Discover the archaeological sites and untamed scenery of three Scottish Isles—Shetlands, Orkneys, and the Inner Hebrides—on this 9-day cruise aboard the brand-new National Geographic Explorer. Visit the "upside-down" Rathlin West Light, which was constructed between 1912 and 1917. Visit an old nunnery, a 13th-century abbey, and St. Oran's Chapel in Iona, which has a royal burial place. Pass the 180-meter-high sea cliffs of the Isle of Noss, which are home to tens of thousands of seabirds. Visit the Stone Age sites in Kirkwall, such as the 5,000-year-old hamlet of Skara Brae, made of stone slabs.
Highlights
Witness the iron-age Midhowe Broch in Island of Rousay
Discover the 5,000 year old stone age site in Kirkwall
Walk along coastal cliffs to the storied ruins of Dunnottar Castle
Explore the Bronze Age ruins at the prehistoric settlement of Jarlshof
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive in Dublin. 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 Ireland’s famous brew, Guinness. Tour the city before embarking National Geographic Resolution in the late afternoon. Settle into life on board as we set sail for Rathlin Island.
Kick off 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, and learn about the 40+ shipwrecks in the island’s surrounding waters. 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, where he was inspired to keep up the struggle for Scottish independence.
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." Atop the island, look for puffins coming to and from their burrows as they search for fish in the surrounding waters.
Anchor in Loch Ewe and 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 sub-tropical plant species. Spot some Scottish wildlife as you 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.
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 the countryside 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 walk to the lighthouse at Sumburgh Head.
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. Start your day on the island of Papa Westray, the cradle of Christianity in Orkney. Visit Boniface Kirk, a church founded in the 8th century and surrounded by a picturesque graveyard, and Knap of Howar, a Neolithic farmstead that was occupied from 3,700 BC to 2,800 BC—earlier than similar houses found at Skara Brae. Then, discover the island of Rousay, where you’ll visit the iron-age Midhowe Broch and explore the woodland and water gardens of Trumland House.
Sail to Kirkwall later this afternoon and arrive at the Ring of Brodgar’s megaliths in time for sunset —when crowds have dispersed and the light is perfect to capture your best photos. Enjoy a whisky tasting this evening.
Explore a treasure trove of Stone Age sites, including 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
From the Orkney Islands, we'll make our way to the eastern shore of Scotland to Stonehaven. Choose a coastal cliff walk to explore the storied ruins of Dunnottar Castle, perched on a rocky promontory headland high above the North Sea. Steeped in history, this dramatic and evocative fortress dates to the 13th century with various parts being added over a period of 500 years. Alternatively, venture further down the coast to the cliffs at Fowlsheugh, where over 130,000 breeding seabirds spend the spring and summer months.
Day 9: Edinburgh | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Disembark in Edinburgh after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
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Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Rates are subject to change without notice. Book early to get the best rate.
Cat 1
Main Deck with one or two portholes. #301-308
Cat 2
Main Deck with window. #317-320, 335-336.
Cat 3
Main Deck with Window #313-316, 321-328, 337-340,342, 344, 346, 348, 350.
Cat 4
Upper and Veranda Decks with Window. # 103-104, 107-108, 201-202, 204-207, 210, 212, 217, 226, 228.
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
8 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches, 8 Dinners
8 Nights Accommodations
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Assistance by the onboard National Geographic Photography Expert
Access to the OM System Photo Gear Locker with the latest gear to try out on loan (aboard Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet)
Beer, wine, cocktails, and spirits are available aboard the ship. Additionally, a selection of super premium wines and liquors is offered for purchase.
Crew gratuities
Complimentary Starlink-enabled Wi-Fi internet is available to all guests aboard Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet, enabling email, messaging, and social media.
Park and site entrance fees, special access permits, and port taxes
Excursions, hotels, and airport transfers, as indicated in the itinerary
Selection of exploration tools curated to your destination, such as Zodiacs and glass-bottom boats, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, snorkeling equipment (including wetsuits, masks, and fins), and other state-of-the-art gear
Guidance and company of leading expedition staff
All meals as indicated in the itinerary, both aboard and onshore. Meals are inspired by regional cuisine and locally sourced where possible
Hors d’oeuvres inspired by regional cuisine and locally sourced where possible
24-hour access to snacks, premium coffees and teas, non-alcoholic beverages, and filtered water
Presentations on your destination by expedition staff and expert guest speakers
Complimentary reusable water bottle to fill at onboard water refill stations
The services of a physician, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, or paramedic where available
Morning stretch classes and 24-hour access to exercise equipment where available
24-hour access to lounges, observation decks, library stocked with regionally relevant literature, and other shared spaces
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
Laundry, spa treatments, scuba diving, Wi-Fi and phone services (except when indicated as included)
We strongly recommend our guests to take Travel Protection Plan. A Plan with comprehensive coverage to protect you from cancellation fees, costs incurred due to trip delays/interruption, damaged or lost baggage, medical assistance, and evacuation during your travels
Airfare (except flights when indicated as included), pre- and post-expedition extensions, additional hotel nights, and private transfers (except when indicated as included)
Travel protection plans and passport, visa, and immigration fees
Enhanced and premium Wi-Fi plans, which may enable video chat, web browsing, and streaming (connectivity permitting)
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
TrustScore 4.8 | 254 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 254 reviews on
2 days ago
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
2 days ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
2 days ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
1 week ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.