4-Day Islay & Whisky Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh(*inc. 4 attractions)
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4-Day Islay & Whisky Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh(*inc. 4 attractions)
By Rabbie's
Recommended by 97% of travelers
This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher
from per adult
$1,026.37
from per adult
$1,026.37
Lowest price guarantee
Ages 18-99, max of 16 per group
Duration: 4 days
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English
- 3 nights en-suite accommodation
- Driver Guide
- Transport by top of the range Mercedes mini-coach
- Ferry crossings
- Entrance Fee: *Price includes Tour & Tasting at Ardbeg, Ardnahoe, Bowmore & Laphroaig Distilleries
- Entry/Admission - Bowmore Distillery
- Entry/Admission - Ardnahoe Distillery
- Entry/Admission - Ardbeg Distillery
- Entry/Admission - Laphroaig Distillery
What's not included- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Entrance fees: unless specified
- Entry/Admission - Kilmartin Museum
- Entry/Admission - Kilchoman Distillery
- Entry/Admission - Bruichladdich Distillery
- Entry/Admission - Inveraray Castle
- Departure details
- 26 Elder St, Edinburgh EH1 3DX, UK Gate J and Gate K, Edinburgh Bus Station, St. Andrew Square, EH2 2AD
Return details- Returns to original departure point
- Not wheelchair accessible
- 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: 2250ISLAY- Unfortunately we don't carry anyone under 18 years old on this tour
- On this tour you will spend 3 nights in the beautiful Bowmore Distillery Cottages (not available on Wednesday departures)**.The cottages have between three and six twin bedrooms, each with private bathrooms. Due to the shared nature of the accommodation, individual bedrooms don't have lockable doors. The kitchen and lounge facilities are shared with other passengers, and basic self-service breakfast ingredients are provided. Full Scottish breakfasts are available at the nearby hotels if you prefer, payable locally.
- Monday and Friday departures: only B&B available; Wednesday departures only 3-star Hotel available
- Booking three or more people? We can accommodate up to 8 guests in a group, please add each required room to your basket separately
- When booking three or more people, efforts will be made to book a combination of suitable rooms (double/twin/family). Preferences should be noted upon booking in the Special Requirements section
- Passengers are restricted to 20kg of luggage (44lbs); one medium sized suitcase/bag similar to airline standard carry-on luggage (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus a small bag for onboard personal items.
- Monday departures offer the chance to see more whisky production as all the distilleries are in operation on weekdays.
- *Tour price includes tour & tasting at 2 Whisky Distilleries (other attractions not included in price)
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
- All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
- A note from 4-Day Islay & Whisky Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh(*inc. 4 attractions)
- • Face coverings are mandatory and must always be worn. • Infrared thermometer temperature check during check-in for tour. Passengers with temperature readings above 38 degrees will not be able to travel for health and safety reasons. • Simple Covid-19 health questionnaire upon arrival.
What you can expect during your visit- Regular temperature checks for staff
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Temperature checks for tour participants upon arrival
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Face masks required for travelers in public areas
- Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Community- Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
- Which attractions will I visit with 4-Day Islay & Whisky Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh(*inc. 4 attractions)?
- During this experience, places you will visit include:Discover and book 4-Day Islay & Whisky Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh(*inc. 4 attractions) on Tripadvisor
- How much is 4-Day Islay & Whisky Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh(*inc. 4 attractions)?
- 4-Day Islay & Whisky Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh(*inc. 4 attractions) price starts from $1,022.08. Discover and book 4-Day Islay & Whisky Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh(*inc. 4 attractions) on Tripadvisor
- What is the 4-Day Islay & Whisky Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh(*inc. 4 attractions) cancellation policy?
- 4-Day Islay & Whisky Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh(*inc. 4 attractions) cancellation policy: All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties. Discover and book 4-Day Islay & Whisky Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh(*inc. 4 attractions) on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides 4-Day Islay & Whisky Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh(*inc. 4 attractions)?
- 4-Day Islay & Whisky Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh(*inc. 4 attractions) is hosted by Rabbie's. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Rabbie's on Tripadvisor. Discover and book 4-Day Islay & Whisky Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh(*inc. 4 attractions) on Tripadvisor
- 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: 2250ISLAY
Itinerary
Overview
Full Map
12 stops
Day 1
Edinburgh - Oban - Kilmartin...
Day 2
Discover the modern distillery...
Day 3
Today you explore the southern...
Day 4
Get a sense of the old history...
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator.
Ripley B
00Highland at Glencoe is gorgeous !
Long journey to highland but worth the time spent ! The tour operator Rubbies was good. While we were10 mins befor…
M9812UDemmag
00Highly recommended tour
Starting off with our amazing bus driver Richard,very knowledgeable and friendly Boat staff were all great,views o…
docdeb56
00Two days, two tours, and one great guide!
