Scottish Highlands & Islands Tour
Isles of Skye, Mull, and Iona
Explore all of the highlights of Scotland and the Scottish Islands, with this 13-night escorted vacation. You will have stops in Glasgow, Inverness, Isle of Skye and Edinburgh.
What's Included
Transportation:
- Round-trip economy class air to Glasgow
- Round-trip airport transfers
- Transportation by private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach (with complimentary Wi-Fi)
Accommodations in hotels listed, or similar:
- 1 night in Glasgow at the Thistle Glasgow Hotel
- 3 nights in Edinburgh at The George Hotel
- 2 nights in Inverness at Mercure Inverness Hotel
- 2 nights in Thurso-Caithness, England at the St. Clair Hotel
- 2 nights in Isle of Skye at the Dunollie Hotel
- 2 nights in Craignure-Isle of Mull at the Isle of Mull Hotel
- 1 night in Glasgow at the Radisson Blu Glasgow
Guided sightseeing as described in itinerary, including:
- Glasgow, Stirling, Bannockburn, Edinburgh, Abbotsford, St. Andrews, Highlands, Inverness, Culloden Moor, Cawdor, Dunrobin, John O'Groats, Orkney Islands, Ullapool, Isle of Skye, Armadale-Mallaig, Glenfinnan, Lochaline-Fishnish, Isle of Mull, Isle of Iona
Other Inclusions:
- Full Scottish Breakfast daily
- 2 lunches; 9 three-course dinners with wine and choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Glasgow
- Ferry service to and from the Orkney Islands, the Isles of Skye, Mull, and Iona
- Services of a Professional Travel Director
- Hotel taxes, porterage, tips and service charges
Great Ways to Explore
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Visit Stirling Castle, a symbol of Scottish independence and favored residence of Scotland’s kings and queens.
The Scottish Highlands are romantic and beautiful.
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The Dunrobin Castle has been the seat of the Dukes and Earls of Sutherland.
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We've selected the most comfortable accommodations for you.
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Guided sightseeing in Edinburgh ensures you'll see all the highlights.
Note: Edinburgh Military Tattoo ticket included for departures on August 8, 15 & 22
This is our most comprehensive Scotland vacation! After a welcome dinner in Glasgow, head to Stirling for a visit of the castle and the Bannockburn Visitor Centre before arriving in Edinburgh for a 3-night stay. Your sightseeing in the Scottish capital includes Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace (except when the Queen is in residence), and an excursion takes you to Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford House. Next, travel north and stop at St. Andrews, the mountain resort of Pitlochry to visit a whisky distillery, and the Highland capital of Inverness. An included excursion takes in the Culloden Visitor Centre and Cawdor Castle. Also visit majestic Dunrobin Castle and enjoy a highlight falconry display before boarding a ferry for the Orkney Islands. Here, a Local Guide/driver shows you the unique sites, including a 5,000-year-old Neolithic village at Skara Brae, Skaill House, and the Ring of Brodgar, the area’s very own Stonehenge.
Enjoy a light lunch at the Tasting Hall café, tour the Orkney Brewery, and sample the local ale. Back on the mainland, skirt the northwestern coastline, where stunning scenery delivers you first to the quaint fishing port of Ullapool, where you enjoy a traditional fish & chips lunch. Next, head to the Isles of Skye and Mull for 2-night stays on each. Visits to the Museum of Island Life and the Museum of the Isles are included on Skye. From Mull, take the day excursion to the beautiful and fascinating Isle of Iona, an important religious settlement. Via Loch Lomond, return to Glasgow for one last overnight, a farewell dinner, and the end of your Scottish adventure.
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
Transportation:
- Round-trip economy class air to Glasgow
- Round-trip airport transfers
- Transportation by private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach (with complimentary Wi-Fi)
Accommodations in hotels listed, or similar:
- 1 night in Glasgow at the Thistle Glasgow Hotel
- 3 nights in Edinburgh at The George Hotel
- 2 nights in Inverness at Mercure Inverness Hotel
- 2 nights in Thurso-Caithness, England at the St. Clair Hotel
- 2 nights in Isle of Skye at the Dunollie Hotel
- 2 nights in Craignure-Isle of Mull at the Isle of Mull Hotel
- 1 night in Glasgow at the Radisson Blu Glasgow
Guided sightseeing as described in itinerary, including:
- Glasgow, Stirling, Bannockburn, Edinburgh, Abbotsford, St. Andrews, Highlands, Inverness, Culloden Moor, Cawdor, Dunrobin, John O'Groats, Orkney Islands, Ullapool, Isle of Skye, Armadale-Mallaig, Glenfinnan, Lochaline-Fishnish, Isle of Mull, Isle of Iona
Other Inclusions:
- Full Scottish Breakfast daily
- 2 lunches; 9 three-course dinners with wine and choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Glasgow
- Ferry service to and from the Orkney Islands, the Isles of Skye, Mull, and Iona
- Services of a Professional Travel Director
- Hotel taxes, porterage, tips and service charges
-
Visit Stirling Castle, a symbol of Scottish independence and favored residence of Scotland’s kings and queens.
