St Kilda was inhabited by humans for over 2,000 years until its evacuation in 1930. Its dramatic landscape and remote location have captivated explorers and cartographers for centuries and with one glimpse of its soaring cliffs and sea stacs it is easy to see why. Today St Kilda is cared for by the National Trust for Scotland and is the UK’s only dual UNESCO World Heritage site, noted both for its natural and cultural significance. Weather permitting, we hope to be able to sail ashore in tenders and spend some time exploring the old settlement at Village Bay before circumnavigating the archipelago with commentary from our lecturers, to learn about St Kilda’s spectacular geology and varied birdlife. Huge populations of northern gannets, great skuas and storm petrels make their home on St Kilda's cliffs and we will see these graceful birds fill the skies as we cruise.

On our second day of cruising we will call at Torshavn, capital of the Faroe Islands – the emerald collection of isles found midway between Scotland, Norway and Iceland in the warm currents of the Gulf Stream. The vibrant town of Torshavn lies on Streymoy, largest of the Faroes, and was founded over a thousand years ago by Vikings who met there to trade in the summer months. Exploring the old town we will see the traditional Faroese black-tarred houses with their turf roofs, while excursions further afield will introduce us to more of the Faroes’ natural beauty and unique culture.

After a day at sea we will cross the artic circle to arrive in the Lofoten Islands. This mountainous archipelago lies off the west coast of Norway’s mainland, where the Gulf Stream and Arctic Ocean meet. Lofoten is famed for their magnificent birdlife, particularly sea eagles which we hope to glimpse soaring above the rugged coast. We will call at the town of Leknes, where excursions will whisk us off into the surrounding wilderness to learn more about the abundant marine wildlife the islands are home to, and Lofoten's fascinating maritime history.

On arrival at Svalbard, 400 miles north of Norway’s mainland, we will call at Longyearbyen, a town nestled in the shadow of the towering peaks of Spitsbergen, the archipelago’s largest island. Longyearbyen has grown in the past hundred years from a traditional mining settlement into a thriving modern Norwegian town with a first-rate education system, and we will glimpse into contemporary life in the arctic. Berthing late into the evening with the midnight sun lighting up the ship's decks, a local lecturer will come aboard to tell us about life in the archipelago, while musicians from the town are set to share with us their traditional music.

The most northerly permanent settlement in the world is found at Ny Ålesund. Time ashore here will give us the chance to see the landscape familiar to polar explorers, arctic pioneers, pilots and adventurers. The town was once a coal mining settlement, founded in 1916, however after a disastrous explosion in 1962 the mine was forced to close. In 1926 Roald Amundsen and his team made the first crossing of the Arctic in the airship Norge, leaving Spitsbergen in mid-May and landing in Alaska several days later. Today Ny Ålesund is an international research base for climate studies and geophysics, and also home to the world’s most northerly post office. On departure from Ny Ålesund we will sail northwards to the edge of the ice floe, to experience its tranquillity and look out for arctic wildlife. We hope to spend the evening up here and have a ceilidh out on deck in the midnight sun, dancing to the music of our Scottish artistes.

Gently cruising into the Magdalena Fjord will bring us into a breathtaking landscape of ice and rock, tall alpine mountains and a glacier that stretches out into the sea. While sailing we hope to spot seals basking on floating icebergs or see some of the arctic birdlife found here. On arrival, the Captain will decide if it is safe enough to attempt a beach landing by zodiac at the Gravneset Peninsula, where the graves of former whalers lie scattered, and abandoned blubber ovens tell the story of seventeenth century hunters who made their living in this beautiful, hostile part of the world.

After leaving Svalbard’s main cluster of islands we will head south for the tip of Norway’s mainland, cruising past Bear Island, the southernmost isle of Svalbard on our way. Svalbard is famous as the land of the polar bear, and while these elusive giant creatures are rare to spot, we hope to be greeted by the largest colony of seabirds in the Atlantic as we sail past, including fulmars, kittiwakes and guillemots. Bear Island was designated as a nature reserve in 2003. Its rugged coastline is often shrouded in low fog giving it a mysterious forbidding appearance.

Our expedition continues as we reach Alta, the town at the head of the Alta Fjord, made famous by the discovery nearby of thousands of rock engravings dating from 4200 to 500BC. These UNESCO listed drawings with their depictions of wolves, elk, hunting, trapping and ritual dancing provide invaluable evidence into the lives of Norway's ancestors. Excursions here will give us the chance to explore the vibrant local Sami community as well as visit the lush Alta Canyon with its renowned salmon river.

After a day spent cruising down Norway's west coast, we will come to our final port of call, Ålesund. Voted Norway's most beautiful town by the Norwegian people in 2007, Ålesund stretches out along the Sunnmøre archipelago, in view of the regal peaks of the Sunnmøre Alps. It is the capital of Norway's rich fishing industry and is characterised by art nouveau architecture, most of which was created between 1904 and 1907 when the whole town had to be redesigned following a devastating fire. We can spend the day wandering among the fairytale turrets and spires of the Art Nouveau buildings, or climb the 418 steps to the top of Mount Aksla for spectacular panoramic views! A final day at sea will allow us to reflect on the sights we have seen and relax after an unforgettable Arctic Adventure.