Our Orkney holidays & tours
Can you hear adventure calling? Our Orkney holidays call you up to spot puffins and prehistoric ruins, taste whisky and spot seals, all whilst knowing that your trip is benefitting the people and nature who call the islands home. Just 18 islands in the archipelago of 70 are inhabited; this is a wild and wonderful place, far enough north that the sun might shine for up to 18 hours in a day (and then again, it might not). Rain or shine, your spirits won’t be dampened when you’re visiting historic distilleries, trying local shellfish, meeting small-scale producers, and getting to know the islands, one story at a time. Combine Orkney with the Shetland Islands for a North Sea odyssey.
Our top Orkney holidays
Orkney Islands short break in Scotland
From
£1309 to £1475
5 days
ex flights
Explore Scotland's Orkney Islands
Small group2026: 29 Sep, 6 Oct
Orkney Isles walking holiday, small group
From
£2945 to £3108
7 days
ex flights
Discover the Orkney Islands on this wilderness walking trip
Small group2026: 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 2027: 3 Apr, 17 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 29 May, 19 Jun, 25 Jul, 6 Aug, 31 Aug, 11 Sep, 25 Sep, 9 Oct, 16 Oct
Orkney Islands walking holiday
From
£2529
8 days
inc UK flights
Rugged and remote islands with a fascinating history
Small group2027: 1 May, 26 Jun, 24 Jul, 28 Aug
Walking Scotland’s Orkney Islands holiday
From
£2395
7 days
ex flights
Orkney walking holiday in Scotland
Small group2027: 22 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 26 Jun, 17 Jul, 31 Jul, 14 Aug, 28 Aug, 11 Sep
Orkney & Shetland self drive holiday, Scotland
From
£1085 to £1195
7 days
ex flights
Self-drive island-hopping through the Northern Isles
Tailor made
Rail tour in North Highlands & Orkney
From
£2925 to £2995
7 days
ex flights
Scotland’s geographic extremities & ancient history by train
Small group2027: 25 Apr, 23 May, 5 Sep, 3 Oct
Small group2027: 26 Feb, 5 Mar, 12 Mar, 19 Mar
Orkney, Fair Isle & Shetland sailing holiday
From
€2339
11 days
ex flights
Hands on sailing to Scotland’s most remote islands
Small group2027: 8 Jun
Orkney and West of Scotland cruise, coastal odyssey
From
£5460
10 days
ex flights
Scenic Orkney and West of Scotland cruise
Small group2027: 10 Jul, 21 Aug
See all our Orkney holidaysContact Us
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Orkney map & highlights
The largest of the 70 islands that make up Orkney is called The Mainland, which has the archipelago’s largest towns: Kirkwall the capital, and Stromness, a gorgeous 18th century coastal town. Emanating from these hubs are ancient Neolithic sites protected by UNESCO; wild and dramatic coastlines such as on the islands of Hoy or Westray, the southern islands that are linked by causeways built by prisoners of war during WW2; and some of the most remote and uplifting walking terrain you could hope for. There are 13 RSPB Bird Reserves, three distilleries and a handful of craft brewers – so something for everyone, then.
Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO site
1. Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO site
The first of these four magnificent Neolithic sites is Skara Brae, considered one of Europe’s finest Stone Age villages, and only discovered in 1850 after a storm blew the sand dunes and turf away. Maes Howe is an chambered tomb and cairn, and there are two ceremonial standing stone circles: the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar, all capturing 5,000 years of Orcadian life.
Hoy
2. Hoy
Probably the wildest of the islands, and most elevated, it’s most famous for giant 137m sea stack, and climbers’ favourite, Old Man of Hoy. However, Hoy is heaven for walkers and bird watchers too, with mountainous moorland rising to a peak at 481m on Ward Hill. St John’s Head is also the highest vertical cliff in UK and visible on boat trips around the island. A glorious, stratified red sandstone sight.
Kirkwall
3. Kirkwall
On The Mainland, the name for the archipelago’s main island, Kirkwall is Orkney’s capital, and port of arrival in many cases. It was once a Viking hub, as you can see at 11th-century St Magnus Cathedral, the most northerly cathedral in UK. Historians will also enjoy the Orkney Museum and Wireless Museum but for an historic and contemporary flavour of Orkney, the town’s Highland Park Distillery is a must.
Southern Isles
4. Southern Isles
Burray, Glimps Holm, Lamb Holm and South Ronaldsay Islands are adjoined by causeways to The Mainland. Uninhabited Lamb Holm is the site of a gorgeous Chapel built during WW2 by Italian prisoners of war. They also built the causeways, known as Churchill Barriers, as important naval defences. The largest island is South Ronaldsay, with a population of 900, mostly around the pretty town of St Margaret's Hope.
Stromness
5. Stromness
This elegant 18th century port town grew up around shipbuilding and the boom in explorers and merchants heading to the Americas. Hudson Bay Trading Co. recruited big time here, taking local men to remote communities. Many married Cree Indian women and then returned; there is still Cree ancestry here today. It was also base for thousands of service people during WW2. Today it’s a hub of arts and music.
Westray
6. Westray
A dramatic island for walkers, this northern island has a smaller one close to it called Papa Westray, or Papay. A 90-minute ferry journey from Kirkwall takes you to this wonderful wild island, where highlights include a walk to the western cliffs and Noup Head lighthouse, the medieval Noltland Castle, superb bird watching for Peregrine falcons and many more, as well as endless photographic opportunities.
Our Orkney holidays reviews
4.8
51Orkney holidays reviews
Maya Ohira01 Sep 2026
Getting to know with other participants and circular walk of the lake were the highlights of the trip.
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Nina Whitten24 Aug 2026
Brilliant, amazing. Our guide Mike was brilliant, knowledgeable, great suggestions, and even though we packed a lot in, we never felt rushed or that we didn't have the time.read more
Ro Lynam30 Jun 2026
A great holiday, with an excellent balance of archeology, history, culture, wildlife and landscape. Overnight ferries meant that we maximised our days on the islands.
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