11-day tour of Scotland | Scotland tours

Route

This 11-day journey takes you from Edinburgh into the rugged Scottish Highlands and back again. You travel past iconic castles, tranquil lochs and wide-open valleys, with stops in Cairngorms National Park, along sections of the North Coast 500 and at places such as Dunnottar Castle, Loch Ness and Glencoe.

Pace

The pace remains pleasantly relaxed. Distances are manageable and leave room for spontaneous stops, whether for a short walk, a scenic viewpoint or a long lunch. Culture and nature flow seamlessly into one another.

Highlights

Edinburgh with its castle and historic neighbourhoods, royal stories at Balmoral, dramatic cliffs along the east coast and the quiet grandeur of the Highlands. You explore whisky traditions, pause at Culloden and enjoy a nostalgic journey aboard the Jacobite Steam Train.

Accommodation

You stay in characterful hotels and small-scale addresses that blend naturally into their surroundings.

Profile

Ideal for travellers who want to experience Scotland without rushing, with a focus on landscapes, history and unhurried moments along the way.

Important information:

To travel to Scotland, you need a valid international passport. A Belgian identity card is not accepted for entry into the United Kingdom.
Travellers must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before arrival. This can be done through the official UK government website (gov.uk) (ETA) or via the UK ETA app. Avoid unofficial websites. The ETA costs £16 per person and approval may take up to three working days. Prefer that we arrange this for you? We’re happy to take care of it as soon as we have your passport details.

Day 1: Arrival in Edinburgh

Upon landing, a private chauffeur will be waiting to take you to the city centre. As soon as you drive into the city, you’ll feel its unique energy: elegant, historic and just a touch mysterious. Stroll through the New Town with its stately facades and charming cafés, or delve into the Old Town, where alleyways whisper stories. Settle down on Princes Street or in the green belt around the castle. This is how your Scottish adventure begins, gently and relaxed.

Day 2: Discover Edinburgh

Today you’ll get to know Edinburgh better. Edinburgh Castle towers over the city, telling tales of kings, battles and centuries of tradition. Stroll along the Royal Mile past craft shops, street musicians and historic buildings to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, with its serene gardens and abbey ruins. Looking for some peace and quiet after all the sights? The Royal Botanic Garden offers a green oasis with views over the skyline.

Day 3: From Edinburgh to the Highlands – Perth, Scone Palace & Braemar

The route to the Highlands feels like a transition to a different Scotland. In Perth, you can stroll through charming streets along the river. Just outside the town lies Scone Palace, the setting for royal coronations for centuries.

Further north, forests, hills and open landscapes come into view. If you wish, stop off at Blair Atholl or visit Blair Castle, recognisable by its white façade and centuries of family history. Your day ends in Braemar, a village surrounded by impressive mountains and tranquil valleys.

Day 4: Cairngorms National Park & enchanting Balmoral

Today you’ll discover the tranquillity and beauty of the Cairngorms: mountains, forests and open moors that seem to stretch on endlessly. You’ll stop wherever the landscape beckons: at viewpoints, walking trails or tranquil rivers.

A special highlight is Balmoral, the Royal Family’s beloved Scottish residence. The gardens, hills and stories make this a place of understated charm.

Day 5: Aberdeen & Dunnottar Castle

On the way to the coast, Aberdeen greets you with its gleaming granite. The city proves to be lively, elegant and rich in history. But the highlight of the day awaits a little further south: Dunnottar Castle. The ruins stand guard atop a cliff with the North Sea raging below. The walk there and the view are pure poetry.

Day 6: Whisky traditions, Culloden Battlefield & the atmospheric Cawdor Castle

In Speyside, you’ll discover the essence of Scotch whisky. During a visit to a traditional cooperage, you’ll see how casks are crafted using skills that transcend generations. Not far from there lies Culloden Battlefield, a place that leaves you speechless. The stories of the last Jacobite uprising continue to resonate. You’ll round off the day at Cawdor Castle, surrounded by beautiful gardens and steeped in legend.

Day 7: Along the North Coast 500

Today you’ll drive along a particularly beautiful stretch of the North Coast 500, one of the world’s most famous scenic routes. In Dornoch, there’s a peaceful, almost timeless atmosphere thanks to the beach and the old cathedral. Next comes Dunrobin Castle, a castle that looks as though it’s stepped straight out of a story. The gardens, the sea and the falconry display form a breathtaking backdrop.

Day 8: Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle & the Great Glen

The road along Loch Ness winds through an iconic landscape of dark waters and green slopes. At Urquhart Castle, you’ll enjoy one of the finest views of the loch. It’s a place that effortlessly combines photography, tranquillity and history. You then set sail on the loch, a peaceful journey full of stories, legends and vastness. You end up in Fort William, surrounded by Scotland’s highest mountains.

Day 9: The world-famous Jacobite Steam Train

Today you board the Jacobite Steam Train for a journey through the rugged heart of the Highlands. The highlight is the passage over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, a moment that feels as cinematic as it does real. Loch Shiel glistens below and the mountain landscape unfolds in all its splendour. The entire journey exudes nostalgia and excitement.

Day 10: Glencoe, Inveraray & Loch Lomond

Glencoe is a place that moves you: rugged, grand and steeped in history. A short walk gives you the chance to really experience the valley. In Inveraray, you can enjoy elegant streets along Loch Fyne.

You then drive on to the serene Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. A stop in Luss feels like a little dream scene, with stone cottages and views across the water.

Day 11: Stirling & back to Edinburgh

Your tour ends in Stirling, once the strategic heart of Scotland. The castle towers above the town and offers a magnificent panorama. It is a place steeped in heroic tales, from battles to national symbols.

You then return to Edinburgh Airport and bid farewell to a country that is generous with impressions, landscapes and warmth.

What should you expect in terms of budget?

For this tour, you can expect a guide price starting from €9,600 for two people. This price includes international flights, a hire car and accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, and depends on your travel dates, hotel choices and any extras such as excursions or extensions.