Best of Scotland in 10 Days Tour
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Overview
Highlights
- See the best of Edinburgh on foot, starting with a walking tour of the Royal Mile
- See of the historic buildings, quaint shops, narrow lanes, and hidden courtyards.
- Visit the history of this land at the impressive National Museum of Scotland
- Enjoy a favorite Scottish past time by taking a walk through the spectacular landscape of the well-preserved Cairngorms National Park.
- The Clava Cairns, an impressive collection of prehistoric burial chambers, and enjoy a picnic in this serene setting
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Trip includes
- A small, friendly group of 24–28 people — half the size of most tour groups
- Full-time services of a professional Rick Steves guide and local experts who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of Scotland come alive for you
- All tours and admissions — at no extra cost — covering at least 21 group sightseeing events, Walking tour of Edinburgh's Royal Mile, National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle tour, Culross Palace tour, St. Andrews visit, Scottish musical evening, Scottish Crannog tour, Dunkeld Cathedral visit, Hermitage visit, Whisky distillery tour and tasting, Sheep dog demonstration, Scottish Highlands Walk, Culloden Battlefield tour, Clava Cairns tour, Cawdor Castle visit, Urquhart Castle visit Loch Ness cruise, Glencoe scenic drive, Isle of Iona visit, Iona Abbey tour, Stirling Castle tour…and more
- All group transportation from Edinburgh to Edinburgh
- 9 nights' accommodations in memorable, centrally located hotels and B&Bs
- All breakfasts and half your dinners
- All tips for guides and driver
- Rick Steves Travel Store credit to use toward guidebooks for your trip
- Guaranteed tour price, locked in the moment you make your deposit
- Optional single supplements — this tour has a limited number of private rooms for solo travelers for an additional fee
- Tour alum discount of $50 for each tour you've taken prior to 2017
- 50% discount on a consulting appointment with our in-house experts to assist with your pre- or post-tour travel plans
- Flexibility should you need to transfer, or cancel/interrupt your tour
- Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing
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Itinerary
We'll meet at 4 p.m. at our hotel in Edinburgh for a "Welcome to Scotland" get-together. We'll then take a neighborhood walk and tour of Georgian Edinburgh before getting acquainted over dinner. Sleep in Edinburgh (2 nights). No bus. Walking: light.
Today we'll see the best of Edinburgh on foot, starting with a walking tour of the Royal Mile and its wealth of historic buildings, quaint shops, narrow lanes, and hidden courtyards. We'll climb up to imposing Edinburgh Castle to tour this historic military stronghold...
We cross the famous Firth of Forth this morning as we head into the Scottish countryside. Our first stop is in the picturesque burgh of Culross, where we'll learn about long-ago lifestyles as we tour a 17th-century cottage "palace." Then we're off to St. Andrews, Scot...
This morning we'll tour a reconstruction of Scotland's unique crannogs: prehistoric, defensive homesteads built on piers out over the lochs. We'll also learn about the first people to farm in this part of the world, millennia ago. Then we'll head to the Hermitage, whe...
We're off to the Highlands today! We'll start off by learning about the nitty-gritty of Scotland's wool industry at a working sheep farm and watch a demonstration by talented sheepdogs. This afternoon we'll enter the Scottish Highlands, and enjoy a panoramic cruise of...
Today we'll tour evocative Culloden Battlefield where, in 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie's defeat ended decades of Scottish rebellion against the English government. We'll also stop for a look at the Clava Cairns, an impressive collection of prehistoric burial chambers, ...
This morning we'll head toward the coast, but not before stopping at haunting Glencoe, site of Scotland's most infamous massacre (Campbells and MacDonalds, keep your daggers on the bus). We'll end our day in the scenic coastal town of Oban, where we'll tour a whisky d...
Today we'll board a ferry and hop on a local bus for an entertaining ride across the island of Mull to our destination: the windswept Isle of Iona, the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland. We'll tour the 800-year-old abbey, where monks created the remarkable Book o...
We'll drive along the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond and through central Scotland on our way back to Edinburgh. En route we'll visit the famous castle of the Stuart kings, Stirling, including the newly restored Renaissance Palace. Tonight we'll share memories of Scotland and toast new friends at our final dinner together. Slàinte! Sleep in Edinburgh (1 night). Bus: 4 hrs. Walking: moderate.
Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. Edinburgh's airport and train station are easy connections from our neighborhood. Glasgow is one hour away by train; London is 90 minutes by air. For those tempted to continue their trip, Edinburgh is a great jumping off point to Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, and many other exciting destinations. Cheerio!
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Dates & Availability
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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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Cancellations and refunds: Your tour deposit is 100% refundable for 30 days from the date it is received, unless noted otherwise below. After 30 days your deposit becomes nonrefundable, and will be forfeited should you decide to cancel your reservation. Deposits made 60–90 days before a tour departs become nonrefundable on the final payment due date. If you book a tour less than 60 days before its departure date, the entire tour cost becomes non-refundable after 7 days.
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