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Discover ancient cultures of the Orkney islands

Shetland, Faroe, Iceland: wild islands & lands of legends

Bergen - Reykjavík - Example 11 Day Cruise aboard Le Champlain
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Embark on an 11-day cruise from Bergen to Reykjavik aboard Le Champlain, exploring the stunning landscapes of Norway, Scotland, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland. Depart from Viking-rich Bergen and sail through the tranquil waters of the Hardangerfjord, adorned with lush fruit orchards. Le Champlain navigates west to the Shetland Islands, offering coastlines, sandy beaches, and bird colonies. The Shetland and Orkney Islands showcase Viking and Scottish heritage through well-preserved archaeological sites. Continue north to the Faroe Islands, experiencing the archipelago's wild beauty, from Suduroy's rolling plains to Eysturoy's villages and cliffs. Head towards Iceland's fjords, volcanoes, and waterfalls, exploring the East Fjords before reaching Heimaey in the Westman archipelago. Conclude in Reykjavik, the world's northernmost capital. 
Colorful port of BergenGrass covers the houses of the Faroe Islands, blending them into the landscape.Grass-roofed houses of the Faroe IslandsView of Reykjavik from the Church TowerDiscover ancient cultures of the Orkney islands
Highlights
  • Explore landscapes of Norway, Scotland, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland
  • Discover the waters of the Hardangerfjord adorned with lush fruit orchards
  • Experience coastlines, sandy beaches, and bird colonies in the Shetland Islands
  • Uncover Viking and Scottish heritage through archaeological sites
  • Witness the beauty of the Faroe Islands, from rolling plains to villages
Activity Level: Variable
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Bergen | Embark

Located at the end of Byfjord, Bergen was the capital of Norway in the 12th and 13th Centuries and has preserved some magnificent monuments from when it was home to royalty. Wandering through Bergen’s streets means going back in time, searching for the hidden treasures listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. A veritable open-air museum, Bergen is home to a thriving artistic community of painters, potters, and jewelers. The Bergen cable car offers you a splendid panorama over the port and the surrounding fjords. Do not miss the visit to the old quarter with its narrow streets, a testimony of the power of the Hanseatic League that controlled trade in Northern Europe at the end of the Middle Ages.

Day 2: Sailing in the Hardangerfjord

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
In the heart of Norway’s natural scenery, to the southeast of Bergen, you will sail the peaceful waters of the Hardangerfjord, the second-longest fjord in Norway. At the wide mouth of this majestic fjord, gently sloping valleys offer the sight of lush meadows and fruit trees galore. Moreover, it is rightly nicknamed the “fruit orchard of Norway". As you continue sailing and move further inland, the fjord narrows and the rolling surroundings make way for vertiginous walls and high mountainous areas. Enhanced by the reflections of the light on the soft waters, at times clear and deep, the landscapes become wilder and reveal an uncut diamond of singular beauty.

Day 3: Lerwick, Shetland Islands | Isle of Noss, Shetland Islands

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The small and charming capital of the Shetland Islands, with its sea front of old houses and narrow streets, offering travellers its old districts and a warm port atmosphere. Geopark Shetland, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located to the north. Incredibly well-preserved archaeological sites and ruins prove that the islands’ occupation dates back to the first Neolithic colonies. The Shetland Museum and Archives recounts the Shetlands’ history of heritage and culture: Lerwick’s abundant waters were even fished by the Dutch in the past.

Many colonies of birds have chosen to nest on the towering sandstone cliffs on the eastern coast of the Isle of Noss. The many ledges sculpted into the rock effectively make for ideal breeding sites for the gannets, puffins, guillemots, black-legged kittiwakes, razorbills, arctic fulmars and great skuas that populate this territory. Separated from the island of Bressay by a sound of only 100 meters (328 feet), this wild island in the Shetland archipelago has been a national nature reserve of Scotland since 1955. Make the most of this unique opportunity you have to discover this isolated Eden, bathed by the North Sea.

Day 4: Kirkwall, Orkney

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Capital of the Orkney archipelago, Kirkwall, which means “church bay”, is an ideal stopover before continuing on to the Northern Isles. Sheltered in a wide bay, the lively town welcomes the visitor with its charming paved alleyways edged by old houses and craft shops. Tankerness House, the oldest homestead in the town, is a must-see landmark. But the true architectural treasure of the aptly named Kirkwall is none other than its remarkable red and gold stone cathedral. And because whisky is inseparable from Scotland’s identity, stop at the Highland Park Distillery for a highly instructive visit.

Day 5: Suduroy Island, Faroe Islands

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Suduroy Island, literally “South Island”, has one of the smallest populations in the Faroe Islands. It has sheer cliffs along its western face. The island is an important breeding ground for seabirds, including northern fulmars, black-legged kittiwakes, Atlantic puffins, and guillemots. Your expedition team will guide you as you discover the island, its authentic villages with black, tarred-wood churches typical of the Faroe Islands, and its hiking trails lined with peat fields and stone sheepfolds. Sheep are indeed omnipresent throughout the Faroe Islands — in fact, there are more sheep than humans —, and they add to the charm of these wild landscapes.

Day 6-7: Eysturoy Island, Faroe Islands

  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Your stop on Eysturoy Island (“East Island” in Danish) will be an opportunity to immerse yourself in a traditional village of the Faroe Islands. The locals only welcome a few dozen visitors each year, so this is a rare privilege. In the company of your naturalist guides and local guides, you will discover the village, where certain houses have a typical Scandinavian roof, made from birch bark covered with sod. Here, you will enjoy a traditional coffee. Our more athletic guests will be able to hike along the trails that connect the island’s villages when people get around on foot. These trails are marked with cairns due to the frequent presence of fog.

