Scotland to Iceland: A North Atlantic Expedition

Arrive in Glasgow, Scotland’s vibrant cultural capital and historic port city on the River Clyde. Discover a city known for its striking Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture, maritime heritage, music and whisky. Make your way to the hotel for your first night, before meeting your fellow travellers and members of the expedition team over dinner this evening.

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After breakfast, spend the morning discovering Glasgow’s architecture and cultural attractions. Explore this compact city, where the neo-Gothic University of Glasgow, the Art Nouveau works of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, contemporary glass towers and colourful street art reflect its diverse character. Cultural highlights include Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, The Burrell Collection, Tramway, Gallery of Modern Art and Glasgow City Chambers. Later, transfer to Greenock Cruise Port to board Heritage Discoverer. Meet the captain and expedition team and settle into your cabin as your expedition begins. This evening, join the expedition team in the Observation Lounge or head out on deck as you set course for Staffa Island.

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This morning, explore Staffa and Iona in the Inner Hebrides before continuing to Lunga, the largest of the Treshnish Isles. Rising dramatically from the sea, uninhabited Staffa is distinguished by its remarkable basalt cliffs and Fingal’s Cave, a natural formation of hexagonal columns and a soaring arched ceiling. The island provides nesting habitat for seabirds and seals, while Basking Sharks and Pilot Whales frequent the surrounding waters. Continue to Iona, a small island with a fascinating history shaped by Gaelic, Norse and Scottish influences. St Columba established Scotland’s first Celtic church and monastery here in 563 AD, and today you can visit the restored Benedictine Abbey complex, see ancient crosses and sculptures, and explore Reilig Odhrain, the burial ground of 48 Scottish kings. Other highlights include views from Dun I, the island’s highest point, and the ‘Well of Eternal Youth’. Later, discover Lunga, a wildlife-rich island characterised by ancient lava flows, basalt columns and sea stacks. Around 6,000 seabirds nest here, including Atlantic Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Shags, Fulmars and Manx Shearwaters. Seals are often seen resting on the rocks and Common Dolphins frequent the surrounding waters. Conditions permitting, explore this remarkable coastline by Zodiac.

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Sail west of the Scottish mainland towards the Isle of Lewis, the largest of the Outer Hebrides and home to Scotland’s largest Gaelic-speaking community. Begin the day with a Zodiac cruise around the Shiant Isles, where basalt sea cliffs rise more than 120 metres above the water and grassy slopes provide breeding grounds for more than 300,000 seabirds. Look for Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars and Kittiwakes, while Minke Whales, Harbour Porpoises, Risso’s Dolphins and Common Dolphins are also regular visitors to these waters. Continue to Stornoway, the island’s lively capital, founded by Vikings in the 800s. Spend time exploring the harbour, galleries, Lews Castle or the Harris Tweed Story Room, where traditional hand-weaving techniques are showcased. We also plan to visit the Callanish Standing Stones, one of Britain’s most significant Stone Age sites. Dating to around 2900 BC, these ancient Lewisian Gneiss stones form a distinctive cross-shaped arrangement and remained largely buried beneath peat until their excavation in 1857.

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Continue your exploration of Scotland’s Neolithic heritage in the Orkney Islands, arriving in the picturesque port town of Stromness. Its maritime history is reflected in a harbour framed by stone houses and flagstone streets, with independent shops, galleries and studios tucked along its walkable lanes, including the renowned Pier Arts Centre. The Orkney archipelago comprises 70 islands and has been inhabited for some 8,500 years. Discover its remarkably preserved prehistoric heritage with planned visits to the Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle and Henge, an immense ceremonial site dating to around 2000 BC, and Maeshowe Chambered Cairn, a Neolithic tomb built approximately 5,000 years ago and later marked with Norse runic graffiti and the distinctive ‘Maeshowe Dragon’ carving. We also plan to visit Kirkwall, Orkney’s colourful capital, where St Magnus Cathedral has stood at the heart of the town since 1137. Scotland’s oldest and most complete medieval cathedral, it has survived centuries of religious change and conflict and contains the remains of St Magnus within one of its pillars.

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Arrive in Lerwick, the historic port and cultural heart of the Shetland Islands. Set in the northernmost reaches of the United Kingdom, this archipelago of more than 100 wave-shaped islands lies where the North Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. The landscape is defined by dramatic cliffs, striking coastal scenery, rich wildlife, Viking heritage and the famous Shetland Ponies, with Breckon also recognised for its beautiful beach. Those interested in history can visit Clickimin Broch, an Iron Age stone-built round house, together with surrounding structures dating from 1000 BC to 500 AD. Spend time wandering Lerwick’s narrow stone lanes, familiar from the BBC series Shetland, or visit the Shetland Museum and Archives, where prehistoric artefacts and maritime exhibits trace the islands’ story through to the present day. The harbour is also a rewarding place for wildlife photography, with Black Guillemots, Common and Arctic Terns and foraging Otters often observed. There is also the option to visit Jarlshof, an extraordinary archaeological site spanning more than 4,000 years of Scottish history, from 2500 BC through to the 17th century.

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Spend the morning at sea as we sail towards the Faroe Islands, an archipelago of 18 rugged, mountainous volcanic islands within the Kingdom of Denmark. As we cross the wildlife-rich waters of the North Atlantic, join lectures introducing the adventures ahead, relax in the Observation Lounge or head out on deck to watch for seabirds and cetaceans. Our first of three days in the Faroes takes us to Suduroy, the southernmost island. Here we visit the charming village of Vágar, first mentioned in documents dating to the 14th century and the main town in southern Suduroy. Set at the head of picturesque Vágsfjordur and surrounded by rolling emerald hills, its position along the shore reflects its history as an important trading hub. Explore Suduroy with your expedition team, discovering a dramatic landscape of 50 mountains, six villages, lakes and waterfalls. Walk to panoramic clifftop viewpoints overlooking skerries and sea stacks, while learning more about the town's history, Faroese culture and the island's diverse wildlife.

