Highlights of Scotland

When you arrive in Scotland, make your way to your accommodation in the Edinburgh city centre. Many travellers opt to take a taxi or use public transport, but for a more direct and comfortable ride, we will be happy to organize a private airport transfer for you.

For those arriving early in the day, we recommend spending the afternoon walking through the city, strolling along the Royal Mile and exploring the Old Town and New Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are also plenty of museums and landmarks to visit in the city centre, including the majestic Edinburgh Castle. For a spectacular view over the city, we recommend going up Calton Hill.

Tonight, you can enjoy dinner at one of Edinburgh’s many gourmet restaurants and spend the evening at your leisure.

Spend the night at Nira Caledonia or similar.

Today, your guide will pick you up to start your epic trip around Scotland. The tour will start with a drive across to the Kingdom of Fife where the first stop will be in the quaint village of Falkland. There you will visit the Renaissance Falkland Palace, the country residence of the Royal Stuarts.

You will then head east to explore the historic town of St Andrews, famous for being the home of golf and home to the oldest university in Scotland. As your guide continues north, you will pass Scotland’s first city of design Dundee before making a stop at the spectacular Dunnottar Castle for a fantastic photo opportunity. When you reach the hotel near Aberdeen, you will take part in a private whisky tasting for a flavour of the locally produced Speyside malts before enjoying a gourmet dinner.

Spend the night at Norwood Hall Hotel or similar.

Included:
• Breakfast at your accommodation
• Entrance to Falkland Palace
• Dinner and private whisky tasting at your accommodation

Average travel & exploration time: 8 hours

Today you will journey further into the Scottish Highlands, all the way to Inverness, the "Capital of the Highlands". The journey will take you through Royal Deeside for an enchanting drive into the Cairngorms National Park, famous for its wildlife, high peaks and beautiful Highland landscapes. On the way you will stop at the 16th-century Crathes Castle, where you will have time to explore the tower house and its grounds.

Your guide will then continue through Speyside, the heart of Scotland’s whisky-making country and home to over 40 distilleries. Your group will go on a tour of one of these local distilleries, Cardhu, with the opportunity to taste single malt whisky, known in Scotland as ‘water of life‘. When you reach the hotel near Inverness, the group will enjoy a gourmet dinner.

Spend the night at The Palace Hotel & Spa or similar.

Included:
• Breakfast at your accommodation
• Entrance to Crathes Castle
• Whisky tasting and tour of Cardhu Distillery
• Dinner at your accommodation

Average travel & exploration time: 8 hours

This morning, the tour will take us to the haunting Battlefield of Culloden Moor, the site where the last battle on British soil occurred in 1746, which also marked the end of the Highlander way of life. We’ll have some time to explore the visitor centre before getting back on the road. The next stop will be a visit to an even older site, the Bronze-age cemetery, Clava Cairns. This site includes passage graves, ring cairns and standing stones dating back roughly 4,000 years, making it older than Stonehenge.

In the afternoon, the guide will drive us north to explore the beautiful Black Isle Peninsula and head to Chanonry Point, where dolphins can sometimes be spotted at low tide in the Moray Firth.

Spend the night at The Palace Hotel & Spa or similar.

Included:
• Breakfast at your hotel 
• Entrance to Culloden Battlefield
• Dinner at your accommodation

Average travel & exploration time: 8 hours

Experience some of Scotland’s most famous attractions today. Your guide will take you to the mysterious Loch Ness, where you will hop aboard a boat tour. This is your chance to take photos of the dramatic surroundings and see if you can catch a glimpse of Nessie.

Next up the guide will drive through verdant countryside before making a stop at the iconic Eilean Donan Castle, a sight you will surely recognise from films. Then you will finally reach the Isle of Skye where dinner will be served at tonight’s accommodation.

Spend the night at Hame on Skye or similar.

Included:
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Dinner at your accommodation
• Loch Ness boat tour

Average travel & exploration time: 8 hours

Today you will have a full day to take in the magic of Skye, a haven for nature lovers. A new guide will take over for the day, starting with some time in Portree, where you can wander around, admiring the colourful houses and seaport.

The group will then take you to the northern part of the island, the breathtaking Trotternish Peninsula. This is where so many of the island’s mythical and spectacular landscapes lie.

Driving over the Quiraing, admire some of the jaw-dropping natural sights. You will see the waterfall plunging over the 90-metre (295-foot) Kilt Rock sea cliffs and pass by the iconic “The Old Man of Storr” rock pinnacle. You might even get to see some dinosaur footprints at the An Corran Beach at Staffin. You’ll return to your accommodation for the night and enjoy dinner as a group. 

Spend the night at Hame on Skye or similar.

Included:
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Dinner at your accommodation

Average travel & exploration time: 8 hours

Today, you will head south to the Sleat Peninsula of Skye. On the way you can admire the beautiful beaches, lochs, and glens of the region. At the foot of the Black Cuillin Hills, your guide will take you on a short walk to the crystal-clear Fairy Pools.

Then hop on the ferry from Armadale to Mallaig on mainland Scotland. On the drive to Fort William, you will stop at Glenfinnan. Here you can visit the Glenfinnan Monument, overlooking the beautiful Loch Shiel, and admire the Glenfinnan Viaduct high above. You may recognise it from the Harry Potter film series. Tonight, the group will enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Spend the night at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel or similar.  

Included:                                                                                                                            
• Breakfast at your accommodation
• Ferry from Armadale to Mallaig (30 minutes)
• Dinner at your accommodation

Average travel & exploration time: 8 hours

Today’s journey will take you down to Inveraray, on the shore of Loch Fyne. On the way, you will travel through Glen Coe, Scotland’s most famous valley offering breathtaking scenery. You may recognise it from films like Skyfall and Harry Potter. Here, you will go on a guided 20-minute walk, a perfect chance to take photos.

Then on the way south, you will have the chance to stop at Kilchurn Castle. It is a 15th-century fortress with a majestic backdrop. Finally, you’ll arrive in Inveraray where you can explore at your leisure before enjoying dinner with your travel companions.

Spend the night at The George Hotel or similar.

Included:                                                                                                                            
• Breakfast at your accommodation
• Dinner at your accommodation

Average travel & exploration time: 8 hours

Today’s drive takes you through the impressive Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, so you can take in more of its stunning scenery. First, stop in Luss, a charming medieval village on the banks of Loch Lomond.

Later, you will stop by the beautiful city of Stirling, where you will visit the impressive Stirling Castle sitting atop the hill and overlooking the town below. The last stop on this tour will be the Kelpies, 2 impressive horse-head statues that will capture your attention.

Back in Edinburgh, your driver-guide will drop you off at your accommodation. Tonight you can enjoy dinner at one of Edinburgh’s many gourmet restaurants and spend the evening at your leisure.

Spend the night at Nira Caledonia or similar.  

Included:                                                                                                                             
• Breakfast at your accommodation 
• Entrance to Stirling Castle

Average travel & exploration time: 8 hours

On your final day in Scotland, make your way back to the airport for your departure flight. You can also arrange a private airport transfer or additional nights in Scotland while booking your tour. If your flight is in the afternoon, you may have time for some last-minute shopping, a visit to one of Edinburgh’s many attractions, or to take one last stroll through the charming city centre.

Included:
• Breakfast at your accommodation