The Complete Loch Ness Experience Small-Group Day Tour from Inverness
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The Complete Loch Ness Experience Small-Group Day Tour from Inverness
By Rabbie's
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About
Discover Scotland’s most famous loch and its surrounding Highlands on this full-day tour to Loch Ness, finding your way easily with round-trip transfer from Inverness by luxury coach. Be immersed in Scottish nature on a relaxed hike from Invermoriston, soak up picture-perfect views of Loch Ness, or take an optional cruise for a closer glimpse of lakeside sights such as Urquhart Castle, benefiting from the personalized attention and insights of your small-group guide throughout.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 5-99, max of 16 per group
Duration: 7h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- See the famous Loch Ness and more Highland highlights on a full-day tour
- Round-trip transfer from Inverness ensures a hassle-free trip
- Be immersed in Scottish nature on a relaxed Highlands hike
- Benefit from personalized attention and insights from your small-group guide
- Jacobite Cruise on Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle included in the tour price
- Transport in a 16-seat Mercedes luxury mini-coach
- Small group (16 people max) for a more personal experience
- Professional and friendly driver guide
- Entry/Admission - Loch Ness
What's not included- Entrance fees unless specified
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Start:
- 1 Ardross St, Inverness IV3, UKPlease meet your Rabbie's guide at the bus stop next to Inverness Cathedral, Ardross Street, Inverness, IV3 5NS. Please arrive 15 minutes before the tour departs.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting 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: 2250P65- Most travelers can participate
- All Inverness tours will depart from the bus stop next to Inverness Cathedral, Ardross Street, IV3 5NS
- We apologise, but we cannot accommodate children under 5 years old on our tours. Please note that if this policy is not followed, we will have to refuse travel without issuing a refund. Thank you for understanding.
- Luggage Allowance: You're restricted to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person on our tours. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus a small bag for onboard personal items.
- Jacobite Cruise on Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle included in the tour price
- In order to retain the integrity of the tour and try to ensure that all our customers have the best possible experience, we do cap bookings from any one party to 8 passengers.
- *Please note that Urquhart Castle will be closing early on both 18th and 25th September 2024 and unforunately that means the tour will be unable to visit the castle grounds on these days. On these days, you will instead take a slightly different cruise and see the castle from the water. We apologise for the inconvenience.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- What is the departure point for the Complete Loch Ness Experience Small-Group Day Tour?
- The tour departs from the Bus stop near Inverness CathedralAnswered Apr 2023
- Is parking available near the departure point for the Complete Loch Ness Experience Small-Group Day Tour?
- Parking can be difficult to find in the center of town. It is highly recommended that you take advantage of the excellent public transportation that is available.Answered Jun 2021
- How early should I arrive for the Complete Loch Ness Experience Small-Group Day Tour?
- Check-in closes 15 minutes before your departure time. The tour departs on time, so please do not arrive late.Answered Jun 2021
- Can I bring luggage with me on the Complete Loch Ness Experience Small-Group Day Tour?
- You may bring up to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) and a small bag for onboard personal items.Answered Jun 2021
The tour operator has provided the following answers to customers’ questions.- 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: 2250P65
From
$118.54
per adult
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Itinerary
- 1 Ardross St, Inverness IV3, UKPlease meet your Rabbie's guide at the bus stop next to Inverness Cathedral, Ardross Street, Inverness, IV3 5NS. Please arrive 15 minutes before the tour departs.
