Private Guided Tours of Scotland

Scotland is a safe country for visitors, and you can rest easy knowing there’s a good public healthcare system in place. For tips and advice before you travel, we recommend reading this short guide to health and safety in Scotland.

On a privately guided trip, you and your chosen travel companions will be accompanied by an expert guide. Your guide will be there throughout your trip, sharing their insider knowledge with you.

Your dedicated travel consultant will select your tour leader to match your personal interests where possible, whether that’s Scottish ancestry, photography or something else.

Each day your driver-guide will take you to the region’s top attractions, and perhaps even some hidden gems, telling stories and answering questions as you go. All of this extra insight that your guide provides will bring Scotland to life and make your trip extra special.

If you love the idea of discovering Scotland with a guide, but would prefer to meet like-minded travellers, then we recommend a Scotland small group tour. This involves exploring Scotland in a spacious minibus driven by a guide. And with groups of up to just 15 guests, you’ll still get to enjoy one-to-one time with your guide.

A local tour guide will make your journey come alive, as you’ll get to see Scotland through the eyes of someone who calls it home!

As well as being your private chauffeur, your guide will share Scottish folklore stories, alongside facts about the country’s history and natural landscape. And, of course, they’ll take you to the top spots for photographs.

Plus, you can relax knowing that your licensed guide has been chosen by us to meet our high service standards. All of this means you’re sure to have an unforgettable trip!

Visit Scotland and you’ll be able to soak up its diverse landscapes and coastline, along with a number of treasured heritage sites.

Exploring Edinburgh – the Scottish capital – is a must. Packed with UNESCO-listed sites, one of the best ways to see the city is on a walking tour. If this is something you’d like to do, let your travel consultant know and they’ll add a guided city excursion to your itinerary.

Here’s a list of more things to do and the best places to go in Scotland:

• • Wander Edinburgh’s historic Grassmarket district and head to Calton Hill for stunning views
• • Visit Scotland’s largest lake, Loch Lomond, in the Trossachs National Park
• • Head to the legendary Loch Ness and learn about the myths that lie within
• • Take an Isle of Skye tour and you’ll be treated to breathtaking scenery
• • Watch as the Jacobite train (or “Hogwart’s Express”) steams through Glenfinnan
• • Experience Glen Coe, an enchanting valley where mountains and rivers await
• • Tour a whisky distillery or two on the Isle of Islay and taste the island’s famous single malts
• • Stroll along the beaches and charming streets of the seaside town, St Andrews
• • Uncover the dramatic real-life filming locations that feature in the iconic Outlander series
   

In fact, for fans of this hit TV show, a Scotland Outlander trip is a wonderful way to go behind the scenes. Your expert guide will take you to the series’ most beautiful and historic filming locations, including Perthshire and the Clava Cairns. Plus, you could check out some of the best places to eat on the Outlander Trail.

Or perhaps you’d like to dive into the world of Scottish whisky. In this case, a privately guided whisky tour of Scotland is one of the best ways to make the most of your time here.

This is because your guide will give you the insider scoop on the top single malts and take you to a number of distilleries. Not only that, but you’ll also be free to enjoy a “dram” (glass) or two as your guide does all of the driving.

Check out these articles for tips on where to go and what to do in Scotland, depending on the season:

• • Scotland in summer
• • Scotland in winter
• • Why you should spend next spring or autumn in Scotland

Historians estimate that there were once over 3,000 castles scattered across Scotland. While not all of these remain, you’ll still have plenty of options if castles are one of the reasons you’re visiting Scotland.

You’ll find Scotland’s castles in all shapes and forms. These include fully restored and maintained sites that are open to the public, private family homes, lavish hotels, and even active army barracks.

Meanwhile, others have fallen into ruin. But these can make for some of the most dramatic sights. For example, head to Dunnottar Castle, perched atop the Aberdeenshire sea cliffs, to see for yourself.

To get an idea of the best ones you should visit, be sure to read this guide to the top Scottish castles. For instance, if you’re spending time in the capital city, don’t miss Edinburgh Castle, home to the United Kingdom’s oldest crown jewels.

You could also check out the castles and royal residences used as filming locations in the hit TV series The Crown. 

Yes, it’s possible to see the northern lights in Scotland during the winter months. But it’s good to know that glimpsing the aurora here is considered a rare treat. This is because the Arctic Circle is where sightings are most frequent, and Scotland lies south of here.

