Sights of Scotland Tour
From $1299 (was $1549)
per person, double occupancy, excludes roundtrip airfare
10 Days
Includes 12 meals on tour
Passport Required
This program is currently sold out but new dates are coming soon! Call 877-332-6185 for more details.
Introduction
Experience a wild, otherworldly country filled with history, mystery, and magic—where craggy mountains stand sentry over misty moors, and grand castles overlook murky lochs. Visit ancient cities and see why Scotland’s culture, history, scenery and food are unlike anywhere else!
Check out our Travel Blog for more tips and ideas for your Sights of Scotland Tour!
Trip includes
- 8-Nights Hotel Accommodations: Based on twin/double rooms in moderate hotels.
- Sightseeing: Special events as listed.
- Meals: 8 breakfasts & 4 dinners included (includes welcome dinner and farewell dinner).
- Baggage Handling: To and from your hotel room throughout your tour for one piece of checked baggage per person.
- Fully Escorted: A professionally trained Tour Director throughout. They will provide you with a wealth of information during your tour and their friendly service will make your trip a memorable experience.
Activity Level
Click here for full details.
Trip highlights
- See Edinburgh and tour Edinburgh Castle
- Witness the spectacular scenery of the Scottish Highlands
- Loch Ness and scenic cruise
- Included whiskey distillery tour & tasting
- Learn about the history and culture of the Scottish Clans
- Additional optional sightseeing opportunities
*Offers valid for new bookings only and subject to availability. Offer may be cancelled at any time. Please follow the steps below to price your vacation with YMT. When you complete all the steps, please click "Reserve" next to the date on which you would like to travel.
Step 1
Airfare to tour:
Step 2
Number of travelers:
| Depart | Base Price | Taxes & Fees | Single Supplement | Triple Reduction | Quad Reduction | Airfare to Tour | Total Price per person |
(Click the map to enlarge)
Sights of Scotland Tour
Sights of Scotland Tour
Tour Starts: Edinburgh, Scotland
Tour Ends: Glasgow, Scotland
Day 1
Depart for Edinburgh, Scotland:
Your vacation begins as you depart on your transatlantic flight. Overnight in flight.
Day 2
Arrive in Scotland:
If you purchased airline tickets from YMT Vacations, a YMT representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel where the balance of the day is at leisure. This evening you'll get a chance to meet all your fellow travelers and your YMT Tour Director at a welcome dinner. (D)
Best Western Plus Keavil House, Dunfermline or similar
Day 3
Edinburgh:
This morning we take the short drive to Edinburgh for an included panoramic tour of Scotland's capital city which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sights will include the Royal Scottish Academy, The Georgian House, St. Giles Cathedral, The Scottish Parliament, Palace of Holyroodhouse and Greyfriars Bobby. The highlight and finale of this morning's tour is the included entrance to Edinburgh Castle where you will see the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny as well as Edinburgh's oldest building, St. Margaret's Chapel. Once the tour ends around lunch time, you are free to remain in the city and explore on your own or you may wish to join our afternoon optional tour to visit the Royal Yacht Britannia docked at Leith, Edinburgh's official port. (B)
Best Western Plus Keavil House, Dunfermline or similar
Day 4
Edinburgh to The Highlands:
First stop at the iconic Scone Palace in the city of Perth. Scone Palace is the home of the Earl of Mansfield and it has been the seat of parliaments and the crowning place of the Kings of Scots. Robert the Bruce was crowned here in 1306 and the last coronation was of Charles II in 1651. Continue to the Victorian spa town of Pitlochry, known as a gateway to the Highlands where you'll enjoy some free time. Before you reach your hotel, the scenic drive will take you into and through Cairngorms National Park, home to Britain's highest and most massive mountain range. (B, D)