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Mike G0 contributionsBest day tour offered and great tour guidesWhat an awesome tour and tour guide. Clare had great and fantastic stories and experiences. She showed us things most tour guides would ignore. It was a long day but well worth the tour. Thank you ClareWritten October 6, 2024
- Mike G0 contributionsBest choices and great driversRyan and Rabbi’s tour choices were the best we found. We only had a few days in Inverness and this tour had great choices. The caverns were great, battlefield we very solemn and the best was the beautiful Glen affrick (sp) . Thank you Ryan for the stories and explanations.Written October 6, 2024
- katycP8419UT0 contributionsAwesome every time!I did the Culloden, Clava Cairns, & Glen Affric tour with Helen as my guide and it was a fantastic experience. In fact, I ended up changing my itinerary around and was able to book two more Rabbie’s tours! I did the Dunrobin Castle & Easter Ross tour and the Torridon, Applecross, & Eilean Donan tour. On each tour, the guide told lots of stories, made plenty of stops, and gave just the right amount of time at each stop location. The long days don’t feel so long, and I didn’t get bored at all! Perfect for solo travellers too, as everyone tends to be quite friendly. The lunch stops were well-picked and the guides give great recommendations for where to go, so definitely listen to them! I think my favourite tour was still the first one I did but that is probably because I love Jacobite history and short hikes and that tour had both! My only gripe is that most of the buses don’t have a lot of leg room - I’m quite tall with very long legs and my knees were squished into the seat in front of me on two of the three tours where I was on a slightly older bus.Written October 5, 2024
- T2871IKhollyb0 contributionsdont miss out get out there and gowe spent 4 days for us i wish it was longer, so much to see and do, dpends on your interests, we are both photoghters, as normla take more then enough photos, get a guide book to find all these missing places, we went in a car we can get where larger other motors cantWritten October 4, 2024
- lili3fb0 contributionsTrip of a lifetimeClare was an exceptional driver/guide on this beautiful journey. Stops for photographs, bathroom breaks and leisure were abundant. This a tour that was worth every pound! We highly recommend it to all.Written October 2, 2024
- Cari C0 contributionsAmazing excursion!This was a really great all day trip and Our guide James was brilliant! The trip was 12 hours long, but included many beautiful stops for pictures, sightseeing, walking, shopping, eating and toilets! Would highly recommend if you are planning a trip to the areaWritten September 28, 2024
- Michigan_Gail_130 contributionsAwestruckWhat an amazing day! James was a great guide who took good care of us all, taught us stuff and made sure we saw lots of rainbows. Definitely a must do!Written September 27, 2024
- spencermG9411OL0 contributionsNick from Orkney, best guide ever!We thoroughly enjoyed our day trip to Skye, which got us away from Inverness (not our favourite place on our trip). The Quairang and Kilt Rock were especially exceptional - Old Man of Storr we didn't get a great view of but you need to afford a lot of extra time to drive up there. Mostly we loved our tour guide Nick, a young guide from Orkney originally, who was a supreme driver and very informed about Scotland and the area. A total natural in his position, lots of pleasant jokes and intriguing tidbits while we were on the ride. He was even nice enough to drop us off at the end of the tour close to our restaurant which we had reservations at (thanks again Nick)! Wish him all the best in his endeavours - and hope that you get Nick should you book this trip. Definitely recommend!Written September 26, 2024
- WhereToNext50500 contributionsSky is stunning landscapeI utilized Rabbies several times for my Scotland trip. The Mercedes vans are clean and comfortable. However, the rear bench seat over the wheels is significantly different than the other seats - very uncomfortable with lots of jostling and road noise. The speaker system is good (although not the case if you are in one of the very back seats). My only challenge in hearing the considerable commentary was the accent - especially Glaswegian! There was enough time to buy a ticket and tour Eilean Donna castle. The setting is beautiful. Isle of Skye begs for more time than a one day tour allows. A good day, all in all.Written September 25, 2024
- T3942MDscotth0 contributionsOutstanding 1-day tour.I just came back from the 1-day tour from Inverness to the Isle of Skye, and it was a great experience and good value. Liam our guide was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and patient over a long day of driving. The scenery was spectacular and there were plenty of chances for breaks and photo stops. Highly recommended, best way to see the Western Highlands and Skye for the first time.Written September 25, 2024
- Quest635308649250 contributionsA real experience!Though it was a long cold rainy day Graham made the trip enjoyable and appreciative of what the Scots life truly is. You can not expect blue skies and warm weather anytime. Embrace what you have and celebrate the opportunity to experience it. Great vistas, and kind people.Written September 25, 2024
- Stay238592829670 contributionsLOVE ME SOME DAVE!Our driver, Dave, was the absolute best! Super nice and knowledgeable guy - we had a fantastic trip & great weather! Isle of Skye is a “must visit”!Written September 22, 2024
- 10219May0 contributionsEXCELLENT 3 day ORKNEY TOUR.Our driver was Colin and he stepped in for a sick coworker. As a first time tour guide for Orkney, Colin was informative, funny, courteous, personable and open to suggestions for new or alternate sites. He was a very cautious drive and concerned for our safety. We enjoyed our 3 day Orkney trip with Colin very muchWritten September 15, 2024
