In the Wake of the Vikings — Self-Launched Edition: Orkney, Shetland, Faroe Islands & the Norwegian Coast
16 days · Scotland, Faroe Islands & Norway
G Adventures charges £7,350
No-markup version: ~£1,650 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched overland-and-ferry version of the North Atlantic Viking route: Edinburgh to Orkney by train and ferry, Shetland by NorthLink boat, the Faroe Islands via the Newcastle–Tórshavn crossing (or a cheap flight), then on to Norway via the Smyril Line link to Iceland/Scandinavia or a budget flight to Bergen and the famous Bergen Line to Trondheim before a final flight to Arctic Tromsø. You sleep in hostels, guesthouses and camping cabins instead of a 128-passenger expedition ship, take public buses and ferries instead of Zodiacs, and book walking tours, boat trips and museums directly. Itinerary and costs are approximate and based on 2025/26 shoulder-season budget traveller rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Edinburgh — Old Town & Viking roots
Edinburgh, Scotland
Fly or train into Edinburgh and check into a hostel near the Royal Mile (£22-30 dorm). Spend the afternoon exploring the Old Town, and visit the National Museum of Scotland (free) — its Viking-age galleries set the scene for the whole trip. Book your Orkney train ticket and ferry in advance at the station or on the ScotRail/NorthLink websites. Overnight Edinburgh.
🚌Airport bus or tram to city centre (~£5-7)
🛏Hostel dorm, central Edinburgh (£22-30)
- →Self-guided Old Town walk
- →National Museum of Scotland (free entry)
Train north and ferry to Orkney
Kirkwall, Orkney
Take the ScotRail train from Edinburgh to Thurso or Inverness via Inverness (roughly 5-7 hours, £30-55 if booked in advance). From Thurso, the NorthLink foot-passenger ferry crosses to Stromness in about 90 minutes (~£20-25). Alternatively take the train to Aberdeen and the overnight NorthLink ferry directly to Kirkwall. Local bus to Kirkwall or Stromness. Overnight in a Kirkwall hostel or guesthouse.
🚌ScotRail Edinburgh-Inverness-Thurso ~£30-55; NorthLink ferry ~£20-25; local bus ~£3
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Kirkwall/Stromness (£30-40)
- →Scenic Highland rail journey
- →NorthLink ferry crossing the Pentland Firth
Heart of Neolithic Orkney
Orkney Mainland
Catch the local X1/T11 bus to the UNESCO Heart of Neolithic Orkney sites: Skara Brae (book online, ~£10), Maeshowe chambered tomb (guided tour, ~£10, pre-book as numbers are limited), the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness (free). Join a guided walking tour of the sites via GetYourGuide or the Orkney tourist office if you want the stories told. Back in Kirkwall, visit St Magnus Cathedral (free).
🚌Local bus day ticket ~£8
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Kirkwall (£30-40)
- →Skara Brae prehistoric village
- →Maeshowe chambered tomb tour
- →Ring of Brodgar and Stenness standing stones
- →St Magnus Cathedral
Scapa Flow, wildlife and island time
Orkney
Explore independently: the Scapa Flow wartime heritage centre, coastal walks at Birsay or Yesnaby for cliff scenery and seabird colonies, and RSPB hides for puffins and seals in season. Local buses cover most routes; a self-drive day hire (from ~£45 shared) is an option if you want to reach the wilder corners. In the evening pre-book your NorthLink Orkney–Shetland sailing.
🚌Local bus ~£8; optional shared car hire
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Kirkwall (£30-40)
- →Scapa Flow heritage sites
- →Coastal wildlife walk (puffins, seals, seabirds)
- →RSPB reserves
Ferry to Shetland — Lerwick
Lerwick, Shetland
Take the NorthLink ferry from Kirkwall to Lerwick (about 6 hours, foot passenger ~£25-35 including the leg from Orkney; check the combined Orkney-Shetland pricing). Arrive in Lerwick and settle into a hostel or guesthouse. Wander the old lanes of Lerwick, the lodberries and the waterfront, and pop into the Shetland Museum and Archives (free entry) — an excellent grounding in Norse and Scottish island history.
