7-day Luxury Scotland vacation: Highlands and Isle of Skye
7 days
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Small Group Tour
Live the stories and traditions of Scotland on our 7-day, 6-night Isle of Skye tour from Edinburgh as part of a small group (maximum 12 guests). You’ll explore the history, geology and traditions of Scotland in the Highlands of Argyll and on the Isle of Skye. Travel from Edinburgh to Inverness to take in the sights and sounds of the Highlands, before explori...
$6,075
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Overview
Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
Highlights
- Kick off your Highlands and Isle of Skye tour from Edinburgh with a beautiful train journey to Inverness, before crossing the bridge to Skye.
- Stand in the dramatic landscapes of Skye and the Scottish Highlands, as you hear stories about the human and geological forces that created them.
- Be captivated by your Scottish Tour Leader’s stories as you visit castles and towering peaks, historic homes and traditional craftspeople, and a dramatic hidden loch.
- Stay at three welcoming hotels (two nights at each): a Georgian mansion outside Inverness, a former hunting lodge on Skye and a loch-side retreat at Port Appin.
- Taste some of the finest food in Scotland with traditional meals made from quality, locally sourced ingredients.
- Group size 6 to 12.
What's this trip about?
Live the stories and traditions of Scotland on our 7-day, 6-night Isle of Skye tour from Edinburgh as part of a small group (maximum 12 guests). You’ll explore the history, geology and traditions of Scotland in the Highlands of Argyll and on the Isle of Skye. Travel from Edinburgh to Inverness to take in the sights and sounds of the Highlands, before exploring the enchanting Isle of Skye. Afterwards, journey to a loch-side hotel to discover the scenic beauty of the Appin district. This Scotland vacation package encompasses loch-fringed coastlines, towering mountain ranges and hidden-away gems, all in the company of your Scottish guide, who will bring to life Scotland’s history, culture and geology. You will visit castles laden with tales of conflict, clans and courage. You’ll dig deep into the local landscape, marvel at the landscape’s rugged beauty and uncover its deep-time origins. Perhaps the biggest highlight of the tour is Skye itself. Known as the ‘Misty Isle’, this island, just off the Scottish mainland holds so much history, culture and traditions that you’ll be enthralled the moment you set foot on the island. Our Skye vacation takes you from one end of the island to the other, from hundreds of millions of years ago to the present, from peaceful ports to jagged mountain peaks, with all the richness of island life in between.
Details
Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age range18 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal transport included (including local flights)
Start CityEdinburgh
End CityEdinburgh
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Trip includes
- The services of your expert guide and tour host who will be with the group throughout the tour, staying at the same hotels.
- Local geology expert who will accompany the group and give talks on selected days.
- All transportation costs when travelling from Edinburgh on the first day, and when returning to Edinburgh.
- Entry fees, local guide fees and activity fees, where arranged as part of the tour.
- All accommodation costs for the nights stated, assuming two people sharing a double room. Single occupancy rooms are available for a surcharge. See Single Supplement in ‘Need to Know’ tab.
- Six breakfasts, six a la carte dinners, three snack lunches.
- All service charges and most gratuities.
Itinerary
Day 1: Isle of Skye, Highlands tour from Edinburgh - Inverness and welcome to Scotland!
The first journey of your tour is by first-class train from Edinburgh to Inverness, accompanied by your Scottish guide. It’s a gentle introduction to the Scottish Highlands, with views of lochs, mountains and moors. After a mid-morning departure, you will arrive in ...
Day 2: Cromarty - folklore, fortunes and fossils
After waking to a Highlands view and a hearty breakfast, you’ll be off to the nearby famous Black Isle peninsula, working your way up to the coastal town of Cromarty. On the way, we’ll stop in the town of Fortrose, known for its ruined cathedral and, with luck, see ...
Day 3: Inverness to Skye - strongholds and incredible scenery
On the way to Skye, we’ll stop at a quintessentially Scottish landmark – Eilean Donan Castle.
Standing where three lochs meet, the castle’s fascinating history began long before BBC branding and James Bond films made it famous! You’ll have plenty of time to w...
Standing where three lochs meet, the castle’s fascinating history began long before BBC branding and James Bond films made it famous! You’ll have plenty of time to w...
Day 4: Straithaird - sailing to a secluded loch
Geologist Dr. Noelle Odling joins the group today for the next 3 days. You’ll embark on a real Skye vacation adventure. We’ll head to a loch that’s notoriously hard to reach – if you travel there by land…luckily, you’ll be travelling by water! Board a boat in the vi...