- AllysonSQ0 contributionsIs there a better way to spend 3 days? I don't think so.I'm so glad I went on this tour! Lewis and Harris is an amazing, beautiful, wild place to see and being in a small group was for me the best way to do it. Helen took great care of all of us and was incredibly knowledgeable about the island and Scotland. She was entertaining and a very careful driver - the best possible combination. I appreciated being in one place for two nights (Stornoway) and the B&B that Rabbies booked for me was affordable, welcoming, comfortable, and well-located. I highly recommend!Written September 14, 2024
- tiagoj8130 contributionsVery Almost a 5*. Duncan Was Great!Amazing. Duncan, our tour guide, was highly knowledgeable and demonstrated a clear love of Scotland. He shared his culture and history with all of us, treating us to what felt like an intimate discovery of the Cairns, Culloden, and, of course, the spectacular Glen Affric. The latter was, by far, the highlight of our stay (drawing only with the boat trip across the beautiful Loch Ness itself). The day starts off at a slower, comfortable pace. You get to experience the Cairns before moving on to the historic epicentre, Culloden Battlefield. The history on display here is very interesting and formative. However, the information centre itself was a bit confusing, and the service was slow (20 minutes for a coffee really bites into your leisure/discovery time). We then stop for lunch at the quaint Beauly before heading into the nature-led leg of the tour. Once that starts, it's genuinely heavenly. I've been fortunate to travel quite a bit, especially in the UK, and Glen Affric is easily one of the most beautiful vistas in the country (alongside the likes of Padstow, Fowey via Megavissey, Loch Ness and, I suspect, Glen Coe) This is one of those tours that makes you feel like you understand more of the area you've visited and leaves you nostalgic as soon as it ends.Written September 8, 2024
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.
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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
148 reviews
Excellent
135
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7
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3
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1
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2
Herts
Royston, UK35 contributions
Liam is an experienced driver with excellent knowledge and a pleading manner. Tour lasted for 7 hours with plenty of short or longer breaks to take in scenery or to eat/drink. You do travel the whole 50 miles circumference of the lake and the optional but chargeable extra of a 70 minute cruise on the lake is well worth it if the weather conditions are good.
Written September 20, 2021
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.
Beatriz F
London, UK37 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
We loved our day out. We had Helen as a guide and she was amazing, on this tour you see a lot more of the loch Ness and the surrounding area. We learned a lot with Helen about the place and nessie's story. If you are coming to Inverness do book this tour, you won't regret it.
Written March 5, 2020
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.
Beth E
15 contributions
Dec 2021 • Friends
What a fantastic day out. Our guide Helen was an absolute joy, very educational and passionate about what she does. We felt that we were in very safe hands desbite the icey roads. You see much more than one would expect of these tours taking a tour around the whole of the outside of Loch ness, seeing many different sites along the way. The optional boat tour isnt a necessity but worth doing I'd you fancy it just to say you've been on Loch ness.
You won't find yourself travelling for any more than 25 minutes at a time so it's not too bad for any one with travel sickness and you get plenty of fresh air. If your going in winter be sure to wrap up warm because you will spend alot of time outside.
A lunch time slot is given in a small village with shows and a range of different restaurants where you can go off on your own.
You won't find yourself travelling for any more than 25 minutes at a time so it's not too bad for any one with travel sickness and you get plenty of fresh air. If your going in winter be sure to wrap up warm because you will spend alot of time outside.
A lunch time slot is given in a small village with shows and a range of different restaurants where you can go off on your own.
Written December 3, 2021
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.
Keith B
Kent, UK35 contributions
We booked this tour so we could get a flavour of the Highlands. Our driver Amy T was entertaining and fun to talk to. Her knowledge and experience of the area made the trip worth every penny. In addition to the commentary about the area Amy gave out hints and tips to get the best out of each and every stop. One thing we would recommend is taking a picnic instead of trying to eat at a local establishment due to the queue times to get served. That way you can maximize your enjoyment of the area. Overall this was the best tour for us. We would take another tour like this the next time we visit.
Written August 11, 2023
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.
Elina Michaelidou
London, UK705 contributions
Jun 2019
We went on the Complete Loch Ness tour and although the places we visited were amazing I was disappointed by the short amount of time that we had at each place. I could easily spend double the time we did at Urquhart Castle and I would have liked more time to grasp the beautiful sceneries we were shown (for this reason we only had a quick snack for lunch). The same was true for all stops. We even skipped one stop due to bad weather (no visibility). I would definitely recommend increasing the total time of the tour and increasing the time at each stop, as the tour covers many interesting places (not easily reached with public transport) and it’s a good alternative to those who don't have a car.
Written April 2, 2020
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.
Thank you for your feedback, I am glad that you thought the places that you visited were amazing. We are sorry that you were disappointed by the short amount of time that we had at each stop.
