Itinerary
- Day 1
Glasgow
Start your day checking out Glasgow's Art Nouveau buildings and Charles Rennie Mackintosh's distinctive designs around the city. Later you'll head to MS Spitsbergen to settle into your cabin and meet the Expedition Team. Dinner happens aboard as the ship departs toward Belfast, giving you time to get comfortable with the ship and other passengers.
- Meals
- Dinner (First dinner aboard in the Aune restaurant)
Included Activities
- Explore Charles Rennie Mackintosh architecture in Glasgow
- Locate cabin and explore MS Spitsbergen
- Meet Expedition Team
Landmarks Charles Rennie Mackintosh Architecture 
- Day 2
Belfast
Belfast has quite a bit to see with its ship-building history and connections to the Titanic. You can spend time in museums and historic spots around the Cathedral Quarter, or if you prefer something different, the Botanic Gardens offer green space and natural attractions worth wandering through.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Belfast's ship-building history
- Stroll Cathedral Quarter's cobbled streets
- Visit St. Anne's Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Visit Ulster Museum
- Visit Belfast Castle
- Visit Botanic Gardens
- Explore City Hall in Donegall Square
Landmarks St. Anne's Cathedral City Hall Ulster Museum Belfast Castle Botanic Gardens 
- Day 3
Isle of Man
This independent island has ancient castle ruins scattered around and Peel makes for a charming seaside stop. There's Celtic and Viking heritage to explore if history interests you, plus vintage car museums that reflect the island's racing legacy. Wildlife watching opportunities exist here too if you keep your eyes open.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- View Peel Castle ruins
- Explore the seaside town of Peel
Optional Activities
- Visit vintage car museums
- Visit House of Manannan for Celtic, Viking, and maritime history
Landmarks Peel Castle House of Manannan - Day 4
Islay
Known for its peaty single malts, this island lets you see how the whisky gets made and taste what makes it special. You'll find ancient monoliths dotting the landscape, and from the sandy beaches you can watch for over 200 bird species, dolphins, and basking sharks if you're lucky with the weather.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Islay's ancient monoliths
- Explore Finlaggan settlement
Optional Activities
- Visit Port Ellen whisky distilleries (Laphroaig or Ardbeg)
- Sample whisky from famous distilleries
Landmarks Finlaggan Laphroaig Distillery Ardbeg Distillery - Day 5
Oban, Tobermory, or Loch Sunart
Scotland's west coast gives you choices depending on conditions. A fishing port and distillery visit works if seas cooperate, or there's a charming village with colorful Georgian houses to explore. Weather might also allow small boat launches into a Marine Protected Area for closer looks at the water and marine life.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore local destinations along west coast of Scotland
- Optional RIB small boat exploration (depending on conditions)
Optional Activities
- Visit Oban's fishing port
- Visit Dunollie Castle
- Visit Oban Distillery
- Visit Tobermory on Isle of Mull
- Explore Loch Sunart Marine Protected Area by RIB
Landmarks Oban Fishing Port Dunollie Castle Oban Distillery Tobermory Loch Sunart 
- Day 6
Iona, Staffa, and Treshnish Isles
Iona's sixth-century abbey deserves time to walk around and absorb its history. After that, a hike takes you to views across St. Columba's Bay. Then you'll check out the Treshnish Isles where seabirds nest, and if conditions allow, head into Fingal's Cave to see the hexagonal basalt columns and experience the natural acoustics.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Iona Abbey
- Hike to Dùn I and St. Columba's Bay
- Explore Treshnish Isles
- View Fingal's Cave
Landmarks Iona Abbey St. Columba's Bay Dùn I Well of Eternal Youth Treshnish Isles Fingal's Cave - Day 7
Isle of Skye and Isle of Canna
Loch Scavaig shows off dramatic terrain, and hiking around Loch Coruisk puts you surrounded by the Cuillin Mountains on all sides. Isle of Canna has historic settlements and beaches worth visiting, with breeding puffin colonies and nesting seabirds making it good for wildlife watching.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Loch Coruisk at Loch Scavaig with Expedition Team
- Visit Isle of Canna
- Explore beaches and sea stacks
Landmarks Loch Scavaig Loch Coruisk Cuillin Mountains Isle of Canna Dùn Mòr Dùn Beag 
- Day 8
St. Kilda
This spot holds UNESCO designation as a double World Heritage Site and ranks among Europe's most important seabird colonies. The abandoned village and distinctive stone cleits tell stories of how people lived here, though landing depends on weather cooperating on the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore St. Kilda (subject to weather conditions)
- Visit abandoned village
- View stone cleits
Landmarks St. Kilda Abandoned Village St. Kilda - Day 9
Stornoway, Isle of Lewis and Harris
Stornoway is the main hub on Isle of Lewis and Harris, and from here you'll find seals, red deer, eagles, and otters if you look around. The Gothic-style Lews Castle deserves a visit, and the Callanish Standing Stones date back 5,000 years and create an interesting historical stop.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Lews Castle
- Visit Callanish Standing Stones
- Visit Dun Carloway
Landmarks Lews Castle Callanish Standing Stones Dun Carloway - Day 10
Fair Isle
Fair Isle is remote and perfect for serious bird watchers with 27 bird species calling it home. The island also has heritage knitwear history worth learning about. You can hike up to a clifftop lighthouse or enjoy scenic cruising around the island if landing isn't possible that day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Clifftop hike to lighthouse with Expedition Team (if landing possible)
- Visit local museum
Optional Activities
- Purchase genuine Fair Isle knitwear from local makers
Landmarks Fair Isle Fair Isle Lighthouse - Day 11
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands
Kirkwall shows its Viking roots throughout the town, and the red sandstone cathedral stands out immediately. Renaissance palace ruins sit nearby if you're into older structures, and there are Neolithic settlements around if you want to dig into history. Local distilleries let you taste whisky and gin made in the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit St. Magnus Cathedral
- Visit Earl's Palace ruins
- Explore Kirkwall on foot
Optional Activities
- Visit Scara Brae Neolithic settlement (bus ride away)
- Visit Highland Park Distillery
- Visit Scapa Distillery
- Visit Orkney Distillery for local gin
Landmarks St. Magnus Cathedral Earl's Palace Scara Brae Highland Park Distillery Scapa Distillery Orkney Distillery - Day 12
Lerwick, Shetland Islands
Lerwick sits as Scotland's northernmost inhabited town with nice scenery surrounding it. Walk through narrow lanes with local shops, explore the old waterfront and its museum, and check out historic Fort Charlotte. Learning about traditional crofting life gives insight into how people adapted to life here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Lerwick on foot
- Visit Shetland Museum
- View Fort Charlotte
- View Town Hall
Optional Activities
- Visit Shetland Crofthouse Museum
Landmarks Shetland Museum Fort Charlotte Town Hall Shetland Crofthouse Museum - Day 13
Bergen
You'll disembark MS Spitsbergen in Bergen and have time to explore one of Norway's most beautiful cities. The UNESCO-listed Bryggen district features colorful wooden wharves and artisanal boutiques perfect for browsing. For panoramic views across the area, the funicular up Mount Fløyen gets you there quickly and shows off the surrounding landscape.
Included Activities
- Disembark MS Spitsbergen
Optional Activities
- Visit UNESCO-listed Bryggen district
- Visit fish market
- Take funicular up Mount Fløyen (included in optional Post-Program)
- Hike to Mount Fløyen top for views of seven mountains, port, and sea
Landmarks Bryggen Fish Market Mount Fløyen 
