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ToursExplore!Wild Scotland - M/V Greg Mortimer

Wild Scotland - M/V Greg Mortimer

12 days
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
98%
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Small Group Tour
Explore Scotland's wild islands, home to some of the world's largest seabird colonies, including adorable puffin and noisy Arctic tern. The Scottish isles are a bird watcher's paradise with species such as fulmar, kittiwake, guillemot, gannet and shag too. Your ship will get you as close to these sightings as possible, but you can also take to the water in Zo...
$12,743
From$12,510
See departure dates
Call us:+1-844-686-1327

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Photograph - some of the world's largest sea bird colonies
    • Incredible birdlife - including puffins
    • Discover picturesque villages and medieval hamlets - on some of Scotland's least-visited islands
    • Sail - with otters and seals
    • Explore by Zodiac - with whales and dolphins swimming alongside you
    • Uncover - the rugged and wild side of Scotland

What's this trip about?

    Explore Scotland's wild islands, home to some of the world's largest seabird colonies, including adorable puffin and noisy Arctic tern. The Scottish isles are a bird watcher's paradise with species such as fulmar, kittiwake, guillemot, gannet and shag too. Your ship will get you as close to these sightings as possible, but you can also take to the water in Zodiacs to really get the most out of your wildlife experiences. Seal will frolic close to you and you may encounter whale and dolphin swimming around you. Back on land, discover ancient sites, huge monoliths and remote, picturesque villages in the Hebrides, Shetlands and little-visited tiny isles surrounding the mainland. This is a diverse exploration of rugged and remote Scottish islands, from a unique vantage point. Visit St. Kilda - a World Heritage Site Zodiac cruise through spectacular lochs - home to seal, dolphin and basking shark. On the Shetland Islands - uncover captivating history through a visit to an Iron Age broch.

Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 20 people
Age range16 to 85 years
Flights and transport
Start CityEdinburgh
End CityAberdeen

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking

Destinations

Attractions

  • Bar
  • Britain
  • Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh
  • Orkney Islands
  • Shetland Islands
  • The Isle of Skye

Activities

  • Hiking
  • Safari
  • Surfing
  • Swimming
  • Whale Watching
  • Wildlife Viewing

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 20

Itinerary

Day 1 Trip starts in Edinburgh

Arrive in Edinburgh (EDI) where you will be met and transferred to your group hotel. Upon arrival at the hotel, please visit the hospitality desk to collect your Expedition luggage cabin tags. Please fill out the luggage tags clearly, showing your name and cabin numbe...

Day 2 Board the M/V Greg Mortimer in Troon

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 transferred to the ship. Edinburgh awaits us this morning as our local guide welcomes us with stories of Scotland's c...

Day 3 Isle of Skye, Barra, Rum and Iona

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 ...

Day 4 Isle of Skye, Barra, Rum and Iona

Early the next morning we will aim for the tiny island of Iona. Barely 5 kilometres / 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, land...

Day 5 Saint Kilda and surrounding islands

From the Inner Hebrides we make our way to the Outer Hebrides - also known as the Western Isles - that stretch for 20o kilometres 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 ...

Day 6 Saint Kilda and surrounding islands

Weather permitting we plan to land at the isolated archipelago and 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 fo...

Day 7 Saint Kilda and surrounding islands

Island hopping northeast, we aim to visit tiny specks of land that bear the brunt of violent Atlantic storms and rarely see visitors. Home to breeding seals and some of Europe's largest seabird colonies, Sula Sgeir, North Rona and Flannan boast spectacular cliffs, fan...

Day 8 Shetland Islands

Britain's most northerly islands lie almost 160 kilometres 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 daylig...

Day 9 Shetland Islands

We plan to visit some of Shetland's best preserved and most complex archaeological sites of brochs, or fortified Iron Age towers, as well as some of the world's largest colonies of sea bird. Hermaness National Nature Reserve, close to Britain's most northerly point,...

Day 10 Orkney Islands

Mid way between Orkney and Shetland, Fair Isle houses a major European ornithological research station, and is also famous for knitwear and historic shipwrecks. About 4.8 kilometres by 3.2 kilometres, it is surrounded by impressive cliffs. The 70 or so islanders mostl...

Day 11 Orkney Islands

Among Orkney's archipelago of 70 windswept islands, lying 9.6 kilometres north of the Scottish mainland, a rich tapestry of archaeology, history and wildlife awaits. You follow the passage of time - from 5000 year old World Heritage neolithic sites, past relics from w...

Day 12 Trip ends in Aberdeen

Upon arrival in Aberdeen, you will disembark the ship for onward travel.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $12,510
Price per day$1,043
Last Updated: 4/4/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Single Room
Availability
07 May 2026
18 May 2026
$12,510

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Transportation & Flights

M/V Greg Mortimer, Zodiac,

Transportation & flights

M/V Greg Mortimer, Zodiac
Guides
Expedition Crew, Naturalist(s)
Cancellation policy
These conditions are applicable to Discovery & Wildlife, Cycling, Walking and Family Trips. These conditions were updated November 2022. Booked a Polar trip? Please refer to our Polar booking conditions. To make it easy to know the detail of our flexibility, we’ve put it in a grid (these terms apply to all trips apart from our Polar Voyages.) Standard cancellations or changes within 69 days of travel If you’re getting closer to your trip, cancellation charges will apply as follows: For trips confirmed by 31st December 2022: 59-42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100% For trips confirmed from 1st January 2023: 69 -42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100%
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
United Kingdom: Visas are not required by Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian citizens. Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office. All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related questions with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.
Health & Safety
Nothing compulsory, we recommend protection against tetanus, diphtheria, polio and hepatitis A. The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast : 11
  • Dinner : 10
  • Lunch : 9
Age Requirements
16 to 85 years
Additional Information
[object Object]
Tour operator cancellation policy
https://www.explore.co.uk/essential-information/the-small-print/booking-conditions
Trip ID
explore-GMWS

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