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

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 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 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

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