Day tour to Isle of Skye and Fairy Pools from Inverness
4
Day tour to Isle of Skye and Fairy Pools from Inverness
By Highland Experience Inverness - Day Tours
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 3-99, max of 35 per group
Duration: 12h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
- Driver/guide
What's not included- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
- Children under 3 year not accepted
- Entry/Admission - Eilean Donan Castle
- Start:
- Waverley Centre, 25 Union St, Inverness IV1 1QA, UK
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - 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: 5256P62- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Please note that children aged under 3 years old cannot travel on this tour
- Most travelers can participate
- 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 35 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- 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: 5256P62
From
$125.38
per adult
Select date and travelers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- Waverley Centre, 25 Union St, Inverness IV1 1QA, UK
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- SandS_100 contributionsBeware of Travel Disruptions Impacting PlansUnfortunately we were not able to take the tour, our flight to Inverness the day prior was cancelled due to Storm Ashley. Highly recommend ensuring you have arrived in Inverness earlier than the day before this tour - we were declined our request to get a refund, as our travel issues did not fall within the 24 hour window. We did ask for an exception to this rule, given the circumstances, and were not provided any other option than re-booking for the next day - this did not work with our travel schedule. The worst part of this is, we were asked to change from the initial tour we booked to this tour - we assume this is because there were not enough people signed up for the tour we had booked. We were very accommodating regarding their request to change our plans. If we had been offered even a partial refund that would have helped us feel better about this experience.Written October 28, 2024
- 20whyn0 contributionsInventive Guide Writes Her Own HistoryAbsolutely appalling. I do not know what happened to this company. I have been booking with them for fifteen years at this point, and always had a satisfactory to excellent experience with friendly, knowledgeable guides. Not so this time. The guide, Peach, decided to make the tour her own x-rated version, regaling us with stories about how the Old Man of Storr is really a giant's penis, and the legend of Saucy Mary where she flashes her breasts at the men in the harbour out of boredom. Created some cannibalistic Ferox trout for good measure, and stopped twice for alcohol even though this was NOT a whisky tour and I had my two young children with me. So we were left to wander outside in the wind with nothing to do for two stops. The stop at Portree for lunch was so short, there was barely time to eat, let alone see anything AND we had been told there would be no stop for supper, so find snacks now. There was no mention at all of the Viking history of the area, Gaelic heritage, or the Lordship of the Isles, but plenty of detail on cash economy and how to hide earnings from the taxman. She summed up the Highland Clearances as "they left", made up folklore about witches out of whole cloth rather than tap into the actual, rich folklore of the region, invented giants, relocated the Red Hand of Ulster to Skye, and at one point stated that the Jacobites did not want the return of a Catholic King after John Balliol, fighting the last battle in 1946! As a Scottish historian and folklorist, I can say barely a word out of her mouth was true all day, and the rest of the group lapped it up. I am horrified at what they now think of is true of this amazing country and region. Suffice it to say, I will not be booking this company again and feel my children and I were robbed of any real experience of Skye.Written October 5, 2024
- SandraC5280 contributionsExcellent Loch Ness Tour and moreMy partner and I thoroughly enjoyed our day tour yesterday June 28 2024 from Inverness of Loch Ness, Beauly, and Urquhart Castle and Singleton whiskey tasting, and the Cairns along with a few surprise tour views and highlights along the way. Harrison was an excellent tour guide. He was vey engaging, welcoming and extremely knowledgeable. Highly recommend.Written June 29, 2024
