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Edinburgh & the Castles of Scotland

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Edinburgh & the Castles of Scotland

with Edinburgh extension

Duration: 10 or 12 days
Group size: 15-38
Reviews: 232

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Get to know the land of lochs, glens, and legends.

From its ancient castles to its rolling landscapes and blaring bagpipes, Scotland is undeniably intriguing. With plenty of time to explore, you’ll get your dose of well-known Scottish icons. Then, head a little off the beaten path, moving farther into the untamed Highlands and over craggy hills laden with lochs and Gaelic-speaking villages.

Your tour package includes

8 nights in handpicked hotels
8 breakfasts
3 dinners with beer or wine
5 guided sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides

Included highlights

Glasgow Cathedral
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Inveraray Castle
Urquhart Castle
Loch Ness

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Day-by-day itinerary

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Overnight Flight1 night

Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Glasgow today.

Glasgow2 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Glasgow

Included meal: Welcome dinner

Welcome to Scotland! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Glasgow

Included meal: Breakfast

Set out to explore Scotland’s “second city” today with a local as your guide.

Drive past the Burrell Collection Museum and admire the city’s university
Visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which features everything from medieval suits of armor to a collection of work by Scottish artists
Discover local highlights, including George Square and the River Clyde
Stop outside the city’s medieval cathedral for photos

Spend a free afternoon in Glasgow or add an excursion.

Historic Scotland & Stirling Castle

Excursion (additional cost)

Scottish Highlands3 nights

Day 4: Transfer to the Scottish Highlands

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Continue on to the Scottish Highlands, admiring incredible sights as you go.

Pass Loch Lomond as you drive through scenic Trossachs National Park
Stop to explore Inveraray Castle and its gardens
Take in stunning scenery as you travel through the Scottish Highlands

Please note: Entrance to Inveraray Castle is seasonal and runs from April through October only. When entrance is out of season, it will be replaced with a visit to the Ardkinglas House.

Sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Day 5: Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness & Inverness

Included meal: Breakfast

Surrounded by legend and lore, Loch Ness is one of Scotland’s most mysterious sites. Today, get to know the country’s largest loch as you explore the area.

Pay a visit to the medieval ruins of Urquhart Castle
Cruise along the legendary Loch Ness, a deep, freshwater lake, and dock in Clansman Harbour
Stop in Inverness and enjoy free time to explore the city

Day 6: Free day in the Scottish Highlands

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day in the Scottish Highlands or add an excursion.

Eilean Donan Castle & Isle of Skye

Excursion (additional cost)

Edinburgh3 nights

Day 7: Transfer to Edinburgh

Included meal: Breakfast

En route to Edinburgh, stop in Perthshire, the gateway to the Scottish Highlands.

Visit medieval Blair Castle, the former home of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl
Explore Blair Athol Distillery with a guide and enjoy a whisky tasting

Please note: Entrance to Blair Castle is seasonal and runs from April to late October only. When entrance is out of season, it will be replaced with a visit to Black Watch Castle & Museum.

Enjoy a free evening in Edinburgh or add an excursion.

Scottish Céilidh

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 8: Sightseeing tour of Edinburgh

Included meal: Breakfast

Get to know Edinburgh in all its medieval beauty on a tour led by a local expert.

View the elegant Georgian New Town and the Royal Mile, two UNESCO World Heritage sites
Pass the King George statue, Bute House, and Sir Walter Scott monument
Enter Edinburgh Castle to view the Scottish crown jewels and Stone of Scone

Spend a free afternoon in Edinburgh or add an excursion.

Abbotsford House & Melrose Abbey

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 9: Free day in Edinburgh & bagpipe lesson

Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Enjoy a free day in Edinburgh or add an excursion.

This evening, head to a private room at a local restaurant and meet with a professional bagpipe player.

Learn about the history of the bagpipe, Scotland’s national instrument, and listen to the musician play a few songs
Pick up your own bagpipe and follow along as they teach the group breathing techniques and tips on how to play
Celebrate your trip during a farewell dinner

St Andrews

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 10: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay to continue exploring Edinburgh.

