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Edinburgh & the Castles of Scotland

with Edinburgh extension

Duration: 10 or 12 days
Group size: 15-38
Reviews: 195

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
Loch Ness
Urquhart Castle

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Day-by-day itinerary

Overnight Flight1 night

Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Glasgow today.

Glasgow2 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Glasgow

Included meal: Dinner

Welcome to Scotland! Meet your 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

This evening, sit down to an included dinner with your group.

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 the day exploring the Highlands on your own 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

(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.)

• Explore Edradour distillery with a guide and enjoy a whisky tasting

Enjoy a free evening in Edinburgh or add an excursion.

Scottish Bagpipe Lesson & Dinner

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

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a full free day in Edinburgh or add an excursion.

Tonight, experience an authentic cèilidh, an age-old Scottish celebration. Enjoy a farewell dinner of local specialties as dancers perform and you’re serenaded by a band playing Scottish folk tunes.

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

Stroll Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, and you’ll soak up more than your fair share of the Scottish capital’s 1,000-plus years of history. Continue your tour to keep exploring this historic, hilly city, and discover the charms waiting at the end of every close.

Edinburgh2 nights

Day 10: Free day in Edinburgh

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend the day exploring Edinburgh on your own or add an excursion.

Rosslyn Chapel & Royal Yacht Britannia

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 11: Free day in Edinburgh

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a full 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

195

4.7 average

An amazing tour but our tour director, Cornelius, made the trip magical!

04/19/2019 by 3rd time traveler Lindsey M.

Scotland is absolutely beautiful and perfection! EF Tours made it so easy to travel and I highly recommend it. But this review is mainly going to be for the people who made this tour top notch. We were lucky enough to have Ian meet us at the airport and escort us back to our hotel, as our tour direc...

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04/17/2019 by 2nd time traveler Debra W.

I loved every experience on my trip to Scotland: Castles & Highlands. Each day was a new & exciting adventure. Since I had done research at home before my trip, I was knowledgeable on places we were going to see. However, our very capable tour guide, driver, & local guides filled in gaps with fla...

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Some of the best memories

04/11/2019 by 2nd time traveler Katlynn H.

There are so many great things about this tour. I loved all of the places that we went and created life long memories. My fiance and I took the free day in the Highlands to explore Ft. William and the Old Inverlochy Castle, where he proposed. We found a tiny museum in Ft. William that had the cutest...

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AMAZING

11/12/2018 by 2nd time traveler Ashley H.

We had SO much fun and we loved our tour guide!!! Most amazing, organized, trip!

Love Scotland

11/06/2018 by 2nd time traveler Elizabeth B.

This is my first Go Ahead tour, but my second EF Tour. This tour far exceeded my every expectation! The itinerary was packed full of a variety of tours and sites to see, with plenty of flexibility should we wish to have some free time. The additional excursions (which I did all of) were excellent. T...

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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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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

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 about 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.
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

Airlines have varying weight restrictions on baggage. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage; be advised that you are responsible for any such costs.
Contact your airline for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flight, but please note that our travelers are restricted to one checked bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
One carry-on bag of 45 total inches (length + width + height) is also permitted.
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 Scotland.
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

Scotland 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

Scotland 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 in Scotland.
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. International travel is, by its very nature, unpredictable. We must therefore reserve the right to change this itinerary, without advance notice, to meet with local conditions at the time of travel. We appreciate your understanding. Please refer to our website for Terms & Conditions, dates, and prices.