Tours and Tickets
Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh (*inc. Cruise from 1st April 2023)
5

Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh (*inc. Cruise from 1st April 2023)

By Rabbie's
Recommended by 95% of travellers
This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher
Opt for a personalized experience of the Scottish Highlands on a small-group day trip from Edinburgh, limited to 16 people. Ideal for visitors with limited time, this guided tour transports you to Loch Ness and other Highland highlights with ease and efficiency. Stop at Glencoe, Cairngorms National Park, and Fort Augustus along the way, and upgrade to include a cruise on the legendary Loch Ness. Plus, traveling in a top-of-the-range, 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach means you can feel comfortable throughout the journey to and from Edinburgh.
from
€69.24
per adult
from
€69.24
per adult

Lowest price guaranteeFree cancellation

Ages 5-99, max of 16 per group
Duration: 12h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English

Highlights
  • Take a hassle-free day trip to Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands
  • Let a guide bring the history of historic landmarks to life 
  • Travel comfortably in a top-of-the-range, 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach
  • Small-group tour for a more personalized experience
  • Upgrade upon arrival to include a sightseeing cruise on Loch Ness

  • Admission Fee - From 1st April 2023 tour price includes 50 minute cruise on Loch Ness)
  • The chance to see "Nessie", the Loch Ness monster
  • Small Group Tour (maximum 16 passengers)
  • Top range 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach
  • The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide
  • Entry/Admission - Fort Augustus
What's not included
  • Admission Fees - Until 1st April 2023 tour price does not include cruise on Loch Ness (optional)
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop off
  • Food and drinks

Your tour begins with pickup from a central Edinburgh location. Board a top of the range, 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach destined for the Scottish Highlands. On the way to Loch Ness, pass landmarks such as the Wallace Monument, Stirling Castle, and Linlithgow Palace. Stop at Glencoe to learn about the history of the Clan Macdonald massacre from 1692 before you journey onward through the town of Fort William. On arrival at Fort Augustus, disembark to wander around Loch Ness, or take a sightseeing cruise depending on the option chosen at checkout. Following a break for lunch (own expense), travel through Cairngorms National Park for panoramic views of Loch Laggan. Return to your original departure point in Edinburgh.

Departure details
  • Bus Station, Edinburgh EH1 3AY, UK From 1 February 2023 all tours from Edinburgh will depart from Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH1 3DQ (Check in closes 15 minutes prior to departure)
Return details
  • Returns to original departure point

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 225005

  • Please note: From 1 February 2023 all tours from Edinburgh will depart from Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH1 3DQ
  • Check-in closes 15 minutes prior to departure. *From 1st February 2023, this tour will depart from Edinburgh Bus Station, Gate J and Gate K, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ. Check-in will close at 07:30 (tour will depart at 07:45).
  • Luggage Allowance: You're restricted to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person on our tours. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus a small bag for onboard personal items.
  • In order to retain the integrity of the tour and try to ensure that all our customers have the best possible experience, we do cap bookings from any one party to 8 passengers.
  • Minimum age to participate is 5 years old. We do not carry children under the age of 5.
  • Loch Ness cruise – We reserve tickets for you. Included in tour price from 1st April 2023
  • Most travellers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travellers

  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

A note from Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh (*inc. Cruise from 1st April 2023)
  • Government guidelines strongly recommended that you wear a mask on public transport and in crowded places. Masks are available onboard our mini-coaches should you wish to wear one. Important: Please be aware that some attractions and other venues may require visitors to wear a face mask.
What you can expect during your visit
  • Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
  • Face masks provided for travellers
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
  • Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.

How much is Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh (*inc. Cruise from 1st April 2023)?
Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh (*inc. Cruise from 1st April 2023) price starts from €69.82. Discover and book Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh (*inc. Cruise from 1st April 2023) on Tripadvisor
What is the Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh (*inc. Cruise from 1st April 2023) cancellation policy?
Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh (*inc. Cruise from 1st April 2023) cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh (*inc. Cruise from 1st April 2023) on Tripadvisor
Which company provides Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh (*inc. Cruise from 1st April 2023)?
Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh (*inc. Cruise from 1st April 2023) is hosted by Rabbie's. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Rabbie's on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh (*inc. Cruise from 1st April 2023) on Tripadvisor
How much time do I need for Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh (*inc. Cruise from 1st April 2023)?

