May 8 - May 19, 2025
Scotland
The Hidden Coasts of Scotland: An Expedition on the Ocean Albatros
Program No. 24592RJ
Experience Scotland from Edinburgh to the Orkney Islands and Outer Hebrides as you join us for our Floating Campus onboard the Ocean Albatros!
Enroll with Confidence
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
Not seeing the date you're looking for?
To be notified if dates of this program become available, click the button below.
This date is available to book as a private experience for your group!
12 days
11 nights
28 meals
10B 8L 10D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
4
Scrabster, Castle of Mey
At Sea
12
Edinburgh, Program Concludes
In Flight
At a Glance
The northern coast of Scotland is known for its incredible natural beauty, remote islands and ancient landmarks — and there’s no better way to experience them all than on this exclusive Road Scholar Floating Campus voyage! We’ll have the Ocean Albatros to ourselves on this learning adventure that begins and ends in Edinburgh and leads you on a journey to Aberdeen, the Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands and Outer Hebrides. Marvel in the remote landscapes of Scotland as your onboard instructors offer their insight into the history and biodiversity of the region through lectures, Q&A sessions and casual discussions. In true campus style, take part in onboard activities like a book club or photography instruction, enjoy a live performance of Scottish dance and music and get to know other Road Scholars who love learning — and voyages — as much as you do.
Activity Level
Choose Your Pace
This program offers two activity levels to choose from on every departure date: one Keep the Pace that has more walking and standing and one On Your Feet covering slightly shorter distances at a slower pace. Must be comfortable getting in & out of tender boats and zodiacs, feel comfortable navigating around the ship and handle stairs while on board.
PLEASE NOTE: The ship is not suitable for wheelchair/electric scooter use.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Enjoy exclusive access to experts who will be with you throughout your journey and learn from them as you take in onboard lectures and educational activities.
- Spend a night in Edinburgh before and after your voyage to discover landmarks like Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile with a local expert.
- Learn about royal history at the Castle of Mey in Caithness, purchased and restored by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
- Discover Scotland’s prehistoric landmark during a field trip to the Ring of Brodgar in the Orkney Isles, thought to be constructed for astronomical observations.
- Voyage to some of Scotland’s remote islands as you explore the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and Sumburgh Head in Shetland, and enjoy Zodiac rides along Loch Torridon.
General Notes
This learning adventure is part of Road Scholar’s Floating Campus. You’ll experience a true campus feel as we enjoy field trips onshore and expert instruction during exclusive lectures, Q&A sessions and discussions. Enjoy a book club, onboard activities, a live performance and the camaraderie that can only be found with fellow Road Scholars! Please note that we need a minimum number of participants to enroll in this program to have exclusive use of the ship. In the unlikely event we do not meet the minimum number, then the cruise line may have its own passengers on the ship, though they will not be part of any Road Scholar activities.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Sandy Primrose
Sandy Primrose is a biologist by training, undertaking research in Australia before returning to the UK to lecture at the Universities of Edinburgh and Warwick. In 1981, he made a career change to a pharmaceutical company and later in diagnostic, food, and environmental companies. Twenty years later, he started working as a biotechnology consultant and advisor to various UK governmental organizations. Sandy has written a number of very popular science textbooks and has a passion for gardening — particularly his half-acre garden.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Sandy Primrose
View biography
Sandy Primrose is a biologist by training, undertaking research in Australia before returning to the UK to lecture at the Universities of Edinburgh and Warwick. In 1981, he made a career change to a pharmaceutical company and later in diagnostic, food, and environmental companies. Twenty years later, he started working as a biotechnology consultant and advisor to various UK governmental organizations. Sandy has written a number of very popular science textbooks and has a passion for gardening — particularly his half-acre garden.
John Haywood
View biography
John Haywood studied history at the universities of Lancaster and Cambridge (UK), and Copenhagen (Denmark), earning a PhD in early medieval maritime history. After teaching medieval history at Lancaster University, he is now a historical writer with more than 20 books on a wide range of topics. John’s special interest is in the Vikings, currently writing a history of the Atlantic Ocean before Columbus. He lives in Lancaster with his Danish partner, Charlotte, a clinical researcher, and enjoys hiking, travel, cooking, folk music, and pubs.
Donna Heddle
View biography
Donna Heddle is the director of the University of the Highlands and Islands Institute for Northern Studies, and head of research environment and culture at UHI, leading the development of the university’s Arctic strategy. Her research interests include Scottish cultural history, language, and literature. She has won awards for course development and design. She is a trustee of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and of Sir Sean Connery’s Scottish International Education Trust, and has sat on the board of Museums Galleries Scotland and Hi-Arts.
