What's the best time of year to take a tour starting from Edinburgh?

The prime season spans June through September when Scotland enjoys extended daylight and moderate temperatures ideal for Highland tours. August brings the Edinburgh Military Tattoo drawing larger crowds. Those seeking quieter experiences might prefer April-May or October though weather can be unpredictable. A recent traveler noted: "We went in September and had perfect weather for exploring the Highlands."

What kind of accommodations can I expect on tours departing from Edinburgh?

Lodging options range from reliable 3-star hotels to local guesthouses and B&Bs. Travelers often stay at established properties like The Skye Inn in Portree Pentahotel in Inverness and Leonardo Hotel in Edinburgh. According to one guest: "The accommodations varied from charming B&Bs to comfortable hotels like the Caledonian in Portree and Kirkwall Hotel in Orkney all offering great Scottish hospitality."

What's the typical length of multi-day tours starting in Edinburgh?

Tours run between 2 and 13 days with most travelers choosing 5-6 day itineraries. Popular routes include the 5-day North Scotland & Orkney tour and the 6-day Outer Hebrides & Skye Explorer both leaving from Edinburgh Bus Station. A recent review states: "The 5-day tour was well-organized with the perfect amount of time to explore each location."

What are the most visited destinations from Edinburgh on these tours?

Popular routes include stops at Loch Ness Isle of Skye Glencoe and Cairngorms National Park. Tours often include overnight stays at properties like Dalmore Guest House in Inverness or The Royal Hotel in Oban. One traveler noted: "The landscapes were breathtaking from the dramatic Glencoe valley to the pristine beaches of Harris - every day brought new spectacular views."

What's the typical daily travel time between destinations on tours from Edinburgh?

Daily journeys usually take 2-3 hours with regular breaks at scenic points and attractions. The Edinburgh to Inverness route takes roughly 3.5 hours including stops at locations like Pitlochry. A recent review mentioned: "The journey times were well planned with plenty of interesting stops along the way."

What's the average cost per day for tours departing Edinburgh?

Daily rates typically fall between USD 237 and USD 517 depending on accommodation level and included activities. Higher-end stays at properties like the Kirkwall Hotel or Royal Hotel in Stornoway command premium prices. A traveler noted: "The 5-day Highland tour was excellent value considering the quality of accommodations and included attractions."

Scotland Tours from Edinburgh

Find your perfect adventure! We have 158 tours of Scotland that start in Edinburgh, Scotland. The most popular month is June, and tour lengths range between 1 and 17 days.