So, if seeing the aurora borealis is high on your wish list, we recommend one of these northern lights packages in Iceland, Norway or Lapland.

Finding the perfect time to visit Scotland depends on where you’d like to go and what you’d like to do on your trip. And while Scotland does experience distinct seasons, the weather is often variable. So much so, that you may hear the locals describing the weather as “four seasons in a day”.

Summer is the most popular time for a trip to Scotland. But travel anytime between April and September, and you can expect milder temperatures and drier weather compared to the winter.

The countryside will be at its most colourful during spring and summer, flaunting wildflowers, heather-clad hillsides and vibrant greenery. As well as being a great time for enjoying the outdoors and wildlife watching, you could attend a Scottish festival or lively Highland games.

Venture to Scotland in the autumn and you’ll see the country’s deciduous woodlands set ablaze with fiery autumnal shades. Or, travel in winter – December to March – if it’s brisk walks, frosty scenery and snow-dusted mountains that you’re after.

It’s also worth noting that Scottish whisky tours are possible from March to October. This is because some distilleries have downtime during winter and are closed to the public.

Discover more about Scottish tours in summer and winter breaks in Scotland by reading this helpful blog: Best time to visit Scotland – your complete guide.

The vehicle you will travel around Scotland in depends on the size of your party. We can cater for group sizes up to 15. But no matter how many of you are travelling, your car or minibus will be spacious, clean and comfortable.

Nordic Visitor privately guided trips can accommodate up to 7 people on an escorted tour of any length.

If there are over 7 of you, then it’s good to know that private tours are limited to a maximum of 6 days travelling with a guide. This is to ensure we comply with the UK’s minibus tour regulations.

You’ll meet your private tour guide the day after you arrive in Edinburgh. This lets you rest after your journey and gives you the freedom to spend a day touring Edinburgh yourself.

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

Yes, you can personalise your trip by extending your stay in Edinburgh at either end of your private tour. Or you might like to customise your itinerary by adding optional excursions. For example, you could have afternoon tea at Edinburgh Castle or take a guided walking tour of Edinburgh’s underground vaults.

Plus, if it’s more convenient for your onward travel arrangements, you could switch your final night’s stay to Glasgow.

For more information, or if you have something specific in mind, don’t hesitate to ask your travel consultant.

We recommend that you organise your flights once your package has been booked and confirmed by your dedicated travel consultant. This ensures that your tour is secured, and you have the correct timing information when you book your flights.

You can of course check for flight dates and times beforehand. And if you have any questions, you can contact your consultant for advice.

Flight times to Edinburgh, Scotland will vary depending on where you’re flying from, and what airline you’ll be travelling with.

This is a list of estimated journey times from some of the world’s largest airports:

North America

• Toronto (YYZ) – 6 hours 40 minutes
• New York (JFK) – 7 hours
• Atlanta (ATL) – 10 hours 40 minutes
• Vancouver (YVR) – 12 hours
• Los Angeles (LAX) –13 hours
   

Europe

• Amsterdam (AMS) – 1 hour 25 minutes
• London Heathrow (LHR) – 1 hour 30 minutes
• Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) – 1 hour 45 minutes
• Keflavík (KEF) – 2 hours 20 minutes
   

Australia

• Perth (PER) – 20 hours 30 minutes
• Melbourne (MEL) – 24 hours
• Syndey (SYD) – 25 hours 15 minutes
   

Asia

• Dubai (DXB) – 9 hours 50 minutes
• Delhi (DEL) – 12 hours
• Beijing (PEK) – 12 hours 45 minutes
• Tokyo Haneda (HND) – 15 hours 30 minutes
• Hong Kong (HKG) – 16 hours 10 minutes
   

As well as flying into Edinburgh Airport, you could check flights to Glasgow International Airport. Journey times will be similar to those listed above but you might find that connections vary if you’re travelling from further afield.

If you do travel to Glasgow, you can get to Edinburgh city centre via good transport links. These include frequent trains and buses.

Scottish weather is renowned for being varied. Indeed, you could experience rain and blue skies with sunshine all in one day. With that in mind, it’s best to prepare for all seasons when packing for your trip.

Here’s a list of recommendations to get you started:

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

You might also like to bring an umbrella, handy for city sightseeing on a rainy day. For more information, read our handy Scotland packing guide, complete with advice on what to bring depending on the season.