Merlin. St. Patrick. Macbeth. This 9-day British Isles cruise encompasses England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. Explore the green rolling hills and stone castles as you sail to historic ports and experience legendary grounds. Enter the Neolithic world of the Standing Stones of Callenish and Stennes, the Ring of Brodgar, and the ruins of Skara Brae. Experience some of the most beautiful flora in the British Isles at the height of their bloom in the cultivated gardens at Tresco Abbey on the Isles of Scilly, the Bodnant Garden on Anglesey, as well as the wildflowers of Skye and Lewis.
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 London and transfer to Poole to embark on the Corinthian.
Day 2: Tresco, Isles of Scilly
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The Isles of Scilly lie off the southwest coast of Cornwall and are believed to have been visited by the ancient Phoenicians. Walk from the port to the Tresco Abbey Gardens for a guided visit. Due to a combination of the region's mild winter climate, the long hours of summer sunshine, and the high walls and hedges around the carding, the Abbey is home to exotic plants from all over the world. Tresco is also known for its wonderful birding opportunities.
Day 3: Fishgard, Wales
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Travel to St. Davids to tour the magnificent cathedral in this village-sized city. Continue to the adjacent Bishop's Palace, once one of three fortified residences of the Bishops of St. Davids.
Day 4: Holyhead / Snowdonia / Caernarvon
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Arrive in Holyhead in the morning, which is separated from mainland Wales by the narrow Menai Strait. Visit the Bodnant Garden, one of the finest in Britain. After a lunch of Welsh specialties, drive along the Vale of Conwy through the spectacular scenery of Snowdonia to Caernarfon Castle, where Price Charles was invested as Price of Wales.
Day 5: Dublin, Ireland
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Dublin, a lively city on the banks of the Liffey River, is famous for its historic sites, handsome Georgian architecture, and friendly locals. View the 13th century Gothic cathedral of St. Patrick and continue on to Dublin Castle to see newly discovered Viking excavations as well as the Chester Beatty Library, which features a fine collection of Oriental art and artifacts. In the afternoon, tour Trinity College and its famed library, which houses the Book of Kells and other national treasures.
Day 6: Isle of Iona, Scotland
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Iona, the site of the first Christian settlement in Scotland, is lovely and verdant. It enjoys a reputation as a seat of spiritual power. "The Graves of Kings" contains 48 Scottish monarchs, including Macbeth and his victim Duncan. Enjoy a walking tour and a visit to the Abbey.
Day 7: Portree, Isle of Skye
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Call in Portree to explore the castles found on the Isle of Skye. Visit the Eilean Donan Castle, which was initially built in 1214 and was later restored in the 20th century. Also visit Dunvegan Castle, which is said to be the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. Spend some time at the Museum of the Isles to learn about the 1,500-year history of the island. In the evening, visit the Talisker Distillery and enjoy a tour and Scotch tasting.
Day 8: Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The largest town in the Western Isles, Stornoway is the home to the Standing Stones of Callenish, an arrangement of stones which are reminiscent of a Celtic Cross and built almost 5,000 years ago. Next, visit Carloway Broch, a dry-stone circular fort which was built in the 1st century A.D. and remained in use until the 14th century.
Day 9: Kirkwall, Orkney Islands
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
From Kirkwall, enjoy an excursion to the Heart of Neolithic Orkneym, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore Maes Howe, a chambered cairn, the Standing Stones of Stennes, the hence and stone circle of the Ring of Brodgar, and the ruins of a Neolithic village at Skara Brae. Return to Kirkwall for a tour of the medieval St. Magnus Cathedral, the most northerly cathedral in the British Isles.
Day 10: Aberdeen / Balmoral / Crathes Castle
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
From Aberdeen, enjoy an excursion to Balmoral, the Scottish home of the British Royal Family since it was purchased by Queen Victoria in 1848. The estate extends over 50,000 acres of heather-clad hills and ancient woodlands. In the afternoon, continue to Crathes Castle, which is known for its Scottish renaissance painted ceilings and an exceptional walled garden which encompasses nearly four acres.
Day 11: Leigh / Disembark / Edinburgh
1 Breakfast
In the morning, disembark the ship in Leigh and transfer to Edinburgh for your continued flights.
Dates & Prices
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Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Nancy Sin
TrustScore 4.8 | 176 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 176 reviews on
9 hours ago
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.