Discover Scotland

Discover the capital city of Edinburgh, charming historic St. Andrews & Aberdeen, scenic Aviemore in the Highlands of Scotland, historic Inverness, and the port city of Glasgow.

Overview

from$3099Tour + Flights from$2599Tour Only 10days
price per person, double occupancy,* based on Oct 2, 2022 departure from NYC
$400 Instant Savings. Expires Oct 7, 2021.*   All prices reflect savings.
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$99 deposit. Lock in your spot for less.††
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Carefree Booking. Change your travel plans with no penalties. See details & restrictions.†
We’re monitoring this tour! Based on international news, Europe is expected to be open to travelers this summer. We anticipate Scotland will open soon, so book confidently! Check back for COVID-19 entry requirements.
Style Value VacationTravel in larger groups than our Small Group tours, but at fantastic value prices. These group tour packages are operated by our carefully selected partners and may be shared with other English speaking passengers ensuring guaranteed departures. More of these packages
Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout
Departures June – October 2022 Group Size 25 travelers max
Themes History & Culture
Activity Level Recreational
What to Expect This moderately-paced, escorted tour includes a reasonable amount of walking and requires an average level of physical fitness. Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols.
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From the magnificent landscapes dotted with timeless castles and the mystery behind the famous Loch Ness monster to sipping traditional Scottish whiskey in one of the numerous quaint and historic towns, it's clear to see how Scotland captures the hearts of travelers with ease. Your 10 day adventure begins and ends in one of the world's finest capital cities: Edinburgh. Spend time wandering the medieval streets and visiting well-known landmarks, such as the Royal Mile and Calton Hill. Bask in the collegiate atmosphere that surrounds the charming town of St. Andrews and visit the Dunnottor Castle in Aberdeen before traveling through to Aviemore where you'll dive into the award-winning whiskey process as well as discovering the traditional working day of a Highland Shepherd. And of course, a trip to Scotland is incomplete without a visit to the famous Loch Ness Lake: be on the lookout for the mystical creature who calls this lake home, Nessie! Round out your journey with a visit to Glasgow, Scotland's largest city full of Victorian architecture that tastefully contrasts to the West End parks.

Package includes

  • Flights
  • Coach
  • Transfers
  • Hotel
  • Meals
  • Guides
  • Round-trip flights from New York (JFK or EWR) to Edinburgh, including taxes & fees
  • All ground transportation and transfers
  • 8 nights accommodations in First Class hotels
  • 11 Meals: 8 breakfasts and 3 dinners
  • Comprehensive touring program including entrance fees
  • Professional, English-speaking tour guide

Why you'll love it

  • See the magnificent West Sands beach, where the famous opening sequence of Chariots of Fire was filmed.
  • Stand in the footsteps of William Wallace and Mary Queen of Scots at Dunnottor Castle.
  • Immerse yourself in the whisky-making process at Glenfiddich Distillery.
  • Learn the intricacies of traditional Highland shepherding.
  • Try to spot Nessie during a cruise on Loch Ness.
  • Discover what life in the Iron Age was like at the Scottish Crannog Center.
  • Explore Scotland's two most prominent cities: Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Itinerary at a Glance

