Guided Small Group Tours of Scotland

A small group tour is where a local guide leads you and a few like-minded travellers on an adventure together. Your guide will share their in-depth knowledge with you while taking you to all the best spots.

As well as being able to learn from expert guides, we believe that by keeping the group small you’ll have a more personal experience.

This is why, at Nordic Visitor, our Scotland group tours have a maximum of 15 people. Plus, exploring in a minibus means you will be able to visit places that large groups and coaches can’t get to.

Yes, Scotland is a safe place to visit on a guided group tour thanks to its public healthcare services and high health and safety standards. For any Scotland travel updates, and to find out why you can Book With Confidence, check out these helpful pages.

Having a handpicked tour guide who can share their local knowledge with you will make your adventure that much more memorable. They’ll take you to the Highlands’ best hidden gems, and you’ll learn about the history and culture from someone who lives here.

Not to mention that you’ll get the inside scoop on the best local whiskies, the most intriguing castles, and the ultimate breathtaking viewpoints.

If you’d prefer to travel in a group of your own choosing, such as with your friends and family, why not consider a privately guided tour of Scotland? Or, if you’d like to meet new people but haven’t decided on a destination yet, then check out these escorted tour packages in Northern Europe.

The maximum number of guests on small group trips to Scotland is 15. Capping the group gives you more personal contact with your guide. Plus, it also means that you’ll get to know your fellow travellers better than you would in a large group.

We welcome children aged 13 and over on our guided small group tours. Before you book, it’s worth noting that these packages feature trips to distilleries and other activities catering to adults. Please also consider that triple rooms are not available from our accommodation providers.

If you’re travelling as a family or with younger kids, we recommend looking into our self-drive Scotland tours, as these offer more flexibility.

You can begin each day full of energy as breakfast is provided each morning. On the nights when you are not staying in Edinburgh or Glasgow, your evening meals are also included. You can see exactly what meals are part of your tour package in the “what’s included” section.

While Scotland is known for interesting local delicacies like haggis and black pudding, there’s also a top-notch food scene here. Edinburgh and Glasgow in particular have a wide selection of places to eat. Venturing into the Scottish Highlands, you’ll get to sample plenty of delicious local cuisine, including fresh seafood on the Isle of Skye.

If you have any special dietary needs, please let us know when you book so that we can make arrangements before you arrive.

You’ll be staying in hotels and guesthouses that have been handpicked for their comfort, cleanliness and friendly atmosphere. This means you can relax after a day of exploring, safe in the knowledge that each accommodation has been quality tested by our travel experts.

Usually double and twin rooms are available at our accommodation options. Please choose your preferred room type when you book so your travel consultant can make sure that everything is perfect for your trip.

If you’re booking onto a small group trip as a solo traveller to Scotland, you can rest assured that you’ll have your own private room. While not all tour providers would assign you a room of your own in this case, at Nordic Visitor your comfort and enjoyment is our priority.

It’s also worth noting that our hotels and guesthouses do not offer triple rooms.

You can bring one suitcase or large bag per person for your overnight items. We also recommend bringing a daypack for daily essentials, like a camera, extra layers and wallets.

Between overnight stops your luggage will travel with you on the minibus. In this case we ask that you please take your bag to your room on arrival and then back on to the bus for the next day’s drive.

Figuring out what to bring with you can be a challenge. Happily, you can refer to our handy Scotland packing guide for tips and advice on what you’ll need for your trip.

To ensure you can get to all the best spots on your small group tour, you’ll be exploring Scotland in a minibus, rather than a large coach.

This means there aren't any bathroom facilities on the bus. But your guide and driver will factor in plenty of comfort breaks and opportunities to stretch your legs into each day’s journey.

Each of our minibuses has been chosen so that you can relax as you travel between stops. You’ll find that none of our tour buses are over 3 years old and there’s plenty of space onboard for everyone.

The standing height and seating room for most of our tour buses is designed to comfortably fit someone who is just above 6’4” (193 centimetres). Happily, this ensures that even most of our taller guests can travel with ease.

There will also be plenty of comfort breaks along the way where you can get some fresh air and take a short stroll.

Providing a gratuity is entirely up to you. In Scotland tipping your tour guide is not expected. Of course, if you’d like to show your gratitude with a tip, we’re sure your guide will appreciate it.

Many of our guests find that joining a small group tour makes for an immensely rewarding and hassle-free travel experience. You’ll get to meet and explore with like-minded people, while benefiting from the in-depth knowledge of your guide.

This is also the perfect way to discover Scotland if you’d prefer not to drive or would like company on your adventure but are travelling solo. Discover why a guided tour of Scotland is one of the best small group trips in Europe for solo travellers.

On the other hand, you could opt for one of our Scotland self-drive packages. Travelling independently is the best choice if you enjoy having plenty of flexibility and like going at your own pace.

Alternatively, if you’d rather have a guide but just want to go with friends and family, you could consider our escorted private tours in Scotland.

You can choose the departure that suits you best from the list of available start dates between May and September. If you have particular dates in mind, please make sure to book early in case that departure fills up.

You’ll also be able to see how many spaces are left on each start date when you check a trip’s online availability calendar. Remember, each tour operates with a maximum of 15 guests.

Yes, it’s easy to extend your time in Scotland. When booking online you can add extra days in Edinburgh or Glasgow to explore independently before or after your Highlands tour. This is perfect if you want to soak up even more culture in Scotland’s vibrant cities. Explore these amazing things do do in Edinburgh for inspiration. 

If you’d like to include additional nights in your tour package but didn’t select this option when you booked online, please contact your travel consultant. They will check availability and make arrangements for you.

We advise checking estimates for flight times and prices before booking your trip online. Once your tour is confirmed by email, usually within 2 working days, you can go ahead and purchase your flights.

Please get in touch with us if you have missed out on flights and we’ll do our best to accommodate a change of dates.

In Scotland it’s possible to experience glorious sunshine and rain, all in one day. So although you might be travelling in summer, it’s best to be prepared for every season when deciding what to pack for your trip.

No matter the time of year, we recommend bringing:

• Walking boots or shoes with good grip
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Warm, insulated jacket
• Warm fleece or jumper
• Light base layers
• Warm hat, scarf and gloves
• Sunglasses
• Rucksack
• Reusable water bottle
• UK plug adapter

You might also like to take an umbrella, handy if you find yourself spending a day touring the city sights in the rain. For more information, read our helpful packing guide for Scotland, complete with seasonal tips on what to bring.