Day 5: Skye to Appin - history, Hogwarts and heritage
After a last breakfast on Skye, it’s time to head off on the next leg of your Scotland vacation to Appin in Argyll. We’ll travel down to Skye’s southern coast and catch the ferry over to the town of Mallaig, before driving off to the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Famou...
Famou...
Day 6: Appin - unwind on the Scottish Highland’s winding trails
After breakfast and views of the loch at the Pierhouse Hotel, you’ll be spending today on the Island of Lismore. Noelle will guide you through the fascinating Island landscapes, history and geology, as well as giving you a unique and first-hand account of living on ...
Day 7: Returning home
Savour your last breakfast at the Pierhouse Hotel, then enjoy the journey back to Edinburgh via a scenic drive along the length of Loch Lomond. We’ll stop in Glasgow to catch the train back to Edinburgh, arriving at Waverley Station in the early afternoon. Alternati...
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Dates & Availability
Price From $4,939
Price per day$706
Last Updated: 4/3/2025
Departure Date
End Date
For 2025 tours only
Solo Traveler | Double room for single occupancy in USD
Available
24 Apr 2025
30 Apr 2025
$4,939
$6,077
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with GeoCultura.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- Travel insurance.
- Extra or optional activities not described in the tour
- Lunches not included on four of the seven days.
- Personal expenditures
- Transportation to and from Edinburgh Waverley railway station at the start and end of the tour.
- Passport and visa fees.
Accommodation
A ‘stunning Georgian building with wonderful grounds’, this 1820s mansion has been run as a hotel by ‘lovely, friendly’ hosts Susannah and Stuart Macpherson since 2003. The hotel restaurant is a popular choice for local diners and it has been said that Stuart ‘clearly has a enormous respect from his team’. – Good Hotel Guide (46th edition)
With ‘arguably the best location in Portree’, the Cuillin Hills Hotel sits at a vantage point in the north of the town, providing exceptional views of Loch Portree, the Sound of Raasay and the distant Cuillin mountains. Know that you are in good hands as the hotel has been running for 25 years by staff who are known to ‘take pride in their work’. Shortlisted in the Good Hotel Guide (46th edition)
The former home of Port Appin’s Pier Master, The Pierhouse Hotel is ‘a lovely hotel with stylish bedrooms and a varied menu, long on fish’. Breakfasts and dinners are accompanied by exquisite views of Loch Linnhe and the distant mountains. Good Hotel Guide (46th edition).
Note: If required for reasons beyond our control, GeoCultura reserves the right to substitute alternate accommodations of equal or higher quality.
Subject to availability, guests may request an upgrade to a sea view room or preferred view room at each hotel. Please call for details.
Transportation & Flights
Rail ticketFor an extra charge of £199 per person, we can arrange first-class return rail tickets between London and Edinburgh, at a time to suit each individual traveller. The price includes onboard meals with drinks, served at your seat.Transport
Transport will be by small comfortable coach, passenger boat and first-class rail.,
Guides
Accredited Scottish guide
Requirements
,Double room for single occupancy in USD 6077
Cancellation policy
Deposit: A deposit of 10% of the tour price is due upon registration for a tour.
Final payment: Full payment is due 60 days before a tour begins, or upon registration if within the 60-day window.
Cancellation by participant: A participant may cancel a registration after securing a confirmed place on a tour for any reason. The following refund terms will apply:
- Greater than 60 days before tour begins: Any monies paid plus half of the deposit will be refunded
- 30 to 59 days before tour begins: 35% of tour price will be refunded
- 15 to 29 days before tour begins: 25% of tour price will be refunded
- Within 14 days of tour or during the tour: No monies will be refunded
Cancellation by GeoCultura: GeoCultura reserves the right to cancel any tour due to low enrolment, inability to run the tour or concerns about the safety, health or welfare of participants. If a tour is cancelled before it begins, all monies paid will be refunded (including any deposit).
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against
unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies.
It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before
or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination.
It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements.
For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements,
please visit this link
.
Meals Included
Six breakfasts, six a la carte dinners, three snack lunches.
Age Requirements
18 years and up
12-17 on request
12-17 on request
Optional Activities
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Additional Information
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Trip ID
geocul-LuSoVa
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