One of the most magical ways to discover the secrets and stories of Scotland is with a local guide. On this 5-day tour, you’ll explore Edinburgh before being whisked into the Highlands by your private driver-guide. You’ll be able to let them know what you want to see most on your route to tailor the experience. Photograph ancient castle ruins, marvel at high mountain peaks and soak up the welcoming atmosphere of Scotland.
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 accommodation 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.
Included:
• Private airport transfer from Edinburgh Airport
Your private tour around Scotland starts today! Your guide will pick you up from your accommodation in a comfortable vehicle and set off. They will drive you north into the Cairngorms National Park. On the way you can discuss possible stops with your guide, including the picturesque village of Dunkeld and the 13th-century Blair Castle.
Arriving near Inverness, you can visit the Battlefield of Culloden Moor, to see where the last battle on British soil occurred in 1746, marking "the beginning of the end for the Highlands." Nearby you could also roam around Clava Cairns, a series of tombs and standing stones dating back roughly 4,000 years.
Spend the night in the Inverness area.
Average driving distance: 251 km / 156 miles
Average travel & exploration time: 8-9 hours
You have a day full of incredible Scottish sights in front of you. First, your guide will drive you to the shores of Loch Ness where you could visit the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition or the Urquhart Castle ruins. You could also opt to take a boat tour onto the loch to admire the views and try to catch a glimpse of the Loch Ness monster.
Then your journey continues south to Glenfinnan, where a monument to the first Jacobite uprising stands on the shores of Loch Shiel. This village is also home to the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, featured in the Harry Potter films.
Spend the night in the Fort William area.
Average driving distance: 150 km / 94 miles
Average travel & exploring time: 8 hours
Today, your guide drives you across the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park back to Edinburgh (you can choose to end your trip in Glasgow in the optional activities).
This journey takes you past the magnificent Glen Coe, Scotland’s most famous and scenic valley. Then you could stop for a fun photo opportunity at Doune Castle. If time allows, you could also stop by Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s top attractions, or at the impressive Kelpies, two giant horse-head sculptures.
Spend the night in Edinburgh.
Average driving distance: 261 km / 162 miles
Average travel & exploring time: 8-9 hours
It’s time to say goodbye to Scotland. A private driver will pick you up from your accommodation to take you directly to Edinburgh Airport in time for your flight home.
If your flight is in the afternoon, you may have time for some last-minute shopping, to visit one of Edinburgh’s many museums, or to take one last stroll through the charming city centre.
Included:
• Private airport transfer to Edinburgh Airport
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.
We recommend that you read carefully through the following information before booking this self-drive tour in Scotland. We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions here so you know what to expect. You’ll also find more practical advice and attraction recommendations in our online Scotland Travel Guide.
On a private tour with Nordic Visitor, you can sit back and enjoy a curated itinerary, led by your personal driver-guide.
Your guide will be an expert in Scottish history and culture. They’ll share their local knowledge and stories with you and take you to hidden gems across the country. They will also be happy to tailor your journey to your unique needs and interests along the way.
Your experience will also begin and end with private airport transfers.
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 touring vans.
During the booking process, you'll be able to book a group up to 7 people. Should you have 8 people in your travelling group, please contact us.
Your Scottish experience begins the moment you land at Edinburgh Airport. Make your way to the arrivals hall, where a driver will be waiting to greet you. From there, you’ll enjoy a comfortable ride in a private vehicle to your accommodation in the city.
On the day of your departure from Scotland, a private car will pick you up from your accommodation in Edinburgh. Your driver will then take you straight to the airport in time to catch your flight home.
During your Scotland tour, you’ll stay in accommodation hand-picked by our local travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience.
In Scotland, you can choose from single or double rooms. Twin, triple and family rooms are not commonly available. Please also note that in Scotland room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America.
For example, a double room often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.
Due to the historic nature of the properties we usually select, most of the rooms are only accessible by stairs. Lifts are not common in Scottish hotels. Please let us know as soon as possible if you are not able to walk up stairs.
This tour includes a few guided walks along the itinerary. This means you must be prepared and able to walk between 1-3 kilometres (0.6–2 miles) daily. You also need to be able to carry your own luggage when boarding the vehicle and at each accommodation.
Travelling with your kids? No problem! Just let your travel consultant know during the booking process. We’ll arrange any cots needed at your accommodation.
If you need multiple rooms, please note that we can't guarantee family rooms or interconnecting rooms at all accommodation. You may even have rooms on different floors.
If you'd like us to arrange for a car seat to be provided for your trip, please let us know ahead of time. This will incur a small extra cost.
