Day 1 | Edinburgh

Arrive Edinburgh. Transfer to your hotel is included. You are free to enjoy this beautiful city on your own. (Please note: hotel check-in is generally between 2 pm and 4 pm. If you are arriving into Edinburgh early - the hotel will be happy to hold your luggage until your room is ready).

Day 2 | Edinburgh - Touring Begins - Ullapool

Make your own way to the tour departure point for 8:15 am. This tour departs promptly at 8:30 am. If you had purchased a departure point transfer, your driver will collect you at the time noted on your transfer voucher. Our tour starts traveling north into the Highlands. First stop will be the historic village of Dunkeld. You get time here to stretch your legs and admire the cathedral’s unusual mixture of architectural styles. You then venture through the shadows of the great and gorgeous Grampian Mountains and stop for lunch at a Highland town in the Spey Valley. Perhaps it’s time for you to try haggis. After you’ve satisfied your taste buds, you head to Loch Ness. Your driver-guide helps you attempt to catch a glimpse of Scotland’s most-famously mythical monster. Corrieshalloch Gorge is a lesser known Scottish sight, but it’s one that you’ll love. It’s a short walk under forest canopies with a lovely view of a waterfall. In the early evening, you arrive in the scenic fishing port of Ullapool for your overnight stay.

Day 3 | Touring - 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 fishes and water between you and America. Overnight in Stornoway.

Day 4 | Touring - 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 Callanish Stone Circle. This prehistoric sight still mystifies archeologists today. The rest of your afternoon is spent in the beautiful beaches and mountains of the western side of Lewis. Overnight again in Stornoway.

Day 5 | Touring - 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. Here you will catch the late afternoon ferry to Skye and continue on to your overnight stay in the harbor town of Portree.

Day 6 | Touring - 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. We return to Portree for overnight. There are plenty of fabulous seafood restaurants to celebrate a fine day of exploring.

Day 7 | Touring - Edinburgh

Departing Portree, we embark on the return journey to Edinburgh, which has many highlights. 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 marvellously 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, arriving approximately 7p, where you will make your own way to your pre-booked hotel.

Day 8 | Edinburgh - Home

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