Scenic Scotland
Discover the capital city of Edinburgh, charming St. Andrews & Aberdeen, the Scottish Highlands, historic Inverness, breathtaking Isle of Skye & the port city of Glasgow.
Style | Small Group Tour Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout | ||
Departures | Group Size | 16 travelers max | |
Themes | History & Culture, Bucket List | ||
Activity Level | |||
What to Expect | This moderately-paced, escorted tour includes a reasonable amount of walking or hiking and requires an average level of physical fitness. Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols. | ||
Already booked? | Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more. |
From the magnificent landscapes dotted with timeless castles and the mystery behind the famous Loch Ness monster to sipping traditional Scottish whisky in some of the numerous quaint and historic towns, it's clear how Scotland captures the hearts of travelers with ease. This fascinating 11-day adventure begins and ends in one of the world's finest capital cities: Edinburgh. Spend time wandering the medieval streets and visiting well-known landmarks, including the Royal Mile and Calton Hill. Bask in the collegiate atmosphere surrounding the charming town of St. Andrews and visit the Dunnottor Castle in Aberdeen before diving into the award-winning whisky process at a local distillery and discovering the traditional working day of a Highland Shepherd. Then, journey to the Isle of Skye to cross the Skye Bridge and enjoy the incredible panoramic views of the island's mountains and rocky coast. And, of course, a trip to Scotland is complete with a visit to the famous Loch Ness Lake: be on the lookout for the mystical creature who calls this lake home, Nessie! Round out your journey with a visit to the Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland's most iconic images, surrounded by some of the country's most breathtaking scenery in the Scottish Highlands.
Package includes
- Flights
- Coach
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Guides
- Round-trip flights from New York (NYC) to Edinburgh (EDI), including fuel surcharges and taxes and fees
- All ground transportation and transfers
- 9 nights in Deluxe and First-Class Superior hotel accommodations
- 15 Meals: 9 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 4 Dinners
- Comprehensive touring program including entrance fees
- Professional, English-speaking tour guide
Optional add-ons
- Flights from other cities are available. Request pricing when making your reservation.
- Optional visit to the battlefield of Culloden
Why you'll love it
- Explore Scotland's two most prominent cities: Edinburgh and Glasgow.
- Cruise along Loch Ness and visit the ruins of Urquhart Castle, rumored to be the best place to spot the elusive Loch Ness Monster!
- Enjoy a demonstration of a typical working day of a Highland sheepdog at a local farm.
- Stop in Culross and Falkland, two stunning little villages featured in the hit television series, Outlander.
- Explore the collegiate town of St. Andrews, known worldwide as The Home of Golf, and where the iconic opening sequence of Chariots of Fire was filmed.
- Stand in the footsteps of William Wallace and Mary Queen of Scots at Dunnottor Castle.
- Take part in a Scottish whisky tasting and learn how to make Cranachan, a typical Scottish dessert.
- Cross the Skye Bridge and admire the dramatic panoramic views of the landscape.
- Visit the Falkirk Wheel, the world's only rotating boat lift, before enjoying a boat ride along the canal below.
- Admire the 22 themed, state-of-the-art galleries at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, one of Scotland's most visited attractions.
- Discover what life in the Iron Age was like at the Scottish Crannog Center.
Itinerary at a Glance
- 1 Depart USA
- 2 Arrive Edinburgh
- 3 Culross, Falkland, St Andrews, Aberdeen
- 4 Dunnottar Castle, Balmoral Castle, Aberdeen
- 5 Scottish Highlands
- 6 Inverness
- Optional Excursion: Tour of Culloden Battlefield site , $35
- 7 Isle of Skye
- 8 Falkirk Wheel, Glasgow
- 9 Glasgow, Edinburgh
- 10 Edinburgh
- 11 Edinburgh/USA
Dates & Prices
Detailed Itinerary
To see full details, click the button to the right.
Day 1 Depart USA
- Depart the USA on your overnight flight to Edinburgh, Scotland
Day 2 Arrive Edinburgh
- Upon arrival, meet our representative and transfer to your hotel
- Meet your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at your hotel
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh or similarDinner
Day 3 Culross, Falkland, St Andrews, Aberdeen
- Stop in the villages of Culross and Falkland, filming locations for the Outlander series
- Visit Falkland Palace and Gardens, the hunting lodge of Mary, Queen of Scotts
- Stroll through the charming town of St Andrews
Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel & Spa or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 4 Dunnottar Castle, Balmoral Castle, Aberdeen
- Stop at the ruins of the cliff-top fortress of Dunnottar Castle
- Visit Balmoral Castle, Queen Elizabeth II's private Scottish home*
- Enjoy afternoon cream tea
- Visit St Machar's Cathedral
Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel & Spa or similarBreakfast
Day 5 Scottish Highlands
- Take part in a Scottish whisky tasting at a well-known distillery
- Visit Cairngorms National Park
- Enjoy a demonstration of a typical working day of a Highland sheepdog at a local farm
AC Hotel by Marriott Inverness or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 6 Inverness
- Try to spot the elusive Nessie during a cruise on Loch Ness
- Step back in time at the medieval Urquhart Castle
AC Hotel by Marriott Inverness or similarBreakfast
Day 7 Isle of Skye
- Witness spectacular views down Loch Ness from Fort Augustus
- Travel “The Road to the Isles”
- Take a ferry to Isle of Skye
- Enjoy a fish and chips lunch
- Cross the Skye Bridge and see the Eilean Donan Castle
AC Hotel by Marriott Inverness or similarBreakfast & lunch
Day 8 Falkirk Wheel, Glasgow
- Visit the Scottish Crannog Center and learn what life in the Iron Age was like
- Enjoy lunch and assemble your own Cranachan
- Visit the Falkirk Wheel, a rotating boat lift linking the Forth & Clyde Canal to the Union Canal
- Continue to Glasgow
Clayton Hotel Glasgow City or similarBreakfast & lunch
Day 9 Glasgow, Edinburgh
- Panoramic tour of Glasgow and Cathedral of St Mungo
- Visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery
- Stop at Rosslyn Chapel, made famous in Dan Brown’s book, The Davinci Code
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh or similarBreakfast
Day 10 Edinburgh
- Discover Edinburgh on a panoramic tour
- Visit Edinburgh Castle
- Farewell dinner at Grand Café
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 11 Edinburgh/USA
- Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA
Breakfast
Hotels
In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.
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Trip Details
- What should I know before I go?We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
- Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements?Please review the visa & entry requirements.
- Can I make changes to my trip?Want to upgrade your seats? Depart from another city? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
- Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions?To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
- Should I purchase travel insurance?Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
- What's the fine print?Review the terms & conditions for this package.
What should I know about Scotland?Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
What should I know about The United Kingdom?Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.