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Peregrine Travel Centre

The Scottish Isles – Island Hopping in the Hebrides

The Scottish Isles – Island Hopping in the Hebrides

From AUD $7,967

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Description

Romantic and rugged landscapes Starting in Glasgow (Greenock), your Hebridean adventure takes you to remote and wildlife-rich Scottish islands, discovering captivating local culture and history, and experiencing activities that bring you close to nature. We’ll drop anchor and take our small boats ashore to explore these rugged isles – landing on beaches, going on guided hikes, sea kayaking and much more. 
Wild nature and deep history You’ll be transfixed by the raw natural beauty of Loch Scavaig, Gigha and Iona,while an expedition day in the Outer Hebrides gives new meaning to ‘wild abandon’. Visit castles, historic homes and standing stones and experience Scotland’s cultural notes with whisky, tartan and tweed.  

Trip Name
The Scottish Isles – Island Hopping in the Hebrides
Days
11
Overview
Vessel Type: Expedition Length: 100 metres Passenger Capacity: 335 Built / refurbished: 2009 / 2016 MS Spitsbergen is an intimate expedition vessel named after the largest island in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, designed for deep exploration of remote polar and subpolar regions. Rebuilt in 2016 and extensively refurbished in 2025, the ship combines modern expedition capability with Scandinavian simplicity and elegance. With capacity for just 150 guests, enhanced manoeuvrability, and a compact size, she can access narrow fjords, secluded coastlines, and landing sites beyond the reach of larger ships, offering a highly immersive style of exploration supported by an experienced Expedition Team of naturalists and guides. Life onboard is calm, functional, and closely connected to the surrounding environment, with panoramic windows, open decks, and interiors inspired by the sea. Facilities include an Explorer Lounge and Bar, a central Science Centre for lectures and workshops, regionally inspired dining venues, and wellness spaces such as a panoramic sauna, fitness room, and outdoor hot tubs. Accommodation ranges from comfortable cabins to spacious Expedition Suites with private balconies, balancing practicality with understated comfort. MS Spitsbergen operates as a true floating basecamp, prioritising access, education, and meaningful engagement with some of the world’s most remote landscapes.

