staffa tours puffins

Exploring the Island of Staffa & Seeing the Puffins

The Isle of Staffa is one of Scotland’s most unique places to explore. The island is completely uninhabited by humans, meaning the natural environment of Staffa has flourished without interruption for as long as it has existed!

Before we delve into how and when to see Staffa’s famous Puffin population, we’ll provide an overview of the island with some lesser-known pieces of information to help prepare you for your visit the best we can.

Wildlife in Staffa

Famous for its wildlife, the Isle of Staffa hosts a wealth of fascinating species, all living life in their natural habitat. You’ve likely clicked on this article to discover more about their puffin population, but did you know you can also see the following animals on your visit:

• Crustaceans
• Bottlenose Dolphins
• Basking Sharks
• Minke Whales

The Isle of Staffa is truly a wildlife lover’s dream destination. There aren’t many places where you can experience some of the most interesting creatures found in Scotland, up close, without restriction, and in abundance.

There are various highly rated and affordable tours of Staffa, all of which will focus heavily on the wildlife of Staffa. If you choose a tour, you’ll be guided around Staffa by highly knowledgeable experts, ensuring you get the most out of your time there.

We’ll discuss these tours more in detail later in the article.

Geological Formations & Fingal’s Cave

Although the Isle of Staffa is known for its incredible wildlife, there’s another element of the island that attracts 1000s of visitors each year – its unique geological formations and the historic Fingal’s Cave.

The Isle of Staffa is home to unique geological formations, including basalt cliffs and sea stacks. These mesmerising natural structures can be found all across the island and are the result of a volcanic eruption that formed the island an estimated 59 million years ago.

However, one of the most notable features of the Isle of Staffa is Fingal’s Cave – a natural wonder that’s acted as one of the primary reasons to visit the island.

Since its discovery in 1772 by Sir Joseph Banks, a botanist and naturalist, the cave has been draped in history. Back in the day, many believed the cave to be connected to the famous Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. The reason for its connection? So the two giants – Finn McCool and Benandonner – could battle each other.

Puffins on Staffa

If you are planning a visit to the Isle of Staffa, you’ll likely know of the unique opportunity to see the beautiful puffins in their natural habitat.

Below, we’ll provide some helpful information on Staffa and their puffins.

What are Puffins?

In case you haven’t heard of Staffa’s puffins and are unsure about what type of animal puffins are, we’re here to help!

Puffins, also known as sea parrots, are small seabirds that belong to the auk family . They’re easily recognised by their brightly coloured beaks and their well-known black and white coats.

These charming birds are excellent swimmers and divers, using their wings to “fly” underwater to catch their favourite meal of small fishes, including herring, hake, capelin, and more.

The puffin population on Staffa is part of a larger colony that breeds on the nearby Treshnish Isles . During the breeding season, which typically runs from April to late July , thousands of puffins flock to the shores to mate, lay eggs, and raise their young.

Where are Puffins Found on Staffa?

When you arrive on Staffa’s shores, you’ll be met with a set of stairs. We recommend getting to the front of the queue before going ashore, as these stairs can get very busy during the high season.

Once you’ve climbed the introductory flight of stairs, you’ll want to walk northeast to see the puffins. In case you’ve forgotten your compass, the island kindly provides a path, taking you anticlockwise around the island. Simply follow the path until you see the pink buoy which signals you’ve reached the area for the puffins.

It’s worth noting that when visiting the puffins, they might not be ashore which can be the downside to seeing them in their natural habitat. The experts at Staffa Trips say that the best time to see the puffins is throughout the months of April, May, June, and July. They also say that they can be seen in the air on most trips, but if you wish to see them ashore, you’re best to visit the island from late April onwards; however, this does come with some patience and luck!

How to Get to Staffa

Now we have an overview of the island and a guide on how to see the famous puffins, how do you get to Staffa? To help as many people as we can, we’ll discuss the ways in which you can reach Staffa from Oban, Mull, and Iona.

Getting to Staffa From Oban

If you’re travelling to Staffa from somewhere on the Scottish mainland, such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Aberdeen, you’ll be departing from our beautiful coastal town, Oban .

Known as the ‘The Gateway to the Isles’, Oban is the stopping point for many visitors travelling to the islands.

If you’re travelling from Oban , our luxury, boutique hotel is the perfect place to make the most out of your time here. We’re dog-friendly , so if you’re travelling with your four-legged friend, we’re the best place to stay!

To reach Staffa from Oban, you’ll board the Calmac ferry to Mull’s port village of Craignure. From here, you can take a boat to Staffa from Fionnphort or Tobermory.

We recommend choosing Staffa Tours or Tarus Mara if you’re travelling from Oban. They’ll organise every aspect of your journey, from your ferry to Craignure, your bus to Fionnphort, and the boat to Staffa. Opting for a tour guide will also provide you with valuable knowledge and expertise offered by their team.

Getting to Staffa From Mull

If you find yourself in Mull , Staffa Tours can take you to the island from both Fionnphort and the capital of Mull, Tobermory. The burgh of Tobermory is famous for its colourful buildings, great food and drink, and for being home to the much-loved children’s TV show, Balamory .

Explore Staffa Tour’s website to find out when boats are scheduled to depart from each of these ports.

Alternatively, you can depart from the Ulva Ferry port , near Oskamull, with Tarus Mara.

Getting to Staffa From Iona

You also have the option to get a boat from Iona to Staffa. This is a fantastic route, especially if you have time to spend time on the gorgeous island of Iona (read our complete guide to Iona by clicking here) .

There are two tour companies that offer boats from Iona – Staffa Tours and Staffa Trips . Schedules will often change, so we recommend visiting their website directly to help plan your trip.

We hope the above information helps you with planning your trip to Staffa. We highly recommend taking the day to visit the beautiful island and experience the natural beauty– it’ll be a truly memorable experience.

If you’re travelling from the mainland, don’t forget what our town of Oban can offer. There’s plenty to explore here, so why not make room in your itinerary and spend a few days discovering our incredible restaurants and bars , historic landmarks , and eye-opening walking trails .

While here, you can treat yourself to a luxury stay in our hotel. If you’re interested, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our team – we’ll be more than happy to answer any question you may have.

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Staffa Trips

Visit staffa, fingal's cave and iona.

Visit Staffa with Staffa Trips

Over the years, we've shared this special place - and our knowledge of it - with tens of thousands of people. Whether you're interested in geology or seabirds, or if you just fancy being out on the water for a few hours, we look forward to welcoming you aboard and hope you'll enjoy the trip.

The Isle of Staffa – off the west coast of Scotland – is a beautiful uninhabited island, famous for its dramatic basalt columns, sea caves and bird life. Over the years it has captivated thousands of people including Johnson & Boswell, Queen Victoria, Robert Louis Stevenson, Walter Scott, Jules Verne and Joseph Banks. Fingal’s Cave is always splendid and atmospheric with its basalt columns formed during a period of volcanic activity 59 million years ago. Puffins can be seen ashore in season as well as shags, oystercatchers and black guillemots. We often see guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes, shearwaters gannets, great skuas and other birds from the boat. If you’re lucky, you might see a passing otter, porpoise, dolphin, basking shark or whale! The trip lasts approximately three hours and you can disembark at Fionnphort or Iona. Staffa Trips leave Iona and Fionnphort twice daily (1st April-late October) and we aim to give you at least 1 hour ashore.

