Sit back, relax and enjoy the sights on a private tour of Scotland. You will be accompanied by an expert local guide who will drive you into the impressive Highlands. Check Edinburgh, Loch Ness and the Isle of Skye off your travel wish list. Plus, each day you will be able to tailor your itinerary with your guide, getting an insider look at Scotland’s hidden gems and history.
Just a few of the majestic sights you’ll take in during your trip.
A day-by-day plan to guide your journey.
Upon your arrival in Edinburgh, you will be greeted by a private driver who will take you to your hotel in the city centre. If you arrive early in the day, we recommend spending the afternoon walking through the city, strolling along the Royal Mile and exploring the Old and New Towns, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are also plenty of museums and landmarks to visit within the city centre, including the majestic Edinburgh Castle.
Spend the night in Edinburgh.
Today your guide will pick you up from your hotel in a comfortable vehicle to start your private tour. The first stop will be the quaint village of Falkland, where you may like to explore its Renaissance palace. If time allows, you can head east to the town of St Andrews, famous for being the home of golf and of the oldest university in Scotland. Then, you’ll continue north, passing by Dundee, a UNESCO City of Design. You can decide with your guide if you’d like to take the direct route to Aberdeen, or if you might take the coastal scenic route, which will take you past the spectacular Dunnottar Castle, near Stonehaven.
Spend the night in the Aberdeen area.
Driving distance: 235 km / 135 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 9 hours
From Aberdeen, your guide will take you into the Scottish Highlands. You’ll first journey along the “Deeside Tourist Route”, an enchanting route through the Cairngorms National Park. On the way, there are plenty of castles that you could visit, including 16th-century Crathes Castles, or you can ask a recommendation from your guide. You will then continue to Speyside, which is famous for its whiskies. There are over 40 distilleries to choose from, such as Glenfiddich or Aberlour, if you would like to visit one of them*.
Spend the night in the Inverness area.
*Please contact us if you would like to book a distillery tour in advance. This is highly recommended if you have a specific distillery in mind.
Driving distance: 240 km / 150 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 8 hours
Today your guide will take you to explore Inverness and its stunning surroundings. You will be able to wander around the historic Battlefield of Culloden Moor and witness the Bronze-age cemetery Clava Cairns. A bit further out, Cawdor Castle and Gardens is a 14th-century castle linked to Macbeth, which you might enjoy visiting. You might also choose to hop onto the nearby Black Isle to see the natural landscapes of the Moray Firth.
Spend another night in the Inverness area.
Driving distance: 105 km / 65 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 7 hours
Take in some of the most famous sights in Scotland today. Your guide will first drive you to the shores of Loch Ness where you can visit the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition. You could visit the Urquhart Castle ruins or take a boat tour onto the loch to admire the views and try to catch a glimpse of the Loch Ness monster. From there, you’ll continue west toward the breathtaking Isle of Skye. On the way, if you wish, you can ask your guide to stop at the iconic Eilean Donan Castle for a good photo opportunity.
Spend the night on the Isle of Skye or nearby.
Driving distance: 185 km / 115 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 8 hours
A private driver is the best way to take full advantage of your day on Skye. You will visit the main village of Portree, with its colourful buildings and boutiques, before heading north to the striking Trotternish Peninsula. Here you’ll have the option to see highlights such as “The Old Man of Storr” rock pinnacle, Kilt Rock Waterfall, the Quiraing landscape, and the mystical Fairy Glen. You can decide with your guide where you would like to spend the most time and if you would like to go for certain walks.
Spend another night on the Isle of Skye or nearby.
Driving distance: 70 km / 45 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 7 hours
You will head to Skye’s southern Sleat Peninsula, characterised by beautiful beaches, lochs, and glens of the region. Depending on your interests, you may wish to stop for a walk at the crystal-clear Fairy Pools at the foot of the Black Cuillin Hills. Or you could go sample the local whisky at the Talisker Distillery (pre-booking is essential). In the afternoon, you will catch the ferry from Armadale to Mallaig to return to the mainland. Your guide will drive you to your accommodation, passing by Glenfinnan along the way. Here you can marvel at the Glenfinnan Monument and Viaduct, the latter of which features in the Harry Potter film series.
Spend the night in the Fort William area.