🚌NorthLink ferry ~£25-35
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Lerwick (£30-42)
- →NorthLink ferry across the North Sea
- →Lerwick lanes and waterfront walk
- →Shetland Museum and Archives
Jarlshof, Old Scatness and Hermaness
Shetland
Take the local bus south to Jarlshof (Historic Environment Scotland, ~£8) — a remarkable multi-period site spanning Bronze Age to Viking buildings. If you can, combine with Old Scatness Broch. Public transport in Shetland is thin, so many travellers join a small-group island tour (GetYourGuide / local operators, ~£50-70) — one of the few splurges that pays off. Birders can head north towards Hermaness on Unst for gannet colonies. Optional evening of Shetland fiddle music in a Lerwick pub.
🚌Local bus ~£10; optional small-group tour ~£50-70
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Lerwick (£30-42)
- →Jarlshof Norse and prehistoric settlement
- →Old Scatness Broch
- →Optional Hermaness NNR wildlife trip
- →Traditional music evening in Lerwick
Travel to the Faroe Islands
Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
Two realistic options north. Option A (in season, May-September): the Smyril Line ferry linking Hirtshals (Denmark) to Tórshavn, or fly Loganair/Atlantic Airways from a Scottish gateway — Atlantic Airways flies to Vágar from Edinburgh seasonally; check schedules. Option B: Fly back to a UK hub and catch a direct Atlantic Airways service. On arrival, take the airport bus (Route 300) into Tórshavn (~£12). Settle into a hostel or guesthouse in the old town. Most travellers use the excellent public bus and ferry network from here on.
🚌Flight ~£120-180; airport bus ~£12
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Tórshavn (£30-45)
- →Atlantic Airways flight or Smyril Line crossing
- →Arrival in Tórshavn
- →Evening stroll in the old town (Tinganes)
Tórshavn and Kirkjubøur
Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
Explore Tórshavn on foot: Tinganes peninsula with its turf-roofed government buildings, the National Museum of the Faroe Islands (~£8), and local galleries and wool shops. Take bus 7 to Kirkjubøur to see Magnus Cathedral ruins and the 900-year-old wooden Roykstovan farmhouse. In the evening try ræst (fermented) Faroese dishes at a budget-friendly café or cook with supermarket supplies.
🚌Local bus ~£4
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Tórshavn (£30-45)
- →Tinganes old town walk
- →National Museum of the Faroes
- →Kirkjubøur Magnus Cathedral and farmhouse
Saksun, Tjørnuvík and Streymoy north
Streymoy, Faroe Islands
Take bus 201/202 from Tórshavn up the west coast of Streymoy to Saksun — the lagoon, the black sand bay and the heritage farm (small entry fee) are among the most photographed spots in the Faroes. Continue by bus or a local shuttle to Tjørnuvík for dramatic sea stacks and a walk on the black beach, where surfers sometimes ride the waves. Plan around limited rural bus timetables (check the Tórshavn bus terminal or the Strandfaraskip Landsins website).
🚌Public buses ~£10
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Tórshavn (£30-45)
- →Saksun lagoon and heritage farm
- →Tjørnuvík beach and sea stacks
- →Coastal hiking along Streymoy
Suðuroy — the southernmost island
Suðuroy, Faroe Islands
Ride the public ferry from Tórshavn to Suðuroy (about 2 hours, ~£10-12 each way, book online) and explore Vágur, the cliffs at Beinisvørð, and the hikes around the island on foot and by local bus. This replaces the expedition ship's Zodiac landing at Vágur with a genuinely public-transport version. Return to Tórshavn by late ferry, or stay a night on Suðuroy for a slower pace.
🚌Public ferry ~£22 return; local bus ~£6
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Tórshavn (£30-45)
- →Public ferry to Suðuroy
- →Vágur village and Beinisvørð cliffs
- →Coastal hiking
Faroese trails — Mykines or Vestmanna
Vágar and Streymoy, Faroe Islands
Choose your adventure: the Mykines ferry and puffin cliff walk (seasonal, book early) or a boat trip to the Vestmanna bird cliffs (roughly £50-65, bookable direct or via GetYourGuide). Otherwise, take bus 300 across the subsea tunnel to Vágar for the Trælanípa cliff and Múlafossur waterfall at Gásadalur. Pack waterproofs — Faroese weather changes fast.