My daughter and I took the Isle of Skye, Loch Ness, Eilean Donan 1 day tour, with our guide Stewart. It was terrifi…
Maria F
00Great day in the Scottish Highlands
This tour takes you in to a mystical world of the Highlands. We had quite Scottish weather, but I didn't find this …
307cg
00Rabbie’s tour review
We don’t normally post reviews and are usually wary of joining group tours but we truly enjoyed this tour by our ex…
581izag
00Go with Steven and enjoy Scotland!
Our trip with Steven was absolutely wonderful. We loved his stories and the way he told them. One day trip to Loch …
758nathaliar
00Good outlander tour
If you like a tour with little to no guidance and more independent time from a large group, this tour is for you. O…
stefaniawa
00Awesome tour, best guide
amazing and well organized trip. beautiful places. our tour guide Mr Andy was a very nice guy. he was careful, know…
KAV1987
00A beautiful day through the highlands
With various beautiful options to choose from, we decided to go for the "West Highlands, Lochs & Castle" tour in a …
wendyfH3419SF
00Fun on a chilly, snowy sunny day!
Ashley was an amazing guide who ensured our safety and comfort while showing us the beautiful Scottish Highlands! …
jasonjoshuac
00Highland trip
Jim Scott was a cool guy and very knowledgable about all things scotland. Loves to sing and take pics too.
nataliewB4587LT
00Great tour!
I had booked a tour with a different company and they cancelled on me 3 days before my tour due to a lack of partic…
amich128
00An absolute must-do!
If you do one thing in Scotland/Edinburgh, be sure to book this tour. We're avid travelers and this tour was probab…
Roving09101516715
00Great day out
Best experience with Ashley and Niel. She is very knowledgeable and has great recommendations for other site seein…
adventure_buddiesTX
00Scotland highlights
Tour guides like Grant make Rabbies a 5 star company. He was so informative, knowledgeable, personable, and funny. …
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
43 reviews
Excellent
41
Very good
1
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Oana E
1 contribution
Perfect experience for the peaty Islay whisky lover, and for those who are game to try out and learn more about Islay whisky.
The first day is the drive to Islay and the ferry trip, these were comfortable in the 16 passenger van and had just the right amount of historic stops.
We visited 7 distilleries over the two days on island- Kilchoman, Ardnahoe, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich, Ardbeg (our favorite!!), Lagavulin and Laphroig. It was a different experience each time, some were just tastings and some had tastings and tours. The tasting options are set beforehand, but some distilleries are open to giving a sample if you are wanting to buy a whisky they didn’t do a taste of.
The drive back was a bit sad, since we had quickly gotten close to our fellow passengers. But we did manage to squeeze in a few historic stops.
I truly feel that a lot of the success of this tour and the great memories we have were made possible by our wonderful Rabbie’s guide, Dom. He did such a great job sprinkling historic tidbits, pointing out interesting sights and then incorporating poignant songs that then came to life (since we were driving through it!). We highly recommend tours with Dom, and tours with Rabbie’s.
The first day is the drive to Islay and the ferry trip, these were comfortable in the 16 passenger van and had just the right amount of historic stops.
We visited 7 distilleries over the two days on island- Kilchoman, Ardnahoe, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich, Ardbeg (our favorite!!), Lagavulin and Laphroig. It was a different experience each time, some were just tastings and some had tastings and tours. The tasting options are set beforehand, but some distilleries are open to giving a sample if you are wanting to buy a whisky they didn’t do a taste of.
The drive back was a bit sad, since we had quickly gotten close to our fellow passengers. But we did manage to squeeze in a few historic stops.
I truly feel that a lot of the success of this tour and the great memories we have were made possible by our wonderful Rabbie’s guide, Dom. He did such a great job sprinkling historic tidbits, pointing out interesting sights and then incorporating poignant songs that then came to life (since we were driving through it!). We highly recommend tours with Dom, and tours with Rabbie’s.
Written July 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
SusieP
Texas25 contributions
Aug 2022
I will preface this starting off stating that I went on this tour only for the love of my husband who loves whisky, but I left this tour as someone who now enjoys whisky. We went on this tour 5 -9th of August and had an excellent time. Our tour group consisted of 10 guests total and a fabulous guide (Hi Stewart!). The van was comfy and spacious enough for all of us. The tour heavily focuses on distilleries - tours and tastings. I tagged along initially for the hope of some nice scenic sightseeing, we were mainly just driving through - though we did stop at a few to explore. The distillery tours were informative and the tastings were educational and wonderful to the point where I left every distillery enjoying my tasting experience (and it wasn't just alcohol induced). I definitely recommend booking this tour if you want to visit great distilleries and not worry about any of the coordination/ planning that goes along with it.
