Wonders of Wales & the Scottish Isles

Scotland

• Enjoy a seven-night cruise of the Scottish Isles aboard Le Laperouse
• Sample the ‘water of life’ at the Ben Nevis Distillery
• Visit the historic town of Fort William on the shores of Loch Linnhe
• Explore Portree, the colourful and charming capital of the Isle of Skye
• See the extraordinary standing stones near Stornaway on the Isle of Lewis
• Explore the capital of the Orkneys, Kirkwall
• Visit the remarkable red and gold stone Kirkwall cathedral
• Wander the narrow cobbled streets of Lerwick, capital of the Shetlands
• Visit the UNESCO Heritage site – Geopark Shetland

Wales

• Explore the exciting Welsh capital, Cardiff
• Explore the extraordinary Caerphilly Castle
• Go underground to a mine at The Big Pit National Coal Museum
• Visit the magnificent Brecon Beacon’s National Park
• Visit the lovely seaside town of Tenby
• Explore the smallest city in Britain – St Davids – located inside Pembrokeshire National Park
• Ride one of the ‘Great Little Trains of Wales – the Vale of Rheidol Railway
• Explore UNESCO Heritage listed Caernarfon Castle
• Visit the ancient walled town of Conwy
• Visit Betws-Y-Coed – home to the famous Swallow Falls
• Ride a horse-drawn canal boat on the River Dee

Inclusions

• All ground transportation
• All hotel accommodation (twin-share)
• Twin-share stateroom aboard Le Laperouse
• Travel Directors’ tour leader (land portion only)
• Expert local guides
• All entrance fees in specified sightseeing
• All tips and gratuities

Please note that whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the above pricing, currency fluctuations beyond our control can affect final costs. A booking form is to be completed by all passengers, and a non-refundable deposit of from AUD $6,000 per person paid at the time of booking. All escorted tours are based on a minimum group size of 10 people travelling.

27/05/2025 Australia – Doha

Depart from your chosen capital city on your flight to Doha.

28/05/2025 Doha – Birmingham – Cardiff (D)

Depart Doha Qatar QR 33, 08.25

Arrive Birmingham 13.25

On arrival into Birmingham we board our coach for the 2h 10m transfer to Cardiff. On arrival in the Welsh capital we transfer to our hotel in the city centre. The rest of the day is at leisure to rest or take a stroll in this welcoming and vibrant city. In the evening we enjoy a welcome dinner.

Radisson Blu Hotel

Cardiff

29/05/2025 Cardiff (BLD)

Compact, multicultural Cardiff has a wealth of cultural and historic sights and this morning we set out on foot to explore the city and surrounding areas. Our tour takes in such key landmarks as the Principality Stadium, the National Assembly of Wales and the Senedd. After lunch we visit Cardiff Castle, one of the leading heritage attractions in Wales. Located within beautiful parklands in the very heart of the city, the castle is at once a Roman fort, Norman stronghold and Victorian Gothic masterpiece, with more than 2,000 years of history concealed within its walls.

30/05/2025 Cardiff – Brecon Beacons (BLD)

Wales has 641 castles in total and today we visit the amazing Castell Coch. Given free rein by the third Marquess of Bute, architect William Burges didn’t hold back. The highly decorated interiors and rich furnishings of Castell Coch make it a dazzling masterpiece of the High Victorian era. It is regularly voted by the public as their favourite building in Wales. Continuing north we enter the Brecon Beacons National Park, a natural wonder and home to almost 300 monuments, as well as rushing waterfalls and caves. Later we learn about the historic mining culture of Wales at the ’Big Pit’ National Coal Museum, a World Heritage site. Here we enter a cage and descend 90 metres to the pit floor below, where we see the pit pony stables and hear stories from former colliery workers.

Manor Hotel

Brecon

31/05/2025 Brecon Beacons – Tenby (BLD)

The Pembrokeshire coast offers stunning beaches and bays including Tenby and Saundersfoot, and as we leave the Brecon Beacons behind, we discover these and more. We begin our scenic journey towards the coast, stopping en route at Velfrey Vineyard where we enjoy a tour and tasting of their award-winning wines. After lunch we continue on to Tenby, a lovely seaside town rich in history and culture, and renowned for its glorious beaches and fine Victorian houses.

Heywood Spa

Tenby

01/06/2025 Tenby – Aberystwyth (BLD)

Delving deeper into the Pembrokeshire National Park, we visit the smallest city in Britain – St Davids. Here we explore the wonderful cathedral which is the resting place of the patron Saint of Wales, Saint David – or Dewi Sant, as he is called in the Welsh language. Across the road from the cathedral sits the magnificent Bishop’s Palace which dates back to the 6th century and is one of the most important religious sites in Wales. Continuing north we enjoy the views along the beautiful Cardigan Bay as we head to the wonderful university town of Aberystwyth. The afternoon is at leisure to explore the town and perhaps enjoy a walk along the promenade before checking into our stately accommodation for the night – a Grade-1 listed Georgian mansion!

