4-Day Islay Whisky Tour from Edinburgh: Distillery Tastings
The oldest licensed distillery on the island opens its doors before you taste the smokiest whiskies in Scotland.
A 4-day tour from Edinburgh to the Isle of Islay in the Scottish Hebrides, with tours and tastings at four working distilleries (Bowmore, Ardbeg, Laphroaig, and Kilchoman) plus three nights in the Bowmore Distillery Cottages. The small group stays under 16 people, and a driver-guide leads you through the island's whisky heartland and coastal landmarks including Loch Lomond, Inveraray Castle, and Kilmartin Glen's ancient standing stones. Ferry crossings and all distillery entrance fees are included. Full Scottish breakfasts are available locally.
Options for this experience
3 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Travel to Islay via Oban and Kilmartin Glen
- Admire Scotland’s scenic beauty
- Visit Oban Seafood Hut for seafood
- Explore standing stones in Kilmartin Glen
- Take evening ferry from Kennacraig to Islay
- Overnight at Bowmore Cottages
Day 2: Tour Bowmore, Kilchoman, and Bunnahabhain
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Tour and tasting at Bowmore Distillery
- Tour Kilchoman Distillery and lunch
- Visit Bunnahabhain Distillery
- Overnight at Bowmore Cottages
Day 3: Visit Ardbeg, Laphroaig, and Lagavulin
- Tour and tasting at Ardbeg Distillery
- Tour and tasting at Laphroaig Distillery
- Optional tasting at Lagavulin Distillery
- Visit ruins of Kildalton church
- Overnight at Bowmore Cottages
Day 4: Explore Inveraray and Loch Lomond
- Visit Inveraray village and whisky shop
- Optional visit to Inveraray Castle or Old Jail
- Enjoy Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park
What’s included
- Ferry crossings to and from Islay.
- three nights' en-suite accommodation in the Bowmore Distillery Cottages with shared kitchen and lounge facilities.
- transport by Mercedes mini-coach.
- a live English-speaking driver-guide for all four days.
- tours and tastings at Bowmore, Ardbeg, Laphroaig, and Kilchoman distilleries.
- lunch at Ardbeg's restaurant on day three.
- basic self-service breakfast ingredients (cooked breakfasts available locally for a charge).
Next departure: 8 Mar 2027
Information
Four-day whisky tour from Edinburgh to Islay visiting four distilleries with tastings, staying at Bowmore Distillery Cottages.
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The experience
The journey starts in Edinburgh and runs south through Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park, then cuts west through Kilmartin Glen where standing stones and strongholds rise over 1,500 years old. By evening you board the two-hour ferry from Kennacraig to Islay, where you'll spend three nights in the Bowmore Distillery Cottages: a shared accommodation with en-suite rooms, a communal kitchen and lounge, and basic self-service breakfast ingredients (cooked breakfasts are available nearby for a local charge). The cottages sit steps from the island's working distilleries, so the real work begins the next morning.
Day two takes you to Bowmore, the oldest licensed distillery on the island, for a tour and tasting after breakfast. Then your driver-guide moves you to Kilchoman, known for its Single Farm Single Malt Scotch made entirely from Islay barley, where you'll have lunch of local produce. The afternoon lands at Bunnahabhain, Islay's most remote distillery, where the whisky carries unpeated, salty notes that set it apart from the island's smokier reputation. Day three focuses on the southern coast: Ardbeg (which sent whisky to mature in outer space) offers a full tour and three drams, plus lunch in their restaurant overlooking the Atlantic. Laphroaig follows with an exclusive tasting of two drams and a chance to visit Lagavulin if time allows. If the tour runs on a weekday, all distilleries are in full production, so you'll see the stills and the process itself. On the final day, you drive back along the coast to Inveraray, a historic village with an 18th-century castle, an old jail, and a whisky shop (lunch is on your own here) before returning to Edinburgh through Loch Lomond.
The Mercedes mini-coach holds the group at 16 or fewer, which means you move through each distillery without the crowds of larger tours. A live English-speaking guide drives and leads every stop. Luggage is limited to one medium suitcase (airline carry-on size) plus a small personal bag. The itinerary shifts slightly depending on the day you depart: Monday departures see all distilleries in operation; Friday tours skip Kilchoman and visit other sites instead; and during the distilleries' silent seasons (mid-July through mid-September), you'll get tastings and talks rather than full production tours. Booking three or more people allows you to request a mix of double, twin, and family rooms in the cottages, noted at checkout.
Top questions
What distilleries do I actually tour and taste at on this 4-day trip?
The tour includes full tours and tastings at Bowmore, Ardbeg, Laphroaig, and Kilchoman distilleries. Bowmore is the oldest licensed distillery on Islay; Ardbeg is known for its heavily peated whisky and sits on the rocky coast; Laphroaig offers an exclusive tasting of two drams; and Kilchoman is the island's only Single Farm Single Malt producer, making whisky entirely from Islay barley. You may also visit Bunnahabhain (unpeated) and Lagavulin depending on the schedule and day of departure.
Where do I sleep for the three nights on Islay?
You stay in the Bowmore Distillery Cottages, which have en-suite bedrooms (twin, double, or single occupancy depending on your booking option) and shared kitchen and lounge facilities. Basic self-service breakfast ingredients are provided. Cooked Scottish breakfasts are available at nearby hotels for a local charge. Luggage is limited to one medium suitcase plus a small personal bag.
Does the tour include the ferry crossing to Islay?
Yes, ferry crossings are included in the tour price. You board the evening ferry from Kennacraig on day one for a two-hour sail to Islay, and the return ferry is part of the itinerary on day four.
How many people travel on this tour, and is there a guide?
The small group is limited to 16 people or fewer, ensuring personalized attention. A live English-speaking driver-guide leads all four days and every distillery visit, traveling in a top-of-the-range Mercedes mini-coach.
What happens if I book a Friday departure instead of another day?
Friday departures follow a more flexible itinerary because Kilchoman Distillery is closed. The tour will include shop visits and tastings at other distilleries instead. Monday departures are ideal if you want to see all distilleries in full production, as they operate on weekdays only.
What's included in the tour price, and what do I pay for separately?
The tour price includes ferry crossings, three nights' accommodation, transport by mini-coach, a driver-guide, and entrance fees plus tours and tastings at Bowmore, Ardbeg, Laphroaig, and Kilchoman distilleries. Food and drinks beyond the distillery tastings, gratuities, and hotel pickup or drop-off in Edinburgh are not included. Full Scottish breakfasts are available locally for a charge.
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Prices and times updated 3 days ago
4-Day Islay Whisky Tour from Edinburgh: Distillery Tastings
4d · EN
from £ 1,062.88 per person
≈ US$ 1,430 in your currency
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