Prices: £40 Adult, £20 Child (5-15). Under 5’s free. Please note: All trips and landings are subject to suitable weather and sea conditions.

We’ll do our best to make your trip as safe and enjoyable as possible.

• Geology Staffa was formed during a period of intense volcanic activity some 59 million years ago. Slow cooling of basaltic lava cause the resulting rock to have a polygonal joint pattern. Most of the columns are 5 or 6 sided and free standing.

• Seabirds The area in which we operate is home to a wide variety of seabirds including Cormorants, Shags, Guillemots, Razorbills, and Shearwaters. Puffins nest on Staffa each year, arriving in early April and leaving again at the end of July. They can often be seen ashore at close quarters during May, June and July.

• Marine Life The water around Staffa is home to a wide variety of marine life and we see common seals on most trips. Porpoises and Dolphins are seen fairly regularly, while Minke Whales and Basking Sharks visit when the water is warmest in June, July and August.

• Our Boat Staffa Trips’ boat, Iolaire of Iona is a beautiful wooden boat, purpose built to take visitors to Staffa. She’s constructed from larch planks on an oak frame in the carvel style and powered by two diesel engines. She’s lifted out of the water each winter and inspected twice yearly by the MCA.

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The Isle of Staffa – off the west coast of Scotland – is a beautiful uninhabited island, famous for its dramatic basalt columns, sea caves and bird life. Over the years it has captivated thousands of people including Johnson & Boswell, Queen Victoria, Robert Louis Stevenson, Walter Scott, Jules Verne and Joseph Banks. Fingal’s Cave is always splendid and atmospheric with its basalt columns formed during a period of volcanic activity 59 million years ago.

Puffins can be seen ashore in season as well as shags, oystercatchers and black guillemots. We often see guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes, shearwaters gannets, great skuas and other birds from the boat. If you’re lucky, you might see a passing otter, porpoise, dolphin, basking shark or whale! The trip lasts approximately three hours and you can disembark at Fionnphort or Iona. Staffa Trips leave Iona and Fionnphort twice daily (1st April-late October) and we aim to give you at least 1 hour ashore.

Prices: £40 Adult £20 Child (5-15) Under 5’s free. Please note: All trips and landings are subject to suitable weather and sea conditions.

DID YOU KNOW THAT WE OFFER GIFT VOUCHERS? They make a great gift and a brilliant way to plan for a future trip!

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Staffa Tour from Iona or Fionnphort

Tour details.

• £40 per adult
• Departs: Iona, Fionnphort

Take a tour to the most dramatic of all the Scottish islands: The Isle Of Staffa, with its hexagonal pillars and Fingal’s Cave. On the way to Staffa keep an eye out for dolphins, porpoises and minke whales which are often seen during the warmer months.

The approach to Staffa by sea is breathtaking, with great basalt columns flanking the deep caves which have inspired so much praise. Since all the caves face south-east (with the exception of Clamshell which faces due east) they are best seen by morning light.

If you are fortunate with weather conditions you will be able to land and explore the natural wonders of Fingal’s Cave or Clamshell Cave where the columns are intricately curved and distorted.

On the way to Staffa keep an eye out for dolphins, porpoises and minke whales which are often seen during the warmer months. 

A large colony of puffins breed on Staffa every summer and are always a firm favourite with visitors who can see them congregate on the cliffs, diving into the water then return with a beakful of fish. The best time to see the puffins is during the breeding season between the start of May and the start of August when the birds have their distinctive colourful beaks. The puffins are very tolerant of people and it’s possible to get very close to them, making for some great photo opportunities.

2.5 hours. 1 hour ashore on Staffa

Please note: It is possible to join the tour at Fionnphort and return to Iona to explore at your leisure.

On all our tours you will always be accompanied by a local and knowledgeable crew to guide your experience.

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How To Get to Staffa To See Puffins

Categories Scotland , Scottish Islands

Wild, windswept, and wonderful – Staffa is one of the most delightful Scottish Islands I’ve visited. If you’re wondering how to get to Staffa to see the puffins that nest there – it’s a lot easier than you think. In this guide, I’m sharing the history of the island, my tips for visiting, and how to see the puffins on Staffa.

Table of Contents

Welcome to one of the wildest islands off Scotland’s coast! Home to comical puffins, otherworldly rock formations, and mysterious sea caves, the trip to Staffa is worth the journey.

This tiny island is only 1/2 a mile long, and 1/4 mile wide, and you can easily explore it in just a couple of hours. There’s something I love about small, wild islands; maybe it’s because they can be explored easily, or because when you’re on a tiny remote island it forces you to slow down.

Whatever the reason, there is something magical about Staffa and I encourage you to visit the ‘pillar island’.

I visited Staffa while on my 3-Day tour to Mull and Iona with Rabbies . The trip to Staffa was optional, but how could I pass up seeing puffins and the legendary Fingal’s Cave ?

How to get to Staffa

Staffa is located off the west coast of Scotland, tangled between many Scottish islands . It lies in the North Atlantic sea around 7 miles off the west coast of Mull and 6 miles north of Iona .

Staffa is a popular island to visit for anyone visiting Mull and to get to Staffa you often have to go via Mull.

Staffa, with Fingal’s Cave to the right of the photo

In fact, you can easily have an island-hopping adventure and visit Mull , Iona , Ulva , the Treshnish Isles , and Staffa , because all the islands are located closely together.

There are several boat tours that depart from different destinations to reach Staffa.

Map of Staffa and surrounding islands

How to reach Staffa from Mull

Staffa Trips , Staffa Tours and Turus Mara all provide tours from the Isle of Mull to Staffa . 

• Staffa Trips departs from Fionnphort (£40 adult return).
• Staffa Tours departs from Tobermory (from £85 adult return) or Fionnphort (£40 adult return).
• Turus Mara departs from Oskamull (the ferry port to Ulva ) and costs £40 return per adult.

You can book your tickets on their websites.

How to get to Staffa from Iona

You can also catch a ferry from the island of Iona to Staffa . This is a popular option for anyone who wants to also explore Iona, before the journey to Staffa. 

• Staffa Trips and Staffa Tours are the two main companies that offer tours departing from Iona. Both cost £40 for one adult return.

How to get to Staffa from Edinburgh or Glasgow

The best way to get to Staffa from Edinburgh or Glasgow is by driving to Oban and catching the CalMac ferry across to Mull and catching a ferry tour from there. Or you can do what I did and book a guided tour that departs from one of these cities.

I highly recommend Rabbies . I did the 3-day tour to Mull and Iona departing from Glasgow. Staffa was an option to add, and I had to pay for my ferry ticket with Staffa Trips additionally, which cost £40.

The Mull, Iona and Staffa tour with Rabbies

What I love about this tour with Rabbies was they organised everything for you. It was an easy way to experience these three islands without the hassle of planning multiple ferry times. My 3-day tour was also a very reasonable price, and I got to experience many other things on this tour. 

It made visiting Mull, Iona, and Staffa super easy!

