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11 Night Wild Scotland and Land Tour

From Aberdeen to Edinburgh
  • Greg Mortimer
  • Greg Mortimer Dining
  • Greg Mortimer Gym
  • Greg Mortimer Lecture Lounge
  • Greg Mortimer Library
  • Greg Mortimer Mud Room
  • Greg Mortimer Observation Deck
  • Greg Mortimer Sauna
  • Greg Mortimer Wellness Centre
  • Greg Mortimer Bridge
  • Kayaking
  • Kayaking
  • Greg Mortimer Cruising Drake Passage
  • Hydraulic View Platform
  • Aurora Twin Share Stateroom
  • Balcony Stateroom
  • Junior Suite
  • Captain?s Suite
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Greg Mortimer

Aurora Expeditions
5 Stars
  • Cruise #: 14064202
  • Departs: Fri, May 7, 2027
  • Returns: Tue, May 18, 2027
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    Oceanview
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    Balcony
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    Suite
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    *Prices are per person based on double occupancy
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    Itinerary Summary

    Day by Day Details

    Land Segment of Itinerary

    Friday - May 7, 2027
    Day
    1
    Aberdeen, United Kingdom
    • Aberdeen, United Kingdom
    Having made your way to Aberdeen Airport, you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to your group hotel. Upon arrival at your included hotel, please visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk to collect your luggage cabin tags and to speak with the ground operations team, who may have information to share with you about pre-embarkation or to provide you with information about where to dine, withdraw cash, or purchase last-minute items from a local pharmacy or supermarket. Should you already be in Aberdeen, make your way to your pre-voyage hotel, the Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel, St Andrew Street, Aberdeen. Check-in is from 3 pm. The remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense. Accommodation: Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel (or similar) ...
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    Land Segment of Itinerary

    Saturday - May 8, 2027
    Day
    2
    Aberdeen, United Kingdom
    • Aberdeen, United Kingdom
    • Bus Travel
    • Oldmeldrum, Scotland, United Kingdom
    • Bus Travel
    • Huntly Falconry Centre, Scotland, United Kingdom
    • Bus Travel

