Provisional:
Start: Troon, Scotland, 16.00h, Saturday May 23th, 2026
End: Troon, Scotland, 10.00h, Saturday May 30th, 2026
Price: € 1.795,- p.p.
Price is based on the division of 2 persons into a double cabin.
Islay Whisky Festival Trip 2026 Troon - Troon: (provisional) 23rd - 30th May 2026
Fèis Ìle, the Islay Festival, is the whisky festival that takes place annually during the last week of May on Islay, Scotland. Whisky enthusiasts from all over the world gather for 10 days of masterclasses, diverse expertise, exclusive whiskies, excellent live music, and local delicacies. Fèis Ìle celebrates Islay, its culture, history, and, of course, its whisky.
The Thalassa Whisky Festival trip has become a renowned event. The tried and tested combination of sailing and whisky, along with the bustling atmosphere on the island and the tranquility on the water, makes it a must for many to return. Curious about this trip? We are happy to share the journey description with you! It provides an idea of possible destinations along the way. The start and end destinations are fixed.
PLEASE NOTE: For the final planning of this trip, we depend on the dates of Fèis Ìle. This trip may possibly be scheduled one week later. You can book this trip now, but we advise you to postpone your deposit until the dates of Fèis Ìle are confirmed. Also, it’s best to wait until the trip is finalized before booking your travel arrangements to Scotland.
The trip price includes:
- 7 nights on board in a twin cabin with a private shower
- All meals during the trip (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
- Non-alcoholic drinks during meals (coffee, tea, milk, and water)
- 1 whisky tasting on board, led by a whisky expert
Not included are:
- All other non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks (beer, wine, and whisky)
- Entry tickets for visits to various distilleries
- Additional excursions on land (participation is not mandatory)
The sailing trip starts and ends in Scotland. You are responsible for arranging your travel to and from Scotland. This is NOT included in the price. For your journey to the ship and back, we recommend the website Rome2Rio: https://www.rome2rio.com
TRIP OUTLINE
If the organizers of Fèis Ìle confirm that the festival begins on Saturday, 23rd May 2026, Thalassa will commence its festival trip. Boarding will be at 4:00 p.m. in the harbor of Troon. After getting acquainted with the ship, crew, and other guests, the vessel sets sail for Islay. We will arrive at the Bruichladdich pier overnight.
Bruichladdich's Rock'ndaal and Jura
On Sunday, you will see the chalk-white and light blue that defines the Bruichladdich distillery in the distance. The rainbow-colored letters of Bruichladdich’s Rock'ndaal Festival are displayed alongside the first attendees at the entrance. Rock’ndaal consistently offers a fantastic opening to the festival trip: exclusive festival whiskies, fantastic live music on a big stage, and a wide selection of food trucks with local delicacies. Satisfied with the whisky and fresh food, we then make the crossing to Jura.
Port Askaig and Port Ellen
On Monday, we begin our whisky relay at the Jura distillery, after which, with the right wind, we sail to Port Askaig, where the whisky festival takes place at that moment. In the afternoon, Thalassa sails to Port Ellen. Guests can choose to sail with us or transfer by land (bus or car). On Tuesday, we visit the festival at Laphroaig. Other distilleries such as Ardbeg and Lagavulin can also be visited. Port Ellen will be the ship's mooring spot on Wednesday as well. The festival takes place at Bowmore and Ardnahoe, which can be reached by public transport or with the ship’s rental car.
Campbeltown, Arran, and Troon
On Thursday, we sail to Campbeltown with favorable winds, where an afternoon tour at Springbank (highly recommended!) or Glen Scotia can be visited. On Friday, we make the crossing to Arran, where we anchor to explore the island. Besides its award-winning whiskies, Arran is also famous for its natural beauty and golden glow, visible from Campbeltown. After savoring Arran's liquid gold, we sail on to our final destination, Troon. On Saturday morning, between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m., guests disembark.
NB: The above text is a sketch of a possible trip. All described destinations are subject to wind and weather conditions. It is possible that this program is deviated from, the purpose of the above program is mainly to give an impression of what our guests can expect from this trip.
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purpose of the above program is mainly to give an impression of what our guests can expect from this trip.
