From Iceland to the Hebrides – A Voyage from Reykjavik to Oban

Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive and transfer to the MS Hebridean Sky. Sail this evening.

During breakfast we arrive at Stykkisholmur, located in Breidafjordur Bay and surrounded by an archipelago of islands. The town is famed for its beautiful and well preserved old houses and is also the gateway to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula which is dominated by the Snæfellsjokull volcano, regarded as one of the symbols of Iceland and known as the setting for Jules Verne’s “Journey to the Centre of the Earth”. A morning tour will include a drive through the lava landscape to the glacier visiting pretty fishing ports and beaches along the way. Spend the afternoon at leisure in the town.

This morning we enter the Western Fjords, an isolated but spectacular area of Iceland. We will explore Isafjardardjup with the MS Hebridean Sky and, depending on local weather conditions, we hope to land on Vigur, a serene little island with only five residents but home to many more puffins, eider ducks, black guillemots and Arctic terns. We will also visit Iceland’s only extant windmill dating from the 19th century. Return to the ship for lunch and an afternoon cruising.

Akureyri is a delightful town on the north coast of Iceland and not what you would expect to find in such a remote location. In summer months the gardens and window boxes are ablaze with colour. This morning we visit the spectacular Godafoss Waterfall where water from the Skjalfandafljot river falls from a height of 12 metres over a width of 30 metres. From Godafoss we return to the charming town of Akureyri and visit the botanical garden which was founded in 1912 and grows examples of every species indigenous to Iceland as well as an extensive collection of high-latitude and high-altitude plants from around the world. Our tour ends at the Art Alley, where artisans keep their workshops and galleries. In the early afternoon we sail along Eyafjordur, on the lookout for whales, during our approach to Hrisey Island where we will run a series of nature walks. The island is known for its rich and diverse birdlife and approximately 40 species of birds nest on the island.

Spend the morning in Siglufjordur, a picturesque town that enjoys an idyllic setting in a small fjord backed by mountains. Here in the early 1900s, a booming economy due to the herring industry resulted in a prosperous town with some marvellous Icelandic architecture. Stroll through the town and visit the Herring Era Museum. Sail this afternoon to Grimsey Island. The Arctic Circle bisects this island which is known for its tiny community, basalt cliffs and large variety of birdlife. On arrival join our expedition team members for a nature walk on the island.

From our berth in Husavik we will visit the Lake Myvatn- Krafla region, a fine example of the volcanic world with lava fields, boiling and steaming mud pools and steam vents of sulphur and craters. The area illustrates the sheer magnitude of Iceland’s forces at work. The lake itself, with beautiful natural rock formations and hot springs, is also a unique ecosystem and the largest migratory bird sanctuary in Europe. For those interested there will be an opportunity to spend time in the natural baths before returning to the ship. The remainder of the day is free to explore the pretty town including time at the excellent whale museum, the exploration museum and quaint local church. Be on deck this evening as we sail. Our expedition team will keep an eye out for one of the many species of whales, the most popular being humpback, minke and blue whales, which are prevalent in this area.

Our last morning in Iceland is spent in the picturesque natural harbour at Seydisfjordur which has preserved its fishing heritage from the early 19th century and its architectural style. On a walking tour we will pass brightly painted and well preserved wooden buildings and visit the shops famous for their Icelandic patterned woollens and crafts. Keen walkers might prefer to join a hike in the nearby Vestdalur Valley which is a protected nature reserve due to its remarkable flora. Walking along the river trail we will enjoy the landscape and waterfalls as well as viewing the abandoned town of Vestdalseyri. Spend the afternoon at sea as we sail towards the Faroe Islands.

After a morning at sea we arrive in the Faroes at the port of Vestmanna, our base as we explore the northwest corner of Streymoy and the nearby cliffs. On a choice of afternoon activities you may wish to board local boats to explore these vertical cliffs that climb almost 1,500 feet, sailing into grottos carved by the surf over the years and watching the thousands of seabirds including guillemots, fulmars and kittiwakes that nest here each summer. Alternatively drive to the beautiful village of Saksun, an isolated settlement situated beneath steep majestic mountains. We visit Duvugaroar, an old farmhouse which is now a museum, and a traditional Faroese wooden church in Kollafjord.

From our berth in Torshavn, capital of the Faroe Islands, we will drive over the hills to Kirkjubour, the island’s oldest cultural centre, where we see the ruins of the 13th century St Magnus Cathedral and the 11th century church, still in use. We also visit the 900-year old “Roykstovan”, the old bishopric, considered to be the oldest wooden house in Europe. For those feeling active, we will arrange a hike in the hills surrounding the town to discover the local flora and fauna. The afternoon is free to explore the town at your own pace.

Our last call in the Faroes will be at Suduroy, the southernmost island of the group. From the port of Tvoroyri we have a choice of activities. Choose to join an island tour passing the beautiful scenery as we drive between the villages seeing the stunning geology, fjords, tunnels and architecture of the island and end at the southernmost point and the Akraberg lighthouse. In Porkeri we will take the ridge-top road which winds up the mountainside for wonderful views towards the steep cliffs on the west coast, the Beinisvoro promontory to the north and the luscious grass slopes to the east. To locals, this delivers the essence of the Faroe Islands with mountains and fjords, villages and valleys, birds, sheep and nature. Alternatively, those feeling active may wish to join a hike to Hvaanhagi, a beautiful, uninhabited place north of Tvoroyri on the east coast of Suduroy. The view is fantastic towards the three islands Litla Dimun, Stora Dimun and Skuvoy. There are sheep and birds, a valley with a lake and beautiful high mountains. Spend the afternoon at sea as we sail to Scotland.

On leaving the island capital of Stornoway, we will head across the island of Lewis to the beautiful west coast. Described as Scotland’s Stonehenge, the Callanish Standing Stones date from around 3000 BC. There are a total of 32 stones in a circular and avenue design. The stones stand like a petrified forest on the flat top of a peninsula which reaches out into East Loch Roag. We also visit the Dun Carloway Pictish Broch, probably built sometime in the last century BC it would have served as an occasionally defensible residence for an extended family complete with accommodation for animals at ground floor level. Our next stop is the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, a reconstructed settlement of traditional black houses which were made using dry stone masonry and with thatched roofs. Visit the small museum, enjoy a display of a typical crofting activity such as weaving and take in the views of this dramatic site on the wild Atlantic coast. This afternoon we will board the Zodiacs for a cruise around the spectacular basalt cliffs of the Shiant Islands, a group of little islands located a few miles off the shores of Lewis and an excellent place to spot a variety of wildlife.

Disembark this morning. Transfers will be provided to Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow Central Railway station at a fixed time.

Itineraries are subject to change.