Expedition Details

The windswept shores of Scotland, Ireland, and England offer a wild and beautiful landscape scattered with ancient monuments and charming villages. On board the National Geographic Explorer, trace the path of the Vikings and the Celts from the Isles of Scilly to Norway. From the unlikely subtropical gardens of Tresco Abbey to the ruins of the Shetland Islands, discover the treasures of the British and Irish Isles.

---

Trip Highlights

• View the beehive monastery nestled among the crags of Skellig Michael, and examine the natural geometric columns of Staffa.
• Peer into the past in the pre-historic homes of Skara Brae in the Orkney Islands.
• Venture into the mysterious ancient Celtic fort at Dun Aengus on the Aran Islands.
• Discover vibrant Gaelic culture on the remote isles of Scotland and Ireland.

---

Itinerary - 14 Days

Days 1 & 2 — U.S./London, England/Portsmouth

Depart on an overnight flight to London, and upon arrival, transfer to the coastal town of Portsmouth. Stop at the Royal Naval Museum to view the three-masted flagship HMS Victory, which defeated the French at Trafalgar under the command of Admiral Horatio Nelson. This afternoon, board the National Geographic Explorer.
(L,D)

Day 3 — Dartmouth

Once a stopping point for the Pilgrims on their way to America, Dartmouth has a great seafaring history. Wander through its narrow streets and examine fine buildings that recall its nautical past.
(B,L,D)

Day 4 — Isles of Scilly

According to Arthurian legend, the Isles of Scilly are all that remain of Lyonnesse, a land off Cornwall that vanished beneath the Atlantic. Meander through Tresco Abbey Gardens, where an astounding variety of tropical plants flourishes.
(B,L,D)

Day 5 — Skellig Rocks and Dingle Peninsula, Ireland

Rising abruptly from the sea, the rocky isle of Skellig Michael was once an important center of Celtic Christianity. See the beehive huts of its sixth-century monastery, clinging to the jagged peak 600 feet above the sea. After lunch, explore the ancient sites of beautiful Dingle Peninsula and wander through the village of Dingle.
(B,L,D)

Day 6 — Cliffs of Moher/Aran Islands

Admire the towering Cliffs of Moher as you cruise beneath them this morning. Continue to the Aran Islands, known for their peculiar limestone moonscapes and Gaelic culture. Visit Dun Aengus, an astonishing pre-historic stone fort perched on the edge of a cliff. Consisting of concentric walls, the site's purpose is still an enigma.
(B,L,D)

Day 7 — County Donegal

Set out in Zodiacs to explore Donegal Bay. Then drive to the town of Glencolumbkille, set in a starkly beautiful landscape strewn with ancient cairns and dolmens. Cruise past Slieve League, soaring 2,000-foot cliffs that are the highest in Europe.
(B,L,D)

Day 8 — Iona and Staffa, Inner Hebrides, Scotland

On Iona, venture into an ancient nunnery and a 13th-century abbey. Examine the Celtic high crosses that mark the burial grounds of kings such as Duncan and MacBeth. This afternoon, dock at Staffa, an island famed for its great geometric basalt columns and deep-sea caves. It was here that Felix Mendelssohn was inspired to write his "Hebrides Overture."
(B,L,D)

Day 9 — Outer Hebrides/St. Kilda/Callanish

Visit the Outer Hebrides, where Scottish Gaelic is still widely spoken and artisans weave traditional woolen fabrics. Weather permitting, explore the cottages of remote St. Kilda, a UNESCO World Heritage site inhabited from the Bronze Age to the 20th century. Later, see the neolithic Callanish Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis.
(B,L,D)

Day 10 — Inverewe Gardens/Ullapool

Stroll the winding path of Inverewe Gardens past towering rhododendrons and rare flowers. Tempered by the warm Gulf Stream, these delightful gardens are an incongruous hub of subtropical color—grown at the same latitude as St. Petersburg! Continue to the tidy little fishing port of Ullapool nestled among the hills, and spend the afternoon exploring its charming lanes.
(B,L,D)

Day 11 — Orkney Islands

Built in the era of Stonehenge, the sites of Orkney reveal a sophisticated Stone Age culture. View the megaliths of the Ring of Brodgar, and glimpse an ancient way of life in the 5,000-year-old stone-slab village of Skara Brae. Step into the medieval St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, which took nearly 300 years to complete. Stop for tea and a garden walk at the historic Balfour Castle on Shapinsay Island.
(B,L,D)

Day 12 — Fair Isle/Mousa

Land at Fair Isle this morning and visit the isolated bird research station, located on the migration flyway. You may choose to hike to a nearby beach to look for basking seals. Then, on the uninhabited island of Mousa, see one of the best examples of an Iron Age broch, or stone tower.
(B,L,D)

Day 13 — Shetland Islands

Dock at the Shetland Islands, an archipelago of about 100 islands and islets. Drive through a rolling landscape dotted with Shetland ponies. Explore the ruins at Jarlshof, which reveal 4,000 years of near-continuous settlement.
(B,L,D)

Day 14 — Bergen, Norway/U.S.

Disembark in Bergen and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
(B)

---

Optional Extensions

• Wales - Pre-Trip Extension, 7 Days
• Norway's Fjords - Post-Trip Extension, 5 Days

---

Related Trip

• Scotland's Highlands and Islands

• Print this page
• Send to a friend
• Ask a question about this trip