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
2022
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(31 reviews)
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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
382 reviews
Excellent
320
Very good
48
Average
11
Poor
2
Terrible
1
anteallachleicester
Leicester, UK739 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
Amazingly managed to get on the last tour of the 2022 season.
Really well organised from ticket purchasing online, getting the boat from John O’Groats, to getting on our tour coach, and even getting into Skara Brae (included in the tour price).
Really good value for money as this was a full day with all the sights we were wanting to see. Plenty of time at each stop. Even the coach ride was comfy.
The tour was made extra special by our driver who was so informative and so very funny throughout our coach rides between towns/sites. He could give Peter Kay a run for his money on the comedy circuit.
Really well organised from ticket purchasing online, getting the boat from John O’Groats, to getting on our tour coach, and even getting into Skara Brae (included in the tour price).
Really good value for money as this was a full day with all the sights we were wanting to see. Plenty of time at each stop. Even the coach ride was comfy.
The tour was made extra special by our driver who was so informative and so very funny throughout our coach rides between towns/sites. He could give Peter Kay a run for his money on the comedy circuit.
Written November 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lili R
Baltimore, MD92 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.
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.
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.
Ali H
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom13 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
Great way to explore orkney if you are short for time. Pleasant boat trip over only being 45 mins. Everyone was very friendly. A must if you are up North.
Written July 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sam F
Brighton, UK47 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
This is a really great day out. We started at 8.30 on the ferry over to Orkney to be met by the jolly driver Darren who took us to each town or site giving you plenty of time to visit. Thanks to Darren for his knowledge of the islands, we learnt more than we imagined. Also thanks for the 'Dad' jokes, they made us chuckle
Written June 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
kwiewiorowski
Poznan, Poland2,275 contributions
Jun 2022
I couldn’t agree with other Tripadvisor contributors more. It was an excellent day in spite of the weather. Large part of the credit goes yet again to Darren, our driver and guide with his witty Scottish sense of humor I and a knowledgeable commentary. Skara Brae was fantastic in the sunshine, so were the Ring and standing stones. Stromness and Kirkwall would have been better, had it not been Sunday, when everything is closed. Still choir rehearsal in St. Magnus made up for it. Small but memorable Italian Chapel to top it all up just before the return to John O’Groats. Dress up appropriately, it can get very cold and windy even in Summer
Written June 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Madeleine545
London, UK16 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
We had a fantastic day touring Orkney with Maxi Day Tours from John O’Groats. Our driver Darren was humorous and informative. We visited Kirkwall, Stromness, Skara Brae, Ring of Brodga and the Italian Chapel. Would highly recommend.
Written June 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Toni H
2 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
We had a fantastic day touring Orkney on the coach , our driver Darren was brilliant , no informative about not only the history but also the quirky stuff as well . We would never have found out or visited half the things we did had we gone over there for the day on our own .
Very professional and smooth service , would highly recommend.
Very professional and smooth service , would highly recommend.
Written May 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
BT3rd
Datchet, UK5,818 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
We caught the Pentland Venture from John O’Groats to Burwick. On arrival we were met by Stuart. He was our driver and narrator during our day on Orkney. He was funny and veracious and a joy to be driven by.
The tour itself dwelled too long in Kirkwall, we felt, when the next stop was Stormness, another town, for lunch.
But nevertheless the tour took us to where we wanted to go and that was the Neolithic sites. As always there is never enough time when with others. However, we enjoyed the day and it gave us a flavour of what Orkney had to offer for a longer stay.
Overall a good day out for a reasonable price.
The tour itself dwelled too long in Kirkwall, we felt, when the next stop was Stormness, another town, for lunch.
But nevertheless the tour took us to where we wanted to go and that was the Neolithic sites. As always there is never enough time when with others. However, we enjoyed the day and it gave us a flavour of what Orkney had to offer for a longer stay.
Overall a good day out for a reasonable price.
Written September 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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
Deborah F
John O'Groats, UK12 contributions
Hi, we take small, quiet lap dogs on Maxi Day Tour.
Diane W
Point Vernon, Australia27 contributions
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
Deborah F
John O'Groats, UK12 contributions
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.
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.
alistair b
Dundee, UK229 contributions
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.
Heather M
Bathgate, UK13 contributions
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..
silviaxmas
Udine, Italy49 contributions
Sono siti molto afollati? Turismo asfissiante?
Deborah F
John O'Groats, UK12 contributions
Hi, no not too busy. Perhaps early August the busiest.
Takis
Spetses, Greece27 contributions
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?
Deb F
John O'Groats, UK
Hi, sorry we don't stop at Maeshowe as large coaches are not allowed to stop or drop of there.