Isle of Skye, The Highlands & Loch Ness
3 Day Tour from Edinburgh
Overview
Our stunning 3-day Isle of Skye tour from Edinburgh takes you through the Highlands to places such as Loch Lomond, Glencoe and Glenfinnan before travelling over the bridge to the Isle of Skye.
An Island of fairy folklore, single track mountain passes, secret glens, craggy rock formations and crystal-clear pools and waterfalls.
The Isle of Skye is one of Scotland’s most popular tourist destinations and was voted the world’s 4th best island destination according to National Geographic.
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Small Group Tours
Max 16 Persons
Tour Duration
3 Days – 2 Nights
Day 1
On our Isle of Skye tour from Edinburgh we travel via Glasgow to the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. We’ll make our first stop at the charming village of Luss which sits on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
Sparkling lochs, tumbling waterfalls and majestic Munros takes us to Rannoch Moor and Glencoe. We’ll stop at Scotland’s most famous glen and hear about the infamous Glencoe Massacre of 1692, when the MacDonald’s were slaughtered by the Campbells.
At Glenfinnan we’ll climb up to the viewpoint for stunning views of Glenfinnan and Loch Shiel. You’ll see the 21 arches of the Glenfinnan Viaduct curve through the glen as the route to Harry Potter’s Hogwarts.
We’ll get off the beaten track for views over Loch Duich and the Five Sisters of Kintail before travelling over the bridge to the Isle of Skye.
Day 2
Your friendly driver-guide has the flexibility to ensure you see the best of the island whatever the weather. Skye never disappoints – there is just so much to see.
You can’t miss Skye’s Mountain range, the Black Cuillins, which adorn calendars and paintings the world over. The sparkling crystal-clear waters of the Fairy Pools lie at the foot of the Cuillins and make for great photos, or even a spot of wild swimming!
We’ll have time to explore Portee and enjoy some lunch before we head to the Trotternish Peninsula. The awe-inspiring scenery never seems to stop, and we’ll get spectacular views at the Quiraing, Mealt Falls and Kilt Rock before we reach the famous landscape of the Old Man of Storr.
Day 3
We cross the Skye Bridge on to the mainland and Eilean Donan Castle*. The castle sits on an island at a point where three great sea lochs meet, surrounded by majestic highland scenery. Eilean Donan was used in many films including Highlander and James Bond epic, The World is Not Enough.
The village of Fort Augustus lies at the southern end of Loch Ness and is lunch stop. You can enjoy an optional cruise on Loch Ness or take a stroll along the Caledonian Canal.
Our journey continues through the Cairngorms National Park, passing Blair Castle to Pitlochry for our final refreshment stop of the day. We return to Scotland’s capital city Edinburgh via the Queensferry crossing ending our 3-day Isle of Skye tour from Edinburgh.
*Please note that Eilean Donan Castle will be closed from 22nd December 2023 until February 2024 (exact date is still to be confirmed). The castle will also be closed for weddings on the following dates: 1st November and 1st December. We will be able to stop for a photo of the castle from a nearby viewpoint when the castle is closed.
3 Day Isle of Skye Tour from Edinburgh Tour Highlights
Day 1
Glasgow, Luss, Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Fort William, Glenfinnan, Glen Garry, Glen Shiel, The Five Sisters of Kintail and Loch Duich.
Day 2
The Fairy Pools (if accessible), The Faerie Glen, The Cuillin Mountains, The Quiraing, Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls, The Old Man of Storr & Portree.
Day 3
Eilean Donan Castle, Fort Augustus, The Caledonian Canal, Loch Ness & Cruise, Cairngorms National Park, Grampian Mountains, Blair Castle, Pitlochry & Queensferry Crossing.
Departure & Return
Departs/Returns: Bus Stance opposite Howie’s Restaurant, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh EH1 3B
Tour Check-in 07:45 | Tour Departs 08:00 | Tour Ends 19:00
Note: You can start this tour in Edinburgh and end the tour in Glasgow or vice versa. Please select your preferred drop off location on the booking form.
Late Arrivals
In the event you are late for any reason in arriving at your departure point and as result miss your tour, you will not be entitled to a refund.
Children
We regret that we do not carry children under the age of 5 on our scheduled tours.
What’s Included
Transport in a 16-seat mini coach
Coach Air Filtration System as standard
Air Conditioning as standard
Services of an English-speaking driver-guide
Accommodation
Entry to Visitor Attractions
Meals & Refreshments
What to Bring
In Scotland we can get 4 seasons in 1 day, so we suggest bringing suitable clothing for all conditions, including a waterproof jacket and layers of clothing.
