Home > Edinburgh > 3-Day Isle of Skye and Scottish Highlands Tour from Edinburgh Including 'Hogwarts Express' Ride
USD $511.00
3-Day Isle of Skye and Scottish Highlands Tour from Edinburgh Including 'Hogwarts Express' Ride
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Experience the Highland beauty of the Isle of Skye on a 3-day excursion from Edinburgh. You'll spend two nights on the Isle of Skye, see legendary Loch Ness and ride one of the world's most famous steam trains, the West Highland Line, as seen in the Harry Potter films.
When we started planning our trip to Scotland, my husband and I debated about what would be the best way to see these more remote areas- rent a car, ride trains, or book a tour. We're so glad we did it this way! Our bus was a brand new looking blue Mercedes and our driver/guide was Lee. We were very comfortable on the bus and enjoyed being able to relax and just enjoy the scenery. Lee took us to places we never would have found on our own and his enthusiasm and Scottish pride was contagious. This was by far our best tour experience in all our travels. We had a great group (all adults) from the US, UK, Australia and India. We stayed in the Rosebank Cottages (B and B) in Portree, which was simple but comfortable and included a full Scottish breakfast. Our highlights were Dunvegan Castle and the Jacobite Express train ride. An all-around great experience!
Review by: Sue S, July 2018
We loved our 3-day tour from Edinburgh to Skye and back! Our guide was very authentic, Scottish brogue and all! Loved the stories and the well-organized stops. This travel experience was worth every penny!
Review by: SW, July 2018
Our tour guide Joe - was quite a character. Fancied himself as a Sean Connery look alike. He seemed quite knowledgeable though it was difficult to separate fact from myth. I haven't taken a lot of
Review by: Tracy M, July 2018
This was a wonderful tour of the highlands and the isle of Skye. One thing that made it so great was our guide Sergio. He was full of great stories, and knowledgeable about history. His positive and friendly spirit was such a plus. He was constantly paying attention to the needs of the group and making any requests come true. The tour was at a good pace and we saw so much. It definitely gave a good taste of the areas.
Review by: Yvonne S, January 2018
Cramped Bus.
Review by: mandm, October 2017
This tour was amazing!
Review by: marsha b, September 2017
isle of skye is as idyllic as it's name suggests. our tour guide, sergio, was absolutely delightful with his wonderful stories of scotland_br/_ including stories of mystical fairies which we literally bought...that is how good of a storyteller sergio is. lol we totally enjoyed_br/_ every minute despite rain every day.
Review by: Natalia K, September 2017
Nice place to visit, but it was raining all the time :- the guide Kenny was crazy and after three days I was tired of his stupid jokes :-_br/_ the departure was chaotic and we were waited on Royal Mile about 1.5h for our bus :- the agency promised us the excursion in French, but Kenny spoke only 'local English'. He said us that we might ask for audioguide in the agency before the depature... But who knew that?! Moreover added him, these guides don't work in practice... Thus DON'T TAKE THIS TRIP IF YOU ARE NOT ENGLISH NATIVE SPEAKER !!!
Review by: Nicole V, September 2017
My partner, my 14 year old son and I had a wonderful time on this tour. The highlight was the train ride from Malliag to Fort William. Se stayed 2 nights at Portree and the Guest house accommodation was comfortable and close to everything. Caitlin, our tour guide, made the trip fun for all ages and she was very informative, a real pleasure to have as a guide, such a breath of fresh air!
Review by: dpoole1000, September 2017
Trip was everything it was advertised. Our tour driver Sergio! was entertaining, extremely informative, and drove safely as well. We saw Loch Ness, and later Eilean Donan castle but we didn't get to go inside, however we did have lots of time to see the Dunvegan Castle and gardens the next day which were amazing. The ferry trip was great and then we rode on the train reminiscent of the 50's. It was awesome - Try not to sit in the first car like we did - smoke from the engine and noisy when going up the hill - but that was part of the charming experience too. We selected the bed and breakfast and it was quaint. The innkeepers were very friendly, welcoming and accommodating. Each room was very plain but we found that typical of all Scotland but each had its own tiny bathroom thank goodness. The only thing I would change is how much was packed into the last day - we didn't get back to Edinburgh until 9pm and then trying to find in the dark the house we rented for the next few days was challenging. But overall it was nice to have someone else do the driving as well as explain what we were seeing and the historical significance. Absolutely awesome. I'm very glad we selected this tour.
