The Scottish Isles: Island Hopping in the Hebrides

Discover some of Scotland's most remote, romantic and rugged Hebridean islands on this island-hopping odyssey from Glasgow (Greenock). Visit picture-perfect villages and historic towns, and marvel at spectacular scenery and breathtaking beaches and seek out Atlantic seabirds and marine life as we island hop around Islay, Mull, the Treshnish Isles, Colonsay and the Outer Hebrides. Itinerary

Day 1 Embark in Glasgow (Greenock)
Start in Scotland's stylish city of culture . A former industrial powerhouse, Glasgow has reinvented itself as a cultural hot spot, packed with museums, galleries and parks. Discover the splendid Art Nouveau architecture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh before your expedition cruise begins. You'll embark in Glasgow (Greenock) where MS Spitsbergen, one of our smaller vessels purpose-built for close-up exploration, will be waiting for you. Get to know the ship before meeting the Expedition Team your guides for the adventure ahead. Enjoy your first onboard dinner as we set sail.

Day 2 Isle of Arran
Enjoy wildlife spotting on Arran. Welcome to the Isle of Arran with its heather-cloaked landscapes. Known as Scotland in miniature, Arran's varied landscape is split by the Highland Boundary Fault, giving the island its distinctive highland peaks in the north and lush lowlands in the south. Why not try a hike with views of the craggy peaks of Goat Fell and see if you can spot Scotland's Big Five: the Golden Eagle, red deer, red squirrel, otter and harbour seal, all of which can be found on Arran. While here, discover the Scottish grandeur of Brodick Castle, and explore the gardens which will be brimming with spring life. And you can marvel at the Neolithic treasures and huge upright slabs at the Machrie Moor Stone Circle.

Day 3 Islay's whisky and nature
Fire up your spirit of discovery on 'Whisky Island'. Islay, the Queen of the Hebrides, is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides, with rugged uplands and coastline. The island is the proud home of world-famous peaty single malts but that's far from the only reason to visit. Islay is a wildlife haven, 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. Join a local guide on a heritage walk, and of course, no trip to Islay is complete without a 'wee dram' from one of the island's famous and historic whisky producers, including Laphroaig and Ardbeg.

Days 4 Isle of Gigha
Discover a slice of paradise in the Hebrides. Our Scottish isles cruise continues 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. Why not try some of its seafood, such as Gigha halibut and oysters. At only seven miles long, the only way to get around Gigha is 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, such as the Bagh Rubha Ruaidh and Bagh na Doirlinne beaches.

Day 5 Iona
Get ready for the dreamy beauty of the Sound of Mull. Brightly coloured Georgian houses line the waterfront in the picturesque fishing port of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. As we explore, your local guide will bring the port to life with stories of its vibrant past and present. Learn about the local heritage at the Mull Museum, try a dram of local whisky, stroll around the loch in Aros Park or soak up the views across the Ardnamurchan Peninsula on a walk along the wooded coastal path. The Isle of Mull is a magnet for birders. It has the highest breeding density of Golden Eagles in Europe, and White-tailed Eagles can often be seen soaring above the coast. While here, you can also visit one of the historic castles which guarded these waterways when the Lord of the Isles ruled the region in the 12th century.

Day 6 Expedition day
Explore the tranquil islands of the Outer Hebrides. Today we plan to explore the Outer Hebrides and attempt a landing at one of the many tiny islands. Your Captain and Expedition Leader will choose the best landing site depending on the conditions of the day. The mighty wind and waves of the Atlantic have carved sheltered harbours here, allowing settlements to arise as far back as the Neolithic period. Perhaps we'll visit a remote community and get insight into their way of life, or head to a pristine white sand beach for a nature landing or hike. We may also take our small boats for some coastal cruising in search of wildlife such as puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes and seals.

Days 7 Stornoway
Experience Scotland Stonehenge and find your tweed. 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, with its trails and fantastic views. Dont miss 'Scotland's Stonehenge', the 5,000-year-old Callanish Standing Stones, and Dun Carloway, the best-preserved Iron Age broch in Scotland. We'll also cruise 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, keep an eye out for European Shags, Common Eiders, Northern Fulmars and Great Skuas in the surrounding waters or on volcanic ledges.

Day 8 Isles of beauty
Get close to dramatic scenery and wonderful wildlife on Skye and Eigg. We'll sail to Loch Scavaig on the Isle of Skye, where dramatic scenery surrounds us. The wildest scene in the Highlands that's how the Victorian poet Lord Tennyson described Loch Coruisk and the surrounding craggy peaks of the Cuillin Mountains. We'll put on our hiking boots to explore the loch with the Expedition Team. Our next stop is the remote Isle of Eigg, home to incredible wildlife. You might spot Golden and White-Tailed Eagles, Red Throated Divers, stonechats, 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 Iona
See Iona's sacred abbey and Fingal's Cave on Staffa. Your adventure continues to Iona, off the coast of Mull in the Inner Hebrides. You can visit the restored 6th century abbey, one of Scotland's oldest and most sacred Christian pilgrimage sites. Or enjoy a hike with the Expedition Team up Don I for breathtaking views of St Columba's Bay and take a sip from the 'Well of Eternal Youth. If conditions allow, we'll also sail to Staffa. We'll attempt to take our small boats for a closer look at Fingal's Cave, marvelling at the hexagonal basalt columns, superb natural acoustics and mesmerising, coloured waters.

Day 10 Colonsay birds and blooms
Immerse yourself in unspoilt island beauty. Take a coastal walk on the Isle of Colonsay and enjoy breathtaking views from Kiloran Bay and Plaide Mhor. Or if youre lucky enough to be in a kayak, you may catch sight of whales, porpoises and dolphins. Flora thrives on Colonsay, with over 400 species of plants present. You'll see some of them in the woodland gardens of Colonsay House. It's a paradise for birdwatchers, with choughs, Red Northern Divers, eagles, fulmars, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and shags among the birds you can spot. Be sure to listen out for the rattle of the elusive corncrake.

Day 11 Back to Glasgow
Your island-hopping odyssey comes to an end in Scotlands biggest city. Your adventure to the wild Scottish Isles ends back in Glasgow (Greenock). Lying on the shores of the Firth of Clyde with views across to the high hills of Argyll, Glasgows impressive fishing and shipping heritage is manifest in the Victorian architecture of the west end of town. Its well worth exploring this area some more if you have time before you head home.