Edinburgh Tours
5-Day Orkney and Highlands Tour from Edinburgh
5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*

5-Day Orkney and Highlands Tour from Edinburgh

By Highland Experience Tours
Recommended by 100% of travelers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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About
Lowest price guaranteeFree cancellation

Ages 3-99, max of 35 per group
Duration: 5 days
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Breakfast
  • Breakfast
  • Breakfast
  • Breakfast
  • 4 nights accommodation as per selected
  • Breakfast
  • Driver/guide
What's not included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Entry/Admission - Glencoe National Nature Reserve
  • Entry/Admission - The Italian Chapel
  • Entry/Admission - Maeshowe Chambered Cairn
  • Entry/Admission - Skara Brae
  • Entry/Admission - Dunrobin Castle and Gardens
  • Entry/Admission - Culloden Battlefield

Start:
  • 192 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RW, UK
    Please check in with Highland Experience staff inside/outside Caffe Nero by 8.15am
End:
  • Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1, UK
    Please note: During August, and other times when there are events taking place at Edinburgh Castle we will use an alternative end point in Edinburgh's New Town.

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5256P23

  • Most travelers can participate
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Children under 3 years not accepted
  • Luggage Restrictions: Maximum weight: 15kg. Maximum size: 55cm x 40cm x 20cm per person plus small carry on
  • If you are travelling alone, please choose the ‘Single Room’ option or we may not be able to accept your booking
  • Double/twin room: these rooms are for 2 people. If 3 people choose this option, you will be allocated a family room for 3, subject to availability. If you prefer 2 rooms, you must choose ‘Single Room’ for one person
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 35 travelers

  • If you cancel at least 7 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
  • If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.
  • If you cancel within 2 days of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.