- ronnajohnston0 contributionsThe Isle of Skye is worth the trip.October turned out to be a beautiful time to take a bus tour from Inverness to the Isle of skye. The leaves were turning gold and partially still in the trees. It was a 12-hour trip. The bus was not the most comfortable but it was okay. The driver was very knowledgeable and helpful about anything we needed, including a charger for my phone. We stopped at the usual tourist places and they were actually some very beautiful gifts. The Isle of Skye itself is just what I had heard, beautiful, wild and windy. Lots of folklore, such as the stream that will make you younger if you wash your face in it. We stopped there but it was too cold to walk down to the little stream so we skipped that part. We went by the requisite Loch Ness and learned some interesting facts about just how huge that loch is. The most photogenic part of the trip was the Eileen Donan castle. We did not buy a ticket to go in but partially it was because it was so windy, we didn't want to walk all the way up the little Hill into the castle. It was also kind of cold. When we got to the north sea, it was very windy. I was taking a picture of my friend on a small, narrow Knoll and it almost blew me off of the top. 12 hours felt a little long but the vistas and the history made the entire trip worth it.Written November 12, 2023
- Bazza L0 contributionsAwesome trip with an awesome guideA tour like this needs a guide like Maj. he’s knowledgeable and friendly and knows all the good spots the views and the scenery are breathtaking and Maj knows exactly where to go. Especially the little off tourist points to get better shots. And the timing of his stories perfectly coincide with getting to the relevant locations. Tod be a fool to miss this.Written February 15, 2023
- 144isabelq0 contributionsBeautiful experienceI had a wonderful experience going to Skye. My driver and guide, Chris, was great! The best thing about the trip was the journey there, seeing all the beautiful scenery and castles along the way and listening to Chris tell the history of them.Written September 21, 2022
- Dan L0 contributionsAdequate but not great value.I can only describe this tour as "adequate". The bus was old and the driver's autio didn't work properly, so he gave up on giving a talk during the trip. The substitute music was LOUD and the driver wasn't able to adjust it further. Because it was a large bus, the driver was unable to complete all stops, because he couldn't get the bus safely in and out of car parks. We saw a relatively small part of the usland from the bus. I would not recommend this company for future trips. This tour was actually a three day trip from Edinburgh, and apparently they sold this as an Isle of Skye day trip to fill the few remain seats on the bus for that day. Local companies like Rabbie's are a better option.Written August 29, 2022
- Connector4420500 contributionsThe Skye's The LimitThe breath-taking countryside speaks for itself while our tour guide Stewart's stories and local music (we still listen to the playlist he made) enhanced the local flavor and made the day-long trip fly by.Written August 7, 2022
- AnneloesVR0 contributionsMemorable private tour to the Isle of SkyeMy family and I had a wonderful 5 day private tour to the Isle of Skye with Moray, who was entertaining, knowledgeable and accommodating. We stopped at the most beautiful places and had ample time off the bus to explore. Thanks also go to Catherine, who coordinated our booking and suggested a great itinerary. Truly a memorable experience!Written July 19, 2022
- Barry W0 contributionsFamily TripThis was the best tour guide I have ever had. Was a long day and he kept it interesting. Even had carrots to feed to the Highland cows we spotted on the side of the road. Wonderful trip. Highly recommendWritten July 12, 2022
- Paul T0 contributionsIncredible ExperienceWe recently went on this trip, with all the other passengers being America, and whilst the driver / guide Gregor was very good he played up to the Americans all the trip, and was very indifferent to the English during his commentaries in other words he was anti English. However, the whole trip was amazing but be prepared for a very long day. The driver also made a number of unscheduled stops that was appreciated by all.Written July 11, 2022
- KarenBonavita0 contributionsGreat day on this trip!What a great day on this 12-hour trip. The scenery from Inverness to Isle of Skye, beautiful. And our time on Skye - extraordinary. We also visited other small villages including Loch Carron area which was gorgeous, viewed Eilean Donan Castle. We had a lot of time to walk around, several stops, lunch. Andy was our driver/guide and he was excellent - driving, sharing historical information, stories of life in Scotland. Andy modified the trip according to the weather and was spot on. He varied speaking, pointing out areas of interest including coos & deer, etc. and playing Scottish & varied music on the return trip. The music was enjoyable. Andy is a natural at this and we’re glad he was our guide on this trip. We’re amazed at the talent of the Scotland driver/guides. You certainly get value for the price of these trips. Recommend!Written June 15, 2022
