Day 01: Edinburgh

Arrive Edinburgh. Transfer to your pre-booked accommodations. Spend your day independently exploring Edinburgh on your own. (Please note: check-in time at most hotels is from 2 pm). Overnight in Edinburgh.

Day 02: Inverness

Make your way to the Edinburgh departure point by 8:15 am (If you booked a departure point transfer at time of booking, your driver will collect you as noted on your voucher). Depart Edinburgh at 8:30 am. Leave Edinburgh and head west past Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument. You pass Doune Castle before stopping in the small town of Callander for a refreshment. After crossing the Fault Line into the magnificent Highlands, you take in the splendor of Loch Lubnaig, Loch Earn, Glen Ogle, and Glen Dochart. You admire spectacular views and listen to a haunting story in Glencoe before you continue north up the Great Glen to the mysterious beauty of Loch Ness. The loch is 23 miles long and you have plenty of time to try and spot the monster. You arrive at Inverness, where you’re dropped off at your booked accommodation. The evening is free for you to explore the 'Capital of the Highlands'.

Day 03: Kirkwall

It’s an early start, leaving behind the 'Capital of the Highlands', crossing over the Black Isle, and continuing past Dunrobin Castle. From here, you drive along the northeast Highland coastline, traveling into some of Scotland's most dramatic scenery. Onwards through Scotland's most northerly mainland village, John o' Groats, and then to Gills Bay, where you board the ferry, and cross the Pentland Firth into the Orkney Archipelago. It’s a short drive to the famous Italian Chapel where you stop for a visit before continuing to the Viking stronghold of Kirkwall, Capital of Orkney. Here you can visit Kirkwall's magnificent Viking Cathedral and enjoy its historic winding streets in the evening.

Day 04: Kirkwall

Today is your chance to explore this archipelago’s fertile green pastures, fringed by shores of golden sands and washed by waters of the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. You visit the 5,000-year-old village of Skara Brae, the mystical prehistoric stone circle at Brodgar and the Druidic standing stones of Stenness. You stop in Stromness and then travel onto Maeshowe, where in the 12th century the Vikings left one of the largest collections of Norse runic inscriptions. Then it’s back to Kirkwall for your second night after what is sure to be a memorable day.

Day 05: Ullapool

After a relaxed start, you leave Orkney and sail the Viking waters back to the mainland. From here, you travel the old road right across the very top of Scotland, driving past the stunning Ben Loyal and Ben Hope mountains, following the rocky cliffs and stunning golden sand beaches. You then visit the far northwest Highlands and the wilderness of the mountains of Assynt before stopping to view the 15th-century ruins of Ardvreck Castle. From here, you travel to Ullapool, situated at the mouth of Loch Broom, a beautiful whitewashed fishing village where you spend two nights. You will say goodbye to this group here, and will be collected by your new guide and group on the morning of day six.

Day 06: Ullapool

It's a free day in Ullapool to do as you please, before joining up with your new crew the next day. There are many possibilities available in this lovely town. Options for your day include enjoying a day just to relax and absorb the highland tranquil pace of life, whilst browsing the small craft boutiques nestling through the streets of the town. Or why not take the local boat, the ‘Summer Queen' from the pier for an idyllic ‘summer Isles' cruise. Alternatively, you could head up Claypool Hill for an easy two-hour walk, offering wonderful views over Loch Broom, reaching a maximum height of 900 ft. Or, for the even more adventurous, add to this walk by completing a three-hour circuit, returning to the town via Rhiddoroch estate. (Full details of all local walks can be found at the local tourist information center). Ullapool is also a great place to relax and enjoy the Highland pace of life. You can browse the small craft boutiques, try whisky in a pub, or savor top quality seafood and in the evening, enjoy some live music and mingle with the locals before your next leg of the journey. Overnight in Ullapool.

Day 07: Stornoway

Wake up, enjoy your breakfast, and look out over Loch Broom as it glistens under the morning sky. First on the agenda today is a ferry journey across the sea. This two-and-a-half-hour boat trip takes you through the Summer Isles to Stornoway, the main town of the Western Isles. But don’t spend your time snoozing and reading as you sail across the ocean; because if you look out to sea, you may spot dolphins and whales. Once you’ve arrived on Lewis and Harris, you head to the North West coast. Your driver-guide will make the most of what weather you’ve been blessed with and take you through traditional crofting towns and seaside ports. You even get to see the Butt of Lewis; from the lighthouse here there’s nothing but fish and water between you and America. You spend the evening in Stornoway; a bustling port town and the home of Scotland’s most delicious black puddings.

Day 08: Stornoway

Today, you immerse yourself in the history and landscapes of this wild island. You first head to Arnol Blackhouse. Here, you can experience what traditional farming life was like in these remote reaches without getting your hands too dirty. A little down the road, you visit the stone fort of Dun Carloway. This structure was built before 100AD and has experienced more battles than you’ve had hot dinners. It’s a wonderful location to ponder over the vast swathes of history that have come before you. You then travel through a landscape littered with crofting villages to one of the most famous sights of the island, the Calanais Stone Circle. This prehistoric site still mystifies archaeologists today. The rest of your afternoon is spent in the beautiful beaches and mountains of the western side of Lewis. You head back to Stornoway in the late afternoon.

Day 09: Portree

It’s time for something a little more dramatic. It’s time to enter the region of Harris. Harris boasts the highest mountains in the Outer Hebrides and one of the most beautiful white-sandy beaches in Britain, Luskentyre. The area is also famous for Harris Tweed and myths that are as strange as they are poignant. After a morning of exploring the dramatic landscapes, you stop for lunch. Depending on the weather, we may even go for a picnic on the beach – so don’t forget to pack your sunglasses. Your adventure continues on a ferry over the sea to Portree, the largest town in Skye and your base for the next two evenings.

Day 10: Portree

Every horizon in Skye conceals something astoundingly beautiful. So today, your driver-guide makes the most out of your time on this marvel-studded landscape. You may travel to the Quiraing mountain pass and enjoy a spectacular walk, venture to Kilt Rock and see a gigantic waterfall, or take a boat trip to the lesser-known Loch Coruisk. After you’ve enjoyed the sights of Skye, you have your final evening in Portree. There are plenty of fabulous seafood restaurants to celebrate a fine day of exploring.

Day 11: Back to Edinburgh

Don’t be too sad that your trip is ending today, because there are a lot of amazing things to check out on the way back to Edinburgh. Once you’ve crossed the Skye Bridge, you get a chance to see Eilean Donan Castle. This classic combination of a sturdy stone fortification perched upon a loch is about as Scottish a view as you can get. Just ensure you’ve got some room left on your camera to take photos. You then travel under Britain’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis. The peak of this mountain is likely to be shrouded high in the clouds. Your driver-guide may become a little emotional as you move through the valley of Glencoe. This marvelously mountainous area was the site of one of the most tragic massacres in Scottish history. The story is as unforgettable as the landscape. The hilly views become flatter as you enter the Lowlands and travel to Edinburgh. You arrive in Edinburgh at approximately 7 pm. Make your way independently to your pre-booked hotel. Your evening is free to enjoy Edinburgh.

Day 12: Edinburgh - Home

After breakfast, transfer from your hotel to the airport for your return flight to the US.