5-Day Highland Explorer Small Group Tour from Edinburgh

See it all on a grand five-day tour of the Highlands of Scotland by minivan – from the ancient Cairngorms and vibrant Inverness to the romantic beauty of the Isle of Skye and awe-inspiring Glencoe. With a maximum group size of 16 passengers, you are sure to have a memorable and personal experience on this special five-day excursion to Scotland's Highlands.

Highlights on your five-day small group excursion include:

• Crossing the Forth Road Bridge
• Cairngorm National Park and the ancient pine forests of the Rothiemurchus Estate
• Loch Insh and taking a short forest walk to the ruins of Loch an Eilean Castle
• Panoramic views of Loch Ness
• Two nights in Inverness
• Far north-west Highlands and the wild mountains of Assynt
• Corrieshalloch Gorge
• Fishing village of Ullapool
• Loch Glencoul, and optional boat trip to Eas a' Chual Aluinn, the highest waterfall in Britain
• Ruins of Ardvreck Castle
• Lunch in Applecross
• Isle of Skye and overnight in Portree
• Poignant Glencoe

Winner of the Inaugural Scottish Thistle Award for Sustainable Tourism, October 2007.

Schedule Details Departs: Seasonal
March 29 to October 25, 2008
Saturday Departure Point: 207 High St, Edinburgh. Departure Time: 9:00am Return details: Tour concludes at Waverley Bridge opposite Waverley Train Station at approximately 7:30pm (Day 5) Hotel Pickup: Hotel pickups are not available, however please specify the name of your hotel and contact telephone number during your stay in Edinburgh. Itinerary:

Day 1: Edinburgh - Inverness

Travel north over the Forth Road Bridge to the charming highland village of Dunkeld on the banks of the river Tay. From here you head into the Cairngorm national park and the ancient pine forests of the Rothiemurchus estate. Lunchtime will be spent on the beautiful shores of Loch Insh before a short forest walk takes us to the ruins of Loch an Eilean Castle. You can enjoy panoramic views of Loch Ness as you travel down its famous banks to the village of Dores where you can do some "Nessie" spotting! Then it's on to the "Capital of the Highlands", Inverness, where you will spend two nights.

Day 2: Northwest Highlands

Visit the far northwest Highlands and the expansive wildness and grandeur of the mountains of Assynt. Leaving Inverness, take in the drama of the River Droma as it plunges 60 meters down into the Corrieshalloch Gorge followed by a visit to the fishing village of Ullapool. Lunch will be taken by Loch Glencoul from where an optional boat trip can be taken to see Eas a' Chual Aluinn, the highest waterfall in Britain at 200 meters high! With visits to the 15th century ruins of Ardvreck Castle, amazing views of some of Europe's oldest landscapes and the chance of seeing wildlife such as whales and red deer this is sure to be a memorable day.

Day 3: Portree

Leave Inverness heading West past the mountains of Beinn Eighe national nature reserve and along the picturesque coastline of Loch Torridon. The tranquil setting of Applecross is your destination for lunch, then head-off for jaw-dropping views on one of Scotland's highest roads, Bealach nam Bo (meaning the Cattle Pass). In the afternoon you will stop in "tropical" Plockton where you can see palm trees growing alongside Loch Carron and take time to enjoy it's sheltered serenity. Then it's over the sea to Skye and the delightful harbor town of Portree with its friendly welcome.

Day 4: Skye

There are many possibilities depending on the weather and your driver/guide's knowledge will come to the fore in designing the best day out for you that particular day. For example: travel north to the stunning Quiraing mountain pass and enjoy a spectacular walk through some of Skye's extraordinary geological scenery. Kilt Rock, composed of basalt columns (reminiscent of the pleats in a kilt) with its waterfall cascading over the cliffs and down into the sea below. After lunch you can go over to Neist Point for a walk out to the lighthouse that is the furthest point west on Skye. Or go over to Dunvegan Castle, ancient ancestral seat of the Clan McLeod. Talisker Distillery is also on Skye, as are the famous Cuillin Hills. Return to your accommodation in Portree in the early evening where you are free to explore the town yourselves at leisure.

Day 5: Skye - Edinburgh

Travel south from Skye stopping first at the famous stronghold Eilean Donan Castle, used in the film "Highlander", set at the head of 3 lochs as protection against Viking raiders. Continuing east through the rugged mountains of Kintail including the splendor of the Five Sisters, drive down through Glen Garry past Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, then on to Fort William for lunch. In the afternoon you can explore spectacular, awe-inspiring Glencoe, scene of the infamous massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692, before stopping in Killin for refreshments beside the beautiful Falls of Dochart and returning to Edinburgh.

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