Need help planning an island-hopping adventure? I’ve created the ultimate resource to help you plan your own trip- the  Planning a Trip To Scotland course ! Created by myself and Lonely Planet author Kay Gillispie, this course features 70+ videos covering every aspect of creating your itinerary and booking your trip, including a module which shows you how to travel the Scottish islands!

The Journey To Staffa

Staffa Trips (who I visited Staffa with) can fit 40 people on their ferry. The journey from Fionnphort took 45 minutes, passing along the breathtaking mountainous scenery of the west coast of Mull.

Our guides told us to look out for wildlife as we sailed north – wild animals you have the opportunity to spot from the ferry include:

• Seals (usually bathing on the smaller islands)
• Minke whale (if you’re lucky!)

There are also many different types of seabirds you can spot, including:

• Black Guillemots
• Shearwaters
• Arctic Terns

Most tours will pass by the towering basalt caves, including the Boat Cave and Fingal’s Cave , so you have the chance to see what they look like from the sea.

Ferries and boats land on Staffa near Am Buachaille , a tidal islet on the southeast side of the island which is surrounded by stunning curved basalt columns. 

>> Read more: Best Birdwatching Sites in Scotland

Where To See The Isle of Staffa Puffins

Staffa provides a home to nesting puffins from May to the start of August.

The best place to see the Staffa puffins is on the east side of the island. Once you disembark the ferry you will walk up a steep staircase that rises above Clamshell Cave . The staircase contains around 40 steps, and listen out for the eerie calls of shags from their nests within the cave. 

When you reach the top, follow the path to the right to walk anticlockwise around the island. It takes about 10 minutes to reach the Staffa puffins – you’ll know you’re in the right place when you see a pink marker (a buoy).

Sit down, relax and wait for the puffins to appear on the cliff! They are friendly, curious birds, and when they see humans around they will come up to say hello from a safe distance. 

You will see the puffins dip into small holes in the side of the cliff, where their nests are located. Keep an eye out for puffins carrying small fish in their beaks to take to their pufflings.

I could have easily laid by the cliffs watching these comical birds all day, but we only had 1.5 hours to explore the island, so I begrudgingly walked back to the ferry.

Visiting Fingal’s Cave on Staffa

Fingals Cave, as viewed from the ferry

Fingal’s Cave is a sea cave and designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.

It’s distinguishable by the tall, black columns of basalt rock that look so carefully crafted you might believe they were carved by Gods. 

Thomas Pennant , a Welsh naturalist and writer at the time, wrote when he visited Staffa: ‘’Compared to this, what are the cathedrals and places built by men?’’

Some of the basalt columns are curved and twisted into dramatic formations, If you look down at the columns you’ll notice they are the shape of a hexagon.

The same volcanic activity is what formed the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland .

The cave is named after legendary Irish hero Fhinn McCoul (known as Fingal in Scotland), who is said to have defended the Hebrides from Viking raids during the 3rd century. 

Interestingly, it’s unknown if he ever visited the cave on Staffa that was named in his honour!

There are also several other caves on Staffa. There’s the Boat Cave , McKinnon’s Cave (or Cormorants Cave ), located on the west side of the island. The west side is harder to access by boat.

Scotland Travel Tip You can also see puffins on the Isle of May .

Tips For Visiting Staffa

• Puffins nest on Staffa from late April to early August. Make sure you plan to visit within this timeframe if you want to see puffins.
• Bring a warm, waterproof jacket with you. It can get windy on Staffa.
• Bring a pair of binoculars with you. This will make wildlife spotting from the ferry and from the island a whole lot easier!
• Don’t get too close to the puffin’s nests- it’s easy to accidentally step on a nest and cause damage.

Do you have a question about visiting Staffa? Pop it below and I’ll do my best to answer it for you!

Related posts

Linda Koval

Tuesday 14th of May 2024

I am 85 years old and want to visitStaffa to see puffins. We will be staying near Oban for 5 days around June 20th. Do u think I could go on ferry and do the walk?

Pamela Buchanan

Sunday 7th of April 2024

Is there any way to see Staffa in one day and night including travel up and back from Edinburgh!

audrey tanner

Thursday 15th of June 2023

Hi. Do u have private drivers for day trips from Inverness THANKYOU

Yvette Webster

Hi Audrey, sorry we only pick up from the Edinburgh area as Inverness is 3 hours away from us. Yvette

Lena Gilman

Tuesday 29th of November 2022

I am very interested in visiting Fingal's cave on the isle of Staffa. Is it open all year round? We are booked to be arriving in Edinburgh 3/6/23 and returning home to the US on 3/14/23. Would Fingals cave be a possibility in that time frame? I expect the weather shall be cool as its still winter. Thus wondering about this as a possible excursion.

Yolanda South

Saturday 8th of October 2022

Is it possible to just do a day trip to Staffa? We are coming next June and our anchor accommodations are in the Cairngorms Natl Park at Coylumbridge Highlands. If we spent night in Oban before going to Staffa world that be doable?

What is your recommendation?

Saturday 29th of October 2022

Yes definitely! Most trips to Staffa go via the island of Mull and/or Iona, and they are 1 day in length. Look into booking with Staffa Tours as I know they have this tour option departing from Oban. Best of luck with your planning!

Away With Maja

Isle of mull daytrip: staffa and puffin-watching on lunga.

I planned my entire trip to the Isle of Mull around one experience – or really, just around a couple of hours. I wanted to see puffins on Lunga, and so off I went to Scotland in June. The best time to see puffins is between April and July, before they fly off in August. Staffa Tours combined the best of both worlds with a visit to out-of-this-world Staffa, and the Treshnish Isles for puffin-watching. It was truly the most incredible day of my life!

Departing the Isle of Mull

Our Staffa Tours trip departed from Tobermory at 9:45am. We sailed across the Sound of Mull to Kilchoan (on the Scottish mainland), which only took about 15 minutes. From there, we sailed towards Staffa. It was awesome getting to see Ardnamurchan Lighthouse in the distance—this is the most western point of Scotland and of Britain in general! We also got to see Calgary Bay in the distance – I had swum here just the night before! Thankfully, the waters were pretty calm. Trips can be canceled due to bad weather, extreme wind, or rough seas, but I had nothing but blue skies and perfect conditions on my trip! You can sometimes see dolphins or porpoises in the water here – we saw a porpoise very briefly before it disappeared.

Our boat sailed through the channel between several of the Treshnish Isles before making the journey to Staffa. We could see puffins in the water, on shore, and flying around! But it was time to explore Staffa first.

Exploring Staffa

If you’re not visiting Lunga or any of the Treshnish Isles, you still have a chance to spot puffins on Staffa. But there’s enough to keep you busy for a few hours if you’re not into birdwatching. There are plenty of walking paths that criss-cross over the island – the views towards Mull are stunning.

Fingal’s Cave is by far the best thing to see on Staffa, around Mull, and in the Inner Hebrides in general! While its origin is shrouded in myth and legend, seeing the blue waters lap around the hexagonal basalt columns is simply spectacular. It reminded me so much of the Giant’s Causeway and parts of Iceland ! I loved getting to see Fingal’s Cave up close, but it was also great to see it from the water as we sailed up to Staffa.

