Wild Scotland and the Faroe Islands
« All Polar Pioneer cruise options
| Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | ||||
| Triple Shared | Twin Shared | Twin Private | Mini Suite | Suite | |
| Jun 11 '12 |
$7,500 | $8,750 | $10,500 | $11,900 | $13,250 |
| Kayaking option: $1095 per person Scuba Diving option: $850 per person |
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-Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double or triple occupancy. Request the Twin or Triple Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
-Single costs are 1.7 times the twin rate
Deposit & Payment -Single costs are 1.7 times the twin rate
Day 1 Embark in Oban
Aurora Expeditions’ staff and Russian crew
welcome you aboard Polar Pioneer in Oban as
we set sail on our Scottish adventure.
Days 2-3 Iona
Overnight we travel to Iona, birthplace of Christianity in Britain and burial ground of
early Scottish kings. The Abbey and Nunnery
grounds hold intricately carved stones and
crosses dating back to 600 AD. At Staffa, we
visit Fingal's Cave, set amidst spectacular
basalt columns, and learn why it inspired
Mendelssohn's Herbrides Overture. At the
Cullin Hills, spiritual heart of Skye, we follow
a lonely track to Rubh'an Dunain, an ancient
passage grave with a nearby Iron Age fort and
a stone-lined canal, possibly built by Vikings. Canna offers golden and sea eagles overhead, and a Zodiac cruise to basking sharks,
dolphins, grey seals and puffins.
Days 4-6 St. Kilda
Conditions permitting, we land on Hirta, in
remote St Kilda. These soaring islands hold
Europe's most important seabird colony and
Britain's highest sea stacks. We learn of the
incredible skills and fortitude of islanders, who
survived here for nearly 5000 years. Flannan
Island boasts spectacular cliffs, rock stacks,
hidden beaches and luxuriant heaths. On
Lewis we visit the Callanish Stones, sombre
rock slabs placed here nearly 3000 years ago
to mark burial sites. A refreshing Zodiac cruise
takes us to white sand beaches and Bostadh's
reconstructed Iron Age house. An evening
walk on Pabay Mor's hills reveals ancient
stone dams. Island hopping northeast, we aim
to visit Sula Sgeir and North Rona, home to
one of the oldest chapels in Britain. Both are
tiny specks of rarely-visited land inhabited by breeding seals and large seabird colonies.
Days 7-8 Orkney Islands
Swept by the warm Gulf Stream and blessed
with red, fertile soil, the Orkney archipelago of
70 islands has welcomed people since ancient
times. From Kirkwall, we visit 5000-year-old
archaeological wonders like Skara Brae,
excavated less than 100 years ago to reveal
Stone Age life. We view relics of Viking
occupation and World War II curiosities, like
the famous Churchill barriers and the exquisite
Italian Chapel, built from scrap by Italian
POWs. We sail past the giant sea stack "Old
Man of Hoy". On Papa Westray we see the
Knap of Howar, the oldest standing dwelling
in Europe and on to Fair Isle, a birdwatchers'
paradise, where the few inhabitants still live in
traditional crofts.
Days 9-10 Shetland Islands
Closer to Norway than Scotland, the Shetland
Isles played a strategic role in Viking
conquests. We may wander through the
narrow lanes of Lerwick, Shetland's capital,
and explore the complex Stone, Bronze and
Iron Age settlement of Jarlshof. On Mousa,
home to the world's best-preserved and
most complete Iron Age structure known as
a 'broch', storm petrels nest in stone walls
returning at dusk after a day feeding at sea.
Foula's 30 inhabitants live in crofting hamlets
dwarfed by the island's five dramatic peaks.
Aptly named Foula means "Bird Island" in Old
Norse, but it is also protected for its plants
and geology. Papa Stour's coastline offers
Zodiac exploration of dramatic caves carved
into the sea cliffs.
Days 11-13 Faroe Islands
Enjoy a relaxing morning at sea before arriving
at Torshavn, capital of the Faroe Islands.
This predominantly modern, hip city is built in
Scandinavian style. Nearby in Kirkjubour are
the ruins of St. Magnus Cathedral, one of the
most important historical sites in the Faroes.
Zodiac cruising along Mykines offers close
views of cormorant colonies, with guillemots
and razorbills nesting on volcanic ledges.
Higher slopes provide burrows for thousands
of puffins. Westmanna Cliffs feature Zodiac
cruising along protected channels, through
archways and past towering stacks. Our itinerary allows time to explore new landings and visit Fugloy, the easternmost Faroe, rich in birdlife.
Day 14 Disembark
Return to Torshavn early morning and bid farewell to Polar Pioneer staff and crew. Transfer to airport for flight to Copenhagen, Denmark.
Itinerary Notes
Includes flight from Torshavn to Copenhagen in economy class, all entry frees to historic landings and sights, and 12 month National Trust Membership.Deposit & Payment
Initial deposit is $1250 for Antarctica or AU$1500 for Arctic voyages, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, and Discover. Alternatively, you can send a check to our Missoula, Montana, office or register online at: https://www.adventure-life.com/forms/fourways.php
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure.
Final payment by bank transfer, check or Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Amex. Credit Card payments subject to 3% convenience fee and maximum $15,000 charge.
Booking last minute? No problem! Please contact one of our trip planners, and we can get you on your way if booking less than 100 days prior to departure.
Click here to see a copy of our Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation Policy
| Days Prior to departure | Fee |
|---|---|
| 90 days or more | $600 per person |
| 0-90 days | 100% trip cost |
Polar Pioneer
- Ship Highlights
- Passengers : 54
Polar Pioneer was built in Finland in 1985 as an ice-strengthened research ship, and for many years she plied the treacherous waters of the USSR's northern coast. In 2000 she was refurbished in St Petersburg to provide comfortable accommodation for 54 passengers. A combined bar/lounge/library area (stocked with a good collection of polar books) was also created by simple internal restructuring - inviting surroundings for your Antarctica travel.
This class of vessel has a fine reputation for polar expedition cruising, due to its strength, maneuverability and small number of cabins. All cabins have outside portholes plus ample storage space. The Russian captain and crew are among the most experienced ice navigators in the world and their enthusiasm is legendary.
The spacious bridge is always open to us and the decks are ideal for viewing. The chefs are European, and the dining room is attended by Russian stewardesses.
Polar Pioneer is not a luxury vessel as such, but this is a most popular ship for travel to the Polar regions. The accommodation is simple yet comfortable, and the meals are wholesome and uncomplicated. A small fleet of inflatable Zodiacs with outboard motors enable us to travel from ship to shore.
| Cabins | |
|---|---|
 | Triple Shared Triple Cabins have two lower and one upper berth, a desk, a small washbasin, storage and hanging space and portholes. Showers and toilets are very close by and are shared with other Main Deck cabins. |
 | Twin Shared Twin Shared Cabins have two lower bunks, a desk, small washbasin, ample storage and hanging space and portholes. Showers and toilets are very close by and are shared with other Main Deck cabins. |
 | Twin Private Twin Private Cabins have two lower bunks, a desk, windows, and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. Two cabins have upper and lower bunks (cabins 402 and 403). |
 | Mini Suite Mini Suites have a separate small bedroom with double bed, a sofa bed in the main room, a desk, video player and TV, windows and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. |
 | Suite The Suite features a large lounge area, a separate small bedroom with double bed, a sofabed in the main room, a video player and TV, refrigerator, large forward and side facing windows, and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. |
