Scottish Islands and Norwegian Fjords

Your journey begins in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, where after arriving independently you will be transferred to the Port of Leith for afternoon embarkation. Settle in to your new surroundings and prepare for adventure, and as your ship departs and sails down the Firth of Forth keep a lookout for common eiders and northern gannets from deck.

Our first stop brings us to the Orkney Islands, located just 6 miles off the coast of Scotland and world renowned for their abundant marine bird life and dramatic coastal scenery. We will make land at Kirkwall, the islands’ main town and take an included coach trip to enjoy an afternoon of exploring the ancient history of the people of these Scottish Isles. On your trip you will visit historic and mystical sites at the standing stones of Stennes, the intriguing Ring of Brodgar and the village of Skara Brae.

After a short northwards sail we will arrive at the Shetland Islands which are a unique mix of Scotland and Scandinavia, with spectacular coastlines, varied and abundant bird life and a number of archaeological sites that date back thousands of years. Your time here can be spent with a visit to Jarlshof, the best known prehistoric archaeological site in the Shetlands, or you could join the Puffin Bus for an interesting trip focusing on puffins and seabird photography at Sumbrugh Head (weather dependent). There will also be time to explore Lerwick, the islands’ main port.

Having crossed the famous North Sea overnight, today we will arrive in Norway and disembark in Bergen, the gateway to the Norwegian fjords. Here you can enjoy an included afternoon city tour taking in a stop at the Edvard Grieg Museum, a visit to the historical seaport district and the fish market. If the city tour isn’t for you, you can opt to simply explore the city at your own pace, enjoy Bergen’s iconic funicular ride or join a historical walking tour that ends at the Hanseatic Museum.

Today we arrive in Flåm where you can disembark to enjoy an exciting journey on the famous Flåm Railway through the spectacularly scenic valleys and mountain passes to the beautiful fjord of the Flåm district. The Flåm Line is a 20km (12.4 mi) route between Myrdal and Flåm which boasts an incredibly steep gradient and is a popular tourist bucket-list experience. This railway trip is included as part of your package.

Our next stop will bring us to the beautiful Art Nouveau district of Ålesund where you can enjoy a day at your leisure exploring the sights of this picturesque city. You could choose to take the 418 steps up to Fjellstua for the best view of the city, visit the Ålesund Museum and learn about the culture and history of the town, or simply stroll around to soak up the impressive architecture, visit the famous record shops or sample some local delicacies.

Today we will sail deep into the UNESCO World Heritage site of Geiranger Fjord, one of Norway’s most spectacular and most visited fjords. This 15km long fjord is surrounded by mountains, lush green trees, waterfalls, and several farms and affords amazing photo opportunities so have your camera on hand at all times. Here you can enjoy a coach tour to Dalnibba soaking up the incredible views along the way, or the more adventurous can opt for a 10km mountain hike to explore the area and take in the unforgettable spectacle of the view of the fjord from above.

We continue our journey through the stunning Norwegian Fjords as we arrive in Trondheim and disembark to enjoy the sights of this modern city surrounded by beautiful forests and mountains. There is much to explore here and today you can choose between hiking in Bymarka Nature Reserve before visiting the Sverresborg Folk Museum, or enjoying a city tour including the Folk Museum and the elaborate Nidaros Cathedral, built between 1070 and 1300. The afternoon will be at your leisure and you can enjoy the pretty cafes, restaurants, bars and waterfront of Norway’s third largest city.

By now you will well know that the rugged coastline of central Norway features some of the world's most beautiful scenery and one of the highlights of this is Torghatten, one of the most bizarre rock formations in Norway and a significant local landmark. Today you can enjoy a short scenic coach trip into the Treana archipelago that is comprised of over 1000 islands. Our goal is to visit Torghatten for a hike up to the famous hole in the mountain, which offers breathtaking views of the region and unparalleled photo opportunities.

Throughout your visit your expedition guides will offer information on the area, as well as an insight into Norway's mythical trolls, and your ship's photography expert will be on hand to offer advice on how to capture the perfect shot. Later we plan to hop into our Zodiac boats for a cruise towards the quaint and picturesque UNESCO World Heritage site of Vega Island. Here you can enjoy a wander through the island's tiny and beautiful fishing villages, and learn about the area’s history of eider down harvesting and how and why it achieved its UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Today we will visit Svartisen, Lovund, and Vikingen, with the first stop being Svartisen, Norway’s second-largest glacier. Here you can choose to hike to one of the outlet glaciers of Svartisen, Engabreen, which ends at the lowest point of any glacier on the European mainland, at 20 meters above sea level. The first 30 to 45 minutes of the hike are easy with no incline, and the remaining hike is guided in small groups as it can be a challenging and complicated maze of rocky outcroppings leading to a close encounter with the ice. Everyone should reach a beautiful lookout over the lake. You can also opt to visit the café for waffles and coffee.

Later we will visit Vikingen Island, a small island that sits directly on the Arctic Circle and features a small statue of a globe celebrating its position on one of the five major latitude circles.

Today's adventures bring us to the Lofoten archipelago, an enchanting area of picturesque villages by the sea backed with jagged peaks. We will make land on the island of Aa and go ashore by Zodiac to enjoy a coach trip through the area. Places you will visit include the Tørrfiskmuseum (Stockfish Museum) where you can learn about the traditional works of the islands, Nusfjord, one of Norway's oldest and best-preserved fishing villages, Henningsvær, Svolvær and the Viking Museum at Bøstad.

After an enjoyable day of sightseeing you will re-board as the ship cruises into one of Norway's most famous fjords, the short yet dramatic Trollfjord. Make sure to be on deck for spectacular photo opportunities and to search the cliffs for Norway’s mythical trolls!

As we approach the end of our voyage, day 12 will bring us to Tromsø, the capital of northern Norway. Tromsø is known as the "Gateway to the Arctic" as it was the embarkation point for many Arctic expeditions and today you can enjoy an included guided tour of this unique city to learn all about its past. You can choose to either join a mountain hike for some incredible views over the city, or take the guided walk through the city streets before taking the cable car to the mountain top. A delicious lunch of traditional open-faced sandwiches can be enjoyed overlooking the city and there will be time to visit the Polar and Tromsø Museums before heading back to the ship for your final night onboard.

After breakfast the following morning it will be time to disembark and bid farewell to our new-found friends. A transfer will be provided either to the Tromsø Airport or to the Clarion Hotel in downtown Tromsø if you are extending your stay.