Spend a week travelling across Scotland and immersing yourself in the culture, heritage and historical sites of the Highlands. You’ll have the services of a private, local guide who will drive you around and tell you the tales behind each location. This way you’re in good hands as you discover the secrets and legends of Scotland. Travel from Edinburgh to St Andrews before enjoying a 2-night stay on the Isle of Skye. This and more awaits!
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. First, you’ll cross the Firth of Forth into the Kingdom of Fife.
Your first stop will be the quaint village of Falkland, where you may like to explore the Renaissance palace. From here, your guide takes you east to St Andrews, famous for being the home of golf and of the oldest university in Scotland. Although small, there is plenty to discover in this seaside town, including 3 beaches, a castle, cathedral ruins and charming streets.
Spend the night in the St Andrews area.
Average driving distance: 97 km / 60 miles
Average travel & exploration time: 7-8 hours
Today your guide continues to take you north. You’ll cross the River Tay to Dundee and travel west towards Perth. From here, you’ll head 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, your guide will take you to explore a few more intriguing sights. You could wander around 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 can also visit 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: 250 km / 155 miles
Average travel & exploration time: 7-8 hours
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
Today your guide takes you around some of the best-known spots on Skye. This island is a haven for nature lovers so prepare for enchanting and majestic landscapes.
You’ll travel around the northern part of the island, the striking Trotternish Peninsula. Here you’ll have the option to enjoy scenery such as the Fairy Glen and the Old Man of Storr rock pinnacle. You could also see the beautiful Kilt Rock Waterfall, the intriguing Quiraing and the An Corran Beach at Staffin, where you may spot ancient dinosaur footprints.
Spend another night on the Isle of Skye or nearby.
Driving distance: 70 km / 45 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 6-7 hours
Heading south to the Sleat Peninsula, you’ll be able to admire the beautiful beaches, lochs, and glens of the region. Before heading south, you could talk to your guide about visiting Talisker Distillery or taking a walk to the crystal-clear Fairy Pools at the foot of the Black Cuillin Hills.
In the afternoon, catch a ferry from Armadale to Mallaig on the mainland. On your journey, talk to your guide about potential stops. We recommend a stop at Camusdarach Beach and Glenfinnan. You can visit the Glenfinnan Monument facing Loch Shiel and admire the Viaduct, which featured in many films, such as Harry Potter.
Spend the night in the Fort William area.
Ferry duration: 30 minutes
Average driving distance: 135 km / 85 miles
Average travel & exploration 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. Or visit the grand Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s top attractions. If time allows, the Kelpies, two giant horse-head sculptures, are an impressive sight to behold. In Edinburgh, your guide will drop you off at your accommodation and you can enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure.
Spend the night in Edinburgh.
Average driving distance: 261 km / 162 miles
Average travel & exploration 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 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.
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.
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.
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 call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline.
During your tour, there will always be an Edinburgh-based travel expert on call to handle any unforeseen situations, such as unusual weather or events.
Whether or not you need a visa to visit Scotland depends on your nationality.
From 2025, you need either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK. This also applies to visitors from countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia and the EU.
You can check if you need a visa or an ETA on the UK government website.
Your passport needs to be valid for the entirety of your stay in the UK. 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.
Yes, you can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can easily 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 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.
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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