Written September 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Victoria R
1 contribution
Apr 2022 • Solo
Just returned from the 4 day Islay trip and had a wonderful time!
The itinerary of the tour was great, with lots of stops for things to see and do on the way to and from Islay. Our time on Islay itself was packed with visits to distilleries, with tours and tastings, along with some other local sites too like a beach, a ruined church and castle. Highlights for me were the tour at Kilohman, where the grain for the whisky is grown, malted, distilled and bottled entirely on site, a fantastic tasting with Alice at Ardnahoe, and a warehouse tasting at Lagavulin where you sample straight from the cask.
The accommodation was brilliant, with views out over the water and Bowmore distillery. Booking the accommodation through Rabbies was easy and the lady who took payment over the phone was very friendly.
Our tour guide, Doug, was wonderful - he kept us all entertained with stories about folklore and history throughout the trip, along with a great, really well thought out play list that suited every stage of the journey. He made sure we were all happy at every stage of the trip, especially those of us travelling alone, and his knowledge, stories and humour definitely added to the experience!
Thank you, Rabbies - would definitely book again! 😊
The itinerary of the tour was great, with lots of stops for things to see and do on the way to and from Islay. Our time on Islay itself was packed with visits to distilleries, with tours and tastings, along with some other local sites too like a beach, a ruined church and castle. Highlights for me were the tour at Kilohman, where the grain for the whisky is grown, malted, distilled and bottled entirely on site, a fantastic tasting with Alice at Ardnahoe, and a warehouse tasting at Lagavulin where you sample straight from the cask.
The accommodation was brilliant, with views out over the water and Bowmore distillery. Booking the accommodation through Rabbies was easy and the lady who took payment over the phone was very friendly.
Our tour guide, Doug, was wonderful - he kept us all entertained with stories about folklore and history throughout the trip, along with a great, really well thought out play list that suited every stage of the journey. He made sure we were all happy at every stage of the trip, especially those of us travelling alone, and his knowledge, stories and humour definitely added to the experience!
Thank you, Rabbies - would definitely book again! 😊
Written April 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Expedition86561
Seattle, WA3 contributions
May 2022
Doug was a superb guide and really made our experience special. His narration about Scottish history and culture, matched with an exceptional playlist, provided the perfect soundtrack for our vacation. An excellent selection of distilleries, as well as stops along the way to break up the trip. We would gladly hit the repeat button and do this one all over again!
Written May 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Shelling_Peas
Bedfordshire, UK34 contributions
Sep 2019
This is a small group tour with 16 people aboard plus driver/guide. On our tour it was Adam, who was wearing odd boots due to a foot injury, which reminded me of one "slippy" and one "grippy" and then one of the first things he said, with no prompting, was that he did not like the sport of curling!
The tour from start to finish was easily paced with plenty of comfort stops, combined with a chance to eat, stretch one’s legs or see places of interest and often all three at the same time. All of this interspersed with the visits, tours and tastings at the distilleries. Adam would point out where and what and state the time to return to the bus. All our fellow tour members were prompt and we were never delayed which in turn gave Adam an easier time.
We were lucky enough to have a large majority of malt whisky lovers who opted for the max. and we did 7 distillery tastings in the 2 full days on Islay, plus Oban en route Heaven! At the most expensive distillery tastings not everyone took part, let’s just say this was one for Islay malt lovers, and Adam led the lightweights on a walk which I did hear was very enjoyable.
All in all, this was an extremely well organised tour with a full and varied itinerary, which can be enjoyed by Islay malt lovers and their significant others who may be not so keen on a dram.
The tour from start to finish was easily paced with plenty of comfort stops, combined with a chance to eat, stretch one’s legs or see places of interest and often all three at the same time. All of this interspersed with the visits, tours and tastings at the distilleries. Adam would point out where and what and state the time to return to the bus. All our fellow tour members were prompt and we were never delayed which in turn gave Adam an easier time.
We were lucky enough to have a large majority of malt whisky lovers who opted for the max. and we did 7 distillery tastings in the 2 full days on Islay, plus Oban en route Heaven! At the most expensive distillery tastings not everyone took part, let’s just say this was one for Islay malt lovers, and Adam led the lightweights on a walk which I did hear was very enjoyable.
All in all, this was an extremely well organised tour with a full and varied itinerary, which can be enjoyed by Islay malt lovers and their significant others who may be not so keen on a dram.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
A tour is such a great way to visit the distilleries - letting your knowledgeable guide do the driving, so you can (responsibly!) sample the whisky to your hearts content!
