Itinerary
- Day 1
Edinburgh
You'll arrive in Edinburgh and have the rest of the day to yourself. Wander around the city at your own pace, grab lunch somewhere that catches your eye, or just get oriented with the layout. This is a good time to settle in and maybe find a nice spot for dinner before the structured touring begins tomorrow.
- Day 2
Edinburgh to Fort William
After breakfast, you'll join a guided tour of Glasgow to see its art collections and shops. Then head northwest to Loch Lomond for photos at Scotland's largest inland lake. From there, continue through the dramatic Glencoe Valley and into the Scottish Highlands, passing mountain scenery with gorges and waterfalls before reaching Fort William by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Glasgow
- Photo stop at Loch Lomond
- Scenic drive through Glencoe Valley
Landmarks Loch Lomond Glencoe Valley 
- Day 3
Fort William to Isle of Skye
Travel to the Isle of Skye, the largest island in the Inner Hebrides. You'll spend the day on a round trip tour of the island and take a guided walk through Portree, which is the only real town on Skye. The scenery here is quite striking with cliffs and lochs throughout.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Round trip of Isle of Skye
- Guided walk of Portree
Landmarks Isle of Skye Portree 
- Day 4
Isle of Skye to Ullapool
Leave Isle of Skye and stop at Eilean Donan Castle to photograph this famous Scottish castle set on a small peninsula. Later, visit Inverewe Garden where you'll see exotic plants and colorful blooms that do surprisingly well this far north. Then head north to the coastal fishing village of Ullapool on Loch Broom, arriving by late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Photo stop at Eilean Donan Castle
- Visit to Inverewe Garden
Landmarks Eilean Donan Castle Inverewe Garden Loch Broom 
- Day 5
Ullapool
Spend your morning exploring Ullapool at leisure, browsing local stores and art shops. Grab lunch at one of the fish restaurants and try freshly caught seafood. In the afternoon, board a boat trip out to the Summer Isles archipelago in Loch Broom where you can watch for dolphins and seals in their natural habitat.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Summer Isles
Optional Activities
- Free exploration of Ullapool
- Dining at local seafood restaurants
Landmarks Ullapool Summer Isles - Day 6
Ullapool to Thurso
You'll travel along the scenic Scottish coast with views of the northwestern Highlands. Stop at bright sandy beaches to see the turquoise waters. Visit Smoo Cave, an impressive limestone sea cave over 60 meters long with a dramatic entrance arch. After that, continue to Thurso, arriving by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Photo stop at sandy beaches
- Visit to Smoo Cave
Landmarks Smoo Cave 
- Day 7
Thurso to Orkney Islands
Take a ferry from Thurso to Stromness on the Orkney Islands. Explore Skara Brae, a fully preserved Neolithic village, then see the mysterious Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness. Visit Kirkwall, the island capital, and see the 12th century St. Magnus Cathedral. Browse for local products and have dinner in a pub before boarding the overnight ferry to Shetland.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Orkney Islands
- Visit to Skara Brae
- Visit to Ring of Brodgar
- Visit to Standing Stones of Stenness
- Exploration of Kirkwall and St. Magnus Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Shopping for local cheese, cotton, and jewelry in Kirkwall
Landmarks Skara Brae Ring of Brodgar Standing Stones of Stenness Kirkwall St. Magnus Cathedral - Day 8
Shetland Islands to Aberdeen
After arriving, you'll take a guided tour of the Shetland Islands exploring their unique Scandinavian-influenced culture. Visit Hermaness Natural Reserve with the world's largest puffin colony, Jarlshof archaeological site with Bronze Age stone huts and Iron Age tower, Scalloway Castle from the 16th century, and Fort Charlotte artillery fortress. By late afternoon, you'll board the ferry back to mainland Scotland.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Shetland Islands
- Visit to Hermaness Natural Reserve
- Visit to Jarlshof archaeological site
- Visit to Scalloway Castle
- Visit to Fort Charlotte
Optional Activities
- Birdwatching opportunities
Landmarks Hermaness Natural Reserve Jarlshof Scalloway Castle Fort Charlotte - Day 9
Aberdeen to Blairgowrie
Arrive in Aberdeen, Scotland's third-largest city, and take a city tour. Stop at Dunnottar Castle perched on 50-meter-high coastal cliffs. Visit Glamis Castle, the childhood home of the Queen Mum and birthplace of Princess Margaret. Tour a whisky distillery to learn the distilling process and enjoy a tasting before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- City tour of Aberdeen
- Photo stop at Dunnottar Castle
- Visit to Glamis Castle
- Whisky distillery tour with tasting
Landmarks Dunnottar Castle Glamis Castle 
- Day 10
Blairgowrie to Edinburgh
Travel south and cross the Forth Road Bridge, an engineering feat known for its cantilever construction. Arrive in Edinburgh for a city tour visiting Princes Street shopping district, St. Mary's Cathedral, and the Gallery of Modern Art. Stroll along the Royal Mile through the medieval Old Town with its historic buildings and narrow alleyways. End the day at Edinburgh Castle, an impressive 7th century fortress overlooking the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Edinburgh
- Walk along Royal Mile
- Visit to Edinburgh Castle
- View of Princes Street, St. Mary's Cathedral, and Gallery of Modern Art
Landmarks Forth Road Bridge Princes Street St. Mary's Cathedral Gallery of Modern Art Royal Mile Edinburgh Castle 
- Day 11
Edinburgh Departure
Depending on your flight time, you may have the morning free to explore Edinburgh on your own. Check out any spots you missed or revisit a favorite cafe. Then head to the airport for your individual departure from the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Individual exploration of Edinburgh in the morning