Itinerary



Day 1 - DAY 1 Embark in Glasgow
Start in Scotland's stylish city of culture A former industrial heavyweight, Glasgow has reinvented itself as a cultural hotspot, packed with museums, galleries and parks. You can spend some time getting to know the city, and discover the splendid Art Nouveau architecture of Charles Macintosh, before your expedition cruise. MS Spitsbergen, one of our smaller ships built for close exploration, will be waiting for you. Settle in to your cabin and explore the ship, before meeting your Expedition Team who will be your guides on your adventure ahead. Enjoy your first dinner aboard as we sail towards the Hebrides.
Day 2 - DAY 2 Beautiful Isle of Arran
Wildlife spotting on Arran Welcome to the Isle of Arran, known for its heather-cloaked landscapes. It's the perfect place for a scenic hike – why not try the popular Goat Fell trail. See if you can spot Scotland’s ‘Big Five’: the Golden Eagle, red deer, red squirrel, otter and seal – all of which live on Arran. Explore the woodland and gardens of Brodick Castle, and marvel at the Neolithic treasures and huge upright slabs at the Machrie Moor stone circle. Your stop wouldn't be complete without a tour of the Isle of Arran Distillery, and a taste of their distinctive malt.
Day 3 - DAY 3 Islay's whisky and nature
Fire up your spirit of discovery on 'whisky island' Islay has nine distilleries and is the proud home of world-famous single malts, Laphroaig and Ardbeg. You can enjoy a distillery tour and tasting but that's far from the only reason to visit. You can see fascinating ancient monoliths and the enigmatic settlement of Finlaggan, visit Islay Woollen Mill and meet artisan crafters in Bowmore. Today, Islay is a wildlife paradise, home to over 200 species of birds – including oystercatchers, gannets and Golden Eagles. From its sandy beaches, you can sometimes spot dolphins and basking sharks.
Day 4 - DAY 4 Sustainable Isle of Gigha
Discover a slice of paradise in the Hebrides Today our Scottish Isles cruise takes us to tiny Gigha (pronounced Gee’a) – a little sandy slice of paradise in the Hebrides. The island is community-owned, bought by its 163 residents in 2002, and has a sustainable local economy. Try some of the seafood like Gigha halibut and oysters. At only seven miles long, you can easily get around Gigha on foot or by hiring a bike. Visit the woodland gardens of Achamore House and admire the colourful rhododendrons. Then explore white sandy coves and the turquoise waters along the coast, like Bagh Rubha Ruaidh and Bagh na Doirlinne beaches.
Day 5 - DAY 5 Iona and Treshnish
A sacred abbey and Atlantic wildlife Your Hebridean cruise continues to Iona, off the coast of Mull. You can visit the restored 6th century Iona Abbey, one of Scotland's oldest and most sacred Christian pilgrimage sites. Or enjoy a hike with the Expedition Team up Dun I for breathtaking views of St Columba's Bay and sip from the 'Well of Eternal Youth'. Next, we sail to the Treshnish Isles – home to Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills; Black-legged Kittiwakes and Atlantic grey seals. At nearby Fingal's Cave, you'll marvel at the hexagonal basalt columns, natural acoustics, and mesmerising coloured waters. Some may recognise it from 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'.
Day 6 - DAY 6 Wild St Kilda
Discover the untamed beauty of St Kilda A visit to this UNESCO double World Heritage Site is an unforgettable experience. If conditions allow, we'll spend the day here. One of Europe's most important seabird colonies, St Kilda's volcanic outcrops are home to thousands of nesting seabirds, including Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and over 60,000 pairs of Northern Gannets. In 1930, St Kilda’s last residents asked to be evacuated due to the island's challenging conditions. Explore the abandoned village and see the distinctive ‘cleits’ – circular stone buildings used to store peat, eggs and smoked puffin – before returning to the comfort of your ship.
Day 7 - DAY 7 Stornoway and Lews Castle
Gaelic culture, Harris Tweed and breeding birds We travel next to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides, home of the famous Harris Tweed cloth. We'll visit Gothic-style Lews Castle, full of trails and fantastic views. You can also see 'Scotland's Stonehenge' at Callanish and a crofting village or hike the Great Bernara Trail. We'll also explore the wild and beautiful Shiant Isles, a tiny archipelago set in the Minch strait. One of the most important breeding colonies for seabirds in Europe, see European Shags, Common Eiders, Northern Fulmars, and Great Skuas in the surrounding waters or on volcanic ledges.
Day 8 - DAY 8 Isles of Skye and Eigg