Day 8: Sailing along Faroe Islands Coasts

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The Faroe Islands, an archipelago formed by volcanic rock, reveal an incredible diversity of reliefs where the sea is ubiquitous: you’ll sail past stone pinnacles and unique coastlines. To the west of the island of Vagar stand Thindolmur and Drangarnir, rocky outcrops that marine erosion have detached from the coast, thus forming independent islets known as stacks. The impressive Traelanipa Cliff, also known as Slave Cliff, stands 142 meters (466 feet) high. It overlooks the superb Lake Sorvagsvatn. Located 30 meters (98 feet) above sea level, this is the archipelago’s largest lake. On the island of Streymoy, you’ll be able to spot guillemots, screeching fulmars or penguins, nesting in the welcoming crevices of the Vestmanna cliffs.

Day 9: Eastfjords

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
EastFjords are part of the wildest and most unspoiled areas of Iceland. Here, various glaciations have carved out the volcanic plateaus that have eroded over the millennia, carving valleys and creating long, majestic fjords into which the sea intrudes. This slow metamorphosis has created sublime landscapes that you will be able to observe in all their diversity: basalt cliffs plunging into the sea, waterfalls with crystal clear waters, black sand volcanic beaches, alpine reliefs, hot springs. In this remote area, birds have found refuge in a rich ecosystem, such as puffins mainly in May and June. Here, nature is written in capital letters.

Day 10: Heimaey, Vestmannaeyjar

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This land seated off the southern coast of Iceland is the largest of the Vestmann islands, and is the only inhabited island in the archipelago. The steep Edfell volcanoes and the green prairies of Herjólfsdalur offer rich contrast of nature. On the Stórhöfði road, look out over grey sand beaches and cliffs carved out by the Arctic ocean. From here, you can also see the bronze landscapes of the mountaintops. You could visit Eldheimar, an ultra-modern and interactive museum which traces the volcanic eruption has experienced Heimaey in 1973.

Day 11: Reykjavík | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
Iceland’s capital stretches along the edge of a vast bay in the west of the country. Perlan, the “Pearl of Reykjavík”, a museum located on ’Oskjuhlið hill, offers a panoramic view of the lush, green landscapes. A little further, one can easily spot the signpost showing the way to the evangelical Hallgrímskirkja church, and to the historical centre where one can stroll along the Skólavördustígur and the Laugavegur, two lively streets with charming small shops. For some relaxation just outside of the city, visitors have the opportunity to visit the Reykjanes peninsula and its famous thermal lagoons of the Blue Lagoon.

Ship/Hotel

Le Champlain

Le Champlain Pool
Ponant Sauna
Swimming pool

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

This itinerary is no longer available. For other trip ideas, please visit Norway Cruises & Arctic Adventures.
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
Cabin
Deluxe Stateroom
Area: 19 m². 4m² private balcony with French window. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower.
Cabin
Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
Area: 19 m². 4m² private balcony with sliding bay window. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower.
Cabin
Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
Area: 19 m². 4m² private balcony with sliding bay window. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower.
Cabin
Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
Area: 19 m². 4m² private balcony with sliding bay window. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower.
Cabin
Deluxe Suite
Area: 27 m². 6m² private balcony with sliding bay window. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower. Up to 3 passengers per cabin.
Cabin
Prestige Suite Deck 5
Area: 38 m². 8m² private balcony with sliding bay window. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower.
Cabin
Prestige Suite Deck 6
Area: 38 m². 8m² private balcony with sliding bay window. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower.
Cabin
Privilege Suite
Area: 32 m². 8m² private balcony with sliding bay window. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower. Up to 4 passengers per cabin.
Cabin
Grand Deluxe Suite
Area: 45 m². 30m² private balcony with sliding bay windows. King-size bed or twin beds, and shower + bathtub.
Cabin
Owner's Suite
Area: 45 m². 30m² private balcony with hot tub and sliding bay windows. King-size or twin beds and shower + bathtub.

Notes

Please Note:
Fares are based on double occupancy and are capacity controlled. Rates may increase at any time as the ship sells out and subject to change without notice.
Included
  • 10 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches, 10 Dinners
  • 1 Night Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Port Fees
  • Unlimited Wifi
  • Onboard Entertainment 
  • Captain’s Welcome Cocktail and Gala Dinner
  • Gratuities to Onboard Crew
  • “Open Bar” (pouring wines, house champagne, alcohol except premium brands...list available upon request)
  • 24h Room Service (special selection)
  • English-Speaking Lecturer 
  • Highly experienced and bilingual (French-English) expedition staff
  • Park Entry Fees into Protected Areas
  • Water sports activities (except scuba diving) using the ship’s equipment, when permitted by local authorities and confirmed by ship Master according to safety and sea conditions onsite. 
Excluded
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Visa Fees
  • Optional Excursions - Ponant allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately six to two months prior to the cruise* departure. Please note that this is subject to change. Please contact us for more details.
  • Any ground services before and/or after the cruise other than the ones mentioned
  • Luggage Handling 
  • Laundry Services, Hair Salon, and à La Carte Spa Treatments
  • Pre or post cruise programs, overland programs or shore excursions 
  • Beverages other than the ones mentioned in inclusions
  • CDP recommends that every Traveler has full and adequate travel insurance covering the risks of cancellation, assistance being required, repatriation, damages to and loss of baggage, and medical expenses

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Kate was great to work with in the planning stage. She was prompt, helpful, and efficient. Our tour guide, Edwin, was knowledgeable and passionate. We were very happy to have traveled with Adventure Life, it made the trip easy and a true pleasure. We could concentrate on enjoying the experience rather than the details of travel.
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