Scotland | Sept. 17 – 27

Featuring Edinburgh, Glasgow, Loch Lomond , Isle of Skye, Inverness, Loch Ness and more....

Sept. 17 – 27 | 11 Days / 9 Nights

Itinerary

Sep 17 | US | Scotland

Today transfer to the airport and board your overnight flight bound for Edinburgh, Scotland.

Sep 18 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh Castle | Welcome Dinner

This morning you arrive in Edinburgh where you are met by your local guide and driver. Enjoy a brief panoramic city tour of Edinburgh, followed by free time for lunch and shopping in town, before you check in to your hotel for a comfortable two-night stay. Tonight, enjoy a welcome to Scotland dinner.

Overnight:  Edinburgh              (D)

Sep 19 | Edinburgh | Royal Yacht Britannia | Underground Vaults

This morning after breakfast you’ll visit the Royal Yacht Britannia. A Royal residence for over 40 years, The Britannia sailed over 1,000,000 nautical miles on 968 state visits with the Royal Family where they entertained prime ministers and presidents. Nowadays she is a five-star visitor attraction  and TripAdvisor’s No.1 UK Attraction in 2023! On your private tour, you’ll discover stories of life at sea across five decks for both the Royal Family and the 220 Royal Yachtsmen who served on board. Follow in the footsteps of Royalty through the State Apartments, see Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite room, and feel like the captain of the ship on the Bridge. Next, enjoy Tea and Scones on the Royal Deck! This afternoon you are off on a walking tour of Edinburgh, viewing iconic sites like the Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace, and St. Giles’ Cathedral. In the evening, you’ll go on a fascinating tour of the Edinburgh Vaults. This one hour tour takes you to an underground network of chambers with a haunting history. Dinner this evening is at leisure.

Overnight: Edinburgh             (B, Tea & Scones)

Sep 20 | Rosslyn Chapel | Balerno | Glasgow

After breakfast and check out this morning, you’ll head south and visit Rosslyn Chapel, one of the most famous religious sites of Scotland, famous for its intricate carvings and made even more famous in the past few years due to the Da Vinci Code novel by Dan Brown and the movie with Tom Hanks. On your way to Glasgow, enjoy a Farm to Table lunch experience at a private farmhouse in Balerno. Continue to Glasgow for a visit to the National Piping Centre to explore 300 years of musical history, and try the bagpipes for yourself! Check in to your centrally located hotel in Glasgow, with the remainder of the day at leisure to explore Glasgow on your own.

Overnight: Glasgow               (B,L)

Sep 21 | Loch Lomond | Trossachs National Park | Glencoe

This morning take the scenic drive through Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, an area of exceptional beauty that separates the lowlands and the rugged mountainous landscape of the Scottish Highlands. Enroute you’ll make stops at the Trossachs Woolen Mill, Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre, Three Sisters of Glencoe, and the National Trust Glencoe Visitor Centre. Later today check in to your hotel for a two-night stay, and after some free time to freshen up, enjoy an included  dinner in the hotel dining room.

Overnight: Isles of Glencoe Area          (B,D)

Sep 22 | Jacobite Steam Train |Western Highlands

Today you board the Jacobite Steam Train, hailed as one of the greatest railway journeys in the world! This 84 mile round trip takes you passed a list of impressive extremes. The Jacobite Steam Train or ‘Hogwarts Express’ starts its journey near the highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis, and visits Britain’s most westerly mainland railway station, Arisaig. It then passes close by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain, Loch Morar, and the shortest river in Britain, River Morar, finally arriving next to the deepest seawater loch in Europe, Loch Nevis! The train journey takes around two hours for each leg, with a 90min. stop in Mallaig for lunch and shopping, making it a six-hour day trip. This afternoon you return to your hotel, with the remainder of the evening at leisure.

Overnight: Isles of Glencoe Area               (B)

Sep 23 | Isle of Skye | Portree

After breakfast you depart Fort William for a scenic sightseeing day at the Isle of Skye. Connected to Scotland’s northwest coast by bridge, the Isle of Skye is known for its rugged landscapes, medieval castles, picturesque fishing villages, it’s history, and the outstanding scenery. Enjoy an included lunch in fishing village of Portree, famous for its colorful houses. Here you have the option to stay in the village with free time for shopping, or go on a 60min. roundtrip hike to the Man of Storr viewpoint. Your journey continues to Inverness with photo stops at Kilt Rock and Eilean Donan Castle enroute. This evening check in to your hotel for another two-night stay. Tonight dinner will be served in the hotels dining room.

