Europe & British Isles

58° 58′ N 2° 57′ W

Ring of Brodgar ancient stone ring in Orkney
ExpeditionsUi Arrow rightExploring Scotland’s Wild Isles: Shetlands, Orkneys, and Inner Hebrides

Exploring Scotland’s Wild Isles: Shetlands, Orkneys, and Inner Hebrides

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Highlights

Tourists visiting Skara Brae, a Neolithic settlement located in the Mainland Orkney, Scotland
  • Peer into the past in the prehistoric homes of Skara Brae in the Orkney Islands and Jarlshof in the Shetland Islands

  • Ride Zodiacs for a close-up view of the unique geometric basalt columns of Staffa, a tiny island in the Inner Hebrides

  • Join our naturalists on excursions and aboard the ship to watch for puffins, gannets, fulmars, razorbills, kittiwakes, and more

  • Venture to the Aberdeenshire countryside to learn about Scottish Highland traditions, including a visit to a Highland cattle farm or the Gordon Highlanders Museum

  • Capture your best photos alongside a National Geographic Photography Expert—join Macduff Everton on the 2023 departure

  • Extend your voyage: choose to explore Dublin’s rich history on a pre-voyage extension, and discover the Scottish Highlands on a post-voyage extension

Day by Day

Multiple routes available

Some departures follow a modified itinerary. Please refer to departure dates for exact routing of your departure.

2023 Expedition


Starts at

Dublin, Ireland

Ends at

Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.

Download Itinerary

Days 1-2

U.S. / Dublin, Ireland / Embark Ship

Arrive in Dublin on an overnight flight. More living museum than city, traces of Dublin’s past are on display at every turn. Discover the city’s medieval castles and cathedrals, one of the oldest universities in Europe, Trinity College, and perhaps enjoy a sip of whiskey. Tour the city before embarking the ship in the late afternoon. Settle into life on board as we set sail for Rathlin Island. Lunch and dinner are included on Day 2.

Days 1-2

U.S. / Dublin, Ireland / Embark Ship

Arrive in Dublin on an overnight flight. More living museum than city, traces of Dublin’s past are on display at every turn. Discover the city’s medieval castles and cathedrals, one of the oldest universities in Europe, Trinity College, and perhaps enjoy a sip of whiskey. Tour the city before embarking the ship in the late afternoon. Settle into life on board as we set sail for Rathlin Island. Lunch and dinner are included on Day 2.

Day 3

Rathlin Island

Start your expedition on Rathlin Island, home to Northern Ireland’s largest puffin colony, as well as thousands of seabirds including guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, and fulmars. Visit the Rathlin West Light, the “upside down lighthouse” built between 1912-1917. It is in a cave on Rathlin Island that Robert the Bruce, the famous Scottish King, is said to have taken refuge during a fight against the English in 1306, and where he was inspired to keep up the struggle for Scottish independence.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3

Rathlin Island

Start your expedition on Rathlin Island, home to Northern Ireland’s largest puffin colony, as well as thousands of seabirds including guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, and fulmars. Visit the Rathlin West Light, the “upside down lighthouse” built between 1912-1917. It is in a cave on Rathlin Island that Robert the Bruce, the famous Scottish King, is said to have taken refuge during a fight against the English in 1306, and where he was inspired to keep up the struggle for Scottish independence.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

Iona, Scotland / Staffa

Sail through the Sea of the Hebrides to the isle of Iona, the site of Scotland’s first Christian settlement. Venture into an ancient nunnery and a 13th-century abbey and explore St. Oran’s Chapel with its royal burial grounds, where Celtic high crosses mark the graves of generations of Scottish kings. In the afternoon, continue to Staffa, famed for its geometric basalt columns and deep-sea caves. Conditions permitting, Zodiac into the awe-inspiring Fingal’s Cave, where Felix Mendelssohn was inspired to write his “Hebrides Overture.”

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

Iona, Scotland / Staffa

Sail through the Sea of the Hebrides to the isle of Iona, the site of Scotland’s first Christian settlement. Venture into an ancient nunnery and a 13th-century abbey and explore St. Oran’s Chapel with its royal burial grounds, where Celtic high crosses mark the graves of generations of Scottish kings. In the afternoon, continue to Staffa, famed for its geometric basalt columns and deep-sea caves. Conditions permitting, Zodiac into the awe-inspiring Fingal’s Cave, where Felix Mendelssohn was inspired to write his “Hebrides Overture.”

