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1 Day
24 Hour Cancellation
Discover the magic of the Scottish Highlands on a spectacular Highlands tour from Edinburgh.
Cruise the legendary waters of Loch Ness, explore the iconic ruins of Urquhart Castle, and experience the breathtaking beauty of Glen Coe, all in one unforgettable experience.
Travel through dramatic mountain landscapes, ancient glens and charming Highland towns, and uncover the stories, legends and scenery that make Scotland world-famous. From meeting Highland cows to searching for Nessie, this journey showcases the very best of the Highlands in a single day.
Inclusions
Passionate Local Guide
Live Commentary & Storytelling in English
Foreign Language Audio Guide Available
Audio guide links will be provided after booking. Please download over WiFi and bring your own headphones
What Other Explorers Say
My mum and I had a wonderful tour, our guide Craig was funny and insightful. Appreciated the toilets always being pointed out and mentioned along the way. The sandy beach was beautiful, and I love streams and found me a few to wander by the shores of as well. Cawdor castle audio guide was shorter than anticipated, but the gardens were absolutely lovely! Well worth it on that alone.
Laura
18/07/2025Nice day trip with historical stops, nature and discoveries, beach relaxation, souvenir shopping... very friendly guide. Good relaxing atmosphere.
Laurent
18/07/2025We had a wonderful day on this tour led by Karen. The day was well-balanced with a variety of activities and Karen went out of her way to keep everyone happy and shared lots of wonderful local knowledge!
Meg
15/07/2025Book this! Tour guides Emily and Tabby were absolutely delightful. If traveling in Scotland without a car, and relying on one’s feet, trains, buses, etc., it can be difficult to access the countryside. With this tour, one gets to see a lovely intact castle with stunning gardens, two beautiful mountain lochs, an ancient cairn site, forests, and an hour’s stop in a small town for lunch. A wonderful day!
DCTrip96
11/06/2025Emily and Tabby were great fun to travel with. Smooth driving, on time for everything. Most of all though was the very informative, fun, often funny stories and banter… which makes learning so much more fun. The stops were all interesting and picturesque. Loved the whole day. (I’m also writing for those in my party (with their blessings), who can’t leave a review of their own. Thanks for a great trip!!
Brian
11/06/2025I had a really good day with Iain as our guide. We went to places I would have never thought to go to. The whole experience was very fun and educational. Iain has an indepth knowledge of everywhere we went amd could answer any question we had.
Phoebe
02/06/2025The tour was excellent, our guide Iain McGillivray was so knowledgeable and told great stories. The scenery was spectacular, love Scotland and Inverness! Highly recommend!
Kelly
02/06/2025The experience was amazing. The guide was so fun and joyful. Karen shared amazing stories along the tour and I have never been more amazed by someone’s energy for a tour guide ;) It is very accessible and safe! Definitely recommend going on this tour! The scenery is absolutely unbelievable. The lochs are fantastic!
Beatriz
30/05/2025Harrison is an excellent tour guide, with great knowledge of the places on the tour and a humorous delivery! The tour was the perfect one-day length and covered a wide variety of excellent sites.
Henry
28/05/2025Enjoyed the day trip with Karen, who is an engaging and friendly guide, sharing about info Scotland, and readily to answer questions. The nature walk to Cairngorms is nice and relaxing. A recommended if you like leisure nature walks. Karen will also share about Scotland as she drove around. Its an interesting experience.
Elpidia
16/05/2025Wonderful castle tour and excellent, fun guide,! Torquil was a great guide taking opportunities for different photo ops and loved the loch stops too.
Clara
12/05/2025Emily is awesome! Loved her humour, her stories, and her vibrancy! Thank you for making this tour memorable and fun, 🤩 ✨
Ramona
09/05/2025The tour with Emily was amazing. She showed us beautiful places, gave the right amount of info while letting us enjoy the tour on our own as well. Cawdor Castle was a highlight as well as the Loch Murloch.
Marie
09/05/2025It was a lovely experience. I had a lot of fun. I have seen many beautiful places and the timing was on point. Thank you for the experience.
Carla
09/05/2025Great way to cover the highlights of the area! Great tour guide, Well worth the trip so you can see the highlights of the area.
Tracy
24/04/2025Frequently Asked Questions
Your Highlands Tour from Edinburgh departs from the city centre. For departure details and pick-up location, visit our departure info page.
With plenty of comfort breaks and photo stops along the way, our Highlands tour from Edinburgh is approximately 13 hours long*.
*Length of tour may vary depending on traffic and weather conditions.
The Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle boat cruise is an optional add-on and is not included in the tour price.
You can add a ticket for the cruise and castle entry at the time of booking, for an additional fee. The cruise is approximately 30 minutes long, and you will also have around 45 minutes to explore Urquhart Castle.
Nessie is famously illusive, spotting her is very difficult but there have been alleged sightings over the years.
We highly recommend heading off on the Loch Ness cruise to give yourself the best chance of seeing her. Have your camera at the ready!
We strongly encourage you to take the cruise to make the most of your tour and up your chances spotting Nessie!
If you don’t want to take the cruise you can relax in a nearby cafe, take a walk or shop for souvenirs.
While our coaches don't offer onboard toilets, rest assured that our itineraries include regular comfort stops, allowing frequent access to restroom facilities.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- Home
- 1 Day Tours
- Loch Ness, Glen Coe & Scottish Highlands
Search for Nessie on a scenic cruise across the mysterious waters of Loch Ness to the dramatic ruins of Urquhart Castle, one of Scotland's most iconic historic landmarks, where centuries of Highland history meet breathtaking loch side scenery.
Returning south, travel through stunning Glen Coe, famed for its towering mountains, dramatic landscapes and fascinating past. After a final stop in the charming town of Callander, relax on the scenic journey back to Edinburgh.
1 Day Tour Itinerary & Map
Experience some of Scotland's most iconic sights on this Highlands tour from Edinburgh. Travel through the Cairngorms National Park, meet some of Scotland's famous Highland cows and stop in the vibrant Highland town of Aviemore before heading to the legendary Loch Ness.
Search for Nessie on a scenic cruise across the mysterious waters of Loch Ness to the dramatic ruins of Urquhart Castle, one of Scotland's most iconic historic landmarks, where centuries of Highland history meet breathtaking loch side scenery.
Returning south, travel through stunning Glen Coe, famed for its towering mountains, dramatic landscapes and fascinating past. After a final stop in the charming town of Callander, relax on the scenic journey back to Edinburgh.
Day Highlights
Departure Point
60 High Street, EH1 1TB, Edinburgh
We’ll leave from our blue corner shop at 60 High Street (Royal Mile, EH1 1TB, Edinburgh)
Not sure how to get here? Find more info on our Departure Info page.
Departure & Return Time
Tours Dates & Prices
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- Loch Ness, Glen Coe & Scottish Highlands