Multi-day trip

From Edinburgh: Orkney and The Far North 5-Day Tour

5 / 5

4 reviews

Activity provider: Highland Experience Tours
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    Multi-day trip

    From Edinburgh: Orkney and The Far North 5-Day Tour

    Activity provider: Highland Experience Tours

    5.0

    4 reviews

    From US$ 1,043.57 per person

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    Explore the stunning scenery and wildlife of the magical Orkney Islands on this 5-day tour. Heading north from Edinburgh, pass through the breathtaking Scottish Islands on your way to the world-famous historical sites of the Orkney Islands.

    About this activity

    Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 5 days in advance for a full refund
    Duration 5 days
    Check availability to see starting times.
    Live tour guide
    English

    Experience

    Highlights
    • Admire the breathtaking scenery of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park
    • Pass through Glen Coe, Fort William, and the Great Glen on your way to Loch Ness
    • Visit the Italian Chapel, the Churchill Barriers, Maeshowe chambered cairn, and Skara Brae on the Orkney Islands
    • Explore St Magnus Cathedral, the Standing Stones of Stenness, and the Ring of Brodgar
    • Explore Inverness, the capital of the Highlands
    Full description

    The 5-day tour from Edinburgh takes you on a discovery of the Scottish Highlands and the Orkney Islands. Heading north from Scotland’s capital city, you can admire the breathtaking scenery of the Scottish Highlands and explore the history of the Orkney Islands. On day 1, travel north to Loch Ness. The spectacular tour starts by heading west through the beautiful scenery of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. The route then takes you through the haunting landscape of Glen Coe, the scene of the terrible massacre of the MacDonald Clan, and on through Fort William and the Great Glen to arrive at the fabled shores of Loch Ness. Stay overnight in Inverness. On day 2, head north via Inverness and the spectacular coastal scenery of the Moray and Cromarty Firths. Then, board the ferry for a memorable trip to the mysterious and magical Orkney Islands. Once you arrive, take in the stunning scenery and start exploring. Visit the beautiful Italian Chapel, which was built by Italian prisoners of war, as well as the famous Churchill Barriers – causeways that were constructed to protect the British naval fleet from submarines. Stay overnight at Kirkwall. On day 3, explore the ancient history of the islands. From your base in Kirkwall, which boasts many craft and gift shops to explore, spend the whole day exploring the islands. This is a land full of ancient history and you will be able to take in prehistoric marvels such as the Maeshowe chambered cairn, the world-famous Neolithic village of Skara Brae, and the brooding stone circles of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar. The day will finish with a visit to the beautiful St Magnus Cathedral. Stay overnight at Kirkwall. On day 4, start with a ferry ride back to the mainland. Then you will get the chance to take in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. Stay overnight in Inverness. On day 5, head back to Edinburgh. On the way, visit the battlefield of Culloden, the site of the defeat of the Jacobite forces. You will also pass the stunning Cairngorm Mountains and explore the picturesque town of Pitlochry.

    Includes
    • Transportation
    • English-speaking driver/guide
    • 4 nights accommodation
    • 4 breakfasts
    • Ferry crossing
    • Meal other than breakfast
    • Admissions
    Not suitable for
    • Children under 3 years

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Meeting point

    1 Parliament Square, Caffe Nero, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 1RE

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    Important information

    Know before you go

    • Children under 3 years old are not allowed on the tour.
    • Price is per person in a B&B. A single supplement applies.
    • Please note that the Maeshowe chambered cairn and the world-famous Neolithic village of Skara Brae on day 3, and the battlefield of Culloden on day 5 are optional extras.
    • The maximum luggage weight is 15 kg, the maximum size is 55cm x 40cm x 20cm. You may bring one small carry-on per person.
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    5 /5

    based on 4 reviews

    Review summary

    • Value for money
      4.3/5
    • Safety
      5/5
    • Service
      4.7/5
    • Organization
      4.7/5

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    Star rating:

    What a great trip! Robert, our guide, was exceptional. He was very knowledgeable and made adjustments based on the small group's needs. We had plenty of time at each stop and he even added in a few extra stops. The lodging booked for us was superb. The rooms were very comfortable and the breakfasts were tasty and plentiful. We saw all the sites on Orkney and a lot along the way. This is a great 5 day trip and we'd highly recommend it.

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    September 11, 2022

    G
    GetYourGuide traveler – United States Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Great trip, Orkney brilliant, driver informative and accommodating.

    Loved this trip. Really appreciated that Highland Experience still ran the trip even though the numbers were below the normal minimum. That meant a bit more flexibility as to timing as well. The driver was good fun and very informative and accommodating. Very much enjoyed the Highlands and loved Orkney. The Neolithic sites are wonderful but also loved the town of Kirkwall itself and just wandering the streets. As always, one could always do with more time, but we had plenty of time at each place to appreciate it. I recommend this tour. As a solo traveller, it would have been nice to be in the same B&B as other participants but that was probably because I booked not long before the trip started.

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    June 25, 2019

    S
    Susan – United Kingdom Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Nice tour to the Orkney Islands

    It was a nice bus tour around the Highlands and to the Orkney Islands. There were three different accommodations in four nights. Nice B&B. We were 17 people at most but the first day we were only two. The days were well used and we stayed in many different places every day. The driver was also a guide and spoke (of course) in Scottish dialect. He was very accommodating and friendly. Most entrance fees were added. The group did not live in the same place but in 3-5 different places and it probably depended on what you paid for. Not all accommodation was centrally located. The only thing you can complain about is the communication and information mainly before but also during the trip.

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    June 9, 2019

    B
    Barbro – Sweden Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Product ID: 179102

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