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Explorer
6 Day Edinburgh and Inverness By Train
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"TourRadar took care of hotels, transfers, breakfast, and the castle tour. That left us to decide what we wanted to see which was great!"
Lisa, traveled in August
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Inverness
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Mountain
Scottish Highlands
Operated in
English
Operator
STM Tours LLC
30% Off
From $2,708
NZ$1,895per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Best of Scotland Small Group Tour
4.5 (2 traveler reviews)
"The locations visited were very good. Both the city guides and guide in the highlands were very good."
Ann, traveled in September
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Inverness, Glasgow
Age Range
Ages 12+
Operated in
English
Operator
Firebird Tours
30% Off
From
NZ$7,217per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Expedition Through the Scottish Isles: Where Land Meets Legend
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Leith, Orkney Islands, Skara Brae,Shetland Islands,Thurso,Lunga,Isle of Iona,Greenock,Glasgow+6 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Country Region
Northern Scotland
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
30% Off
From $7,499
NZ$5,249per person
Price based on Shared Room
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In-depth Cultural
Best of Scotland Small-Group Tour - 5 Days
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Glencoe, Loch Ness, Inverness, Dunrobin,John O'Groats,Orkney Islands,Kirkwall,Skara Brae,Stromness,Ullapool,Culloden+7 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Click Tours
36% Off
From $4,175
NZ$2,672per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Scottish Highlands Escape
5.0 (188 traveler reviews)
"Bus driver? Excellent."
Enola, traveled in March
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, St Andrews, Pitlochry, Inverness, Culloden,Fort William,Oban,Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park,Glasgow+4 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Operated in
English
Operator
Globus
36% Off
From
NZ$1,910per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Best of Scotland
4.9 (4 traveler reviews)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Stirling, Glasgow,Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park,Inveraray,Glencoe,Fort William,Aviemore,Loch Ness,Elgin,Aberdeen+8 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Wingbuddy
36% Off
From
NZ$4,657per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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$Scotland\'s Far North - 10 days Tour$
$Scotland\'s Far North - 10 days - 19 destinations$
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Explorer
Scotland's Far North - 10 days
4.3 (4 traveler reviews)
"The places visited were special, especially the Orkneys and Western Hebrides islands which did not disappoint me."
Elizabeth, traveled in August
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Glencoe, Loch Ness, Inverness, John O'Groats,Kirkwall,Orkney Islands,Ullapool,Stornoway,Lewis,Luskentyre,Portree,Isle of Skye,Ben Nevis+9 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Northern Scotland
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
35% Off
From $7,510
NZ$4,882per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Edinburgh, Hebrides & Highlands - 5 days
5.0 (3 traveler reviews)
"The accommodations were very clean and tidy with a good location to town."
Victoria, traveled in September
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Ullapool, Stornoway, Inverness, Loch Ness,Cairngorms National Park+1 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Mountain
Scottish Highlands
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
35% Off
From $3,400
NZ$2,210per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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In-depth Cultural
North Scotland, Loch Ness & Orkney - 5 days
4.7 (3 traveler reviews)
"The tour was a great experience, with beautiful scenery and comfortable accommodations."
Angela, traveled in March
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Callander, Glencoe, Loch Ness, Inverness,Kirkwall,Orkney Islands,Ullapool,Culloden+4 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
35% Off
From $3,470
NZ$2,256per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Scotland Whisky Trail - 3 days
4.0 (1 traveler review)
"Excellent narration - just the right amount and tone. Excellent hotels. Great stops."
Deb, traveled in May
Duration
3 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Cairngorms National Park, Grantown-on-Spey,Aberlour,Craigellachie,Pitlochry+3 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
35% Off
From $1,875
NZ$1,219per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Our most booked and loved tours
Best Seller
Explorer
5 Day Skye & Highland Fling
4.9 (1,018 traveler reviews) award winner
"Have lived in Scotland for a while but energised to explore more after this trip!"
Kieran, traveled in September
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Forth Bridge, Dunkeld, Loch Ness, Inverness,Torridon,Kyleakin,Isle of Skye,Portree,Armadale,Fort William,Glencoe,Oban,Callander,Stirling,Bannockburn+11 more
Age Range
Ages 18-39
Operated in
English
Operator
MacBackpackers
35% Off
From
NZ$876per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Our most booked and loved tours
Best Seller
Explorer
3 Day Isle of Skye
4.8 (1,236 traveler reviews) award winner
"This tour offers a once in a lifetime experience in the hills of the Highlands and the beautiful isle."
Emily, traveled in July
Duration
3 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Pitlochry, Dunkeld, Culloden, Loch Ness, Dornie,Kyleakin,Isle of Skye,Portree,Uig,Fort William,Glencoe,Stirling+7 more
Age Range
Ages 18-39
Operated in
English
Operator
MacBackpackers
35% Off
From
NZ$426per person
Price based on Shared Room
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In-depth Cultural
Orkney & The Far North
5.0 (9 traveler reviews)
"Wonderful itinerary, did not disappoint."
Mitchell, traveled in June
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park,Glencoe,Fort William,Loch Ness,Inverness,Orkney Islands,Kirkwall,Stenness,Skara Brae,Dunrobin,Culloden,Cairngorms National Park,Pitlochry+12 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Northern Scotland
Operated in
English
Operator
Highland Experience Tours
35% Off
From
NZ$2,235per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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In-depth Cultural
2-day Outlander Tour (Small Group)
4.5 (38 traveler reviews)
"Brodie was an excellent driver and tour guide very knowledgeable and friendly."
Ann, traveled in November
Duration
2 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Doune, Glencoe, Loch Ness, Inverness, Culloden,Falkland,Culross+2 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Highland Experience Tours
35% Off
From
NZ$530per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Our most booked and loved tours
Best Seller
In-depth Cultural
Isle Of Skye And The Highlands
4.7 (235 traveler reviews)
"Stunning scenery, we were lucky with weather."
Janice, traveled in August
Duration
3 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Dunkeld, Spean Bridge, Fort Augustus,Kyle of Lochalsh,Portree,Storr Mountains,Kilt Rock,Dunvegan,Armadale,Mallaig,Glenfinnan,Fort William,Glencoe,Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park,Stirling+12 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
Scottish HighlandsNorthern ScotlandIsle Of Skye+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Highland Explorer Tours
35% Off
From
NZ$865per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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