Wild lands of Scotland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland

Located in the heart of the Clyde Valley, Glasgow is Scotland's largest city, blending urban energy with the wild beauty of the surrounding countryside. Rich in artistic heritage and architectural marvels, the city showcases its history through iconic landmarks and Victorian monuments. The chequerboard street layout makes it easy to explore on foot, immersing visitors in the vibrant atmosphere. Discover world-class collections at museums and art galleries, including the renowned Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, sits at the northern tip of Belfast Lough in the northeast of the Emerald Isle. Along the waterfront, the iconic Titanic Belfast building—shaped like a fragmented liner—pays tribute to the famous transatlantic ship with life-sized reconstructions that capture the spirit of the Belle Époque. In the historic center, admire the grand Edwardian columns of City Hall and the striking neo-Gothic towers of Queen’s University. The carved wooden façades of Victorian pubs offer a warm invitation to enjoy a pint of beer or chilled cider.

Oban is on the west coast of Scotland, opposite the Isle of Mull. It is the capital of the county of Argyll, a rural region of the Highlands considered to be the cradle of Scotland. Coming from Ireland, the Gaels settled here, bringing their language and culture. From “The Little Bay”, its name in Scottish Gaelic, you arrive in Kilmartin Glen, the site renowned for having the largest concentration of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Scotland. Among this spectacular site’s 350 ancient monuments, you discover standing stones, alignments of cairns, and stone circles. Glen Coe Valley then reveals its dramatic landscapes, shaped by volcanic activity. This valley, one of the wildest in Scotland, has been used as a location for the series Outlander. The discovery of the region ends with a visit to a whisky distillery, a unique opportunity to taste an exceptional product.

On the West Coast of the Northern Highlands, you’re sure to be charmed by the picturesque city of Ullapool, so often admired by holidaymakers passing through. While this delightful fishing port has proven to be the ideal departure point for exploring the region on foot, the place itself is worth the detour. Stretching along the quiet, majestic banks of loch Broom, whitewashed cottages line the harbor and the pretty pebble beach. The view of the surrounding mountains only makes this image postcard-perfect. To find out more about Ullapool’s origins, you can visit the town’s museum dedicated to local history.

The small and charming capital of the Shetland Islands, with its sea front of old houses and narrow streets, offers travelers its old districts and a warm port atmosphere. Geopark Shetland, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located to the north. Incredibly well-preserved archaeological sites and ruins prove that the islands’ occupation dates back to the first Neolithic colonies. The Shetland Museum and Archives recounts the Shetlands’ history of heritage and culture: Lerwick’s abundant waters were even fished by the Dutch in the past.

Suduroy Island, literally “South Island”, has one of the smallest populations in the Faroe Islands. It has sheer cliffs along its western face. The island is an important breeding ground for seabirds, including northern fulmars, black-legged kittiwakes, Atlantic puffins, and guillemots. You'll be guided through the island, exploring its authentic villages with black, tarred-wood churches typical of the Faroe Islands, as well as its hiking trails lined with peat fields and stone sheepfolds. Sheep are indeed omnipresent throughout the Faroe Islands — in fact, there are more sheep than humans —, and they add to the charm of these wild landscapes.

Streymoy Island is the largest and most populated of the Faroe Islands, with 22,500 inhabitants. Lying between Scotland and Iceland, the 18-island Danish archipelago boasts natural wonders that fascinate lovers of the great outdoors. Here, the hilly green landscapes stand in contrast with the huge basalt cliffs, and the invigorating air shifts with the moods of the ocean. To the north, the small village of Saksun, with its traditional grass-covered rooftops, has 14 inhabitants. In the curve of a magnificent natural amphitheater, it overlooks a fjord with a lagoon: an idyllic setting in a secluded and peaceful environment. To the west, in Vestmanna, myriad birds nest in the crags along the eroded and vertiginous cliff faces.

The Faroe Islands, an archipelago formed by volcanic rock, reveal an incredible diversity of reliefs where the sea is ubiquitous: you’ll sail past stone pinnacles and unique coastlines. To the west of the island of Vagar stand Thindolmur and Drangarnir, rocky outcrops that marine erosion have detached from the coast, thus forming independent islets known as stacks. The impressive Traelanipa cliff, also known as Slave Cliff, stands 142 meters (466 feet) high. It overlooks the superb Lake Sorvagsvatn. Located 30 meters (98 feet) above sea level, this is the archipelago’s largest lake. On the island of Streymoy, you’ll be able to spot guillemots, screeching fulmars, or penguins, nesting in the welcoming crevices of the Vestmanna cliffs.

Streymoy Island is the largest and most populated of the Faroe Islands, with 22,500 inhabitants. Lying between Scotland and Iceland, the 18-island Danish archipelago boasts natural wonders that fascinate lovers of the great outdoors. Here, the hilly green landscapes stand in contrast with the huge basalt cliffs, and the invigorating air shifts with the moods of the ocean. To the north, the small village of Saksun, with its traditional grass-covered rooftops, has 14 inhabitants. In the curve of a magnificent natural amphitheater, it overlooks a fjord with a lagoon: an idyllic setting in a secluded and peaceful environment. To the west, in Vestmanna, myriad birds nest in the crags along the eroded and vertiginous cliff faces.

Djúpivogur is a small town and municipality located on a peninsula in the Austurland in eastern Iceland. The coastline consists of three magnificent fjords, Berufjörður, Hamarsfjörður, and Álftafjörður which create a striking landscape to explore. On land, the town is shadowed by Búlandstindur, a pyramid-shaped basalt mountain peaking at 1069 m, making for an incredible sight. Numerous local legends surround this mountain, which is said to grant wishes during the summer solstice.

This land seated off the southern coast of Iceland is the largest of the Vestmann islands and is the only inhabited island in the archipelago. The steep Edfell volcanoes and the green prairies of Herjólfsdalur offer a rich contrast to nature. On the Stórhöfði road, look out over grey sand beaches and cliffs carved out by the Arctic Ocean. From here, you can also see the bronze landscapes of the mountaintops. You could visit Eldheimar, an ultra-modern and interactive museum that traces the volcanic eruption experienced by Heimaey in 1973.

A small drop of basalt in the North Atlantic Ocean, Surtsey is a volcanic island formed by a submarine eruption that lasted from 1963 to 1967, off the Westman Islands to the south of Iceland. The island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To protect its virgin ecosystem against human presence, it is forbidden to land there. Only a few scientists have access to Surtsey to study the plant and animal colonization of the island. Mosses, fungi, and lichens were followed by vascular plants. Around 300 invertebrate species and 90 bird species have gradually colonized it. While sailing around Surtsey, you enjoy a unique panorama of this extraordinary island’s contours.

Iceland’s capital stretches along the edge of a vast bay in the west of the country. Perlan, the “Pearl of Reykjavík”, a museum located on ’Oskjuhlið hill, offers a panoramic view of the lush, green landscapes. A little further, one can easily spot the signpost showing the way to the evangelical Hallgrímskirkja church, and to the historical center where one can stroll along the Skólavördustígur and the Laugavegur, two lively streets with charming small shops. For some relaxation just outside of the city, visitors have the opportunity to visit the Reykjanes peninsula and its famous thermal lagoons of the Blue Lagoon.

After breakfast, bid farewell to your fellow travelers as you disembark in today. Then, head to the airport for your flight home.