Puffin Heaven on Lunga

The island of Lunga, the largest of the Treshnish Isles, is famous for its wildlife and birdwatching. In particular, it is one of the best places to see puffins in the entirety of the UK. While yes, there are lots of other birds (especially if you walk out to Harp Rock), people come here to see the puffins. I planned this entire trip to Scotland to see puffins on Lunga, and I was not disappointed.

You can get SO close to puffins, who seem very unbothered by people watching them and snapping photos. As in, you can be just a few feet away and close enough to take selfies with them!!

I could have spent all day just watching them and taking pictures. They are so freaking cute I just can’t get over it!!! Some of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken in my entire life were of the puffins on Lunga. I also saw more expensive camera gear here in one place than I ever have before. This is such an incredible opportunity to get to see puffins up close. If you are remotely interested in birdwatching or photography, or you just think puffins are cute and you love them, you can’t miss this. We had a full two hours on Lunga to puffin-watch to our hearts content. I don’t know if I have ever been so happy!

Back to Tobermory

With most of the days’ excitement over and done with, the journey back to Tobermory on Mull isn’t all that exciting. There are still beautiful views though, and who knows you might get a dolphin greeting as well! We got back to Tobermory right on time, at 4:30pm. It is a full day tour, but even if you’re short on time on your trip to the Isle of Mull, it’s worth it.

You can find out everything you need to know about Staffa Tours on their website . I really recommend this company, I had such a great day and all the staff were really nice and good at pointing out wildlife and landmarks to us on our sailing!

If you’re headed to the Isle of Mull, you can’t miss the trip to Staffa. And if you’re visiting between April and July – or if you’ve planned your entire trip around this! – you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to see the puffins on Lunga. This was simply one of the best days and such an amazing experience!

Have you ever visited Staffa or Lunga? Did you see the puffins?

You might also like my posts:

What To See On The Isle Of Mull And Iona In Scotland

A 7-Day Itinerary For The North Coast 500 In Scotland

What To See And Do In Dumfries And Galloway, Scotland

Alternative Isle Of Skye: 4 Ways To Avoid The Crowds

All of my Scotland posts!

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3 thoughts on “ isle of mull daytrip: staffa and puffin-watching on lunga ”.

[…] too. This was one of the most incredible days of my life! You can read my full blog post on the Staffa and Treshnish Isles daytrip here. I booked a day tour with Staffa Tours, to see Staffa and the Treshnish […]

[…] was one of the best puffin experiences I’ve had. And trust me, that’s saying a lot! (Lunga on the Treshnish Isles is up there, too.) If you’re interested in spotting seabirds, or just want a boat trip out to see […]

[…] Isle of Mull Daytrip: Staffa and Puffin-Watching on Lunga […]

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Staffa Trips

Join Staffa Trips

on their sailing from Fionnphort and Iona twice daily.

On arrival at Staffa, you’ll be given at least one hour ashore to visit Fingal’s Cave, created 59 millions years ago by volcanic activity.  You’ll also have time to explore the island and appreciate the unique landscape.

Puffins can be seen ashore in season and often guillemots, fulmars, great skuas, eider ducks, gannets, kittiwakes, black-backed gulls, great northern divers and razorbills are visible on the water.

Trips depart daily from Iona at 09.45am & 1.45pm  and Fionnphort at 10am & 2pm.

Full journey time is 3 hours, including over an hour on Staffa. Trips operate March to October.

Prices: Adult £40 Children £20 Under 5’s free

Please check  www.staffatrips.co.uk  for more details.

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All Oban based trips must be booked direct with Turus Mara.

• From £20.00‐£40.00

Trip Details

**Times from Oban subject to confirmation of Calmac 2024 Summer timetable.

Passengers from Oban join the 12:15 Calmac ferry to Craignure, where our minibus awaits to transport you to Ulva Ferry to join the Turus Mara tour.

This trip from Oban is an opportunity to combine a boat trip to visit Fingal’s Cave on Staffa with a little bit of Puffin Therapy (May – July) too!

Turus Mara team up with Caledonian MacBrayne to run trips for those staying in Oban and surrounding areas. On this tour you will join the Ferry in Oban for the 45 minute journey to Mull ( NOTE: you pay for and pick up your Calmac tickets on the day of travel ). From the start of your trip you will have great views of Oban Bay, then the Firth of Lorn, Lismore and the rugged South East corner of Mull including the imposing structure of Duart Castle backed by Ben More and the central Mull mountains.

Transport is provided from the Ferry Terminal at Craignure, through the Loch Na Keal designated National Scenic Area (NSA) to join our trips from Ulva Ferry. Keep an eye out for otters in the loch and both Golden and Sea Eagles as you skirt the loch across from Mull’s largest mountain and only Munro, Ben More.

Your transport arrives at Ulva Ferry with plenty time to join the boat to Staffa – a trip of around an hour cruising via the stunning south side of the community owned Island of Ulva. We will almost certainly encounter common seals and various bird species on this leg of the journey as well as having the opportunity to spot whales, dolphins and other sealife.

On to Staffa and a visit to Fingal’s Cave. On good days follow in many famous footsteps along the causeway and imagine you can hear the first few bars of Mendelssohn’s Overture in the eternal surge of the sea.

Puffins nest on the North East corner of Staffa and visitors can enjoy a little bit of ‘Puffin Therapy’ on most days until early August when the breeding season comes to an end.

The boat ride back to Ulva Ferry to rejoin your transport back to Craignure will usually head back in via Loch a Tuath, allowing for the circumnavigation of Ulva, giving lots more opportunities to spot wildife.

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Puffins on the coast

Mull Scotland

4 Day Mull, Iona & Staffa Puffin Experience

The Puffins are here, and they want to meet you! Meet the most amusing and inquisitive birds in Scotland, while exploring the stunning west coast, plus the idyllic isles of Mull and Iona.

Leaving Edinburgh at 8.30am, we journey west through Glasgow - the largest city in Scotland – towards the scenic beauty of Loch Lomond. Explore the charming village of Luss, take photos from the Rest and Be Thankful viewpoint and enjoy free time in pretty Inveraray for lunch. Visit the ancient Dunadd Fort before continuing towards the bustling port town of Oban for our ferry to Mull, where we spend two nights in Tobermory. 

After breakfast, we check-in for our cruise to the Treshnish Isles and Staffa. Sit back and relax on our water-based adventure around the beautiful Treshnish Isles. Throughout this six-hour extravaganza keep an eye out for seals, eagles and whales, while listening to commentary from our wildlife guide. We spend two hours on Lunga to explore the large puffin colony that nest in burrows on the grassy hill side sounded by wildflower. Listen to tales of giants and geology as we sail to Staffa and marvel at Fingal’s Cave. Enjoy the beautiful island views and marine life as we return to Tobermory. This adorable multi coloured harbour town is our home for the night. 

Today we travel across mountainous Mull to visit the spiritual Isle of Iona, often referred to as the sacred heart of Scotland. Enjoy plenty free time to have lunch, visit Iona Abbey, explore the white sand beaches, and experience the special feeling reported by many visitors to the island. Afterwards, we catch the ferry back to Oban, where you can try fresh seafood and have a drink with the locals on our last night. 

We depart Oban and travel through the dramatic and breath-taking landscape that is Glencoe and onto the wild expanse of Rannoch Moor and Rob Roy's old stomping ground. We stop at Deanston Distillery to learn all about single malt production – and sample it straight from the source. Catch a glimpse of the Wallace Monument, while listening to tales of our national hero. Return to Edinburgh at around 5.30pm after four awesome days. 

