Loch Ness, Glen Coe & Ben Nevis: Full Day Highlands Tour from Edinburgh
Discover the mysterious Loch Ness monster and rugged mountain landscapes by sunset
You travel north from Edinburgh in a coach with a local guide, passing Stirling Castle and stopping in Callander before reaching Ben Nevis, Glen Coe, and Loch Ness. You get free time at Loch Ness to boat or walk, and another stop in Pitlochry on the return. The tour includes transport and a guide. Lunch and any boat trips are on you. Plan for a 12-hour day and arrive early for check-in.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Explore Highlands and Loch Ness
- Pass Stirling Castle ramparts
- Stop in Callander village
- Pass Fort William and Ben Nevis
- Visit Glencoe and hear massacre story
- Free time in Fort Augustus by Loch Ness
- Stop in Pitlochry village
- Stirling Castle passing by
- Callander 45m
- Ben Nevis passing by
- Glencoe 15m
- Loch Ness 1h 40m
- Pitlochry 30m
What’s included
Your day includes pickup in an air-conditioned coach, a local English-speaking guide, and stops at Stirling Castle, Callander village, Ben Nevis, Glen Coe, Fort Augustus on Loch Ness (with free time to explore or boat), and Pitlochry. Lunch and any boat trips on Loch Ness are separate bookings.
- Every day 07:30
Information
Full-day Highlands tour from Edinburgh covering Loch Ness, Glen Coe, Ben Nevis and Stirling Castle. Includes coach, guide and stops with free time at Loch Ness.
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Traveler reviews
The experience
"So we're really going to see Loch Ness?" The question came up before the coach had even left Edinburgh. Your guide (a local who knows the Highlands like most people know their own street) nods and pulls onto the A9, and suddenly you're heading north past Stirling Castle, its ramparts rising against the sky as he talks through the Scottish Wars of Independence. It's the kind of history that doesn't feel like a lecture when you're actually looking at the place it happened.
The route takes you through Callander first, a small village where you can grab coffee and stretch your legs, then past Fort William toward Ben Nevis: Britain's highest mountain, sitting at the end of the West Highland Way. The scale of it hits different when you're standing in front of it rather than seeing it in a photo. After that comes Glen Coe, and your guide walks you through the 1692 massacre of the MacDonald clan, the landscape itself making the story land harder than any museum could. The valley is steep and dramatic, and knowing what happened there changes how you see it.
The real free time comes at Fort Augustus, on the banks of Loch Ness itself. You've got a couple of hours to decide: take a boat out onto the loch if you want to hunt for Nessie (that's a separate booking, around 50 minutes), or walk the canal path and find a spot for lunch. Either way, you're not rushed. On the way back south, the coach stops in Pitlochry, one of those quiet Highland villages where you can breathe for a minute before the final stretch home. The whole day runs roughly 12 hours, and the return time shifts depending on traffic and weather, so don't plan anything tight for the evening.
You'll need to arrive 15 minutes early for check-in, and the coach is air-conditioned, which matters when you're sitting in one for most of the day. Your guide speaks English and knows the region well enough to answer the questions that come up naturally as you're driving through it. If extreme weather hits, the Loch Ness boat cruise can get cancelled last-minute, but the rest of the tour still runs.
Top questions
How long is the full day tour from Edinburgh?
Approximately 12 hours, including all stops and free time. Return times vary with road conditions and weather, so allow extra time for evening plans.
What's included in the tour?
Air-conditioned coach, local English-speaking guide, and stops at Stirling Castle, Callander, Ben Nevis, Glen Coe, Fort Augustus, and Pitlochry. Lunch and boat trips are not included.
Can you take a boat on Loch Ness?
Yes, but it's optional and booked separately. The boat cruise runs about 50 minutes. You have free time at Fort Augustus to decide whether to go or walk instead.
What if the weather is bad?
The tour runs in most conditions. The Loch Ness boat cruise may be cancelled in extreme weather, and you'll be refunded if you've paid for it separately. Itinerary order can also change.
Do I need to be fit for this tour?
It's suitable for all fitness levels. You're mostly in the coach, with walking breaks in villages and at viewpoints. Collapsible wheelchairs can be accommodated if someone travels with you to help board and disembark.
What time do I need to arrive?
Arrive at least 15 minutes before departure for check-in. Late arrivals cannot be held or refunded.
Is lunch included?
No. You have free time in Callander, Fort Augustus, and Pitlochry to buy food. Fort Augustus has several cafés and restaurants near the loch.
Can children go on this tour?
Yes. Children aged 5–17 must be accompanied by an adult. Kids under 5 are not permitted.
Operated by HAGGiS Adventures. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated yesterday
Loch Ness, Glen Coe & Ben Nevis: Full Day Highlands Tour from Edinburgh
12h 15m · EN
from £ 51.75 per person
≈ US$ 70 in your currency
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