Soirée Travel Specialists, in cooperation with Seymour Travels, presents
Scotland & the Highlands
-an Encore Scheduled Journey designed & operated by Seymour Travels-
Scotland. It's more than castles, kilts, and whisky. A whole lot more.
Starting and ending in Edinburgh, you'll experience cities, castles, coastlines, and islands. Together with the Highlands, you'll see what really makes Scotland an exciting destination.
The Highlands of Scotland are atmospheric, dramatic, wild and beautiful. The history contained in those mountains and on those rocky shorelines are incredible.
With this exciting itinerary, you'll have an opportunity to really understand what makes the Scots tick. It's more than castles, kilts, and whisky. But those are great, too (and we include them)!
Join us on the newest addition to our Encore Scheduled Journeys.*
*This tour was thoughtfully designed and will be fully operated by our partners at Seymour Travels. This tour has been vetted by, and is available through, Soirée Travel Specialists at no extra cost to you!
The Highlands of Scotland are atmospheric, dramatic, wild and beautiful. The history contained in those mountains and on those rocky shorelines are incredible.
With this exciting itinerary, you'll have an opportunity to really understand what makes the Scots tick. It's more than castles, kilts, and whisky. But those are great, too (and we include them)!
Join us on the newest addition to our Encore Scheduled Journeys.*
*This tour was thoughtfully designed and will be fully operated by our partners at Seymour Travels. This tour has been vetted by, and is available through, Soirée Travel Specialists at no extra cost to you!
Only one exclusive departure still available in 2022
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Scotland & the Highlands
April 9-22, 2022
April 9-22, 2022
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SCOTLAND & THE HIGHLANDS
April 9-22, 2022
14 days/13 nights
14 days/13 nights
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Meals: 21 (13 breakfasts, 4 picnic lunches, 4 dinners)
Hotels: 4* Edinburgh: The Scotsman or similar, 4 nights Oban: The Glenburnie or similar, 3 nights Plockton: Duncraig Castle or similar, 2 nights Ullapool: The Royal Hotel or similar, 2 nights Inverness: Loch Ness Country House Hotel or similar, 2 nights Pitlochrie: The Pine Trees or similar, 1 night Edinburgh: The Scotsman or similar, 1 night Highlights:
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You are required to have travel and health insurance
You must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 Entry & exit COVID-19 testing is likely to be required (not included) Need assistance with travel insurance? Click here! |
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Day 1 This afternoon we’ll meet in our Central Edinburgh hotel at 4pm for an informal tour briefing. Afterwards we’ll stroll through this lovely city as we head to our restaurant to enjoy dinner together.
Day 2 Put on your walking shoes as we’re going to learn a lot about Edinburgh on our city walking tour. Discover why this city makes the Scots tick. We’ll end up at the gates to Edinburgh Castle where we'll provide you with tickets to enter and set you free to explore. There are many other fine places in the city to discover. We’ll point you in the direction of their world famous museums and galleries. This is essentially a free afternoon where you can choose the Edinburgh you’d like to discover further. |
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Day 3 Today we board our minibuses and head West. First stop is Bannockburn, where a very famous battle took place…. we’ll tell you what happened here and what the consequences were. Then onto Stirling Castle. Here you’ll have a Castle tour and will be free to enjoy lunch in the castle cafe. We’ll talk about William Wallace and the Chartist revolt. After Stirling, we head over the Highlands and drive to our hotel in Oban. We’ll give you an orientation to the town and let you enjoy dinner on your own in this lovely seaside village.
Day 4 An early morning ferry trip will take us to the island of Mull where we’ll gasp at the magnificent splendor of the island as we drive to its other side to catch another small ferry. This one will take us to the atmospheric island of Iona. We’ll give you a short walking tour of Iona as we head towards its famous ancient abbey. Here you will explore the abbey and its museum, and we’ll take a short hike up to a splendid overlook which will give you impressive views over this historic place. We’ll catch the last ferries back to Oban where you may like to enjoy some of the local seafood for dinner. |
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Day 5 From Oban we’ll take you to see a very special place indeed - Kilmartin. You may never have heard of it, but that’s okay…. we're going to take you back into the ancient past of this gorgeous region. The prehistory of Kilmartin and its valley is spectacular. You’ll delve into Bronze Age tombs and Dark Age graves. You may even get to find out if the shoe fits. Puzzled? Think about Cinderella’s slipper. Still puzzled? We’ll explain in Kilmartin. Today it's sandwiches and a picnic lunch as we explore the area. It’s quite an energetic day but you could revive yourself back in Oban with a sampling of its famous whisky.
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Day 6 We leave Oban and head to Glencoe. Certainly famous for some murder and mayhem that took place here, but the geology of this valley is also astounding. What better way to see it than from a mountain top? We don’t even need to climb as we’ll take a chairlift. After time for a late lunch, a short drive will see us at the Commando Memorial and the birthplace of commando units in WW2. Then onwards to Plockton and our own waterfront castle hotel, which lies to the north of the Isle of Skye.