Discover Scotland map

Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

Instant Savings: Get $400 off if you book by Oct. 7, 2021!
Dates & Prices, with flights
per person, double occupancy*, including Instant Savings discounts
2021 DEPARTURES
Dates Regular
Price		 Instant
Savings		 Your
Price
Departs U.S.: Sun, Sep 5, 2021
Finishes: Tue, Sep 14, 2021
 Sep 5 – Sep 14 		$3899 – – Suspended
Departs U.S.: Sun, Oct 3, 2021
Finishes: Tue, Oct 12, 2021
 Oct 3 – Oct 12 		$3499 – – Suspended
2022 DEPARTURES
Dates Regular
Price		 Instant
Savings		 Your
Price
Departs U.S.: Sun, Jun 5, 2022
Finishes: Tue, Jun 14, 2022
Book by Thu, Oct 7, 2021 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Jun 5 – Jun 14 		$3699 –$400 $3299 Select
Departs U.S.: Sun, Jul 10, 2022
Finishes: Tue, Jul 19, 2022
Book by Thu, Oct 7, 2021 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Jul 10 – Jul 19 		$3749 –$400 $3349 Select
Departs U.S.: Sun, Sep 4, 2022
Finishes: Tue, Sep 13, 2022
Book by Thu, Oct 7, 2021 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Sep 4 – Sep 13 		$3749 –$400 $3349 Select
Departs U.S.: Sun, Oct 2, 2022
Finishes: Tue, Oct 11, 2022
Book by Thu, Oct 7, 2021 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Oct 2 – Oct 11 		$3499 –$400 $3099 Select
Dates & Prices, tour only
per person, double occupancy*, including Instant Savings discounts
2021 DEPARTURES
Dates Regular
Price		 Instant
Savings		 Your
Price
Starts: Mon, Sep 6, 2021
Finishes: Tue, Sep 14, 2021
 Sep 6 – Sep 14 		$3399 – – Suspended
Starts: Mon, Oct 4, 2021
Finishes: Tue, Oct 12, 2021
 Oct 4 – Oct 12 		$2999 – – Suspended
2022 DEPARTURES
Dates Regular
Price		 Instant
Savings		 Your
Price
Starts: Mon, Jun 6, 2022
Finishes: Tue, Jun 14, 2022
Book by Thu, Oct 7, 2021 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Jun 6 – Jun 14 		$3199 –$400 $2799 Select
Starts: Mon, Jul 11, 2022
Finishes: Tue, Jul 19, 2022
Book by Thu, Oct 7, 2021 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Jul 11 – Jul 19 		$3249 –$400 $2849 Select
Starts: Mon, Sep 5, 2022
Finishes: Tue, Sep 13, 2022
Book by Thu, Oct 7, 2021 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Sep 5 – Sep 13 		$3249 –$400 $2849 Select
Starts: Mon, Oct 3, 2022
Finishes: Tue, Oct 11, 2022
Book by Thu, Oct 7, 2021 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Oct 3 – Oct 11 		$2999 –$400 $2599 Select

If you want a few extra days to explore on your own, we may be able to arrange for you to stay later than the scheduled dates, including extra hotel nights and separate airport transfers, for an additional charge. Ask us about prices and availability when (or after) you book. More information Want to extend your trip?

Options & Fees

Discover Scotland
Rooming Selection
Double Occupancy included
Single Occupancy $549

So that we can offer you the best deals, our packages are, like most hotels and cruises, priced based on double occupancy rooms or cabins. We charge solo travelers an extra fee to cover the extra costs of single occupancy rooms or cabins. (Consider: if you booked a $200/night hotel room solo, you would pay the $200 yourself; but if a couple booked the same room, each one would pay only $100.) But you only pay extra for the rooms or cabins, nothing else, including meals, sightseeing, tips, etc. Why are single rooms more?

Flights & Departure Cities

Departure Airports
New York City (NYC)1 included

1. NYC departures will be from either JFK or EWR based upon availability.

This package includes round-trip flights from the city listed above.

Want to fly from another city? We can arrange flights from most major cities. Ask us for a quote for flights from your preferred city when (or after) you book, and we'll get back to you with the price and availability within 3 business days. Of course, you can also book your own flights. More information

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Depart USA/Overnight Flight

  • Depart the USA on your overnight flight for Edinburgh

Day 2 Edinburgh

  • Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel
  • Balance of the day at leisure
  • Meet your fellow travelers for an included dinner at your hotel

Apex City of Edinburgh Hotel or similar Dinner

Full Day Itinerary
Calton Hill panorama, Edinburgh Photo by Julia Solonina on Unsplash

Upon arrival in Edinburgh, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Most flights arrive early in the morning, but your hotel will allow you to safely store your luggage while you explore the city on your own. Today is yours at leisure to discover Edinburgh independently, or relax at the hotel. This evening join your fellow travelers for dinner at the hotel.

Day 3 St. Andrews & Aberdeen

  • Stroll through the charming town of St. Andrews
  • Arrive in Aberdeen

Jurys Inn Aberdeen or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary
St. Andrews Golf Course

After breakfast, depart Edinburgh for Aberdeen. Along the way, stop in St. Andrews. Discover this charming and historic town with a walking tour. Known worldwide as The Home of Golf, St. Andrews also boasts Scotland's oldest university. St. Andrews is often compared to Oxford and Cambridge for its defining presence and the collegiate feel it lends to the town. St. Andrews is also home to the magnificent West Sands beach, where the famous opening sequence of Chariots of Fire was filmed.

After some time to explore on your own, continue to Aberdeen and check in to your hotel.

