Itinerary
- Day 1
Inverness to Kirkwall
This morning you'll leave Inverness early and head north through the Scottish Highlands. The route takes you across the Black Isle with views of Dunrobin Castle, then follows the dramatic northeast coastline up to John o' Groats. From Gills Bay you'll board a ferry for the crossing over the Pentland Firth to the Orkney Islands (roughly 45 minutes on the water). Once you arrive, there's time to see the Italian Chapel before driving into Kirkwall, Orkney's main town. Here you can walk through the Viking Cathedral and wander the historic streets before settling in for the night.
- Start point
- 8 Ardross Street, Inverness, IV3 5NN, United Kingdom (All Inverness tours will depart from the bus stop next to Inverness Cathedral, Ardross Street, Inverness, IV3 5NS, 08:00)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Italian Chapel
- Explore Kirkwall's Viking Cathedral
- Walk through Kirkwall's historic winding streets
Landmarks Dunrobin Castle John o' Groats Italian Chapel St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall 
- Day 2
Orkney Mainland
Today is all about Orkney's prehistoric sites. You'll start at Skara Brae, a 5,000-year-old village that's remarkably well preserved. From there, head to the standing stones at Brodgar and Stenness to get a feel for the scale of these ancient monuments. Next comes Maeshowe, an impressive cairn where Vikings carved one of the largest collections of Norse runic inscriptions you'll see anywhere. The day gives you a real sense of how long people have called these islands home. After exploring these sites, you'll return to Kirkwall for your second night in town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Skara Brae (5,000-year-old village)
- Visit Stone Circle of Brodgar
- Visit Standing Stones of Stenness
- Explore Maeshowe cairn
Landmarks Skara Brae Ring of Brodgar Standing Stones of Stenness Maeshowe 
- Day 3
Kirkwall to Inverness
Spend your final morning in Kirkwall picking up gifts and checking out the local cathedral at your own pace. Then head to the ferry terminal for the crossing back to the mainland. Once you're across, the drive south takes you through Caithness and Sutherland, areas loaded with Highland history including sites connected to the Highland Clearances. You'll pass through remote fishing villages that give you a real picture of rural Scotland. By early evening you'll be back in Inverness, concluding your trip north.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Kirkwall Cathedral
- Explore remote fishing villages
Optional Activities
- Shop for gifts and souvenirs in Kirkwall
Landmarks St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall 
