5 days tour

Scotland’S Orkney Islands

$ 1,696 .00 USD

Total price per person

Reserve with $1,696.00

Scotland’S Orkney Islands

This tour includes:

Guide

All Intrepid group trips in Europe are accompanied by one of our local European group leaders. ’Local’ in this context means a leader who is European or lives in Europe. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Your leader takes care of logistics, will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. At Intrepid we also aim to support local guides in the individual cities or locations we travel to. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend an optional local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Meals

4 breakfasts, 1 lunch

Others

Kirkwall - Leader-led Walking Tour Orkney Islands - Ring of Brodgar Standing Stones Orkney Islands - Italian Chapel Orkney Islands - Orkney Mainland Day Tour Orkney Islands - Picnic lunch with Local Orkney Produce in an old schoolhouse Orkney Islands - Churchill Barriers & Scapa Flow Orkney Islands - Skara Brae Prehistoric Village Visit Island of Hoy - Coastal Walk Island of Hoy - Day Trip

Accommodation

OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION : The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances. TWIN SHARE BASIS : Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own. CHECK-IN TIME : Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check in time. However this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination. PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION : If you’ve purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights. FACILITIES : Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don’t provide kettles or fridges. Guesthouse (4 nights)

Transport

TRANSPORT IN SCOTLAND: One of the highlights of this trip is our use of a combination of public and private transportation. Public transport is not only a cost-effective way to travel but also provides a unique glimpse into Scottish life as we traverse picturesque landscapes. Private vehicles, on the other hand, allow us to make frequent stops at intriguing points of interest that may not be reachable via public transport. Need a taxi, no problem, please speak to your group leader should you require a taxi outside of what is included. We believe that this blend of travel options is the ideal approach for exploring Scotland as a group. Train , Public bus , Private vehicle , Taxi , Ferry , On foot

Not included:

Flights

Flights are not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Others

Other activities and services are not included

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Scotland’S Orkney Islands

  • Day 1 Day 1: Inverness / Kirkwall / Orkney Islands
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Inverness / Kirkwall / Orkney Islands

      Welcome to Scotland! Meet your local leader and fellow travellers at Inverness Railway Station.From here, take a train to Thurso, where you’ll jump in a taxi for a brief transfer to the nearby port of Scrabster to board the the ferry over to Stromness, Orkney. The ferry journey is a scenic adventure in itself, so keep your eyes peeled for the Old Man of Hoy – the tallest sea stack in the UK. Disembark in Stromness, and catch a local bus with your group to the quaint accommodation on the fringes of Kirkwall. After a long day of travelling, it’s time to unpack and settle into your accommodation, then perhaps head into Kirkwall to a cosy pub for food and drinks. Your group leader will be happy to recommend some options.

  • Day 2 Day 2: Kirkwall / Orkney Islands
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Kirkwall / Orkney Islands

      Stretch your legs this morning and explore on a walking tour of Kirkwall – the beating heart of Orkney. Your local leader will fill you in on the town’ s history and Viking culture plus some of the hotspots, including 12th-century architecture of St Magnus Cathedral, the ‘Peedie Sea’ birdwatching area and the narrow maze of streets in the centre of town. These streets are home to the traditional ‘Ba’ game each year – a unique sporting spectacle that your leader can tell you about. This afternoon, you have free time to explore at your own pace. Perhaps retrace your steps, stopping by the craft shop, museum or other historic sites that piqued your interest. Otherwise, there’s a whole range of craft and jewellery shops, pubs and even the acclaimed Highland Park whisky distillery to visit. It’s totally up to you, but plan early as these are popular activities!

  • Day 3 Day 3: Mainland / Kirkwall / Orkney Islands
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Mainland / Kirkwall / Orkney Islands

      It’s time to explore Orkney in more detail today. Head off with your travel crew in a private vehicle towards some of the islands’ most historic sites. Begin heading south to the Italian Chapel – comprised of two Nissen huts converted into a stunning chapel by Italian prisoners of war.Cross the remarkable Churchill Barriers – built in WWII to keep enemy U-boats out of the waterways of Scapa Flow. These barriers are now an important connection for the smaller islands to Orkneys mainland, and dotted in the sea are a number of shipwrecks nearby. After, continue west to perhaps Orkey’s most famous site – the prehistoric village of Skara Brae. It’s northern Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic village predating Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage listed ’Heart of Neolithic Orkney’. By now, you’ll have worked up an appetite, so your group will pop into an old schoolhouse building for a picnic lunch of local Orkney produce (and perhaps meet the producers), then begin your return journey to Kirkwall. On the way back, you’ll stop by at the renowned Ring of Brodgar Standing Stones, another UNESCO World Heritage listed site, dating back over 5000 years. When you arrive in Kirkwall, maybe join the rest of your group for dinner and chat about the fascinating sights of the day.

  • Day 4 Day 4: Island Of Hoy/ Kirkwall / Orkney Islands
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Island Of Hoy/ Kirkwall / Orkney Islands

      After breakfast, travel to Houton, then hop on a ferry to the island of Hoy. Hoy is the second largest island in Orkney and was the main naval base for the British fleet in both the First and Second World Wars. During the early years of the Second World War, up to 12,000 personnel were based on this tiny island and this morning, you’ll visit the world-renowned Scapa Flow Museum. Take some time to explore the collection of artifacts and objects, then if you like, you can head out on a coastal walk that boasts views back towards Orkney. Catch the return ferry and head back to Kirkwall, where the rest of the afternoon is free. Tonight, maybe seek out some traditional music or join your guide in the bar for a whisky tasting with malts from the Orkney Islands and across Scotland.

  • Day 5 Day 5: Kirkwall / Inverness
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Kirkwall / Inverness

      After breakfast this morning, begin your journey back to Inverness with your group, arriving in the late afternoon. With no activities planned in Inverness, you are free to leave the group upon arrival at the railway station. That doesn’t mean your adventure has to come to an end! If you would like to spend more time in this northern UK hub, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability). If you’d like extending your exploration of Scotland, consider joining one of our other adventures on mainland or Shetland Islands. Just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but you’re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Personal

You’ll be just with your guide or pilot. Examples of these activities are paragliding, sky diving, personal mountain climbing, etc.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Average

There are several physical activities that last from 2 to 6 hours in easy terrains, low altitude flats, or water experiences. Please ask if you’re not sure this applies to you.

Age range

Age range

Min: 15 / Max: 99

Age range allowed for this experience.

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