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Arrive in Tórshavn, the Faroe Islands’ compact capital on the island of Streymoy. Meaning ‘Thor’s Harbour’, Tórshavn has served as the islands’ centre since the Viking Parliament was established here in 850 AD. Travel by coach through the surrounding hilly landscapes to Kirkjubour, the Faroes’ oldest cultural centre and one of its most significant historic sites. Discover the ruins of the 13th-century Magnus Cathedral, visit Ólavskirkja parish church, built in 1111 and still in use, and explore the 900-year-old Roykstovan í Kirkjubo farmhouse and museum, once a Bishop’s palace and inhabited since 1100. Those wishing to be more active can join a hike in the hills surrounding the town, discovering local flora and fauna while taking in panoramic views. The afternoon is free to explore Tórshavn at your own pace, including the Faroe Islands National Museum, home to 16 intricately carved wooden pew ends dating from the early 1400s. Depicting the 12 apostles, these historic carvings were originally housed in Magnus Cathedral.

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Spend the morning discovering Mykines, the westernmost and most isolated of the Faroe Islands. Dramatic cliffs, striking sea stacks and sweeping ocean views define this remote island, while the colourful village of Mykines is now home to families occupying just 15 of its more than 40 houses, alongside the endemic Mykines House Mouse. Mykines is also an important haven for birdlife and a designated Ramsar site for wetland and seabird conservation. Look for colonies of Atlantic Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars, Kittiwakes and Gannets along its rugged shores. Return to the ship for lunch as you begin sailing towards Iceland.

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Arrive in Iceland and spend the day exploring Seydisfjordur, a picturesque natural harbour where fishing heritage, colourful 19th-century Norwegian-style architecture and a vibrant creative spirit come together. The town has developed a reputation as a centre for experimental art, influenced by Swiss artist Dieter Roth, who lived and worked here and established a local art collective in 1996. The Skaftfell Art Center was later founded in his honour. Join your guides on a walking tour past the famous Blue Church and Rainbow Lane towards Vestdalur Nature Reserve and Vestdalur Lake. Follow an old mail route used between 1880 and 1910, where stone constructions and cairns remain, passing waterfalls along the way to the lake and its distinctive plant life. Nearby, discover the cave where the remains of the Viking-era ‘Mountain Lady’, dating to 940 CE, were found in 2004 alongside more than 400 glass and amber pearls and bronze brooches. There is also an opportunity to explore the abandoned fishing village and whaling station of Vestdalseyri and experience Tvísongur (Duet), German artist Lukas Kuhne’s mountainside sound sculpture of five interconnected domes, each reflecting a different tone from Iceland’s traditional five-tone harmony.

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Explore Húsavík, a small town overlooking Skjálfandi Bay and renowned as Iceland’s whale-watching capital. Once a centre of the country’s whaling industry, the town is now known for encounters with Humpback and Minke Whales, White-beaked Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises in the bay’s rich feeding grounds. Discover its whaling history at the Whale Museum, housed in a former slaughterhouse and home to an upside-down Blue Whale skeleton. Fans of Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga can also visit the Eurovision Museum and Jaja Ding Dong bar. Venture inland to Godafoss, the ‘waterfall of the gods’, where the Skjálfandafljót River plunges 12 metres over volcanic basalt in a 30-metre-wide horseshoe-shaped cascade. Continue to Mývatn, a volcanic lake formed around 2,300 years ago and surrounded by hot springs, lava fields, bubbling mud pools, sulphur vents and striking geological formations. The lake is also an important birding site, attracting Whooper Swans, Arctic Terns, Red-necked Phalaropes, Great Northern Divers, Eurasian Wigeons, Tufted Ducks, Greater Scaups, Barrow’s Goldeneyes and Northern Shovelers. Midges are prolific here during summer and form an important part of the ecosystem, so insect repellent is recommended.

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This morning, discover Vigur, a small family-owned island and wildlife sanctuary measuring just two kilometres long and 400 metres wide. Also known as ‘Puffin Island’, Vigur supports more than 60 bird species, including around 100,000 Atlantic Puffins, 1,500 Black Guillemots, 1,700 Arctic Terns and more than 7,000 Common Eiders. The sixth-generation farming family continues the island’s traditional practice of sustainable eiderdown harvesting. During your visit, see Europe’s smallest post office and Iceland’s only windmill, dating from the 1840s. Continue to Ísafjordur, a small fishing community and former 16th-century trading post in the heart of Iceland’s Westfjords. This sparsely populated region is known for its expansive wilderness, scenic beauty and layered volcanic fjord shores. This afternoon, explore Hornstrandir Nature Reserve with the naturalists, or spend time discovering Ísafjordur’s museums, galleries and artisan workshops.

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Arrive early this morning in Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital and the world’s northernmost capital of a sovereign state. After a final breakfast on board, farewell your fellow travellers before taking the complimentary coach transfer to a central Reykjavík location or Keflavík International Airport. Due to the possibility of delays caused by weather or port operations, please do not arrange onward travel before 12 noon on the day of disembarkation. Note: During our voyage, circumstances may make it necessary or desirable to deviate from the proposed itinerary. This can include poor weather and opportunities for making unplanned excursions. Your Expedition Leader will keep you fully informed. This tour offers a variety of activities and excursions. Your personal interests will determine which of these you wish to join. Please note that some activities and excursions will run at similar times, and it will not be possible to participate in both. Accordingly, refunds for excursions and missed landings are not available. Voyages are planned and scheduled pending final regulatory approval.

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