Experience Overview
Head to the Highlands on this eight-day adventure through Scotland’s most picturesque spots. Start your Premium journey at a whisky distillery and warm your heart (and belly), ready for the brisk beauty of the rolling hills, expansive lochs and high peaks of the Scottish Highlands. Drive through scenic landscapes, try to spot the famed monster on a cruise on Loch Ness, explore castles, meet local characters, visit a wildlife reserve, wander through the quiet of islands Seil and Easdale and stay in an amazing historic mansion for your Feature Stay, where you can spend an afternoon exploring the lush private grounds. End it all in Edinburgh, the birthplace of Harry Potter and many other literature acclaims, and explore the Old Town, overlooked by the medieval castle perched high on the hill.
Highlights
- Discover a hidden folly in the forest of the Scottish Highlands, overlooking a cascading waterfall. Then, visit a wildlife reserve known for its nesting ospreys.
- Spend an afternoon in Cairngorms National Park in an outdoor folk museum scattered with traditional buildings.
- Take a cruise on Loch Ness and look for the elusive beast as you sail on the famous, quiet waters of the still loch and marvel at the gorgeous scenery all around you.
- Spend a day skipping stones and wandering through the quiet landscape of the islands Seil and Easdale – with tiny populations, these islands are a great setting to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
- Spend two nights at your Feature Stay mansion house on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Set amid 40 acres of gardens and dating back to the 1400’s, this classic Scottish estate will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
Trip Details
Product Code: 1682
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Unknown
Transport: Private Vehicle
Guide Language: English
Supplier Code: BWPS
Starts: Dunkeld, United Kingdom
Finishes: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating: Light
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (7), Lunch (4), Dinner (4)Accommodation: Hotel (5 nights),Feature Stay (2 Nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) $6,080 ($760 /day)
Itinerary
Welcome to Scotland! Your adventure begins in Edinburgh – the birthplace of Harry Potter, overlooked by the famed Edinburgh Castle. You’ll meet at the airport at 1.30 pm, then take a private transfer up into the rolling Highlands – grab a window seat if you can, the scenery is stunning! Head to a local distillery for a whisky tasting – the perfect setting to break the ice with your new fellow travellers. Then, when you’re all warmed up from the whisky, head to your hotel. When you’ve checked in, you’ll have a welcome meeting with your leader. Tonight, sit down for a welcome dinner with your group and get to know each other.
Included Activities:
- Perthshire - Welcome Dinner
- Perthshire - Whisky Distillery Tour and Tasting
Accommodation:
- Dunkeld House Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Today is all about waterfalls and wildlife. After breakfast, enjoy an early morning stroll through the forest until you reach a hidden building among the trees overlooking a cascading waterfall. If the season’s right, you can even spot leaping salmon here as they return upstream. After lunch, visit a wildlife reserve that’s known for its ospreys, which nest here in the spring and summer. Tonight, you’ll have a free evening, so maybe ask your leader for the best local restaurants and pubs for dinner and a pint of local ale.
Included Activities:
- Perthshire - Loch Of The Lowes Wildlife Reserve Visit
- Perthshire - Waterfall Walk
Accommodation:
- Dunkeld House Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning after breakfast, head to a local Highland castle, once known for having a private army, then continue north towards Cairngorms National Park. You’ll spend the afternoon at an outdoor folk museum here, which illustrates Highland history with a unique collection of buildings through the centuries (if you’re a fan of Outlander, this place might look familiar! The popular TV series filmed several episodes here). Next, head to Inverness – the largest city and cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands, known for its gorgeous scenery, 18th and 19th architecture and Victorian Market. After an afternoon of exploring, you’ll head to dinner with your group.
Included Activities:
- Cairngorms National Park - Highland Folk Museum
- Perthshire - Castle Tour
Accommodation:
- Kingsmills Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning after breakfast, make your way to Loch Ness – the site of the famed beast (who you might just be able to spot if you squint out into the distance). When you arrive, head out on a leisurely boat cruise and marvel at the huge freshwater loch. Then, you’ll visit the world’s first rewilding centre and learn about the 250-year project that a conservation charity is currently undertaking to restore the lost forests of the Highlands. Learn about how they improve the landscape for humans and wildlife, and then head on to the west coast, near Argyll, where you’ll spend the night.
Included Activities:
- Inverness - Loch Ness Cruise
- Inverness - Rewilding Center Experience
Accommodation:
- Loch Melfort Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning, enjoy a spot of breakfast and then take the short drive to the Bridge Over the Atlantic – an arched bridge from the 18th century that connects the mainland to the Isle of Seil. From the isle, jump on a ferry to Easdale – with a population of just 50, this Hebridean island has the smallest permanent population in the area! This is home to the World Stone Skimming Championships, so after you try your hand at some stone skimming, you’ll explore both small islands, soak in the serenity of the almost-untouched landscape and then head back to the mainland, where you’re free for dinner.
Included Activities:
- Hebredian Islands - Seil and Easdale Day Trip
Accommodation:
- Loch Melfort Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning, fuel up with some breakfast and then head to Kilmartin Glen – one of the most significant prehistoric sites in the country. You’ll have a private guide to take you around the site and teach you about the fascinating stories and history of this collection of tombs, cairns and standing stones. After, head south through Loch Lomond National Park and enjoy the stunning scenery of high peaks, expansive lochs, green hills and a vast horizon – look out for Highland cows! Arrive at your Feature Stay just outside of Edinburgh – a historic castle from 1480 on 40 acres of sprawling gardens and lush private grounds with ponds, pathways and green lawns. Tonight is free to wander around the grounds and maybe grab dinner at the onsite bistro.
Included Activities:
- Loch Lomond - National Park Visit
- Kilmartin Glen - Prehistoric Site Tour
Accommodation:
- Carberry Tower (Feature Stay) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning, return to Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital. When you arrive, go on an insightful tour of the city with a private local guide – this company of tour guides supports people who were once homeless, providing them with job opportunities. When you’ve got your bearings, the rest of the day is free to spend how you wish. Maybe continue exploring the winding streets and narrow alleyways on foot, searching for hidden bars and iconic landmarks. Maybe hit the designer stores along George Street or venture into Edinburgh Castle. Tonight, return to your Feature Stay and enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travellers.
Included Activities:
- Edinburgh - Guided City Tour
This morning after breakfast, there are no activities planned. A transfer to Edinburgh city centre or Waverley Station is included. If you’d like to extend your stay and take a Harry Potter-themed walking tour or just explore the Old Town further, just speak to your booking agent.
Accommodation:
- Carberry Tower (Feature Stay) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Denise - Traveled, May 2024
Got to see many places in turkey and learn lots about the country and its people and culture and history
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/11/2024
Doris - Traveled, May 2024
Tour was good except for Hotels Granada and Valencia which were too far from the old City. Also these 2 hotels had the shower over the bath which is dangerous for most of us over 70’s. As it was a Premium Tour this is not good enough. Tour leader was very nice and did a good job but we would’ve liked some information about the areas ie weather population crops etc, especially on the long trips fr Granada to Valencia and Valencia to Barcelona. Also having to take our own luggage from bus to station in Seville onto train and from train to bus is not good enough for a premium tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/09/2024
Susan - Traveled, September 2023
I very much enjoyed seeing the beautiful Croatian coastline. Our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable and seemed to have a real love for his country. My main criticism was that there were frequent incidents where things such as guides in the different areas were not included in the tour, so it felt like we were often paying for services that I would have thought would be part of the overall tour. I would have preferred to have paid more money up front than to have had the frequent requests for additional money.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/19/2023
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