Are the accommodations near any restaurants to get dinners? Also how much driving time is there per day?

Accommodations will be booked in central areas for ease of getting dinner and exploring the local areas outside of tour times. Driving times will change dependant on the day but can be around 6+ hours.

Could you please provide details on the itinerary, inclusions, and the type of accommodations used? Additionally, would like to know if there's a specific time to be in Edinburgh to start the tour and what time it typically concludes back in Edinburgh.

The 5 day tour, the main attractions are Glen Coe & Loch Ness: Fascinating history and wonderful scenery, Kirkwall: The Italian Chapel & Churchill Barriers, Skara Brae, Maes Howe: And the Ring O'Brodgar, Culloden: Visit the historic battlefield, The Cairngorm Mountains: Stunning Highland scenery. We offer a 3* minimum bed and breakfast for accommodation. Check in is at 8:15 and the return time is approximately 7pm.

Could you let us know if it's possible to personalize this tour based on a list of places the traveler would like to visit?

Can I please confirm if the passenger is interested in running this excursion on a private or scheduled basis?

do you have a similar tour that fits

Unfortunately, this tour only operates until September and will not be running in October. As an alternative, I'd recommend our 3-Day Inverness & Isle of Skye Tour, which runs all year round.

Is this trip guaranteed?

Yes, this tour is confirmed to run on September 4th. We would be delighted to welcome you on tour and please let us know if you have any questions before booking. Please note that we still reserve the right to cancel our tours in very rare cases but I can confirm that this tour has surpassed the minimum requirement to run and is scheduled to operate.

We wish to explore as much as available in the Orkneys. My daughter and I are very interested in archeology and related studies. Will your trip allow this or can you suggest another trip choice.

This tour visits some of Orkney's most incredible ancient sites including Maeshowe, Skara Brae, The Stone Circles of Stenness and The Ring O'Brodgar. These ancient sites make Orkeney an amazing place to visit for history lovers and those interested in ancient civilisations. Our tours to Orkney aren't specifically archaeology focused, however they offer an excellent opportunity to see some of the island's most amazing ancient sites.

I note that 4 night of occupancy in high quality in B&B is included. Given that the tour is of 5 days which day stay is not included on this the last day or the first?

In case we want to stay additional couple of days at the accommodation what additional cost will apply?

What is the single surcharge, if any?

For a single person travelling, a single surcharge would be applicable in this instance. The additional cost being £260.

My suitcase is 68x41x23. I'm coming from overseas for a period of time…. I'd prefer to bring it on the tour as I only have a daypack.

We understand the need to bring luggage with you however we do have a luggage limit in place to abide by weight restrictions on our buses; this is 1 cabin-sized suitcase of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm, with a maximum weight of 15kg. If your tour is not fully booked you may be able to bring you suitcase with you; we recommend getting in touch closer to your tour date to enquire how full your tour is.

what is restroom access on bus?

Unfortunately, our vehicles do not have toilets however you can expect a comfort stop every 1-2 hours on our tours.

From

US $1,310 per person

Orkney & The Far North

5 days

•

Start and end in Edinburgh

5.0

9 traveler reviews

View all
The history and scenery were amazing, the accommodation was comfortable with a large variety offered for breakfasts.
Pam, traveled in August
5.0
View all

From

US $1,310 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Operator: Highland Experience Tours
In-depth Cultural: Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided: An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity: Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 5 - 16
All Ages Welcome