Extension to Edinburgh

Continue your tour to keep exploring this historic, hilly city, and discover the charms waiting at the end of every close. Spend your extra time in Edinburgh however you'd like, and lean on your Tour Director to point you toward the most exciting sites.

Edinburgh2 nights

Day 10: Free day in Edinburgh

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day in Edinburgh or add an excursion.

Rosslyn Chapel & Royal Yacht Britannia

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 11: Free day in Edinburgh

Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy a free day in Edinburgh or add an excursion.

This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.

Palace of Holyroodhouse & Afternoon Tea

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 12: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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Reviews

4.7 average

Our reviews are authentic and unedited.

Great Experience

12/16/2019 by 2nd time traveler Jean M.

We had a great experience on our tour of Edinburgh and the Castles of Scotland. David our tour director and John our bus driver were the best. David made each day an adventure, was well prepared on all excursions and John made it easy to enjoy. We will use EF Tours for our next adventure.

12/16/2019 by 2nd time traveler Judith G.

Tour Director, David Hoole was excellent. Bus driver, John was excellent. Glasgow tour guide, Jenny was excellent. Isle of Skye tour guide, Rosie was excellent. All these people made the trip memorable.

My first tour

12/16/2019 by 2nd time traveler Carrie Y.

I couldn't have dreamed of a better experience for my first international trip. I was hesitant about being part of a group, thinking that my interests and pace would not mesh. I couldn't have been more wrong, and we were part of a large group! What I found is that the planned activities are very we...

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Great trip!

12/16/2019 by 4th time traveler Anonymous

Great trip and highly recommend. Our tour director, David Hoole, was fantastic and would travel with him again. I would recommend going before the month of November. We went in November and it was a bit cold with short days for daylight. Great tour!

Scotland not to be missed

11/18/2019 by 2nd time traveler Shawn W.

This was my first trip with Go ahead and my first over seas trip. I could not be happier with our experience. Our tour Guide David Hoole was absolutely amazing. He made every person feel special and worked extra hard for all of us. Our bus driver John was amazing as well and the best driver we...

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Hotels, flights & FAQ

Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

Hotels

We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

Holiday Inn Express - Edinburgh City Centre

This modern hotel is located in the New Town of Edinburgh. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi and a lounge bar. Nearby, you’ll find Edinburgh Castle, Palace of H...

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Novotel Glasgow City Centre

This contemporary hotel is located in the Glasgow city center. Guests enjoy a swimming pool and bar. Nearby, you'll find the Burrell Collection, Royal...

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Alexandra Hotel

This charming hotel is located in downtown Fort William. Guests enjoy a bar, restaurant options, and a lounge. Nearby you’ll find the West Highland Mu...

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Flights

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare package and you'll get:

Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes

Find out more about flights

FAQ

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Passport & visa requirements

In order to enter the United Kingdom, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Tour pace

You will walk for at least 1 hour daily across moderately uneven terrain, including cobblestone streets and unpaved trails, with some steep hills and stairs.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

Transportation & arrival information

Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Glasgow and depart from Edinburgh. A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
All other included transportation is by private motor coach.

Baggage allowance

Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.

Clothing & packing tips

We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

Health

There are no major health risks associated with traveling to the United Kingdom.
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

Cuisine

Scottish cuisine relies on readily available ingredients like game, dairy, and fish, with little use of exotic spices. Pickled kippers and smoked salmon are popular as well as hearty dishes like Scotch broth (stew of meat and root vegetables) and haggis (a savory pudding of sheep innards). Scotch whisky is a legendary local spirit, and Scottish ales are world-famous.

Electricity & air conditioning

The United Kingdom operates within 230-240 volts and uses a Type G plug with three large, flat pins.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other electrical device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances, but these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

Time zones

The United Kingdom is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is five hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 5pm on tour.

Currency

You will use the Pound sterling on tour.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.

Purchasing excursions on tour

Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.

Dates & prices

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202020212022

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2020

Edinburgh & the Castles of Scotland

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