Loch Ness day tour from Edinburgh with Glencoe included
A full loop through Scotland's most remote and storied landscapes, all from one minibus
You travel north from Edinburgh through Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, stop for refreshments in Callander, then drive through Rannoch Moor and Glencoe with time to photograph and learn the history. You pass Ben Nevis, reach Fort Augustus at Loch Ness for a long lunch break and optional boat cruise, then return via the Cairngorms and Perthshire with an evening stop before arriving back in Edinburgh.
Step-by-step itinerary
Loch Ness and Highlands tour from Edinburgh
- Depart Edinburgh and travel north
- Refreshment stop in Callander
- Stop and explore Glencoe
- View Ben Nevis from minibus
- Arrive Fort Augustus for lunch and free time
- Optional Loch Ness cruise or explore village
- Travel south through Cairngorms National Park
- Evening refreshment stop in Perthshire
- Return to Edinburgh
What’s included
Your day includes small-group transport in a comfortable air-conditioned minibus with a maximum of 16 travellers, a professional English-speaking driver-guide, and stops in Callander for morning refreshments, Glencoe for photography and history, Fort Augustus for a long lunch break and village exploration, and Perthshire for evening refreshments before returning to Edinburgh. The optional 50-minute Loch Ness cruise is available on the day and paid locally if you choose it.
- Every day 07:45
Information
Small-group Loch Ness day tour from Edinburgh with Glencoe, Fort Augustus and Ben Nevis views. Includes optional 50-minute cruise. Departs 7:45am.
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The experience
Rannoch Moor is the kind of place that stops conversation. You leave Callander in the morning (a quiet Highland town where you've had coffee and stretched your legs), and then the landscape just empties out. No trees, no buildings, just open moorland rolling toward the horizon, and your driver-guide pointing out how few people ever see it this way. The minibus holds a maximum of 16 travellers, so it's small enough that you're not crammed in with a coach full of strangers, but there are still other people around if you want to chat or ask questions as you go.
Glencoe hits differently when you're standing in front of it. The valley narrows between two steep mountainsides, and the light changes the whole mood depending on what the weather's doing: sometimes it's moody and grey, sometimes the sun cuts through and the rock face turns golden. You get out of the minibus, take your photos, and the driver-guide talks through the history: the massacre, the clans, why this place matters. It's not a lecture. It's more like someone who knows the story telling it to you while you're actually looking at the place. Then you're back in the minibus, heading toward Fort William, and on a clear day you can see Ben Nevis from your seat: the UK's highest mountain, just sitting there across the landscape.
Fort Augustus is where the day opens up. You arrive at the southern end of Loch Ness with hours of free time, and the village itself is small enough that you can walk it in twenty minutes, but there's enough to do that you won't feel rushed. Some people grab lunch at one of the cafés, others watch the boats moving through the Caledonian Canal locks. There's something hypnotic about that, the way the water rises and falls. If you want, you can pay locally for an optional 50-minute Loch Ness cruise, which puts you on the water itself. If you'd rather just sit by the loch or explore the village more, that's fine too. The time is yours.
The return journey takes you south through the Cairngorms National Park and Perthshire, with another refreshment stop before you're back in Edinburgh. You see the Forth Bridge as you approach the city, and by then you've crossed the entire Highlands in a single day: Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Loch Ness, and the Cairngorms all behind you. The minibus does the driving. The guide does the talking. You just look out the window and let it sink in.
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How long is the full day?
The tour runs the full day from Edinburgh, with the main stop at Fort Augustus lasting several hours. You return to Edinburgh in the evening.
What's included in the price?
Transport in a small air-conditioned minibus, a professional driver-guide, and all stops. Lunch and the optional Loch Ness cruise are not included. The cruise is payable locally on the day.
Is the Loch Ness cruise included?
No, it's optional and costs extra, paid directly on the day if you choose to do it.
How many people are on the tour?
Maximum 16 travellers per minibus, so it's a small group.
Can I see Ben Nevis?
You pass Fort William and can view Ben Nevis from the minibus on clear days, but it's not a dedicated stop at the mountain itself.
Is there time for lunch?
Yes, Fort Augustus is the main stop with several hours of free time, ideal for lunch and exploring the village.
What if the weather is bad?
The tour runs in all weather. Views may be limited on very cloudy days, but the landscapes and stops remain the same.
Operated by Discover Scotland Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated today
Loch Ness day tour from Edinburgh with Glencoe included
12h · EN
from £ 67 per person
≈ US$ 90 in your currency
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