If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 225005

Itinerary
  • You'll start at
    Bus Station
    Edinburgh EH1 3AY, UK
    From 1 February 2023 all tours from Edinburgh will depart from Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH1 3DQ (Check in closes 15 minutes prior to departure)
    See address & details
  • 1
    Callander
    Stop: 30 minutes
    See details
  • 2
    Glencoe Mountain
    Stop: 15 minutes
    See details
  • 3
    Fort Augustus
    Stop: 90 minutes
    See details
  • 4
    Cruise Loch Ness
    Stop: 50 minutes - Admission included
    See details
    Pass by
    Cairngorms National Park
  • You'll return to the starting point
+
About the operator

Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator.

772linneat
772linneat
00
fabulous day
We had a great day on this tour with driver/tour guide Jim Scott. He was well informed, funny and experienced. I'
brenda698
brenda698
00
Poorly represented trip
This is advertised as a Hadrian's Wall tour but very little of the wall is seen or spoken of. Instead it seemed to
L3345YBirenew
L3345YBirenew
00
Great tour great guide
James was totally amazing and made the tour so very enjoyable. I am Scottish and I learned so much about my countr
L8381UIdanak
L8381UIdanak
00
Outlander Tour
Beautiful tour and our tour guide, Peter, was amazing! He was knowledgeable and hilarious. Definitely worth the tri
Venture31774186204
Venture31774186204
00
Great tour guide
Jim was an excellent tour guide full of knowledge and funny stories. We toured several castles and churches and got
U2327RZ
U2327RZ
00
Great day
We went on this tour with Penny and it was FANTASTIC!! Penny was a hoot and has a wealth of knowledge. We learned a
lynngraylynn
lynngraylynn
00
Excellent
My daughter and I had the most wonderful time . Our tour guide Chris was amazing he was so full of enthusiasm and s
leemichaelh2023
leemichaelh2023
00
10, 10, 10 across the board.
Not only was the chapel absolutely stunning, our tour guide was amazing, he was very funny and shared his vast know
JackRossSuperStar
JackRossSuperStar
00
Beautiful and a great time!!
My wife and I had a wonderful time on the tour. The scenes and views were amazing! Each town we visited was great a
Savvytravellers_1011
Savvytravellers_1011
00
A Mesmerising Experience of the Country Side
An outstanding tour by Rabbis of St Andrews and the Fishing Villagers of Fife. The guide Sean made the tour very me
docdeb56
docdeb56
00
Two days, two tours, and one great guide!
My daughter and I took the Isle of Skye, Loch Ness, Eilean Donan 1 day tour, with our guide Stewart. It was terrifi
581izag
581izag
00
Go with Steven and enjoy Scotland!
Our trip with Steven was absolutely wonderful. We loved his stories and the way he told them. One day trip to Loch
758nathaliar
758nathaliar
00
Good outlander tour
If you like a tour with little to no guidance and more independent time from a large group, this tour is for you. O
KAV1987
KAV1987
00
A beautiful day through the highlands
With various beautiful options to choose from, we decided to go for the "West Highlands, Lochs & Castle" tour in a
jasonjoshuac
jasonjoshuac
00
Highland trip
Jim Scott was a cool guy and very knowledgable about all things scotland. Loves to sing and take pics too.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

We perform checks on reviews
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
1,942 reviews
Excellent
1,723
Very good
132
Average
39
Poor
18
Terrible
30

T H
Montpellier, France8 contributions
Apr 2022
After checking different operators, we choose Rabbie's due to the reviews, the price and the itinerary offer. We think it was the best decision ever !
Our driver-guide Will was very funny and entertaining. As soon as he started to drive, he told us stories from Edinburgh and he kept going tailoring his speech to let us know about all the places we were travelling around. He was witty, easy going and he kept us informed at all times of when we will have the next toilet/food break. He even went the extra mile and prepared a playlist with Scottish songs related with the places we were visiting and driving through and telling us the stories behind them. It was like being in a Scottish movie ! We will repeat without doubts and especially if Will was to be our driver ! Thank you very much again Will.
Written 25 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Kelly C
6 contributions
Sep 2022
Overall, my son, husband, and I enjoyed this day tremendously. The scenery was amazing, the commentary from Dave was informative, and the stops, especially in Glencoe, were breathtaking. We had two hiccups that I think are worth mentioning as they might help future patrons of this tour. First, the email information said to arrive at 7:45 AM for an 8:00 AM departure. We were at Rabbie's cafe by the required time, but the bus was already loaded so the three of us had to sit separately for the entire day. It would have been nice if our driver would have assisted in reorganizing some of the seating so we could have tried to sit together, or waiting to actually load the bus once everyone was there.