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Day 1
Loch Lomond to Inverness
Start point
192 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1RW, United Kingdom (Highland Experience, Caffe Nero, 08:00 - 08:15)
Meals
Breakfast
Landmarks
Loch Lomond
Trossachs National Park
Glen Coe
Fort William
Great Glen
Loch Ness
Day 2
Inverness to Orkney Isles
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Italian Chapel
- See Churchill Barriers
Landmarks
Moray Firth
Cromarty Firth
Italian Chapel
Churchill Barriers
Day 3
Orkney Isles
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Skara Brae
- Visit Maeshowe chambered cairn
- Visit Stenness stone circles
- Visit Ring o' Brodgar
- Visit St Magnus Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Browse craft and gift shops in Kirkwall
Landmarks
Maeshowe
Skara Brae
Stenness
Ring o' Brodgar
St Magnus Cathedral
Day 4
Orkney Isles to Inverness
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Dunrobin Castle
Landmarks
Dunrobin Castle
Day 5
Inverness to Edinburgh
End point
21-22 St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 1AF, United Kingdom (Outside the Malmaison Hotel)
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Culloden battlefield
- Explore Clava Cairns
Optional Activities
- Enjoy a dram at a local distillery
- Explore Pitlochry
Landmarks
Culloden Battlefield
Clava Cairns
Cairngorms National Park
Pitlochry

Landmarks
Loch Lomond
Trossachs National Park
Glen Coe
Fort William
Great Glen
Loch Ness

Landmarks
Moray Firth
Cromarty Firth
Italian Chapel
Churchill Barriers

Landmarks
Maeshowe
Skara Brae
Stenness
Ring o' Brodgar
St Magnus Cathedral

Landmarks
Dunrobin Castle

Landmarks
Culloden Battlefield
Clava Cairns
Cairngorms National Park
Pitlochry

What's Included

Expand All

Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport

What's Not Included

Additional Services

Adventure Type

Choose the type of organized adventure that suits your preferences.

Group Adventures
Join a group and forge lifelong friendships.
What to expect
- Group of 16 travelers max.
- Fast booking confirmation
- Carefully planned itineraries
- Travel with like-minded people
Starting at
US $1,310 / traveler
Check availability
Personalized Adventures
Customize an existing itinerary or create your own.
What to expect
- Choose your preferred dates and duration
- Upgrade your accommodation
- Customize the itineraries
After requesting a quote, we will get back to you with a price based on your requirements.
Request quote

Operated by

Highland Experience Tours

4.5

(294 reviews)

Number of tours

Age Range

3 to 99 years old

Response time

within 1 day

Response rate

96%

THE BEST WAY TO EXPERIENCE SCOTLAND We specialise in small and friendly tours...

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Traveler Moments

Traveler Reviews

5.0

Overall rating based on 9 Reviews

Itinerary
4.9
Transport
4.6
Guide
5.0
Accommodation
4.0
Food
4.5
Tour Operator
4.5

Jeanne
June 11th, 2025
A goood experience Orkney was wonderful.
Traveled in June 2025
Reply from: Highland Experience Tours
Hi Jeanne, Thank you for your kind words! We're so glad you had a good experience and enjoyed the beauty of Orkney. It truly is a special place! We hope to see you on another adventure soon. Many Thanks, Highland Experience Tours
Show more
C
Christopher
October 13th, 2023
Eddy was very knowledgeable and considerate of all passengers needs
Traveled in September 2023
Reply from: Highland Experience Tours
Thank you for your lovely feedback about our driver-guide Eddy. We're delighted you had a great time on tour with him!
Show more
M
Marilyn
September 14th, 2023
We just returned from an 8 day tour with Steve as our guide. He was fantastic! The tour was incredible. Only 13 in a...
Show more
Traveled in September 2023
Reply from: Highland Experience Tours
Thanks for the review Marilyn!
Show more
Susan
September 13th, 2023
Good value. Excellent driver. Saw all and more than brochure said.
Traveled in September 2023
Reply from: Highland Experience Tours
Hello there, thank you for your feedback. We are really glad that you enjoyed your tour with us! Best wishes, Chloë
Show more
P
Pam
August 25th, 2023
Tour to the Orkney islands was excellent! Our guide Eddie was funny, informative and went above and beyond to make...
Tour to the Orkney islands was excellent! Our guide Eddie was funny, informative and went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience. The history and scenery were amazing, the accommodation was comfortable with a large variety offered for breakfasts.Show more
Traveled in August 2023
Reply from: Highland Experience Tours
Thanks Pam! We're so glad you had an amazing time on tour with Eddie.
Show more
M
Mitchell
June 22nd, 2022
Wonderful itinerary, our tour guide Graham was great ! Did not disappoint
Traveled in June 2022
C
Carol
October 12th, 2019
The best tour I've ever been on. We saw everything on my wish list and then some. The guides were very...
Show more
Traveled in September 2019
Elena
July 16th, 2019
Perfect tour,guide.accomodation,meals.
Traveled in July 2019
R
Richard
June 8th, 2019
Mark was great, sorry I cannot provide a last name. An exceptional person really. Lots of commentary and we got the...
Show more
Traveled in June 2019

