Maxi Day Tour of Orkney
Maxi Day Tour of Orkney
5
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Full view
About
John O'Groats, Caithness and Sutherland, Scotland
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Maxi Day Tour of Orkney
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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
394 reviews
Excellent
329
Very good
51
Average
11
Poor
2
Terrible
1
SanH1
United Kingdom274 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
We really enjoyed the day out to Orkney this made much more enjoyable by Stewart, our driver and guide. His witty and humorous anecdotes made us laugh however there was also a serious side when he was imparting his extensive historical knowledge of the Islands. A good egg!
Personally we thought Skara Brae was a disappointment, having paid £9 each for what amounted to a 10 minute walk around (we could have walked around as much as we wanted - all in the same direction because of Covid, which is fine, however we couldn’t sum up the enthusiasm as once seen that’s it really). The entrance fee may have been more worthwhile had the video presentation tour and the mock houses were open, however that pesky virus meant this was closed to the public. The entrance fee unfortunately did not reflect this. We were informed there were possibly hundreds of these encampments across the Islands however this is the only one that has been commercialised.
We could have visited Skaill House, a little walk further up, a historic Manor House, but chose not to see the pink bathroom, or Captain Cook’s spittoon! (Perhaps on reflection this may have been of more interest than Skara Brae). Instead we went to the beach which was lovely.
The Ring of Brodgar was interesting (if you take time to read the information boards) as were the Standing Stones.
We visited Stromness, which was worth walking round if only to see the Kybher Pass. We went for lunch at Julia’s Cafe, the food was nice however the service (as pre warned), was exceedingly slow. If you are at the back of the queue be prepared this may become your evening meal rather than lunch!
We found the history around the Churchill Barriers very interesting and whilst we knew about these, we leant so much more due to Stewart’s knowledge.
Personally I am not religious however visiting the Italian Church and learning how they were built was both inspiring and fascinating. I cannot imagine what those poor prisoners of war had to endure but they made the best out of a crap situation. The paintings done by the prisoners of war in the church are stunning and was well worth seeing.
Due to the tidal activity and wind on the way back, we had an added bonus roller coaster ride on the return ferry to John O’Groats, which was great fun. One poor passenger however didn’t feel the same and was throwing up her lunch in the waste bin! There were a few green faces.
All in all some wonderful scenery, lovely people and a great day out.
Our only disappointment was having to return to our hotel on John O’Groats, see previous post on the Seaview Hotel.
Personally we thought Skara Brae was a disappointment, having paid £9 each for what amounted to a 10 minute walk around (we could have walked around as much as we wanted - all in the same direction because of Covid, which is fine, however we couldn’t sum up the enthusiasm as once seen that’s it really). The entrance fee may have been more worthwhile had the video presentation tour and the mock houses were open, however that pesky virus meant this was closed to the public. The entrance fee unfortunately did not reflect this. We were informed there were possibly hundreds of these encampments across the Islands however this is the only one that has been commercialised.
We could have visited Skaill House, a little walk further up, a historic Manor House, but chose not to see the pink bathroom, or Captain Cook’s spittoon! (Perhaps on reflection this may have been of more interest than Skara Brae). Instead we went to the beach which was lovely.
The Ring of Brodgar was interesting (if you take time to read the information boards) as were the Standing Stones.
We visited Stromness, which was worth walking round if only to see the Kybher Pass. We went for lunch at Julia’s Cafe, the food was nice however the service (as pre warned), was exceedingly slow. If you are at the back of the queue be prepared this may become your evening meal rather than lunch!
We found the history around the Churchill Barriers very interesting and whilst we knew about these, we leant so much more due to Stewart’s knowledge.
Personally I am not religious however visiting the Italian Church and learning how they were built was both inspiring and fascinating. I cannot imagine what those poor prisoners of war had to endure but they made the best out of a crap situation. The paintings done by the prisoners of war in the church are stunning and was well worth seeing.
Due to the tidal activity and wind on the way back, we had an added bonus roller coaster ride on the return ferry to John O’Groats, which was great fun. One poor passenger however didn’t feel the same and was throwing up her lunch in the waste bin! There were a few green faces.
All in all some wonderful scenery, lovely people and a great day out.
Our only disappointment was having to return to our hotel on John O’Groats, see previous post on the Seaview Hotel.
Written June 17, 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.
LJ_Logan
London, UK16 contributions
Sep 2021 • Friends
Booked the trip as wanted a flavour of the islands for a day.
Ferry leaves from John o Groats harbour in them ring and then picked up by large coach. Our trip in September so toward the end of the season. Guide talks while on the trip, funny, informative and cares a lot about the islands.
