inhabited in 1936. In 1948 the National Museum’s Historic Building Collection took the old house under protection and since then it has been a museum.
Kaffi Kú is our next stop. Its a café is located on the floor above the cowshed from where visitors can also observe the cows. We stop here for good time for you to see how one of the most modern Icelandic farm works, you get time to meet the animals and have a chance to buy refreshments.
Continuing the circle we stop at the Christmas House: Open all year round, this magical house looks like it came straight from a fairy tale. Outside in the garden there are plenty of hidden things for you to find and enjoy! Entering the Christmas House you are greeted with the warmth of a log fire and the songs and the scents of the festive season.
Try to find the Santa’s troll mother (Gryla) hidden in her cave. The Christmas House is a magical place to visit, all year round.
On arriving back to the town we take you on a short sightseeing tour of Akureyri.
Dates & prices
Tour duration: 4 hours
Price per person: ISK 11.000
Children 0-12 years: ISK 7.500
Good to know
- If your arrival in Akureyri is on a cruise ship, please make sure the departure fits within the ship’s arrival/departure time.
