Highlands and Hebrides Explorer Cruise-Tour

Upon your arrival to Scotland, we’ll transfer you from Edinburgh Airport to your hotel for three nights exploring the grandeur of the Scottish capital. After check-in, arrival time depending, you’ll have some time to explore the city. Choose an afternoon of traditional sightseeing along the Royal Mile to see the gothic spires of the Old Town or the grand streets of the New Town to get acquainted with its spectacular Georgian and Neo-Classical houses. Or simply wander the old steep closes that form shortcuts across Castle Hill.

Today the morning begins with a private tour of Edinburgh’s major sights. We’ll drive you east of Edinburgh to visit charming Duddingston Village and its old church, the delightful canal-crossed Dean Village, and Grassmarket Street, and to visit (and perhaps drink a lager or two) Edinburgh’s oldest pub. We’ll drop you off for a tour of the stunning Edinburgh Castle, looming at the top of Castle Hill to see the Scottish crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny, returned after its use in the King’s Coronation. Afterward, it’s just a short walk to the Scotch Whisky Experience for a Gold Whisky Tour to sample a selection of regional single malts from the world’s largest Scotch Whisky collection, and to take a unique ride inside a whisky barrel.

The morning starts bright and early for a full-day tour of the Highlands, journeying to stunning lochs framed by picturesque glens, castles flanked by manicured gardens, whisky distilleries far from any town, and the stars of the Highlands themselves, the humble Highland Coo. This day-long tour will introduce you to the vast Kelpies sculpture in Helix Park, beautiful views of Loch Lomond, the charming village of Balquhidder, and Glen Coe, a glen with volcanic origins, crisscrossed with hiking trails, adorned with waterfalls and teeming with wildlife throughout its heather-scented peaks.

Upon checkout, we will transfer you to Edinburgh’s Waverley Station for a journey by train along the incredible West Highland Line. Much of Scotland’s beautiful scenery will unfold just beyond the window as the train twists through glens, under the shadow of mountains, through quaint stone villages, and along breathtaking lochs, as it crosses Scotland to Oban in preparation for a cruise of the Outer Hebrides. Upon arrival we will take you to your hotel in Oban for check-in, leaving the remainder of the evening free to explore. We recommend taking the opportunity to sample the local seafood in one of Oban’s excellent restaurants.

Today is the first day aboard the Hebridean Princess to embark on a cruise of the Outer Hebrides. Your ship is a converted Royal Mail Ship built to traverse the waters of Northern Scotland, fine-tuned for a small ship cruise of the Hebrides. She’s designed to carry only 48 passengers with nearly 40 crew: a feat that affords an astounding level of personalization and service. Expect Hebridean bathrobes, a world-class menu of local produce magicked into delectable Scottish cuisine for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, and a house party style to the onboard atmosphere, which invites personalization from your attentive crew and conviviality from your fellow passengers.

You’ll spend seven unforgettable nights aboard the Hebridean Princess sailing along the islands, islets, and shores of the Outer Hebrides, a stunningly secluded area of natural beauty boasting undulating hills, antique castles, pristine lochs, and a menagerie of wildlife. You’ll enjoy evening anchorages with views of wild island landscapes, beach landings at Scottish icons such as the Isle of Skye and the lesser-known Bishop’s Isles, and enthralling activities such as hiking, traversing untouched islands by small boats, and an abundance of wildlife spotting (everything from migratory birds and Highland Cows to gigantic whales and charming deer roams these storied isles). Other activities like tweed weaving demonstrations, visits to crofting museums, and discussions on topics as varied as history, music, and wildlife, help paint an even deeper image of these magnificent Scottish Isles.

*Please note that cruises run weekly between March and November and the itinerary changes each week. Speak to our team to find out more.

The Hebridean Princess will sail back into pretty Oban, where you will be met for a picturesque drive north to Fort William on the shores of the remarkable Loch Linnhe. The drive will take you along the banks of the lake, past the picturesque Castle Stalker set on its own islet, across the Ballachulish Bridge, and directly to the heart of Fort William, where you’ll check in to your hotel for three nights of self-guided exploration in the Highlands, a favorite amongst cyclists and hikers. We recommend spending the evening in a traditional Highlands pub to get a feel for the lively town. 

Today is free for you to relax at your leisure, although with the Highlands practically on its doorstep, Fort William provides the perfect base from which to explore on foot. There are a plethora of hiking paths out of Fort William, most notably to the summit of Ben Nevis, Scotland’s (and Britain’s) highest mountain. The well-worn route isn’t overly arduous, but good navigational skills and a lot of energy are required to make it to the top. But the views (a sweeping expanse of Highland peaks, glistening lochs, and a sky as far as the eye can see) make it more than worthwhile. An alternative and more relaxed hike ascends the neighboring peak of Cow Hill, which grants tremendous views of both Loch Linnhe and Eil, and an up-close look at Ben Nevis. Hiking from here towards the Ben Nevis visitor center takes you through an evocative woodland filled with idyllic streams and overgrown paths leading to River Nevis.

You’ll enjoy another day at leisure today to do as you wish, although you should wish to discover more of this beautiful corner of Scotland, we do have some suggestions. Fort William sits on the moss-green hills overlooking the vast, spectacular Loch Linnhe, and a boat trip is a brilliant way to get to know at least a small part of it. Wildlife tours can sometimes uncover dolphins, seals, and numerous seabirds, and trips are narrated by eager local guides, always happy to share tips and secrets. Train lovers can also take the Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William, which passes over the romantic curve of the Glenfinnan Viaduct (made famous by the Harry Potter movies) en route to the attractive seaside village of Mallaig (where there are ships to Skye and other islands should you want to extend your journey). 

In the morning, you’ll check out of your hotel and have a final chance to pick up souvenirs in town (a cuddly Highland Coo, for example) before saying goodbye to the Highlands. We’ll pick you up from your hotel and transfer you from Fort William to Glasgow Airport as the final leg of a journey that took you from Edinburgh and through the Highlands and Isles of Scotland comes to an end. You may also extend your journey, hiking lush nature reserves in Corey Fee, sailing to the Shetlands or simply spending a few days in cosmopolitan Glasgow.