Review by: David J, September 2017
In summary, this trip was the highlight of our Scotland tour. Highland Explorer Tours put together an engaging, professional tour, and our guide, Rich Lawrence, was unbelievably knowledgeable. He told the history of various parts of Scotland as well as the myths and legends with a comedic flair that made the bus trip go very quickly. Speaking of the bus, it was very comfortable and you could clearly hear the driver as well as the Scottish music he was playing during the intermissions. Just keep in mind that you have one carry-on size piece of luggage and a small bag or two for the trip. Large roller bags will need to be stored at your hotel, or you can put them in a locker in the nearby train station. Our hotel gladly stored our big bags at no extra charge :-
Review by: Nancy P, August 2017
I enjoyed the tour and thought the tour guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic but I was not happy that I was put at a B and B by myself that was 10 minutes outside of the town. I also missed a bag pipe parade that apparently happens every Tuesday night in the town we stayed in because nobody told me about it and I felt that should have been something highlighted for our tour.
Review by: Elizabeth B, August 2017
Fantastic trip wonderful guide/driver Katie, who had us all laughing all the time, had great knowledge and could not do enough for us all. Accommodation at Rosebank Cottage Portree was wonderful, very comfortable, great breakfast, close to town centre We were lucky enough to see a Pipe Band doing a rehearsal in town square fantastic. .Isle of Skye is beautiful and trip seems to cover all aspects of this lovely place. Would definitely recommend this tour to all.
Review by: christina a, August 2017
Skye is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. The days on this tour are long but well worth it. The B and B is simple but very pleasant. The breakfasts are excellent. Our guide Graeme was informative and fun. I didn't think the train ride was either very scenic or interesting.
Review by: Debbie Jane T, August 2017
This is the tour to take! I was traveling with my family of 10, - two young children, young adults, and two older people one with limited mobility. Our guide, Katie, was very knowledgable about Scottish history and the places we visited. She also introduced us to the music of Runrig a Scottish band. We had amazing weather and saw so much in only three days. I would absolutely do this tour again and it was worth every penny.
Review by: Tullo, August 2017
Wild and Sexy that was us! The original bus we were supposed to take on the trip was having some problems. We were all very impressed at the organization of this company. They decided to replace the bus immediately. But how long would this take.....???? To our amazement in 1 minute a new bus was pulling around the corner. There we were..... 30 perfect strangers, ranging in age from 20 80 piling in to our new yellow bus with the logo Wild and Sexy on the side. But who cared what was on the side of the bus......because for the next 3 days we would all be Wild and Sexy with our fearless leader Rich!_br/_ What a tripone not to miss! The scenery, the people, the history and of course the stories. We learned that the Scots love to tell stories and our driver/guide.was the best. _br/_ The Isle of Skye, the wonderful accommodations, boat rides, train rides, cute quaint towns, with their castles, whisky, food and people were all great, but what really made the trip was our guide._br/_ Rich, knew how to included everyone, gather everyone together, yet at the same time, give you space to enjoy things on your own. He always kept us interested by telling us he had a surprise for us at different parts in the trip. He was so prompted and organized, this made the trip run so smoothly. Even when we passed another a female driver in a tour bus stuck on the side of the road, in the rain with her passengers. He quickly, calming and caringly explained to us that he could not just leave her stranded on the side of the road in the rain and went to help her. Quickly he arranged for help to come for her and we were on our way. We did not miss anything._br/_ Throughout the trip you could tell his heart was really in what is was doing..I would do this trip over if I knew we would get Rich!!!