- Karo_Berlin-10 contributionsPerfect 1-day trip which covered a lot of placesTrip was amazing. We covered a lot of places in a really short time. Perfect type of sightseeing when u have less time and without own carWritten June 9, 2022
- wholesomecupsoftea0 contributionsPHOTO DAY TOUR TO SKYEAn extremely photogenic tour to Isle of Skye. Every single photo stop on the route - you get it!! I can’t believe I’ve done these spots in a day LOL. Sitting back & relaxing with Scottish storytelling then hop on-off to take photos. Stops: - Urquhart Castle & Loch Ness - Loch Cluanie Dam - Eas a ‘Bhradain Waterfall - Portree (1.5hrs lunch) - Old Man of Storr - Lealt Fall (30m hike) - Kilt Rock View point - Uig - Sligachan Old Bridge - Kyleakin & Skye Bridge - Eilean Donan Castle - 2-3 EXTRA toilet & snack Gotta say the 1.5hrs stop at Portree is my favorite. Although it’s a very small capital city, having a proper lunch break and exploring the hidden trail to an abandoned tower is totally worth it. SHOUT OUT TO OUR DRIVER JAMIE!! He provides such a chill & friendly vibe tour. The places are far apart as we really have driven around the island. But each stop has enough time to take photos and chilling outside the bus. Jamie is very caring that you’ll get to see all the lovely spots on Skye. I love that he will stop even for 5-10m just because it’s worth a shutter. I LOVE PACE OF THIS TOUR SO MUCH!! TOTALLY RECOMMEND FOR INSTAGRAMMER!!Written May 16, 2022
- noellee20220 contributionsFantastic first trip to the Highlands with familyMy family and I had a fabulous time on this tour, I only wish we could do it again! Our guide was fantastic, super friendly, incorporated lots of great Scottish songs/stories/jokes throughout, and the views at every stop were incredible. Would highly recommend, my only tip would be to chug some coffee before the tour because it is an early morning but you won't want to miss any of the scenery!Written January 2, 2022
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.
Contribute
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
4.0
50 reviews
Excellent
29
Very good
9
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
10
Angela R
5 contributions
What a fabulous tour and what a fabulous tour guide. Amanda took us out to The Isle of Skye and The Fairy Pools from Inverness on a beautiful sunny day and what fun we had. With plenty of photo opportunities and the most amazing scenery we just had the most fantastic day. With a whiskey tasting and a couple of hairy coo close ups to top off the day we would highly recommend this tour and definitely ask for Amanda’s bus, she was just brilliant.
Written August 9, 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.
rca19
Bel Air, MD300 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
Very good tour well organized. Driver/guide Mark was very engaging, fun and provided a great narration along the tour. The nature of the tour had a lot of downtime riding the bus looking at amazing scenery and not a lot of time spent at the various drop off points. The fairy pools were amazing and would have like to spend more time there as the walk to get to the tip of the pools is about 1 mile over steep terrain. A slower pace would have helped a lot. Otherwise just a great experience.
Written June 25, 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.
Debbie
Montreal, Canada8 contributions
Jul 2024 • Friends
We were fortunate to have a day that turned out warm and sunny. The first stop, at the side of the road overlooking Loch Ness, was disappointing. We saw a small section of the Loch and nothing of Urquhart Castle. It was definitely not a great start to the tour.
We did not stop at the Eilean Donan Castle but rather at a distance away due to management issues between the tour company and the Castle concerning parking fees we were told.
I really enjoyed the visit to the Fairy Pools; it was a perfect day for it and the place is magical. As for the side stops to a restaurant for coffee, and a bar for a drink, I would have preferred to stop at a farm with the Hairy Coos in a nearby pasture! Our driver was informative if a little rough around the edges.
We did not stop at the Eilean Donan Castle but rather at a distance away due to management issues between the tour company and the Castle concerning parking fees we were told.
I really enjoyed the visit to the Fairy Pools; it was a perfect day for it and the place is magical. As for the side stops to a restaurant for coffee, and a bar for a drink, I would have preferred to stop at a farm with the Hairy Coos in a nearby pasture! Our driver was informative if a little rough around the edges.
Written July 17, 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.