Our Loch Ness tour covers a lot of miles in a day and the majority of the roads it covers are not motorways, it is a longer day and to see the whole route we have lots of shorter stops such as at Urquhart Castle, if you have longer, we also have longer tours such as our 2 day tours and longer tours which are able to travel at a more leisurely pace with longer stops.
We believe small groups tours make all the difference and yes public transport will take you to Urquhart Castle, however if you would like a friendly and knowledgeable guide to bring it all to life, we believe our tours are the best choice. Thank you for taking the time to send on your feedback it helps us to keep getting better.
Written April 10, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
carolime
London, UK34 contributions
We had a lovely day visiting Loch Ness and environs with Kev. His love for his culture really shown through as he delivered anecdotes and groan-worthy jokes (which we all secretly loved!). This tour is an excellent way to get up close and personal with one of the most famous bodies of water in the world - even though Nessie eluded us this time. Cheers for a great tour, Kev!
Written October 13, 2021
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.
Sydly
Southampton, UK50 contributions
We found the tour very interesting & a good mix of visiting villages & exploring the Loch Ness area. The tour takes you around the whole Loch with a few stops along the way with ample time to take pictures as well as a stop for lunch. There's an add-on option for a cruise on Loch Ness which is well worth it especially on a nice day.
Seana was out guide for the day, very engaging & lots of interesting facts & tales of the Loch.
Highly recommended.
Seana was out guide for the day, very engaging & lots of interesting facts & tales of the Loch.
Highly recommended.
Written October 23, 2020
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.
clare58
Ossett, UK15 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Where to start! I had read reviews and wasn’t too bothered about the ‘whinge bag’ ones so as most of them were great we decided to book as we were visiting Scotland for my birthday. So glad we did as it was fantastic! We were blessed with Helen as our guide, she was a total joy. She engaged the whole group and kept us entertained the full day. Her knowledge was so captivating and she was always happy to answer questions and even played us some perfect songs along our journey. Colin had joined us as a transfer to Rabbies and their banter was rather funny 🤣 He was absolutely great too and I think secretly enjoyed the ‘training tour’ as much as we did. Helen gave us tips on where to eat, what NOT to buy and the best places to go when we stopped at our destinations. We would 100% book another tour (even the same one tbh) as it was worth every penny! We were with a real great group of people from all over the world, 2 who got to see the snow for the first time and build a snowman ⛄️ fantastic memories made 😊
Written March 3, 2024
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.
Terry T
Salisbury, UK50 contributions
Sep 2020
Had a fantastic day driving around and stopping off at various great viewpoints in and around Loch Ness on Tuesday Sept 8th. Our driver Jim was excellent, very informative, amusing, good company and accommodating for the 8 of us on the trip. The seven hours flew past and all in all a perfect way to view Loch Ness if you don’t have your own transport.
Written September 11, 2020
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.
Raquel_144
London, UK253 contributions
We did this tour with Rabbie's on 3/12/21 after another company cancelled the original tour.
Our tour guide was fantastic, funny, very lay back and relax. Although we did not see Nessy, we had a fantastic time.
Great day trips with a company that thinks about their customers first. 5 star
Our tour guide was fantastic, funny, very lay back and relax. Although we did not see Nessy, we had a fantastic time.
Great day trips with a company that thinks about their customers first. 5 star
Written December 4, 2021
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.
How much time is spent travelling in the bus?
Written July 26, 2021
About 3 or 4 hours actual travelling time. But there are plenty of stops and breaks for coffee and lunch etc
Written July 29, 2021
We are 9 passengers...can we hire small bus to loch ness for us only?many thanks
Written July 18, 2021
I think you just check or call the tour company directly.
Written July 19, 2021
What does one do if some do not take the optional tour of the castle? What is the cost of this optional tour of the castle?
Written April 18, 2019
Those who choose the castle and cruise will get a partial cruise and are dropped off at the castle . Those who don’t want to see the castle get the complete cruise around Loch Ness. The bus picks those doing just the cruise up at the starting point then drives to the castle for the rest of the guests . I would reccommend doing both, as the partial cruise is enough time on the Loch , and the castle is worth seeing . You should be aware that the castle is actually ruins , not a complete castle. It would not be suitable for those with mobility problems due to a lot of walking up hills . The history of it is very interesting.
Written August 20, 2019
TracyrntlcTraveler
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Hi, how far is Inverness Bus Station (Stance 7) from the cruise port?
Written March 30, 2019
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