Dates & Availability

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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Upcoming departures

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Ends on 28 Apr, 2026

From Thursday
7 May, 2026
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What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.

All questions

We couldn't find results

Try a different search term or ask a question to this adventure's experts

S
Sandy
Asked on March 8th, 2026
Are the accommodations near any restaurants to get dinners? Also how much driving time is there per day?
Accommodation
Meals
Tour Details
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written March 2026
  Accommodations will be booked in central areas for ease of getting dinner and exploring the local areas outside of tour times. Driving times will change dependant on the day but can be around 6+ hours.
- S
  Sandy
  Traveler•Written March 2026
  Roughly what time would the tour end on the last day, September 2? We were planning to head to Glasgow afterwards.
- S
  Sandy
  Traveler•Written March 2026
  What time does the tour typically end in Edinburgh? We were planning to take a train to Glasgow at the end, if it's not too late.
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written March 2026
  This tour typically ends around 7pm in Edinburgh.
J
Jamie
Asked on February 18th, 2026
Could you please provide details on the itinerary, inclusions, and the type of accommodations used? Additionally, would like to know if there's a specific time to be in Edinburgh to start the tour and what time it typically concludes back in Edinburgh.
Accommodation
Tour Details
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written February 2026
  The 5 day tour, the main attractions are Glen Coe & Loch Ness: Fascinating history and wonderful scenery, Kirkwall: The Italian Chapel & Churchill Barriers, Skara Brae, Maes Howe: And the Ring O'Brodgar, Culloden: Visit the historic battlefield, The Cairngorm Mountains: Stunning Highland scenery. We offer a 3* minimum bed and breakfast for accommodation. Check in is at 8:15 and the return time is approximately 7pm.
J
Justin
Asked on January 3rd, 2026
Could you let us know if it's possible to personalize this tour based on a list of places the traveler would like to visit?
Tour Details
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written January 2026
  Can I please confirm if the passenger is interested in running this excursion on a private or scheduled basis?
L
Liam
Asked on November 8th, 2025
do you have a similar tour that fits
Tour Details
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written November 2025
  Unfortunately, this tour only operates until September and will not be running in October. As an alternative, I'd recommend our 3-Day Inverness & Isle of Skye Tour, which runs all year round.
- L
  Liam
  Traveler•Written November 2025
  do any of the tours visit one?
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written November 2025
  Unfortunately none of our tours go to Staffa where the columns are. They are in the Isle of Mull which we do not currently have any tours to.
D
Donna
Asked on August 7th, 2025
Is this trip guaranteed?
Tour Details
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written August 2025
  Yes, this tour is confirmed to run on September 4th. We would be delighted to welcome you on tour and please let us know if you have any questions before booking. Please note that we still reserve the right to cancel our tours in very rare cases but I can confirm that this tour has surpassed the minimum requirement to run and is scheduled to operate.
S
Steven
Asked on May 10th, 2025
We wish to explore as much as available in the Orkneys. My daughter and I are very interested in archeology and related studies. Will your trip allow this or can you suggest another trip choice.
Other
Tour Details
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written May 2025
  This tour visits some of Orkney's most incredible ancient sites including Maeshowe, Skara Brae, The Stone Circles of Stenness and The Ring O'Brodgar. These ancient sites make Orkeney an amazing place to visit for history lovers and those interested in ancient civilisations. Our tours to Orkney aren't specifically archaeology focused, however they offer an excellent opportunity to see some of the island's most amazing ancient sites.
S
Steven
Asked on March 25th, 2025
I note that 4 night of occupancy in high quality in B&B is included. Given that the tour is of 5 days which day stay is not included on this the last day or the first?
Accommodation
- S
  Steven
  Traveler•Written March 2025
  In case we want to stay additional couple of days at the accommodation what additional cost will apply?
- S
  Steven
  Traveler•Written March 2025
  I note that day 2 has a ferry ride and a return ferry journey as such I am assuming that the luggage will have to be taken with us.
- S
  Steven
  Traveler•Written March 2025
