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Festive Tours & Cruises

Celebrate Christmas, discover exciting destinations and diverse cultures on a tour departing this festive season. Choose from 195 Christmas and New Year holidays and experience Europe's festive Christmas Markets, the snow coated Canadian Rockies or a moving midnight mass in Bethlehem. Enjoy the whitest Christmas in Antarctica or explore ancient landscapes in Jordon in the cooler season.

Popular Tours & Cruises View all

Ultimate Festive Season

17 Days Christchurch to Auckland

Operator: Grand Pacific Tours

From 9,924

Save 275

Alpine Christmas Markets

9 Days Munich to Zurich

Operator: Insight Vacations

From 4,361

Save 103

Alpine Christmas Markets (Small Group)

9 Days Munich to Zurich

Operator: Insight Vacations

From 4,895

Save 100

Danube Holiday Markets

8 Days Passau to Budapest

Operator: Uniworld River Cruises

From 5,591

Save 118

Festive Travel Styles View all

Christmas Markets Holidays Tours — Christmas Markets Holidays
Uniquely tailored tours & river cruises showcasing Europe's renowned Christmas Markets.

Christmas & New Year Cruises Cruises — Christmas & New Year Cruises
Celebrate Christmas and New Year on the high seas this festive season.

Christmas River Cruises Trips — Christmas River Cruises
Embark on a river cruise departing this festive season along the rivers of Europe.

Discover Experiences and highlights you can have on a Festive & Christmas tour

A White Christmas in Banff

Embrace Banff’s most breathtaking snow covered landscapes when you ride the gondola, take a dog sled ride and enjoy a magical white Christmas Day.

A Christmas Market River Cruise

River cruise along the mighty Danube or the Rhine, crossing up to five countries as you stop to enjoy Europe's festive Christmas markets, from Budapest to Paris.

Find Santa in Antarctica

Enjoy a pristine White Christmas in Antarctica. Spot leopard seals, gentoo penguins, and elephant seals and celebrate on your Expedition ship.

Christmas in Bethlehem

Celebrate the festive season of your lifetime in the Holy Land of Israel when you join pilgrims on their march to the Church of the Nativity and witness a moving midnight mass. This is where it all began!

Christmas in Petra

Spend Christmas Day exploring the wonders of Petra. Walk through the mysterious Siq to discover the Khazneh, Theater, Colonnaded Street and Museum, then climb to the magnificent façade of ad-Deir (the Monastery).

Recent Reviews What our clients are saying about their tours during the festive season

Our first river cruise experience was nothing but AMAZING! Zyra & Ryrenn Joseph, WA, Australia, Dec 2022

We would like to thank Toni our travel advisor at Global Journeys & the rest of the Avalon Tranquility 2 crew for making our holiday cruise getaway a memorable and relaxing experience. From getting in touch with yourself to enquire at first, to sorting out our trip, I couldn’t believe how easy everything was.

Onboard the cruise, EVERY crew member ...read more

Christmas Markets on the Rhine Angela & Michael, Christchurch, New Zealand, Dec 2022

We made new friends and took home many wonderful memories. From the hotel on arrival in Amsterdam to the hotel at the end in Basel, the whole trip was supremely organized. The crew onboard were very good at their job and clearly enjoyed what they do. Nothing was a problem and the smaller number on board a river boat meant we could be alone if we wanted ...read more

The Best Christmas Ever Angela and Michael, Christchurch, New Zealand, Dec 2022

We made some wonderful friends, had lots of Christmas cheer and it was so easy every day. Emerald Cruises - your staff are the best. Nothing was a problem and everyone was helpful and happy. I can not believe how much Christmas we packed into 8 days!

Christmas Markets Diane, QLD, Australia, Nov 2022

Had snow in Heidelberg which was nice to see. Trip went well, my only issue was that it was actually 3 cruises in one which I was unaware of. First leg to Nuremberg, got to know everyone on board but then 90% of passengers and the tour director disembarked and another lot of people came on board. This meant we were docked in Nuremberg for 3 days which ...read more

Explore More Your guide to travelling

10 July, 2023
The Magic Of Christmas In The Rockies With Scenic
Canada is a magical place to visit at any time of the year, but never more so than during the winter holiday season. Experience Scenic's 14 Day Christmas in the Rockies tour departing in mid-December from Victoria to Banff and featuring an array of experiences to get you into the festive...

11 December, 2019
Our Team’s Favourite Festive Trips
With Christmas just around the corner, we’re getting into the spirit by rounding up our team’s favourite festive season itineraries. From waking up to a white Christmas in Whistler or by the Austrian lakes, to the twinkling lights of market stalls and the smell of cinnamon, this is what we’re...

18 June, 2018
7 Festive Foods to Enjoy at the European Christmas Markets
Indulging in rich and delicious food and drink is a quintessential part of the experience when you visit traditional European Christmas Markets. Truth be known, it is the coldest time of year in Europe and when you come from the Southern Hemisphere you will be feeling it. Layered clothing and...

15 June, 2018
Explore Six Festive European Christmas Markets with Albatross
If you are travelling to Europe over the festive season you need to visit to one of the beautiful Christmas Markets. The Christmas Market tradition dates back to the middle ages, and are an important event on the European festive season calendar for locals in current times too. Enjoy An...