Hotel Nethybridge or similar
Day 5
The Highlands:
In the morning you will visit the historic site of the Battle of Culloden Moor just minutes away from Inverness. Here the scene was set for the big defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie's Scottish Clans in the spring of 1746. At the Visitor Center enjoy an innovative and interactive exhibit about the battle and the area's history. No trip to Scotland would be complete without learning about Scotch Whiskey. After an informative tour of a distillery, you will also be able to taste the final product. (B, D)
Hotel Nethybridge or similar
Day 6
Loch Ness and Inverness
Enjoy stunning views of Inverness and the Moray Firth as you make your way into the Great Glen, world famous as the setting for Loch Ness. At up to 755 feet, the lake has plenty of hiding space for the mythical Loch Ness Monster, or "Nessie" as she is referred to locally. You'll take a short scenic cruise on the loch which finishes at Urquhart Castle, where you will have time to explore the ruins dating back to the 13th century. In the afternoon, you will have time to explore the capital of the Highlands, Inverness. (B)
Hotel Nethybridge or similar
Day 7
Isle of Skye & Western Highlands:
Your tour takes you to the Isle of Skye, one of the Inner Hebrides islands. You will visit the Clan Donald Centre, a heritage center for what used to be the biggest clan in Scotland, ruling the western part of the country and the islands. A short ferry crossing will then take you back to the mainland and you continue to Fort William, near the UK's highest mountain, Ben Nevis (4,409 feet). (B)
Hotel Ben Nevis or similar
Day 8
Argyll and Glasgow:
The itinerary takes you farther south along the rugged shoreline and into Argyll. First, you will visit Inveraray Castle, home to the Duke of Argyll, the head of Clan Campbell. An Inveraray Castle has been standing on the shores of Loch Fyne since the 1400's, although the buildings we see today were rebuilt after a fire in 1877. En route, there will be a short break on the banks of Loch Lomond (the largest loch in Scotland). After leaving the tranquility of the Loch Lomond area, your trip takes you into Glasgow, the biggest city in Scotland. (B)
Ibis City Centre or similar
Day 9
Glasgow:
During a panoramic morning city tour, you will see the remnants of the monastery at Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis, an ancient cemetery in the middle of the city. The tour will also take you to the most popular park in town, the Glasgow Green. You will also visit George Square, named after King George III and the de facto center of Glasgow. Enjoy a free afternoon in this city. This evening there is an included farewell dinner. (B, D)
Ibis City Centre or similar
Day 10
(Friday) Glasgow
Bid farewell to Scotland and depart for home. On certain tour dates, you may choose to combine our Scotland and Ireland tours. If you choose that option, on your last day you will fly to Dublin to join our Best of Ireland tour. (B)
Important Note:This tour is not suitable for those who havedifficulty walking. The included sightseeing andoptional tours will involve walking and standing, steps, stairs and uneven ground at ancient sites and other locations. Accommodations used throughout this tour are commonly situated in rural, scenic areas and local amenities may be limited.
Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tours vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights.
(Click the map to enlarge)
Sights of Scotland Tour
Sights of Scotland Tour
Tour Starts: Edinburgh, Scotland
Tour Ends: Glasgow, Scotland
Day 1
Depart for Edinburgh, Scotland:
Your journey begins on your overnight transatlantic flight.