The Scottish Highlands are romantic and beautiful.
-
The Dunrobin Castle has been the seat of the Dukes and Earls of Sutherland.
-
We've selected the most comfortable accommodations for you.
-
Guided sightseeing in Edinburgh ensures you'll see all the highlights.
Note: Edinburgh Military Tattoo ticket included for departures on August 8, 15 & 22
This is our most comprehensive Scotland vacation! After a welcome dinner in Glasgow, head to Stirling for a visit of the castle and the Bannockburn Visitor Centre before arriving in Edinburgh for a 3-night stay. Your sightseeing in the Scottish capital includes Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace (except when the Queen is in residence), and an excursion takes you to Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford House. Next, travel north and stop at St. Andrews, the mountain resort of Pitlochry to visit a whisky distillery, and the Highland capital of Inverness. An included excursion takes in the Culloden Visitor Centre and Cawdor Castle. Also visit majestic Dunrobin Castle and enjoy a highlight falconry display before boarding a ferry for the Orkney Islands. Here, a Local Guide/driver shows you the unique sites, including a 5,000-year-old Neolithic village at Skara Brae, Skaill House, and the Ring of Brodgar, the area’s very own Stonehenge.
Enjoy a light lunch at the Tasting Hall café, tour the Orkney Brewery, and sample the local ale. Back on the mainland, skirt the northwestern coastline, where stunning scenery delivers you first to the quaint fishing port of Ullapool, where you enjoy a traditional fish & chips lunch. Next, head to the Isles of Skye and Mull for 2-night stays on each. Visits to the Museum of Island Life and the Museum of the Isles are included on Skye. From Mull, take the day excursion to the beautiful and fascinating Isle of Iona, an important religious settlement. Via Loch Lomond, return to Glasgow for one last overnight, a farewell dinner, and the end of your Scottish adventure.
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
Day 1. Welcome to Glasgow!
Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax in Scotland’s largest city. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travelling companions for a welcome dinner with wine at your hotel. (Dinner)
Check-in - Thistle Hotel Glasgow
This 4-star hotel is in central Glasgow, and has large rooms, a sauna, steam room and indoor swimming pool with spa pool. The Otium Health & Leisure Club has a gym and also offers beauty and relaxation treatments at an additional cost. The quiet rooms are large and have private bathrooms, TVs, telephones and hairdryers. Many of the rooms are stylish and modern.The Thistle hotel has a bar and the Annlann restaurant serves traditional Scottish food with a modern twist. The Co.Motion coffee bar offers freshly made sandwiches and salads.
Day 2. Glasgow – Glengoyne – Stirling – Bannockburn – Edinburgh
Start your grand tour of Scotland with a stop in Aberfoyle, the charming village on the banks of the River Forth then follow the route along the Lake of Menteith and through Callander to Stirling. Take photographs of the Wallace Monument, testimony to William Wallace’s victory over Edward I of England’s troops at The Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, as re-enacted in the film Braveheart. Next, visit Stirling Castle, a great symbol of Scottish independence and favored residence of Scotland’s kings and queens. Today’s final highlight is the new Bannockburn Visitor Centre, commemorating the key battle in the Scottish Wars of Independence on June 23-24, 1314. Drive on to Edinburgh, your base for the next three nights. (Breakfast)
Check-in - The George Hotel
The George Edinburgh has been titled as an elegant Grade 2 listed building, equipped with business facilities such as 8 conference and event suites, including the magnificent Kings Hall with a capacity of 270 people. The George Edinburgh also has a new addition to introduce, Panorama, aptly named for its breath-taking views. No other hotel room in Edinburgh reaches the standard of stylish and sophisticated heights of The George Edinburgh's luxury bedrooms, with no finer place to rest after a long day of sightseeing, shopping the bustling districts or simply meandering at your leisure. The hotel offers superb and a truly personalised dining option with the Tempus Bar and Restaurant, serving seasonal produce with a menu that caters for the guests cravings and any dietary requirements. For elegance and opulence in abundance, The George Edinburgh looks forward to welcoming each guest to their award winning Hotel.