Sep 24 | Inverness | Dunrobin Castle |Northern Highlands

This morning enjoy a guided tour of Inverness including a visit to the Inverness Cathedral and the Art Museum. Thereafter you’ll have free time for lunch and shopping in town. This afternoon you’ll travel north and visit Dunrobin Castle and Gardens for a guided tour. The Castle is the most northerly of Scotland’s Great Houses and is one of the most majestic, looking like a French château with its fantastic gardens. It is the largest house in the Highlands of Scotland with 189 rooms, and one of Britain’s oldest inhabited houses, with parts dating from the early 1300s. It was home to the Dukes of Sutherland, and it is now occupied by the Earls of Sutherland who are their descendants. Return to Inverness for the evening and dinner at leisure.

Overnight: Inverness            (B)

Sep 25 | Loch Ness Cruise | House of Bruar | Whiskey Tasting

This morning you travel a short distance to Dochgarroch. Upon arrival enjoy a two-hour cruise on  Loch Ness. The journey begins on Thomas Telford’s Canal, then across Loch Ness with views of the Great Glen and panoramic views of Aldourie Castle, Bona Lighthouse, and the spectacular Urquhart Castle. After your cruise you continue to the House of Bruar for shopping and an included lunch, followed by a whisky tour and tasting at the beautiful Blair Athol Distillery. Your journey continues to the city of Dundee. Upon   arrival you’ll check in to your hotel for overnight. Dinner tonight is at your leisure.

Overnight: Dundee              (B,L)

Sep 26 | Dundee City tour | Stirling Castle | Falkrik

After breakfast enjoy a guided tour of Dundee, followed by free time for lunch on your own and shopping in town. Early this afternoon, visit Stirling Castle for a guided tour. The 16th century castle remains a great symbol of Scottish independence, national pride, and is also known from the movie “Braveheart” starring Mel Gibson. Continue your journey to the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s one and only rotating boat lift! Experience a marvel of engineering on your boat cruise as you “Sail through the Sky” on the Falkirk Wheel and climb or descent over 100 feet in just 5 minutes! On your way to Edinburgh, you’ll stop at the Kelpies for a photo op before checking in at your Edinburgh hotel for overnight. This evening enjoy a fun filled  farewell dinner, complete with wine and entertainment.

Overnight: Edinburgh                     (B,D)

Sep 27 | Flight back home

After breakfast this morning you’ll depart for the Edinburgh airport and your flight home to the United States with memories of Scotland that will remain forever.  (B)

      INCLUSIONS: 

  • Round-trip transportation to the airport
  • Round-trip airfare from FSM or XNA to Edinburgh
  • Luxury motorcoach transportation while in Scotland
  • Nine-nights accommodations in 3 and 4-star hotels

       Three-nights in Edinburgh Centre

       One-night in Glasgow Centre

       Two-nights in the Isles of Glencoe area

       Two-nights in Inverness Palace & Spa

       One-night in Dundee Centre

  • Daily breakfast, three lunches, and four dinners
  • All sightseeing, attractions, and admissions

        (as detailed in itinerary)

  • Local step-on guide on Isle of Skye Day
  • Hotel taxes, meal taxes, and gratuities
  • Porterage of 1 bag per person

       (excludes airline baggage fees)

  • All resort, service, and government fees
  • Service of a professional Tour Director
  • All gratuities for drivers, guides, step-on guides

The  UK – ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization ) fee is not included in this program

Payments

$1000.00 deposit due

Final payment due May 3, 2025 ( no penalties until May 8, 2025)

Cancellation

50% non-refundable May 9, 2025

100% non-refundable June 9, 2025

 An optional Travel Protection plan is available with coverage  for trip cancellation/interruption, see enclosed product flyer for more information.

A valid passport is required on this itinerary and must be valid for at least 6 month after returning back to the USA.

 

Contact Your Group Leader OR Armonde Maurras at Universal Travel