Detailed Port Descriptions

Day 1 Glasgow

Arrive in Glasgow, Scotland’s Victorian city. With no planned activities today, you can explore Glasgow at leisure. Tonight* your Scottish adventure begins with a visit to a local restaurant. After experiencing a piping demonstration and lesson with a renowned piper, join your fellow travelers for a lively welcome dinner at the restaurant. (D) *Hotel check in is at 3pm. There will be a Collette welcome briefing

Day 2 Glasgow

Today you will spend the day in CME Sessions (B)

Day 3 Glasgow—Ballachulish

This morning, bid Glasgow farewell as you travel to your next destination. First, stop at a local whisky distillery for a guided tour and tasting. After some free time for lunch in a nearby town, you can relax aboard the motorcoach and admire the verdant green hills and mountainside waters as you arrive at your remote countryside hotel, situated on lovely Loch Linnhe. (B&D)

Day 4 Ballachulish – Isle of Skye—Ballachulish

This morning, take a ferry ride to the stunning Isle of Skye, also known in poetry and song as Eilean a' Cheò (The Misty Isle). Upon arrival in Armadale, a local from the island joins you to share the history of this magical place and what it is like to live there today. A visit to the capital of Portree allows some time to explore before taking the scenic route back to Broadford. End your day by returning to Ballachulish via the Skye Bridge and a scenic drive along the “Road to the Isles.” (B&D)

Day 5 Ballachulish—Loch Ness—Thurso

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 famous bodies of water. Keep your eyes open — you never know when Nessie might 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 two-night stay. (B&D)  

Day 6 Thurso—Orkney Islands—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’re 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 before the Great Pyramids in Egypt. Continue on toward the prehistoric Standing Stones of Stenness, reported to be older than Stonehenge. Make your way through the town of Viking Kirkwall before returning to the mainland. (B & D)*weather conditions may sometimes prevent operation of the ferry to the Orkney Islands. In these cases, your Tour Manager will substitute activities on the mainland.  

Day 7 Thurso—Inverness

As you make your way back from the northern coast, visit the majestic Dunrobin Castle, which dates back to the 1300s. The castle is built in the style of a French château and is home to the Duke of Sutherland. Next, visit the powerfully emotive and atmospheric battlefield of Culloden, where the Jacobite Rising came to a tragic end. Enjoy an overnight stay in Inverness, capital of the Highlands. (B & D)

Day 8 Inverness—Pitlochry—Edinburgh

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 to explore on your own. End your day in Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh. Enjoy a lively and interactive cooking demonstration at one of Scotland’s premier culinary institutions. With a “wee dram” in hand, toast the end of a wonderful day. (B&D)

Day 9 Edinburgh

Today visit Edinburgh Castle, home to the Scottish Crown Jewels. Enjoy a panoramic tour of Edinburgh’s new town before your local expert takes you on a walking tour up to the magnificent castle. Enjoy an afternoon of free time. This evening, take your seat at the spectacular, world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, one of Scotland’s greatest events. (B) Since 1950, the epochal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has dazzled millions of spectators with performances from musicians, pipers, drummers, singers, and dancers. This epic show, unique every year, takes place at Edinburgh Castle, hauntingly illuminated under the open sky. In the past, the show’s themes have paid tribute to nature, Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday, and Scotland's homecoming, to name a few. This international festival comes alive with performers from a multitude of countries and audience members from around the world. Military pageantry and cultural celebrations, culminating with a spectacular fireworks display, set the stage for an amazing evening.

Day 10 Edinburgh

Today you will spend the day in CME Sessions. (B)  

Day 11 Edinburgh

Your Scotland Adventure comes to an end today. After experience all this beautiful country has to offer, you will head home with memories to last a lifetime. (B)