If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5256P23

From
$1,264.24
per adult
Select date and travelers

Similar experiences

Itinerary
Overview
Full Map
12 stops
Day 1
Edinburgh - Loch Ness
Day 2
Ferry to Orkney
Day 3
Exploring Orkney
Day 4
Leaving the island
Day 5
Inverness to Edinburgh
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
  • Highland Experience Tours
    6,534
    Edinburgh, Scotland
    Joined in June 2008
  • melnchris
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful 4 day trip to Skye, including the Jacobite train ride.
    Wonderful 4 day trip, stating in Edinburgh.. Well paced trip, allowing reasonable time to stop at several attractions. We were blessed with decent weather when on the Isle of Skye, and the train ride was wonderful. What made the trip was our driver/guide Rose. She was a great story teller, with a detailed knowledge of Scottish history. She made a couple of stops interesting with a few "highland props" that she provided. Try and book Rose if you take this excursion. The Cuil lodge B & B in Uig was a great stay for 2 nights, with splendid hosts and breakfast.
    Written October 9, 2024
  • vickybB5084BQ
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic Highlands Experience
    Neil, our tour guide was fabulous! He was so informative and this tour is a perfect way to see a lot of the country in a few days and the 2 nights in Inverness were icing on the cake. We had a great time!
    Written October 9, 2024
  • Wanderlustgirl1804
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing tour, highly recommended
    I love every single moment of my highlands day trip experience. Our tour guide Terri and driver guide Graham were so nice, knowleagable and passionate about what they were sharing us. They even took the time to talk to us and gave us informations and tip and answered our questions. Thank you so much for your professionalism and dedication. P.s Graham, I loved your dad jokes and Terri, I still laughed at your silly jokes even when you warned us that they were going to get worse lol. Anyways, thanks for making our day. I highly recommend this tour 🥰🥰
    Written October 8, 2024
  • JohannaR810
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Tour that everyone should take
    Tour was amazing and our tour guide was unbelievable. We had a full history class during the trip and enjoyed it very much. How can someone remember so many kings and queens and battles and years etc. Glencoe and the Kelpies were the ultimate highlights of this trip. I just wish that company would advice people to not wear any parfumes or odour that makes people to feel nausious. 13 hours in a buss with smelling people was the only minus there was.
    Written October 6, 2024
  • triserarex
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning views with a fun and informative guide
    A wonderful one day tour with our amazing driver , Alex. The Abby, Castle, and Chapel were beautiful, I am so glad we booked this tour as part of our trip to Edinburgh!
    Written October 6, 2024
  • christianfS8090WJ
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very nice private tour
    Amazing private tour with this company, reasonable price and brand new Mercedes car. Excellent tour guide and super safe driver. Very knowledgeable. Paul must be a big asset for the company, would recommend him to all my friends and family.
    Written October 6, 2024
  • Rod S
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Rosslyn experience
    Alex, the driver and guide was a well informed and a man passionate of his country. Well informed and willing to share anything about the country or tours
    Written October 5, 2024
  • Rod S
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Bus tour of Scotland
    Very well presented information. Ian, the driver and guide, was passionate about his country and what we were going to see. Enjoyable tour
    Written October 5, 2024
  • 396Christina
    0 contributions
    2.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lack of follow-up from corporate
    I am shocked that I've had no contact from the tour company. Our bus had an accident that broke out a window and popped a tire. We were fortunate to have an excellent driver who maintained control and brought the bus safely to a stop. We were also fortunate to have an amazing on-board guide (Terri) who kept everyone informed, calm, and safe. By comparison, the tour company has made no contact since this occurred 3 weeks ago. I expected an expression of regret and a show of understanding that instead of touring the Scottish highlands, we spent an hour on the side of the road, 4 more hours sitting in a tiny town with 1 outdoor pub and a food truck available for over 50 people, and then a 4+ hour late night drive back to Edinburgh. I received a partial refund for our ruined trip, but only because this option was offered through trip advisor and I initiated it. From the tour company, the only communication I received was a pro-forma "How was your trip" survey. This could have been a great trip. That it wasn't is understandable given unavoidable circumstances. However, the corporate lack of follow-up is awful.
    Written October 5, 2024
  • C3388VZclaireg
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fab experience
    Amazing day trip. Amazing places, views, scenery, made even better by the lovely blue skies and unseasonably warm weather. Our guide JK was very knowedgeable amd a great story teller
    Written October 4, 2024
  • Trip405309
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Brilliant Tour!
    This tour was everything I had hoped and more. Our guide, Neal, was exceptional! There was beauty and inspiration everywhere we looked. Neal was terrific to point out sights of interest along the way. I would HIGHLY recommend this activity!
    Written October 3, 2024
  • RosaB990
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent Tour
    If you want to see a bit of Scotland and have a steam train thrown in, this is the tour. The History of the Jacobite's, the scenery of Scotland and the knowledge of our guide all made the 2 day tour very enjoyable.
    Written October 2, 2024
  • TeeP302
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Day Trip
    Great day trip. Amazing scenery. Tour guide was funny and informative. Made a few stops to check out sites along the way. Everything ran smooth and on time.
    Written October 2, 2024
  • Y1419JVjenniferc
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great set of attractions in one comfortable day trip
    A wonderful combination of places to visit, each very interesting and beautiful in their own way. Rosslyn Chapel is a real stand out though, has to be seen to be truly appreciated, photos just do not do it justice.
    Written October 1, 2024
  • ShreGav
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful 4 days with an awesome storyteller!
    This trip is beautifully planned and any unplanned diversions are done by the guide purely for the betterment of the trip and the experience of the guests! We had a wonderful time in Scotland with our tour guide+driver+story teller ‘Rose’. She’s one of very few (i think one of 18) official Scotish Storytellers! And she took us on this great journey through the stories of Scotland. The lady has complete knowledge from local lore to JK Rowling’s Harry potter references, Outlander & James Bond locations to Game of Thrones cross references! She took us to all the places listed on the itinerary with a consistent background information & specific stories connected to the locations; including a smooth bus ride experience. She even had quick costumes and props for the guests to use and get photographed in; including harry potter robes, wands (for the train ride)and outlander Scottish scarfs! I was impressed when she had tree cards (similar to Tarot cards) and she interpreted them for us for fun! The best was that she comes with knowledge of Whiskey! And maybe other drinks as well. And can help in choosing the right one! We were 14 guests from all over the world in a mini bus (16 seater) which was very comfortable as the two of us got the last 4 seats and could just spread out at the end very comfortably :) They had booked rooms across 2 B&Bs (Glenconan B&B and Cuil lodge) and Uig hotel in Uig, near Portree. It was a picturesque place and we enjoyed short walks to the restaurants around. Restaurants are scarce and needs prior reservations as they can get full. We even had group dinner at a place suggested by Rose. The guides send an advance email with suggested restaurants but if you don’t have any reservations Rose is there to rescue everyone! We stayed at the Glenconon B&B which was beautiful along side a small forrest. Although we were envious of our fellow travellers who stayed at the Cuil lodge which had astounding views of the water. Uig location was perfect as it was close to the Fairy Glen! We covered many more locations as per the itinerary. The Jacobite train ride is the return journey from Mallaig to Fort William and if you reach just early you can see them changing the steam engine from the front to the rear side of the train. Eventually the train moves out from the other end but it’s great fun to see it blowing up steam and smoke just by itself! Arrive early as you can take pictures with the steam engine before it moves to the other end; as then it’s out of the platform and difficult to click pictures along with Muggles! Suggestion: I wish they can include stopping (like a 30 min photo stop) near Glenfinnan viaduct for the onward morning journey, so that we can see the train pass the viaduct. This is the only missing piece I thought can give a beautiful start to the exciting experience ahead. But I do understand if it’s a geographical problem to go this way. Bottom line is that we were very happy with our trip and our guide truly made our journey memorable! I wish we had more days but that just keeps us wanting to come back. Thank you Rose!
    Written September 30, 2024
See all 6,534 reviews
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles12 reviews
Excellent
11
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0

