Get to know the country that marches to the beat of its own drum.
Get to know Glasgow, Scotland’s “second city.” Then, head to the untamed Scottish Highlands, searching for the Loch Ness monster and wandering through ancient castles along the way. In Edinburgh, you’ll witness Scotland’s cultural high notes for yourself at the annual Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Set against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, the festival features performances by the world’s best martial bands and dancers.
Your tour package includes
8 nights in handpicked hotels
8 breakfasts
3 dinners with beer or wine
6 sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides
Private deluxe motor coach
Included highlights
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Inveraray Castle
Urquhart Castle
Loch Ness
Scotch whisky distillery
Edinburgh Castle
Itinerary
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.
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.
This contemporary hotel is located in the Glasgow city center. Guests enjoy the fitness center, sauna, and bar. Nearby, you'll find the Burrell Collection, Royal Concert Hall, and Hampden Park.
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 Museum, the Old Fort, and the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre.
Holiday Inn Express - Edinburgh City Centre
This modern hotel is located in the New Town of Edinburgh. Guests enjoy the lounge bar, the relaxing Great Room, and convenient location. Nearby, you’ll find Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the Royal Botanic...
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 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
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.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to **goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements **and searching the code SCT.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to **goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements **and searching the code SCT.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 $10USD to $12USD 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.
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.
EF Tours took care of everything....it was a whole lot less stressful because they took care of everything. I highly recommend this tour agency to work with you and plan your next vacation.
We had a great tour!
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Elsa Helen, traveled in Aug 2023
My husband and I decided to take this tour with less than 2 months before the scheduled date. We wanted it to include the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and a quick look around Scotland. The trip was all that and more. A great Tour Director in Pascal Wilson, our driver Dave, and...
Well organized itinerary highlighting Scotland
5 out of 5 stars
7th-time traveler Patricia, traveled in Aug 2023
This tour was my seventh with Go Ahead and third as a group coordinator for Go Ahead. Having had three tours depart within the last nine months and this being the third, admittedly I focused less on the details of this itinerary prior to the few months before we departed than...
El viaje
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Anonymous, traveled in Aug 2023
The trip was amazing. The organization of the tours was excellent. I didn’t enjoy the Golf Club activity I thought it was a waste of time. It was about learning the musical instrument- I almost fall sleep 💤. The choices of restaurants was very good. I think the restaurant for...
EF Go Ahead Tours
Thank you so much for taking the time to provide your review. We are glad to hear that overall you had a wonderful time on tour. We thank...
Go Ahead Goes on & on.
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Margo, traveled in Aug 2023
I had never been on a guided tour before & didn't know what to expect. No real list of expectations except I wouldn't have to drive or cook. What I got , a truly memorible experience, was so much more. I got driven in a beautifully clean roomy bus past great green vista's. I was...
EF Go Ahead Tours
Hi Margo. Thank you so much for your kind review. We are thrilled you had a wonderful time on tour and we cannot wait to travel with you...
