Original
Explorer
Scotland's Orkney Islands
5 days • 4.3
4.5
Excellent
34 reviews
5 days
Start
Inverness, United Kingdom
Finish
Inverness, United Kingdom
Trip Code
BWSO
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
4 breakfasts, 1 lunch
Transport
Train, Public bus, Private vehicle, Taxi, Ferry, On foot
Accommodation
Guesthouse (4 nights)
From £1,509(5 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
The Orkney Islands are a treasure trove of history, from the Neolithic village of Skara Brae to the iconic Ring of Brodgar and the stunning 12th-century St Magnus Cathedral. It’s like stepping back in time!
Join your group leader for a walking tour of Kirkwall, Orkney’s lively hub, where you’ll learn about the town’s unique traditions, including the fascinating game of ‘Ba’.
Spend the morning exploring the island of Hoy and the renowned Scapa Flow Museum, home to rare artifacts and captivating exhibits that tell the story of Scapa Flow, once the heart of the British naval fleet during both World Wars.
No trip to Scotland would be complete without a whisky tasting! Throughout the journey, join your local leader and fellow travellers at cozy pubs to sample some of the finest whiskies Orkney has to offer.
With plenty of free time to explore at your own pace, you can dive deep into the island’s rich history or unwind with a visit to a local distillery. The choice is yours!
Is this trip right for you?
Please ensure you consult your local government’s advice regarding domestic travel prior to booking this trip.
Scotland can be chilly at night throughout the year, especially at the start and end of the season. Please bring appropriate clothing for adverse weather conditions, including base layers, hat, gloves, scarf, waterproof clothes/umbrella and anything else that you think may be applicable.
As accommodation on this trip is twin share, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same gender. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it while you can. However, if you’d prefer not to share, a single room supplement is available at an additional charge (some exceptions may apply). Please ask your travel consultant for more details. Also, hotels in Europe can seem small by Australian or American standards, and often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart.
Itinerary
Whisky and Neolithic history in UK’s northern reaches
The Orkney Islands, off the northern tip of Scotland, are a captivating blend of history, mystery, and stunning landscapes, waiting to be explored by land and sea. Over the course of five days, you’ll experience the best of Orkney, departing from the Highland hub of Inverness and using the picturesque town of Kirkwall as your base. Admire the breathtaking landscapes as you explore the Neolithic village of Skara Brae, which predates Stonehenge, visit the renowned Scapa Flow Museum on the Island of Hoy, and immerse yourself in local history. Along the way, you might even enjoy whisky tastings at local pubs. With a knowledgeable local guide and a group eager to learn, this journey through European history has never been more enticing.
Inclusions
Meals
4 breakfasts, 1 lunch
Transport
Train, Public bus, Private vehicle, Taxi, Ferry, On foot
Accommodation
Guesthouse (4 nights)
Included activities
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 - Day Trip
Island of Hoy - Scapa Flow Museum visit
Optional activities
Kirkwall - Wideford Hill Hike - Free
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you prefer not to share a room during this trip. The supplement applies to all nights and is subject to availability. Please contact your booking agent for more details.
2. The trip begins at 1:30 pm in the ticket hall of Inverness Railway Station on Day 1. Your group will then depart immediately for Kirkwall. The trip concludes upon arrival in Inverness on D5 at approximately 4.30 pm, so please keep this in mind when arranging onward travel.
3. Please be aware that the journey from Inverness to the Orkney Islands and back is quite long (around 7.5 hours), involving a combination of train, taxi, ferry, and local bus.
4. On D1, we’ll arrive in Kirkwall around 9 pm, and on the final day, we’ll return to Inverness around 4.30 pm.
5. If you'd like to extend your exploration of Scotland, consider joining one of our other adventures on the mainland or the Shetland Islands. Just speak to your booking agent in advance to make arrangements.
Reviews (33)
5 stars
22
4 stars
6
3 stars
2
1 star
3
Jane
Oct 15, 2024
Our Orkney tour was a sheer delight, including day trips to all the major sites. The private tours were very informative and enjoyable and the tour leadership was exceptional, able to turn on a dime when weather and train schedules interrupted.
Andrew
Sep 07, 2024
Intrepid holidays are eco friendly and allow you to experience a community as the locals would. It us a great blend of activities and your own time to explore.
Jessica
Aug 03, 2024
This trip was fantastic from beginning to end. Rhys our guide was excellent. He was knowledgeable and organised and incredibly great to talk with. Orkney is beautiful with so much history and this trip helped me see so much in a short space of time.
Linda
Jun 26, 2024
Please extract from the earlier sections of this report.
Myra
Jun 06, 2024
A fantastic experience. The best small group tour we have done. Lawrence made all of us welcome on the first day and spent time with all of us getting to know our interests and what we were expecting from the tour. His gentle humour was a delight as was his professionalism. The natural beauty and history of Orkney were enhanced by Lawrence's depth of knowledge.
Robin
Apr 27, 2024
A wonderful short trip for people that have always wanted to visit the Orkney islands but want someone else (Intrepid) to expertly organize everything.
Valerie
Oct 07, 2023
The Orkney Islands are beautiful to the eye and the soul. Our guide was knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour. Care for the groups was definitely his priority and Alistair managed to accomplish this without being instructive. The meals and spirits of the island should not be missed.
Aleesha
Sep 24, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this trip. Being a younger traveller at 26 to those around me I had a blast with every one on tour, I learnt a great deal about Neolithic Culture, got to see the island by foot and tasted some incredible gin! Highly recommend for those wanting to get off the beaten track in Scotland.
Porteous
Sep 16, 2023
As I have said the trip was wonderful and Edd was just the best 👍
Terry
Jul 07, 2023
This trip combined visits to fascinating historical sites with plenty of time to wander around and explore on your own. The beauty of the Orkney Islands will stay with me for a very long time.
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