Nanteos Mansion

Aberystwyth

02/06/2025 Aberystwyth  (BLD)

Today we travel on one of the ‘Great Little Trains of Wales’ – the Vale of Rheidol Railway. A narrow-gauge steam locomotive takes us 19 km up the beautiful Rheidol Valley, clinging to the mountainside as we cross through lush valleys to the remarkable Devil’s Bridge. We learn the story of the three bridges and then take a leisurely walk around the waterfalls. Later we return to Aberystwyth.

03/06/2025 Aberystwyth – Caernarfon – Conwy (BLD)

This morning we leave Aberystwyth and head north to the busy market town of Caernarfon. We explore the imposing medieval castle which dominates the town and boasts eight towers, two twin-towered gateways and a well-deserved UNESCO World Heritage status. Later we cross the Menai Strait to the island of Anglesey, an area of outstanding natural beauty, where we delve deep into the past with a visit to the Iron Age and Celtic sites for which it is famous. After our visit here we continue our journey north to Conwy.

Hilton Garden Inn

Snowdonia

04/06/2025 Conwy – Betws-Y-Coed – Conwy (BLD)

Conwy is one of Europe’s finest surviving medieval towns, and this morning we explore two of its remarkable ‘houses’. Conwy Castle is Edward I’s most striking and powerful fortress, and perhaps the most impressive of all the Welsh castles. After our exploration here we visit the tiny Quay House, reputed to be the smallest house in Great Britain, at just 1.8m wide and 3.1m high. Later we drive to Betws-Y-Coed, where we walk along woodland trails to a series of waterfalls and the famous Swallow Falls. After our visit here we return to Conwy.

05/06/2025 Conwy – Llangollen – Chester (BLD)

Leaving Conwy we head east to the town of Llangollen, famous for hosting the International Eisteddfod. Another claim to fame for the town is Thomas Telford’s famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, that takes the Llangollen canal soaring above the valley of the River Dee. Here we take a horse-drawn boat ride on the canal, before leaving Wales behind and heading to England’s Roman city of Chester. Chester’s city walls are the most complete city walls in Britain, with some sections still intact from 120AD. From here we see great views of this beautiful city and the adjacent landscapes, and later visit the ruins of the Roman amphitheatre just outside the city.

Grosvenor Pulford Hotel

Chester

06/06/2025 Chester – Glasgow (BLD)

After an early breakfast we begin our road journey to Glasgow.

Voco Grand Central Hotel

Glasgow

07/06/2025 Glasgow (BLD)

In the heart of the Clyde Valley, the bustling city of Glasgow contrasts sharply with the wild beauty of the surrounding countryside. Scotland’s biggest city overflows with landmarks from its extensive artistic heritage and outstanding architectural tradition. The city’s chequerboard layout makes walking through the pedestrian thoroughfares easy. Today we enjoy a tour of the city, and late afternoon we board our ship Le Laperouse, setting sail at 7.30pm.

08/06/2025 Loch Linnhe – Fort William (BLD)

Loch Linnhe is located in the Scottish Highlands, stretching between the Isle of Mull and Fort William. We sail through these picturesque landscapes of magnificent mountains and valleys that surround the loch, including the famous Ben Nevis. Later we arrive at Fort William, sitting on the eastern shore of the loch at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the British Isles. Disembarking, we visit the Old Fort and Old Inverlochy Castle, before enjoying a tour and tasting at the Ben Nevis Distillery. After our visit here we re-board our ship and set sail late afternoon.

09/06/2025 Portree, Isle of Skye (BLD)

Early this morning we arrive at Portree, nestling in the crux of a gorgeous bay on the Isle of Skye. The Isle of Skye is famed for its rustic beauty and the town of Portree, the capital of the island is no rarity. Formerly a fishing village, Portree is noted for its whitewashed houses and colourful harbour buildings, surrounded by beautiful rolling hills. This is one of the best villages to visit in Scotland and today we step ashore to explore. In the evening we leave Portree and continue our journey north to the Outer Hebrides.

10/06/2025 Hebrides: Isle of Lewis: Stornoway (BLD)

The Isle of Lewis is the largest island in the Hebrides and considered to be the cradle of Gaelic culture. Here, the peat- and heather-covered valleys and lochs stretch on to infinity, and numerous bird colonies populate the long, jagged coastlines. Stornoway is the main town on the Isle of Lewis with just over 6,000 people – about a third of the Island’s population – living here. Not far from Stornaway stands one of Scotland’s most prominent prehistoric sites – the Stone Age ‘Callanish’, the primordial configuration of standing stones. These imposing stones, placed in a cruciform pattern, were laid out according to the moon and stars, and their main purpose was to keep track of seasonal cycles which was essential for farmers in prehistoric times.

11/06/2025 Orkney Islands: Kirkwall (BLD)

The capital of the Orkney archipelago, Kirkwall, is sheltered in a wide bay.  The lively town welcomes the visitor with its charming paved alleyways edged with old houses and craft shops. We explore the town, including Tankerness House, the oldest homestead and a must-see landmark. But the true architectural treasure of the aptly-named Kirkwall, is none other than its remarkable red and gold stone cathedral, After our visit to the cathedral we immerse ourselves in an inseparable part of Scotland’s identity, with a stop at the Highland Park Distillery, for an instructive insight in the distilling of single malt whisky. In the evening we leave the Orkneys, bound for the Shetland Islands.

