Travel-Learn Program
British Isles & Norwegian Fjords
When: August 14, 2013, 2:12 pm - August 27, 2013, 2:12 pm (iCal)
Description
From royal castles and Georgian mansions to rugged highlands and stunning fjords, join us as we take in some of Northern Europe’s most picturesque cities and landscapes. We will depart England for Edinburgh, home to Edinburgh Castle, and experience the rugged beauty of Scotland from the ports of Invergordon and Lerwick; one rich in naval history and a gateway to the Highlands, the other the capital of the Shetland Islands. Together, we will sail on to Norway and visit Alesund, a town known for its Art Nouveau architecture, then Geiranger, nestled at the tip of the Geirangerfjord, “the most beautiful fjord in the world,” and Hellesylt, Norway’s oldest Viking port. Our cruise will take us to Belfast, Northern Ireland to see its Victorian architecture, and Dublin, Ireland where the 18th century meets cosmopolitan flair. We then travel to cheerful Cork, and Portland, the heart of England’s Jurassic Coast, before concluding our voyage at the port of Southampton, England. An optional London pre-cruise extension is available.
Activity Level: Shore excursions are moderately active.
Cost
Price From: $4,999 (if booked by March 12, 2013)
Includes land and air, per person, based on double occupancy.
To avoid the disappointment of a sold out program, Register Now!
Contact
Usha Nand Sellers Ed. D., Director Tufts Travel-Learn Program, at usha.sellers@tufts.edu or 617-627-5323.
Itinerary
At each port of call, travelers may explore on their own, or select optional excursions as described below, available for an additional cost.
Day 1 – Depart for England
Day 2 – Arrive in London, England and transfer to Nautica at Southampton.
Day 3 – At Sea
Day 4 – Edinburgh (Rosyth), Scotland
Perched atop the craggy Castle Rock and crowning the city is Edinburgh Castle, Scotland’s prize of history and beauty. The dignified capital’s finer details lie in its trove of brick-paved streets, intimate squares and maze-like alleyways along the Royal Mile, the main thoroughfare of the medieval Old Town. Optional excursions include: City of Edinburgh, Braveheart Country & Stirling Castle, Scone Palace, Crowning Place of Scottish Kings
Day 5 – Invergordon, Scotland
Celebrated for its rich naval history, Invergordon is a gateway to northern Scotland, or the Highlands—recognized as one of Europe’s most stunning landscapes. Draped with soaring forested mountains and dotted with local clan castles, this breathtaking region never fails to amaze. Optional excursions include: Highland Castle & Loch Ness, Dunrobin Castle, A taste of Scotland - Glenmorangie
Day 6 – Lerwick (Shetland Islands), Scotland
The Shetland Islands offer a striking snapshot of rugged moors, lush valleys, flower-filled meadows and romping Shetland ponies. Lerwick, the island’s capital, was founded by Dutch fisherman in the 17th century and today is a cosmopolitan seaport. Nearby, the village of Scalloway and its ruined castle beckons, as does fascinating Jarlshof, a prehistoric site. Optional excursions include: Lerwick Walking Tour & Fort Charlotte, Jarlshof & Scenic Mainland Drive, Mousa Island Discovery, Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle
Day 7 – Alesund, Norway
As Norway’s largest fish-exporting harbor and, ironically, built on a narrow fish-hook shaped peninsula, Alesund boasts beauty and distinction alike. Destroyed by fire in 1904 and quickly rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style, its winding streets, gargoyle-clad buildings and romantic turrets are entrenched in the mystery of Nordic mythology. Optional excursions include: Alesund & the Sunnmore Museum, The Saga Islands of Giske & Godoy
Day 8 – Geiranger (Geirangerfjord), Norway and Hellesylt, Norway
Geiranger is a quaint village situated in a small valley at the inland tip of Geirangerfjord, which is unabashedly called “the most beautiful fjord in the world.” Its snow-capped mountains rise from the sapphire waters below, and leafy forests blanket the surrounding hillsides.
Hellesylt, Norway’s oldest Viking port, is nestled deep in the majestic fjord country, at the head of the scenic Sunnylvsfjord and edged by steep, jagged cliffs, pristine lakes and verdant forests—a scene so dramatic it inspired Henrik Ibsen’s early play “Brand.” Optional excursions in Geiranger include: Majestic Mount Dalsnibba & Djupvasshytta Lodge
Day 9 – At Sea
Day 10 – Belfast, Northern Ireland
As birthplace of the Titanic and the only city in Ireland to have fully experienced the impact of the Industrial Revolution, Belfast today is polished and refined. Ornate Victorian and Edwardian architecture complement historic pubs and gracious gardens, which reside in the city’s characterful districts. Optional excursions include: A Leisurely Drive Through Beautiful Belfast, Ards Peninsula & Grey Abbey, Mount Stewart House & Gardens, Spectacular Giants Causeway
Day 11 – Dublin, Ireland
Cosmopolitan Dublin is not only the largest city in Ireland; it’s the Celtic nation’s capital as well. The city packs character and wonder into its neatly-lined rows of Georgian buildings, gleaming edifices, charming cobblestone streets, Victorian pubs and the stately buildings of the famed Trinity College. Optional excursions include: Dublin Highlights, Art & Antiques of Dublin, A Walk Through Dublin’s Fair City, Powerscourt Gardens & Shopping
Day 12 – Cork (Cobh), Ireland
Cheerful, vivacious and artistic, Cork claims a spirited energy that confidently rivals Dublin. Sprawled about the River Lee and intertwined by bridges, the city center is paved with 17th-century alleys leading to ultramodern works of art and culture, like St. Anne’s Church and the Old City Gaol. Optional excursions include: A Walk Through Cork, Cork’s Countryside & Kinsale, Lakemount Gardens & Jameson Distillery, Panoramic Cork & Blarney Castle
Day 13 – Portland, England
Straddled by the pebbled Chesil Beach and situated in the heart of England’s dramatic Jurassic Coast, is the “isle” of Portland with its cliffs, rare plants and wealth of wildlife. More than a setting of unparalleled natural beauty, it is also a gateway to the lovely Dorset countryside. Optional excursions include: Corfe Castle & Scenic Drive, Abbotsbury Swannery & Sub Tropical Gardens, Athelhampton House
Day 14 – London, (Southampton) England
Disembark Nautica and transfer to the airport for your return home.
*Price and Itinerary are tentative and subject to change
617-627-5323|usha.sellers@tufts.edu