Please note this tour runs in conjunction with our sister company HAGGiS Adventures.

From £669 per adult

Departure days.

• W Wednesday

June — June

Contact details

• +44 (0131) 5583738
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Tour information

• Edinburgh & The Lothians
• Edinburgh - City Centre
• Small coach
• Small Group (1-16)
• Food and drink
• Island Hopping

Tour prices

From £669 Per Adult £655 Per Child £655 Concession

Prices are subject to change depending on season

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Day Trip to Iona, Staffa and the Puffin colony

From the comfort of our Cabin RIBs

We offer a quick, easy and efficient Day Trip to Iona departing from Easdale, just south of Oban.

It takes our RIB just 75 minutes to reach Iona from Easdale and we have a wildlife guide on board.

Please email or phone 01852 300003 for the latest information.

ADULTS:  £120 CHILDREN:  £96

Family discount prices are available – see here for more details or contact us for more information.

Please note, we require minimum passenger numbers to confirm our trips – we will inform you when your trip has reached the required passenger numbers.

We tend to operate this tour twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, outside of high season dates we do have some flexibility so, please call us on 01852 300003 or email us at [email protected] for more information about our departures – we don’t always have all the departures available for booking online so please contact us for more information.

Our prices are the same throughout the year – We do not charge extra during peak season.

Day Trip to Iona, Staffa and the puffin colony

Departing Easdale at 09:45hrs we head straight to Iona where you get 2.5 hours on land to explore and enjoy this wonderful island. Either take a picnic or visit one of the many cafes or restaurants on the island. We then re-board our RIB and head over to Staffa (non-landing) and, if the sea conditions allow, the skipper will nudge the boat into Fingal’s cave. If the puffins are still around (they tend to depart late July) we will visit the colony before heading back to Easdale via the south coast of Mull, viewing the Carsaig arches and arriving back at around 16:30hrs.

Visit Iona Abbey, linked with St Columba, with ample time ashore to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Iona is recognised as one of the most important Christian sites in Argyll, Scotland and indeed the UK. The abbey was founded in 563 AD by St Columba, an Irish monk who spread Christianity throughout the western isles and Scotland. Not the first Christian monk in the area but St Columba is considered the most influential person in the early Christian calendar. A visit to the famous and now restored Abbey is a must.

Our boat arrives at Iona jetty before the main influx of daily tourists from Oban. This allows you plenty of time for relaxed viewing of the Abbey and surrounding historical sites.

Fingal’s cave was visited by many famous people of the Victorian era including Mendelssohn who, after his visit, wrote his Hebridean Overture. The spectacular basalt columns are best seen from the sea, so we do not land on Staffa but take the opportunity to visit to the Puffin colony at the north-west area of the island of Staffa (before they head offshore). These comical birds with their brightly coloured beaks are a delight to view during their breeding season.

We use one of our cabin RIBs for this tour. They are similar vessels to our open RIBs and they comfortably cruise at 25 knots. They are built in our own dedicated workshops with the same care and attention to detail as our other boats. They have twin engines and comfortable seating. The major difference is the cabin, which provides shelter to passengers during the journey.

We do not provide waterproofs for this trip as the boat we use has a cabin to offer protection from the elements however we still recommend taking warm clothes. All our passengers must wear a lifejacket whilst on the boat – our lifejackets have crotch straps so trousers are more suitable than skirts.

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Day Trips , Guided Tours , Inner Hebrides , Isle of Mull , Isle of Staffa , Wildlife Encounters

Puffins in scotland: the treshnish isles wildlife tour with staffa tours (review).

The Isle of Staffa and a tour to see puffins in Scotland had been on my bucket list for ages, and my recent weekend trip to Mull was the perfect occasion to finally tick off both! We booked an half-day tour with Staffa Tours , the ‘Staffa & Treshnish Isles Wildlife Tour’. This is a guide to the different stops of this extended Staffa tour, some tips about surviving seasickness and of course a little packing list!

This post contains affiliate links from which I may make a commission. Find out more here . All opinions are my own.

We began our day with an adventurous drive on the single road track from Craignure to Fionnphort. On the scale of driving in Scotland , driving on the Isle of Mull scores pretty high. Single-track roads mean slowing down, and so you should allow plenty of time for the drive towards the ferry. We picked up a hitchhiker along the way and arrived at the edge of Mull with plenty of time for our ferry crossing to Iona.

Stop 1: Walking on the Isle of Iona

Staffa Tours include the option to visit the Isle of Iona, except for Sundays, which was of course when we had booked… We spent the morning exploring Iona independently and joined our tour from there around 12pm.

Iona had been the Gaelic spiritual centre for many centuries and even today, many visitors come here to participate in spiritual retreats and experience the unique tranquility of the island. You can visit the medieval church Iona Abbey (£7.50) or explore the ruins of the nunnery for free.

We went for a little walk in the meadows behind the main village and managed to almost cross the island before we had to return to catch out next boat. The views were incredible and the walk a good warm-up for what was to come.

Back at the harbour, the sun was out, but the rain clouds were hanging in the north – just where we were heading…

You might also like: The best things to do on the Isle of Mull

Stop 2: Seeing Puffins in the Treshnish Isles

After a calm ride north, we arrived on Lunga , the first island on our tour to see puffins in Scotland. Lunga is one of the Treshnish Isles which the tour is named after. During the summer months the island is home to a big puffin colony. The puffins can be spotted when they breed between late May and early August . The humorous birds spend the rest of the year at sea.

We had the island all to ourselves, but as soon as we stood at the edge of the cliff, the puffins came flying, knowing that we would keep the seagulls away. They let us come close enough for some awesome shots and when they had posed enough, they simply flew off again to fish in the waves.

We even saw a baby puffin stick its head out of its hole in the ground -unlike other birds, puffins don’t build nests, but rather digs holes into the soft earth on top of cliffs and thus hide their chicks away from predators.

For more bird watching read this post about puffins on the Isle of May , just off the east coast of Scotland.

You might also like: The best ethical encounters with Wildlife in Scotland

Stop 3: Exploring the Isle of Staffa

The final stop of our tour was the Isle of Staffa . Here you can find the famous Fingal’s Cave  that I’m sure you know from photos. Unfortunately, on Staffa we were not so along anymore, as a lot more boats visit this island continuously throughout the day.

Visitors can even book a day tour from Oban, which includes the ferry to Mull, a bus transfer to Fionnphort and the actual Staffa boat tour. However, if you like a sense of calm and quiet, I’d recommend staying overnight on Mull and choosing the longer tour option like us!

The cave is a short walk away from the landing place across the bizarre basalt rocks on the island’s edge. Once inside, it can get a bit crowded, because the path leading in is actually quite narrow. It pays off however, to hang around and wait for a little break between groups arriving.

You might also like: Exploring Mull and Iona with Local Guides

Once you’ve seen enough, make your way back and up to the top of the island. You won’t have time to stroll all the way to the other end of the island, but you can climb to the top for some more amazing views across to the mainland and back towards Iona.

