Best of Scotland Tour: Edinburgh, Blair Atholl, Lowlands & Highlands

Loch Ness, Scotland, UK

What to expect on this itinerary

Castles and distilleries, formal gardens and boundless meadows, friendly people and unforgettable stories: It can all be found in Scotland. Be you nature buff or shopaholic, history enthusiast or whisky connoisseur, art lover or fierce outdoorsmen, the stunning scenery, captivating cities and charming people of Scotland are sure to make you feel right at home.

Countries Visited

Scotland

Places Visited

Edinburgh, Stirling, The Trossachs, Loch Ness, Fort Augustus, Inverness, Culloden

Suggested Duration

7 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Welcome to Singular Scotland

This morning, you arrive on the outskirts of Edinburgh, where a private transfer will pick you up and deliver you to your elegant hotel deep in the heart of the city center and throbbing with the hum of Scottish life. Take some time to drop off your luggage and refresh from the transatlantic flight before setting out to climb the gentle rise of Calton Hill, where you’ll encounter some of the country’s most well-known monuments as well as phenomenal views over the city, the nearby Firth of Forth and the surrounding countryside beyond. Gaze up to the slate grey tower that marks a memorial to Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, witness the eerie incompleteness of the National Monument that’s dedicated to the Scottish dead in the Napoleonic Wars, and check the fluted columns of the Dugald Stewart Monument before making your way back down the hill and to the city center.

More incredible views of the city and its environs can be gained by climbing the 200-foot Gothic spire of the memorial to Sir Walter Scott, while shopping can be had in the New Town section. Opt for a dinner at the small but spectacular Witchery restaurant, immediately adjacent to Edinburgh castle and boasting delicious fare, excellent service, and one of the best wine lists in the city.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Day 2

Scotch History and Scotch Whisky

Day 3

Through the Highlands Via The Great Glen

Day 4

Failed Rebellions and the Home of Macbeth

Day 5

From Blair Castle to Edinburgh Castle

Day 6

The Royal Mile and Other Attractions

Day 7

Saying Goodbye to Scotland the Brave

Trip Highlights

* Start and finish in enchanting Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland and home to one of the best city walks in the entire country* Tour the grounds of Stirling Castle, the center of the famed Scottish Wars of Independence, as well as the stills and vats at one of the country’s best whisky distilleries* Wind your way along the Great Glen from Fort William to Inverness, taking in all the craggy grandeur that is the Highlands of Scotland* Walk the ramparts and man the battlements at some of Scotland’s largest and best-known castles, including the real-world inspiration for one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies* Discover the battlefield of Culloden, the glorious landscape of the Trossachs, and the murky, peat-filled waters of the country’s most famous lake

Detailed Description

From the annals of medieval British chroniclers to the celluloid of the silver screen, Scotland is a country that is filled with history and legends. It’s a country made up of warrior poets and loveable outlaws, as well as daring princes fighting for a crown and solitary pipers playing tunes that waft over the weathered stretches of the Scottish Highlands. This weeklong Scotland vacation will show you all of this and more, from the modern streets of Scotland’s greatest cities to the unconquerable wilderness of the savage north, from high culture in an aristocratic manor to high winds blowing from the shores of Loch Ness; it’s all within the presence of some of the friendliest people you could ever hope to meet.

Learn about Scotland’s numerous rebellions against her mighty neighbor to the south as you stride the defenses of Stirling Castle and survey the fields of Culloden. Explore the country’s more sophisticated side, from the museums of Edinburgh to the Old High Church in Inverness. Weave your way through the famous Highlands, from the valleys of the Great Glen to the endless stretch of Loch Ness. And, of course, have a taste of the finest single malts in the world at one of the nation’s oldest distilleries.

If you’ve ever longed to live in the pages of a Walter Scott novel and you’ve never been put off by the thought of haggis, if you’ve always wanted to see the spectacular scenery of the Highlands and found yourself longing for nice spot of whisky, or if you’ve ever wanted to experience life in all its incarnations, from natural beauty to urban splendor, then this is the trip for you. Scotland is unique and unforgettable, memorable and magical, fun and friendly and truly fantastic. And it’s waiting for you to visit.

Starting Price

$3,500 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 348 reviews

Kenneth (.
Scotland Tour Review: 8 Nights

There was great planning by Zicasso's travel company, with just the right amount of activity, without exhausting us. And great accommodations.

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Kevin M.
England, Scotland Travel Review: London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Walking Tours, Countryside, 1 Week

Zicasso's travel agency was easy to work with and helped customize our plans to meet the needs of our family.

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Patrick M.
Scotland Travel Review: Family Heritage, 6 Nights

My wife and I had a great experience with Zicasso's travel specialist (who coordinated the initial logistics) and especially with our tour guide (who was an 11/10 and exceeded our expectations on our tour). They customized our trip before we arrived and then our guide was responsive to "on-the-fly" changes once we were in-country. I hope I can refer more people to them.

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Shelly P.
Scotland, England Trip Review: Wimbledon, Museum, 8 Nights

Zicasso's travel company was professional, thorough, and very attentive to my needs and interests. It was also clear the guides and drivers partnering with the agency in the UK had great respect for the travel company.

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Leah S.
Ireland, Scotland, England Family Trip Review: Edinburgh, Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, Cliffs of Moher, History, Castle, Local Cuisine, Scenery, Art, 21 Days

Zicasso's trip planner worked with my family for the better part of a year planning our big family trip. She provided exceptional service and planned every detail of our trip. We have a large family, with lots of moving parts. There were many changes in the itinerary along the way and she rolled with all the many changes. She was always polite, courteous, and graceful in her many interactions with our family.

She listened carefully during our initial conversations to help us plan the best trip possible. Being a large family, with multiple generations, she really created the best possible experience, taking in everyone's wishes. Working with her was very relieving, knowing she was taking care of all the details.

Our family's trip took us from the States to Ireland, Scotland, and England. We traveled on planes, trains, ferry, and drove a car. Our trip planner arranged every detail meticulously. We stayed in lovely, quaint, boutique hotels, ate the most wonderful foods, saw the amazing sights, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites across all three countries. From the Cliffs of Moher to the Culloden Moor Memorial to Stonehenge to castles grand and desolate; from beautiful cathedrals to old abbey ruins; from little country pubs to Michelin-starred restaurants; and even spending a couple days in an actual 17th-century castle, every minute was amazing! Truly amazing!

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Sue H.
Ireland, Scotland Travel Review: Edinburgh, Dublin, Connemara, Kylemore Abbey, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula, Kilkenny, Rock of Cashel, 2 Weeks

We had a wonderful trip. Everything went smoothly. We liked that we were always in contact through WhatsApp. That was very helpful and gave us a security blanket.

Our itinerary was planned through a Zicasso travel expert. The guides/drivers she chose were terrific. They were full of information and stories of each place we visited, and they answered all of our questions. One of a few outstanding ones was in Scotland. We had him on two occasions and enjoyed his knowledge and wit. The knowledge of our guide in Edinburgh was outstanding. The tour in Dublin was with a super guide. He is sending us a recap of our tour. In Ireland, for our tour of Connemara and Kylemore Abbey, our guide was wonderful with his knowledge of the area and his charm and wit. We had a great time with him. In Killarney, we had a guide for the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula. He gave us a map with both days highlighted so we would remember where we were. He took us to the most beautiful places and had so much information and charm. We had two days with him and they were wonderful. Our Kilkenny guide went out of his way to get us as close to the Rock of Cashel. He also had so much information as we traveled. All these tour guides/drivers were so good. Our travel specialist did such a fantastic job of choosing this guides!!

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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