In Loch Ness, we opted to do the cruise (I don't recommend this add-on, by the way; not much to it at all), and Dave told us that we could order take-away food for the trip. We went into a cafe and ordered three sandwiches, but when we tried to take them onto the boat, we were told that hot food was not allowed on board. That wasn't posted anywhere and we just had three panini's well-wrapped so we didn't see what the issue was, but we still had to wolf them down before boarding the boat, which meant we were the last on board and again didn't get good seats!

So be sure to arrive well before 7:45 to sit together, and if you do the Loch Ness cruise, be sure not to take hot sandwiches with you!

Otherwise, we enjoyed this excursion very much.
Written 6 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Chris K
Saint Louis, MO6 contributions
Sep 2022
Jim Scott ( The Scot) seasoned tour guide and photographer and Monroe climber made certain we all got our best Money shots all day long! Jim worked hard all day to share his knowledge and passion for Scotland from Edinburgh throughout the lowlands and highlands, sharing his personal experiences and in-depth historical and cultural knowledge of his treasured homeland. He had our multi national small group singing our countries anthems as we rolled back into Edinburgh following 12 packed hours on the sunniest day in weeks. Certainly a show stopper for our visit to Scotland.
Written 19 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Jacobus L
1 contribution
This trip was fantastic. I can't imagine anyone going a better, more beautiful route. Our host, Graham, was excellent. He told us many informative bits of information throughout, as well as sharing exciting stories from Scottish history. He took time to answer every question and during the frequent stops, he was happy to help passengers get pictures and talk to them. Sometimes with tours like this, it's clear the driver just isn't enjoying it and wants to get done with it. Not Graham. He made the trip relaxing and fun for everyone and obviously enjoyed sharing gorgeous Scotland with us.

The only slight critique is the boarding process at the beginning. Many people were confused, because many coaches were there at the same time. I was told to go to the bus with Graham on a sign on the bus. But there wasn't any bus that said that. I asked the information steward who told me Graham must not be there yet. I stood around and waited. Turns out Graham was there the whole time, and the bus was already filling up by the time I finally went and asked again. I would have been one of the first on the bus and coupe have gotten a front seat, but thankfully I still managed to get a window seat, so all was well. I would advise them to clearly mark buses with drivers' names and to audibly announce the name of each driver every five minutes or so. The other slight negative was that the description makes it seem that the Loch Ness cruise is included, which is what I expected. It isn't. It's optional, and the driver subtly encourages people not to take it. But the extra time in lovely Fort Augustus is still quite nice, and you can leisurely stroll down to Loch Ness and even dip your toes in the water near Augustus Abbey if you wish. Gorgeous.

The tour was so good that I can't take away anything from the rating because of these slight negatives! If you're thinking about a trip to the Highlands and don't have days to spend there, I doubt you'll do better than this tour.
Written 25 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Robert C
7 contributions
A great day in the Scottish Highlands.

We were picked up at Rabbie’s In Edinburgh . Check in was easy and we immediately boarded our bus. The busses are just the right size as they limit the group size.
Our driver/tour guide, Jim, was a fantastic addition to our day. We toured on a rainy and overcast day and I feared that our tour would be ruined. But, in fact, the three of us agreed that the weather created some beautiful and ethereal sights that we loved.

Some highlights:
Glencoe and The Three Sisters was beautiful. As we entered the valley, Jim shared the story of the massacre of Clan Macdonald and it was a perfect historical reference to bring the area to life.

Loch Lubnaig was a surprise jewel along the way.

Loch Ness…because everyone needs to be there at least once in their life :)

Our only concern was that our stops in places like Loch Ness(where we anticipated getting some lunch), were less than an hour and on a busy day (lots of busses and tourists) we weren’t able to get served in any of the restaurants in time. Not the tour companies fault, of course, but we were lucky that we had packed a few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Advice would be, pick a restaurant and wait out the line…don’t look at the line and jump to another restaurant. And maybe, take some snacks just in case. This in no way should keep anyone from taking the tour.