12/06/2025 Shetland Islands: Lerwick (BLD)

Lerwick is the small and charming capital of the Shetland Islands and today we wander the cobblestone streets of the town and waterfront. We also visit Geopark Shetland, a UNESCO World Heritage site, located to the north. Incredibly well-preserved archaeological sites and ruins prove that the island’s occupation dates back to the first Neolithic colonies. The Shetland Museum and Archives recounts the Shetlands’ history of heritage and culture. In the evening we set sail on the final leg of our Scottish Islands cruise.

 13/06/2025 At Sea (BLD)

During our journey at sea, there is plenty to enjoy, whether you prefer to sit back, relax, and take advantage of the ship’s amenities, or perhaps visit the ship’s upper deck to breathe in the sea air, watch the waves, and perhaps hopefully spot some of the marine species.

14/06/2025 Rosyth, Edinburgh (BLD)

Early this morning we arrive into Rosyth and disembark. On arrival in Edinburgh we enjoy a city tour. Among the highlights of Scotland’s grand capital are Edinburgh Castle, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which sit at either end of the fabulous Royal Mile. We enjoy a stroll down the Royal Mile soaking up the atmosphere and, perhaps, stopping to taste one of Scotland’s greatest contributions to world civilisation – shortbread! If your palate leans towards something stronger, there are many pubs where you can taste a range of famous Scottish single malt whiskies.

Apex Waterloo Place Hotel

Edinburgh

15/06/2025 Edinburgh (BLD)

Today we continue to savour the atmosphere of one of the most beautiful cities in Great Britain. In the evening we enjoy a farewell dinner at the end of our momentous tour!

16/06/2025 Edinburgh – Doha  (B)

After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our flight to Doha.

Depart Edinburgh Qatar QR 30, 14.45

Arrive Doha 23.40

17/06/2025 Doha – Australia

On arrival in Doha connect with the flight to your chosen Australian capital.

If I travel alone, do I have to pay the single supplement?

If you wish to have sole use of a hotel room on the tour, you will need to pay the single supplement. If you are travelling alone but willing to share a room, we will endeavour to match you up with another solo traveller of the same gender. We cannot guarantee that a share-match can be provided, and in the event that this cannot be arranged at the time of final payment, you will need to pay the single supplement.

How long is the flight from Australia to Cardiff?

Flying time to Doha is between 11 and 14.5 hours, depending on your Australian capital city of departure. Flight time from Doha to Birmingham is 7 hours 45 minutes. The road transfer from Birmingham to Cardiff is approximately 2 hours 10 minutes.

What are the average temperatures at this time of year?

The temperature varies along the route. In Wales, temperatures during the day can get up to 18 – 20C. In the Scottish Isles it is considerably cooler with a temperature range of around 10 to 13C.

What is the best currency to take on this journey?

The best currency is GBP, in small denominations. i.e.  50s, 20s, 10s.

How much spending money do I need for the entire trip?

Because almost everything is included, we would suggest an amount of £900 per person as being ample for the whole journey.

Are credit cards acceptable?

Credit cards are widely accepted throughout the journey and ATMs are available in the main towns and cities. However it is not recommended to rely on these as your main source of funds. The ship accepts credit cards and cash in GBP and Euros.

Do I need vaccinations for this journey?

There are no compulsory vaccinations for this tour. We recommend that your Tetanus vaccination is up to date. Please consult your doctor for further advice on vaccinations.

Can I extend my stay in Edinburgh at the end of the tour?

Yes, it is possible to stay on in Edinburgh after the group departs – or have additional days in Cardiff at the beginning of the tour. Our consultants will be happy to make the arrangements for you. If you wish to take up this option, all arrangements must be confirmed before leaving Australia.

Do I need any visas for this tour?

No, visas are not required on this tour.

A lot of companies have many expensive optional extras on their tours. Do you?

We don’t believe in a lot of expensive ‘optional tours’. Our itineraries are designed to make the best possible use of time and to include all the must-see sights, plus additional surprises. Therefore, practically everything is included in the tour cost.

Is the water safe to drink en route and what is the general standard of hygiene?

The standard of hygiene is high along the entire route and tap water is of a high quality and perfectly safe to drink.

What is the standard of the hotels?

The hotels are generally 4-star quality, comfortable, clean and all with en-suites.

Are there internet facilities en route?

Most of the hotels we use have internet facilities.

Do mobile telephones work?

Telstra and Optus mobiles work throughout the entire journey. You will need to ensure you have global roaming. Contact your service provider for further details. Or you can download apps for your phone such as WhatsApp and Viber.

How much should we tip the guides and porters?

There is no need to tip guides or porters as all tips and gratuities are included in the tour cost. Tipping aboard Polar Pioneer is also included.