🚌Bus via subsea tunnel ~£10; optional boat trip ~£50-65
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Tórshavn (£30-45)
- →Mykines puffin colony (seasonal)
- →Vestmanna bird cliffs boat trip
- →Múlafossur waterfall and Trælanípa hike
Fly to Bergen, Norway
Bergen, Norway
Fly from Vágar to Bergen with Atlantic Airways or via Copenhagen/Oslo with Norwegian or Widerøe — direct Faroe-Norway links are seasonal, so check dates and book flexibly (~£120-190). Arrive in Bergen, where the expedition ship's 'day at sea' becomes a short flight. Check into a Bergen hostel and enjoy the UNESCO waterfront at Bryggen in the evening. Note Norway is expensive: supermarket dinners and hostel kitchens are your friend.
🚌Flight ~£120-190; airport light rail ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm, Bergen (£35-50)
- →Flight from Vágar to Bergen
- →Bryggen waterfront walk
- →Fish market and harbour
Bergen fjords and wooden coast
Bergen, Norway
Do the classic Norway-in-a-day: the Norway in a Nutshell-style self-assembled route — train Bergen to Voss (~£20-25 if booked early), bus Voss to Gudvangen, then the public Nærøyfjord ferry to Flåm (~£35), and the scenic Flåm Railway back up (book separately, ~£30-45), then train to Bergen. Total roughly £90-110 self-booked rather than the marked-up package. Pre-book each leg. Alternative cheaper option: the local Bergen–Mostraumen fjord cruise (~£60) or a hike on Mount Fløyen (funicular ~£12 or walk up free).
🚌Trains and ferries ~£90-110
🛏Hostel dorm, Bergen (£35-50)
- →Nærøyfjord public ferry
- →Flåm Railway scenic train
- →Optional Mount Fløyen hike
Bergen Line to Trondheim
Trondheim, Norway
Take the Bergen Line train to Oslo and connect onward, or the quicker option: fly or take the Dovre Line to Trondheim (~£30-60 advance fare, 7-9h scenic rail). Trondheim replaces the ship's Fosnavåg/Trondheim stops as the southern-Norway highlight: Nidaros Cathedral (~£10), the old town at Bakklandet, the Kristiansten fortress, and the riverside kayaking or hiking trails in Bymarka forest reserve. Overnight near the centre.
🚌Train ~£30-60 advance
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Trondheim (£35-50)
- →Bergen Line or Dovre Line scenic rail
- →Nidaros Cathedral
- →Bakklandet old town
- →Bymarka forest trail
Fly to Tromsø — Arctic gateway
Tromsø, Norway
Fly Trondheim to Tromsø with Norwegian or Widerøe (~£60-120 if booked ahead). Check into a hostel and explore: the Arctic Cathedral, the Polar Museum (~£10), Tromsø University Museum, and the Fjellheisen cable car (~£25 return) for the view over the islands. In late-May the midnight sun means you can hike at 11pm. Book an optional whale-watching or fjord wildlife boat trip direct or via GetYourGuide for the following morning if you have time.
🚌Flight ~£60-120; local bus ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm, Tromsø (£35-50)
- →Fjellheisen cable car
- →Polar Museum
- →Arctic Cathedral
- →Midnight sun hike on Kvaløya
Departure from Tromsø
Tromsø, Norway
A final morning for a harbour walk, a visit to the Tromsø Public Library or a coffee in the old town before heading to Tromsø Airport (bus ~£4, 20 min). If you've booked an early-morning whale or fjord trip, plan flights for the afternoon. Dorm-bed budget means you can afford to linger, so consider adding a night or two in Tromsø for aurora season or summer hikes.
🚌Airport bus ~£4
🛏None (departure day)
- →Last harbour walk
- →Optional whale-watching or fjord trip
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,650 | £7,350 |
| Duration | 16 days | 16 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £5,700 per person (78%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,650
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does In the Wake of the Vikings — Self-Launched Edition: Orkney, Shetland, Faroe Islands & the Norwegian Coast cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,650 per person for 16 days in Scotland, Faroe Islands & Norway. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £7,350 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,650 — a saving of roughly £5,700 (78%) per person.
How long is the Scotland, Faroe Islands & Norway trip?+
This itinerary runs 16 days, covering 16 day-by-day stops through Scotland, Faroe Islands & Norway.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Scotland, Faroe Islands & Norway, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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