Edinburgh: Loch Ness & Inverness 2-Day Highlands Tour

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Free cancellation

1/11

Duration2d

GroupUp to 16

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Two Days in the Highlands: Loch Ness, Glencoe & a Night in Inverness

You travel north from Edinburgh through the Cairngorms with a driver-guide and small group, stop at Pitlochry or Dunkeld based on what interests you, spend a night in Inverness with breakfast included, then cruise Loch Ness and explore Urquhart Castle and Glencoe before returning. The route is flexible, both major attractions are paid for upfront, and the group stays under 16 people, which keeps the pace human.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Edinburgh to Inverness via Aviemore

Travel through Highland Perthshire
Stop at Pitlochry or Dunkeld
See Scotland’s rounded peaks
Visit Aviemore and try local food
Discover 4,000 year old cemetery
Arrive in Inverness for overnight stay

Day 2 — Loch Ness and Glencoe to Edinburgh

Take Jacobite Cruise on Loch Ness
Explore Urquhart Castle ruins
Visit Glencoe landscape
Stop for photos at scenic spot
Return to Edinburgh

The Experience

The minibus leaves Edinburgh Bus Station at Gate J early morning, heading north into Highland Perthshire where your driver-guide reads the group and picks the first stop — could be Pitlochry, could be Dunkeld, depends on what people want to see. You're traveling with a maximum of 16 passengers, which means the van moves at a pace that lets you actually look out the window instead of rushing between checkpoints. The route takes you through the Cairngorms, past Loch Morlich, and by late afternoon you're in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, with its Victorian architecture and modern edge. You stay overnight there with breakfast included, which means you're not scrambling to find a café in the morning.

Day two starts with the Jacobite Cruise on Loch Ness — the ticket is already in your tour price, so you just board and stand on deck while the water and the hills move past you. Urquhart Castle sits on the shore, a ruin that overlooks the loch, and you get time to walk through it before or after depending on the schedule. Then comes Glencoe, one of those landscapes that stops you mid-conversation. The valley is narrow, the mountains rise steep on both sides, and there's a weight to it — history and beauty tangled together. The driver knows the best spots for photos and where to stand so you're not just looking at it through a windscreen. By evening you're back in Edinburgh.

What makes this different from the coach tours that pack forty people on is the flexibility built into the route. The itinerary isn't locked down — the guide adjusts based on weather, group interest, and what's worth lingering over that day. You're also not paying separately for the Loch Ness cruise or Urquhart Castle entry; both are included. The luggage limit is 20kg per person (one carry-on sized bag plus a small daypack), which is tight if you're overpacking, but reasonable for two nights. One thing to know: the Loch Ness boat is weather dependent and can be cancelled, though that's rare. Also, B&Bs on the route tend to be on the outskirts of towns, so there's usually a 20–30 minute walk to pubs and restaurants — not a problem if you're prepared for it, worth mentioning if stairs are difficult for you.

What’s included

Your tour includes a driver-guide for both days, transportation in a 16-seat Mercedes minibus, overnight en-suite accommodation with breakfast in Inverness, the Jacobite Cruise on Loch Ness, admission to Urquhart Castle, and stops at Glencoe, Clava Cairns, Aviemore, and your choice of Pitlochry or Dunkeld on the first morning.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Rabbies Trail Burners

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main Highlands attractions in two days without arranging transport, accommodation, or attraction tickets separately — the small-group format and included guide mean you're not navigating logistics or following a rigid schedule, just traveling at a pace that lets you actually see the landscape.