Scotland: Edinburgh & the Highlands

Arrive in Glasgow, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. This evening, gather with fellow guests for cocktails and a welcome dinner at the hotel.

Set out on a walking tour of Glasgow that reveals the glory of the city’s industrial heyday. Then, explore the art of the bagpipes during an interactive workshop at the National Piping Center. Eat lunch at a local restaurant, and then enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Venture along the shores of scenic Loch Lomond to Inveraray Castle, seat of the Dukes of Argyll. Walk through this aristocratic residence with a private guide on an exclusive A&K experience, before continuing to Fort William, gateway to the Western Highlands, for lunch. Proceed through the Great Glen past Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain. Pass Fort Augustus and travel to Loch Ness, home of fabled “Nessie,” before continuing to Inverness, capital of the Highlands.

Visit Culloden Moor, the historic battle site where the Jacobite army of Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated in 1746. Proceed to nearby Clava Cairns, a Bronze Age stone formation used as a setting for the Outlander series. Stop at Speyside Cooperage to discover the art of barrel making, learning how coopers shape, shave and char oak casks for whisky. After lunch at a local pub, explore Johnston’s Cashmere Mill, then return to Inverness for a traditional Scottish Night dinner at your hotel.

Drive through Cairngorms National Park, home to the United Kingdom’s only freely grazing reindeer herd. At Rothiemurchus, a family estate in the heart of the forest, view wildlife with a park ranger. Enjoy time for lunch at your leisure in charming Pitlochry, and then proceed on a unique Chef’s Table experience at the Scotch whisky distillery at Lindores Abbey, called “whisky’s spiritual birthplace,” where you indulge in a tasting. Continue to the lovely coastal town of St. Andrews, regarded as the home of golf. After an introduction to the historic town, savor a Scenic Sundowner while overlooking the iconic Old Course. Check in to your hotel set on the famous links.

Today, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities. Bike to a Nature Reserve, meandering through St. Andrews links and along the shores of a lovely estuary. Savor a Tutored Gin Tasting and enjoy a signature gin and tonic at a top local distillery. Walk St. Andrews’ Old Course, guided by a former caddy, to learn the secrets of the “Grand Old Lady” of golf. Relax during an afternoon and evening at leisure.

Journey to Edinburgh, Scotland’s elegant capital. Begin your visit with a tour of Holyrood Palace. Continue up the Royal Mile to the historic Signet Library, where you are invited to one of Edinburgh’s most substantial afternoon teas, featuring savory side dishes and sweets that make for a satisfying lunch. Afterward, explore Edinburgh Castle with a local expert and take in stunning views over the city. Later, check in to your hotel for an evening at leisure.

Begin your day with a private, before-hours visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia, a proud vessel that served as a floating home to the Royal Family for over 40 years. Enjoy a panoramic overview of the local sights before returning to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner at a fine local restaurant.

Transfer to the airport for your departing flight.