Day 4 Aberdeen

  • Visit the ruin, cliff top fortress of Dunnottor Castle
  • Afternoon at leisure in Aberdeen

Jurys Inn Aberdeen or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary
Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeen

This morning visit the ruins of Dunnottor Castle, perched on a cliff on the edge of the North Sea. The fortress was the home of the Earls Marischal, at one time one of the most powerful families in Scotland. William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, and the Marquis of Montrose have graced the Castle with their presence. The castle is mostly famously known for being the location where a small garrison held out for eight months against Cromwell's mighty army and saved the Scottish Crown Jewels from destruction.

Spend the afternoon at your leisure in Aberdeen.

Day 5 Aviemore

  • Learn how the world's most awarded whiskeys are created at the Glenfiddich Distillery
  • Take part in the traditional working day of a Highland Shepherd and his dogs at a local farm

Duke of Gordon Hotel or similar Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary
Sheepdog herding ducks

Today, immerse yourself in learning about some of Scotland's great traditions! First, visit the Glenfiddich Distillery and learn about every part of the Glenfiddich tradition. The visit begins with a short film recounting the five generations of family ownership. Then tour the distillery to see how whiskies are created by craftsmen with generations of understanding. See the still house where the stillmen capture the sweetest part of the distillate from unusually sized copper stills. Continue to the original warehouse to view the generations of gently maturing casks. Learn how they achieve depth and consistency of flavor through their range of exceptional whiskies. Conclude your visit with a guided tasting of three of Glenfiddich's world-renowned single malts.

Next, head to a local farm for a sheepdog demonstration amidst some of the most beautiful scenery Scotland has to offer. See up to eight dogs working as a team, maneuvering sheep and ducks through various obstacles. Learn how each dog has its own set of commands and how each of them respond to their individual whistles while their handler explains each move. Participate in the traditional working day of a Highland Shepherd and their dogs. Meet the collie pups, bottle-feed a lamb or even take part in shearing a sheep! Keep your camera handy as your sure to make some unforgettable memories today!

Day 6 Aviemore & Inverness

  • Try to spot the elusive Nessie during a morning cruise on Loch Ness
  • Step back in time at the medieval Urquhart Castle

Duke of Gordon Hotel or similar Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary
Urquhart Castle, Inverness

After breakfast, enjoy a morning cruise along Loch Ness. Containing more water than all the lakes of England and Wales combined, Loch Ness is the most voluminous lake in the UK. This area of the Highlands is world-renowned for its dramatic scenery, not to mention the mysterious tales of a large monster living beneath the dark expanses of the loch!

Later, visit Urquhart Castle which offers a taste of the Highlands at their most dramatic. Experience a glimpse of medieval life as well as stunning views of Loch Ness from the ruins of the greatest castle in the Highlands. The castles is home to a remarkable collection of artifacts left by its residents and historic replicas, including a full-sized, working trebuchet siege engine. Urquhart Castle has a distinctly Highland heritage and has been witness to some of the most dramatic chapters in Scotland's history. Acts of chivalry and defiance that took place here provided inspiration during the Wars of Independence and where the MacDonald Lords of the Isles struggled with the Crown for power.

Have some time to explore Inverness independently before returning to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 7 Glasgow

  • Depart the Highlands and journey to Glasgow
  • En route, stop at the Scottish Crannog Center and learn what life in the Iron Age was like

Apex City of Glasgow Hotel or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary
Clyde Arc, Gasgow

This morning, depart the Highlands and head south to Glasgow. Along the way, stop at the Scottish Crannog Center, an award-winning, interactive center that shows what life in the Iron Age was like in a reconstructed prehistoric loch-dwelling. Originally built as an archaeological experiment based on underwater discoveries, the thatched roundhouse in the shallows of Loch Tay, is a living museum on the water. The center overlooks the remains of of 4 of the 18 ancient crannog settlements preserved in the loch, with the picturesque village of Kenmore to the east, and stunning views toward Ben Lawers and Killin to the west.

Arrive in Glasgow and check in to the hotel.

