Ancient Isles: England, Ireland, and Scotland

Fly overnight to London. Embark National Geographic Explorer in the city center after lunch as we set sail down the Thames.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Visit the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and climb inside the HMS Victory, flagship of Admiral Nelson in Britain's greatest naval triumph, the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar. The partially restored Tudor warship Mary Rose, deployed by King Henry VIII is also here. Should natural history be your preference, join our naturalists for a drive to Titchfield Haven estuary for a trail walk and avian spotting session.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Begin your day in this Cornish port (its name is pronounced “Foy”) with a ramble along a colorful quay and medieval streets. Follow this with a visit to the Eden Project, a collection of immense eco-garden biomes set within a 34-acre bowl—celebrating sustainability and botanical innovation. Alternatively, experience the grandeur of the Estates of Cornwall on a visit to the houses of Pencarrow and Lanhydrock. For those wishing for a more relaxed afternoon spend time on your own in the village of Fowey or join the field staff for an expeditionary outing in the area.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Revel in flourishing subtropical beauty at Tresco Abbey Garden—planted in the 19th century around the ruins of a Benedictine abbey in the Isles of Scilly. Today, it’s matured into a priceless botanical sanctuary for thousands of exotic species from across the southern hemisphere—from Brazil to New Zealand, Myanmar to South Africa. Yet here it is, on an islet just 28 miles off the Cornwall coast. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Arrive in this colorful port city on one of the world’s largest natural harbors, intimately tied to maritime history and the great Irish Emigration. Visit the Cobh Heritage Centre and learn about the momentous events that took place here—from the 1912 departure of the Titanic to the successful rescue of passengers from the torpedoed Lusitania and the millions of Irish who departed these shores in search of a better life. Enjoy and afternoon of Irish traditions, from music to sport, with locals.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Over the next three days, enjoy the windswept landscapes of western Ireland. Sail past Skellig Michael, the protected Celtic Christian hermitage where beehive huts and remains of a seventh-century monastery still stand. Our exploration continues on through County Kerry, with its cozy local pubs. County Galway includes a visit to the wild and rocky Aran Islands—known for their religious and cultural heritage. Stand out on deck with your National Geographic Photography Expert as we sail past the Cliffs of Moher and try to capture the perfect shot of the stunning cliffs at sunset. Soak in the windswept coast of County Donegal as we round the northwestern end of the Emerald Isle and visit artisans who continue the traditional craft of hand weaving with local wool.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit the sacred island of Iona and its 13th-century abbey, long revered as a Christian pilgrimage site and believed to be where the Book of Kells originated. Several Scottish kings, including the actual Macbeth, are buried in the royal graveyard here. Later, we explore uninhabited Staffa Island, famed for its perfect six-sided volcanic basalt columns and dramatic Fingal’s Cave—which we enter by Zodiac.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Explore the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, boasting incredible seabird colonies. Conditions permitting, we make a landing at St. Kilda, a UNESCO World Heritage site and nature preserve. Uninhabited since 1930, the traditional stone village left behind by the island’s final residents now lies in ruins. But active occupants do remain: a huge population of gannets, domesticated sheep now gone wild, puffins, and wrens. Back on board, our undersea specialist may present images captured of the rich history that lies underwater after their diving outing.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Options this morning include a birdwatching trek in quest of Orkney's remarkably varied birdlife or a walking tour of Kirkwall, Orkney’s capital and a showplace of ancient Viking history thanks to its proximity to Norway. Later, discover the Stone Age megaliths of the Ring of Brodgar and the 5,000-year-old stone slab village of Skara Brae. And step inside majestic St. Magnus Cathedral, a sandstone landmark that took three centuries to build.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The Shetlands are characterized by deep-seated cultural traditions and dramatic landscapes. Far north and near enough to Norway to speak Scottish with a Scandinavian accent, this 100-island archipelago has never been fully tamed by those who live here. Experience this for yourself as we step ashore on one or more of these remote islands.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy a drive through a rolling landscape where thick-coated Shetland ponies graze in rugged grass tussocks. Explore the ruins at Jarlshof, a prehistoric archeological site revealing some 4,000 years of near-continuous settlement. Lost to time for centuries after being abandoned by the Norsemen who last lived here, the site only began being excavated after violent 19th-century storms exposed its existence.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight home. Or choose to explore the seaport town of Bergen on a post-voyage extension. (Note: pre-voyage extensions to discover London or the Scottish Highlands are also available.)

Meals Included: Breakfast