Explore ancient ports as you sail from Iceland to Scotland following the old route of the Vikings.
Take in the Orkneys, Faroes and Shetlands on this 22 day hands-on sailing trip finishing in Iceland – where fire and ice meet to create an ever changing and ever evolving landscape.
On this epic voyage on a family run tall ship with up to 12 other guest crew, you’ll sail Iceland to Scotland visiting the Faroe Islands, Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands and Outer Hebrides.
Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, will be your starting port and we suggest you spend a few days taking in all that the town has to offer. Museums, tours, restaurants, and relaxation. The perfect way to kick start this great adventure.
Sailing to the Faroes you’ll join a watch for an overnight sailing crossing and be rewarded by the awe-inspiring open water of the Atlantic. As you get closer, and if the weather cooperates, you have a lovely view of the cliffs of Slaettaratindur – Europe’s tallest sea cliffs standing at 883m above sea level.
In the Faroes you’ll find an authentic, culturally minded, sustainable, and extraordinary culture. National Geographic, chose the island chain as their number one 2015 destination. Wander through the Viking excavation site at Kvivik, or the Gjogy natural harbour and witness what is truly spectacular about this region.
Next you’ll sail to Fair Isle – your introduction to the Shetlands. Always a welcoming port, Fair Isle is perhaps the most successful remote community in modern times. In the Shetlands you’ll have time to explore sites like the Jarlshof-Prehistoric settlement, and Hermaness National Nature Reserve.
Finishing in Ullapool in Scotland you’ll stop at the island of Hoy, the Orkney’s second largest, where you’ll find Ward Hill soaring 480m above sea level, Skara Brae, Maeshowe, and the Ring of Broadgar together with remarkable views of the surrounding islands.
Highlights:
- Explore a Viking excavation in the village of Kvivik
- See Gjogy natural harbour
- Bird watching in Hermaness National Nature Reserve
- Hike to Ambadalur valley to the site of Bugvin, the tallest free standing cliff in the Faroes
- Puffin, Gannet, and Fulmar Colonies in Mykines
- Cross a 35m free hanging bridge across the Atlantic
Why you'll love this adventure
- Discover the Orkneys, Shetlands, Faroes, and Outer Hebrides all in one remarkable voyage
- Learn about life on a tall ship or brush up your sailing skills
- Be part of the crew - past experience not needed
Dates
Itinerary
Day 1 : Welcome on board in Reykjavik, at 18:00 local time. First evening will be spend with introductions, to the crew, the expedition members and to safety on board.
Day 2 : Set sail for Vestmannaeyjar. If winds and waves are favorable the small harbour of the island is the perfect place to start exploring this volcanic island.
Day 3-6 : Sail across t0 Faroe islands. Some proper blue water sailing, with all the possibilities of seeing whales and killer whales underway!
Day 7-10 : Exploring some of the islands of Faroe.
Day 11 : Sailing to the Shetland islands.
Day 12 – 15 : Exploring some of the Shetland islands, including Fair Isle if wind and weather permit.
Day 16 : Sail to the Orkneys.
Day 16-19 : Discovering the Orkney islands and Outer Hebrides.
Day 20-21 : Discover Outer Hebrides and setting sail for Ullapool.
Day 22 : Disembark in Ullapool.
What's included
- Full board including three meals a day
- Coffee and tea
- Blanket, sheets, pillow and covers
- Sail training program
- 3-4 professional crew members guiding the group
Not included
- Soda and alcoholic drinks (during sailing no alcohol will be served)
- Towels
- Excursions ashore
- Transfer to and from the vessel
- Visa if needed
Trip notes
Price
Min age
Accommodation
There are 6 cabins, each for 2 persons. The cabins are situated in the middle of the vessel, which makes them as stable as possible.
Your bunk is inside one of the two person cabins. Your bed will be either the high or the lower bed of a bedbunk. All beds are over 80cm wide and 2 meters long. Each bed has a reading light for the evening hours. The cabins are ensuite.
In a wet room you will find a shower, (hot and cold water), and a toilet, that when possible flushes with outside water.
In the cabin itself you will find a fountain and mirror. Your clothing can be stored in the closet and your bag or suitcase can be stored under the bed.
Meals
The food
On board, there’s no set menu. The menu is developed on board with influences of her surroundings. The cook tries to use as many local fresh products as possible. Around the North Sea, when it gets colder you will find some ‘stamppot’ (Dutch mashes potatoes speciality) with smoked sausage on your plate.
