rick steves heart of scotland tour

Best of Scotland in 10 Days Tour

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• See the best of Edinburgh on foot, starting with a walking tour of the Royal Mile
• See of the historic buildings, quaint shops, narrow lanes, and hidden courtyards.
• Visit the history of this land at the impressive National Museum of Scotland
• Enjoy a favorite Scottish past time by taking a walk through the spectacular landscape of the well-preserved Cairngorms National Park.
• The Clava Cairns, an impressive collection of prehistoric burial chambers, and enjoy a picnic in this serene setting

What's this trip about?

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Travel themes.

• Hiking & Walking
• Transformative

Destinations

• United Kingdom

Attractions

• National Museum of Scotland
• Scottish Highlands
• Stirling Castle
• Historic sightseeing
• Homestays & Cultural Immersion
• Land expedition

Trip includes

• A small, friendly group of 24–28 people — half the size of most tour groups
• Full-time services of a professional Rick Steves guide and local experts who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of Scotland come alive for you
• All tours and admissions — at no extra cost — covering at least 21 group sightseeing events, Walking tour of Edinburgh's Royal Mile, National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle tour, Culross Palace tour, St. Andrews visit, Scottish musical evening, Scottish Crannog tour, Dunkeld Cathedral visit, Hermitage visit, Whisky distillery tour and tasting, Sheep dog demonstration, Scottish Highlands Walk, Culloden Battlefield tour, Clava Cairns tour, Cawdor Castle visit, Urquhart Castle visit Loch Ness cruise, Glencoe scenic drive, Isle of Iona visit, Iona Abbey tour, Stirling Castle tour…and more
• All group transportation from Edinburgh to Edinburgh
• 9 nights' accommodations in memorable, centrally located hotels and B&Bs
• All breakfasts and half your dinners
• All tips for guides and driver
• Rick Steves Travel Store credit to use toward guidebooks for your trip
• Guaranteed tour price, locked in the moment you make your deposit
• Optional single supplements — this tour has a limited number of private rooms for solo travelers for an additional fee
• Tour alum discount of $50 for each tour you've taken prior to 2017
• 50% discount on a consulting appointment with our in-house experts to assist with your pre- or post-tour travel plans
• Flexibility should you need to transfer, or cancel/interrupt your tour
• Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing

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We'll meet at 4 p.m. at our hotel in Edinburgh for a "Welcome to Scotland" get-together. We'll then take a neighborhood walk and tour of Georgian Edinburgh before getting acquainted over dinner. Sleep in Edinburgh (2 nights). No bus. Walking: light.

We'll drive along the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond and through central Scotland on our way back to Edinburgh. En route we'll visit the famous castle of the Stuart kings, Stirling, including the newly restored Renaissance Palace. Tonight we'll share memories of Scotland and toast new friends at our final dinner together. Slàinte! Sleep in Edinburgh (1 night). Bus: 4 hrs. Walking: moderate.

Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. Edinburgh's airport and train station are easy connections from our neighborhood. Glasgow is one hour away by train; London is 90 minutes by air. For those tempted to continue their trip, Edinburgh is a great jumping off point to Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, and many other exciting destinations. Cheerio!

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Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:.

• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
• Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

Dates & Availability

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Rick Steves .

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Rick Steves Reviews & Ratings

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Tour operator, rick steves.

Our mission is to inspire, inform and equip Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable and culturally broadening. We value travel as a powerful way to better understand and contribute to the world in which we live. We strive to keep our own travel style, our world outlook and our business practices consistent with these values.

About Rick Steves

Guidebook author and travel TV host Rick Steves is America's most respected authority on European travel. Rick took his first trip to Europe in 1969, visiting piano factories with his father, a piano importer. As an 18-year-old, Rick began traveling on his own, funding his trips by teaching piano lessons. In 1976, he started his business, Rick Steves' Europe, which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a staff of 80 full-time, well-travelled employees at his headquarters in Washington state. There he produces more than 50 guidebooks on European travel, America's most popular travel series on public television, a weekly hour-long national public radio show, a weekly syndicated column, and free travel information available through his travel center and website. Rick Steves' Europe also runs a successful European tour program. Rick Steves lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington. His office window overlooks his old junior high school.

--We research and write European guidebooks, produce a public television series and a public radio show

--We organize and lead energetic tours throughout Europe

--We sell select travel bags, guidebooks, maps, DVDs, and other travelers' supplies

--We offer travel consulting and trip planning services

--We teach do-it-yourself travel seminars

--We provide a wealth of free information about travel in Europe via our Travel Center and Website

--We travel a lot

What we don't do

--We are not travel agents, so we don't book flights, hotels, or rental cars

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip, travel confidently.

