Day 1: Glasgow Arrival
Your tour departs at 2:30 PM from your Glasgow hotel. Enjoy a tour around the city famed for its Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture. A prosperous port city due to international trade and shipbuilding, today Glasgow is Scotland’s cultural hub. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group and dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day 2: Isle of Bute | Mount Stuart House
Take a ferry to the Isle of Bute for stunning island scenery and a guided tour of the 19th-century Mount Stuart House. Spend time in Rothesay, the main town on the island. Enjoy a free evening in Glasgow and dine independently. (B)
Day 3: Loch Lomond | Eilean Donan Castle
Travel along the famous Loch Lomond, renowned for its unsurpassed beauty. Journey through Glencoe, often considered one of Scotland’s most beautiful regions. Travel through Fort William and visit romantic Eilean Donan Castle, spectacularly situated on an island at the meeting of three lochs. (B, D)
Day 4: Isle of Skye | Dunvegan Castle | Portree
Explore the Isle of Skye and its associations with Bonnie Prince Charlie. Tour Dunvegan Castle, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and former stronghold of the Chiefs of MacLeod. Enjoy photo opportunities including stunning Kilt Rock. Stop in picturesque Portree with its brightly painted houses clustered around the bay. Enjoy free time before dinner at your hotel. (B, D)
Day 5: Inverewe Gardens | Gairloch or Ullapool
Take in the Highland scenery as you head to Inverewe Gardens, where a haven of tropical trees and shrubs has been created. Continue to your hotel in Gairloch or Ullapool and enjoy some free time before dinner. (B, D)
Day 6: Dornoch | Dunrobin Castle | Orkney
Spend the morning in the historic seaside resort town of Dornoch before touring the nearby Dunrobin Castle, which boasts a fairytale setting with breathtaking coastal views. The grand castle's stunning architecture and majestic gardens were inspired by the Palace of Versailles. Admire the dramatic Highland scenery as you continue on to Scrabster on the northern coast for the ferry to the Orkney Islands, your home for the next two nights. (B)
Day 7: Orkney Sights | Ring of Brodgar | Skara Brae | St Magnus Cathedral
Today is an Orcadian adventure, visiting the heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a scenic drive around the north of the main island, past the Earl’s Palace at Birsay. Visit Skara Brae to see this amazing 5,000-year-old village. Travel on to the Ring of Brodgar, a ceremonial stone circle. Return to Kirkwall for a visit to St Magnus Cathedral, Scotland's oldest. Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening as you wish; Kirkwall is a lively town with many independent food producers, craft shops, galleries, and restaurants. (B)
Day 8: Italian Chapel | Inverness
Drive across the Churchill Barriers, causeways created during World War II to deter German submarines. Next explore the tiny Italian Chapel, a beautiful symbol of reconciliation built by Italian prisoners of war. Board a ferry back to the mainland and travel south to Inverness. Enjoy some time to explore this small city, known as the capital of the Highlands, before dining at your hotel. (B, D)
Day 9: Urquhart Castle | Loch Ness Cruise | Sheepdog Demonstration
Keep your camera handy as you visit the dramatic, picturesque ruins of Urquhart Castle, dating back to the 13th century. Then take a tranquil cruise on Loch Ness to admire the scenery. Next visit a sheep farm to watch highly skilled sheepdogs demonstrate how they herd their flock. Dine at your hotel this evening. (B, D)
Day 10: Whisky Tasting | Scottish Evening*
Visit The Glenturret Distillery, Scotland’s oldest working distillery, to discover the traditional art of whisky-making and enjoy a tasting. Set in the beautiful Perthshire countryside, the Glenturret has been producing whisky since the 1700s. Proceed to Edinburgh and your hotel in the Grassmarket area of the old town. Enjoy some free time before enjoying a festive Scottish evening with lively traditional entertainment over dinner. (July 27 – August 12 departures will enjoy an evening free to explore and dine independently.) (B, D*)
Day 11: Edinburgh Panoramic Tour | Edinburgh Castle
Discover Edinburgh’s highlights including the wide streets and elegant mansions of the 200-year-old Georgian “New Town” and the Royal Mile, the oldest part of the city. Tour the imposing Edinburgh Castle to see the Stone of Destiny and the Scottish Crown Jewels. Enjoy an evening free to explore independently. July 27 – August 12 departures attend the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade. (B)
Day 12: Independent Sightseeing in Edinburgh
Enjoy a day of independent sightseeing using the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus voucher. (B)
Day 13: Tour Ends In Edinburgh
Your tour ends after breakfast. (B)
B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner *Meal counts vary on Tattoo departures, as the Scottish Evening is replaced with the Tattoo and an independent dinner.
Authentic Local Experiences:
- July 27 – August 12 departures will have reserved seats for the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. All other departures will experience an exclusive Scottish Evening with dinner and traditional entertainment.
- Spend two nights on Orkney exploring its fascinating heritage, including the prehistoric monuments of the Stone Age and the surprising role the island played during World War II.
Trip Highlights:
- Dunrobin Castle
- Inverewe Gardens
- Isle of Skye
- Loch Ness
- Isle of Bute
- Mount Stuart House and Gardens
- Two Nights on Orkney Islands
- Skara Brae
- Urquhart Castle
- Scottish Evening*
*July 27 – August 12 departures.
Dining Experiences:
- 12 hot breakfasts (B) and 7 Dinners* (D)
*Meal counts vary on Tattoo departures, as the Scottish Evening is replaced with the Tattoo and an independent dinner.
Hotels:
- Novotel Glasgow Centre Hotel, Glasgow (2)
- Balmacara Hotel, near Kyle of Lochalsh (2)
- The Royal Hotel, Ullapool (1)
- Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall (2)
- Crieff Hydro Hotel, Perthshire (1)
- Crieff Hydro Hotel, Crieff (1)
- Novotel Edinburgh Centre, Edinburgh (3)
Please note: On this off-the-beaten path tour, your hotels will match the Highland atmosphere. Most of them are locally owned, family-run, and independent.