Day 8 Glasgow & Edinburgh

  • Take a panoramic tour of Glasgow
  • Visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery

Apex City of Edinburgh Hotel or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Set out on a panoramic tour of Glasgow, Scotland's largest city. From the magnificent St. Mungo Cathedral to the People's Palace and Glasgow Green, explore Glasgow's rich past as a religious center and one of the most important industrial cities in Britain. The Victorian architecture of the city center offer a striking contrast to the expensive parks of the West End. Among those, Kelvingrove offers a haven of peace in the city, with amazing views of Glasgow University's buildings and the Kelvingrove Museum. It is not hard to see why Glasgow is home to Scotland's most celebrated architect: Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Continue to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, one of Scotland's most visited attractions, housed in a magnificent building with 22 themed, state-of-the-art galleries displaying an astonishing 8,000 pieces. The internationally significant collections are extensive and varied, covering natural history, arms and armor art from many different movements and periods, and much more. Take a expert-led journey to the heart of one of the great civic museums of Europe with collections of major international significance including Dali, Rembrandt, Picasso, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Enjoy an overview of the incredible collections of art, archaeology, natural history, world culture and Scottish history.

Arrive in Edinburgh later today and check in to the hotel.

Day 9 Edinburgh

  • Discover Edinburgh on a panoramic tour
  • Spend your last afternoon in Scotland further exploring Edinburgh independently

Apex City of Edinburgh Hotel or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary
Royal Mile street view, Edinburgh

Edinburgh is one of the world's finest capital cities thanks to its cultural diversity and impressive history. The medieval streets run through the city, telling their story about the 1,000 year old traditions and myths of Edinburgh. Throughout today's panoramic tour, get to know different parts of the city, such as the Royal Mile, the Princes Street Gardens, Calton Hill, and many more.

Spend the afternoon exploring the city independently, or purchasing some last-minute souvenirs.

Day 10 Edinburgh/USA

  • Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA

Breakfast

Hotels

Apex City of Edinburgh Hotel
First Class

The  chic Apex City of Edinburgh Hotel is located in the heart of Edinburgh's Grassmarket, making it the perfect base in the capital. Experience a stylish stay in this Old Town gem overlooking Edinburgh Castle.

More information

Jurys Inn Aberdeen
First Class

Located in the heart of the city center, Jurys Inn Aberdeen is just a few minutes from Union Street, Aberdeen's main street.

More information

Duke of Gordon Hotel
Tourist Class

With origins dating back to the eighteenth century, the Duke of Gordon Hotel was originally built as a stopping point for passengers travelling by stage coach to Inverness and the North of Scotland.  The facilities and atmosphere combined with the hospitality and welcome extended by the staff make the Duke of Gordon the ideal place to stay in the Highlands.

More information

Apex City of Glasgow Hotel
First Class

The contemporary Apex City of Glasgow Hotel is located in the heart of Scotland's fashion capital and is just a few minutes from some of the cities major attractions.

More information

In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.

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* Advertised prices may include an "Instant Savings" discount and/or sale discount, available for a limited time. Prices reflect these discounts. Advertised prices are per person, based on double occupancy; single occupancy rooms may be available for an additional charge. Advertised prices are the best available based on the least expensive travel dates, departure city, and other options, and do not include optional excursions or other optional items. Your total price will vary based upon the dates, flights, and other options you select during the booking process. For packages including flights, prices include Airline Taxes, Fees & Sept. 11th Security Fee, but do not include excess baggage fees or advance seat reservations. Prices and availability subject to change. More about our prices.

† The Carefree Booking policy is not travel insurance. With our Carefree Booking policy, if you book one of our scheduled departures and decide later not to travel for any reason, you can transfer all payments you've made excluding the cost of any issued flight tickets, towards another available departure date or package, with no change fees or penalties. Alternately, you can choose to receive a future travel credit for all payments made, excluding the cost of any issued flight tickets; or you can choose to receive a refund for that same amount, minus a $99 per person future travel credit. You may use these credits anytime and they do not expire, but some restrictions apply. Travel protection premiums may be credited to your new tour provided: no claim is filed; (no vendor penalties such as Air, sea or rail etc have been incurred); and your new trip departs within 1 year of the cancellation of your original tour. Valid for bookings made on or after March 19, 2020. Offer may not be available on all packages, including private and custom group departures and Biblical Journeys. Changes or cancellations requested after final payment due date are subject to our regular change and cancellation fees & policies. For more information and some additional restrictions, see our terms & conditions.

†† $99 deposit available on select packages. Valid for new bookings only. Changes to your package, departure date, or flights may require an increased deposit. If you select our optional travel protection plan, the premium will be added to your deposit. See additional terms & conditions.

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