Ferry duration: 30 minutes
Driving distance: 135km / 85 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 8 hours
Today’s journey will be a scenic one, so don’t hesitate to let your guide know if you have specific interests. You’ll travel past Scotland’s most famous valley, Glen Coe, which offers world-famous scenery. This is a great location for a panoramic walk. Further, you could stop at the grave of Rob Roy at Balquhidder or to admire the beautiful Falls of Dochart in the village of Killin.
Spend the night in the Trossachs National Park area.
Driving distance: 130 km / 80 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 7 hours
Today’s drive will bring you back to Edinburgh (you can choose to end your trip in Glasgow in the optional activities below). You’ll travel through the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, where you could stop to take a nature walk, visit a distillery or, if time allows, enjoy a boat tour on Loch Katrine. For a fun photo opportunity, don’t miss Doune Castle, featured in many TV series and films. You could also stop by Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s top attractions, or the Kelpies sculptures.
Spend the night in Edinburgh.
Driving distance: 130 km / 80 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 8 hours
On your day of departure, a private driver will pick you up from your hotel to take you directly to Edinburgh Airport. If your flight is in the afternoon, you can do some last-minute shopping or sightseeing. You could walk up Castle Hill for one more view over the city, stroll through the Princes Street Gardens or wander down the Royal Mile to the elegant Holyrood Palace.
Customise your adventure with these Optional Extras.
We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.
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Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.
Don’t worry, we’ve got this covered.
These should tide you over until you’re in Scotland to take your own pictures.
We don’t like to brag, so we’ll let our happy customers do it for us.
Airport transfers were excellent. Drivers were on time and friendly. Accommodation was all good. You couldn't have paired our family with a better guide/driver than Dave. He made our Scotland experience so special by taking us off the beaten path and showing us some of the most beautiful natural sites and places in Scotland. We covered 1000 miles in distance in our 7 days. We learned so much from Dave.
From the moment we landed in Scotland, I felt comfortable and taken care of. Brenda was exceptional at her job and made the whole trip magical. I have already recommended your company to others.
So many wonderful memories of our tour were because of the exceptional service provided by Dave, our private tour guide. His knowledge was exceptional and we felt very welcomed by him. We all felt as if we were leaving a friend at the end of our tour. He greatly exceeded all of our expectations!
Our overall experience was very good, minus some accommodation that we did not like as much as the others. What made the tour exceptional was our guide, Dave. His knowledge of Scotland and professionalism made the trip. He was awesome about tailoring each day's itinerary to our likes and taking us off the beaten path to experiences and sights that we would never have found on our own.
Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.
Our best price per person when booking for two.
We recommend that you read carefully through the following information about what the tour includes, the itinerary, accommodation, and other useful information for your travel.
ABOUT OUR PRIVATE TOURS
This package is a private tour, which means you will have a dedicated, private local guide at your side throughout the trip. This tour also includes private airport transfers on arrival and departure, but it will not be the same driver.
During your time in the Highlands, as it will be just you and your driver, it will be easy to tailor the itinerary to your unique needs and interests. Get in touch with us if you would like to customise this package further.
YOUR PRIVATE TOUR GUIDE
This tour package includes the professional service of an experienced Scottish tour guide. They will drive you around Scotland and share their local knowledge, including hidden gems and stories, with you along the way. Depending on availability and on the size of your travelling party, we can offer a range of vehicles, such as premium executive cars, 4-wheel drives and a 16-passenger Mercedes-Benz mini-bus.
ACCOMMODATION
Our team of local travel experts carefully selects hotels and guesthouses around the country based on personal experience and comfort. In Scotland, please note that room sizes may vary and are based on European standard sizes, which means they may be smaller than in North America.
Please be aware that, due to the historic nature of the properties we often select, most of the rooms are only accessible by going up stairs. In some cases, no lifts are available. Please contact us if you are not able to walk up stairs.
FOOD & DRINK
A daily breakfast is included at your accommodation for the duration of your stay. Other meals and drinks are not included and will be at your own expense during the trip.
CURRENCY RATE
All bookings are charged in British Pounds (£, GBP). Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. Therefore, conversions from GBP to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.
AFTER BOOKING WITH NORDIC VISITOR
After booking your package with Nordic Visitor, you will be contacted within 2 business days by one of our travel consultants. They will serve as your dedicated contact person for all your travel needs before, during and even after your holiday.
Your travel consultant will provide you with details about your booking and any remaining payment (if not paid in full). You will also receive more information about what to expect during your holiday.
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