Frequently Asked Questions

Children must be 5 years old or older to join a Highland Explorer tour. Anyone under 17 must be accompanied by an adult. There are no maximum age restriction.

We offer a variety of discounts. You can head to our special offers page for more details.

For in-person bookings at our shop, we only accept card payments. Please note that we do not accept cash or American Express.

You can purchase a gift voucher that allows you to put credit towards a new booking. The recipient of the voucher can then use the voucher against a tour of their choice.

Please read our accessibility statement for details.

We don't, however we are happy to recommend accommodation near our departure point, so just drop us an email and we will send you a list - info@highlandexplorertours.com.

Accommodation is based in local bed & breakfasts, guest houses and, for selected tours, hotels. We give you the choice so you can choose what best suits your budget. Whatever you decide you are guaranteed a comfortable room with an en-suite bathroom and a warm Highland welcome. Find more information on accommodation here.

We recommend one reasonably sized suitcase or piece of baggage and one small carry on bag per person, up to a maximum weight of 15kg (33lbs). Maximum size is 67cm x45cm.

You may find it useful to bring a small bag in which to keep your purse, a reusable bottle of water and anything you might need during the day. You can bring this bag onboard the bus with you and store it in the overhead luggage rack.

Passengers are required to carry their own luggage while travelling with us. 

We are currently unable to store your luggage while you are on tour, however, we're partnering with Unbaggaged, an exclusive luggage concierge in Edinburgh that not only stores your luggage securely but also offers on-demand pick-up and drop-off services. 

Here's how it works:

1. Book: Visit www.unbaggaged.com and book your luggage pick up, store and drop off service.

2. Pick-Up: The Unbaggaged team will come directly to you and pick up your luggage at your designated location and time.

3. Storage: Unbaggaged will store your luggage in our secure 24/7 warehouse for the designated length you inputted.

4. Drop Off: Unbaggaged will then return your luggage back off to you at the location you need.

Use our travel checklist to make sure you've got everything you need for your Scotland trip.

As much time as possible. We want to help you experience our beautiful country and the best way to do that is off the bus. We keep travel times to a minimum so that we can maximize the time we spend exploring castles and monuments, explaining our legends and history, and soaking up the beautiful Scottish scenery.

We’ll be stopping at some excellent and varied restaurants en route with traditional and contemporary options to suit every palate. We’ll never tell you where you have to eat. Instead, your guide will be on hand to give you the locals’ tips on the best hidden gems and then the choice is yours.

We keep extra costs to a minimum and entry fees are always optional. You could expect to spend £10 - £20 a day if you visited all the attractions we stopped at.

During the tour, we make stops at various locations, giving you time to explore. To keep the tour running smoothly, we ask all guests to return to the coach at the time set by your driver-guide. If you’re unsure, just ask before you get off.

Repeated lateness can impact the itinerary, and in some cases, stops may need to be skipped.

Tipping is not compulsory. If you'd like to recognise great service then please feel free to do so. 100% of tips are retained by our team, not the company.

Predictably unpredictable. The Highlands wouldn’t be so green, and the lochs so beautiful, if it didn’t rain from time to time. Scotland has a worse reputation than it deserves in terms of weather but come prepared for a bit of everything. Wet weather gear, sunblock, t-shirts and jumpers are all recommended.

Yes, our itineraries are designed to include numerous comfort breaks with ample time to use restrooms.

Please refer to our departure info page to check pick up and drop off locations.

To make the most of our day we only pick up and return to the departure location indicated on our departure info page. If you have any concerns about how to reach us for your check in, please don’t hesitate to get in contact.

To help us leave on time, we kindly ask all guests to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure. We are unable to wait or offer refunds if anyone misses the tour departure.