Summer in Scotland might be warmer than you expect! While temperatures are unlikely to reach higher than 20°C (68 °F), heatwaves in Scotland are usually humid. This means it can feel hotter than it is, especially in Edinburgh or Glasgow.
That said, the weather is also very changeable, so you’ll want to come prepared for anything. Rain is always a possibility, and when the sun sets a warm jumper or jacket is a must. We’ve prepared a useful packing guide to help you decide what to bring with you.
Please note that sightseeing is dependent on weather and road conditions. This means that your itinerary might need to be altered if these conditions are not favourable during your visit. If something unexpected occurs, you can call our 24/7 helpline to speak directly with a Nordic Visitor staff member.
Whatever time of year you’re in Scotland, you’re likely to see lots of different types of weather. As you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors it’s a good idea to come prepared for a combination of weather conditions.
Here is a recommended packing list for a summer trip:
In some areas of Scotland, such as the Highlands and islands, you might notice small, pesky insects called midges. They’re most active on summer evenings and tend to swarm near still water. You can avoid bites by wearing long-sleeves and trousers and by packing an insect repellent.
And here’s our recommendations for a winter getaway:
For more information, check this packing list suggestion.
By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.
For support and advice during the day, you can ask your guide or call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline.
The Edinburgh-based travel expert on call will handle any unforeseen situations for you, such as unusual weather or events.
If you’re arriving from Canada, the United States, Australia or the European Union, you won’t need a visa to visit Scotland.
Visiting from another country? You can find the complete list of countries whose nationals require a visa to enter Scotland on the website of the UK government.
Your passport must also be valid during the entirety of your stay in Scotland. It’s a good idea to check your passport expiry date early in case you need to renew it.
Your breakfast is included at all your accommodation in Scotland. For the rest of your food, your spending money will depend on the standard of restaurants you decide to go to.
Budget between £15–£20 per person for each day’s lunch. Dinners at casual restaurants might cost between £20–£25. Meanwhile at upscale restaurants, you can expect to pay £40–£50 or more. This does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages.
This tour includes the service of a personal guide who will be happy to help you customise your experience along the way. They will get to know your interests, and you can tell them about any places where you would like to stop on the drive.
You can also customise this tour online during the booking process. You’ll be able to add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades.
If you enjoy your experience with your guide, it’s a nice idea to give them a tip.
It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the guaranteed departure calendar to see the availability. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking.
Nordic Visitor offers 10–20% deposits to reserve your tour. The remaining balance is due 30 days before you travel.
Many tours are also open for the following year if you like to plan well in advance. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us.
After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip.
At that time, they’ll confirm the availability of your tour. Then the booking process starts, which may take a few weeks. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. You will also receive more information about what to expect during your trip.
No need! Nordic Visitor is already working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours.
Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund.
You can get in touch with our Scotland travel experts ahead of your trip if you have any questions. The live chat option is useful for getting a quick reply as someone answers live every day during office opening hours.
Once you’ve booked, we’ll provide you with a travel guide packed full of local tips and top attractions for your visit. You can also check out our online Scotland Travel Guide where we’ve compiled useful information about topics, including:
After you have booked your tour, it will only take a few days to confirm its availability. But it may take a few weeks to create your itinerary and book everything. Once your trip details are finalised, we’ll send you e-copies of your travel documents.
Upon your arrival in Scotland, you’ll receive a welcome bag with hard copies of your itinerary, attraction and tour vouchers, the Nordic Visitor Scotland Travel Guide and more.
So when do you check in? And what can you expect upon landing in Scotland?
After picking up your luggage, make your way to the arrivals hall, where the driver of your private transfer will be waiting for you. They’ll welcome you to the country and take you straight to your accommodation in Edinburgh.
Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts between 2–4 PM.
You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel if you have to wait. Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your arrival if you’d like an early check-in.
When you depart may depend on the time of your return flight. Check out early if you’re heading to the airport for a morning flight. On the other hand, if you’re flying home later in the day, you might like to enjoy a leisurely day or visit one more attraction.
You will need to check out from your room, but will be able to store your luggage at the hotel reception. Simply return later to collect your bags before catching public transport or a taxi to the airport.
All bookings are billed in British Pounds (GBP), the local currency in Scotland and the UK.
Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. This means conversions from GBP to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.
These should tide you over until you’re in Scotland to take your own pictures.
Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.
Be comfortable and enjoy the journey as a passenger in the vehicle of your choosing.
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Whether you have a single question or a special request, we're here for you.
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