Day 2
Arrive in Scotland:
If you purchased airline tickets from YMT Vacations, a friendly YMT representative will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel, where the rest of the day is yours to spend at your leisure. This evening you’ll get a chance to meet your YMT Tour Director and fellow travelers at the Welcome Dinner. (D)
Hotel Dakota Edinburgh or similar
Day 3
Edinburgh:
Your first full day in Scotland starts with a comprehensive tour of Edinburgh. The beautifully maintained capital city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and you will go past the Royal Scottish Academy, The Georgian House, St. Giles Cathedral, The Scottish Parliament, Palace of Holyroodhouse and Greyfriars Bobby. Your final stop this morning is a visit to Edinburgh Castle, home to the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny, and Edinburgh’s oldest building, St. Margaret’s Chapel. The guided portion of the day concludes at lunchtime, after which you are free to remain in the city and explore on your own, or to join our afternoon optional tour of the Royal Yacht
Hotel Dakota Edinburgh or similar Britannia docked at Leith, Edinburgh’s official port. (B)
Day 4
Edinburgh to The Highlands:
After a delicious breakfast, we’ll head to one of the most historically significant places in all of Britain—the iconic Scone Palace in Perth. Scone Palace is the home of the Earl of Mansfield, and has been the seat of parliaments and the crowning place of the Kings of Scots since the 9th century. Robert the Bruce was crowned at Scone in 1306, and the last coronation was of Charles II in 1651. You will also visit a working sheepdog farm for a tour and demonstration of what these highly trained collies and shepherds, in teams of up to 8, can do! You’ll learn about the history of shepherding in the Scottish Highlands, and perhaps even meet a few puppies and baby lambs before you go! Before you reach your hotel, you’ll see Britain’s tallest mountain range in Cairngorms National Park. (B, D)
Hotel Carrbridge or similar
Day 5
Loch Ness & Inverness
Enjoy stunning views of Inverness and the Moray Firth as you make your way into the Great Glen, and Loch Ness. Up to 755 feet deep at places, the murky lake has plenty of hiding space for the mythical Loch Ness Monster, or “Nessie,” as she has been referred to locally since her first sighting in 1933. You’ll take a short scenic cruise across the loch to Urquhart Castle, where you will have time to explore the ruins dating back to the 13th century. Enjoy the afternoon at your own pace, taking in the sights of Inverness, the ancient capital of the Highlands, populated since 565 BC. (B)
Best Western Palace or similar
Day 6
The Highlands
Our first stop this morning is the historic site of the bloody Battle of Culloden Moor. This brutal battle in April 1746 saw thousands of casualties and marked the end of the 60-yearlong Jacobite Uprising against the English monarchy. Enjoy an innovative interactive exhibit about the battle, as well as area history at the Visitor Centre. Finally, no trip to Scotland would be complete without a lesson on its beautiful Scotch Whiskey. Enjoy an informative distillery tour and tasting. (B, D)
Best Western Palace or similar
Day 7
Isle of Skye & Western Highlands:
Today you’ll visit one of the most ruggedly beautiful places in Scotland, the unforgettable Isle of Skye. Skye has been occupied since the Mesothelic era, and you will learn some of that history at the verdant Armadale Castle, Gardens and Museum. A short ferry crossing will then take you back to the mainland, where you will continue to Fort William to take in views of the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis (4,409 feet). (B)
Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa or similar
Day 8
Argyll and Glasgow:
Today’s itinerary takes you farther south along the rugged shoreline into Argyll. First, you will visit Inveraray Castle, built in 1743 in the Gothic Revival style. You’ll enjoy seeing the extensive collection of pikes, muskets and other weaponry. There will also be a short break on the banks of Loch Lomond, the largest lake in the country. After leaving the tranquility of the Highlands, your trip takes you into Glasgow, the biggest city in Scotland. (B)
Hotel Ibis City West or similar
Day 9
Glasgow:
During a panoramic morning city tour, you will see the remnants of the monastery at Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis, an ancient cemetery in the middle of the city. You will also visit George Square, named after King George III and the de facto center of Glasgow. The rest of the afternoon is yours until our final sit-down Farewell Dinner. (B, D)
Hotel Ibis City West or similar
Day 10
Depart for Home
Bid farewell to Scotland and depart for home. On certain tour dates, you may choose to combine our Scotland and Ireland tours. For combined tours, you will fly to Dublin on day 10 to join our Best of Ireland tour. (B)
Note: This tour is not suitable for those who have difficulty walking. The included sightseeing and optional tours involve walking on uneven ground, climbing steps and stairs, and standing. Accommodations throughout this tour are occasionally situated in rural, scenic areas with limited amenities.
Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tours vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights.
YMT Vacations itineraries may contain suggestions for activities for your leisure time; these suggestions do not constitute a recommendation nor an endorsement of any specific service provider and the decision to participate in any such activities should be made independently.
Watch a short video about this tour!