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Cruising the British Isles: Scotland, Ireland & England - Le Laperouse
Natural and human history will come alive as you explore windswept vistas and tiny villages with this award-winning luxury operator's high-energy expedition staff.
SPECIAL OFFER
8.5*
NECTAMARK™
148
PASSENGERS
11
DAYS
3/5
ACTIVITY LEVEL
British Isles: Drink It In
Welcome Aboard the
Le Champlain
While you may have visited the British Isles before, we doubt you’ve ever experienced them quite like this. Voyage beyond the familiar sights to explore the historic isles of Guernsey and Saint Mary’s, birdwatch off the coast of Wales, hike the wild Scottish Hebrides and sample whisky in the Orkney archipelago. Turn back the clock at the mysterious Ring of Brodgar, the ancient seaside settlement of Hirta and the Isle of May, a former haunt of Vikings and smugglers. Make your expedition your own with a host of included excursion options in every port of call.
- • Go behind the scenes via this operator's special insider access.
• Savor culinary excursions, like guided whisky tasting at the legendary Glenmorangie distillery in the Scottish Highlands and lunch with a former executive chef to the Royal family in London.
• Before and after your cruise, experience a night in Edinburgh with a dinner celebrating the Royal Military Tattoo as well as two days in London, each complete with luxury hotel stays and guided excursions.
Travel Curator’s Insights:
SPECIAL OFFER:
Rates:
from $21,995 per person
May and June are ideal for exploring England, Ireland, and Scotland, with mild temperatures, longer daylight hours, and blooming landscapes. The weather is generally more stable, offering pleasant conditions for countryside strolls, castle visits, and coastal exploration. It’s also before the peak tourist season, ensuring a quieter experience at iconic landmarks and historic sites. This is the perfect time to enjoy the region's charm in full bloom.
Inquire for specific dates.
May – June;
Hover here for more information.
Departures:
Trip Sustainability Awards
CARBON
Fantastic advances in minimizing carbon footprints at locations.
ENERGY
On the East African Energy Renewal Board
EDUCATION
Runs local educational facilities for children.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive London, England
Rendezvous with your fellow guests and Expedition Team at Heathrow and head to Portsmouth, where your small explorer ship awaits. Renowned for its longstanding maritime heritage and historic dockyard, Portsmouth makes a fitting jumping-off point for your British Isles expedition.
Day 2 - Guernsey, Channel Islands - Former German Stronghold
Set some 30 miles off the Normandy coast, Guernsey has been coveted for its prime location since neolithic times. Today, Guernsey’s idylic beach resorts and lively capital of St. Peter Port stand juxtaposed against former Victorian and German fortifications. Delve into the island’s history as you browse the German Occupation Museum, explore a vast underground wartime hospital complex and pass by the former home of French writer Victor Hugo. Alternatively, walk a scenic clifftop path, sample the ciders and cheeses of a local farm, or visit St. Peter Portand Castle Cornet.
Day 3 - Saint Mary’s and Tresco, Isles of Scilly - Royal Island Hideaway
With their peaceful beaches and timeless seaside ports, it’s no wonder the Isles of Scilly have been a favorite staycation haunt of the British Royal Family for generations. Make landfall in Saint Mary’s, the largest and most populated of the Scilly archipelago to tour a coastal path, explore the island’s fort and lighthouse, or hike to uncover Iron and Bronze Age burial chambers. Then, make the short trip to the neighboring Isle of Tresco to stroll the exotic horticultural specimens of Tresco Abbey Gardens.
Day 4 - Skomer Island, Wales - Cruising a Birders’ Paradise
Your vessel sets a course along the Welsh coast, bringing the sandy shores of Skomer Island into view. Board a Zodiac for a closer look offshore as you keep your binoculars and telephoto lenses at the ready. This stunning National Nature Reserve harbors Atlantic puffins, guillemots and razorbills — a true birders’ paradise.
Day 5 - Girvan, Scotland - The Halls of Culzean Castle
The picture postcard fishing port of Girvan serves as your gateway to Ayr, a lively coastal town famous for its beautiful beaches and rich history. From here, explore Culzean Castle’s towering clifftop battlements, lavish 18th-century interiors, secret follies and landscaped gardens. Or, hike along the tranquil shores of Loch Trool in historic Galloway Forest Park.
Day 6 - Isle of Mull, Inner Hebrides - Duart Castle and a Taste Of Tobermory
The Inner Hebrides lie just offshore from the Scottish Highlands, intersected by a myriad of scenic lochs and sounds. Your introduction to this achingly beautiful archipelago is Mull, an isle of grand mountains, seaside villages, sandy beaches and some of the wildest coastal scenery in Europe. Here, visit Duart Castle, tour the charming coastal burgh of Tobermory, sample fine whiskies at a local distillery or sample cheeses produced at a local farm.
Day 7 - Staffa and Iona, Inner Hebrides - Sea Caves and Lost Abbeys
The approach to Staffa by sea is breathtaking, with great basalt columns flanking the deep caves of the island. Head ashore to explore Fingal, a sea cave formed by hexagonally jointed basalt. Next, the tiny Isle of Iona welcomes you ashore to discover Iona Abbey, explore the isle’s remote southern end or hike to a scenic lookout atop the peak of Dun Í.