    Cruise Segment of Itinerary

    Day 2 - Saturday - May 8, 2027
    Day
    2
    Cruise Begins
    • Cruise Begins
    • Aberdeen, United Kingdom
    After breakfast, check out and bring your luggage to the foyer. Please place any items required today in your hand luggage as your main bag will be placed in the bays of the motorcoach. Today, we explore 'The Granite City' visiting some of Aberdeen's most famous landmarks including the magnificent King's College Chapel, which is a fantastic example of Gothic architecture, and the St Machar's Cathedral, a 12th-century church with its beautiful stained-glass windows. Depart for Glen Garioch Distillery, a 200-year-old distillery situated in the sheltered heart of the Valley of the Garioch. Blessed as it is with the northeast's mild climate, plentiful sunshine, and not too much rain, the valley has long been renowned as the finest barley growing area in the country. Once home to no fewer than six distilleries, today the valley cradles just one - this established distillery has changed hands several times and the current owners have had the distillery in their family since 1886. You will be taken on a tour of this award-winning distillery where you will see their time-honored skills at work and see what goes into making this unique spirit. Complete your distillery journey with a taste of two whiskies from their core range and for those who wish, there will be an opportunity to visit their onsite shop. Afterwards, enjoy a scenic drive to the Huntly Falconry Centre. This center was established in 1991 and is one of the first falconry centers in Scotland. Huntly Falconry Centre holds birds-of-prey falconry demonstrations throughout the season, where owls, hawks, falcons, and eagles can be seen flying every day. Marvel at the full range of bird skills during the flying demonstration before our drive returns us to Aberdeen to board the Greg Mortimer in the late afternoon. You will have time to settle into your cabin before the important briefings. We will set sail for Fair Isle in the evening and meet your expedition team and crew at the Welcome Dinner. ...
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    Sunday - May 9, 2027
    Day
    3
    Kirkwall, Scotland
    • Kirkwall, Scotland
    Discover the rich history in Kirkwall, capital of the Orkney Islands. Initial impressions are misleading, as the harbor area looks modern, but the narrow winding streets and lanes of the old town, which have remained relatively unchanged over the centuries, are appealing. Everything west of Kirkwall is known as West Mainland, an area of rich farmland, rolling hills, and moorland, with dramatic cliffs along the Atlantic coastline. Some of the main archaeological attractions we may see include the standing Stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar, and the chambered tombs of Maeshowe that to this day still have unresolved mysteries. Personalize your expedition with the included 'Your Choice' experiences that best suits your interests and level of fitness. ...
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    Monday - May 10, 2027
    Day
    4
    Fair Isle, Scotland
    • Fair Isle, Scotland
    Tuesday - May 11, 2027
    Day
    5
    Lerwick, United Kingdom
    • Lerwick, United Kingdom
    Wednesday - May 12, 2027
    Day
    6
    • Isle of Noss, United Kingdom
    • Mousa, United Kingdom
    Britain's most northerly islands lie almost 160 kilometers (99 miles) north of the Scottish mainland, at a similar latitude to the southern tip of Greenland, or Bergen in Norway. Kept relatively warm by the Gulf Stream, Shetland's 100 islands experience almost 24 hours of daylight in summer. They abound with nature reserves and archaeological sites and offer a taste of traditional island life. We plan to explore some of the following sites: Midway between Orkney and Shetland, Fair Isle houses a major European ornithological research station and is also famous for knitwear and historic shipwrecks. About five kilometers by three kilometers / three miles by two miles in area, it is surrounded by impressive cliffs. The 70 or so islanders mainly live in traditional crofts on the more fertile low-lying southern part of the island. A bird watchers' paradise, Fair Isle lies on the intersection of major flight paths from Scandinavia, Iceland, and Faroes. In summer, the cliffs teem with breeding fulmars, kittiwakes, guillemots, gannets, shags, and puffins. The Isle is an excellent place to view seabirds, especially puffins at close range. Fair Isle also has over 250 species of flowering plants, including wetland flowers, rare orchids, alpine species, and common wildflowers. We'll be welcomed by the hospitable villagers and may take a hike or visit the museum. Grey and common seals inhabit these waters around Fair Isle, while sharp eyes may spot harbor porpoises, white-beaked dolphins, Atlantic white-sided dolphins, killer whales (orcas), and minke whales. From Lerwick, explore Jarlshof, one of Shetland's best preserved and most complex archaeological sites. It was exposed by storms in the late 19th century. The Old House of Sumburgh, built here in the 17th century, was named 'Jarlshof' by Sir Walter Scott in his novel 'The Pirate'. The record of human occupation dates from around 3200 BCE. Jarlshof's main Bronze Age site is the house of a bronzesmith working around 800 BC. Clay molds into which molten bronze was poured revealed that he was casting axe heads and short swords. It seems that Shetland suited early Norse settlers, for they quickly settled here and left their mark on Shetland's history for ages to come. With its mile-long seabird cliffs, the Island of Noss is a National Nature Reserve. In breeding season, the sound of around 150,000 birds and chicks fills the air. Millions of years of wind and ice have honeycombed thousands of nesting ledges in sandstone cliffs almost 200 meters / 656 feet high. Resident seals and visiting otters feed in dense kelp around the shores. Mousa Broch, on the small uninhabited island of Mousa, is the best-preserved of Scotland's 570 brochs (fortified Iron Age towers). Storm petrels nest among its stones, which can be seen when visiting the broch at night. In daylight, a large colony of common and grey seals basks on its shores, and you may spot otter (dratsi, in Shetland dialect). ...
