Discover Scotland

An overnight flight transports you to a country of stunning landscapes, lively cities and stirring history.

Your tour opens in Glasgow, Scotland’s Victorian capital city. Start your Scottish adventure with a visit to the National Piping Centre. After a demonstration and lesson with a renowned piper, it’s your chance to give it a go! Then, join your fellow travelers for a lively welcome dinner at the Centre’s farm-to-table restaurant. (D) Maldrin Hotel, Glasgow

This morning, bid Glasgow farewell as you travel to one of Scotland’s renowned whisky distilleries. Taste and see for yourself why Highland malt whisky is considered the world’s finest. Continue on to the Highlands, making your way through the breathtaking scenery of Glencoe and Rannoch Moor. Admire the verdant green hills and mountainside waters as you arrive at your remote countryside hotel situated on lovely Loch Linnhe. (B,D) Ballachulish Hotel

Take a stunning drive along the “Road to the Isles” and over the Skye Bridge to the legendary Isle of Skye, also known in poetry and song as Eilean a' Cheò (The Misty Isle). Enjoy dramatic views of the Sound of Sleat. Then, visit Armadale Castle & Gardens* and the Museum of the Isles to learn about island life and the history of Skye. Conclude your visit with views of the isle from yet another vantage point during a ferry crossing back to the mainland. Returning to Ballachulish along the same road, see Glenfinnan where Bonnie Prince Charlie rallied the clansmen for battle during the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. (B,D) Ballachulish Hotel

Today, enjoy stunning and unspoiled landscapes as you journey further into the Highlands. Travel through the Great Glen, famous for its many lochs (lakes). Visit the striking ruins of Urquhart Castle before enjoying a cruise on Loch Ness, one of Britain’s most scenic bodies of water. Keep your eyes open — you never know when Nessie will appear! Travel off the beaten path to Thurso, one of Scotland’s most remote towns on the North Coast. Embrace the rustic environment of the Scottish Highlands as you settle in for your 2-night stay. (B) Pentland Hotel, Thurso

Grab your windbreaker – it’s time for an adventure on the Orkney Islands.** Ferry to this former Viking stronghold off the northernmost coast of Scotland, where artists admire the ever-changing clouds rolling across the sky like a time-lapse at double speed. On the crossing, feel the wind in your hair as you view the abundant bird life and, if you are lucky, porpoises and seals. A local guide introduces this ethereal place that few visitors to Scotland get to experience. Visit Skara Brae and discover the remains of a Neolithic village built at the same time as the Great Pyramids in Egypt. Continue on toward the prehistoric Ring of Brodgar, reported to be older than Stonehenge. Make your way through the town of Viking Kirkwall before returning to the mainland (B,D) Pentland Hotel, Thurso

As you make your way back from the northern coast, visit Culloden Battlefield. On this spot in April 1746, a half-hour battle changed the course of Scotland’s history. You’ll also stop at the majestic Dunrobin Castle*** which dates back to the 1300s. Take in the breathtaking views as you drive along the windswept cliffs of Scotland’s east coast. Enjoy an overnight stay in Inverness, capital of the Highlands. (B,D) River Ness Hotel, Iverness

Begin your day with a visit to a family-run farm set in the heart of the Highlands. See sheepdogs at work while surrounded by the mountain wilderness of Cairngorms National Park. Continue on to the vibrant Victorian town of Pitlochry for some time at leisure before traveling to St. Andrews, the beautiful town in the Kingdom of Fife that gave the world the game of golf. See the Royal and Ancient Clubhouse and the famous Old Course. End your day in Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh. (B) Raddison Blu Edinburgh

Today it’s your choice! Choose to get acquainted with this regal capital on a locally guided panoramic city tour, exploring both the Old and New towns before visiting the Palace at Holyroodhouse,**** the Queen’s official residence in Edinburgh and former home of Mary Queen of Scots -OR- for a different perspective you may join a local expert and explore the Old Town and Royal Mile on foot; descend into the city’s vast underground vaults and uncover a world unchanged since the 18th century. Both choices include a visit to Edinburgh Castle, home of the Scottish Crown Jewels. This evening, give traditional Scottish ingredients a modern twist. Enjoy a lively and interactive cooking experience at one of Scotland’s premier culinary institutions. With a “wee dram” in hand, toast the end of a wonderful journey. (B,D) Raddison Blue Edinburgh

Your tour of Scotland comes to a close today. (B)