Hi there,
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback for our Isle of Skye and Fairy Pools Day Tour- we appreciate your constructive comments to help us improve!
Unfortunately, this tour does not include a stop at Urquhart Castle but we appreciate your suggestion. On this tour, we do not stop to enter Eilean Donan castle but instead stop nearby for excellent photo opportunities.
We are so glad you had a warm and sunny day on Skye and that you enjoyed your visit to the stunning Fairy Pools.
We are grateful for your feedback and thank you again for leaving us a review!
Kind regards,
Sofia
Highland Experience
Written August 29, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
C perry
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Friends
I had a terrible experience with Highlands Experience. We were told the tour would depart at 8:00, and we made sure to be there on time, arriving at 7:59. Shockingly, the bus drove right past us and left without any explanation or consideration. The lack of responsiveness and failure to provide the itinerary left us feeling lost and frustrated. In addition, the sales agent we dealt with was incredibly rude and unprofessional. When we asked them for the next stop of the bus to catch up with a taxi, they dismissively told us, 'Sorry, there's nothing we can do.' This kind of customer service is unacceptable.
As if that wasn't enough, the bus driver, Amanda, was equally rude and unprofessional. She insulted us when we asked simple questions like what time we would arrive at certain locations. Her behavior was disrespectful and completely uncalled for. It's evident that the company lacks proper training and fails to prioritize customer satisfaction. I strongly advise against booking with them if you want a hassle-free and respectful experience.
As if that wasn't enough, the bus driver, Amanda, was equally rude and unprofessional. She insulted us when we asked simple questions like what time we would arrive at certain locations. Her behavior was disrespectful and completely uncalled for. It's evident that the company lacks proper training and fails to prioritize customer satisfaction. I strongly advise against booking with them if you want a hassle-free and respectful experience.
Written August 6, 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.
Dear Nicolas,
Our check-in time is 7:45am for the tour, and the bus leaves at 8:00am. You arrived late, and since our driver-guide could not hold up the tour for the rest of the passengers to wait for latecomers, you missed the tour.
When you first called us, you yelled at our sales agent to demand for the address of the first stop so you could get there by taxi, our sales agent politely told you that she could not give an exact address and time without confirming with our driver-guide. The sales agent tried to call the driver-guide for you, but she could not pick up the phone, as she was driving and it would be illegal. The sales agent explained this to you and that she would get back to you as soon as she had heard from the driver-guide, and you replied by verbally harassing the sales agent even though she was trying to help you. After the driver-guide got back to us what time and where you could meet the tour, we immediately informed you. You replied with some more verbal abuse and eventually agreed to meet the tour there.
After you met the driver-guide on tour, you continuously yelled at her on the bus throughout the day. We were also notified that you were very disinterested in Skye itself and refused to leave the bus to see the Fairy Pools, one of the main attractions of the tour.
You then informed the driver-guide that you had a train ticket that evening and demanded the tour be cut short for everyone so you could make your train. We do not advise for anyone to travel on the same day of the tour as we cannot guarantee the exact return time due to traffic and unforeseen circumstances. This is stated on our website and on third-party booking sites. After our driver-guide explained this to you, you decided, once more to verbally abuse her and demanded to be driven back to Inverness. She kindly explained that she could not change the tour for all the passengers because you had a train to catch, but she would try her best to make it on time to Inverness. You were dissatisfied with this and left the tour early, at which point we could no longer help you.
You then decided to spam our social media sites with profanities, posting over 50 comments and 10+ reviews which we have now reported as harassment. We have received no other complaints or negative feedback about this tour.
Regards,
Sarah
Written August 7, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Navigator10180325921
1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Family
I was waiting for the tour bus at the pickup point and it did not arrive. When I called them, they said the trip has been canceled. They gave very unprofessional reason for the cancellation and said we have sent email yesterday. Imagine you are waiting for dream vacation and the tour operator does not care to call you and inform that trip has been cancelled, you are stranded alone in an unknown city, miles away from home and wasting your day.
Please save your day and your vacation and don't book from this operator.
