3-Day Isle of Skye Small Group Tour from Edinburgh

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Immerse yourself in the wild beauty of the Highlands and Isle of Skye on a three-day small group excursion from Edinburgh. In three days you'll explore some of the most dramatic and beautiful scenery in the Highlands, and visit the second largest west coast island of Scotland, the magical Isle of Skye.

Other tour highlights include Glencoe, the Lochaber region around Fort William, Eilean Donan Castle (set of the movie Highlander) and over the sea to Skye, where you'll stay in the picturesque harbor town of Portree.

You'll spend the entire second day on Skye, exploring the wild north of the island, Old Man of Storr, the mountain pass of the Quiraing and Skye's most westerly point at Neist.

On the third day you'll return to the mainland, before traveling through the Five Sisters of Kintail, and on to eerie Loch Ness, the central Highlands and Edinburgh.

With a maximum group size of 16 passengers, you are sure to have a memorable and personal experience on this special trip to the Scottish Highlands. You'll travel in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan and receive individual attention from your expert driver/guide. Traveling in a small group means you can reach out-of-the-way places to discover the real Scotland!

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

Loch Ness, Scotland

May 01, 2008 to April 30, 2009
Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

Unavailable Dates:

• January 01 (New Years Day)
• December 25 (Christmas Day)

Day 1: Edinburgh - Portree

Depart Edinburgh at 9:00am and travel west passing Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and continue towards Stirling with its imposing castle and views to the Wallace Monument. Pass Doune Castle, the set of Monty Python's "Holy Grail" before stopping in Callander or Kilmahog for refreshments. Into the Highlands now and north past Loch Luibnaig, Loch Earn, Crianlarich and Tyndrum, stopping for lunch on the way. You then continue north through Glencoe, scene of the great massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692. Past Fort William and up to the Comowo visit the famous Eilean Donan Castle, used in the film Highlander, set at the junction of 3 lochs as protection against Viking raiders. Crossing over the bridge to Skye, you travel up to Portree, a picturesque working harbor town and your base for 2 nights. You are then dropped off at your accommodation in the early evening where you are free to explore the town.

Day 2: Portree

Today is a very flexible day on Skye. There are many possibilities depending on the weather and the dynamics of the group. Possibilities include traveling north to the stunning Quiraing Mountain pass and enjoy a spectacular walk through some of Skye's extraordinary geological scenery. Take photos of the 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.

Travel over to Neist Point for a walk, and a chance to stand on the most westerly point on the island (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 located on the island, as are the famous Cuillin Hills. We return you to your accommodation Portree in the early evening for you to enjoy a free night in Portree.

Day 3: Portree - Edinburgh

You will be collected from your accommodation and travel south past the Cuillin Hills to return to the mainland via the Skye bridge. Your journey continues eastwards through Glen Sheil to Glen Moriston and on to the shores of Loch Ness. Stopping at the southern tip of the Loch in the small village of Fort Augustus, you now have the chance to enjoy lunch (own expense), go for a walk or relax on a boat trip (summer only) to try and spot the monster!

After lunch you travel south via Spean Bridge, and Loch Laggan, home of the very popular T.V program, "Monarch of the Glen". Continuing south, pass by Dalwhinnie whisky distillery before stopping in Perthshire for a last walk and coffee stop in the fresh Highland air before crossing back into the Lowlands, passing by the fair city of Perth and one time capital of Scotland. The journey takes you over the Forth road bridge spanning the Firth of Forth, with fine view over to the world famous modern day wonder of the world, the Forth Rail Bridge opened in 1890, before reaching the city center of Edinburgh in the early evening.