Day 8 - St. Kilda Isles, Outer Hebrides - Seaside Settlement of Hirta
Stretching out further into the sea, the Outer Hebrides amplify their sister islands’ coastal beauty with shores that could easily be mistaken for those of the Caribbean. Here, set amid the Isles of St. Kilda, the seaside settlement of Hirta harbored an isolated, hardscrabble agricultural community for over 2,000 years. Pass the island’s staggering sea stacks and come ashore to explore the deserted stonework settlement, the highest cliffs in all of Britain, and a vital seabird habitat.
Day 9 - Orkney Islands - Kirkwall & the Ring of Brodgar
Rich in Viking heritage, the landscapes of the Orkneys span rolling hills, dramatic cliffs and wave-swept sea caves. Here, explore historic Kirkwall or the spine-tingling Ring of Brodgar, a mysterious circle of standing stones dating to 2700 BC. Alternatively, hike the coastal trail from Rackwick to the Old Man of Hoy or head to a local distillery to taste a few drams of the Orkneys’ finest.
Day 10 - Isle of May - Smuggler’s Hideaway
The Isle of May rises from the Firth of Forth five miles off the Scottish mainland, its remote shores guarded by a phalanx of 150-foot basalt cliffs. This windswept isle was once the domain of Vikings and smugglers. Today, the island’s puffins rule the roost with prolific colonies rivaling any in Britain. Come ashore for a closer look at the seabirds and seals that call this island home as you walk the scenic cliff-top paths and uncover the island’s iconic lighthouse sordid maritime history.
Day 11 - Depart Edinburgh - The Journey Ends
Disembark in Edinburgh and head to the airport for your flight home or continue on an extension touring this historic city.
Please Note: Itinerary is for guidance purposes only and may be adjusted due to unforeseen circumstances including weather, medical emergencies and other conditions beyond this operator's control at the sole discretion of the Captain.
Minimum age is 7 years.
Le Champlain
Environmentally friendly, fitted with innovative equipment and complete with lounges designed to be largely open to the exterior, this new and intimately sized yacht offers a unique type of cruise experience. Onboard this ship sailing under the French flag, you'll experience the incomparable pleasure of a cosily intimate cruise offering the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic chic ambiance and with five-star service. The Blue Eye, a multi-sensorial underwater lounge offering a unique experience unlike anything else in the world. The cabins onboard Le Champlain offer complete and absolute comfort. Tastefully decorated, the ship's 92 cabins and suites combine light tones and touches of blue with a softly muted, refined atmosphere. With their private balconies and terraces, all cabins benefit from high levels of light and luminosity and offer breathtaking views out towards the horizon.
• Capacity: 148 guests (Ship carries 184)
• Cabins: 92 cabins
• Specialists: Highly Credentialed Naturalists & Experts, 1.1.3 Guest to Staff Ratio
ACHIEVEMENTS
Condé Nast Traveller's "Europe's Leading Luxury Tour Operator" - 2022
Travel Weekly's "Best Tour Operator - Luxury" (17 Years)
Afar Magazine's "Best Cultural Trips" 2020
"Le Champlain is one of the most luxurious expedition ships at sea, and when operated by this world-class company, her voyages come alive with expert guiding and off-the-beaten-path itineraries. If you're looking for a way to see the world in comfort and style with expert service, enthusiastic staff, and a fantastic education program, we heartily recommend this lovely ship."
Wild Nectar
Life On Board
Deck Plan
Click to enlarge
Rates
The only way to fully experience these remote reaches of the UK is by ship. If you love breathtaking landscapes and the guidance of high-level experts, this trip is for you.
Joy Martinello, Founder
What’s Included & Cancellation Policy:
WHAT'S INCLUDED
All accommodations, meals and fully guided sightseeing (including park and entrance fees) as noted in the itinerary; airport transfers to/from hotel/ship in the first/last published city regardless of day of arrival and departure (on Expedition Cruises, transfers may be shared and included on start and end dates only); services of Resident Tour Director or appropriate guide on Pre- and Post-Tour Extensions; coffee/tea/soft drinks/water at included meals; local wine and beer at all designated welcome and farewell dinners and with all lunches and dinners on Connections European River Cruise Journeys; local bottled water during sightseeing; porterage of up to two (2) pieces of baggage per person; complimentary Internet access (where available on cruises and at land accommodations; service levels are not guaranteed); hotel taxes; and gratuities throughout, except to the Resident Tour Director/Extension guide/East Africa safari driver-guides.
Luxury Expedition Cruises Additional Inclusions:
Complimentary select bar drinks, beer, house wine, soft drinks, coffee drinks, juices and bottled water (excluding premium wines, spirits and
Champagnes) while on board; complimentary local beer and wine for included meals on shore; complimentary room service on board; all shore excursions and lecture program while on board; Traveler’s Valet laundry service for eight (8) pieces per person once during cruise only (dry cleaning excluded); services of an Expedition Staff and local guides; gratuities for the ship’s crew and Expedition Staff and Pre- and Post-Tour guides; a complimentary expedition parka and backpack and use of waterproof boots, pants and trekking poles provided on board for all polar cruises.
