8-Day Luxury Tour of Scotland

Travel back in time and learn more about Scotland's royal families as you visit some of the country's most famous landmarks. You'll begin the day at Edinburgh Castle, once home to Mary Queen of Scots and the very place she gave birth to James VI. Meander down the romantic cobbled alleyways at the city's center and marvel at the exquisite architecture of St. Giles Cathedral. Find insight into cultural heritage and history at the National Museum of Scotland. In the evening, you can climb the steep path up Calton Hill that evening for stunning panoramic views of the city below.

In the morning, depart the hustle and bustle of city life for a slower pace in the town of Grantown-on-Spey. You'll begin by crossing the River Forth, and later the iconic Forth Rail Bridge, before traversing the rolling hills of Perthshire. Visit the pretty Victorian town of Pitlochry, favored by Queen Victoria. Enjoy a short hike as you stroll along the river's sparkling edge and peer out onto the cascading green hills in the distance. Perhaps you can enjoy the fiery red, orange, and yellow foliage swaying in the breeze.

The following morning, you'll depart Pitlochry for the rugged mountaintops of Cairngorm. Make your way through Drumochter Pass, the highest stretch in the highlands.  You can break out to explore Culloden Battlefield, the site of the Jacobites' last battle before you delight in some of Scotland's spirits at one of Speyside's famous distilleries. Sample local tastings with the help of a local expert as you peer out on the majestic terrain. You can also join your tour guide on a walk with the Cairngorm reindeer herd in their natural surroundings.

As dawn breaks across the tops of the looming mountains, your next adventure will await you. Head west past Loch Ness, located just southwest of the city of Inverness. Weather permitting, you'll get the chance to embark on an epic cruise atop the crystal clear water. Just as the fairytale of the loch ness monster unfolds, you may feel as if you're in the fairytale of your own with vibrant green hilltops and jagged cliff sides lining the lake in every direction.

Rise early the following day for a chance to tour the inside of the Eilean Donan Castle, one of the most photographed in all of Scotland. Traverse the stony bridge overlooking the deep blue waters below, spotted with beautiful lily pads. Then, ascend the castle's tower alongside your private guide for breathtaking vistas of the famous loch. Later that morning, you'll continue your journey north, past The Old Man of Storr, the highest point on the Trotternish Ridge and considered the longest geological landslip in Britain. Along the way, you'll see the extraordinary peaks of the Old Man of Storr and the Needle Rock.

Make your way to the Great Glen, along the route of the Caledonian Canal. Once you arrive at Fort William, you can listen for the rumbling of steam engine trains bellowing in the distance as they careen down the wooden tracks against a backdrop of brilliant green hilltops. Enjoy exploring the charming downtown area to find small boutique shops and corner pubs before you continue south to the harbor town of Oban. The crisp air and sea breeze make it easy to bask in the quiet ambiance among the freshest seafood before taking part in a traditional ceilidh, a Scottish celebration of music, dancing, and storytelling.

On your final day in-country, you'll travel to Glencoe, where you'll marvel at the region's marvelous mountain peaks and perhaps spot some wild deer in the area. Then, descend through the glens of the Grampian mountains towards Stirling and its castles. For centuries, this was considered the most notable castle in all of Scotland, in part due to its unparalleled views from atop. Later in the day, you will board your private airport transport and bump along the cobbled stress of Edinburgh before reaching the airport for your journey home.