Shoes that are suitable for short walks on uneven paths and rough terrain. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and your camera to capture fantastic memories you’ll make on tour with us!
Most attractions & eating establishments we visit accept card payments, however we recommend bringing some cash with you.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel this tour 15 days or more prior to departure – you will be refunded 90% of the tour price.
Cancellations made less than 15 days prior to departure – no refund will be due.
Cancellations must be made in writing. For further information please refer to our terms and conditions.
Please have a look at some customer experiences with Discover Scotland Tours.
22/03/23 – Helen and Whitney-May
This was just the most wonderful experience and I would like to commend you and Jerry (our tour guide) on what will likely be the absolute highlight of our trip to the UK (we still have a little while here but you’re going to be hard to beat!) A million thank you’s for this experience. It was all round amazing, from every annoying enquiry I sent last minute to the office, through to the on-the-ground offering. The carefully researched commentary, lovely bus, caring on time guest service levels provided by Jerry and well, the scenery -though not your making 🙂 – was next level heavenly. I cannot recommend your tour more highly! Warm regards.
17/03/23 – Taylor
We LOVED our tour with Discover Scotland! Our guide Michael was amazing we could not have ask for anyone better. We enjoyed our whole trip from the bus rides hearing stories, history, songs and much more about Scotland, to our quick picture stops, all our longer spots where we had time to explore, and our free time in Kyleakin. We felt like our interests were heard by our guide and we were given options and suggestions to do things we would enjoy. The only thing we wished we could change was staying longer. We are very thankful for our guide and discover scotland for everything. Thanks for everything
02/11/22 – Sergio
I had a wonderful time with Discover Scotland Tours. We had an amazing tour guide also our driver named Jerry! The tour had plenty of photographic stops from day 1. Driving through the Highlands into the Isle of Skye and to Loch ness the group and I could feel the magic Scottish atmosphere. Thank you Jerry for taking care of every single one of us and thank you Discover Scotland Tours for this fantastic experience.
10/10/22 – Vanessa
We had an amazing time! John our guide was perfect! I can’t say enough good things about him! He obviously loves his job and the island. I appreciated how you kept in touch with me leading up to the tour and how responsive and clearly you answered my questions. I will most definitely recommend John Black and your company to everyone willing to hear me go on about what an amazing experience we had. Thank you for everything and with some luck we will be making more plans with your company.
19/08/22 – Kylie + Corbin
Our 3-day Isle of Skye tour with Scott was unforgettable! Despite road closures to start the trip, Scott maintained positivity that radiated throughout the group. Each day brought adventure and memories that we will always cherish. It’s easy to see that Scott loves people and Scotland as he went out of his way to make sure everyone got to see and do what they set out to. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience and guide!
02/08/22 – Angelina
My friends and I recently went on the Isle of Skye, Highlands, and Loch Ness 3-day tour from Edinburgh, and it was the highlight of our vacation! Our tour guide, John Black, was quite the character. Throughout the whole trip, he was super cheery and always cracking jokes. His personal anecdotes, vast knowledge, and captivating story-telling provided us with a unique glimpse into the Scottish people, culture, and history. John was extremely accommodating for everyone on the tour, making frequent stops for bathroom breaks and food throughout the day. The bus itself was very comfortable, with AC and plenty of space for everyone, and had great views no matter where one sat. Our accommodation was booked through Discover Scotland as well, at Winklebeech bnb in Kyleakin. It had a quaint and homey vibe, and the owner was super welcoming. She was also extremely accommodating to our dietary restrictions and even offered us some bug spray after seeing all of our midge bites! The rooms were tidy and comfortable, with all the necessities one may need. We managed to hit all the destinations on the tour, and it ran very smoothly with no delays. We were especially in awe with the Isle of Skye- It’s a must-see for everyone who visits Scotland! Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend Discover Scotland Tours and would visit again in a heartbeat!
28/07/22 – Roxanne
We had a wonderful time and it was through this tour that Scotland came alive for us. Our Tour Leader made a point of getting to know each of us. In between the gorgeous countryside and the historical background Michael provided, he played songs told amusing stories and made it us feel like we were all part of one family. There were lots of stops for the bathroom and food as well. He was patient answering all of our questions and was respectful of the country’s we came from. We loved this tour and will be talking about it for quite some time. Also good value for our money.
11/07/22 – Darryl
We were very happy with our three day tour. This being our first, and probably only trip to Scotland, we appreciated the variety of things we saw and the general information about your country.