The stops in the towns are a bit long. We got some sandwiches and a takeaway soup to eat outside in stormness from the place next to the coach stop; they were good, as was the cake. In Kirkwall the museum was probably the best thing- quite large and you could probably speaks quite a while there. The cathedral has odd “opening hours” so we couldn’t look inside but the bishops palace was a good thing to walk around as well.
Skate brae was my personal highlight, it costs to get in, but if you have historical Scotland or English heritage you can get in with that. The ruins are fascinating.
There are some additional entry fees, I felt worth it- remembering Orkney only gets a few months with lots of tourists and these places need maintaining. The driver did make sure to try and point out alternatives at the stops if people didn’t want to pay.
Overall a great day, learned some new and interesting things and enjoyed.
Ferry leaves from John o Groats harbour in them ring and then picked up by large coach. Our trip in September so toward the end of the season. Guide talks while on the trip, funny, informative and cares a lot about the islands.
The stops in the towns are a bit long. We got some sandwiches and a takeaway soup to eat outside in stormness from the place next to the coach stop; they were good, as was the cake. In Kirkwall the museum was probably the best thing- quite large and you could probably speaks quite a while there. The cathedral has odd “opening hours” so we couldn’t look inside but the bishops palace was a good thing to walk around as well.
Skate brae was my personal highlight, it costs to get in, but if you have historical Scotland or English heritage you can get in with that. The ruins are fascinating.
There are some additional entry fees, I felt worth it- remembering Orkney only gets a few months with lots of tourists and these places need maintaining. The driver did make sure to try and point out alternatives at the stops if people didn’t want to pay.
Overall a great day, learned some new and interesting things and enjoyed.
Written September 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.
Sarah C
70 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
Seeing Skara Brae village, the Ring of Brodgar & the standing stones of Stenness & going back in time to new stone age was MIND BLOWING!! The island is steeped in history from World War Two as well. I took the 0845 ferry on the Orkney Day Trip on Saturday 8th July. I had heard of Scapa Flow but knew no detail. I was sorely disappointed by the one liner given by the coach driver at the Churchill Barriers, Scapa Flow & all neolithic sites. In fact I googled all the points to visit as I went round on the tour and whilst in Kirkwall visited the excellent museum to prepare for the sites history. The driver mentioned we could also go " in that house " . This was Skail House near Scapa Brae but did not explain the link between the two. The driver made no mention of The Royal Oak, nor of the fact as I learned from Google that Scapa Flow was where the British Fleet was harboured, nor did he point out the statue of John Rae in Stromness. The day trip had an EXCELLENTLY put together itinerary , an eclectic mix of World War 2 & neolithic. It was so very enjoyable but the drivers lack of commentary left gaping holes for me. The skipper of the ferry boat did a great job navigating through choppy waters to give us the best ride under the circumstances. Loved watching the puffins!!! The gift shop by the pier sell maps of Orkney if you wish to follow your route. Museum in Kirkwall is excellent ...free with a £5 suggested donation and through an arch down the main street. Excellent whiskey shop down an alley linking the main street to the harbour.
Written July 8, 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.
Les J
Doncaster, UK31 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
This trip is a great way of seeing the top sights of Orkney if you have limited time. The ferry is only a short crossing, about 45 minutes and the coach was waiting to set off immediately. Stuart, our driver for the day gave an excellent commentary all day on the sights, the island and the people of Orkney with a good mixture of terrible jokes thrown in! With plenty of time at each stop en-route this was a really great day out.
Written June 12, 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.
gfa95
Edinburgh15 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
Thoroughly enjoyed this day tour. The driver Stuart told us lots of interesting information and I enjoyed his jokes and banter. Make sure you dress for the weather. We were lucky and had a lovely day but it was still windy and exposed. We were disappointed with skara brae as we were round it in about 7 minutes but found Skaill house more interesting which is included in the ticket price. The Ring of Brodgar is an impressive sight but again disappointed as you can’t get near the stones you can only walk around the outside. However you can get close and touch the standing stones at stenness. At £79 each for the trip, (you also need to pay for skara brae and Italian church) it is an expense but we thought it was worth the money.
Written July 23, 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.
Lynsey H
Edinburgh, UK7 contributions
Jul 2021
Stuart the driver and tour guide was funny and informative. The tour was well planned out with what felt like enough time to take in each stop on the tour. The day flew in and would recommend to any one who is interested in getting a flavour for the history and lifestyle in Orkney.
Written August 6, 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.
graham. c
3 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
The Maxi day tour of the Orkney islands, ferry to and from John o groats, luxury coach travel. Highly recommended. Return ferry trip from John o groats to the Orkney islands. This is a full day. You are met by luxury coach, the driver of which gives a running commentary as you travel through the islands, stopping off at several locations. I was surprised about the wealth of history of these islands from Neolithic times to the 2nd world War. The cost is £79 per person which is real value for money.
Written July 27, 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.
