Wild Scotland

Arrive at Aberdeen International Airport and transfer to the Embarkation Suite, keeping the applicable conditions in mind. Take time to explore Aberdeen at your leisure before returning to the suite at the designated time for the group departure to the Sylvia Earle.

Important information:

• Complimentary airport arrival transfers are provided as group transfers for passengers arriving at Aberdeen International Airport prior to 12:00pm on Day 1 only.
• Passengers who arrive after the airport transfer cut-off will need to make their own way to the Embarkation Suite before 2:00 pm to complete mandatory check-in.
• For passengers already in Aberdeen, visit the centrally located Embarkation Suite with all luggage, which will be open for mandatory check-in between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.
• Passengers have access to the centrally located Embarkation Suite, including luggage storage, Aurora Expeditions staff for voyage and city information and cabin check-in, WIFI, tea, coffee and light refreshments.
• Embarkation Suite location: 6 months prior to departure.
• As your luggage will be transported to the ship at 2.30pm and ahead of you, please ensure you place any items you require during the day in your day bag, including passports, cash/cards and medicines.

In the late afternoon, join the mandatory group transfer to board the Sylvia Earle. Upon boarding, take a moment to settle into your cabin before attending the essential safety briefings prior to the ship casting off to begin the Scottish adventure. This evening, gather with fellow travelers for an onboard Welcome Dinner, allowing the expedition team to introduce the itinerary and raise a toast to the exciting journey ahead.

Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney, rewards exploration well beyond its modern harbor. Wander through the narrow lanes winding across the historic center, and take in the surrounding West Mainland, where fertile farmland seamlessly blends with rolling hills, moorland, and dramatic Atlantic cliffs. Depending on your chosen excursion, anticipate discovering some of Orkney’s greatest archaeological treasures.

Personalize your expedition with an included ‘Your Choice’ experience suited to your interests and fitness level.

Option 1: Orkney Treasures – Skara Brae
Duration: 4 hours
Level of difficulty: Moderately paced

Travel through Orkney’s tranquil countryside into the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Heart of Neolithic Orkney. Pass the Standing Stones of Stenness and pause at the Ring of Brodgar, an immense ceremonial stone circle created almost 5,000 years ago. Continue to Skara Brae, where a remarkably preserved Neolithic village lay hidden beneath sand dunes until storms revealed it in the 19th century. Explore the visitor center and ancient stone dwellings before walking approximately 200 meters to Skaill House. Built in 1620 on a site with Norse origins, this elegant manor has been home to 12 generations of the same family and contains a fascinating collection spanning four centuries.

Option 2: The Heart of Neolithic Orkney
Duration: 3.45 hours
Level of difficulty: Moderately paced

Journey into Orkney’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Neolithic heartland. At the Ring of Brodgar, contemplate a vast ceremonial stone circle created almost 5,000 years ago, then visit the taller and even older Standing Stones of Stenness. Walk to the nearby settlement of Barnhouse and discover how its Neolithic inhabitants may have lived. Pause at a bird hide overlooking peaceful Harray Loch before returning to Kirkwall to visit St Magnus Cathedral, an enduring expression of Orkney’s Norse heritage. Together, these sites offer a fascinating view of the communities, beliefs and mysteries that have shaped the islands.

Almost 160 kilometers (99 miles) north of mainland Scotland, the Shetland Islands sit at a similar latitude to Bergen and the southern tip of Greenland. Summer brings extraordinarily long days to this archipelago of around 100 islands, rich in nature reserves, archaeological treasures and distinctive island traditions. Depending on conditions, anticipate to explore several of the following places:

Between Orkney and Shetland, tiny Fair Isle is renowned for its bird observatory, distinctive knitwear and dramatic shipwreck history. Cliffs surround much of the island, while its small community lives mainly in traditional crofts across the more fertile south.

Positioned beneath major migration routes from Scandinavia, Iceland and the Faroe Islands, Fair Isle is a paradise for birdwatchers. In summer, fulmars, kittiwakes, guillemots, gannets, shags and puffins crowd the cliffs. Wildflowers flourish across the island, and you can meet local residents, hike through the landscape or visit the museum. The surrounding waters are home to grey and common seals, with possible sightings of porpoises, dolphins, orcas and minke whales.