Please save your day and your vacation and don't book from this operator.
Written October 6, 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.
Bek
Tustin, CA2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Unfortunately Tour was cancelled at time of checkin. Got a call that our tour was cancelled at the time of checkin. Such a disappointment as it was our only day to go to Isle of Skye. Read negative reviews and ignored because it seemed to be an isolated group that showed up late for their tour. So sad that your company did not communicate that tour might be cancelled if not enough people booked.(I’m assuming that’s what happened because there were still listings by same tour company to do a private tour but at a greater price). It left us without a tour and no way to rebook with another tour company as we were notified at 7:45. Just a suggestion for the future. People will understand and be less upset if you notify them earlier that there weren’t enough bookings and that your will be cancelled but when you do it last minute it is very upsetting.
Written August 12, 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.
Megan D
26 contributions
A wonderful tour! Our guide, Peach, was funny and taught us all kinds of cool folklore and facts. The driver was skilled on the tough roads and overall, the tour was amazing. A note -- make sure you're fully prepared for a hike when you reach the Fairy Pools. Wear the proper shoes and clothing if you want to reach the top 😁 I highly recommend this tour!
Written July 24, 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.
Hi there,
Thanks for the review! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour with Peach and Donnie.
Kind regards,
Sarah
Written July 25, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PRADEEP T
New Delhi, India15 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
The tour operator ( Highland experience tours) canceled the trip and no curtesy was shown to bare minimum inform until 8.09 am through email. The starting time was 8.00 am. We reached the pickup / tour commerce point ( Waverley . Inverness old town ) around 7.45 am on 28th Oct. Had to call them and ask as no bus/mini bus showed up. All other operators were ON with same highland tours . Thankfully, WOW tours which is another operator accepted us and our day and disappointment was saved. We would never be again booking again with Highland Experience Tours . It’s also disappointing the Trip Advisor promotes such operators who lack basic hygiene. All it takes is to inform few hours in advance. Saves so much of trouble for travellers.
Written November 4, 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.
Aparajita Roy
United Kingdom455 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
I took the tour on 28/8/23. Every thing was going well until Isle of Skye. Our guide mentioned where we can get good food and take perfect photos. Isle of Skye/Portree is beautiful and we had enough time to explore and shop. But when we were on our way to the fairy pools, there was a camper van which broke down in the road and we had to walk to the fairy pools. A long walk ! Our driver/tour guide was very good and tried his best that we can reach the fairy pools. He took all efforts to bring us back to Inverness safely as there were road closures on our way back as well. But I must say I enjoyed the tour. You don’t always get the opportunity to walk in the sloping roads of the highlands. The fairy pools were absolutely beautiful.. worth the walk.
Written August 29, 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.
Hello there, thanks for your review! We are glad that you enjoyed your tour with us!
Kind regards,
Chloë
Written December 29, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Brenna N
Seattle, WA35 contributions
Aug 2024 • Solo
Beautiful nature, castle history, small town charm and more. Loved almost every stop we made. The fairy pools especially were beautiful and very worth the hike to get to them. Our guide Donny was a fountain of information and very funny. He had many stories to share and especially enjoyed learned more about Scottish fairy tales.
Written September 1, 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.
Hello,
We really appreciate you taking the time to leave us this excellent review!
We are so pleased that you had such a brilliant day on tour with us. Donnie will be so pleased to hear your praise.
Kind regards,
Georgina
Highland Experience Tours
Written September 16, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I took a similar day trip in 2015. On that tour, we stopped on the side of the road above Loch Ness. We were able to take stairs down to the shore of the Loch, and spend a few minutes taking pics, etc. On the same tour, we stopped at a rest stop that was next to a field of Highland Cows. We were given something to feed the cows, and I really enjoyed seeing these magnificent animals up close. I'm wondering if this particular tour offers those stops along with the rest of the itinerary. I will be visiting Inverness (with my family) in late June, 2019. Thanks in advance, for your reply
Written December 31, 2018
Showing results 1-2 of 2
Buy it with
Top rated
*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.