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5

Inverewe

After we anchor in Loch Ewe, bring your camera along as we stroll the winding paths of Inverewe Garden, created in 1862. Tempered by the warm Gulf Stream, these splendid gardens are home to hundreds of exotic subtropical plant species. Watch for Scottish wildlife as we meander through the gardens – red squirrels, otters, red deer, and golden eagles. Choose to kayak in the waters alongside the gardens for an alternative view.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5

Inverewe

After we anchor in Loch Ewe, bring your camera along as we stroll the winding paths of Inverewe Garden, created in 1862. Tempered by the warm Gulf Stream, these splendid gardens are home to hundreds of exotic subtropical plant species. Watch for Scottish wildlife as we meander through the gardens – red squirrels, otters, red deer, and golden eagles. Choose to kayak in the waters alongside the gardens for an alternative view.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6

Noss and Lerwick, Shetland Islands

Far from the hustle and bustle of the mainland, the Shetland Islands exude a languid remoteness that begs to be discovered. Sail past the Isle of Noss, known for its 180-meter-high sea cliffs teaming with tens of thousands of seabirds. Join our naturalist on deck to watch for gannets, guillemots, fulmars, and kittiwakes. Explore Lerwick, a town where Norse and Gaelic cultures intermingle, and see a countryside often dotted with Shetland ponies. Then examine Bronze Age ruins at the extraordinary prehistoric settlement of Jarlshof, a UNESCO candidate which is part of “The Crucible of Iron Age Shetland.” Later, take in a cacophony of birds as we hike to the lighthouse at Sumburgh Head.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6

Noss and Lerwick, Shetland Islands

Far from the hustle and bustle of the mainland, the Shetland Islands exude a languid remoteness that begs to be discovered. Sail past the Isle of Noss, known for its 180-meter-high sea cliffs teaming with tens of thousands of seabirds. Join our naturalist on deck to watch for gannets, guillemots, fulmars, and kittiwakes. Explore Lerwick, a town where Norse and Gaelic cultures intermingle, and see a countryside often dotted with Shetland ponies. Then examine Bronze Age ruins at the extraordinary prehistoric settlement of Jarlshof, a UNESCO candidate which is part of “The Crucible of Iron Age Shetland.” Later, take in a cacophony of birds as we hike to the lighthouse at Sumburgh Head.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 7-8

Orkney Islands

The Vikings held a strategic foothold in the Orkney Islands for hundreds of years, and their Norse heritage is apparent in local legends and traditions that endure today. Explore a treasure trove of Stone Age sites, including the megaliths of the Ring of Brodgar and the 5,000-year-old stone-slab village of Skara Brae. Step inside the medieval St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, which took nearly 300 years to complete. Choose to join our naturalist on a birdwatching excursion, where you’ll have the opportunity to spot over 30 species of birds, including black-headed gulls, gannets, and guillemots.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 7-8

Orkney Islands

The Vikings held a strategic foothold in the Orkney Islands for hundreds of years, and their Norse heritage is apparent in local legends and traditions that endure today. Explore a treasure trove of Stone Age sites, including the megaliths of the Ring of Brodgar and the 5,000-year-old stone-slab village of Skara Brae. Step inside the medieval St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, which took nearly 300 years to complete. Choose to join our naturalist on a birdwatching excursion, where you’ll have the opportunity to spot over 30 species of birds, including black-headed gulls, gannets, and guillemots.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9

Aberdeen

Start off the day with a panoramic drive through “the Granite City” before exploring Aberdeenshire’s countryside. Choose to visit a local Highland cattle farm where you will learn about its award-winning products and practices. Or, dive into Highland traditions with a visit to the Gordon Highlanders Museum. Transfer back to the ship later this afternoon and enjoy your last evening at sea.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9

Aberdeen

Start off the day with a panoramic drive through “the Granite City” before exploring Aberdeenshire’s countryside. Choose to visit a local Highland cattle farm where you will learn about its award-winning products and practices. Or, dive into Highland traditions with a visit to the Gordon Highlanders Museum. Transfer back to the ship later this afternoon and enjoy your last evening at sea.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10

Edinburgh / Disembark Ship

Disembark in Edinburgh after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight home. Or choose to explore the Scottish Highlands on a post-voyage extension. (Note: a pre-voyage extension to discover Dublin is also available.)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 10

Edinburgh / Disembark Ship

Disembark in Edinburgh after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight home. Or choose to explore the Scottish Highlands on a post-voyage extension. (Note: a pre-voyage extension to discover Dublin is also available.)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Download Itinerary

NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins.  Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged. More details. 

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DUBLIN, IRELAND - APRIL 1:  Grattan Bridge in Dublin, Ireland on the evening of April 1, 2013. This historic bridge spans the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland.

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Epic Histories and Cultural Treasures 2023-25


From the lively streets of Dublin to the rolling hills of the remote Shetland Islands, encounter vivid histories and stunning scenery on a voyage from Dublin to Edinburgh by way of the Scottish Isles. Discover archaeological sites and wild landscapes steeped in ancient mythology in the Orkney and Shetland Islands. Sail past the Isle of Noss’ 180-meter-high sea cliffs teaming with seabirds. Explore medieval castles, Viking ruins, and early Christian sites.

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duration
10 Days
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Epic Histories and Cultural Treasures 2023-25

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$10,260

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duration
10 Days

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Breathtaking photos and details on expeditions—view online or by mail for free

Epic Histories and Cultural Treasures 2023-25

From

$10,260

/ per person

Book Now
duration
10 Days
Book by Jun 30

COMBINE AND SAVE 10% PLUS SHIPBOARD AMENITIES

See all offers

View our brochures for more details

Breathtaking photos and details on expeditions—view online or by mail for free

Epic Histories and Cultural Treasures 2023-25