From Lerwick, discover Jarlshof, one of Shetland’s most complex archaeological sites. Revealed by storms in the late 19th century, the site preserves evidence of more than 4,000 years of settlement, from Neolithic homes and a Bronze Age smithy to Iron Age buildings, Norse longhouses and a medieval farmstead. The name ‘Jarlshof’ was bestowed by Sir Walter Scott in his novel The Pirate.

Noss National Nature Reserve is famed for its kilometer-long seabird cliffs. During breeding season, the calls of around 150,000 birds and chicks fill the air as gannets, guillemots and other seabirds occupy ledges in sandstone cliffs rising almost 200 meters (656 feet). Seals rest along the shoreline, while otters sometimes forage among the kelp.

On the uninhabited island of Mousa stands Mousa Broch, the best preserved of Scotland’s Iron Age fortified towers. Nearly 2,000 years old, its remarkable stonework still rises more than 13 meters. By day, common and grey seals may be seen along the shore, and keep a close watch for otters—known locally as dratsies.

Across Orkney’s 70 windswept islands, layers of human history unfold—from 5,000-year-old Neolithic monuments and Norse heritage to wartime remains and present-day crofting communities. Seabirds crowd the imposing sea cliffs, coastal paths beckon hikers and, when conditions allow, kayakers can discover sections of the archipelago from the water.

On Papa Westray, take the opportunity to visit the Knap of Howar, where Northern Europe’s oldest known stone houses were occupied by Neolithic farmers more than 5,000 years ago. Later, experience the warmth of island hospitality at the local pub, where the Papa Westray folk ensemble Poor Man’s Corner may fill the room with lively tunes and irresistible rhythms.

Continue to the Outer Hebrides, also known as the Western Isles, a 209-kilometer (128-mile) chain facing the open Atlantic. On the Isle of Lewis, take the opportunity to visit the remarkable Callanish Standing Stones, raised around 3,000 BCE and set within a landscape rich in prehistoric history.

Weather permitting, step ashore at the remote archipelago of St Kilda, recognized by UNESCO for both its natural and cultural significance. Abandoned stone homes tell of the resilient islanders who once raised Soay sheep and harvested seabirds, while immense cliffs and sea stacks support one of Europe’s most important seabird colonies.

Golden beaches, jagged peaks, heather-clad hills and remote island communities make every day in the Inner Hebrides wonderfully different. You may cruise into secluded lochs, walk among extraordinary rock formations and watch for whales, dolphins, otters, seals and basking sharks. Conditions permitting, you may also visit an island reserve where red deer and white-tailed eagles thrive.

Step ashore on the community-owned Isle of Eigg, south of the Isle of Skye. Follow scenic trails through wildflower-rich landscapes while the Expedition Team reveals the island’s wildlife, history and remarkable geology.

The Cuillin mountains on Skye form one of Britain’s most dramatic landscapes. Weather permitting, land at Loch Scavaig and walk towards Loch Coruisk for magnificent views of the jagged Black Cuillin and rounded Red Cuillin peaks. More experienced hikers may venture farther, while kayakers could explore the sheltered lochs or paddle towards Soay and the remains of a former shark-fishing station.

On Staffa, anticipate an exploration of Fingal’s Cave, where waves echo between towering basalt columns. The extraordinary acoustics and geology inspired Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture. Depending on conditions, you may approach by Zodiac or land and walk towards the cave entrance. In season, puffins add another memorable dimension to your visit.

Later, take the opportunity to visit the tiny island of Iona, just five kilometers (three miles) long yet central to Scotland’s spiritual history. In 563 CE, the Irish monk St Columba arrived with 12 followers and established a monastery that became an influential center of Christianity. Iona is also the burial place of early Scottish kings and remains an important place of pilgrimage.

On arrival in Troon, disembark in the early morning and farewell your fellow travellers and Expedition Team before transferring to Glasgow Airport for your onward journey.

Note: After the voyage, booking flights departing after 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation is recommended in case of delays.