Tommy Hatwell
View biography
Tommy Hatwell—born in Plymouth, England—has lived, worked, and photographed all over the globe. In 2017, he completed his B.A. with honors in commercial photography and soon after won the prestigious Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery in London, also opening his first solo exhibition. He shares his passion and knowledge of photography by traveling around the world, offering workshops, and visiting universities. Tommy provides creative, hands-on photography lessons during Road Scholar Floating Campus programs, both on shore and aboard ship.
Kit Chapman
View biography
Kit Chapman is a globe-trotting adventurer and historian based at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. Kit has been down the Amazon, into the tombs of Pharaohs, and crossed the Silk Road across Asia, all to find the greatest stories of how scientific discoveries have shaped our world. Kit has a Ph.D. in the history of element discovery and has written for New Scientist, National Geographic, and BBC Science Focus, among others. In 2022, he gave the anniversary lecture for the Royal Institution of Great Britain.
Suggested Reading List
(13 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The Hidden Coasts of Scotland: An Expedition on the Ocean Albatros
Program Number: 24592
How the Scots Invented the Modern World
As historian and author Arthur Herman reveals, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Scotland made crucial contributions to science, philosophy, literature, education, medicine, commerce, and politics—contributions that have formed and nurtured the modern West ever since.
Trainspotting
Trainspotting is Scottish novelist Irvine Welsh’s 1993 work of fiction. Set in the late 1980s, the novel follows the “Skag Boys,” who are involved in Edinburgh, Scotland’s heroin scene, particularly in the neighborhood of Leith.
Before Scotland: The Story of Scotland Before History
This book follows the movement of hunter-gatherers north, the growth of fishing, and the establishment of farming. The author also covers cultural evolution in Scotland - the roles played by megalith builders, Celts, Picts, and others.
The Wasp Factory
The literary debut of Scottish author Iain Banks, The Wasp Factory is an imaginative and disturbing look into the mind of a child psychopath.
Outlander
# 1 New York Times Bestseller, the first book in Diana Gabaldon’s acclaimed Outlander saga. Based in the Scottish Highlands, this spellbinding novel of passion and history combines exhilarating adventure with a love story for the ages.
Scotland: a New History
Michael Lynch, named as 'one of the most influential historians in Scotland of the last thirty years', has written an extraordinary one-volume history of the country that spans twenty centuries, from the Picts to the present day.
Robert the Bruce: King of Scots
Using contemporary accounts, Ronald McNair Scott tells the story of Scotland's legendary leader, and one of Europe's most remarkable medieval kings.
Sunset Song
The first and most celebrated novel by Scottish writer Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Sunset Song evokes village life in the early twentieth century and offers a powerful portrait of a land and people in turmoil.
Waverley (1814)
Waverley (1814), tells the story of Edward Waverley, a naïve young man who is posted to Scotland with his regiment. Edward must decide whether he will follow the civilization he has always known, or be drawn into an older world of honor.
No Gods and Precious Few Heroes (Vol 8: Scotland, 1914-80)
Harvie analyzes the pressures and influences that, over the past ninety years, have eroded Scotland's position as a world industrial power.
Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886)
This gothic novella by Scottish author, Robert Louis Stevenson was originally published in 1886. The story is about a legal practitioner in London, named Gabriel John Utterson, who investigates bizarre incidents that occur between his old friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll, and the evil Edward Hyde.
Scotland: the Story of a Nation
Encompassing everything from the first Mesolithic settlers in 7000 B.C. to the present movements for independence, Scotland: The Story of a Nation is history on an epic level, essential reading for anyone interested in the rich past of this captivating land.
The Complete Poems and Songs of Robert Burns
Burns is an icon for the UK and Scotland he is a national symbol. This volume of poems and songs is a best selling, beautiful edition of his work.
All itineraries and excursions are subject to change. Weather and water conditions may affect the progress of the ship, and we may miss ports if it is not safe to dock. The operators reserve the right to change the content and duration of excursions without prior notice and so the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. Whenever possible, Road Scholar’s published daily schedule will indicate port arrival and departure times. Prior to departure, if there is a major change, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
12 days
11 nights
What's Included
28 meals (
10B, 8L, 10D
)
6 expert-led lectures
8 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
10 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
In Transit to Program
Location:
In Flight
Day
2
Arrive in Edinburgh, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Edinburgh
Meals:
D
Stay:
Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. The group will be split between 2 hotels, please note that we have to take Color Groups & bed configuration into consideration when assigning hotels, once your hotel is assigned, it cannot be changed.