Beaches, eagles and wild scenery We sail to Loch Scavaig on the Isle of Skye, where dramatic scenery surrounds you. 'The wildest scene in the Highlands' – that's how the Victorian poet Lord Tennyson described Loch Coruisk and the surrounding craggy peaks of Cuillin Mountains. We'll don our hiking boots to explore the loch together with the Expedition Team. Then on to the remote Isle of Eigg, home to incredible wildlife. You might spot Golden Eagles, White-Tailed Eagles, Red Throated Divers and the Stonechat, as well as seals, dolphins and porpoises. Stroll along the white sands of Laig Bay, to the quartz beach where the sand sings, or hike to the top of An Sgurr.
Day 9 - DAY 9 Charming Isle of Mull
Explore Tobermory and Loch Sunart Brightly-coloured Georgian houses line the waterfront in the picturesque fishing port of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. Learn about the local heritage at the whisky distillery and Mull museum, or stroll around the loch in Aros Park and see the Baliscate Standing Stones. You can also join optional tours to see Lip Na Cloiche Gardens or Mull's wildlife. The Isle of Mull is another magnet for birders, with the highest breeding density of Golden Eagles in Europe, while White-tailed Eagles can often be seen soaring above the coastline. We'll also explore Loch Sunart – a Marine Protected Area known for otters, dolphins and porpoises, and stop by Mingary Castle.
Day 10 - DAY 10 Colonsay birds and blooms
Discover unspoilt island beauty Take a stunning coastal walk on the Isle of Colonsay, with breathtaking views from Kiloran Bay and Plaide Mhòrare. Or go for a paddle in a kayak, and you may catch sight of whales, porpoises and dolphins. Flora also thrives on Colonsay, with over 400 species blooming, some of which you'll see in the woodland gardens of Colonsay House. It's a paradise for birders, with choughs, Red Northern Divers, eagles, Fulmars, guillemots, Razorbills, kittiwakes and shags among the birds that you can spot. And listen out for the rattle of the elusive Corncrake.
Day 11 - DAY 11 Back to Glasgow
Experience the culture of Scotland's cities Your Scottish Isles expedition cruise ends in Glasgow. In the harbour, you'll find the striking Riverside Museum and the tall ship Glenlee beside it. Admire the Gothic architecture of Glasgow Cathedral and view the eclectic art and natural history at Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. If you want to enjoy more of this stylish city before you head home, our optional Post-Programme takes you to the main sights of Glasgow and includes an overnight in Edinburgh and a visit to the beautiful Edinburgh Castle. It's a wonderful way to round off your Scottish adventure!
Day 12 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
07-04-202617-04-2026AUD $8,039Polar Inside. From
07-04-202617-04-2026AUD $9,486Polar Outside. From
07-04-202617-04-2026AUD $10,933Arctic Superior. From
07-04-202617-04-2026AUD $14,147Expedition Suite. From
17-04-202627-04-2026AUD $8,422Polar Inside. From
17-04-202627-04-2026AUD $9,938Polar Outside. From
17-04-202627-04-2026AUD $11,454Arctic Superior. From
17-04-202627-04-2026AUD $14,822Expedition Suite. From
27-04-202607-05-2026AUD $11,976Arctic Superior. From
27-04-202607-05-2026AUD $15,498Expedition Suite. From
27-04-202607-05-2026AUD $8,806Polar Inside. From
27-04-202607-05-2026AUD $10,391Polar Outside. From
07-05-202617-05-2026AUD $8,806Polar Inside. From
07-05-202617-05-2026AUD $10,391Polar Outside. From
07-05-202617-05-2026AUD $11,976Arctic Superior. From
07-05-202617-05-2026AUD $15,498Expedition Suite. From
17-05-202627-05-2026AUD $8,806Polar Inside. From
17-05-202627-05-2026AUD $10,391Polar Outside. From
17-05-202627-05-2026AUD $11,976Arctic Superior. From
17-05-202627-05-2026AUD $15,498Expedition Suite. From
06-04-202716-04-2027AUD $7,967Polar Inside. From
06-04-202716-04-2027AUD $9,401Polar Outside. From
06-04-202716-04-2027AUD $11,631Arctic Superior. From
06-04-202716-04-2027AUD $14,021Expedition Suite. From
16-04-202726-04-2027AUD $8,330Polar Inside. From
16-04-202726-04-2027AUD $9,830Polar Outside. From
16-04-202726-04-2027AUD $12,162Arctic Superior. From
16-04-202726-04-2027AUD $14,661Expedition Suite. From
26-04-202706-05-2027AUD $8,693Polar Inside. From
26-04-202706-05-2027AUD $10,257Polar Outside. From
26-04-202706-05-2027AUD $12,691Arctic Superior. From
26-04-202706-05-2027AUD $15,299Expedition Suite. From

Inclusions

    • 11-day expedition cruise around Scotland and the Hebrides, seeing spectacular scenery, picture-perfect villages and historic towns.
    • Discover some of Scotland's most remote, romantic and rugged Hebridean islands aboard our expedition ship MS Spitsbergen.
    • Spot Atlantic seabirds and marine life as we island hop around Mull, UNESCO-listed St Kilda, the Treshnish Isles and Colonsay.

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