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.

Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness
Panoramic view of Glencoe
Sunset on Sterling Castle
Streets of Edinburgh
Dunnottar Castle
Aerial view of Edinburgh Old Town with Royal Mile
Falkland
Edinburgh Castle
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
Panoramic view of Edinburgh from Calton Hill
St. Andrews Castle ruins
Panoramic view of Culross
Culross
Falkland Palace
Bracklinn Falls, Callander
Cawdor Castle
Crannog, Loch Tay
Front gate, Edinburg Castle
Leanach Cottage, Culloden Battlefield
Panoramic view of Fort Willaim
Glamis Castle
The Gardens at Glamis Castle
Loch Lomond National Park
Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh
Village of Luss
Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness
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Style
Small Group Tour
Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout
DeparturesGroup Size16 travelers max
ThemesHistory & 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.

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