Scotland's Shetland Islands

6 Days | Stunning coastal scenery and wildlife spotting in the Shetland Islands

3.3 out of 5 based on 6 reviews submitted.
Explorer
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USD $2,070
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Discover the many charms of the Shetland Islands on a small group tour featuring dramatic coastlines, towering sea cliffs, wildlife spotting, and history galore. Lerwick, a charming town that plays host to the Shetland Museum, is filled with historic buildings and your home away from home on this trip. Private minibus adventures will take you to famous Eshaness and the most northerly point in the United Kingdom to spot local wildlife like puffins and seals. Add a quaint town and atmospheric pubs to enjoy at the end of each day and this trip has it all.

Trip overview

Map of Scotland's Shetland Islands including United Kingdom
Start
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Finish
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
United Kingdom
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
BWSL
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Lerwick, a charming town filled with historic buildings, makes for the perfect base for your trip. Unpack once, settle in, and enjoy a warm welcome back at the end of each day.
  • Tour the Shetland Museum which celebrates the local history with engaging interactive exhibits and world renowned collections of historic artefacts and documents.
  • Keep a lookout for puffins on a private minibus trip to Muckle Flugga which is home to the Muckle Flugga Lighthouse and the most northerly point in the United Kingdom.
  • Take a private minibus tour to Eshaness and be captivated by the crashing waves, dramatic sea cliffs, and history which makes this destination a Shetland Islands ‘must visit’.
  • Maximise your time by catching the overnight ferry where you will snooze in a comfortable ‘sleeping pod’ that reclines 70 degrees to help you get a good night’s rest.

Is this trip right for you?
  • This trip is new to our range this year. And while we have thoroughly researched every detail of the logistics, new destinations and working with new partners can sometimes throw us some unexpected surprises. More often than not, it’ll be a great surprise. But every now and again there might be a hiccup. We like to think that’s what puts the ‘adventure’ in ‘adventure travel’.
  • On Day 3 & 5 we are going to take coastal paths and hike between 5-7 kilometres/3-4.5 miles. Hikes are not demanding and follow established paths, but you will need a basic level of fitness to fully enjoy them.

Itinerary

Map of Scotland's Shetland Islands including United Kingdom

Inclusions

Meals

3 breakfasts

Transport

Private vehicle, Overnight Ferry

Accommodation

Hotel (3 nights), Overnight Ferry (2 nights)

Activities
  • Lerwick- Lerwick Leader Led Walking Tour
  • Lerwick - Shetland Museum Tour
  • Sumburgh - Jarlshof and Sumburgh Head Hike
  • Shetland - Muckle Flugga Trip
  • Lerwick - Overnight Ferry Lerwick to Aberdeen
  • Eshaness - Coastal Hike
Add on activities
  • Lerwick - Noss Boat Wildlife Tour - GBP50

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. This trip starts in Aberdeen in late afternoon (3.30pm in the waiting room at Aberdeen Ferry Terminal) and the overnight ferry trip to Lerwick. Trip finishes in Aberdeen in the morning of Day 6 upon overnight ferry arrival from Lerwick.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights in Lerwick, but not to overnight ferry nights, where single cabins are unavailable. Single supplement is also a subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. There is a separate optional upgrade (on request and subject to availability) for a two berth outside cabin on the ferry

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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Reviews

3.3 out of 5 based on 6 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Rosanna · Traveled September 2023
Don’t take this trip. It’s not a 2 . Its a 5 and unless you are a fast walker you quickly become a pariah
Review submitted 15 Sep 2023

Michael · Traveled July 2023
A great experience travelling around the Shetland Islands.
Review submitted 30 Jul 2023

Joanne · Traveled June 2023
Not the usual Intrepid standard. Disappointed by accommodation in Lerwick considering price of tour. Consider upgrading to a cabin on the overnight ferry. The highlights were day trips with Jill (from a local Shetland company) to Eshaness and Muckle Flugga, and seeing puffins up close.
Review submitted 26 Jun 2023

Tracy · Traveled May 2023
Being the first of its kind, it didn't accurately describe the type if activities too much hiking, level if fitness should be 3 not 2. Needed transport for around the place without us walking for ages to dinner etc in cold rainy weather. Would have liked more cultural visits eg crofts local artisans maybe a home visit? Also not much time for doing my own thing. But 6 days until long I guess. Mungo.. lovely guy but more suited to climbing, hiking tours
Review submitted 27 May 2023

Crystal · Traveled May 2023
I loved visiting the Shetland Islands. I had been looking forward to this trip since we went to mainland Scotland and the Orkneys last year. The walks and sightseeing were terrific. It was very cold and windy at the northernmost point so dress warm for that day! We had a great group and leader. The Noss seabird watching boat trip on our first day in Lerwick was so worth it. We took lots of photos! It was a wonderful itinerary, and we enjoyed it so much.
Review submitted 02 Jun 2023
Scotland's Shetland Islands
From
USD $2,070