13 Days / 12 Nights

Leaders: Clipper’s Expedition Staff and Lecturers, Dr. Geoff Hammerson, and Audrey Benedict

The islands of the North Atlantic — the Orkneys, Shetlands, the Danish Faroes, and Iceland — are legendary for their rugged scenic beauty, dramatic geology, enormous seabird colonies, wildflower-dotted heaths, and cultural traditions dating back to the first Viking explorers. This expedition cruise, aboard the ice-strengthened M/S Clipper Adventurer, will take us from the Scottish Isles to the remote Faroes and beyond, concluding in Iceland — the “Land of Fire and Ice.” Summer brings a pageant of glorious greens to these northerly islands, the splendid cacophony of thousands of seabirds, and the thunder of waterfalls cascading from towering volcanic cliffs. Aboard our superbly comfortable ship, and supported by a fleet of Zodiacs, we’ll explore these remote islands with a talented expedition staff that includes experts in geology, seabird biology, and regional natural history, and maritime history. Dr. Colleen Batey, well known for her excavations of Viking and Post-Viking sites, will provide an unparalleled look at the extraordinary archeological heritage of these islands and the ways in which these cultures used the sea’s bounty. In an era of sweeping changes, we’ll focus on the impacts that global warming, the spreading specter of marine pollution, and declining fish populations are having on both animal and human lifeways.

Barnacle geese ,photo Audrey Benedict

Departing from Edinburgh, we’ll head along the northern coast of Scotland to the Orkneys, a cluster of 70 emerald-green islands famous for their pastoral beauty and archeological sites — the Standing Stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar (a 5,000-year-old ceremonial circle), and the ancient settlement of Skara Brae. Dropping anchor at Fair Isle, we’ll visit the Bird Observatory and stop at the village knitting center. From Fair Isle, we’ll head to the Shetland Islands and the lively harbor town of Lerwick. Traveling overland, we’ll have a chance to see the fascinating Neolithic ruins of Jarlshof, the birdlife of the moors and heaths, and an array of multi-hued highland wildflowers. As we sail north across the Norwegian Sea, we’ll be watching for whales, pelagic seabirds, and our first glimpse of the Faroe Islands. These ruggedly beautiful islands are located halfway between Scotland and Iceland — the colorful fishing fleets, picturesque harbor villages, and sod-roofed cottages reflecting a centuries-old maritime tradition.We’ll visit Mykines, the westernmost of the Faroes, where the towering volcanic cliffs come alive with the comings-and-goings of thousands of puffins, kittiwakes, guillemots, fulmars, and razorbills.

Anchoring near Höfn, Iceland, with its spectacular backdrop of glaciers and mountains, we’ll journey inland for an introduction to Iceland’s flora and birdlife. Cruising on to the volcanically-active Westmann Islands, we’ll visit Heimaey, with it’s still-steaming volcano, and circumnavigate Surtsey, which formed in 1963 from a spectacular suboceanic eruption. At Flatey Island, on the west coast, we’ll visit one of the best birding areas in all of Iceland — and the last home of the Great Auk. Our voyage concludes with a full-day excursion to Iceland’s “Golden Circle”— spouting geysers and thermal pools, thundering Gullfoss (Golden Falls), and Thingvellir National Park.

Price:
Land/cruise prices quoted are per person based on double occupancy and according to the cabin category selected. Does not include roundtrip airfare, fuel surcharges, or alcohol. Cabins are reserved on a first-come, first serve basis. A $500 deposit is required, payable to directly to Clipper.

Special Note: We are nearly full! There are only 2 cabins left and they are Category 4!

Category 4 (Main Deck): $6,045 ($500 deposit)

Cloud Ridge Group Size:
16 Trip Rating: 3