Arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland's capital, where your expedition is set to begin. The team has arranged pre-cruise accommodations at a hotel for a more enjoyable experience in this historically and culturally rich city. You can stroll through town, admiring the medieval and classic 18th-century architecture. The iconic Edinburgh Castle stands tall, overlooking the city's vibrant streets.

The morning and early afternoon can be enjoyed leisurely in Edinburgh's old streets. At every corner, one can be surprised by beautiful vistas of green hills or a blue flash of the distant sea. Later in the day, transfer from the hotel to the ship near Port of Leith. Before dinner, there's ample time to explore the Sea Spirit, which will be your home away from home for the following days.

Kirkwall is a small, quiet town with a gentle pace of life. The town is the capital of the remote and unique Orkney archipelago. Kirkwall is first mentioned in the Orkneyinga saga in 1046. Such a long history has left a rich heritage that you explore today. The most famous are the sandstone St Magnus Cathedral, considered the finest medieval building in north Scotland, the Bishop’s Palace, and the Earl’s Palace.

It included a tour of “Ancient treasures of Orkney with St Magnus Cathedral.” Depart Kirkwall and head west of Mainland, Orkney’s largest island. This tour passes through the gently rolling landscape of Orkney and into the Neolithic Heartland of Orkney, an area designated as a World Heritage Site due to its wealth of pre-historic archaeology. Passing the Standing Stones of Stenness, stop at the Ring of Brodgar, a huge ceremonial circle of stones dating back almost 5000 years. Continue to the 5000-year-old village of Skara Brae, beautifully interpreted in the visitor center. See the remarkable dwellings revealed beneath the sand dunes by storms only 150 years ago.

Hear some of the stories from your guide today en route back to Kirkwall. Once back in the island capital, tour St Magnus Cathedral, built by the Vikings during their 500-year reign over the islands. 

On Fair Isle—an isolated island of rolling moorlands and rugged coastlines—one is easily enchanted by historic crofts, picturesque lighthouses, and friendly locals. The island is famous among birders for its abundance of British birds and its numerous records of eastern rarities and migrants. Fair Isle is also one of Europe’s best places to watch seabirds, especially puffins, at close range. Additionally, the island is notable for the abundance and diversity of its wildflowers. Seals are also commonly seen in its bays. Finally, during your visit, it will be possible to see and purchase articles hand-knitted in the intricate and distinctive style for which Fair Isle has been celebrated for hundreds of years.

Come alongside at the port of Lerwick, on the mainland, the largest of the Shetland Islands. On a walking tour of this historic town, visit the award-winning Shetland Museum to learn all about Shetland’s fascinating heritage and culture. From here, take a scenic overland coach ride through the fertile countryside of Dunrossness to discover Shetland’s best destinations. Birders will relish visiting the historic lighthouse at Sumburgh Head, the southernmost point of Mainland Shetland. These rugged cliffs attract thousands of seabirds, and the grassy slopes above them are particularly great for enjoying close encounters with puffins amongst beautiful wildflowers. Also on the itinerary is Jarlshof, one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the British Isles. Here, discover beautifully preserved stone structures spanning 5,000 years of human settlement, including Bronze Age oval houses, Pictish wheelhouses, an Iron Age broch, a Viking longhouse, and a medieval farmhouse.

Lost in the Atlantic Ocean, Foula, one of the Shetland Islands, is a perfect destination for birdwatching. Foula cliffs are home to numerous seabirds, including the largest colony of great skuas in Great Britain. However, birds are not the only treasure of the island. Foula is rich with folklore and history. Another item on your bucket list today is Papa Stour, another island that forms part of the Shetland Islands. The erosion of Papa Stour’s soft volcanic rocks has sculpted an extraordinary cliff scenery, including various caves, stacks, arches, and blowholes, all supporting a range of marine flora and fauna.

National Geographic Traveler had designated the Faroe Islands as "authentic, unspoiled and likely to remain so." Nature seems to spare no colors in "painting" the islands. Deep-green hills, bright blue sea, colorful houses and boats, and orange-red puffins' beaks make the sceneries unforgettable. Meanwhile, traditional wooden dwellings with turf roofs look like they belong in a fairy tale. The rugged Faroese are proud of their Viking heritage and love of the sea. Explore the archipelago, including Tórshavn, the capital and largest city of the Faroe Islands. This would include a visit to Kirkjubøur, the ecclesiastical and cultural center of the Faroes in the Middle Ages. It was the site of the Bishop's residence until the Reformation when the Faroese diocese was abolished. The imposing Gothic ruin of the late 13th-century Saint Magnus Cathedral still dominates the site. The Roykstovan, standing on the broad, stone foundation of a portion of the Bishop's palace, has been the farmer's home in Kirkjubøur for centuries and occupied by the same Faroese family for 17 generations. Your expedition team will search for remote areas of the archipelago to visit or pause, where you can take advantage of the ship and possibly Zodiacs to see bird cliffs and other natural wonders that are otherwise difficult to access.

Do not waste your time aboard! Learn more about the unique flora and fauna of the British Isles. Become a real expert in no time with the onboard lectures and briefings!

After breakfast on board Sea Spirit, you say farewell in Leith, Edinburgh’s vibrant port district. If you wish to spend more time in the beautiful capital of Scotland, the team provides transfers to the airport or Edinburgh city center.