We were especially impressed with our tour guide, John Sheedy. In addition to being an all-around nice guy, he was very attentive to everyone’s needs and well prepared with interesting stories. Having grown up on the isle of Skye was a bonus. John conveyed his genuine love and pride of Scotland and made our trip fun and comfortable.
01/07/22 – Jessica
Mark and I had THE BEST weekend. It’s my first time in Scotland, and although it was a whirlwind, I’m excited to get back and spend more time in certain places. Accommodation was great, Garry was FANTASTIC. So warm and bubbly and knowledgeable and fun. We’re both quite introverted and I was overwhelmed and missing my children and we never once felt pressured or intruded on, but also Garry made us both feel so seen and included, I was so grateful for how he handled us. Lots of stops, would be good to have a bit more time in some places, but I also really liked ticking lots of things off my list. It was also really relaxing, I slept on the bus all the time – as a parent it was just so lovely to not have to worry about ANYTHING. Garry added a few fun things in that I wasn’t expecting which was so great! Lots of Harry Potter stops! A DINOSAUR FOOTPRINT! I just loved every minute. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I hope you add some northern Scotland tours! Let me know if you do.
10/06/22 – Gráinne
My tour was the Isle of Skye, the Highlands & Loch Ness 3 day tour with Gary. The itinerary was great. Loved all the stops. Loads of time at each stop , didn’t feel rushed. Our tour guide, Gary, was fantastic. He had loads of fun facts and quips and kept us all motivated even though the weather was against us. Will definitely recommend Gary and the tour to anyone!
FAQs
Situated on the east coast of Skye is the fishing village of Kyleakin and this is where we stay for both nights of our tour. During peak season some of our passengers may be allocated accommodation in the villages nearby to Kyleakin.
The village has some restaurants for evening dining and a shop should you require any necessities.
Your tour excludes accommodation. During the tour booking process you will be asked if you are booking your own accommodation or whether you wish us to reserve this on your behalf?
Booking my own accommodation
If booking your own accommodation this should be in the village of Kyleakin where most of our customers will be staying. The nearby villages of Breakish or Broadford is fine, however some accommodation providers are situated on roads that even our small coaches cannot get down, so please check with us first at bookings@discoverscotlandtours.com
Please contact us to let us know the name of the accommodation you have reserved.
I want Discover Scotland Tours to book my accommodation
We’ll reserve your accommodation and let you know the name of where you are staying. You pay the accommodation provider directly.
Some accommodation providers don’t accept credit cards and only take cash. We will inform you of this when we confirm your named accommodation.
Accommodation Guide Price
We provide a guide price as each establishment has their own pricing structure. We allocate accommodation on a first come first served basis. An exact cost will be confirmed once you have booked and we can confirm what is available.
All B&B’s we book on your behalf have private bathroom facilities. Most rooms are en-suite while others have a private bathroom outside the bedroom.
B&B
Double/twin room: £120.00 – £150.00 per room per night based on 2 people sharing.
B&B
Single occupancy: £105.00 – £130.00 per room per night
Hostel
We do not reserve hostel accommodation but we can provide guidance on where passengers may wish to book. There is an option to request information on hostels at the time of booking.
This is limited to one piece of luggage (like an airline cabin bag) with a maximum weight of 15kg per person. For guidance, measurements should be no more than 65cm x 45cm x 30cm / 25in x 18in x 12in. You are allowed one small carry-on bag for onboard personal items.
If you require to store luggage while on tour you may choose to use luggage facilities. You’ll find these in both Glasgow and Edinburgh Train Stations and Edinburgh Bus Station.
Yes while on Skye, your Tour Leader will drop you off each evening and collect you at a agreed time each morning.
Above all, please ensure you are ready in plenty of time each morning.
In the Scottish Highlands many businesses do not accept card; particularly in rural areas where mobile signals are not very strong. Your driver will also take cash payment for any optional extras. Therefore, it is best to bring cash with you.
There are cash machines on route should you require to take out money while on tour.
Seats are chosen on a first come first serve basis, we are unable to take requests for specific seats. Our mini coaches all have panoramic windows so the beautiful Scottish landscape can always be enjoyed, no matter where you sit.
If you suffer from motion sickness, then you may be affected by the roads in Scotland. They can be twisty and narrow. It’s best to come prepared with a travel sickness preventative, whether that be medicinal, wristbands or another option, to ensure it doesn’t impact your overall enjoyment of the tour.
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