Review by: Dan L, August 2017
We were on the tour 14-16 Aug 2017, with tour guide Rich. We had a great time, regardless of the weather. Saw many many wonderful sights, and got to spend two nights in charming Portree. Rich is a great tour guide, with lots of stories and information. I particularly appreciated that he was able to make adjustments to our tour, on the fly, when we were held up by traffic, or when the weather made the ferry ride impossible. Thanks Rich.
Review by: Linda T, August 2017
As far as the places we visited--absolutely gorgeous and also moving when you learn the histories. Nothing was rushed, we had plenty of time to do what we wanted. Riding on The Hogwarts train was an added fun thing to do.. Overall, just a beautiful and rewarding use of our time. Well-worth the time. Gillian Super Gill! was our driver and tour guide for our 3-day trip from Edinburgh to and around the Isle of Skye and she added so much to our enjoyment of our time in Scotland. Being a true Scottish lass, she was full of stories of the history of places we visited plus she also added her love of her homeland and her personal stories were also woven in to really add dimension and context. It was one of our favorite times during our 3 week visit to England and Scotland. Thanks Super Gill!_br/_ Linda and Steve T.
Review by: William D, August 2017
Great tour! Driver Steve did a great job!
Review by: Charlotte K, August 2017
Rich, our guide, was fun, knowledgeable and an excellent driver as well. Felt like the bus was a bit crowded but that was because the seating is smaller than in the US. Our B and B was fine. Breakfasts were made to order based on your request and time you select. The town of Portree is charming. Shopping was fun and prices very favorable. Reservations for the restaurant REALLY are needed. listen to your guide. Learning about the Lockes we did not see Nessie was very interesting.
Review by: Jenette D, August 2017
We spent three weeks in the U.K. in July and the tour led by Ms. Worden was absolutely the best part! Ms. Worden was simply amazing. She kept a bus with 30 tourists on schedule without making us feel rushed. Her knowledge of the area and its culture was superb. She was always upbeat and smiling. She was able to point out the best places to dine and the off the beaten path opportunities that only a highly qualified and well traveled guide can provide. The time on the Isle of Skye was the highlight of the tour! Our only regret about the tour was that it was only three days!
Review by: Rachael P, August 2017
This tour was a great way to experience Skye, and the journey to and from, stopping at places I wouldn't have seen or known about if I was driving myself. The tour guide, Gill, was fantastic and overall, I had a wonderful time! I highly recommend it.
Review by: Susan S, August 2017
Loved this tour - saw so much in the short time frame. So much beautiful scenery, but our guide Tony was really the best part. He knew Scottish history and geology, as well as stories of the Wee Folk and Giants and played Scottish music for us, as well. He struck a perfect balance of information and humor, entertaining all ages from 10 to 70. Our only complaint was the hotel - older, a 4 and half flight walk up carrying luggage, tiny room, etc. Overall, though, we loved this experience and would recommend doing it!
Review by: Jennifer L, August 2017
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Leslie B, July 2017
A full 2 night stay on the stunning Isle of Skye where we went nearly everywhere over the island. Our driver Tony kept us entertained and informed with history of the island and everywhere we went was surrounded by incredible beauty. The highlight of our return journey back to Edinburgh was a ride on the Jacobite steam train from Malaig to Fort William passing over the incredible Glenfynan viaduct. Our accomodation was good whilst on Skye and well organised. I think the tour was a well thought out package of seeing plenty of Skye and the bonus of a ride on the train. We were very pleased with the whole tour. Very easy to book on your website also. _br/_ Only a slight observation not a criticism is its a lot of traveling about to see and visit and early starts and late finishes to the day was needed to pack everything in. But its a long day for those who maybe need a slightly more restful time. Maybe 4 days is needed to see the same things with 3 nights on skye. That way the tour could begin a little later in morning and finish a bit earlier so more time to have a look round Porthtree in the evening or rest up at your hotel and prepare for evening meal out.
