Itinerary
- Day 1
Edinburgh
You'll arrive in Edinburgh and head to your hotel to settle in. After that, the day is yours to wander around the city however you like. It's a good chance to get your bearings, maybe grab a meal somewhere, and start getting a feel for Scotland's capital without any structured activities.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Scottish breakfast)
- Day 2
Edinburgh to Glasgow
This morning starts with a guided tour of Edinburgh's main sights around the city. Then you'll head up to Edinburgh Castle, which sits high above everything and offers great views over the area. After lunch, you're heading to Glasgow for a quick panoramic look at Scotland's largest city. By evening, you'll get to the National Piping Center where you can learn about bagpipe traditions and listen to some live music with a musical tasting.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Scottish breakfast), Dinner
Included Activities
- Edinburgh city tour
- Edinburgh Castle visit
- Glasgow panoramic city tour
- National Piping Center visit with bagpipe workshop
Landmarks Edinburgh Castle National Piping Center 
- Day 3
Glasgow to Oban/Fort William/Tyndrum
You'll start at Loch Lomond with a photo stop, which is the UK's largest inland lake sitting inside Scotland's first national park. From there, you're heading to Kilmartin Glen to see ancient stone circles and Neolithic monuments that date back thousands of years. Later in the day, Arduaine Garden is next, where you can check out rare plant species that do really well here because of the Gulf Stream influence, including vibrant rhododendrons and magnolias.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Scottish breakfast), Dinner
Included Activities
- Loch Lomond photo stop
- Kilmartin Glen visit with Standing Stones
- Arduaine Garden visit
Landmarks Loch Lomond Kilmartin Glen Standing Stones of Kilmartin Arduaine Garden 
- Day 4
Isle of Mull and Iona
You'll take a ferry out to the Isle of Mull, then board another one to reach Iona, a quieter island. Once there, you're visiting Iona Abbey, which was founded by St. Columba and played a big role in early Christianity in Scotland. The island itself has a lot of history as a burial place for Scottish kings. After exploring, you'll head back by ferry to Mull and then to the mainland, taking in the island's wild beauty and coastline along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Scottish breakfast), Dinner
Included Activities
- Ferry to Isle of Mull
- Ferry to Iona
- Iona Abbey visit
- Ferry from Iona to Mull
- Ferry from Mull to mainland
Landmarks Isle of Mull Iona Abbey 
- Day 5
Isle of Skye
After breakfast, you're driving north through the Scottish Highlands along the Caledonian Canal that connects Scotland's coasts. You'll reach the Isle of Skye, the largest of the Inner Hebrides, and take a guided drive to see the natural scenery. Then you'll walk through Portree, the only town on the island, to experience what local life is like out here.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Scottish breakfast), Dinner
Included Activities
- Caledonian Canal scenic drive
- Isle of Skye exploratory drive
- Portree town walk
Landmarks Isle of Skye Portree 
- Day 6
Skye to Ullapool
You're leaving Skye using the impressive Skye Bridge, and there's a photo stop at Eilean Donan Castle, one of the most photographed castles in Scotland sitting on a rocky island in Loch Duich. The drive continues along Loch Maree's shores, which is Scotland's largest lake. Later you'll visit Inverewe Gardens on a peninsula, where tropical and exotic plants grow because of the Gulf Stream. Dinner features fresh locally-caught fish.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Scottish breakfast), Dinner
Included Activities
- Eilean Donan Castle photo stop
- Loch Maree scenic drive
- Inverewe Gardens visit
Optional Activities
- Dinner of freshly caught fish at local restaurants
Landmarks Eilean Donan Castle Loch Maree Inverewe Gardens - Day 7
North Coast Highlands
You'll start with a guided walk through Knockan Crag to learn about the geology of this region. Then you're heading along Scotland's north coast through rugged, arid ancient landscapes that contrast sharply with sandy beaches and blue waters. There's a photo stop at one of the many extensive sandy beaches in the area. Later you're visiting Smoo Cave, a limestone cave over 60 meters long with a 15-meter high entrance arch that's both a sea cave and freshwater cave.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Scottish breakfast), Dinner
