Visit the Scottish highlights in this 7-days Scotland Vacation

Day 1: Arrival in Edinburgh

On the first day of the trip, you will be arriving in the capital city of Edinburgh where you will be received by the tour operator and guide who will take you to the pre-booked hotel where you can relax. It is here that you would be appraised about the trip and the itinerary for the seven days Scotland Vacation. If you arrive early into the day, you can straightaway join the spirits of the Hogmanay Festival by grabbing some locally brewed beers in the famous pubs of Edinburgh. You can go on to enjoy some Haggis supper before your tour operator lets you enter some party. Check into some restaurant to have a spirited Scottish supper before enjoying leisurely the rest of the night. Stay here for four nights.

Day 2: Sightseeing in Edinburgh

On the second day of the tour, you would be visiting some of the best attractions in Edinburgh, the exciting capital city of Scotland. You would be starting with a visit to The Royal Mile which runs from the famous Castle to the Palace of Holyrood House as well as the Parliament. This is one of the most exciting places to be as lots of theories have been written and propagated at this place with one being in the course of discussion for long. Next up would be joining a local walking tour led by the Haggis guide who would take you to hear the stories behind some of the architectures and legends of Edinburgh which used to be the center of activities of imperialism for long. You will then be joining the Hogmanay festivities at the official opening with the Torchlight Procession. At these junctures, always keep your camera ready to take some shots which would only be available after a year. The tour operator would then take you to the legendary Haggis Ceilidh to participate in a traditional Scottish dancing ceremony where you can dance till your hearts out.

Day 3: Sightseeing in Edinburgh

The sightseeing parties would go on for the third day as well when you come out to visit some more destinations throughout the day and join the Hogmanay festival by the evening. Today, you would be starting with the Aussie and the Kiwi New Year which is surrounded by the fellow Antipodeans. Apart from that, you would be seeing many such small celebrations going on around the city as well. you could either visit that or take some time off and visit the winter festival. There would be lots of street party stages, DJs and lots of traditional Scottish music bands which would perform at the Hogmanay festival on the streets of the city. In the evening, you would be scheduled to watch the fireworks which are set off against the backdrop of the Edinburgh castle. But the real fun begins when the clock ticks 12, you can kiss everyone you can get your hands on while wishing them Hogmanay and singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’. Travel back to the hotel to spend the night.

Day 4: Sightseeing in Edinburgh

Today would be the last day that you would be spending in the capital city of Edinburgh. You can add Loony Dook to the itinerary today which is famous in Edinburgh. After having some breakfast, you should join thousands of loonies to brave the freezing waters of the Firth of Forth in any costume which would be available to buy there. After that, if you feel fine, you can go for a climb up Arthur’s Seat which is the highest point in Edinburgh on an extinct volcano. Once you hike this volcano, you would be privy to some of the most beautiful sceneries in the world and can see the Forth Bridges and the Highlands on a clear day. You can even find some snow up there if you are lucky. Check into some of the local pubs in the city to enjoy the locally brewed beer which these pubs have to offer. Also, you can enjoy some shopping near the Grassmarket and Rose Street which have some great ambiance to offer as well.

Day 5: Visiting Isle of Skye

After visiting Edinburgh completely in four days, it’s time to move the ferry from the capital city to one of the most exciting places in Northern Europe, Isle of Skye. This place situated in the Scottish Highlands is known for the legends of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce and has been the place of many bloody battles in the Wars of Independence. Today, you would be traveling to the Isle of Skye through the windswept Rannoch Moor and dramatic Glencoe, the ‘Weeping Glen’ and the site of the massacre of 1692, after which you would be climbing up the Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain of Britain. you would be traveling through the Great Glen Fault Line where you can find the Eilean Donan Castle which is situated on the shores of Loch Duich. Once you pass the bridge, you will be arriving in the Isle of Skye which would be the home for the night. Take to the streets to find some local ale or whiskey in the local pubs to shake off the tiredness of the travel.

Day 6: Visiting Loch Ness from the Isle of Skye

Today you would be visiting the best of Isle of Skye - ruined castles, breathtaking views and faerie stories of the legends of the Skye – the Vikings. You can hear about the legends of MacLeod and MacDonald Clans, as well as the Celtic myths and Viking legends from the past millennia. Hollywood has made a lot of movies in the surrounding of the Isle which had adventure footings. From the dramatic setting to soaring waterfalls, the Isle of Skye provides its visitors with experiences that cannot be had anywhere else in the world. Return to the mainland passing through the beautiful Eilean Donan Castle which is the most photographed castle in Scotland. You would head then to Morag’s Lodge situated on the banks of Loch Ness for the night. Head to the bar here to get some traditional Scottish hospitality before you crash in your hotel beds.

Day 7: Loch Ness to Edinburgh and departure

Today, you would be visiting the exciting places of Loch Ness to search for the glimpses of the legendary monster which is said to be living in the lake. You will pass through the Urquhart Castle which is dramatically perched on the shores of Loch Ness and is said to be the home of the monster. You will then visit the Inverness which is the capital of the Highlands after which you would be visiting the town of Dunkeld whose history was wrongly portrayed by Shakespeare and then it became famous amongst the tourists. Here, you can hear the stories of Macbeth when you pass through the Dunkeld’s Gothic Cathedral and quirky wee shops. You will then cross the epic Forth Road Bridge to return to the capital city for an onward journey or departure. Your tour operator would help you with the formalities of the departure and a transfer would be made from your hotel room to the airport depending upon the timing of your flight.