Review by: Lorraine W, July 2017
Our tour guide Gillian really made this tour a complete pleasure! So many stories of the Kings and Queens and Scottish clans. She was a wealth of historical knowledge, and clearly loves her country and wants everyone to see it the way she does. There are many stops included - castles and waterfalls and mountains. This was an absolutely lovely way to see the Scottish highlands and so much of Scotland. We chose the hotel option rather than the B and B, and were put up in a lovely hotel on the waterfront in Portree. It is quite a bit of driving, but the stories and stops were frequent and lengthy enough to make it all go smoothly. A word to the travelers - the buses are full - please sit with the others in your group rather than spreading yourselves out in all the window seats so you can take pictures. People want to sit with those they came with. The few on our trip that were disrespectful like this definitely took away from the fun.
Review by: bonniert, July 2017
What a wonderful trip!!!!!! Our tour guide, Rich, was outstanding. His stories and historical info was a marvelous addition and the trip would not have been the same without him. His driving was ...wow! I do NOT want to have to drive myself in Scotland. Going on the ferry and then the Hogwarts Express was actually what led us to choose this tour and it was well worth it. Such a beautiful country and people.
Review by: RUSSELL F, July 2017
Worth every cent! Took our 12 and seven year old with us on the trip, and even they enjoyed it. Gill was our guide and she knew all of the great places to stop to take pics. Her stories that coincided with the trip were interesting and often times funny. Yes, we could've hired a car and done this on our own but we got so much more out of it by doing it this way. We never would've found some of the places Gill stopped so we got to see and learn so much more about Scotland than we would've on our own. Would do it again in a heartbeat!
Review by: Saroj S, July 2017
It was a lovely trip mostly due to our tour guide/bus driver, Gillian. She carried on a lively conversation and provided interesting facts about the rivalries between the Scottish clans, while driving along some difficult roads. She also enacted some stories with participation of the tourists, and engaged in wonderful camaraderie with the group. The Scottish highlands are spectacular and the train ride on the Hogwarts Express was exciting. A lot of sights were included in the short 3 days._br/_ I have been on several Viator tours, and generally the driver and guide are two different people, so it is not so stressful. I feel it is too much for one person, but Gillian carried it all with aplomb!
Review by: Emily B, July 2017
Our tour guide Steve was knowledgeable, helpful and understanding. He made this tour interesting.
Review by: Graham B, December 2016
Great way to see the country. Much easier than driving it myself with the added bonus of a very informative tour guide. Worht every penny.
Review by: Teresa F, November 2016
Excellent Trip and our guide Tony was fantastic. Lots of interesting stories and facts. A safe and very happy trip. Thank you Tony and Highland Tours. Duncan and Teresa F
Review by: mikechalverus, October 2016
We were on a two week tour of Scotland and England and the highlight of the entire trip was our three day guided tour of the Isle of Skye and the Scottish Highlands. What made the trip so outstanding was due in large part to our tour guide, Tony. His knowledge of the countryside, the history of Scotland and its origins and the historical characters that played such a defining role in its past were just mind-boggling. his knowledge was so complete that we felt like we had gotten a college degree in Scottish history by the time the tour was over. He took us to so many historical sites during our three days that we felt like we had covered everything of importance there was to see and that we had a real appreciation for what the real Scotland is all about. Tony's easy going manner and eagerness to answer any questions we had made it such a pleasurable experience. I can't recommend this tour highly enough.
Review by: Susan K, September 2016
Do not hesitate to book this tour. Your guide will be from Highland Explorer Tours and if you are lucky and get Tony, you will be in safe hands with an experienced driver on a private bus. He will educate and entertain you with stories of Scotland both funny and melancholy, and the tour will be always fascinating as you journey through Scotland and stop in many beautiful, scenic places for castle tours, whiskey or beer tastings, and photo opportunities galore. The only reason I gave this tour 4 stars i/s/o 5 is because of the train. It is not the Hogwarts Express however, the scenery during the ride is stunning and the train from the outside is picture worthy. The Scottish people are welcoming and friendly, the food is fresh and delicious esp. the seafood and most of the restaurants are fabulous esp. on I of S. Book this incredible excursion through Scotland and you will be very glad you did.