Day 3. Edinburgh
Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and famous scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the “Old Town,” drive up the narrow Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels, then explore Holyrood Palace (except when the Queen is in residence). The afternoon is free to enjoy the Scottish capital at your own pace. Don’t miss our optional Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis. (Breakfast)
Day 4. Edinburgh - Abbotsford
Today’s excursion brings you into parts of the Scottish Lowlands and Border Counties. First, take your photographs of Melrose Abbey, the burial place of Robert the Bruce’s heart, then enjoy a guided tour of Sir Walter Scott’s newly refurbished Abbotsford House which contains an impressive collection of historic relics, weapons, and armour, as well as an extensive library with over 9,000 rare volumes. On your way back to Edinburgh stop in Peebles, an attractive and bustling town on the Tweed River. This afternoon, enjoy a unique optional experience: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia to see how the Royal Family and crew of 240 lived and worked on board. Dinner rounds off this optional evening. (Breakfast)
NOTE: For departures on August 8, 15 and 22, tickets are included for tonight’s performance of the world-renowned Military Tattoo.
Day 5. Edinburgh – St. Andrews – Braemar – Inverness
Travel over the elegant Forth Road Bridge and through Fife to St. Andrews. Cross the Firth of Tay and via Dundee, head into the Highlands with a lunch stop in Braemar. Then, visit a Whisky Distillery before you drive through the Grampian Mountains to the Highland capital, where you spend the next two nights. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Check-in - Mercure Inverness Hotel
Enjoy warm Highland hospitality in Old Town Inverness at Mercure Inverness Hotel, situated in the heart of the vibrant city center on the banks of the River Ness. Rebuilt on the site of the original Caledonian Hotel, this modern hotel is just a 6-minute walk from Inverness train station and a stone's throw from the city's numerous pubs and restaurants.
Each of the 118 rooms come with flat screen TVs, complimentary WiFi, tea/coffeemaking facilities and views of the River Ness or Old Town. Explore the beautiful surroundings, including legendary Loch Ness six miles away or keep yourself in peak fitness with a workout in out fully-equipped gym. Enjoy a meal at the traditional brasserie with a bar.
Day 6. Inverness - Highlands
Fascinating visits on today’s excursion. At Culloden Visitor Centre the story unfolds of the crushing Hanoverian victory over Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Scottish clans. Then, call at romantic, fairy-tale Cawdor Castle, set in stunning grounds with beautiful gardens and home to the Thanes of Cawdor since 1370. Back in Inverness, the rest of the day is at leisure. Our recommendation for this afternoon would be to join the Loch Ness optional excursion, which includes a cruise on the loch. (Breakfast)
Day 7. Inverness – Thurso
Continue an unforgettable journey and follow the coast road to majestic Dunrobin Castle, for centuries the seat of the Dukes and Earls of Sutherland. Visit the formal gardens and enjoy a fascinating local favorite; Falconry Display. Before dinner you may want to join an optional excursion to a local pub. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Check-in - St. Clair Hotel
The St Clair Hotel was extensively refurbished in 2006 and achieved 3 stars in 2007. Unpack and relax in your room. All 34 rooms are freshly decorated and have the essential direct dial telephone, television with Freeview, hairdryer, hospitality tray and en suite shower rooms with complimentary toiletries. Explore Caithness and the Orkney Islands from the comfort of the St Clair Hotel, located only 2 miles from Scrabster harbour and 20 miles from John O'Groats. There is a wealth of history, geology and amazing scenery on our doorstep waiting to be discovered.