Cancellations and refunds: Your tour deposit is 100% refundable for 30 days from the date it is received, unless noted otherwise below. After 30 days your deposit becomes nonrefundable, and will be forfeited should you decide to cancel your reservation. Deposits made 60–90 days before a tour departs become nonrefundable on the final payment due date. If you book a tour less than 60 days before its departure date, the entire tour cost becomes non-refundable after 7 days.

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Rick Steves Says To Prioritize These Stunning Destinations On Your Scotland Trip

Scotland — a land of fairytale castles, mesmerizing Gothic castles , and untamed backcountry. According to The Guardian , the wild and rural Scottish landscapes led to this United Kingdom country being named "the world's most beautiful country." Inspiration is everywhere in this country, from the nation's bustling urban capital to the magnificent summits in the northern Isle of Skye. Even a two-week excursion to Scotland couldn't possibly allow travelers enough time to see, do, and taste everything this enchanting land has to offer.

Fortunately, travel expert and European native Rick Steves, has curated the perfect Scottish itinerary that highlights the best and brightest of Scotland. From the Scottish moors to verdant mountains and frozen lakes, there are few places on earth that can compete with this country's breathtaking topography.

Mapping out some of the country's best sights and cities, travelers can draw inspiration and rearrange the agenda to suit their own travel preferences. From a three-day excursion to an all-out three-week backpacking trip across the nation's scenic landscape, this tour caters to both wilderness enthusiasts eager to explore the Scottish highlands and the urban wayfarer.

Steves recommends two weeks as the most optimal timeframe to get a first-hand perspective of Scottish culture. Beginning in Edinburgh, the tour guides travelers to Oban on the coast of Scotland's western highlands, before circling the northeast regions and ending in Stirling, part of central Scotland. Along the way, travelers will experience a first-hand perspective of just what makes this European nation the coveted gem it is.

Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Oban

This tour begins with a grand introduction to Scotland in the nation's capital, Edinburgh. Medieval buildings, cobblestone streets, and a festive arts scene equally play into why this might be the most popular destination in Scotland. According to U.S. News , Edinburgh is the second most-visited city in the United Kingdom. It's home to iconic literary figures, including J.K. Rowling. Steves recommends a total of three days in Edinburgh, allowing enough time to squeeze in all that this stunning UK city has to offer. The famous Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the Scotch Whiskey Experience are just a few iconic attractions you'll want to have on your bucket list.

Venturing out of Edinburgh and heading east towards Glasgow, this port city is located along the River Clyde in the western Lowlands. As Scotland's largest city, it's known for its blend of modern and historic architecture, thriving music scene, and collection of whiskey breweries — the beverage of choice in Scotland. It's said that "the people make Glasgow," contributing to it being one of the friendliest cities in the world.

Rounding out the first week of this trip, travelers are advised to spend the next few days in Oban, situated along Scotland's western coast. This port town is full of character, with several acclaimed distilleries and plenty of seafood houses, as Oban is home to some of the country's freshest maritime cuisine. It's also the connecting port town to the coastal isles of Mull, Iona, and Staffa.

Inverness, Skye, and St. Andrews

Traveling north out of Oban, toward the Scottish Highlands, the regional capital, Inverness is the gateway to some of this region's most captivating sights and landmarks. Steves recommends a quick side detour to Loch Ness, a freshwater lake southwest of Inverness. Try and catch a glimpse of the Loch Ness monster while you're here, as it is the homeland of this fabled creature. The Inverness Castle and Culloden Battlefields are a few other sights not to be missed in this picturesque region.

The Isle of Skye might be the most stunning piece of paradise yet on this tour. With its rugged terrain, scattered fishing villages, and medieval castles, the landscape is reminiscent of a storybook town. The Isles were ruled for centuries by competing clans, resulting in a turbulent past. From the sacred Fairy Pools to the chiseled rocky facades of The Storr, the Isle of Skye's wealth is found in the natural landscape.

On the road to Stirling, the final destination on this tour, stop for a round of golf in St. Andrews, the founding place of this beloved club sport. Just over an hour from St. Andrews, Stirling holds more than one heroic icon defining the country's past. According to Steves, Stirling Castle should be one of the top things on your bucket list, along with Dunblane Cathedral and the National Wallace Monument. If you find yourself craving a break from urban life, visit Plean Country Park, covered in acres of hiking trails and flourishing woodlands.

