Scottish Isles & Glens

13 days
From $195/day
$2,541
4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
88%
Trip last updated: 1/1/2018
Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
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Overview

Highlights

    • Scottish Evening in Edinburgh: This fun evening starts with a 4-course dinner where you can sample the traditional Scottish dish of haggis, neaps and tatties. Then the music, dance and storytelling begins and offers you an insight into many aspects of Scottish life.
    • Eilean Donan Castle: This iconic castle is surrounded by majestic scenery. The first fortified castle was built in the mid 13th century and re-built through the centuries. Partially destroyed in a Jacobite uprising in 1719, Eilean Donan lay in ruins for the best part of 200 years. It took 20 years to restore from 1912 until its opening to the public in 1932.
    • Stay 2-Nights on Isle of Orkney: Experience island life on the largest island of the Orkneys and enjoy the majestic and historic sights throughout the island. Stay in the capital, Kirkwall, where you will have free time to browse around on your own and dine independently..
    • 5,000-Year-Old Village of Skara Brae: These 5,000-year-old ruins are of an incredibly well preserved stone settlement containing an intricate maze of dwellings. The site was revealed in 1850 by a violent storm and is now one of the most famous Neolithic sites in Northern Europe.
    • Whisky Tasting on Isle of Arran: Scotland is world-famous for its whisky, which is distilled all around the country. Walk through a working distillery to view the many steps of how whiskey is produced from the simple ingredients of malted barley and water. Try a sample “wee dram” at the end of the tour.
    • Highland Scenery: The northern part of Scotland is called the Highlands and provides wonderful scenic views as you travel through the high mountains, many of them covered in heather, or along rugged coastal routes.

What's this trip about?

    Experience the “real Scotland” as you journey off the beaten track to explore the northernmost part of the Highlands. Explore the Isles of Arran and Skye and stay two nights in Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney isles. Fairy-tale castles, falconry, Loch Ness, Glencoe and Edinburgh makes this a great in-depth tour.
Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeOperator does not provide
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityGlasgow
End CityEdinburgh

Travel Themes

Activities

Trip includes

    • Sightseeing by luxury coach
    • Professional tour director
    • 12 nights in hotels listed
    • Full breakfast daily (B) except on day 1:9 dinners (D) including, Scottish Evening in Edinburgh, 8 table d'hote dinners
    • Welcome get-together drink
    • Tour of Edinburgh
    • Loch Katrine steamboat cruise and cruise on Loch Ness
    • Ferry rides to Isles of Bute and Orkney
    • Sheepdog trials at Leault Farm
    • Blair Athol Distillery whisky tasting and tour
    • Reserved seats for Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on July 29 to August 14 departures
    • Edinburgh open-top bus tour
    • Walking tour of Edinburgh
    • Visits and admissions to Mount Stuart House, Eilean Donan Castle, Dunvegan Castle, Kilt Rock, Inverewe Gardens, John o’Groats, Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar, St Magnus Cathedral, Italian Chapel, Dunrobin Castle, Urquhart Castle, Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre and Edinburgh Castle
    • Audio headsets and group photo
    • Deluxe carry-on backpack, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
    • All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person
    • Free Wi-Fi on coaches and in hotel lobbies

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Itinerary

Day 1: Glasgow Arrival & Loch Katrine Cruise

Meals: Dinner

Your Scottish trip starts at 3:00 pm when you meet your tour director at your hotel, located in the village of Drymen, 20 miles north of Glasgow. Set out from your hotel and take a short drive through part of the Trossachs, often called “The Highl...

Day 2: Isle of Bute & Mount Stuart House

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Journey across a scenic Highland route and over the mountain pass of “Rest & Be Thankful.” A short ferry ride will bring you to the Isle of Bute where a drive around the coast will reveal stunning sea and island scenery. Take a g...

Day 3: Loch Lomond & Eilean Donan Castle

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Travel alongside the famous Loch Lomond, renowned for its unsurpassed beauty. Journey through Glen Coe, often considered one of Scotland’s most spectacular and beautiful places. Drive through Fort William and stop at a woolen mill fo...

Day 4: Isle of Skye & Dunvegan Castle

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Today explore the Isle of Skye and its Bonnie Prince Charlie associations. He fled to the island after his defeat at Culloden Moor. Travel to Dunvegan Castle, stronghold of the Chiefs of MacLeod for nearly 800 years, making it the ol...

Day 5: Inverewe Gardens & Ullapool

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Enjoy Highland scenery as you drive north along the west coast to visit Inverewe Gardens, where a haven of trees and shrubs was created from 50 acres of bleak headland in 1862. The varied plantings thrive due to the warmth of the Gul...

Day 6: Highland Scenery & Isle of Orkney

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Today explore the northernmost section of the Highlands which is sparsely populated with remote hamlets. See huge tracts of bogland, rugged mountains, coastline and vast areas of open land. Learn about the Highland Clearances, a trag...