Afternoon:
Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date programs schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
Welcome dinner at the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Get to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
3
Check Out, Edinburgh Highlights, Transfer to Aberdeen
Location:
Aberdeen
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ocean Albatros
Activity Note
Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down. Walk up to 2 miles on paved walkways. Transfer to Aberdeen is approx. 2 hours. NOTE: The On Your Feet group will not do the walking excursion and will have a panoramic drive of Edinburgh instead.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning the Keep the Pace groups will depart the pier by motorcoach into the heart of Edinburgh's old town. Upon arrival at the Royal Mile, we will start our walking discovery along the cobble-stoned street that will take us past various buildings both old and new including John Knox House, the Church of Canongate and the Scottish Parliament building. We will stop for an OUTSIDE visit (we will not be going inside) of St. Giles Cathedral, this majestic building stands midway along the Royal Mile. The most notable external feature is the famed crown spire on the tower. Following a restoration in 1977 essential roof repairs were carried out and a magnificent new organ was installed. NOTE: the slower paced, On Your Feet groups will not go on the walking excursion and will have a panoramic drive of Edinburgh instead. During the drive, see the Georgian architecture of the New Town, parts of the medieval Royal Mile, and Princes Street with its civic gardens in the heart of the city. We will drive to the city's high points for some spectacular views over the city.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant en route to Aberdeen.
Afternoon:
Transfer to the port and board the Ocean Albatros. After completing boarding procedures and getting your cabin, take some time to unpack, freshen up, and relax and start becoming familiar with the ship. There will be a mandatory passenger briefing and safety drill. Please note that your departure is part of our Floating Campus programs. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary. Sea conditions affect the progress of the ship, making it run late and sometimes miss ports because it is not safe to dock. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of excursions without prior notice.
Dinner:
Aboard ship. Dinners always include a meat option, fish option and vegetarian option. Water, tea, & coffee is available 24 hours a day. Any other beverages will be charged to your cabin. The ship has a fully equipped onboard bar & offers a wide variety of cocktails, beers, non-alcoholic beverages and bottled water available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to check out the library or the jacuzzis.
Day
4
Scrabster, Castle of Mey
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ocean Albatros
Activity Note
Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down. Uneven terrain and several flights of steps inside castle. NOTE: On Your Feet group will not visit the castle & will visit the Strathnaver Museum instead. The drive to the museum is approximately 1 hour.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
The Keep the Pace Groups will head out this morning and visit the Castle of Mey with your Group Leader. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother first saw the then Barrogill Castle in 1952, while mourning the death of her husband, King George VI. Explore the castle and gardens with a local expert and learn more about why this property was so close to The Queen Mother’s heart and about Prince Charles’ commitment to the future of Castle of Mey. On the way back to the ship we will stop briefly at Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on the British mainland, which is an RSPB reserve and home to a lighthouse built by Robert Stevenson in 1831. The slower paced, On Your Feet groups will not visit the Castle of Mey and head out for a 1 hour drive to Bettyhill and the Strathnaver Museum. Bettyhill owes its very existence to the Highland Clearances, one of the darkest episodes in the history of the Highlands. At this time landowners ruthlessly cleared their lands of tenant farmers to make way for more lucrative sheep. Before the Clearances this area was heavily populated. Between 1811 and 1821 a total of 15,000 people were cleared from the estates of the landowner who would become the reviled Duke of Sutherland. Nearby Rosal was one of the villages cleared of its crofting inhabitants and in an unusual move the local landowner, Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland, had the village of Bettyhill built in 1814 to house the displaced crofters. Today we will visit the older part of the village and the Strathnaver Museum which is housed in the old parish church to learn more about the Clearances and their devastating effect on the population of the Highlands.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, including a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.
Day
5
Stornoway, Ancient Lewis, Blackhouse Village
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ocean Albatros
Activity Note
Zodiac landing: possibility of rough seas; bumpy sailing; splashing water; may get wet; getting in/out of Zodiac with assistance from staff. Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down. Some rough, uphill paths walking over grassy surfaces with stones and some steps. Sturdy footwear recommended.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
This morning we will board the Zodiacs for our ride to the pier where we'll then head out on a full day Field Trip to Ancient Lewis & Blackhouse Village. We will Depart Stornoway across the beautiful west coast for a brief stop at the Dun Carloway Pictish Broch. Built in the last century BC, it would have served as a defensible residence for an extended family complete with accommodations for animals. Visit Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, a reconstructed settlement of traditional blackhouses where people and animals lived in close proximity. The houses were made using dry stone masonry and have thatched roofs, distinctively weighted down with rocks.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will continue our scenic journey to the most Northerly point of the Island to take a moment and soak up the views at the Butt of Lewis Lighthouse. Next, stop at the Port of Ness harbor. Ness has been home to many seafarers, enjoy some free time in the village and admire the picturesque harbor area. Return along part of the same coastal roads completing our drive as we head back across moorland to Stornoway.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.