And so our tour to see puffins in Scotland had come to an end. We returned to Fionnphort around 5 pm and drove back to Craignure for our well-deserved dinner.

You might also like: 18 Fun Outdoor Activities to try in Scotland

Prone to seasickness?

While the sun had finally come out as we explored Staffa – and stayed with us throughout the sail back – the wind had also turned against our odds. The sea was really rough on our way back to Fionnphort, to the point where not even the heavy yellow fishermen’s coats could keep us entirely dry in the spray. Needless to say, chose your spot on the boat wisely – if you absolutely don’t want to get wet, find a seat inside – even though the views are better on the outside…

Unfortunately, on small boats like the ones used by Staffa Tours, rough sea can easily end in seasickness. If you are prone to seasickness, have a few backup plans for how to deal with it on board.

What helps with seasickness?

• Spend time outside on deck and focus on the horizon.
• Eat a green apple.
• Eat something containing ginger – I like to bring Hob Nobs biscuits!
• Try a Sea-Band wrist band. It has a little bead that presses against a pressure point on your wrist.
• Worst case, take seasickness pills, but only if you’re not driving!

We never spent more than an hour on the boat between the stops, and from experience most seasickness pills I’ve tried knocked me out for considerably longer than that.

So, unless you really can’t avoid it, I’d recommend to hold off the meds – you don’t want to miss out on the puffins because you’re drowsy from the pills!

Good to know about the Staffa & Treshnish Isles Wildlife Tour

The Staffa & Treshnish Isles Wildlife Tour will set you back £60 per person and takes around 5 to 5.5 hours . To book this or another Staffa tour, check out Staffa Tours’ website .

There are no toilet facilities on the islands you visit during the tour (except for Iona)!

It is possible to bring dogs on the Staffa tour – a lady on our boat actually had two big dogs with her – but it’s not the easiest task, as the dogs will have to be lifted on and off the boat, walk over floating jetties and keep their calm in the face of flying wildlife.

What to pack?

Make sure to bring your own lunch , as pre-tour options on Iona or in Fionnphort are limited (especially if you don’t eat meat or fish) and there are no services on Lunga or Staffa.

Don’t forget your camera , extra batteries and a waterproof bag or case to keep everything safe. As always with wildlife tours I was worried that my standard camera zoom lens would not be enough to get decent shots of the puffins. Luckily though, puffins are not really scared of humans, so I could get close enough to take awesome photographs with my regular photo kit!

What to wear?

Waterproof hiking boots , a warm layer and rain clothes (also to protect yourself from the spray on the boat) are an absolute must – you can find my recommended items in my Scotland packing list ! Mind we did this tour in the middle of summer, yet the temperatures were rather baltic… There is no shelter on Lunga or Staffa (expect for Fingal’s Cave) and once you’re off the boat, you are quite literally stranded on the island until they come and pick you up again! There are trails, but they can be muddy, so good footwear is essential.

Hooked on island hopping? The best Scottish Islands to visit

Have I convinced you to add a tour to see puffins in Scotland to your bucket list? Or did you do a similar trip to another place in Scotland, that you think I should know about? Let me know in the comments!

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28 thoughts on “ Puffins in Scotland: The Treshnish Isles Wildlife Tour with Staffa Tours (Review) ”

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Hello! Planning an upcoming trip to Scotland and your site has been amazingly helpful! I actually need a pair of hiking boots for the trip, and I love the ones with the red laces you are wearing in these photos! Which brand are they?? Thanks!!

They’re amazing – best hiking boots I’ve ever had! The brand is called Zamberlan and I reviewed this particular boot right here: https://watchmesee.com/blog/zamberlan-hiking-boots-review/ They come with brown shoelaces though, I bought the red ones in a random outdoor shop!

This one definitely goes on my list! Funnily enough I just finished a book by an Icelandic author where puffins were kind of the highlight. And by the way, your pictures are simply amazing! It definitely looks like one of those rare sunny days Scotland is famous for

Thanks for your comment, I’m so glad you liked the story and photos! Which book was it? Sounds cool – I love Iceland!!

This sounds like so much fun! Yes, I want to go to Scotland, and yes yes yes to puffins! Thanks for the awesome tips. I’d never heard that green apples can help with seasickness. Who would have guessed!

Ohh you got to see the giant pencils too! I was so excited to see these rock formations in Iceland and Ireland. I think they’re completely fascinating. But after all, everything looks incredibly fascinating there. Every photo you have here is beautiful! Definitely worth the rocky boat ride!!

Apparently people for a long time believed that there was a secret underwater passage from Staffa to Northern Ireland (where they also have these basalt formations) – imagine it went all the way to Iceland!!

Absolutely loved this! I’ve been in London for five years and never made it up to Scotland, I should really go one day! Those puffins are too cute haha

I am convinced to see the puffins and the beautiful caves! I visited Scotland for the first time last month and spent most of my time on the Isle of Skye, but now I really would like to go back and explore some of the other Isles and less-traveled areas. And that’s so cool that you can bring your dog on this tour. I know mine would love it.

Skye is really pretty, but a lot of people now find it too busy – and there are sooo many other islands that are just as gorgeous. Come to Mull next time 🙂

Unbelievably beautiful! What an experience. I’d love to see puffins in person. Now I know where and how to! 🙂

I absolutely LOVE puffins. I’d love to see them in the wild as it’s still on my bucket list! This isle looks so beautiful too

Scotland is a great place to tick that off the list – there are so many colonies all over the coastline!

I love your raincoats ?? and PUFFINS IN SCOTLAND?! How did I not know about this sooner!

Thank you! I really needed something colourful to brighten up the rainy days here… And yes, during the summer the puffins are everywhere along the Scottish coastline!!

wow beautiful pictures! I would love to visit that area of Scotland, it looks beautiful. I saw puffins a few months ago in Iceland and I couldn’t believe how fast they fly!

I know, right? They look so clumsy, but once they’re in the air, they’re so agile!

Oh my goodness!!! On my bucket list is to see Puffins!!! This post was fantastic! And I love they build little caves instead of nests!!

They’re probably the most fun bird to look at! When that little puffin chick stuck its head out if the ground, my heart melted!

I so wanted to go to out to see Staffa before leaving but it’s not to be! One day though! I’ve heard good things about that tour company aswell 🙂 beautiful pictures x

We really enjoyed the tour with them, but if you can take the time when you visit next, I highly recommend to stay overnight on Mull and not just do the day tour from Oban! It just means you can spend more time on the islands, and the day tours from Oban don’t go to Lunga!

Those puffins are so cute! Looks like it was worth the adventure to get there. I actually had the pleasure of seeing puffins when I was in Iceland a few years back. They were so cute and mesmerizing! Loved your photos, you may have just inspired a second puffin trip for me 🙂

They’re really a joy to watch! I’ve seen them before in the Faroe Islands, an even bigger colony, but more shy. I can only recommend coming to Scotland to see them, there are so many places they breed in!

This looks so fun. I am prone to being seasick, so I appreciate all of your tips to address that. Thank you for sharing!

Same here – I can be fine for the majority of the trip, but when it hits me, it’s quite bad… Luckily on this trip you really never spend more time than an hour on the boat at once. Lots of breaks to walk it off!