Day 7: Orkney Sights & Skara Brae

Meals: Breakfast

Today explore the Isles of Orkney. Drive across the Churchill Barriers, created during World War II to deter German submarines. Discover the charm of the tiny Italian Chapel, built from two Nissen huts with elaborate paintings. View the Ring of...

Day 8: Dunrobin Castle & Inverness

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Return by ferry to the mainland and drive down the east coast to visit Dunrobin Castle, dating to 1275 but renovated in the mid-1800s. With 189 rooms this is the largest mansion in northern Scotland. Visit chambers containing pricele...

Day 9: Urquhart Castle & Culloden Battlefield

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Cruise into Loch Ness to visit the picturesque ruins of Urquhart Castle, once Scotland’s largest castle which was destroyed in Jacobite wars. Stop at the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre to learn about the conflict where Bonnie Pr...

Day 10: Sheepdog Trials & Whisky Tasting

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Drive past the majestic scenery of the Cairngorm Mountains to visit Leault Farm where skilled dogs obey commands to round up sheep. Continue south to Pitlochry to visit Blair Athol Distillery, Scotland’s smallest, which is set in a p...

Day 11: Edinburgh Castle & City Tour

Meals: Breakfast

This morning discover Edinburgh on a sightseeing tour. See the wide streets and elegant mansions of the 200-year-old Georgian “New Town” and walk along a section of the Royal Mile, the oldest part of the city where some houses reach 11 stories ...

Day 12: Extend your Stay in Edinburgh

Meals: Breakfast

spend the day on an independent hop-on hop-off bus tour of Edinburgh. Also enjoy a walking tour around parts of the city’s historic areas – you will have a selection of different tours and routes.

Day 13: Depart Edinburgh for Home

Meals: Breakfast

Your tour ends after breakfast.

Dates & Availability

Price from
$2,541
Price per day
$195
Single supplement
(single occupancy)
$641

Scottish Isles & Glens Reviews & Ratings

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Tour Operator

CIE Tours

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Associations

United States Tour Operators Association

Details

Accommodation:

The Winnock Hotel

Picture yourself soaking up the atmosphere of this 18th century Inn near Loch Lomond, sitting beside the roaring log fire whilst planning your day's exploration of the surrounding beautiful Trossachs countryside with many castles, gardens and city attractions within easy reach.

The Balmacara Hotel
near Kyle of Lochalsh

This traditional Highland hotel offers a peaceful haven of relaxation with great views of the Isle of Skye and the hills of Wester Ross. A family run hotel, emphasis is on high standards of personal service to ensure your stay will be memorable. All rooms are tastefully decorated in either Victorian or contemporary style and many enjoy stunning views. The Victorian-themed dining room specializes in local seafood and game and the bar serves casual meals. The hotel is close to the Isle of Skye Bridge and Eilean Donan Castle.

The Royal Hotel
Ullapool

This property was originally a 19th century coaching inn and has undergone many renovations to create a warm and welcoming oasis of comfort, set in a wonderful scenic area. Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast buffet with a wide range of foods in the stylish restaurant, which is also the setting for dinner with fresh produce and seafood. Relax in the cocktail bar or the Waterfront Bar, which also serves snacks. The hotel offers 55 rooms, half of which boast breathtaking views over Loch Broom and the rugged mountain landscapes beyond.

Ayre Hotel
Kirkwall

This modern, family-run hotel is in a classic Victorian building on Kirkwall Harbour. Rooms are modern and sophisticated, with flat-screen TVs, free WiFi, tea and coffeemaking equipment and upscale bedding; many have harbor views. Full Scottish breakfast is included, and there's a restaurant serving locally-sourced fare, plus a casual sports bar with a pool table, darts and a light menu.

Columba Hotel
Inverness

Opened in 1881, this grand historic hotel combines contemporary style and amenities with traditional comfort. Each room features excellent modern facilities including movies, music, radio on demand, and high-speed wireless and free Wi-Fi Internet access. There is a traditional roast meal restaurant with a range of hot, cold and grilled options. This hotel has a great location in the heart of Inverness with splendid views of the Ness River and Inverness Castle.

Apex Grassmarket Hotel
Edinburgh

This contemporary hotel is a 7-minute walk from Edinburgh Castle and some of the guest rooms have views of the castle. Sophisticated yet casual rooms have designer toiletries, free WiFi and 42-inch flat-screen TVs, as well as tea and coffeemaking equipment. A brasserie offers breakfast, lunch and evening meals, plus city views, and private dining is available at a rooftop restaurant with castle views. Other amenities include an indoor pool, a fitness suite and 6 meeting rooms. The Grassmarket hosts an excellent collection of pubs and restaurants of many types.

Group size:

Standard Group - 25 + people

Trip Excludes:

    Meals included:

    12 Breakfasts and 9 Dinners

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