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    Thursday - May 13, 2027
    Day
    7
    Papa Westray, Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
    • Papa Westray, Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
    Friday - May 14, 2027
    Day
    8
    Callanish, United Kingdom
    • Callanish, United Kingdom
    Saturday - May 15, 2027
    Day
    9
    • St Kilda, Scotland
    Orkney's archipelago of 70 windswept islands, 10 kilometers / 6 miles north of the Scottish mainland, a rich tapestry of archaeology, history, and wildlife awaits. We follow the passage of time-from 5,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Neolithic sites, past relics from Vikings and reminders of World War II occupation, to present day crofting communities. Imposing sea cliffs teem with seabirds and cliff top paths beckon the keen hikers among us. Our kayakers use paddle-power to explore sections of Orkney's fascinating coastline. At the Knap of Howar on Papa Westray lies the earliest known house in Northern Europe, occupied by Neolithic farmers over 5,000 years ago. Here we are welcomed by the friendly locals. Enjoy the lively Scottish dance and folk ensemble, "Poor Man's Corner", hailing from Papa Westray, set to grace the local pub with their spirited tunes. Mingle and enjoy a few drinks, while listening to the captivating melodies and infectious rhythms. From the Orkney we make our way to the Outer Hebrides - also known as the Western Isles - that stretch for 209 kilometers (128 miles) and look out on their western side to the Atlantic Ocean. Our first stop is at the Isle of Lewis, the largest and northern-most island in the Outer Hebrides. We plan to make a stop at Calanais, where archaeology buffs will be keen to see the fascinating group of Standing Stones, dating from around 3000 BCE. Weather permitting, we plan to land at the isolated archipelago (and UNESCO World Heritage Site) of St Kilda, where derelict crofts bear testament to the fortitude of islanders who once tended the unique Soay sheep and harvested seabirds for food-and to pay their rent in the form of wool, meat, and feathers. The isles hold Europe's most important seabird colony and is home to Britain's highest sea stacks. ...
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    Sunday - May 16, 2027
    Day
    10
    Isle of Skye, Scotland
    • Isle of Skye, Scotland
    Monday - May 17, 2027
    Day
    11
    • Isle of Eigg
    • Staffa, Scotland
    • Iona, United Kingdom
    From golden beaches to jagged peaks, bleak moors, and heather clad hills, from abandoned settlements to picturesque villages, our days in the Hebrides archipelago will be packed with variety. We may explore remote lochs beneath some of Britain's most untamed mountains and wander between unusual rock formations. We may watch for whales, dolphins, otters, seals, and the increasingly rare basking sharks. Possibly we will land at an island reserve that is home to red deer and white-tailed sea eagles. We plan to land on remote Isle of Eigg just south of the rugged Isle of Skye for wonderful hikes among stunning wildflowers. The wildlife, history, geology, and beautiful scenery make it one of the favorite islands to explore. We hope to make the following landings: The Cuillin Hills have earned a reputation as Britain's most untamed and challenging mountains. The rocky jagged Black Cuillins attract rock climbers. The smoother conical granite peaks of the Red Cuillins are crowned with heather. We may land at Loch Scavaig in the heart of the Cuillins and take a short hike, perhaps to Loch Coruisk, for spectacular views and get a glimpse of the range's grandeur. Keener hikers may be able to venture further afield, weather permitting. Meanwhile kayakers may paddle around Loch Scavaig, into Loch Coruisk. They may explore the island of Soay and an abandoned shark fishing station - all against the backdrop of classic views of the Cuillins. On Staffa, we hope to have the chance to explore Fingal's Cave, where the melodious sound of waves crashing against towering basalt pillars inspired Mendelssohn's Hebridean Overture. We may enter the cave in Zodiacs, or clamber ashore to walk into the mouth of the cave. On shore we will also find puffins in abundance. Later in the afternoon, we will aim for the tiny island of Iona. Barely 5 kilometers (3 miles) long, Iona is renowned as the birthplace of Christianity in Britain. It is also a burial ground of early Scottish Kings. The Irish monk, St Columba and twelve disciples, landed here and founded a monastery in 563 CE. From this base, St Columba set about converting Scotland and much of Northern England to Christianity. ...
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    Tuesday - May 18, 2027
    Day
    12
    Troon, United Kingdom
    • Troon, United Kingdom
    • Cruise Ends

    Land Segment of Itinerary

    Day 12 - Tuesday - May 18, 2027
    Day
    12
    • Bus Travel
    • Edinburgh, United Kingdom
    On arrival in Troon, disembark in the early morning and bid a fond farewell to fellow travelers before a two-hour transfer to Edinburgh Airport to continue your journey. Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, consider booking flights departing after 2 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays. ...
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