A Journey of Enthralling Natural Beauty & Icelandic Wonders

The teak promenade of EXPLORA I becomes your stylish catwalk as you journey to where men wear kilts and women mash the best Scotch whiskey. Walk in the footsteps of saints and ancient kings. Cross paths with artists and poets who protest there “may be dragons.” Edinburgh is enigmatic with come-hither nooks along the Royal Mile. Amble along a tumble of cobbles to the Palace of Holyrood (the British royal family’s home), pass the Scottish Parliament and St. Giles Cathedral until you finally reach the pinnacle of majesty, the hill-topped Edinburgh Castle. Here the jaw-dropping global performance of the Military Tattoo is set before the flood-lit castle ramparts in a truly unforgettable parade of pipes and drums (and sometimes camels and elephants). With more than 30 hours in the city, you can even opt to play golf at the legendary St. Andrews Golf Course. Listen. Do you hear it? The mountains echo the soulful cry of bagpipes. Enter the Highlands, where no men are mightier than those who fought in the world-altering carnage at Culloden near Inverness. Here, the great Caledonian Canal cuts through Scotland to become the headwaters of Loch Ness, notably guarded by Nessie the sea monster and the ruins of the impressive Urquhart Castle. Hop a gondola lift to the highest peak in the UK, Ben Nevis, or visit Clava Cairns, the 4,000-year-old burial grounds that inspired the TV saga Outlander. The unending element of surprise lies in the appeal of the Outer Hebrides, including the stunning Luskentyre beach (rated amongst the top 25 in the world by the BBC) or the Neolithic standing stones (older than Stonehenge), and handsome woollen garments woven from locally loomed Harris Tweed. The moon winks over the Atlantic and guides us to Liverpool, the birthplace of the Beatles. Graceful experiences await to be unwrapped in Glasgow, where you can go in search of more kingdoms of the sylvan and sublime.