During a longer stay on board you will hardly ever see the same dish twice. Most meals are served with a salad or fruit on the side. During longer trips they take good care of the vegetables and fruit to ensure that you will enjoy fresh food as long as possible.
The meals
Breakfast depends on the sailing situation. When underway breakfast is at 8, a buffet where you will find fresh baked bread when we are underway for longer periods, with cereals and sometimes even porridge. When the crew are anchored or in harbour you can eat breakfast outside in fine weather, or inside together on a table with an egg, or ‘wentelteefjes’ (French toast), or a fresh smoothie.
Lunch is almost always served with something warm or special, can be soup, sausage rolls, fresh fruit or special bread.
Dinner is at 18:00 hours when you are sailing. When the weather is good and it is still nice and light outside they will serve dinner in a buffet style outside. If this is not possible you will find a buffet downstairs with the possibility to eat inside or outside. When you are not sailing and eating inside you will find a set table where everyone can enjoy the meal together.
The cook on board is one of the crew.
When you go sailing, you will go on a culinary trip around the world. You will find influences of all the places they have visited and will be surprised with a beautiful meal every night.
Who is this trip for?
Adventure seekers, sailors, nature lovers, solo travellers, couples, friends, families
Crew
The crew consists of three or four permanent professional sailors. This crew is partially made up of the family and completed with some dedicated sailors that we have met around the world.
The crew give their heart and life to sailing and can show all the tricks of trimming the sail to the fullest and teach anybody how to bake some amazing homemade bread.
Additional notes
You should always bring
- The right clothes for the right weather – always expect rain!
- Swimming clothes!
- Camera
- Two pairs of footwear
- Sense of humour
- Open mind
The Watch System
The ship offers a hands-on sailing experience which means by joining a voyage you work as ‘voyage crew’ and help to sail the ship. There is a three watch schedule on board, which means you will be on ‘watch’ for 4 hours, have 8 hours off watch and then on watch again for 4 hours. So within 24 hours you will be on watch for 8.
The watches are divided into the Red, White and Blue watch, after the colours of the Dutch flag.
Red: 00:00 – 04:00 and 12:00 – 16:00 hours
White: 04:00 – 08:00 and 16:00 – 20:00 hours
Blue: 08:00 – 12:00 and 20:00 – 24:00 hours
Each watch has a watch leader, one of the permanent crew. The watch leader will give you instructions and your first watch will be filled with instructions on what watch keeping is. You will be told what is expected and you will be informed about the navigational equipment on board.
Watch keeping means being out on deck, awake and without music or books. You maybe be ‘looking out’ on the aft or the front of the ship, handling the sails or steering the vessel in turns and writing down the position of the vessel every hour. Three watches means that the watches are never bigger than 6 people. So all watch members will get a chance do some navigational work.
Every watch has an own set of chores to do on board. One watch is responsible for making the dinner and doing the dishes of the lunch, another will make breakfast and do the dishes of dinner and another watch will prepare lunch and do the dishes of breakfast.
We have a daily routine we work with and we will keep to this routine. This way you know what to expect and you know when to work or sleep. We do not change watches, so you will have the same routine every day.
FAQs
What is the language spoken on board?
The language spoken on board is English. The crew on board speak Dutch, English and German. The ship’s crew is mainly Dutch, but sometimes international.
I am traveling with someone. Can we book the same room?
Yes, as long as there are two person rooms available, you can book your voyage on board and say you are traveling with someone. You will be placed in the same room.
What kind of clothes do I need?
The ship does not provide sailing clothes on board, so please bring your own waterproof clothing. This does not have to be a sailing suite, waterproof and warm clothing will suffice. Please be prepared for some rainy days, but also hopefully for some sunny days!
Tour operator
An old Herring drifter (Logger) built in 1915, the ship is 28 meters long over deck (38 meters overall) and takes 16 trainees on her voyages. No previous sailing experience is needed and experienced and new sailors love her equally.
A family of four professional sailors have owned and run this vessel since 2006 and sail her with true passion. Built for the North Sea she’s a fast sailor and her rigging is as traditional as it gets.
We love that the boat’s appearance is kept as traditional as possible yet combined with modern techniques and equipment. Everyone on board is part of the informal sail training program that is designed to get the best out of everyone whether you join for 2 days or a longer ocean crossing.
On September 13th she and her crew were the first traditional sailing ship to complete the North West Passage after Roald Admundsen with his ship Goya in 2013.
Enquire today
In Viking Footsteps – Sail Iceland to Scotland
Please complete the enquiry form above with as much detail as you can and we will send you all the trip information and connect you with the operator so you can make a booking directly.
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