We rate this tour a solid 5 stars. Highly recommended!
Written 5 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Kathryn S
Milwaukee, WI1 contribution
Oct 2022 • Couples
My husband and I wanted to experience the Highlands while visiting Edinburgh and this was an amazing tour! We saw so much of the beautiful country and it was nice to be in a smaller group vs a large bus. Our tour guide (Stuart B) was one of the best I’ve had in all my travels. He included so many interesting stories and facts along the way and played music pertaining to the history he shared. Above and beyond - he even had a list of songs for us to take a photo of so we could listen back home.

We had so many chances to take amazing photographs during our stops and at most of them we also could use the facilities which is always a big benefit on a long day tour like this.

Not only did we get to experience everything on the itinerary but Stuart made some extra stops (and always made sure to ask the group first) which just added to this already pleasurable tour. We even had a quick stop off at a Scotch Whisky distillery as a bonus and near the end we got to feed the Highland Cows some carrots which everyone had a great time with.

The tour meeting point was easy to find to check in and it was a short to the buses - just make sure you are on time (or early) since the whole day is scheduled to make sure you get to see as much as possible. Definitely do not hesitate to book this tour!
Written 17 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Charan
West Bromwich, UK22 contributions
Jul 2022
If you’re short on time, we highly highly highly recommend going on Stuart B’s tour of Loch Ness and Glencoe and the Highlands. I’d describe it as one of those tours where you get to see many breathtaking sights, and learn about so many fascinating things in the space of 12 hours, but it leaves you wanting to revisit again for a much longer stay! Stuart B was absolutely class and took really good care of us. I very much enjoyed his masterful storytelling of Scotland’s rich history, his funky playlist for the journey, as well as his jokes - some of which were so bad they were brilliant! Thank you Stuart! Overall, it was a long day, but it was also a very memorable and enjoyable one. Our guide made sure we had plenty of breaks, and the transport vehicle was comfy too which helped!
Written 2 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

John H
1 contribution
Aug 2022 • Couples
We enthusiastically recommend Rabbie’s one-day tour of Loch Ness and Glencoe and the Highlands. For us it more than lived up to its billing as a great one-day introduction to Scotland, and left us eager to return for a more extended tour. The transport is fully comfortable for this 12-hour tour and the guide does an outstanding job not only driving but also providing the contexts that give meaning to the sights along the route.

Be sure to take this tour with Stuart B. if you can. He weaves the tapestry of Scotland’s history, literature, clans, leaders, geography, weather, and especially its music so that after perhaps 90 minutes the passage into the highlands proper packs a powerful punch. The momentum builds from there. A big thank you to Stuart B. from “Team Alabama”!
Written 2 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Ben M
London, UK11 contributions
May 2022
This was the second highlands tour we have done, as family members were visiting and we wanted to show them the highlands. This tour was better than the previous one with a different company for a number of reasons:

1. Smaller bus, better experience: the smart modern buses had a smaller capacity, which was great. Almost felt like a private tour, and meant we could get to places the larger buses couldn’t.

2. Driver discretion: the tour guide was free to choose where we went and what we saw (within reason, and still in line with the overall itinerary) depending on the prevailing weather conditions. That’s important in a country with a high rainfall!

3. Music was ace, much better than someone scrolling through their Spotify account on a whim, it felt like a soundtrack to the day.

4. Dom, our guide, was knowledgeable, calm, passionate about Scotland (despite being an Englishman!) and gave just the right level of information to make it engaging. Not an easy task, so kudos for getting that right.

5. We saw everything you need to (could) see in a day to appreciate how magnificent the place is. It is a long day (8-8), so be prepared for that. But must be worse for the guides!!

Thanks Rabbie’s and Dom. Great experience.
Written 15 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

nomnomz
Cork, Ireland10 contributions
Went on the 1 day tour of the Highlands with my husband today. We had Duncan as our tour guide. He was brilliant! Good music and brilliant stories. Even though we were wrecked tired he managed to keep us alert and entertained with tales of Scottish history between stops. Only thing is I would recommend bringing a packed lunch before hand and make sure you have a 50p for the 1st stop toilet 😂. The Loch ness boat trip is worth doing some nice sights. We saw the 3 sisters mountains too, amazing. While it was raining a bit and wasn't so clear, I would still recommend it and on a clear day I'd say it would be unreal!
Written 7 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Showing results 1-10 of 1,742
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

2023 Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh (*inc. Cruise from 1st April 2023)