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Quiraing range in Isle of Skye

Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye - Private

(8 days / 7 nights)

4.9
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Spend a week seeing the best of Scotland

In just over a week you’ll be able to explore some of Scotland’s top attractions and see what makes this beautiful country so special. This private tour will take you from the historic capital of Edinburgh, into the rugged Highlands where you can visit medieval castles and ancient Neolithic sites. You will then have two nights on the Isle of Skye to take in the breathtaking sights of this iconic island, driving back through enchanting Glen Coe and the Trossachs National Park. All in a comfortable vehicle with a private guide at the wheel.

Looking for the winter version of this tour?

4.9
Free upgrade

8 days / 7 nights

Price p.p. from

The amount will be charged in GBP

Approx 4134 GBP

See special offers terms

— Why book with Nordic Visitor

  • Seamless travel experience
  • Comprehensive itinerary, personalised map & travel guide
  • Quality & value for your money
  • 24/7 helpline during your tour
  • Service from local travel experts in Scotland
  • Great customer reviews
  • Carbon offsetting included

Read more

— Book With Confidence

  • Optional cancellation insurance
  • Affordable deposits from 10%

Terms and conditions apply

Tour Highlights

  • Explore some of Scotland’s top sights on the famous and breathtaking Isle of Skye
  • Walk along the mysterious Loch Ness and visit the castle on its shores
  • Discover Scotland‘s historic capital Edinburgh and stroll up the Royal Mile
  • See the striking natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands
  • Enjoy some quiet time in nature at the Trossachs National Park
  • Explore the Capital of the Highlands, Inverness, and its surroundings
  • Photograph the iconic Eilean Donan Castle
  • Take in the breathtaking beauty of Glen Coe
  • Learn about the sights from a trusted, knowledgeable private guide

Travel style

Privately Guided i

Interest

Best Seller i, Castles and Royalty i, Classic i, Countryside and natural scenery i, Culture and History i, Heritage i, Highlands i, Honeymoon & Romance i

Season

Apr - Oct

Departure

Daily

Interest

Best Seller i, Castles and Royalty i, Classic i, Countryside and natural scenery i, Culture and History i, Heritage i, Highlands i, Honeymoon & Romance i

Driving distance

900/560 km/mi

Itinerary

A day-by-day plan to guide your journey.

  • Day 1: ARRIVAL IN EDINBURGH

    Upon your arrival in Edinburgh, you will be greeted by a private driver who will take you to your hotel in the city centre. For those arriving early in the day, we recommend spending the day 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 within the city centre, including the beautiful St Giles Cathedral and the majestic Edinburgh Castle.

    Spend the night in Edinburgh.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 2: INTO THE HIGHLANDS

    Today your guide will pick you up from your hotel in a comfortable vehicle to start your private tour. On the way you’ll have many possible stops, such as the picturesque village of Dunkeld, the 13th-century Blair Castle and the Highland Folk Museum inside the Cairngorms National Park. 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.

    Driving distance: 251 km / 156 miles
    Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 8-9 hours

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 3: LOCH NESS, CASTLES & ISLE OF SKYE

    Today, the guide will take you from Inverness to the famous Isle of Skye. You’ll be driven along the shores of Loch Ness and, if you have time, take a boat tour in search of its notorious and elusive monster, or go explore the nearby Urquhart Castle ruins. Further along the drive, make a stop at the iconic Eilean Donan Castle. When you arrive on Skye, your first stop will be at the scenic village of Portree, where you can explore and admire its colourful buildings and dine at a local restaurant.

    Spend the night on the Isle of Skye or nearby.

    Driving distance: 185 km / 115 miles
    Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 7-8 hours

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 4: THE ISLE OF SKYE

    Today you can take advantage of a full day on Skye, a haven for nature lovers. We recommend exploring the northern part of the island and taking your time around all the attractions on the breathtaking Trotternish Peninsula. There you can enjoy a walk up to “The Old Man of Storr” rock pinnacle and see the beautiful Kilt Rock waterfall. Other highlights include the Quiraing rock face, the An Corran Beach at Staffin, where you may spot ancient dinosaur footprints, and the mystical Fairy Glen.

    Spend another night on the Isle of Skye or nearby.

    Driving distance: 70 km / 45 miles
    Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 6-7 hours

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 5: SLEAT PENINSULA & GLENFINNAN

    Heading south to the Sleat Peninsula, you’ll be able to admire the beautiful beaches, lochs, and glens of the region. You may wish to stop on the way to enjoy a walk to the crystal-clear Fairy Pools at the foot of the Black Cuillin Hills or to sample Single Malt Whisky at the Talisker Distillery. In the afternoon, catch a ferry from Armadale to Mallaig on the mainland. Your guide will then drive you to Fort William. On the way we recommend stopping at Camusdarach Beach and at Glenfinnan where you can visit the Glenfinnan Monument, overlooking Loch Shiel, and admire the viaduct, featured in Harry Potter.