Day 7 I’ve set this day up so that you have choices. A visit to Raasay is one option. Its a very small but beautiful island and it has a magnificent walk that follows the lane from one end to the other - castles, coastline, moors and wildlife await. Or perhaps you’d like to visit the Isle of Skye, whose mountains can be seen very clearly from all around. If you’d like to drive over we can take you there. The choice is yours on this free day. |
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Day 8 We’re going to drive north through the Highlands to Ullapool. As we meander over the hills, let’s make a stop to visit one of the most beautiful botanical attractions in the country - Inverewe Gardens - nestled between the mountains and the sea in this remote region. We’ll continue on to our hotel by the sea. We’ll go for an evening stroll and absorb this very Scottish place.
Day 9 Today we’re going further north again, up to the Summer Isles. This is an amazing peninsula that has dramatic views over the sea to the west, with dozens of small islands that sit on its horizon. It’s a spectacular place to take a walk and enjoy lunch. We’ll spend as much time as the light will allow before heading back to Ullapool. |
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Day 10 Do you believe in monsters? Yup! On to Loch Ness…. But first you’ll enjoy a visit to a distillery tour and a tasting of their single malt whiskies. Onward, then, to Loch Ness where we’ll visit Urquhart Castle and try to catch a glimpse of an illusive local the monster, Nessie. A short drive from here is our Country House hotel near Inverness, where we’ll appreciate a fine dinner together tonight.
Day 11 Culloden is just a short drive from our hotel and it’s a ‘must’ for any visitor to Scotland. The myths, the legends and the history of the battle of Culloden will be revealed to you as we visit the battlefield and museum. We’ll also drive out to the enigmatic Clava Cairns - a number of Bronze Age tombs that nestle amongst the trees, just outside of Inverness. We’ll explain their meaning to you. Next stop is Fort George, one of the most impressive fortresses you are likely to ever see. Here we’ll give you a brief history and let you wander the fortifications at your leisure. |
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Day 12 If you go to Scotland you WILL see sheep. This morning we’ll get the opportunity to see them up close, being herded, at a sheepdog demonstration - lots of fun to be had! Next, we go to the Crannog (or Crannoch) Centre. This is a living museum where the attendants will show you how people lived on a loch for thousands of years, and will explain why a loch was such a good place to commune. After a short drive we’ll arrive at our hotel in the small village of Pitlochrie where you’ll be free to enjoy dinner or a stroll along the river.
Day 13 This morning we head to the church at Dunkeld and learn a little of its history. Another short drive will see us in the seaport of Dundee. Here we’ll take you to the museum that is home to The Discovery. Remember Scot of the Antarctic? After lunch we drive on down to Edinburgh and check into our hotel. This evening we’ll walk to our restaurant to enjoy a splendid final dinner together and talk about our marvelous adventures. |
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Day 14 Over breakfast this morning we’ll help you with further transportation arrangements and advice.
You'll love exploring Scotland and the Highlands like this! |
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Price per person: $5,455 (NO solo supplement!)
Deposit due to book: $1,000 per person (non-refundable, except for COVID complications)
Final balance due 90 days before tour: January 9, 2022 (non-refundable, except for COVID complications)
Deposit due to book: $1,000 per person (non-refundable, except for COVID complications)
Final balance due 90 days before tour: January 9, 2022 (non-refundable, except for COVID complications)
Airfare not included. Fly dates provided for your convenience only.
Arrive Edinburgh, Scotland April 9, 2022 (fly from USA on April 8, 2022, overnight transatlantic flight)
Depart Edinburgh, Scotland April 22, 2022 (flights to USA usually arrive in USA same day)
**AIRFARE NOT INCLUDED**
Arrive Edinburgh, Scotland April 9, 2022 (fly from USA on April 8, 2022, overnight transatlantic flight)
Depart Edinburgh, Scotland April 22, 2022 (flights to USA usually arrive in USA same day)
**AIRFARE NOT INCLUDED**
Travel insurance mandatory. Health insurance mandatory. Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19
Entry & exit COVID-19 testing is likely to be required (not included)
Entry & exit COVID-19 testing is likely to be required (not included)
This tour is designed & operated by our partner Seymour Travels and their payment terms & conditions apply
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Inclusions:
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Exclusions:
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Please read our Terms & Conditions here.
Additionally, this tour is operated by our partner Seymour Travels, and their terms & conditions, where different, supersede ours, to include:
Cancellations and refunds: Deposits and Final tour payments are non-refundable except in the case of COVID travel complications. If you, or Seymour Travels, must cancel a tour due to COVID complications, all payments made to Seymour Travels will be refunded. Any cancellation requests must be sent to Seymour Travels in writing or via email to seymourtravels@europe.com, with cc to info@soireetravel.com
Trip interruption and cancellation insurance coverage required for all travelers.
Additionally, this tour is operated by our partner Seymour Travels, and their terms & conditions, where different, supersede ours, to include:
Cancellations and refunds: Deposits and Final tour payments are non-refundable except in the case of COVID travel complications. If you, or Seymour Travels, must cancel a tour due to COVID complications, all payments made to Seymour Travels will be refunded. Any cancellation requests must be sent to Seymour Travels in writing or via email to seymourtravels@europe.com, with cc to info@soireetravel.com
Trip interruption and cancellation insurance coverage required for all travelers.