Legendary Scottish Isles, Edinburgh & Glasgow - Westbound 2025

11 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Additional images not provided by operator
Video not provided by operator
4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews  
87%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
none

USTOA

Small Ship Cruise
Explore all the riches that Scotland and its islands have to offer by sea, as you sail to the Orkneys and Shetlands, and the isles Mull, Skye, Lewis and more on a cruise between Glasgow and Edinburgh aboard a Ponant Explorer-Class ship, featuring private early-opening visits to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, a sea safari, and more.
From$9,990
See departure dates

Overview

Trip type
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • There's no better way to explore all the natural and cultural riches that Scotland and its islands have to offer – from treasured tartans and traditions of the clans
    • to the wonders of single malt whiskies at a distillery in the Highlands to the distinctive folkways of the captivating Scottish Isles...Our 11-day trip includes a 7-night cruise aboard the luxury small shipLe Dumont d'Urville
    • plus a choice of hotel stays in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Cruise to the celebrated Orkney and Shetland Islands
    • and the more remote isles of Mull
    • Skye and Lewis; explore eclectic Edinburgh
    • the traditions of Scottish music and dance
    • the Highlands' incredible scenery
    • and much more. Enjoy a visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse
    • a sea safari
    • and more.

What's this trip about?

    Explore all the riches that Scotland and its islands have to offer by sea, as you sail to the Orkneys and Shetlands, and the isles Mull, Skye, Lewis and more on a cruise between Glasgow and Edinburgh aboard a Ponant Explorer-Class ship, featuring private early-opening visits to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, a sea safari, and more.

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start City Edinburgh, Scotland
End CityGlasgow

Travel Themes

  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • Enjoy a visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, joining a local guide for a tour through the historic official residence of the monarch in Scotland Visits to Skara Brae, a Neolithic settlement, and Gerrannean Blackhouse Village, a living museum, on Orkney Mainland Tauck Exclusive private reception and dinner aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff and local guides Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $3,199 Glasgow and Edinburgh city sightseeing on hotel stays in the heart of the cities – 1 night in Glasgow, 2 nights in Edinburgh

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive Edinburgh

Tour begins 6:00 PM. 
A transfer is included from Edinburgh Airport or Edinburgh Waverley train station to your choice of hotels in the heart of the city: Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel or the Intercontinental Edinburgh The George. Settle in and join us this evening for a Tauck Exclusive spec...
Day 2 Holyroodhouse & Edinburgh sights

Under the watch of its lofty clifftop castle, Edinburgh rambles over rocky hills beside the sea, inviting you into its captivating maze of crooked medieval streets, cozy passages, avenues, shops, pubs, townhouses, and monumental pal...

Day 3 Edinburgh Castle and embark your Ponant ship

More Edinburgh sightseeing takes you to Old Town for a tour of iconic Edinburgh Castle, standing on a crag of volcanic rock above the city skyline; over one thousand years of turbulent history have played out within its venerated ha...

Day 4 A Day at Sea

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea today as we sail towards the Shetland Islands. A full schedule of activities will be offered throughout the day for you to choose from or simply sit back and enjoy a peaceful cruising day.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Le Bellot

PORTOFCALL : Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland

Day 5 Treasures of the Shetland Islands

The Shetland Islands are an archipelago of more than a hundred windswept islands, of which only 16 are inhabited; the rest are havens for wildlife. Towns and villages are few, but there are thousands of archaeological sites througho...

Day 6 Orkney Archipelago and Bronze Age monuments

The Orkney archipelago belonged to Norway until 1468 when the king of Norway gave them to the king of Scotland as collateral for a loan. When Norway tried to repay the loan, Scotland wouldn't give the islands back. But after all, wh...

Day 7 Lochs, brochs and standing stones

The Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides offers a dreamlike landscape of windy rolling hills, moors, vivid colors, and dramatic, rugged shores. Dock in the town of Stornoway, founded by Vikings in the 9th century, and take your choic...

Day 8 The Isle of Skye, castles and storybook views

Known in Gaelic as "isle of mist," Skye is steeped in Celtic and Norse legend, a land of faerie glens, storybook mountains, and otherworldly landscapes that seem to spring from Tolkien's Middle Earth. At Portree, a fishing town in a...

Day 9 The Isle of Mull

Sail to the Isle of Mull, a popular destination for naturalists and photographers in search of Britain's more elusive birds and wildlife. Anchor in Tobermory on a morning arrival for a choice of three excursions. Drive along the sce...

Day 10 Disembark and explore the city of Glasgow

Disembark at Greenock or Fairlie and drive to Glasgow, where a tour of city sights includes the Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis, George's Square, Buchanan Street, the Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art, and Prince's Square. This afterno...

Day 11 Journey Home

Tour ends: Glasgow, Scotland.
Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel, Glasgow, or VOCO Grand Hotel Glasgow to the Glasgow International Airport or the Glasgow Central Train Station. Allow three hours for flight check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Glasgow, Scotland

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Dates & Availability

Price From $9,990
Price per day$908
Last Updated: 11/13/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Double Standard
Single Standard
Double Luxury
Availability
03 May 2025
14 May 2025
$9,990
$14,785
$18,990
17 May 2025
28 May 2025
$10,590
$15,673
$19,590
18 Sep 2025
29 Sep 2025
$10,590
$15,673
$19,590

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Tauck Reviews & Ratings

4.4/5  Great
Excellent
16
Great
4
Average
0
Disappointing
3
Terrible
0
Write a Review

Other Tauck Reviews

K

Kurlyk40

May 2024

Written on

Great Scenery but Accommodations Lacking for cost

My husband and I booked the Yellowstone tour with Tauck expecting so much more with the accommodations, food, and tour director based on the price point. We were sa...

S

Susan

Jun 2023

Written on

Nine Tours and Done

Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done o...

C

Cougess

Jan 2023

Written on

Skip this cruise - not worth it

My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the...

Write a Review

Tour Operator

Tauck

none
View Profile

It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

youtube_video_1


twitter_1

What they’re known for
Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

Associations

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip

An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.

Save time

Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.

Save money

Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.

Travel confidently

Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.

Logistics

Accommodation

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
ALL_AGES
Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-GEW2025

Become a member

(it's free)
  • Save up to $700 per person
  • Access members-only specials
  • Personalize trip recommendations
Sign up and save
Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >