Highland Explorer Tours: Scotland Coastal Journey Celebrates Arrival of Atlantic Puffins

Highland Explorer Tours celebrates the arrival of Atlantic Puffins with its Scotland Coastal Journey Highland Explorer Tours. Nature and photography enthusiasts can explore the Inner Hebrides with its captivating wildlife encounters. Read on to learn more about these exceptional wildlife tours.

Highland Explorer Tours offers the chance to celebrate Atlantic Puffins

Highland Explorer Tours, Radical Travel Group Ltd., is an award-winning Scottish touring brand and is inviting nature and wildlife enthusiasts to celebrate the arrival of the iconic Atlantic Puffins during the peak season on their Mull, Iona and Staffa Puffin Experience as the charismatic seabirds return to their nesting grounds from their long oceanic voyage.

To celebrate the iconic seasonal event, the Edinburgh-based tour operator has curated an unforgettable journey to the Inner Hebrides. Meanwhile, this exciting tour also includes an immersive six-hour boat tour to visit the puffin colonies on the Mull, Iona and Staffa Puffin Experience.

See Atlantic Puffins in their natural habitat

Graeme Ward, Managing Director of Highland Explorer Tours and Radical Travel Group, said in a statement:

Puffin Arrival Day is a true celebration of nature’s wonders, and we are thrilled to offer guests a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe these much-loved puffins in their natural habitat.

This well-crafted small group adventure captures Scotland’s wildest coastal beauty where travellers will explore the wildlife haven on the Isle of Mull, stroll the beaches of Isle of Iona and enjoy local cuisine in the resort town of Oban.

Discover Scotland’s Puffin Colonies: A Scenic Coastal Adventure

The UK is home to 10 percent of the world’s population of Atlantic puffins. Well known as the “clowns of the sea” for their colorful beaks, comical nature, and eye-catching plumage, these are one of the most beloved of all seabirds in Scotland. Meanwhile, faced with threats from rising sea temperatures, human intrusions, overfishing and marine pollution, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Visiting puffins in their natural habitat

Faced with threats from rising sea temperatures, human intrusions, overfishing and marine pollution, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species currently classified them as a “vulnerable” species since 2015. Taking the opportunity to observe the puffins in their natural habitat is an unforgettable experience.

On this 4-day Mull, Iona & Staffa Puffin Experience, visitors explore the Inner Hebrides, a stunning archipelago that spans the west coast of Scotland. Moreover, visitors will enjoy a 6-hour wildlife boat tour to the Treshnish Isles and Staffa to observe the colorful colonies of puffins during the peak season in June and July.

The journey starts out in Edinburgh with a visit to the conservation village of Luss and the picturesque loch-side town of Inveraray. Nature enthusiasts will then take a scenic ferry ride to the Isle of Mull, where they will embark on a wildlife boat cruise from Tobermory to the idyllic Isle of Lunga to observe the seabirds up close as they nestle in burrows, set against a backdrop of wildflowers and beautiful scenery. Meanwhile, Lunga is also home to over 6,000 sea birds.

Visit the Treshnish Isles

After spending two hours ashore exploring the Treshnish Isles, guests will visit the uninhabited island of Staffa to explore the world-famous Fingal’s Cave, known for its striking geological formations. Moreover, they will also listen to stories of the legendary Scottish giant Fingal. Along the way, travelers can look out for sightings of sea eagles, basking sharks, dolphins and whales, which are renowned on the northwest coast of Mull.

Beyond the puffins, the tour also includes a visit to the tiny Isle of Iona. This sacred island is world-famous as the “Cradle of Christianity” in Scotland, where visitors can explore the historic Iona Abbey and relax on the island’s sandy beaches.

Glen Coe and Rannoch Moor

Moreover, travelers will head through Scotland’s dramatic Glen Coe and Rannoch Moor, while making a stop at a local distillery for a whisky tasting before returning to Edinburgh.

Highland Explorer Tours is committed to ensuring all wildlife experiences meet the highest standards of ethical wildlife practices while adhering to its not-for-profit foundation, TreadRight’s updated Animal Welfare Policy. Guests will maintain a respectful distance from their nests and feeding areas when viewing the various seabirds.

Moreover, they can use TreatRight’s 2024 Make Travel Matter® checklist as a guiding tool to travel sustainably.

Visit Highland Explorer Tours’ website for more information.