Included Activities
- Knockan Crag guided walk
- North coast scenic drive with photo stops
- Smoo Cave photo stop
Landmarks Knockan Crag Smoo Cave - Day 8
Orkney Islands
You'll ferry to St Margaret's Hope in Orkney and then take an island cruise that crosses the Churchill Barriers, which were built during World War II and connect five eastern islands. You're stopping at Skara Brae to see a completely intact Neolithic village, then heading to the Ring of Brodgar and Standing Stones of Stenness. In Kirkwall, the island capital, you can shop for local goods like cheese, cotton, and jewelry. There's an optional visit to the Italian Chapel in Lamb Holm village, built by Italian prisoners during World War II (extra charge applies). Finally, you'll ferry back to the mainland.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Scottish breakfast), Dinner
Included Activities
- Ferry to Orkney
- Island cruise with Churchill Barriers
- Skara Brae visit
- Ring of Brodgar visit
- Standing Stones of Stenness visit
- Kirkwall town exploration
- Ferry return to mainland
Optional Activities
- Italian Chapel visit at Lamb Holm (extra charge)
Landmarks Skara Brae Ring of Brodgar Standing Stones of Stenness Kirkwall Italian Chapel 
- Day 9
Inverness and Loch Ness
You're visiting Dunrobin Castle with its striking white plasterwork and imposing towers, checking out both the building and its elegant French-style gardens. Then you're heading along Scotland's east coast, which has miles of deserted white sandy beaches. You'll drive along Loch Ness shores and keep an eye out for Nessie, the famous sea monster. The afternoon is free for you to explore Inverness at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Scottish breakfast), Dinner
Included Activities
- Dunrobin Castle visit with gardens
- Loch Ness scenic drive
- Inverness afternoon at leisure
Landmarks Dunrobin Castle Loch Ness Inverness - Day 10
Rothiemurchus Estate and Cairngorms
Today's highlight is at Rothiemurchus estate, which the Grant family has owned since the 16th century. A ranger will lead you on a 2-hour guided walk through one of Europe's oldest forest areas with Scots pines that are 100 to 300 years old. You'll meet shaggy Highland cattle and get to feed reindeer. After that, you'll have time for a short walk along Loch Morlich's shores while exploring Cairngorms National Park, where you might spot crested tits, capercaillies, and squirrels.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Scottish breakfast), Dinner
Included Activities
- Rothiemurchus Estate guided ranger tour (2 hours)
- Highland cattle and reindeer encounter
- Loch Morlich walk
Landmarks Rothiemurchus Estate Loch Morlich Cairngorms National Park 
- Day 11
Whisky Distillery and Aberdeenshire
After breakfast, you're heading to a working sheepdog farm to watch herding dogs in action (if you're visiting in May, this switches to an Aberdeenshire Cattle Farm instead). Then you'll stop in Stonehaven for photos of Dunnottar Castle, which sits dramatically on 50-meter cliffs reachable only by a path, with parts of it dating back to the 15th century. In the afternoon, you're touring a whisky distillery to see how Scotland's national drink is made, including copper kettles and casks, and you'll end with a tasting.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Scottish breakfast), Dinner
Included Activities
- Sheepdog farm visit
- Dunnottar Castle photo stop
- Whisky distillery tour with tasting
Landmarks Dunnottar Castle - Day 12
Dunkeld and Forth Rail Bridge
You'll visit Dunkeld to see the imposing 14th century cathedral. In the afternoon, you're boarding a boat for a special trip on the Firth of Forth off Edinburgh with great views of the Forth Rail Bridge, which is famous for its distinctive cantilever design and connects the Lowlands to the Highlands. You'll wrap up with a farewell dinner in Edinburgh.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Scottish breakfast), Dinner (Farewell dinner in a restaurant/pub in Edinburgh)
Included Activities
- Dunkeld Cathedral visit
- Boat trip on the Firth of Forth with Forth Rail Bridge views
- Farewell dinner in Edinburgh
Landmarks Dunkeld Cathedral Forth Rail Bridge - Day 13
Departure
You'll transfer to Edinburgh Airport today to begin your return journey home.
