Loch Ness and Scottish Highlands Tour - 1 day (Highland Explorer)

What is the itinerary on a Scottish Highlands Bus Tour?

Arrive at 7.45am for an 8am start at 60 High Street, within Edinburgh’s Royal Mile – and hop aboard the coach to meet your friendly local tour guide.

Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs

Setting off, you’ll head north, pass the imposing Stirling Castle and skirt the Trossachs– known as Rob Roy Country for its association with Scotland’s most famous outlaw

Glimpse the sparkling Rannoch Moor with its waterfalls, mountains and wetlands. The beauty of this area is truly unspoilt due to its marshy conditions, and it’s quite a remarkable sight to behold.

Glencoe and The Highlands

Stop and admire haunting Glencoe, famous for both the grisly 1692 massacre and its scenery. The area is accustomed to stardom – parts of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban were filmed here, as were Monty Python and Highlander.

Ben Nevis and the Great Glen

Next, you will pass mighty Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. The peak attracts thousands of climbers each year. Beyond it lays the Great Glen and miles of lush green landscape.

Fort Augustus and Loch Ness

Arrive at Fort Augustus on the banks of Loch Ness and enjoy your picnic lunch, have a look for Nessie, or simply relax by the Caledonian Canal in this charming Highland village.

The ‘Taste of Scotland’ picnic lunch typically includes Scottish mineral water, a choice of sandwiches, fresh fruit and shortbread. Or if you’d rather visit a local café, just ask your guide for recommendations!

Optional cruise down Loch Ness

Climb aboard an optional Loch Ness Cruise for a small extra fee (around £12-14 – subject to change) to explore the mysterious Loch and maybe even spot a legendary monster. The tour takes around one hour and includes commentary from knowledgeable staff.

Relax with a drink from the on-board licenced bar, and discover the hi-tech sonar and underwater imaging systems on-board which help the hunt for Nessie!

Loch Laggan and Perthshire

After exploring and enjoying your lunch, you’ll set off again and pass the shimmering Loch Laggan. You’ll see the Drumochter Pass, the main gateway to the mountains, and the iconic Forth Rail Bridge, described as the Eighth Wonder of the World by some!

Heading south, you’ll enter Perthshire and see magical forests, rivers and mountains before arriving back in Edinburgh at around 8pm.

How long is a Scottish Highlands Bus Tour?

The tour lasts for approximately 12 hours.

How to use your eTicket

Important: Upon booking your tickets for a Scottish Highlands Bus Tour you will receive a confirmation of payment, and then receive a separate email from Highland Explorer Tours within 3-4 working days confirming your departure. 

Meeting point

• Address: 60 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TB

Return Point

• Address: 60 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TB

Scottish Highland bus tour dates and times

• Departs at 7.45am from the meeting point
• Loch Ness tours depart daily (all year round) except between the 22nd of December until the 2nd of January.
• The tour lasts for approximately 12 hours.
• Please make sure you check in 15 minutes before your tour departs
• Return at approx. 8pm

Closure Dates

Tickets for Scottish Highlands Bus Tours will not be valid to use on closure dates. 

• 22 December to 2 January

Additional Information

• There will be a maximum of 41 people on the tour.
• This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.
• It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes and bring a rain coat on the tour
• Optional Loch Ness cruise takes around one hour and costs a small extra fee (around £12-14 – subject to change), payable to your driver on the day.
• Audio guides are available to download before departure (details with the booking confirmation) in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese and Mandarin Chinese.

Accessibility Information

• Please note that most tours involve getting on and off coaches, trains, boats or ferries, walking and other physical activities.
• Attractions may involve steps and stairs at sightseeing stops, visitor attractions and accommodation units.
• Coaches are not adapted to carry wheelchairs and do not have ramps, lift or low floor access. 
• There will also be sitting for long periods on coaches without toilet facilities

TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2013

Customers consistently praised this tour for the knowledgeable, passionate and humorous tour guides, and the amount of beautiful scenery they were able to see in just one day.

COVID-19 Health and Safety measures implemented for this tour: 

• Staff fully trained on the latest hygiene protocols
• Regular viricidal cleaning before, during and after the tour
• Wash your hands regularly 
• Please collaborate observing social distancing
• Staff and customer temperature checks
• Facemasks to be worn by staff and customers at all times
• Contactless check-in and card payment
• Insurance is compulsory: There is no travel insurance cover included in the price of any ticket, tour, trip or product. All guests must have travel insurance with medical, evacuation and repatriation covering all applicable dates of travel with HAGGiS Adventures/Highland Explorer Tours. This insurance must cover: trip interruption, personal injury, medical expenses and repatriation cover including and during pandemic events.
• Minimum Numbers: HAGGiS Adventures/Highland Explorer Tours reserves the right to cancel extended (multi-day) and day tours where the minimum number of passengers is not reached. The minimum number of passengers required for tour departure is 6. In such cases, the Company's liability to the Customer is either the full return of monies paid for the tour or provision of a suitable alternative tour as agreed with the Customer.