Atlantic Puffins on the Isle of Lunga. Credits Highland Explorer Tours

Highland Explorer Tours, Radical Travel Group Ltd.'s award-winning Scottish touring brand, is inviting nature and wildlife enthusiasts to celebrate the arrival of the iconic Atlantic Puffins during the peak season on their Mull, Iona & Staffa Puffin Experience. April 14 marks Puffin Arrival Day, when these charismatic seabirds return to their nesting grounds from their long oceanic voyage. To celebrate this seasonal event, the Edinburgh-based tour operator has curated an unforgettable journey to the Inner Hebrides, which includes an immersive 6-hour boat tour to visit the bustling puffin colonies on the Treshnish Isles and Staffa. 

Discover Scotland’s Puffin colonies: A scenic coastal adventure

The United Kingdom is home to 10% of the world’s population of Atlantic puffins. Renowned as the “clowns of the sea” for their colorful beaks, comical nature, and eye-catching plumage, these puffins are one of the most beloved seabirds in Scotland. 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 classifies them as a "vulnerable" species since 2015, making the opportunity to observe them in their natural habitat an unforgettable experience. On this 4-day Mull, Iona & Staffa Puffin Experience exploring the Inner Hebrides, a stunning archipelago spanning over the west coast of Scotland, clients sail on a 6-hour wildlife boat tour to the Treshnish Isles and Staffa to observe the vibrant colonies of puffins during the peak season in June and July. 

The journey begins in Edinburgh with a visit to the conservation village of Luss and the picturesque loch-side town of Inveraray. Guests will catch 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 and observe these inquisitive birds up close, nestling in burrows, set against a backdrop of wildflowers and breathtaking scenery. Lunga is also home to more than 6,000 sea birds. After spending two hours ashore exploring the Treshnish Isles, clients visit the uninhabited island of Staffa to explore the world-famous Fingal’s Cave, known for its striking geological formations and listen to stories about the legendary Scottish giant Fingal. Along the way, they can look out for sightings of sea eagles, basking sharks, dolphins and whales which are renowned to the northwest coast of Mull. Beyond the puffins, the tour includes a visit to the tiny Isle of Iona, a sacred island, world-famous as ‘The Cradle of Christianity’ in Scotland, where they can explore the historic Iona Abbey and unwind on the island’s sandy beaches. 

They will travel through Scotland’s dramatic Glen Coe and Rannoch Moor, with a stop at a local distillery for a whisky tasting before returning to Edinburgh. Highland Explorer Tours is committed to ensuring all wildlife experiences on tours meet with the highest standards of ethical wildlife practices, adhering to its not-for-profit foundation, TreadRight’s updated Animal Welfare Policy. When viewing the various seabirds, guests will maintain a respectful distance from their nests and feeding areas. Clients can use TreadRight’s 2024 MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Checklist as a guiding tool to travel sustainably.

For more information, please contact your local travel advisor or visit highlandexplorertours.com.