Loch Ness Explorer

1 Day Tour Departing From Edinburgh

Price from $85.00 USD

Loch Ness Explorer hero image

1 Day

Free Audio Guides

24 Hour Cancellation

Enjoy a fantastic full day adventure in the Highlands, visiting mysterious Loch Ness, where you can go monster spotting on the shores of the loch or on a boat cruise. Learn about our turbulent history while you soak in all the classic scenery for which Scotland is famed: Glen Coe, the Great Glen, Highland Perthshire and maybe even catching a glimpse of the mighty Ben Nevis along the way!

Inclusions

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Passionate Local Guide

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Live Commentary & Storytelling in English

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Foreign Language Audio Guide Available

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Audio guide links will be provided after booking. Please download over WiFi and bring your own headphones

Loch Ness Explorer map of route

What Other Explorers Say

Keith was an informative, friendly tour bus driver. He gave us a great Scottish history lesson while safely driving us to many locations. Highly recommend!

Leticia
15/05/2025

Every May we bring university students on this Day Trip to the highlands and every year its a phenomenal experience. We had Alistair again this year and as always, he didn't disappoint. He's great at keeping the students engaged with the culture and history of Scotland. A big thank you to the Highland Explorer team and Alistair.

Loyola
14/05/2025

Graeme was our host and guide for today's trip. A very charming person, a very well informed story teller with plenty of interesting anecdotes. He had so many interesting information and useful suggestions. On the whole we never had a dull moment during the trip.

Vijay
08/05/2025

Wonderful trip to the Loch Ness! We are tourists here for a week in Scotland and this journey was an incredible experience. We had almost 10 hours of travelling but thanks to Keith, this felt like only 10 minutes! Our guide gave us a lot of information about Scotland history and the different monuments. I highly recommend!

Benoit
14/04/2025

Had an amazing day outing from Edinburgh to visit the Loch Ness and the surrounding highlands. Keith was our driver and guide who explained to us every details as we passed through key towns and landmarks, giving us the background and history of the places we been to. Among the best day tours we had experienced.

Seah
08/04/2025

We absolutely adored this tour. It was a b-day present for my fiancé and it was definitely worth the price! Ali P is an excellent driver and guide! She made sure to take the time to let us enjoy the best views while narrating all the history. If you are hesitant, don’t, just book it and you’ll see :)

Julia
14/03/2025

Wonderful views of the mountain ranges and lakes while blessed with amazing sunny weather throughout the day! Sophie was a fantastic guide, with entertaining stories of Scottish history and fun facts and a fire playlist. If you can choose a guide, highly recommend her. We stopped on some places to get some nice photos in since the weather was great.

Iz
09/03/2025

Absolutely amazing day out, our guide Heidi was awesome, full of historical knowledge from the moment we set off until we got back to edinburgh, stopped off at some brilliant photography and historical hotspots and even added a quick stop so we could see some highland cows

Sam
06/03/2025

Amazing scenery and very nice tour to the highlands in of Scotland including a cruise on Loch Ness. Apart from the beautiful spots, it was very informative tour thanks to our tour guide Heidi which was brilliant!

Natasha
16/02/2025

It was an amazing experience, the landscape is beautiful and breathtaking. The Loch Ness is an fantastic adventure and our tour guide Paul was very kind all the trip.

Catarina
13/02/2025

Torva was our guide and driver for the tour of Loch Ness, highlands, and Glen Coe. I love the style and pace Torva guiding us. It is a wonderful trip in Scotland!

Ryan
11/02/2025

Good itinerary for a one-day trip to the highlands (for a first-timer). Beautiful views and I had enough time at the Loch Ness stop to get myself some quality time high up in the snow. I was especially delightful by how our guide Connor proved a master storyteller - lots of humor, history and insider tidbits. Highly recommended!

Ivar
11/01/2025

We had a fantastic tour to Loch Ness & Glencoe with Ryan as our driver! The tour was perfectly organized with enough time to explore each stop. Ryan made the trip so enjoyable by sharing trivia, cracking funny jokes, and playing a great playlist that set the mood perfectly. He also paused to share historical insights, making the journey both fun and educational.

Henyang
09/01/2025

Where does the tour depart from?

Your Loch Ness tour departs from Edinburgh city centre. For departure details and pick-up location, visit our Departure Info page.

How long is a day tour from Edinburgh to Loch Ness?

With plenty of comfort breaks and photo stops along the way, our Loch Ness tour from Edinburgh is approximately 12 and a half hours long*.

 *Length of tour may vary depending on traffic and weather conditions.

Is the Loch Ness boat tour included in the price?

The Loch Ness boat cruise is an optional add-on and is not included in the tour price.

You can add a ticket for the Loch Ness boat tour at the time of booking, at an additional fee. The journey on the Loch Ness boat cruise is approximately 50 minutes long and offers spectacular views of the loch and the chance to learn about the mysterious Loch Ness Monster.

What if I choose not to do the Loch Ness boat tour?

If you don’t do the boat cruise then you have free time for a relaxed walk along the shores of Loch Ness, the Caledonian Canal, or around the Highland village of Fort Augustus.

Will I see Nessie?

Since Nessie has been a bit camera-shy lately, we can't make any promises. Your Loch Ness tour offers stunning views and intriguing stories about this legendary creature. However, capturing a selfie with Nessie might require a touch of Loch Ness magic!

If you are still determined to see Nessie, consider adding the Loch Ness boat tour as an optional add-on (reserve at the time of booking). The boat comes equipped with a sonar system, giving you a peek beneath the waves for any monster-related activity!

Are there toilet facilities on the coach?

While our coaches don't offer onboard toilets, rest assured that our itineraries include regular comfort stops, allowing frequent access to restroom facilities.

Are your tours accessible?

Our guides are unable to assist with wheelchairs or provide physical assistance during boarding or disembarking from the coach. Passengers should be capable of boarding and disembarking independently using the access stairs or with the help of a traveling companion. Foldable wheelchairs can be stored in our onboard luggage storage during travel.

Please note that some stops on our tours may involve rough terrain or only be accessible by steps.

It's important to be aware that your accommodation may have limited accessibility for wheelchair users. More info can be found on our Accessibility page.

Can I purchase snacks or souvenirs at the stops along the way?

Yes! Our routes include stops where you can grab a snack or recharge with a drink. Occasionally, we pause at shops offering local souvenirs as well. For precise details about timing and stops, don't hesitate to inquire with your guide.

Where can I get a more detailed itinerary?

Our itinerary (in tab 2, 'Itinerary & Departure') provides a helpful outline of what to expect on the day. We refrain from providing additional details beyond what's outlined there, as factors like weather, traffic, and the preferences of our driver guides may lead to slight deviations. We also believe that part of the excitement comes from the unexpected surprises along the way! Rest assured, your journey through Scotland will be unlike any other.

What if I need to cancel my tour?

If you need to cancel your tour, you will need to inform us in writing by sending an email to info@highlandexplorertours.com. You can find our cancellation and refunds policy in section 3 in our Terms and Conditions.

I have more questions. How can you help?

Feel free to visit our general Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common queries, or reach out to us directly via our Contact Us page.