Discover ancient sites, salt-bright shores and precious, abundant wildlife.
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Everything Orkney!
Skara Brae, Orkney
Hello,
Our new Orkney Islands tour has landed!
With ancient stone circles, puffins and island stories galore on the itinerary, it’s a fresh way to explore this archipelago off Scotland’s northern edge.
If you’ve heard of Orkney, it’s probably because of its extraordinary prehistoric sites - and rightly so. But we think the real magic of these islands lies in the way those storied stones sit side by side with seabird cliffs, Viking traces and everyday island life.
Our brand-new tour is about getting to know Orkney beyond the usual checklist of UNESCO sites, though of course we visit those too – the islands are home to the greatest concentration of Neolithic sites in Europe, after all – and spending time soaking up the atmosphere of this remarkable place.
On this 6-day small-group tour, you’ll explore the UNESCO Heart of Neolithic Orkney, hear the wartime stories of Scapa Flow and, depending on when you travel, either look for puffins on Westray or enjoy the gentler wildlife of Shapinsay with a local guide.
Discover the Orkney Islands tour itinerary
We can’t wait to show you Orkney beyond the obvious.
Yours,
Rob
Rob Knipe
Chairman, Emeritus Professor and Tour Guide
Featured tours
From the misty Highlands and the white-sand-ringed isles of the Outer Hebrides and Shetland to Edinburgh’s volcanic hills and the Cairngorms' royal roots, our Scotland tours blend science, story and scenery. Choose from 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 day tours.
📅 Throughout 2026
Discover Orkney’s Neolithic wonders, Viking heritage, seabirds and wildlife on this thoughtfully-paced small-group journey rich in local stories, island landscapes and warm Orcadian hospitality. 6 days.
📅 Jul, Sep, Aug 2026
Stories to inspire your next journey
Beyond Skara Brae: why Orkney’s wildlife is worth travelling for
People come from far and wide to see Orkney’s famous stone circles, chambered cairns and 5,000-year-old villages – but its wildlife is just as worth travelling for. We talked to Megan, a local Orcadian naturalist who guides our guests on the wildlife-rich islands on Westray and Shapinsay, about what you can expect from an Orkney wildlife trip.
3 curious things for inquisitive travellers
🦭 When to visit Orkney for wildlife
Orkney is a great place to visit in every season – but you can't beat summer and early autumn for wildlife. This blog helps you decide when to go, based on the weather and the sort of wildlife you want to see. Puffins or migrant birds? Grey seals or harbour seals? Summer 'crowds' (not that Orkney ever feels too crowded) or the tranquility of early autumn? Decisions decisions!
🏰 Top tips for visiting historic houses and stately homes
To the untrained eye, a stately home can look like an easy half-day out: tour a few rooms, grab a coffee, take a photo, move on. In reality, these places run on timed slots, seasonal access and local logistics. Pick up some tips on how to make your day a grand success.
🧑🤝🧑 Making friends on a small-group trip
We believe the right small-group tour is a great place to make new friends. Maybe it's the relaxed environment and the familiar faces. Or it could be the sense of camaraderie. Perhaps it's just the likelihood of finding out you have shared interests. Whatever it is, a small-group tour is undoubtedly one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to meet like-minded people.
A word from our guests
“Mandy was an absolutely excellent tour guide, very knowledgeable and friendly and we got on very well. She did a huge amount of work to rearrange the days as needed (e.g when the boat trip needed to be rearranged because of the weather), and to cater for our interests."
– Shetland holidays | Kathryn and David S, Sept 2025
Why travel with GeoCultura?
We take you beyond the landscape. Uncover the stories behind the view on our expert-led, small-group tours. We do private and bespoke tours, too.
💬 Ready to chat? Get in touch.