MaryK
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
The Orkney experience was a phenomenal trip. Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar were highlights, but the Norse settlement and the cliffs at Yesnaby were spectacular. Our tour guide, Graham, was informative and entertaining, professional, flexible and friendly.
Written June 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there, Thank you so much for taking the time to review your tour with us. We're delighted to hear you had a great time travelling with Graham! We do hope to welcome you on another tour soon. Kind regards, Clare
Written July 23, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

MergirllNM
Pennsylvania354 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
The Highlands Experience tour of Orkney and the Far North is an incredible experience!! For many years I have dreamed of visiting the ancient standing stones of the beautiful and remote Orkney Isles and this tour took care of all the details of getting me there. I was concerned at first because it was not revealed where we would be staying in Orkney - however the guest house the tour reserved for me was a good place and everything about the tour was truly enjoyable. Our guide Rory went above and beyond to look after everyone on the tour and gave great suggestions on where to eat, explore, and shop. He also made it easy to find meeting places, and his knowledge of Scottish history, stories, jokes, and good heart made me feel welcome. The Highlands part of the tour is also lovely, as well as Inverness. I highly recommend this tour!!
Written July 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carol
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
Andrew was our guide he was caring,funny,entertaining,very knowledgeable with the most funny and interesting stories. All the destinations were great. Andrew was the best tour guide we have ever had, and we have travelled all over the world. The pickup in Edinburgh was very smooth. Lots of bathroom breaks, whisky tastings, photo stops and restaurant recommendations, all we needed to know for a great 5 days of touring. The only bad thing was the weather, but if you have the right clothing and footwear then its not a problem.
Written September 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

meidavis
Pensacola, FL37 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2018 • Solo
Mark was our guide and as a solo traveler I felt comfortable the entire trip. We also had an extra guide along who was learning the route, Owen. We stopped often for breaks and never missed a great tip for delicious baked goods and coffee. Taking the ferry across to the Orkney Islands was smooth and comfortable inside the giant ferry. We saw things and walked through things that very few in the world get to experience. I won't ruin the surprise but if you adore history, archeology or you are just nosy about how cultures evolved, take this tour. The hotels and B&B's were truly the most spotless places I have ever stayed. Perfect choices! Thanks for a great trip!
Written July 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, Thanks for joining us on tour to the Orkney Islands, we're delighted to hear you had an incredible trip! Kind Regards, Clare
Written August 2, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Helen G
Felixstowe, UK14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019 • Solo
this tour had everything ... lochs, mountains, glens, castles, battlefield and Orkney. the sites on Orkney are wonderful. Every day had great highlights and a packed agenda. The bonus - dolphins and puffins.

Rory our tour guide was brilliant. He covered so much history and was always charming and courteous. Big thumbs up for Rory.

This was my first solo holiday and has given me the confidence to be more adventurous.

One minor point ....there are limited restaurants in Kirkwall so tour information should suggest booking tables in advance.

Thank you for a memorable holiday.
Written July 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nancy W
11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
My husband and I went on the tour along with our 29 year old son who is going for his PhD in Scottish History at St. Andrews. Fergie was our guide and was very knowledgeable about Scottish history and all three of us learned a lot while seeing beautiful Scotland. We stopped at historic sites as well as at spots where we could use the facilities and grab some food and drink, all at a very good pace.
Written September 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anna B
11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2018 • Couples
We decided, for once, not to self drive but take a tour.
Good decision.

The tour provided everything you want in a tour: safe driving, informed commentary and efficiency and organisation.

Everything ran like clockwork. Special mention must be made of our guide, Fergie.
He is a warm and friendly person with an encyclopaedic knowledge of this unique area. He drives like the complete professional he is, arranged the tours, accomodation etc seamlessly and was funny and likeable.

This tour ( with Fergie) is well worth booking.
Written May 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sharyn D
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Our highland tour was one of the best experiences i have ever had. Our tour guide Neal was so funny and knowledgeable. He was a great storyteller also. We saw so much in 10 days that i was amazed by it. I highly recommend highland experience and Neal.
Written August 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

5-Day Orkney and Highlands Tour from Edinburgh provided by Highland Experience Tours

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