Review by: LINDA K Y, September 2016
This was an exceptional trip with so much natural beauty and history. Our guide Tony made history come alive and made sure everyone had a great experience. Would highly recommend touring the Isle of Skye.
Review by: Leah Michele A, September 2016
We were very fortunate to have Jamie S. as our guide! He was very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and funny. He was also an excellent driver.
Review by: Jacey A, September 2016
Highlands are beautiful and Scotland was my favorite part of the United Kingdom. Our tour guide was a little emotional or maybe on edge at times, he even got short with people. He also gave inaccurate facts along the way. BUT the places we seen were stunning!
Review by: Elisa C, September 2016
Best tour ever!!! 3 perfect days, we visited amazing places, the bus was great, and the driver/guide Kirsty was the best!! She really made our tour so much better!! Also the B and B was really great. I really recommend it.
Review by: Dori S, September 2016
Our tour guide, Sandy a kilt-wearing Scot! was fantastic--funny, engaging, concerned about safety, and an excellent tourist-herder. He went out of his way to be helpful to his charges, and had a wealth of knowledge and hilarious stories. This tour covered the high points of the Isle of Skye, and we were INCREDIBLY lucky to have gorgeous sunny weather for our trip, so it was spectacular! The only real downside in our minds was that the B and B rooms were original to 1972 or so when the place was built, with no ceiling fan if we opened the window screen the midges came in and ate us alive and awful wood paneling. The bathroom sported a tiny shower no tub, and, inexplicably, a chair. A coat of paint on that paneling and a ceiling fan would make the room 1000 better. Breakfast was great, the owners couldn't have been nice, and the location--about 6 blocks from the center of town--made for a nice walk since the weather was good. If I were going to do this tour again, I'd opt for the hotel, since it was right in the center of things Portree is tiny, though--nothing is very far away.
Review by: Michael J T, September 2016
I have already created a favorable review for this tour last week and have heard nothing re: publication.
Review by: Marshall B, August 2016
Great tour Excellent driver and guide
Review by: lornavuk, August 2016
The trip was truly amazing. We were fortunate to have 3 glorious sunny weather. Our guide Sandy was really fun and told us a lot of folk tales. The sceneries were breathtaking.
Review by: John H, August 2016
outstanding guide and overall experience. would be glad to pay extra for 1st class tickets on train and confirmed seats. bed and breakfast was friendly and accomodating, but rustic
Review by: Lori M, August 2016
Lots of activities crammed into those 3 days. The best was the afternoon spent at Dunvegan Castle
Review by: Louise M, August 2016
This tour exceeded all our expectations. Tony our tour guide and driver made our tour so enjoyable. His knowledge of facts of the area, and mythology along with song were wonderful. Tony also was very sensitive towards all the guests' needs. Everything ran on time and very calm. Highly recommend.
Review by: alannaylor23, August 2016
Well organised tour in which we saw many sights.
Review by: Lui, August 2016
Excellent guided tour! Our guide was a wealth of information and sensitive to individual needs.
Review by: Mary P, July 2016
Our tour guide Lee was exceptional! We learned the history of Scotland while viewing Loch Ness , and the Highlands and the Isle of Skye. The view was beautiful and the funny stories Lee told helped make the trip exceptional.
Review by: Ren, July 2016
Scot was a great tour guide. There were about 30 people total and we managed to see a lot within the 3 days. The landscape is gorgeous, but I was a bit let down by the Hogwarts Express - the tickets were second-class, so we didn't get the full Harry Potter experience.
Review by: Stephanie A, July 2016
I really enjoyed this tour! Our guide, Steve had some great stories to tell on the way and he also took into account the requests of all the passengers and where possible, accommodated them. The Highlands and Skye were remarkably beautiful. I want to go back already. Definitely in love with Scotland
RSS Feed