8-Day Orkney Skye and Highlands Tour from Edinburgh
Overview
Available languages
1 week 1 day
Mobile ticket
This tour takes you to the West coast, through the Highlands over to Skye and then up to the Orkney Isles with incredible driver-guides and comfortable panoramic windowed mini-buses and midi-coaches. Ride the Jacobite Steam Train, visit Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and The Cairngorms National Parks, Loch Ness, Culloden, Glen Coe, Eilean Donan Castle, Skara Brae, Maes Howe, the Ring of Brodgar and other landmarks of Scotland's rich history.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 3 years not accepted. Proof of age for children may be required at check in.
Luggage Restrictions: Maximum weight: 15kg. Maximum size: 55cm x 40cm x 20cm per person plus small carry on
If you are travelling alone, please choose the ‘Single Room’ option or we may not be able to accept your booking
Double/twin room: these rooms are for 2 people. If 3 people choose this option, you will be allocated a family room for 3, subject to availability. If you prefer 2 rooms, you must choose ‘Single Room’ for one person
What To Expect
The start of a wonderful adventure
Accommodations
Overnight Oban
Loch Lomond
Time to stroll along the bonnie, bonnie banks
Kilmartin Glen
Step back in time to the Bronze age and admire the ancient carvings
Inveraray Castle & Gardens
Time to explore the quaint little town of Inveraray.
Over the Sea to Skye
Accommodations
Overnight - Skye
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Glencoe National Nature Reserve
Hear the stories of the infamous massacre
Fort William VisitScotland iCentre
This little town will be our lunch stop
Glenfinnan Viaduct
You will continue west from Fort William on board your bus, making a stop to view the Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous by the Harry Potter films. We will also be able to see Glenfinnan Monument - and the gorgeous scenery that surrounds it.
Mallaig
Enjoy the picturesque fishing village of Mallaig before taking a short ferry ride across the sea to the magical Isle of Skye.
Exploring Skye
Accommodations
Overnight - Skye
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Black Cuillin
Stunning Scenery
The Old Man of Storr
Amazing scenery
Portree Harbour
This will be our lunch stop
Kilt Rock
Watch the waterfall tumbling over the iconic cliff face.
Back to the mainland
Accommodations
Overnight - Inverness
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Eilean Donan Castle
The most photographed castle in Scotland
Loch Ness
A chance to take a cruise on the loch for some monster hunting
Urquhart Castle
Enjoy exploring the ruined castle overlooking Loch Ness. Entrance to the castle can be arranged by your driver, combined with a Loch Ness cruise.
Another island awaits
Accommodations
Overnight - Kirkwall
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Pentland Ferries
Jump aboard the ferry to Orkney
The Italian Chapel
Admire this stunning creation of Italian prisoners or was in WWII
Churchill Barriers
Visit this series of causeways that were constructed to protect the British naval fleet from submarines.
Exploring Orkney
Accommodations
Overnight - Kirkwall
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Skara Brae
This neolithic village was uncovered in a storm dating back to 3180BC
The best preserved example of a Neolithic chambered cairn in Europe
Standing Stones of Stenness
Dating back over 5,000 years, the Standing Stones of Stenness are among the oldest stone circles in Britain, their towering Neolithic monoliths rising dramatically from the Orkney landscape on the banks of the Loch of Stenness.
Ring of Brodgar
Visit this amazing Neolithic stone circle of up to 60 original standing stones spanning an impressive 104 metres in diameter, set on a narrow peninsula between two lochs and forming the ceremonial heart of Orkney's UNESCO World Heritage landscape.
Retracing our steps
Accommodations
Overnight - Inverness
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Saint Magnus Cathedral
Visit the iconic Roman Catholic cathedral which is the oldest cathedral in Scotland and the most northerly cathedral in the United Kingdom.
Back on to the ferry to the mainland.
John O'Groats
The most northerly point on the UK mainland.
Dunrobin Castle and Gardens
A stop at the home of the Duke of Sutherland. There will be time to visit the castle and gardens and hopefully see the daily Falconry display.
Back to the start
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Culloden Battlefield
Visit the site of the last battle fought on British soil
Clava Cairns
For Outlander fans this is a must see. It is here that the inspiration came for Clare's trip through the stones.
Pitlochry
Time to stroll around this charming little town.
Options
B&B En-Suite Single
B&B En-Suite Single: Rooms for one person with private bathroom
B&B En-Suite - double
B&B En-Suite double room: Room for 2 persons with private bathroom
B&B En-Suite twin
B&B En-Suite Twin: Room for 2 persons with private bathroom
What‘s Included
Ferry to Orkney
7 nights accommodation as per selected
Orkney Attractions: Maes Howe, Skara Brae, Italian Chapel
Drinks
Gratuities
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Reviews
27 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
8 day Scotland Highland Tour
carriev597,May 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a wonderful experience. Booking was easy and communication and information was excellent. We had fun, wonderful, knowledgeable guides (Kenny and Stefan). They went the extra mile to show us “extra” things during the tour and got to know our groups interests/curiosities. The accommodations were very nice. We especially enjoyed the B&B experiences and breakfast with our hosts. Overall a fantastic experience in Scotland!