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Bears & Volcanoes, Puffins & Seas

Kamchatka a paradise surrounded by snow capped mountains, colorful flowers, Lakes, Sea and lots of wildlife . Kamchatka has been my dream destination to watch and click the images of the wonderful and mighty Grizzly Bears. Finally that dream came true, i had made up my mind almost a year back and signed up for this trip, this trip not only included Bears watching but also a boat ride into Bering Sea to look for Puffin Colonies, Whales, Seals and Sea Lions. I will take this opportunity detail my trip with you, i am not so good at writing but i will make it up with my images.

This is one of the most interesting travel itineraries so far in my life as this involved travel by almost all modes of travel. I traveled by the early morning Aeroflot flight from Dubai to Moscow. Flight landed in Moscow at 7 am and i had almost 10 hours layover for my next flight to Petroplovsk-Kamchatsky (PKC). As guided by my neighbor on the flight i had checked in my bags in Terminal B and dumped the hand bags in the locker room ( Rub 500/ Piece) and took the Aeroexpress to get into the City. ( Remember its a painful process to carry heavy check in bags from International Terminal to Domestic Terminal as you will have leave the trolley and hand carry). Aeroexpress plys between the SVO (Sheremetyevo Airport) and Belorussky Rail Terminal and there is a train every 30 mins, ( Regular class costs Rub 500/head/ one way and First Class Rub 1000/head/oneway). It is around 35-40 mins train journey to the centre of the city. You can buy tickets at ticket counters, self-service Kiosks and there are staff who sell tickets at Baggage collection). This was my first time to Russia and dont know a word in Russian, thats the fun part of exploring a new place, I reached Belorussky terminal and with the help of few people (Russians are very friendly and nice people) i took the green line metro train and as guided i dropped at 3rd station (Teatralnaya) and just followed the crowd, finally i landed in front of Saint Basil's Cathedral, I killed three hours walking around and inside the Cathedral and promptly returned to Airport domestic terminal in time for my flight to PKC.

Moscow metro station

Saint Basil's Cathedral

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy

After a 9 hour flight we had landed at PKC airport and the airport arrivals was like a small tented camp. We met our guide Mike for next one week, we were checked into hotel and after a quick lunch we headed to buy Gum boots ( most important for Kuril lake) these Gum boots are upto waist height and costs only Euro 15. On the way back we stopped over at a church overlooking the city clicked some images and headed back for dinner and then to Mall to buy some Vodka for the trip and some stuff to eat for the rest of the days at Kurile Lake. PKC is a beautiful city and very clean, I havent seen any litter on the roads and streets. People are very disciplined and they just mind their business. You cannot miss the Koryaksky volcano as you can see it from any point in the city. Mike met us at the end of the day along with our Skipper from toehold Santosh and gave briefing about the next few days. We were also informed that as per weather forecasts they are expecting rain and Helicopters will take off only if the weather was suitable. If Helicopters dont take off then we will not be able to go to Kuril lake and end up resting at hotel or sightseeing at PKC. We had few Vodka shots before calling it a day and hoped to get a clear weather as it s tight schedule and cannot afford to loose a single day.

Church in PKC

PKC Airport

Kurile Lake

We were ready by 8 am and as forecasted it was very cloudy, windy and was also raining. It was so cloudy that we were not able to see the Volcano. We were asked to be ready on stand by and as and when Mike gets any clear message about Helicopter leaving he would let us know. At around 9.30 we left to the airport for Helicopters and decided to wait there. Finally at around 10.30AM it was decided we will be taking off and was informed one of the most experienced and expert crew will be flying us. It was expected to be a 60-90 mins flight because of the weather conditions and route change it took around 2hrs 15 mins to reach Kurile Lake. After a rough rollercoaster ride we finally made it to Kurile Lake,I was anxiously and eagerly waiting for a long time to see this paradise to click Bears fishing Salmons. After having lunch we were introduced to the Rangers and at around 3 PM we walked around a Km to go to the watch tower which was like a cage where we cramped ourselves there and started clicking the images of Bears looking for Salmons.

Kuril Lake Watch Tower

Inside Helicopter

Bear relaxing around Kuril Lake

Bear Shedding the Winter coat

On day 2 at Kurile lake the weather changed a lot and it was looking much better, though it was a bit cloudy, there was some good light and also it was not raining. We had breakfast and walked to the lake in a single file led by the ranger. We did not see a salmon push previous day and were hoping to see some salmons coming today and get some bears in action. Bears come out of hibernation after the winters and they start feeding on the berries, mushrooms, flowers etc., they get to the points where they can find salmons and eat the salmons for the fat, protein and nutrition to keep them warm and safe during hibernation in winters. As the temperature keeps increasing they shed their winter coat by brushing off against the trees. Salmons every year during summer time swim back from sea to the lake upstream to hatch their eggs, the same place where they took birth, they live for 6-8 years. Bears wait for the Salmons to return to Kuril lake and to catch them during their journey back to the lake.At the convergence point of river to lake the water is shallow and may be not more than 2 ft which makes it very easy fo bears to catch Salmon, Once Salmon enters the lake they are gone as the lake is 200 ft deep and the bears will not be able to get them. Bears can eat upto 40 Kgs of salmon a day which makes it 15-20 Salmons a day, if bears dont eat enough salmon and build sufficient fat they struggle to survive through the winters when food becomes scarce. with 30-40ft high snow and -40 Degs C Temp. On day 2 at Kuril lake we were allowed to stay in open with strict rules and strong supervision of rangers, which is allowed with a special permission given by photographers and researchers. On day 2 push was not strong there were few salmons, as there were only few we got some brilliant action between the bears. If the salmons were in abundance bears would pluck them out of water like berries and have them at convenience and sleep on the banks.

On day 3 we wanted to catch the morning light as the weather was looking better and hoped sun would show up. We got to the lake early and sun was hidden behind the cloud and by the time it emerged after clouds moved away it was already up and light was bad and also we were shooting against the light, There was one more group of photographers who were staying in a camp bit far from the lake had occupied a small patch on the lake from where the bears were approaching the convergence point last two days and not many bears showed up that morning. We decided to wrap up early with some action shots clicked and get back to the camp and rest till afternoon. After lunch we decided to go for a walk to Tundra and see if there were any bears there with green background with flowers. When we reached the watch tower we saw the salmon big push happening, there were few hundreds / thousands of salmons pushing their way through in a hurry to the lake and fighting against the stream. The whole place turned from green waters to red salmons. We started walking towards the tundra along the river and saw lot of bears and hundreds on salmons on the way. After spending sometime in tundra and understanding the history of the place from our ranger we returned to camp and relaxed for the day. This was our last night at the camp

This was the last day at Kurile lake and have few hours to make best out of the time left with Bears. Today i tried doing wideangle closeups capturing the habitat of the Bears. By afternoon we headed back to PKC. Weather was excellent and we had 3 stop overs on the way, first we stopped at Ksudach Volcano where there is a nice green lake in the crater, then at a hotsprings and finally at Mutnovsky an active Volcano before reaching PKC. By evening we reached the hotel back and it was time to re-pack and get ready to get on a boat for sailing in the bering sea for 2 days.

