Scottish Highlands Tours from Edinburgh
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10 best Scottish Highlands tours from Edinburgh
Compiled by
MelissaEdinburgh travel expert at TourRadar
- North Coast & Islands
- Highlights of Scotland
- 6 Day Edinburgh and Inverness By Train
- Isle of Skye & Hebridean Hopper
- Scotland with Stephen Weiss
- Winter Highlands & The Isle of Skye
- Edinburgh, Hebrides & Highlands - 5 days
- Edinburgh, Hebrides & Highlands (Hotel) - 5 days
- Highland Trail Inspired By Outlander
- Scotland in the Footsteps of Jamie and Claire
North Coast & Islands
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Loaded with historical information, funny stories, and witty antidotes, the tour was terrific.”
Nina, traveled in May
Highland vistas unfold from Edinburgh's George Hotel to Inverness, Ullapool, and back via Glen Coe. A luxury mini-coach takes you to Dunrobin Castle, Smoo Caves, and remote coastal villages before returning through the dramatic Great Glen.
Duration 6 days Destinations Edinburgh, Inverness, Dornoch, Wick, Orkney Islands, Durness, Ullapool, Stornoway, Lewis, Isle of HarrisSee all destinations Age Range 13 to 80 year olds Operator Royal Irish Tours From $3,997
10% Off- NZ$3,597You save $400
Highlights of Scotland
17 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The memories though will last a lifetime and if you?re lucky like me and my group, you?ll also make lasting connections with likeminded people!”
Julia, traveled in May
A panoramic Edinburgh city tour opens this Highland expedition to Inverness via Cairngorms National Park. The route stretches west to Isle of Skye and Fort William, featuring the Glenfinnan Viaduct and Ben Nevis, before reaching Glasgow through scenic Glencoe. Private vehicle transport links all destinations.
Duration 7 days Destinations Edinburgh, Inverness, Fort William, Glasgow Age Range up to 90 year olds Operator G Adventures From $4,159
15% Off- NZ$3,535You save $624
Your Scottish adventure connects Edinburgh with Inverness via a breathtaking 3.5-hour train ride through Highland mountains. The return route showcases spectacular views of the Cairngorms before arriving back in Edinburgh.
Duration 6 days Destinations Edinburgh, Inverness Age Range up to 99 year olds Operator STM Tours LLC From $2,554
5% Off- NZ$2,426You save $128
Isle of Skye & Hebridean Hopper
8 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“I would suggest this tour and company to absolutely anyone who wants to see as much of Scotland.”
Brynn, traveled in June
The Highland path starts at Edinburgh's St Andrew Square at 8:30 AM, heading north through Glen Coe and Loch Ness to Inverness. The route continues to Ullapool for the Stornoway ferry, visiting Harris and Skye, finishing with the scenic Jacobite Steam Train back to Edinburgh.
Duration 6 days Destinations Edinburgh, Falkirk, Loch Ness, Inverness, Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve, Ullapool, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Isle of Harris, CallanishSee all destinations Age Range 18 to 45 year olds Operator Haggis Adventures From
5% Off- NZ$1,879
Duration 9 days Destinations Edinburgh, Stirling, Inverness, Loch Ness, Fort William, Isle of Skye, Glasgow Age Range up to 90 year olds Operator Wherever Tours From
5% Off- NZ$6,680
Winter Highlands & The Isle of Skye
16 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Definitely an amazing experience to get to see the picturesque highlands and some of its historic and natural landmarks.”
Ana, traveled in March
The Highland route departs Edinburgh Bus Station at 7:45 AM, passing the Kelpies and Rannoch Moor. The path continues through Fort William and Glen Coe to Portree via Eilean Donan Castle, returning through Great Glen and Dunkeld across Scotland's most dramatic winter landscapes over 3 days.
Duration 3 days Destinations Edinburgh, Glencoe, Fort William, Eilean Donan, Isle of Skye, Portree, Loch Ness, Fort Augustus, Dunkeld Age Range 5 to 99 year olds Operator Highland Explorer Tours From
5% Off- NZ$609
Edinburgh, Hebrides & Highlands - 5 days
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The accommodations were very clean and tidy with a good location to town.”
Victoria, traveled in September
The northern route starts at Edinburgh Bus Station at 8:30 AM, passing through Dunkeld to Ullapool. A 2.5-hour ferry crosses the Summer Isles to Stornoway, returning via Inverness, Loch Ness, and Cairngorms National Park, concluding at Edinburgh Bus Station at 6:30 PM on day 5.
Duration 5 days Destinations Edinburgh, Ullapool, Stornoway, Inverness, Loch Ness, Cairngorms National Park Age Range 5 to 99 year olds Operator On The Go Tours From $3,315
15% Off- NZ$2,818You save $497
The Highland trail begins at Edinburgh Bus Station at 8:30AM, passing through Dunkeld and Aviemore to Ullapool. A ferry ride across Summer Isles leads to Stornoway, before returning via Cairngorms National Park to Edinburgh Bus Station at 6:30PM in an air-conditioned mini-coach.
