United Kingdom, Norway & Iceland
A sixteen-day expedition from the windswept Highlands to the edge of the Arctic, with fjords, geysers, and a few unforgettable hot springs along the way.
Duration
16 Days
Countries
4 Nations
Destinations
8 Cities
— THE JOURNEY —
Where ancient castles meet fire and ice
This itinerary starts in London, with a few days to shake off the jet lag and take in the city, then carries you north by ship through some of the most dramatic coastline on earth. From the Scottish Highlands to the remote outposts of Shetland, from Norway's legendary Trollstigen road to Iceland's geothermal valleys, every port delivers something that simply doesn't exist anywhere else.
By the time you disembark in Reykjavik, your family will have stood on the rim of a volcanic crater, ridden a cable car above a Norwegian fjord city, watched a geyser erupt on cue, and soaked in a forest lagoon with mountains on every side. We arrange the guides, the excursions, the pre-cruise stay, and the post-cruise exploration so that all you have to do is look out the window.
Your Destinations
ENGLAND
London
The trip begins here, and even a single day is worth it. London rewards a slow morning and a long walk. Use the pre-cruise time to wander along the Thames, cross Tower Bridge on foot, and let the kids pose in front of Buckingham Palace before the expedition truly begins.
Tower Bridge & the Tower of London
Buckingham Palace & St. James's Park
Westminster Abbey & Big Ben
The London Eye
Windsor Castle (day trip, 40 minutes from the city)
CRUISE
Scottish Highlands
Loch Ness & the ruins of Urquhart Castle perched above the water
Dunrobin Castle & Gardens — a fairytale château in the far north of Scotland
Falls of Shin — one of the best spots in Scotland to watch Atlantic salmon leap upstream
Dornoch Cathedral & the charming market town of Dornoch
The Glenmorangie Distillery, for those who appreciate a single malt with a view
Beauly Priory & the sweeping Dornoch Firth
CRUISE
Shetland Islands
Lerwick is one of those places most people couldn't find on a map, which makes arriving here by ship feel like a genuine discovery. The Shetland Islands sit closer to Bergen than to London, and the landscape and the people reflect that remoteness in the best possible way. A full-day private tour gives you time to get beyond the harbor.
Shetland Museum & Archives — a beautifully designed waterfront museum that tells the islands' story
Broch of Clickimin — a 2,500-year-old Iron Age fortification right at the edge of town
Fort Charlotte, the 17th-century star-shaped fortress overlooking the harbor
The Lodberrie — a historic waterfront building familiar to fans of a certain Scottish crime drama
Shetland Crofthouse Museum, a preserved 19th-century farmstead at the southern end of the island
CRUISE
Ålesund, Norway
Take a full-day journey through the Romsdalsfjord region
Trollstigen — the famous serpentine mountain road with waterfalls on either side
The Troll Wall (Trollveggen) — the tallest vertical rock face in Europe
Stigfossen waterfall & the Trolls Path Viewpoint
Gudbrandsjuvet gorge
Ålesund is arguably the most beautifully situated city in Norway, a collection of Art Nouveau islands connected by bridges, with the Romsdal Alps rising behind it. The Trolls excursion takes your group out to some of the most iconic scenery in all of Scandinavia — the hairpin switchbacks of Trollstigen, the sheer face of the Troll Wall, and the raw beauty of the Gudbrandsjuvet gorge.
CRUISE
Bergen, Norway
Bergen earns its reputation immediately. The colorful wooden houses of Bryggen, the fish market at the waterfront, the cable car rising above the city — it all delivers. The day here is long, and with a fjord cruise departing from the same quay as the fish market, there's time for all of it.
Ulriken643 Cable Car — the ride up is worth it for the view alone; the walk back down through the hillside trails is even better
Bergen Fjord Cruise — see the city from the water and push out into the surrounding fjords
Bryggen Wharf & the historic fish market
Rødne Fjord Cruise departing from the harbor
CRUISE
Akureyri, Iceland
Iceland's second city sits at the head of the longest fjord in the country, and the port day here is usually a long one, giving you real time to settle in. The Forest Lagoon is the highlight: a geothermal bathing experience set into the hillside above Akureyri, with mountain views and a drink included on arrival.
Forest Lagoon — a hilltop geothermal lagoon with panoramic views of the fjord and Eyjafjörður
Akureyri's charming downtown, botanical garden, and harbor area
Observation Deck at Kálfaströnd with sweeping views north toward the Arctic Circle
CRUISE
Ísafjörður, Iceland
Iceland's Westfjords are among the least-visited corners of Europe, and arriving here by ship gives you access that most travelers never get. The Svalvogar Circle is a full-day scenic drive through a landscape that feels genuinely end-of-the-world with dramatic cliffs, remote farms, and fjords on every side.
Take an off-road adventure with a private full-day loop through the Westfjords' most spectacular scenery
Explore Ísafjörður's historic wooden town center, one of the best-preserved in Iceland
CRUISE
ICELAND
Reykjavik & Beyond
The ship overnights in Reykjavik, giving you an opportunity to explore the downtown while close the ship. With the cruise disembarking the next morning, there is an opportunity to explore outside the city for an extra day or more. We can arrange private tours, or for more adventure, a rental van for your group, giving you the freedom to cover the Golden Circle and beyond on your own terms. The Golden Circle alone, with Geysir, Gullfoss, and Þingvellir, is a full day, but with an overnight in the city and a van in hand, there's time for more.
Þingvellir National Park — where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates visibly diverge, and where Iceland's first parliament met in 930 AD
Geysir Geothermal Area — Strokkur erupts every few minutes, and it never gets old
Gullfoss Falls — one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe, thundering into a canyon of basalt
Kerið Volcanic Crater — a vivid turquoise lake sitting inside a 3,000-year-old volcanic bowl
Hallgrímskirkja — Reykjavik's iconic church, with an elevator to the top and sweeping views of the city
Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel — a subterranean walk through a cave formed by flowing lava
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach (time permitting — a two-hour drive from the city)Efstidalur Farm — stop for ice cream made from the herd you can see through the window
Friðheimar — lunch inside a greenhouse tomato farm, one of Iceland's most unique dining experiences
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go and while on your trip.
Flights
International flights arrive at London Heathrow. Return flights depart from Keflavík International Airport outside Reykjavik. All domestic transfers to and from airports are coordinated in advance for your entire group.
Ground Transportation
Private ground transportation can be arranged for all port-day tours. In Reykjavik, a rental van is a great way to experience the Golden Circle and surrounding areas at your own pace, and we handle the reservation and logistics.
Accommodations
We identify lodging that puts you in the right place at the right time, central to what you want to see, and worth coming back to at the end of the day.
The Cruise
Your cruise departs from Southampton's Ocean Cruise Terminal following your time in London. Embarkation is in the afternoon. The ship overnights in Reykjavik, giving you a full extra day to explore Iceland before flying home from Keflavík the following morning.
Activities
Private guides and transportation are pre-arranged for all major shore excursions. Scotland and Iceland reward having someone local who knows the area and roads, and we make sure you have that.
Local Tips
Before your trip, we'll share important details about your destination, including local etiquette and any local tourist taxes that must be paid in local currency.