Day
6
Scenic Cruising-Sound of Mull,Oban, Dunollie Castle
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ocean Albatros
Activity Note
Zodiac landing in Oban: possibility of rough seas; bumpy sailing; splashing water; may get wet; getting in/out of Zodiac with assistance from staff.Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down.Walking up a steep hill during the walking excursion in Oban.NOTE: The On Your Feet group will not join the Oban Walking Excursion & Dunollie Museum & Castle and will instead go on a coach drive of the Scottish Highlands and Glencoe.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
This morning we will enjoy scenic cruising in the Sound of Mull. This is an important waterway for vessels sailing from Oban and separates the island of Mull from the Scottish mainland. Enjoy a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
The ship is scheduled to arrive in Oban at 12:00 p.m. We will board Zodiacs for the ride to the pier. Once we disembark from the Zodiacs, the Keep the Pace groups will head out on a walking excursion of historic Oban and visit Dunollie Museum & Castle, a short distance along the coast from Oban town center. NOTE:you will encounter steep hills during the walking excursion in Oban. The On Your Feet groups will not join the Oban Walking Tour & Dunollie Museum & Castle, instead we will have a panoramic drive along the Scottish Highlands. After disembarking the Zodiac, board our motorcoach that will take us through the picturesque scenery of the Pass of Brander and around the tip of Loch Awe with views of Kilchurn Castle before continuing to Tyndrum where a short stop is made. The route climbs to Rannoch Moor; the Great Moor is one of the last remaining wildernesses in Europe. Driving through the majestic Glencoe – once a scene of the infamous 1692 massacre and now a centre for serious mountaineering providing some of the finest climbing and walking in Scotland. A stop is made at the award-winning Glencoe visitor centre to learn more about the history, geology and nature of this region. Leaving the visitor centre the route continues along Loch Linnhe. Admiring the views of the islands of Lismore and Mull along the shoreline of this sea loch. Passing Castle Stalker, a tower house situated on its own islet set against a dramatic backdrop of mountains before arriving back in the coastal town of Oban.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.
Day
7
Loch Torridon, Scenic Zodiac Cruising
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ocean Albatros
Activity Note
Zodiac cruising; possibility of rough seas; bumpy sailing; splashing water; may get wet; getting in/out of Zodiac with assistance from staff.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
This morning we'll board Zodiacs and enjoy cruising in Loch Torridon. This stunning loch was created by glacial processes and is approximately 15 miles long.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, including a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.
Day
8
Lerwick, Sumburgh Head Bird Cliffs
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ocean Albatros
Activity Note
Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down. ½ mile steep uphill walk at Sumburgh Head. NOTE: The On Your Feet group will not visit Sumburgh Head and will visit a local harbor village, a Shetland Pony farm, and a local jewelry workshop.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
The more active Keep the Pace groups will head out with your Group Leader on a Field Trip to the Sumburgh Head Bird Cliffs. We will depart Lerwick, the capital of Shetland, as we begin our trip to the island’s most southerly point. Visit the RSPB Reserve at Sumburgh Head where we will see Shetland’s first lighthouse, built in 1821 by Robert Stevenson. The cliffs around Sumburgh Head are on the southernmost tip of Mainland Shetland and attract thousands of seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, shags and fulmars. Gannets are regularly seen offshore too. A local expert will further enhance our visit here. The slower paced, On Your Feet groups will not visit Sumburgh Head and will enjoy a visit to a local harbor village, we will then visit a Shetland Pony farm to learn about the history and characteristics of this small and hardy pony directly from a local breeder. Next, travel through Girlsta and Weisdale before visiting a Shetland Jewelry workshop, where a local jewelry maker will show us how the beautifully hand crafted, local jewelry is designed and made.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, including a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.
Day
9
Kirkwall, Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ocean Albatros
Activity Note
Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down. At Ring of Brodgar soft/uneven ground. Skaill House has flights of stairs. NOTE: The On Your Feet Group will not visit Skaill House and the visit to Ring of Brodgar & Skara Brae will be at a slower pace.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
This morning we will head out to explore the Ring of Brodgar & Skara Brae with our Group Leader. Depart Kirkwall and head into the west of Mainland, Orkney’s largest island. Head into the Neolithic Heartland of Orkney; an area designated as a World Heritage Site due to its wealth of pre-historic archaeology. Visit the Ring of Brodgar; a huge ceremonial circle of stones dating back almost 5000 years. Continue to Skara Brae to admire one of the best preserved Neolithic villages in Western Europe. Our next stop for the Keep the Pace Groups is Skaill House, Orkney’s finest manor. Skaill was built by Bishop George Graham in 1620 on the site of a farmstead thought to date to the Norse period. NOTE: the slower paced On Your Feet groups will not visit Skaill House.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, including a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.