  If we are to make payment are we able to cancel?
- S
  Steven
  Traveler•Written March 2025
  I want to know your cancellation policy and if we select payment by instalment whether additional charges will apply.
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written March 2025
  The tour itself is 5 days but only 4 nights- so 4 nights of B&B stay are included. We are unable to book pre or post tour accommodation but we are happy to offer you recommendations.
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written March 2025
  The bus will be taken on the ferry so your luggage will stay in the bus during this journey.
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written March 2025
  Cancellation policy: Within 7 days of tour departure, no refund. 7-14 days before tour departure, 50% refund. 14 days or more before tour departure, 90% refund.
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written March 2025
  No additional charges will apply by paying in instalments.
- S
  Steven
  Traveler•Written March 2025
  Is Edinburgh Castle included for this tour?
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written March 2025
  Edinburgh Castle is not included as a stop on this tour. All of our tours venture to places outside of Edinburgh, particularly the Highlands.
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written March 2025
  Nights 1-4 of accommodation are included for your tour, i.e. the nights of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th. Your last day of the tour is the 7th where you will be dropped back in Edinburgh in the evening and your tour will be over, so post-tour accommodation is not included.
C
Cathy
Asked on February 8th, 2025
What is the single surcharge, if any?
Price / Availability
Single supplement
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written February 2025
  For a single person travelling, a single surcharge would be applicable in this instance. The additional cost being £260.
K
Katie
Asked on February 6th, 2025
My suitcase is 68x41x23. I'm coming from overseas for a period of time…. I'd prefer to bring it on the tour as I only have a daypack.
Transport
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written February 2025
  We understand the need to bring luggage with you however we do have a luggage limit in place to abide by weight restrictions on our buses; this is 1 cabin-sized suitcase of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm, with a maximum weight of 15kg. If your tour is not fully booked you may be able to bring you suitcase with you; we recommend getting in touch closer to your tour date to enquire how full your tour is.
L
Lindsay
Asked on January 22nd, 2025
what is restroom access on bus?
Transport
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written January 2025
  Unfortunately, our vehicles do not have toilets however you can expect a comfort stop every 1-2 hours on our tours.
- L
  Lindsay
  Traveler•Written January 2025
  What type of vehicles do you have? How many persons per vehicle?
- Highland Experience ToursOperator•Written January 2025
  The 3 vehicle types that our tours run on are as follows. 16-seater sprinter minivan, 35-seater bus, 59-seater coach. Our 5-day Orkney and the Far North tour typically operates on the 16-seater sprinter van as do most of our multi-day tours. The only tour that operates on the large coach is our 1-day Loch Ness tour.

From

US $1,310 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 98617

Currency
£
Pound Sterling
Scotland
Plugs & Adapters
As a traveler from USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for type G.
Type G
Scotland
Visa
- Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
- Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
Payment information
- For any tour departing before June 22nd, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after June 22nd, 2026, a minimum payment of 10% is required to confirm your booking with Highland Experience Tours. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
- Some departure dates and prices may vary and Highland Experience Tours will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
- The following cards are accepted for "Highland Experience Tours" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
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- Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
- TourRadar is an authorized Agent of Highland Experience Tours. Please familiarize yourself with the Highland Experience Tours payment, cancellation and refund conditions.
Accessibility
Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Orkney & The Far North

Itinerary

Loch Lomond to Inverness

Inverness to Orkney Isles

Included Activities

Orkney Isles

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Orkney Isles to Inverness

Included Activities

Inverness to Edinburgh

Included Activities

Optional Activities

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What's Included

What's Not Included

Adventure Type