9 Days Edinburgh to Edinburgh
Highlights Include: Cruises on Loch Lomond and Loch Ness, Invearay Castle, Armadale Castle, Isle of Skye, Scottish Highlands, Whisky, and St. Andrews.
Scotland Adventure
DAY 1 ARRIVE IN SCOTLAND: Arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland. After you make your way through customs, meet with your Scottish guide in the arrivals area. Shortly afterwards, begin your journey to Glasgow. Enjoy a tour of central Glasgow’s highlights including red sandstone Victorian buildings, delightful parks, Glasgow Cathedral, and the River Clyde, once famous for shipbuilding. Visit extensive and varied art collections in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Later, make your way to your hotel. This evening enjoy dinner in your hotel. (D)
DAY 2 LOCH LOMOND / INVERARAY / BALLACHULISH: After breakfast, depart from Glasgow. Embark on a short cruise of Loch Lomond to appreciate the beauty of this famous loch and admire panoramic views of the Highlands. Continue on to Inveraray and enjoy some free time to browse around the town before taking a guide tour of Inveraray Castle which you may recognize from the Downton Abbey series. Afterwards, make your way to Ballachulish for dinner and overnight. (B/D)
DAY 3 ISLE OF SKYE / INVERNESS: This morning, depart and make your way through Glen Coe, often considered one of Scotland’s most spectacular and beautiful places. Continue through the misty lochs and sweeping glens of the Scottish Highlands between Fort William in the West Highlands and Mallaig on Scotland’s west coast. The route passes Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest mountain. Arrive in Mallaig where a short ferry ride brings you to Armadale on the Isle of Skye. Enjoy some of the sights on the Isle of Skye before making your way across the Skye Bridge to the mainland and on to Inverness for overnight. (B)
DAY 4 LOCH NESS EXCURSION: This morning, we travel to Clansman Harbor where we board a Jacobite Cruise to Urquhart Castle. Loch Ness is a striking 38.5-km-long loch in the Great Glen (Southwest of Inverness) and forms part of the Caledonian Canal, which links Inverness with Fort William. Up to 213 m deep, the loch contains the largest volume of freshwater of any lake in the British Isles. Famous worldwide for its mysterious inhabitant, the Loch Ness Monster, it is also ideal for cruising and sailing. On the loch banks, you will visit the ruins of Urquhart Castle, one of the largest castles in Scotland which fell into decay after 1689 and was blown up in 1692 to prevent it being occupied by Jacobites. Most of the existing remains date from the 16th century. Afterwards, enjoy some free time in the Loch Ness area before returning to Inverness for overnight. (B)
DAY 5 CULLODEN BATTLEFIELD / PITLOCHRY: A short distance from Inverness is the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre where the British Government forces defeated the army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, popularly named Bonnie Prince Charlie. Walk around the moorland and the Visitor Centre which explains how events led to the conflict ending the clan system in Scotland. Continue through majestic Highland scenery and the high peaks of the Grampian Mountains to Pitlochry. Enjoy dinner in your hotel. (B/D)
DAY 6 BLAIR CASTLE & WHISKY TASTING/ SHEEPDOGS: Visit Blair Castle, home of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl. Delve into the history of Mary, Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie and how Queen Victoria’s famous stay led to the creation of Europe’s only private army, the Atholl Highlanders. Go behind the scenes at Blair Athol Distillery for a whisky making tour and a sample of the finished product. Afterwards, visit a local farm for a demonstration of trained dogs herding sheep. Return to Pitlochry where you enjoy dinner in your hotel. (B/D)
DAY 7 GLAMIS CASTLE / ST. ANDREWS / EDINBURGH: Travel through lush countryside to visit Glamis Castle, the legendary setting of “Macbeth” and childhood home of the late Queen Mother. This is a majestic building filled with priceless artefacts and furnishings. Head to St Andrews, the “Home of Golf”, to see the famous Royal and Ancient Clubhouse and the Old Course. Onwards to Edinburgh where you will have some free time before dinner. Your guide will have recommendations for optional visits. Perhaps you might consider an optional excursion to the Edinburgh Vaults. This evening, enjoy dinner in a local restaurant. (B/D)
DAY 8 EDINBURGH: Explore Edinburgh to compare and contrast the wide streets and elegant mansions of the Georgian 200-year-old “New Town” with the narrow lanes and medieval townhouses along the Royal Mile, the oldest part of the city. Head up to Edinburgh Castle, where you will see the ‘Honours of Scotland’, or the Scottish Crown Jewels, and obtain stunning views of the city. The rest of the day is free for independent exploring, shopping and dining. (B)
DAY 9 EDINBURGH / USA: After breakfast, bid farewell to Scotland as you transfer to Edinburgh airport, where after check-in you will have plenty of time for your last-minute duty-free shopping. Your flight to the US arrives the same day. Have a safe journey! (B)
Customize to Suit
The above suggested itinerary can be customized to suit; more or less meals, different cities and/or sightseeing based on your clients’ interests. You name it, our expert group specialist professionals will put it together for you. Please call 1-800-818-8455, or simply complete the group request form, and we’ll get back to you with your proposal.
Inclusions
- Twin-bedded rooms in 4- or 5-Star hotels; hotel taxes, service charges and baggage handling
- Breakfast daily, except day of arrival
- 5 three-course dinners
- Travel by private, luxury, air-conditioned coach
- Services of a professional Scottish Tour Manager throughout
- Panoramic Glasgow Tour
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
- Cruise on Loch Lomond
- Inveraray Castle
- Armadale Castle
- Jacobite Cruise on Loch Ness
- Urquhart Castle
- Culloden Battlefield
- Working Sheepdogs Demonstration
- Blair Castle
- Blair Athol Distillery
- Glamis Castle
- Panoramic St. Andrews
- Full-day sightseeing tour of Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Castle
- Portfolio of travel documents
- 24-hour local customer service while traveling in Scotland
Private Departures
Please Call 1-800-818-8455 for Group Rates on this Custom Group Journey
This suggested itinerary can be customized to suit; more or less meals, different cities and/or sightseeing based on your clients’ interests. You name it, our expert group specialist professionals will put it together for you. Please call 1-800-818-8455, or simply complete the group request form, and we’ll get back to you with your proposal.
Group Discounts
On custom journeys, discounts vary depending on group requirements. Typically, travel with a group of 20 and the 21st traveler receives a 100% discount* off the land portion of the vacation price. A second traveler receives a 100% discount* off the land on a group of 40 paying passengers.
*Per person prices are land only and based on two people sharing a room. Above dates represent “land start” date. Air: Please note that airfares are not included in the prices above. Journeys Connect can quote you the lowest possible GROUP airfare available on the day that you book. Minimum of 10 seats from same gateway. Less than 10 air seats will require full payment at time of booking. Single Room Supplement: On Request. Triple Room Reduction: On Request. Group discounts cannot be combined with our Triple Room discounts. Not valid on Specialty, Customized Vacations or River Cruises, optional extensions, extra nights, airfares, taxes and fees, flight supplements, or airport transfers. Other restrictions may apply. All passengers’ names must be advised before the discount is applied. *Group discount is on a twin-share basis only.
Contact Journeys Connect
Journeys Connect group and specialty services are available exclusively on a Business-to-Business basis, to travel industry professionals. If you are an individual interested in a Group Journey for 8 or more passengers, please do browse our collection and then contact your preferred Travel Agent and ask them to book through Journeys Connect.
Travel professionals, please call and speak with one of our Group Specialty Professionals:
1-800-818-8455