Day 8. Thurso. Excursion to the Orkney Islands
At John o’Groats, board a Ferry for the 45-minute crossing to South Ronaldsay, one of the Orkney Islands, where a local coach and driver-guide await you. Cross the four Churchill Barriers and overlook Scapa Flow, where the German fleet scuttled itself in World War I. Visit the Italian Chapel, built by prisoners of war in 1943 from scrap metal, concrete, and other materials. After a local favorite; a light lunch at the Tasting Hall café, take a guided tour of the award-winning Orkney Brewery and sample the local ale. Then, head for Skara Brae, where you see the fascinating remains of a 5,000-year-old Neolithic village and visit Skaill House. Yet more highlights: the Ring of Brodgar, the Orkneys’ Stonehenge, and finally Kirkwall, the small and picturesque island capital. Return to the mainland by Ferry in the late afternoon. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 9. Thurso – Ullapool – Isle of Skye
Enjoy the breathtakingly wild and unspoiled scenery, some of the finest in Britain. The northern coast is lined with miles of yellow sandy beaches and pretty estuaries, and the hills and mountains take on a purple hue as the summer progresses. This is Scotland at its best! Make a lunch stop in the quaint fishing port of Ullapool and enjoy traditional a local favorite; Fish & Chips at a local restaurant. Arrive on the Inner Hebridean Isle of Skye. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Check-in - Dunollie Hotel Broadford
Idyllic in location and aesthetic, Dunollie Hotel Broadford is nestled along the waterside on the Broadford Bay. Sitting at the foot of the mountains which lead to the famous Cullin Hills, the hotel is perfectly places for its guests to explore the island at their leisure.
During their stay, guests can enjoy meals at the Torridon View Restaurant at the hotel, which uses local produce and traditional Scottish recipes to fill bellies and warm hearts. Locally sourced ingredients such as shellfish from nearby waters are served as guests can gaze out over the bay as they sip a glass of carefully chosen wine or make their way to the Redhills Lounge for a local malt whiskey or ale.
Day 10. Isle of Skye
Striking landscapes, weird rock formations, and dramatic waterfalls will capture your attention on your drive around the Trotternish peninsula. Visit the thatch-roofed cottages at the Museum of Island Life, close to the last resting place of Highland heroine Flora MacDonald. Then, follow the spectacular coast route, stopping for photos of waterfalls and gorges, to the island capital of Portree. On the way back to Broadford, take in the views of the jagged and dark peaks of the Cuillin Hills. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 11. Isle of Skye – Glenfinnan – Isle of Mull
Call at the Clan Donald Centre for a visit to its Museum of the Isles and insight into 13 centuries of clan history before boarding your Ferry at Armadale to sail across the Sound of Sleat. Rejoin the mainland at Mallaig and follow the “Road to the Isles,” passing Glenfinnan. Take the Ferry to the Isle of Mull, where you conclude your day with a visit to the quaint island capital of Tobermory. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Check-in - The Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa
With panoramic sea views, extensive spa facilities and Sheallach-Na-Mara restaurant, The Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa should be at the top of everyone's list when planning a trip to Scotland. Enjoy stunning sea views over Craignure Bay in the superior Isle of Mull accommodations. Guest rooms are elegantly designed with contemporary, natural decor. Treat yourself to one of our spacious Executive Rooms, which feature divine little extras such as Tobermory whisky miniatures, bottled water, fluffy bathrobes and slippers. On property take full advantage of the hotels spa facilities, while experiencing breathtaking views and stunning sunsets while unwinding in the outdoor hot tub or indoor swimming pool.
Day 12. Isle of Mull - Iona Excursion
You will have the day to relax and enjoy the best of the Scottish western isles today. Drive across Mull for a visit to the beautiful and fascinating Isle of Iona. Visit the Abbey and explore the religious settlement before returning to the hotel in the early afternoon. Dinner will round out the night. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 13. Isle of Mull – Inveraray – Glasgow
The ferry will bring you to Oban. Then, move over the Pass of Brander, from Inveraray and to the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond. Back in Glasgow this afternoon your city tour will show you the fine 12th-century cathedral, impressive university buildings, and elegant Georgian squares. Finally, it’s time for some last-minute shopping before enjoying a farewell dinner with wine at your hotel. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Check-in - Radisson Blu Glasgow
The recipient of numerous architectural awards, the stunning Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow sits close to world-class shopping and the city's financial district. A fine Glasgow hotel in the city centre, this accommodation offers 250 guest rooms and suites with upscale amenities, such as bathrobe and slippers and Free high-speed Internet access. This hotel in Glasgow also features fine dining at Collage Restaurant, two relaxing bars and a ground-floor conference area that includes the Megalithic event venue able to seat 800 guests.
Day 14. Depart Scotland
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)
Fly home!
We have selected the most economical flight schedule for you. Please note that shorter and more convenient flight options may be available at an additional cost.
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