Itinerary

1. Overnight Flight

   An overnight flight transports you to a country of stunning landscapes, lively cities and stirring history.

   Accommodation: Radisson Blu

2. Edinburgh, Scotland - Tour Begins

   Your tour opens in Edinburgh, Scotland’s stunning capital city. This evening, give traditional Scottish ingredients a modern twist. Enjoy a lively and interactive cooking experience at one of Scotland’s premier culinary institutions. Later, with a “wee dram” in hand, toast the beginning of a wonderful journey.

   Meal included: Dinner
   Accommodation: Best Western Palace Hotel

3. Edinburgh

   Today visit Edinburgh Castle, home to the Scottish Crown Jewels. Enjoy a panoramic tour of Edinburgh’s New Town, before embarking on a historic walking tour with your local expert, up to the magnificent Edinburgh Castle. Later this evening, take your seat at the spectacular, world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, one of Scotland's greatest events.

   Meal included: Breakfast
   Accommodation: Castletown Hotel

4. Edinburgh - Pitlochry - Inverness

   Travel to Pitlochry, a vibrant Victorian town. Discover its Old World appeal as you explore this popular resort town on your own. Visit a family-run farm set in the heart of the Highlands. See sheepdogs at work while surrounded by the mountain wilderness of Cairngorms National Park. Enjoy an overnight stay in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands.

   Meal included: Breakfast & Dinner
   Accommodation: Castletown Hotel

5. Inverness - Thurso

   This morning, visit the powerfully emotive and atmospheric Battlefield of Culloden. Next you will explore the majestic Dunrobin Castle* which dates back to the 1300s. The castle is built in the style of a French château and is home to the Duke of Sutherland. Later, take in the breathtaking views as you drive along the windswept cliffs of Scotland’s east coast. Travel off the beaten path to Thurso, one of Scotland’s most remote towns on the North Coast. Embrace the rustic environment of the Scottish Highlands as you settle in for your 2-night stay.

   Meal included: Breakfast & Dinner
   Accommodation: Ballachulish Hotel

6. Thurso - Orkney Islands - Thurso

   Grab your windbreaker – it’s time for an adventure on the Orkney Islands.** Ferry to this former Viking stronghold off the northernmost coast of Scotland, where artists admire the ever-changing clouds rolling across the sky like a time-lapse at double speed. On the crossing, feel the wind in your hair as you view the abundant bird life and, if you are lucky, porpoises and seals. A local guide introduces this ethereal place that very few visitors to Scotland get to experience. Visit Skara Brae and discover the remains of a Neolithic village built before the Great Pyramids in Egypt. Continue on toward the prehistoric Standing Stones of Stennes, reported to be older than Stonehenge. Make your way through the town of Viking Kirkwall before returning to the mainland.

   Meal included: Breakfast
   Accommodation: Ballachulish Hotel

7. Thurso - Loch Ness - Ballachulish

   As you make your way back from the northern coast, journey through unspoiled landscapes through the Highlands. Enjoy a cruise on Loch Ness, one of Britain’s most famous bodies of water. Keep your eyes open – you never know when Nessie will appear! After your cruise, visit the striking ruins of Urquhart Castle. Travel through the Great Glen, famous for its many lochs (lakes), before arriving at your remote countryside hotel situated on lovely Loch Linnhe.

   Meal included: Breakfast & Dinner
   Accommodation: Maldron Hotel

8. Ballachulish - Isle of Skye - Ballachulish

   This morning, take a ferry ride to the legendary Isle of Skye, also known in poetry and song as Eilean a' Cheò (The Misty Isle). Upon arrival in Armadale, a local guide from the island will join you to share the history of this magical place and what it is like to live there today. Visit the capital of Portree for some time to explore, then continue north for stunning views of the Storr. End your day by returning to Ballachulish via the Skye Bridge and a stunning drive along the “Road to the Isles”.

   Meal included: Breakfast & Dinner

9. Ballachulish - Oban - Glasgow

   This morning, it’s your choice! Take a walk up to McCaig's Tower, the town’s iconic landmark, with your Tour Manager -OR- visit Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds. Continue by Loch Lomond, located in the Trossachs National Park, with its breathtaking scenery, before arriving in the Victorian city of Glasgow. This evening, visit the National Piping Centre to learn about the Great Highland Bagpipe. After a demonstration and lesson with a renowned piper, it’s your chance to give it a go! Then, join your fellow travelers for a joyous farewell dinner at the Centre’s farm-to-table restaurant and toast the end to your Scottish adventure.

   Meal included: Breakfast & Dinner

10. Glasgow - Tour Ends

    Your tour of Scotland comes to a close today.

    Meal included: Breakfast