We're glad that you had such a great time, thank you!
All the best,
Aimee
Written January 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Eric S
2 contributions
May 2022
Rabbie's put together a great itinerary with this tour. It collected many great historical points along the way in addition to the stars of the tour, the distilleries. It was very refreshing for us to break away from the busy routine of visiting well known landmarks and just sit back and let Mr Burns do the driving and guiding. Islay was delightful, the distillery tours are fascinating, and the whiskey is delicious.
Mr Burns had a breadth of whiskey knowledge, and he did a great job of adapting our tour to post-covid obstacles as the island returns to normal. His knowledge of landmarks and history along the way was great and he made the trip very enjoyable.
We would fully recommend this tour and guide for both the whiskey lover and someone who wants to experience the island life.
Mr Burns had a breadth of whiskey knowledge, and he did a great job of adapting our tour to post-covid obstacles as the island returns to normal. His knowledge of landmarks and history along the way was great and he made the trip very enjoyable.
We would fully recommend this tour and guide for both the whiskey lover and someone who wants to experience the island life.
Written May 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jennie B
Durham, NC13 contributions
Aug 2022
Only words of warning: this tour is really for whisky lovers as you will be spending most of your time at distilleries learning and drinking whisky and most of your free time with other people who love whisky. Everything about this tour was fantastic from the comfortable accommodations, the pace, the fantastic private tours and tastings, and our knowledgeable guide (Adam)! The tour was mostly couples but I would say even if you are considering traveling by yourself, Rabbie's makes it easy and comfortable (just maybe don't bring the kids on this one since there wouldn't be much for them to do). If you love whisky and meeting others who share that love, it is a great tour and I highly recommend it.
Written August 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mary L
29 contributions
Sep 2022
Very relaxing to have someone else manage the driving and know when and where to stop. Our driver Andy was an excellent driver and while he kept a schedule, we were never rushed. He even worked in a special request stop for us. He chose well the distilleries we visited. I had the impression we'd be seeing more than 6 but three a day for days 2 and 3 is it. Days 1 and 4 the tour takes you to other sites. So the 6 we visited were different from each other in age, culture, production, tour experience and more. The pre-arranged tastings were awesome, probably not something one could get on their own. Luckily we only had 12, not 16, in our coach so that was a nice bonus.
Some people in the group were told a few days before the tour that their room had been cancelled and they needed to book their own. I opted from the start to book my own and that worked out great.
Some people in the group were told a few days before the tour that their room had been cancelled and they needed to book their own. I opted from the start to book my own and that worked out great.
Written September 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
lkrato
Ormond Beach, FL10 contributions
Whiskey Heaven
We traveled with Stewart for an exceptional Islay tour. He and Rabbies made it a relaxing experience full of memories and learning. Each distillery displayed its unique qualities. Stewart took care to make sure we had time to enjoy every stop. They were each as beautiful as their island.
We traveled with Stewart for an exceptional Islay tour. He and Rabbies made it a relaxing experience full of memories and learning. Each distillery displayed its unique qualities. Stewart took care to make sure we had time to enjoy every stop. They were each as beautiful as their island.
Written July 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Michelle Y
1 contribution
May 2022
What an incredible trip! Islay is beautiful and welcoming to guests.
The tour was so well organized - we didn't have to think about any details, and everything was taken care of for us. We just enjoyed the sights and tastes. Dom was an amazing guide and host. He was knowledgable about the places we visited and had great recommendations for any free time we had. We will be back for another Rabbie's tour and hope we are lucky enough to have Dom as our guide, driver, and party captain.
The tour was so well organized - we didn't have to think about any details, and everything was taken care of for us. We just enjoyed the sights and tastes. Dom was an amazing guide and host. He was knowledgable about the places we visited and had great recommendations for any free time we had. We will be back for another Rabbie's tour and hope we are lucky enough to have Dom as our guide, driver, and party captain.
Written July 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ju k
Washington14 contributions
how many people are on this tour at one time? Is it difficult for a single traveling on this tour?
AzbrDr
Tucson, AZ29 contributions
You will find answers to your questions here: go online to rabbies and look for Islay whiskey coast 4-day tour. Leaves from Edinburgh (I'm not allowed to post the link)
This is the tour my wife and I took. For overnight accommodations, we requested a B & B. The rest of the group were housed in a dormitory.
William F
Dubai, United Arab Emirates2 contributions
Good afternoon
There seems to be no available spots any time in the future which I assume is a software issue.
I would like to have a tour next Monday (June 3). Is there any availability?
Thank you
Bill Fordyce