Duration 5 days Destinations Edinburgh, Ullapool, Stornoway, Luskentyre, Lewis, Inverness, Loch Ness, Cairngorms National Park Age Range 5 to 99 year olds Operator On The Go Tours From $4,385
15% Off- NZ$3,727You save $658
Duration 13 days Destinations Edinburgh, Dundee, Inverness, Culloden, Thurso, Orkney Islands, Isle of Skye, Fort William, Glasgow Age Range up to 99 year olds Operator Brendan Vacations From
15% Off- NZ$9,363
Duration 8 days Destinations Edinburgh, Inverness, Culloden, Strathpeffer, Fort William, Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, Glasgow Age Range up to 99 year olds Operated in Only: German Operator DERTOUR From
15% Off- NZ$1,517
What people love about Scottish Highlands Tours from Edinburgh
The sites that you can see from the bus and at the stops we made were incredible. Yvonne, our tour guide/driver, however made this trip extraordinary! I loved the history/background she gave us as we went but you could tell she loved Scotland and it made the trip that much more enjoyable. I would definitely go another highland explorer tour after the experience I had on this one! Thank you, Yvonne, amazing job and loved the commentary!
Winter Highlands & The Isle of Skye
- Hebrides, Skye & The Far West
Fantastic, fun filled trip. We had Tommie for the first four days, what a character! Informative, flexible with the schedule, to accommodate the weather, and just fun. The group of 15 blended so well. i do not know when i have had such fun. Learned a lot of history. Safe courteous driver. The last four days, we had Rory, another character, kept us on our toes. Again safe driving, flexible with the schedule, as we had quite a bit of rain. Great with the history, and it was very informative.
- Hebridean Escape 5-day Tour
The tour guide, Mark Anderson, was very professional and had a good balance of speaking and music. He related well to all nationalities and backgrounds and was very supportive without being overbearing. His enjoyment of his job and outdoors and the country made it a pleasure to have him as guide. The programme was not overfull with just the right mix of organised activities and individual sightseeing. I loved all the places we visited.
What our customers ask about Scottish Highlands Tours from Edinburgh
What's the best time of year to take a Highland tour from Edinburgh?
Highland tours from Edinburgh see the most visitors between April and October during the milder weather. The summer months of July and August bring the largest crowds and most frequent departures. Tour operators adjust their routes based on the season. For instance tours to the Isle of Skye follow different paths in winter (November-March) versus summer (April-October). A TourRadar traveler shared: "We were so lucky to have the sunniest weather during our stay in the Highlands and Isle of Skye. What we've seen and experienced will be treasured forever."
What type of accommodation can I expect on Highland tours from Edinburgh?
The range of places to stay spans from basic hostels to high-end hotels. Some well-regarded options include the Glen Mhor Hotel in Inverness the Skye Inn in Portree and Dunroamin B&B in Stornoway. A TourRadar traveler noted: "The B&Bs were excellent throughout the tour particularly the Caladh Inn in Stornoway which offered great hospitality and comfort."
What are the main meeting points for tours departing from Edinburgh?
Tours leave from three key spots in Edinburgh: the Bus Station at St Andrew Square (Gates J and K) Parliament Square on the Royal Mile by St Giles Cathedral and outside the George Hotel. Most groups meet between 7:30-8:30 AM. As confirmed by a TourRadar traveler: "Our guide was right on time at the Edinburgh Bus Station and made the check-in process very smooth."
What key Highland destinations are typically included on tours starting from Edinburgh?
The standard Highland route covers Glen Coe Loch Ness Isle of Skye Eilean Donan Castle and Cairngorms National Park. Many groups stop in Inverness where accommodations like the Glen Mhor Hotel or Pentahotel welcome visitors. A TourRadar traveler shared: "The atmospheric landscape of Glen Coe will blow your socks off and the views around Eilean Donan Castle were absolutely stunning."
What is the recommended budget per day for tours from Edinburgh to the Highlands?
Daily costs run between USD 200-400 based on where you stay and what's included. Budget-conscious travelers can find hostel-based tours starting at USD 200 while upscale options with stays at places like the Caledonian in Portree reach USD 400. As one TourRadar traveler mentioned: "The value for money was great with comfortable accommodations and an excellent itinerary packed with activities."
How much time is typically spent traveling between Edinburgh and the first Highland destination?
The trip north takes 3-4 hours with breaks at scenic spots like Dunkeld and the Cairngorms National Park. As one TourRadar traveler shared: "The journey north from Edinburgh was broken up nicely with stops at beautiful locations like Dunkeld Cathedral and the Cairngorms making the travel time feel much shorter."
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