As usual again for the twist in the tale, there was some navy drill happening hence the boat can leave the dock only after a clearance and we do not know when we will get clearance. But Mike decided that we should go and wait in the boat and as when we get clearance we get out into the sea, good news came in 20 mins after settling in the boat that we got clearance to get into the Sea. As we set sail we stopped over at the three brother and then headed towards puffin colonies. We were asked to get into the Zodiacs and we spend almost 2 hrs at this place clicking images of thousands of puffins, Kittwakes, Skuas, Guillemots and Gulls.We also got to see the Spotted Seals and Sea otters. I was delighted to see my dream bird horned puffin also. After the puffins we headed further into the sea looking for Whales and we finally got to see a mother and 2 calves of Humpback Whales. Post clicking whales to ours hearts content we headed towards the islands where we can see Sea Lions. By evening we reached the point where sea lions were resting and decided to anchor close by to capture the images of sea lions next day in morning light.

Tufted Puffin

Horned Puffin

Spotted Seal

Bird Colony

Humpback Whales

Morning we woke up by sunrise time got into the Zodiacs and headed towards the Sealions rocks. After clicking images there i had requested Mike for two things to be seen in the sea one was Orca Whales and other was Steller Sea Eagles. Our captain tried his best for Orcas, but as we know Orcas are not that easy to find, on our way back we thought we should stop at birds colony again and get some shots, Sea was choppy so we got back pretty quickly to the boat and as we headed back to the town captain waved to me asking me to scan on top of the hill for Steller Sea Eagles and we were lucky to see a mother and chick on top of the hill. With Steller Sea Eagles sighting our wildlife photography for this trip has come to an end. By the evening we reached the hotel, changed and headed to the town for dinner and a drink.

Guillemot with fish

By noon we had packed and headed to PKC airport and left to Moscow with few thousands of images and great experiences. Interesting part about the flight was we took off at PKC at 12.50 afternoon and landed in Moscow at 12.10 Noon. The time zone difference and flying time from PKC to Moscow is almost same. Signed off the trip with Areal shots from iphone from Moscow to Dubai

Few important tips for Kamchatka trip : 1) Waist height Gum Boots compulsory 2) I am from India and vegetarian so the veg options in Russia are not much and the food is plain, i survived on MTR ready to eat 3) Mosquito repellants must at Kurile Lake 4) Dont forget to keep a towel and swimming trunk handy in helicopter as there could be a stopover at hotsprings 5) If you are a photographer and going to be outside in Kurile lake please ensure that you follow all safety precautions, Bears are wild and not teddy bears from Hamleys, they can be 8-9 ft when the stand up with 3-4 inch nails, one blow can take skull away. 6) At Kurile lake stay is in bunk beds and 8-10 people get stuffed into one room, at night there could be some snorers so deal with with ear plugs or music something like that 7) Dont litter anywhere in Russia in Kurile Lake dont leave anything thing behind however small it is.

Thanks a lot for reading. Hope you liked it.

Further Reads

More From Forbes

Explore the mystifying arctic and antarctica with aurora expeditions.

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People are profoundly impacted by visiting the Arctic.

Exploring some of the most isolated corners of the world often leaves an indelible impression on travelers who develop a connection and care for these places, and it’s rare that people return without their perspectives altered. As a part of their journey to the Arctic and Antarctica with Aurora Expeditions , travelers can give back to the area they’re visiting with Aurora’s Citizen Science Program where they can share new discoveries while deepening their connection to the natural world. By taking part, travelers can provide invaluable data to the scientific community, becoming ambassadors of the planet when returning home by sharing what they’ve learned.

Howard Whelan, Expeditions Leader for Aurora Expeditions, recently offered a detailed summary of the two emotive tours.

Aurora’s Antarctic season is October to March.

What are some highlights of the Arctic and Antarctica tours?

• Aurora Expeditions is known for its adventurous itineraries to some of the most remote corners of the world, and for truly immersing travelers in these unique regions on our purpose-built small ships, which serve as our comfortable base camps for adventure. A love of place, sense of curiosity and a desire to explore have been Aurora Expeditions’ guiding principles from the start. Now, our small, purpose-built ships provide comfortable base camps deep in the heart of nature.
• During the Arctic season, June through September, we visit Iceland, a fantastic land of volcanos, puffins and whales. Svalbard, Norway’s high-latitude archipelago is home to walrus, arctic fox, reindeer and polar bears. Greenland, where the world’s second-largest ice cap sheds incomprehensible amounts of ice daily including the planet’s most beautiful icebergs, and tundra alive with musk ox, reindeer, arctic fox and hare. We visit local Inuit communities from the most remote on the east coast to the world’s northernmost capital, Nuuk, on the west coast. Our Northwest Passage trip traverses the Canadian Arctic. We’ll Zodiac-cruise below vast sea cliffs buzzing with thousands of seabirds and will constantly keep watch for polar bears. As the season winds up and night-time returns, we hope to encounter Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights.
• Aurora’s Antarctic season, October to March, is summer when the pack ice breaks out, wildlife returns to breed and feed and the days are the longest. Aurora offers trips that range from nine to 23 days, visiting spectacular regions including the Antarctic Peninsula. Its west coast features wildlife-rich islands against a backdrop of glaciated peaks. On the east side is the Weddell Sea, a world of ice-free landscapes and massive tabular icebergs. Our Antarctic Circle trips take you below 66° 33’ South where we enjoy the midnight sun shining on ice and land few have seen.
• The sub-Antarctic islands we visit include South Georgia and the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands. The former is renowned for its whaling stations. More recently, a successful pest eradication has brought back endemic birds including a pipit and pintail, as well as king penguin colonies half-a-million strong. The latter is a surprisingly rich wildlife haven where the Falkland War was fought. Today the waters surrounding South Georgia and the Falklands are feeding grounds for humpback, orca, fin and blue whales and dolphins.
• Aurora recently announced its return to East Antarctica and the Ross Sea, south of Australia, during its 2025-26 season. Comparing these regions to the Antarctic Peninsula is like comparing the Swiss Alps to the Australian outback. While one is a chocolate box pretty, the other is vast and powerful. Both offer the thrill of landing on the Seventh Continent, and both are worth visiting.
• Travelers hoping to experience our destinations in unique ways can choose from a variety of optional activities, including sea kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, camping on the ice and more.
• With an average of 132 passengers, our small size means we can go where larger ships cannot. We also have greater flexibility to change plans based on conditions or chance wildlife encounters, and passengers can enjoy more time exploring, whether on land or water.

Antartica remains a vast unexplored, pristine region.

Are there any physical demands that people need to be aware of when traveling to these isolated locations?

• Expedition cruising guarantees an adventure quite different from that of traditional cruise ships. The latter is typically associated with strict itineraries, plenty of time to rest and onboard activities that amuse. Expedition cruising, especially in the Arctic and Antarctica, is about embracing the unexpected and building deeper connections with the places we visit. For most people in reasonable physical condition, the demands should be well within their ability. All expeditions to these remote areas do involve moderate hiking and walking, meaning that some mobility is needed for most daily activities, however we generally offer hiking options with three levels of difficulty. For those who would prefer to opt-out of walks, we also offer plenty of scenic Zodiac-cruising excursions. Activities that require extensive activity like kayaking, paddling, snorkeling, scuba diving, etc. are optional add-ons and the level of fitness requires varies according to the activity chosen.

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