Sunrise at Quiraing, Isle of Skye in Scotland

Classic Scotland Tour for First Timers

Ratings of Zicasso's Service
Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Scotland

Places Visited

Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Inverness, Isle of Skye...

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Suggested Duration

10 Days

Scotland is an image of classic legend emanating from the highlands and drifting off of reflective lakes known as lochs. Castles hover over cliffs and battlefields are marked with carved stones to commemorate brave clans. Your handcrafted tour of classic Scotland provides you with the elegance of palaces and thousands of years of history. Indulge in the unique landscape that reminds you of a fairytale wonderland and stroll through charming villages with homes bathed in white walls and topped with...

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Journey around the legendary waters of Loch Ness
  • Visit Rosslyn Chapel, as mentioned in the best selling book The Da Vinci Code
  • Experience the stunning Scottish countryside off the beaten path
  • Tour around the gorgeous Hopetown House, said to be the finest estate in the country
  • Explore the storybook ruins of Eilean Donan Castle
  • Witness the grace of the ruins at Melrose Abbey
  • Enjoy the unique architecture and grounds of Blair Castle
  • Step into the Bronze Age with a tour of Clava Cairn Burial Chambers
  • Traverse the sensational landscape of Trotternish Peninsular
  • Venture through the depths of celebrated Glen Coe

Detailed Description

The wilds of the highlands are remote and pristine. Cities are lined with cobblestone and villages are filled quaint picturesque reverie. This 10-day tour of Scotland takes you beyond the expansive cities and into the inspiring landscape. Venture across glens and over mountains, around lakes and onto peninsulas. Deer and wild geese roam through the open space and castles sit at the center of endless acres of property. The brilliance of the Scottish landscape will reveal itself to you at its discretion, providing hints of its luxuries every step of the way.

The splendor begins immediately with your arrival in Edinburgh. The beauty of the city lies in its unique history that continues to rise out of the cobblestone streets and buildings’ stone facades. Tour the city to find a unique blend of natural beauty and elegance, deep historic roots that goes beyond the power of Edinburgh Castle. Outside of the city you will have a panoramic view from Arthur’s Sea and tour through the sensational lavishness of Hopetoun House. The stained glass windows of Rosslyn Chapel create a marvelous kaleidoscope of color.

Continue onward to Melrose Abbey located around the Scottish border. The church ruins provide an unforgettable outline of the structure and a unique history of the area. At Abbotsford house you have a glance into the poetic life of Sir Walter Scott before visiting Floors Castle. Journey northbound to witness the strength of Stirling Castle and the opulence of Blair castle. The Dalwhinnie Whisky distillery is located next to the property of Queen Victoria’s old palace. A tour Culloden provides the history of the last pitched battle ever fought on British soil, along with the nearby Bronze Age cemetery.

Scotland was known as the stage for Shakespeare’s Macbeth, which allows you to visit the stronghold, Cawdor Castle, brought to the forefront by the bard. Spend time encircling the gorgeous scenery around Loch Ness in search of the legendary monster before visiting the extraordinary ruins of Castle Eilean Donan. Traverse the loop road on The Isle of Skye that takes you around Trotternish peninsula and witness the breathtaking landscape first hand. Upon your return from the Isle of Skye, you make your way southbound through the treasured scenery of Glen Coe. Return to Edinburgh and spend time at your leisure before your private transfer escorts you to the airport for your flight home as your tour of classic Scotland comes to an end.

Starting Price

$4,900 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

4.88 stars based on 448 reviews.

Scotland Travel Review: Private Driver, Highlands, Culloden...

This was my first time planning an overseas trip for myself, plus a friend, and integrating a third person into the trip halfway! There were lots of moving parts. Thanks to Zicasso's tour company, I started out not knowing what I wanted to see, to having a perfect trip, with fantastic accommodations, wonderful drivers, and amazing adventures!

Reviewed By Laura T.

Scotland Tour Review: Isle of Skye, Glencoe, 6 Days

We had an awesome experience! There was impeccable attention to detail! The driver/guides were terrific to work with. I will definitely recommend Zicasso’s tour company to my friends.

Reviewed By Krishna S.

England, Scotland, Ireland Vacation Review: History, Local...

We had an exceptional experience with the team at Zicasso's travel company, particularly our agent. She listened to our hopes and needs for a very complex trip, and created a journey that exceeded our expectations in every way.

Reviewed By Lorraine M.

Ireland, Scotland Travel Review: Galway, Cliffs of Moher,...

The trip was fantastic and the Zicasso travel agent was very attentive to our wants. We felt very well taken care of.

Reviewed By Christine S.

Scotland Family Trip Review: Glasgow, Staffa, Port Ellen,...

To celebrate our daughter’s graduation from the University of Glasgow, Julie and I decided to organize a family driving trip through the islands and Highlands of Scotland. We wanted to see everything in Scotland.

Zicasso's travel agent helped us refine our plans to fit our timeframe and budget. She planned an efficient route and found us memorable accommodations in each of our stops. She also suggested some places not on our original wish list, including a boat trip to Staffa, which turned out to be one of the most memorable parts of our trip.  

Our driver truly made it feel like the family vacation we had envisioned. While on some days we had a definite timeline to meet (the ferries will leave without you!), most of the time we were able to decide what we were in the mood for and he would happily accommodate us. We even were able to have an unscheduled stop on the drive back to Glasgow to see where our daughter had spent time last summer on an archaeological dig.

Where we stayed and what we ate were not big factors in our vacation planning request, but our travel agent found us lovely accommodations that made our day trips and ferry trips convenient. The restaurant specialist made dinner suggestions that made sense for where we were staying and arranged reservations for us so that we did not have to worry about finding a place to eat at the end of a long day.

Reviewed By George C.

England, Scotland Travel Review: Historical Sites, National...

The Zicasso travel agency was absolutely wonderful, helping us plan a customized trip to England and Scotland. Our travel group of 10 included teenagers through retirees. They truly listened to our interests and helped build an amazing experience for everyone. The individualized care and communication were wonderful. They were also incredibly responsive and helpful when our incoming flight was delayed. We'd highly recommend!!

Reviewed By Kate T.

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