Day
10
Invergordon, Loch Ness Discovery
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ocean Albatros
Activity Note
Zodiac landing; possibility of rough seas; bumpy sailing; splashing water; may get wet; getting in/out of Zodiac with assistance from staff. Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down. Uneven terrain and steps at Urquhart Castle, walking up to 3 miles. Wear sturdy footwear.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will board zodiacs for the ride to the pier. Once we reach the pier, depart Invergordon with our Group Leader and head to the banks of Loch Ness. Visit the ruins of Urquhart Castle, it was a critical strategic stronghold in the highlands, positioned on the banks of Loch Ness. In 1692 the castle was blown up to stop it falling into Jacobite hands. What remains are picturesque and impressive ruins, surrounded on three sides by the cold deep waters of Loch Ness. From the Castle’s Jetty, we will join a boat cruise on one of the world’s most famous lochs. Look for the evasive Loch Ness Monster, which has baffled some of the world's most notable researchers for decades. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and mountains and learn of the Loch’s history and geology by a local expert. Disembark at the Loch Ness pier and return to the ship.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, including a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars. Prepare for disembarkation tomorrow.
Day
11
Aberdeen, Disembark Ocean Albatros, Transfer to Edinburgh
Location:
Edinburgh
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel
Activity Note
Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down. The group will be split between 2 hotels, please note that we have to take Color Groups & bed configuration into consideration when assigning hotels, once your hotel is assigned, it cannot be changed.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Complete disembarkation procedures and transfer to Edinburgh.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
Check into the hotel, the remainder of the afternoon is free.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
12
Edinburgh, Program Concludes
Location:
In Flight
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check out by 12:00 p.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!
MEALS
28 Meals
10 Breakfasts
8 Lunches
10 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- May 08, 2025 - May 19, 2025
- May 08, 2025 - May 19, 2025
- May 16, 2025 - May 27, 2025
- May 02, 2026 - May 13, 2026
Participant Reviews
Based on 10 Reviews
Sort By:
Our floating Road Scholar trip around Scotland was the trip of a lifetime for me. It was everything I imagined it could be -- and more. I can't wait to try another Road Scholar trip.
— Review left June 13, 2024
Perfect blend of curated activities and relaxing downtime. I fell in love with Scotland and need to return.
Group leader Barbara Gigi is warm, knowledgeable and energetic. Speakers were great. Albatros captain and crew — I’m looking at you, Guillaime and Carlos, just exceptional: kept us all safe, comfortable, informed.
For an extreme introvert, I’m proud to say I made a friend. Going solo was an adventure that turned out to be wonderful.
— Review left June 9, 2024
Great introduction to Scotland -- you see a lot of the country in a reasonable period of time, including some of the more distant islands. I really got a feel for the country's cultural and geographic place in the world.
— Review left June 9, 2024
Such a unique and interesting itinerary! I was struck by the vibrant communities and history of these Scottish islands that I have thought of as remote. So glad to have experienced bits of what these areas have to offer.
— Review left June 3, 2024
The Road Scholar Program was great, it made me think, at times it was challenging and at other times it was peaceful nothing to worry about everything was taken care of. I was born in Scotland, I learnt a great deal about this part of Scotland that I had never seen.
— Review left June 1, 2024
We learned so much more about early civilizations than we ever dreamed! The blending of the Scandinavian people and the people of Scotland is just magnificent!i
— Review left May 30, 2024
Our Road Scholar program exceeded our expectations in every detail of our trip from beginning to conclusion. I can’t imagine a better way to travel for those interested in more than just shopping and selfies.
— Review left May 30, 2024
My first "floating campus" experience, and I will definitely do more.
— Review left May 25, 2024
Road Scholar Floating Campus Programs "The Hidden Coasts of Scotland" was a delight! What a way to enjoy the stark beauty of Scotland! It was our first visit. I'm sure we will be back!
— Review left May 24, 2024
Scotland's harsh beauty and depth of history really came through for me on this trip. The accommodations were absolutely superb -- brand new ship! -- and the entire staff extremely capable and engaging, both personally and in sharing their scientific and historic knowlege.
— Review left May 22, 2024