    Spend the night in the Fort William area.

    Ferry from Armadale to Mallaig: 30 minutes

    Driving distance: 135 km / 85 miles
    Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 7-8 hours 

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 6: TRAVEL ALONG DRAMATIC GLENS

    Today’s drive will take you past Scotland’s most famous valley, Glen Coe, which offers world-famous scenery. You’ll then travel along the scenic route via the seaside town of Oban onto the historical valley of Kilmartin Glen and past the charming village of Inveraray. This region is considered to have one of the most important concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Scotland, including cairns, standing stones, and castles.

    Spend the night in the Trossachs National Park area.

    Driving distance via Kilmartin Glen/Inveraray: 285 km / 180 miles
    Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 8-9 hours

    Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 7: TROSSACHS NATIONAL PARK TO EDINBURGH

    Your guide will bring you back to Edinburgh (you can choose to end your trip in Glasgow in the optional activities below). It will take you through the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, where you could stop to take a walk in nature, enjoy an optional steamship tour on Loch Katrine, or visit a local whisky distillery. For a fun photo opportunity, don’t miss Doune Castle, featured in Monty Python & the Holy Grail and Outlander. 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.

    Driving distance: 130 km / 80 miles
    Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 6-7 hours

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 8: DEPARTURE FROM SCOTLAND

    On your day of departure, a private driver will pick you up from your hotel to take you directly to the airport. If your flight is in the afternoon, you may take your last few hours to do some last-minute shopping, visit one of Edinburgh’s many museums, or take one last stroll through the charming city centre.

    See Activities for this day

Optional extras

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.

Map

Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.

Essential information

We recommend that you read carefully through the following information before booking this private 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:

  • A warm jumper or fleece
  • A waterproof jacket
  • Good walking shoes or boots (especially if you intend to hike and go on nature walks)
  • Light scarf or thin sweater
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Sunglasses, sunscreen and a sunhat

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:

  • A warm, windproof and waterproof jacket
  • Thermal base layers and cosy jumpers
  • A scarf, gloves and hat
  • Sturdy boots and some woollen socks

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.

There are limited laundry facilities in Scotland’s countryside, though you’ll find laundrettes in the cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness. Some hotels do offer dry cleaning for an additional cost.

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.

If you enjoy your experience with your guide, it’s a nice idea to give them a tip.

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.

It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking. 

Nordic Visitor offers 10–20% deposits so you can reserve your trip as early as it’s convenient for you. 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 ahead. 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.

Reviews

We don’t like to brag, so we’ll let our happy customers do it for us.

Our tour driver was awesome

Our tour driver was awesome and really was the highlight of our tour. The accommodations were great, but would have preferred to be within walking distance of a town.

Very pleased with the service

We selected Nordic after interviewing several companies and are generally very pleased with the service received. We appreciated their help in customising our trip and providing information.

We will never forget this trip

We booked a 7-day private tour for our group of five. From the limousine service to the hotel staff, we were never unsure about where to be or if we had questions, they were answered. Our tour guide Ross was absolutely fantastic! He knew everything about all of Scotland and really catered our tour to what we wanted. Ross even made a few special side trips when we mentioned the Highland cows and a specific pub we had heard about. He had a great wealth of knowledge of the history and told many fantastic legends along the way. He even had a music playlist to suit specific sights. He really made the trip extra special. We will never forget it.

Our guide was the highlight

The highlight of our travels is our guide. He listened closely to our interests and tailored the day to meet our needs. If I booked through Nordic Visitor again, it would be to travel with our guide again. It would have been very helpful to speak with our guide directly in advance. This would have allowed us to customise the route more. There is room for improvement regarding our hotels. The accommodation need to match the purchased experience. We feel let down that we paid a premium for the Superior option and received 3-star hotels.

Fantastic

Initial discussions and ease of booking was great. Trip was fantastic.

Very pleased

We were very pleased with the service and product offered by Nordic Visitor. Chris, our travel cosultant, was very attentive. Our actual guides, Peter and Caralina, were excellent. Nordic Visitor may not be the cheapest, but they did deliver, as promised.

Accommodation

Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.

Comfort Plus

In this category, you can expect standard rooms in good quality 3-star guesthouses or country hotels.

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Superior

In this category, you can expect standard rooms in 4-star hotels or boutique guesthouses.

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Vehicle

Be comfortable and enjoy the journey as a passenger in the vehicle of your choosing.

Private car

  • x7
  • x5
  • x5
  • A

Private car

  • Comfortable vehicle depending on the size of your travel group.
Free upgrade

Price per person from

The amount will be charged in GBP

Approx 4134 GBP

See special offers terms

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