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
- 6 Day Edinburgh and Inverness By Train
- Highlights of Scotland
- Isle of Skye & Hebridean Hopper
- Scotland with Stephen Weiss
- Edinburgh, Hebrides & Highlands - 5 days
- Edinburgh, Hebrides & Highlands (Hotel) - 5 days
- Highland Trail Inspired By Outlander
- Scotland in the Footsteps of Jamie and Claire
- Isle Of Skye And The Highlands
North Coast & Islands
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Spectacular scenery, interesting places and history.”
Richard, traveled in June
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 $4,218
10% Off- NZ$3,796You save $422
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 $2,584
5% Off- NZ$2,455You save $129
Highlights of Scotland
17 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We really like that the group size was relatively small and we had space on the bus to spread out.”
Jonathan, 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
5% Off- NZ$4,159
Isle of Skye & Hebridean Hopper
8 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The magical landscapes of the Outer Hebrides and the Isle of Skye demand an equally magical storyteller.”
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$6,648
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 $3,495
15% Off- NZ$2,971You save $524
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 $4,575
15% Off- NZ$3,889You save $686
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$9,318
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$1,534
Isle Of Skye And The Highlands
234 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Stunning scenery, we were lucky with weather.”
Janice, traveled in August
The Scottish route begins at Edinburgh's High Street at 7:30 AM, passing Stirling Castle to Callander village. Cross Rannoch Moor to Glen Coe, take the summer ferry to Isle of Skye, and return via Eilean Donan Castle and Fort Augustus, covering 500+ miles before returning to Edinburgh.
Duration 3 days Destinations Edinburgh, Dunkeld, Spean Bridge, Fort Augustus, Kyle of Lochalsh, Portree, Storr Mountains, Kilt Rock, Dunvegan, ArmadaleSee all destinations Age Range 5 to 90 year olds Operator Highland Explorer Tours From
15% Off- NZ$865
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.
- Isle of Skye, Loch Ness & Inverness
Very recommended tour and tourguide
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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