Brilliant guides Kenny and Stefan. Knowledgeable and fun, found us lots of little twists.
TrailBlazer648441,May 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Lovely places and mixed weather which made it more dramatic
Superb!
595ronaldv,May 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Superb, our first organised tour, so not sure what to expect, started with 20 odd, ended with 6. Our drivers, Brodie and Iain, both completely different in their approach to the tour were both great! We’d love to come back again…
Wonderful experience seeing large range of views and history
648paulak,May 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour checked all boxes. So much to see with lovely accomodations comfy buses and guides who were both warm and professional. Highly recommend doing this tour. Our guides Bridie and Iain were so informative and we git some great Jokes. It was great to learn the history, loved it all.
Beautiful country + excellent guides + great itinerary = excellent value for the cost
Q692QFkristinc,Sep 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Isle of Skye and Orkney were quite different from the mainland Highlands and well worth the extra time to visit. Each is beautiful in a different and unique way. Chris was our guide/driver the first half of the trip. He was charismatic and had us laughing constantly. Kenny was our guide/driver for the 2nd half of the trip. Kenny was kind, delightful and effective at sharing his knowledge and love of Scottish history, culture and music. I traveled with my sister, though we both had single rooms (I snore). It was a bit of a challenge for Highland Experience to find places for us to stay together because singles aren't common, but they did it. All our accommodations were excellent. Most were B&Bs, but a few were 2-bedroom apartments. All were comfortable with lovely hosts and in great locations close to restaurants. The coaches were comfortable. We visited a wide variety of places and stopped regularly for walking/coffee/bathroom breaks. Our fellow travelers were from all over the world and all were fun companions. All in all it was a great trip and excellent value for the cost.
A Memorable Journey
jessicakM8284NX,Sep 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00We recently returned from a tour through the stunning landscapes of Scotland. Overall, it was a memorable experience filled with dramatic scenery, historic sites, and charming towns — definitely a trip to remember! 👍 Highlights Our first tour guide, Chris, was fantastic — knowledgeable, friendly, and really went out of their way to make the experience engaging and informative. Their storytelling added depth to the locations we visited. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking — from rugged coastlines to peaceful lochs and ancient castles, every stop had something special. We especially enjoyed Isle of Skye, which was a definite highlight. 🤔 What Could Be Improved Our second guide had a different style, which didn’t quite match the tone of the rest of the trip. The music on the bus was often loud, which made it hard to relax or hear each other at times. A few parts of the itinerary felt a bit rushed, and we would’ve loved a bit more time at certain stops to really soak it all in or explore on our own. ✅ Final Thoughts Despite a few bumps along the way, this was a wonderful trip. Scotland is an incredible place, and we're grateful for the experience. With a few small adjustments, this tour could be truly exceptional.
High points of the Highlands
Randy S,Sep 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Overall, a wonderful experience. Our guides, Brodie and Kenny, were fantastic! Both were so knowledgeable about the locations and the associated history and legends. Brodie even got most of the group together one evening in a pub to enjoy traditional Scottish music and dance. Kenny managed to veer off the beaten path to show us sites that weren't necessarily on the itinerary, but were remarkable. We always felt safe with both of them. Both were safe drivers on some challenging roads. The B&Bs were a little hit and miss. Our expectation was that they would be better than they were, given what we paid. Two B&Bs were very nice. The third was nice, however it was a 30 minute walk to town for dinner. Another was ok, but the room, the bed and the bathroom were tiny - the sink was the size of my hand. In one town, there was a festival going on, and it was a struggle to find a place for dinner both of the nights we were there. I suggest better planning next time.
A wonderful tour
H7144OCjaneb,Sep 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a wonderful experience and we saw such amazing things. The guides were very knowledgeable about everything and provided background information on everything. It was truly a great tour
A wonderful tour!
carinea525,Jul 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had a great time during my 8 days trip! Scotland is such a beautiful country. Our tour guides Chris and Iain were wonderful, telling us so many stories, facts and jokes. I just loved it! I highly recommend him and Highland Experience Tours and will definitely come back to Scotland
WONDERFUL ADVENTURE IN SCOTLAND WITH HIGHLANDS TOURS.
Patty0422,Jul 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband and I just returned from an 8 Day Tour that included Loch Lomond, Oban, Syke, Inverness, Orkney and more. Our tour guides were Graham for the first 5 days then Hugh for the last 3. I cannot say enough good things about our experience in Scotland and during this tour. Both tour guides were knowledgeable and lots of fun getting to know; all of our accommodations were perfectly selected. Scotland was an amazing experience and we really enjoyed our adventure there and traveling with Highland Experience Tours
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