Compare Norway and Scotland: Fjordlands to the Inner Hebrides by National Geographic Expeditions vs Taste of Scotland & Ireland by Travel for All
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| Trip |
3.5 | Average
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 7,990 | $ 4,423 |
| Price Per Day | $ 999 | $ 442 |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Self-guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included |
7 breakfasts, 7 Lunches and 7 Dinners |
N/A |
| Description |
Join us aboard the National Geographic Orion for an unforgettable voyage from the fjord-carved coast of western Norway to the windswept isles of Scotland. Kayak below emerald mountains in the dramatic Sognefjorden, and step ashore at Undredal to explore its stave church and traditional Nordic culture. Then sail across the North Sea to encounter the stunning seascapes, ancient ruins, and rich marine life of Scotland’s evocative islands. Follow the Viking trail from the Shetlands to the Orkneys, and discover the unique heritage of the Inner Hebrides on our way to cosmopolitan Glasgow. |
A taste of Scotland & Ireland will loop you from one beautiful country to another. You'll enjoy 4* accommodations and transportation with a private driver! |
Day 1: Bergen, Norway
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Arrive in Bergen, Norway. Embark the National Geographic Orion in time for lunch and set sail into the heart of Norway’s fjord country.
Day 2: Sognefjorden
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Norway’s glacier-carved western coast boasts some of the most dramatic landscapes in the world. Cruise deep into the sublime Sognefjorden, and launch kayaks and Zodiacs to explore its serene waterways. In the picturesque village of Undredal, see the town’s 12th-century stave church and sample its famous brown goat cheese, or gjetost.
Day 3: Isle of Noss, Shetland Islands, Scotland/Lerwick/Sumburgh Head
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sail across the North Sea to Scotland’s Shetland Islands, a rugged archipelago of about 100 islands and islets. Glide past the cliffs of Noss to view nesting seabirds before docking at Lerwick. Explore this town where Norse and Gaelic cultures intermingle, and visit a Shetland pony farm. Then discover the extraordinary prehistoric settlement of Jarlshof, examining Bronze Age ruins and Viking longhouses. Later, take in a cacophony of puffins, guillemots, and razorbills as we walk to the lighthouse at Sumburgh Head.
Day 4: Mousa/Fair Isle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
On the uninhabited isle of Mousa, hike to an Iron Age broch, or stone tower, looking for storm petrels along the way. Our next landing is tiny and remote Fair Isle, situated between the Shetland and Orkney Islands. Visit the island’s bird research station, and spot some of the roughly 250 species of flowering plants that grow here. Peruse local handicrafts including intricately-patterned Fair Isle knitwear, which is renowned worldwide.
Day 5: Orkney Islands
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The Vikings held a strategic foothold in the Orkney Islands for hundreds of years, and their Norse heritage is apparent in local legends and traditions that endure today. Explore a treasure trove of Stone Age sites, including the megaliths of the Ring of Brodgar and the 5,000-year-old stone-slab village of Skara Brae. Step inside the medieval St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, which took nearly 300 years to complete. For scuba enthusiasts, we have planned a fantastic dive in Scapa Flow.
Day 6: Inverewe Gardens
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Anchor in Loch Ewe, and bring your camera along as we stroll the winding paths of Inverewe Gardens. Tempered by the warm Gulf Stream, these splendid gardens are home to hundreds of exotic plant species.
Day 7: Iona and Staffa, Inner Hebrides
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sail through the Sea of the Hebrides to the isle of Ionia, the site of Scotland’s first Christian settlement. Venture into an ancient nunnery and a 13th-century abbey. Explore St. Oran’s Chapel and its royal burial grounds, where Celtic high crosses mark the graves of generations of Scottish kings. Then dock at Staffa, famed for its geometric basalt columns and deep-sea caves. Explore the awe-inspiring Fingal’s Cave, where Felix Mendelssohn was inspired to write his "Hebrides Overture."
Day 8: Glasgow, Scotland
Meals: Breakfast
Disembark this morning in the historic seaport of Glasgow, and transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay in Glasgow.
Day 1: Arrive in Glasgow
Meet with your driver and transfer to the city, panoramic tour of Glasgow, Overnight Glasgow
Day 2: Scenic Scotland
Meet with your driver, scenic drive through Loch Lomond, Glencoe, followed by a Jacobite Loch Ness Cruise, Overnight Nairn.
Day 3: Edinburgh
Visit Blair Atholl Distillery, Pitlochry followed by a transfer to Edinburgh, private transfer to Scottish Evening, Overnight Edinburgh.
Day 4: Edinburgh
Day of sightseeing at leisure, visit Edinburgh Castle, Overnight Edinburgh.
Day 5: Dublin
Transfer to Cairn and board a ferry to Belfast, visit to Titanic Museum followed by a transfer to Dublin, Overnight Dublin.
Day 6: Dublin
Day at leisure followed by an evening canal cruise dinner, Overnight Dublin.
Day 7: Killarney
Visit Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle, Overnight Killarney.
Day 8: Killarney
Day of sightseeing around Ring of Kerry, Overnight Killarney.
Day 9: Bunratty
Visit Cliffs of Moher followed by a Medieval castle banquet, Overnight Bunratty.
Day 10: Departure
Private transfer to Shannon Airport.