ColinN2412
Glasgow, UK172 contributions
Jul 2021
This is a must do if you visit Caithness. Ferry ride across was fine, and people were spaced out enough onboard. Met the bus as we came of the ferry and enjoyed a very informative bus tour of the islands of Orkney. The driver Darren, was absolutely fantastic and was very knowledgeable about the history and geography of the island. Would highly recommend you do this tour. We came back from the tour absolutely buzzing. It needs a visit back to the islands to see more and spend more time at places such as Skara Brae, Scapa Flow, Kirkwall and Stromness.
Written July 24, 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.
Fiona L
Wrexham, UK20 contributions
Aug 2022
An excellent way to see as much of Orkney in a day as possible! After a smooth ferry trip we met the coach in Burwick, went to Kirkwall, Stromness, Scara Brae, Skaill House, Ring of Brodgar and the Italian Chapel, with lots of other sights and info on the way. Darren was an excellent tour guide & coach driver. We learned so much about Orkney and it's history, especially around WW2, all mixed up with his humour. Our 2 teenagers loved it too, they said it was one of the best days of our holiday. Highly recommended, worth every penny!
Written August 30, 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.
Lili R
Baltimore, MD91 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
Got a great taste of Orkney and makes you want to return! Darrell, our coach driver, was amazing -- kept us informed and shared so much history of all the sites in an interesting and humorous fashion. He had a lovely voice and was easy to understand. We were 3 in our group and felt it was very good value for the money. Our ferry crossing was short and the firth was calm. Highly recommend.
Written September 3, 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, we are 2 adults with a dog and we‘d like to do the maxi day tour in may. Is ist possible to join the Trip with our dog? Thanks
Written January 2, 2020
Hi, we take small, quiet lap dogs on Maxi Day Tour.
Written January 2, 2020
I am travelling with 2 other over 60S in October next year. We will be in the islands for 3 days. Just doing some research on whether a car rental is the best option or a variety of tours. The one day maxi tour looks great. May I have some details please. Di
Written December 26, 2019
Departs daily 8.45am from John O’Groats all summer. Returns on last ferry. Ferry and coach tour. See all the main sites in Orkney (Kirkwall, Stromness, Italian Chapel, Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar, Standing Stones & Churchill Barriers.
Written December 26, 2019
Que dire sinon que cette expérience nous a beaucoup plu (rien à voir avec le temps :-) ) .
Nous venions de Dornoch un peu au Nord d'Inverness, 1:30 de route pour arriver à John O'Groat, un énorme parking gratuit où vous parquer et puis en route pour l'aventure.
La traversée vers les Orcades dure à peu près 45 minutes ensuite nous avons été pris en charge par notre chauffeur dont la gentillesse n'a d'égal que son humour ou l'amour qu'il porte à son île.
A conseiller pour la nature (observation d'oiseaux marins durant la traversée, parfois des mammifères marins), l'histoire et les paysages.
Nous y retournerons.
619/5000
What to say except that this is an experience we much liked (nothing to do with time :-)).
We came from Dornoch a little north of Inverness, 1:30 drive to John O'Groat, a huge free parking lot where you park and then on your way to adventure.
The crossing to the Orkneys takes about 45 minutes then we were taken care of by our driver whose kindness is matched only by his humor or the love for his island.
To advise for nature (observation of sea birds during the crossing, sometimes marine mammals), history and landscapes.
We will return.
Written July 14, 2019
Hi,
Have booked to go from Inverness on Saturday to John o' groats then doing the "day tour" over 2 days, staying overnight in kirkwall.
Can anyone tell me if there is food and drink on the ferry and am I wrong to assume that the bus from Inverness to/from j.o.g will have a toilet?
Thanks and any other helpful info.
Written June 24, 2019
Hi Alistair
You can get tea and a sandwich before you board the ferry, also tea is available on the ferry, it's a short 40 mins trip and a toilet is on board, enjoy your trip, we did..
Written June 25, 2019
Sono siti molto afollati? Turismo asfissiante?
Written February 20, 2019
Hi, no not too busy. Perhaps early August the busiest.
Written February 20, 2019
Does the Maxi Day Tour include stop at the Maeshowe Chambered Cairn?
If not is there an option for the passengers to choose between the Maeshowe Chambered Cairn and Stormness lunch stop?
Written August 5, 2018
Deb F
John O'Groats, United Kingdom
Hi, sorry we don't stop at Maeshowe as large coaches are not allowed to stop or drop of there.
Written August 6, 2018
Are dogs allowed? We have a Labrador. If not can, do you know of any dog day care/dog sitters? Many thanks in advance
Written June 10, 2018
Hi, sorry not large dogs. Yes someone can look after the dog in John O’Groats. 07707247102.
Written June 17, 2018
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*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.