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Scotland Tour: All Tours Must Pass

It is always a bit emotional at the end of a tour, when we say goodbye to our bus driver and guide. We have a tour culture where bus drivers eat meals with our groups and are part of the family. Farewells (even with Roddie’s fake over-the-top emotions in this clip) are heartfelt. Our groups pack light, carry their own bags, and take care of the bus as if it’s ours. Drivers appreciate that. And drivers add a wonderful bit of spice to the social and cultural mix.

Our tour guide, Liz Lister (now with three Rick Steves tours — two assisting and one leading — under her belt), has picked up and embraced our quirky style well and clearly enjoys the group.

The party Liz invited the group to is our annual tour reunion party in Seattle. We’ll be flying Liz to Seattle in January (along with our other European guides) for our annual reunion festivities and tour guide summit. Our guides look forward as much as anyone to being reunited with their tour members.

As our tour disperses, I’ll be heading for Glasgow, Berlin, and Prague before meeting Steve Smith in Alsace and then joining up with the crew for TV production in France. Stay tuned.

If you can’t see the video below, watch it on YouTube .

3 Replies to “Scotland Tour: All Tours Must Pass”

I find the flight home so sad! Even when we go on our own, or with friends. That alternate world you spend time in is so lovely! I think we all wish we could be Rick and keep going back every year.

Have fun in Glasgow. I really enjoyed the Tenement Museum. Since my visit, I’ve also been to the similar museum in NYC which provided interesting contrasts.

We will avoid Alsace until rick is gone.

Comments are closed.

WOW Scotland features in Rick Steves’ Scotland guide

We are delighted to be featured in Rick Steves’ latest Scotland guidebook!

Travel authority

Rick Steves is the USA’s most well-known and respected authority on European travel and, for many North Americans, is the first person they turn to when researching an upcoming trip across the pond.

An inspiration to Americans

Rick Steves first travelled to Europe when he was just 18 years old and, for the last 50 years, has been advocating travel to places which don’t feature on the well-trodden tourist trail. Through his guide books, TV series, seminars and organised tours, he has inspired generations of North Americans to broaden their cultural knowledge, in a fun and affordable way.

Proud to feature in all four editions

Rick Steves’ latest Scotland guide was published in 2023, and features the following information about WOW Scotland in the Tours in Inverness – Isle of Skye section;

“WOW Scotland’s ambitious “Ultimate” big-bus itinerary includes short but smart and adequate stops all along the way – including the Trotternish Peninsula and a chance to hike at the Fairy Pools (£94, nearly daily June – Aug, fewer departures April-May and Sept, none Oct-March, +44 1808 511 773, www.wowscotlandtours.com ). I’d pay the extra £20 for front row (or £5 for the second row)”.

As one of only three companies featured in the Isle of Skye section, we are delighted that we have been selected for inclusion, even more so as this is the fourth time we have made his prestigious short-list!  Yes, you read it right, we were also featured in Rick Steves Scotland 1st edition (2016), 2nd edition (2018) and 3rd edition (2020). And a fun fact for you..our (now retired) tour guide Bill actually met Rick Steves in an Inverness bar one night, so he’s definitely making sure he fact-checks his books!

Our “big-bus” isn’t that big by the way..we can take 30 guests on our executive mini-coach, which is perfectly designed for our narrow, windy Scottish roads 😉

A shared passion for meaningful travel

Here at WOW Scotland we aim to show our guests the places we take our friends to when they visit, and to offer all guests the opportunity to fall in love with the place we call home.  In the welcome to Rick Steves’ guide he says, “ We visit Scotland to experience it – to become temporary locals” which resonates well with our ethos.   Additionally, he says, “ My self-guided city walks and driving tours provide insight into the country’s vibrant history and today’s living, breathing culture ”.  Again, this sits well with our ethos at WOW Scotland – our guides live and breathe Highland life, and love to share the wonders of their homeland with their guests.

Buy the book

If you would like to buy the Rick Steves Scotland guide you can do so here on the Rick Steves website (USA guests only).  There are lots of other useful resources on that website too, including video clips about different parts of Scotland, tips and articles.

Join a Skye tour

If you’d like to travel as Rick recommends then we’d love to take you on our Ultimate Isle of Skye Tour , which boasts the most comprehensive itinerary of any day tour to Skye. Alternatively, you may wish to consider our new Skye Explorer Hiking Tour , which enables you to get out and really experience this wonderful island on a series of mini-hikes. 

We hope that you come and experience the very best of Scotland with us, and we are confident that you will leave with memories to last a lifetime!

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