The December long weekend is a chance for a change of scene before Christmas. Sahara dunes, Atlantic islands, hiking or cities with centuries of history: at Tuareg, we offer several ways to make the most of these dates.
Combining public holidays with a few days of annual leave can turn a long weekend into an eight-, nine- or ten-day trip.
When is the December long weekend in 2026?
This year, December 6, Constitution Day, falls on Sunday, and December 8, the Immaculate Conception, on Tuesday.
Monday 7 lets you connect the weekend with Tuesday’s public holiday. In 7 December is a public holiday in Madrid, Andalusia, Aragon, and Castile and León because Constitution Day is observed on a different day. Those with weekends off can enjoy four consecutive days, from Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8.
In Catalonia, Bilbao and Valencia, Monday 7 is not a public holiday: if this is a working day for you, take it off to link those four days. Tuesday 8 December is a public holiday throughout Spain.
| Date | Day | Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 5 December | Saturday | Start of the weekend |
| 6 December | Sunday | Constitution Day |
| 7 December | Monday | Public holiday in some regions |
| 8 December | Tuesday | National holiday |
How to extend the long weekend to nine days
For those who have weekends off, taking Monday the 7th off where necessary lets you combine four days, from Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8.
If we add Wednesday 9, Thursday 10 and Friday 11, we can travel until Sunday 13: nine consecutive days, from 5 to 13 December.
In Catalonia, this requires four days’ leave — 7, 9, 10 and 11 — unless your local or work calendar includes other days off. Routes leaving on Friday 4 also require you to allow for that day.
Departures for the December 2026 public holiday break
These routes coincide with the public holidays, making them part of a longer journey. All require adding vacation days: none is limited only to the period from 5 to 8 December.
| Destination | Travel | Dates | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| India and Bhutan | Sikkim and Bhutan, the Buddhist Kingdoms of the Himalayas | 1–13 Dec | 13 days |
| Kenya and Tanzania | Memories of Classic Africa | 3–17 Dec | 15 days |
| Mauritania | Adrar Oasis and Atlantic Coast | 4–13 Dec | 10 days |
| Algeria | Mediterranean and Roman Algeria | 4–12 Dec | 9 days |
| Algeria | The Tadrart. Stone and sand labyrinths | 4–12 Dec | 9 days |
| Seychelles | Sailing between islands in the Garden of Eden | 5–12 Dec | 8 days |
| Bhutan and Nepal | In the heart of the Himalayas | 5–15 Dec | 11 days |
| Morocco | Hiking in the Draa Valley | 5–12 Dec | 8 days |
| Cape Verde | Leeward Islands: Santiago and Fogo | 5–13 Dec | 9 days |
| Jordan | Petra, Dead Sea and Wadi Rum | 6–13 Dec | 8 days |
| Jordan | Trekking through Jordan, Dana, Petra and Wadi Rum | 6–13 Dec | 8 days |
Featured destinations for Spain’s December long weekend
Algeria, Cape Verde and Mauritania offer four options: Mediterranean heritage, desert, islands and oases. All return before Christmas.
Mediterranean and Roman Algeria
For culture lovers, this route explores Mediterranean Algeria and its Roman heritage, introducing the country’s history and cities before Christmas.
✔️ Departure 4 DEC 2026
✔️ Roman history and heritage
El Tadrart: travel to the Sahara in December
Stone, sand and open horizons: Tadrart offers days in the desert, letting the landscape set the pace.
✔️ Departure 4 DEC 2026
✔️ Departure guaranteed when checked on 3 October
Cape Verde: Santiago and Fogo
The leeward islands replace European winter with Cape Verde’s Atlantic scenery. Santiago and Fogo combine nature, local life and volcanic landscapes on a Saturday-to-Sunday itinerary.
✔️ Departure 5 DEC 2026
✔️ Islands, nature and culture
Mauritania: From the desert to the Atlantic
Adrar’s oases and the Atlantic coast create a journey of contrasts. Departing Friday 4 and returning Sunday 13 gives ten days to discover Mauritania before the holidays.
Mauritania✔️ Departure 4 DEC 2026 · Return 13 DEC
✔️ Desert, oases and Atlantic coast
Which destination should you choose for the December long weekend?
For culture and history, consider Mediterranean and Roman Algeria or Petra, the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum. For desert landscapes, Tadrart and Mauritania offer two very different options.
Walkers can choose Morocco’s Draa Valley or trekking in Jordan. For islands and ocean, Cape Verde and Seychelles offer different ways to enjoy these dates.
| If you are looking for… | Destination | Trip |
|---|---|---|
| History and heritage | Algeria | Mediterranean and Roman Algeria |
| Landscapes of the Sahara | Algeria | El Tadrart |
| Islands and volcanic landscapes | Cape Verde | Santiago and Fogo |
| Desert, oases and ocean | Mauritania | Adrar Oasis and Atlantic Coast |
| Hiking | Morocco or Jordan | Draa Valley or trekking through Dana, Petra and Wadi Rum |
| Navigation between islands | Seychelles | Sailing in the Garden of Eden |
Plan your trip for the early December holiday break
Check your work calendar and decide how many days you can add to the long weekend. Tuareg can help find a route to suit your dates and travel style.
See the full itineraries and current departure availability.