Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Fringe Festival and the Scottish Highlands w/Air! (SOLD OUT)

LAST MINUTE DEAL: We’re going to Scotland to immerse ourselves into all the high points of Scotland! Visiting Scotland offers a rich tapestry of experiences that cater to a wide range of interests including stunning natural beauty, historic castles at every turn, incredible local cuisines, and friendly locals. But we’re going at the best possible time. During August, Edinburgh hosts both the Edinburgh Military Tattoo (envision 500 bagpipers parading in front of you) as well as The Fringe Festival, the world’s largest arts festival, with over 6,000 acts, and hundreds of venues.. After soaking in unique experiences in Edinburgh, we’ll make our way to the Scottish highlands where we’ll visit Inverness, Loch Ness, and so much more. Come join our small group and make new friends!

Overview

This is a last-minute trip to Scotland, and for all you get this is an unbelievable price.

We’ll stay 4 days in magical, historical Edinburgh, one of our favorite cities on earth. We’ll be staying directly on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile which connects the ancient Edinburgh Castle to the newer Holyrood Palace, one of the residences of the British royal family. Here you’ll see street vendors and musicians between the frequent antiquarian bookstores outdoor cafés. The University of Edinburgh nearby makes this a truly intellectual city.

We’re here in August for 2 reasons. During the month, Edinburgh is host to the Royal Military Tattoo. It is absolutely an unforgetable experience, and we encourage you to research it on your own for more information. We have 8 tickets to this year’s show, which has been sold out for a year. If for no other reason, join us for that!

The other major event going on in Edinburgh during the month of August is the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. There are literally thousands of acts, including classical music, one-act plays, stand-up comedy, short stage dramas, and so much more. Many acts travel from around the world to perform in Fringe. There are hundreds of venues, with continuous performances from late morning until early morning! You’ll need to look at the roster and plan your visit carefully. Most events are free, and a few charge a few Euros each for entry.

In our free time, we’ll take a guided tour of this ancient city, including both castles.

For the final leg of our trip we’ll be taking a 2 hour train ride from Edinburgh to Inverness, on Scotland’s wild north coast for two nights. From there we’ll tour Inverness, Loch Ness, and view the rolling moors that make this coastline famous.

Finally, we’ll take the train back to Edinburgh for our flight home.

Highlights

Day 1 :

Depart US

Today we leave the US for an overnight flight to Edinburgh.

Day 2 :

Arrive Edinburgh

We’ll arrive in Edinburgh late morning and take a private transfer to the hotel to unpack and relax. The rest of the afternoon is yours to wander the Royal Mile, to enjoy some Fringe events, or to rest up for a busy week to come!

In the evening we’ll meet for happy hour and our included welcome dinner.

Dinner

Day 3 :

Edinburgh and Fringe

Today we devote ourselves exclusively to the sights, sound, and experiences of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. We may decide to all go as a group, or to break into smaller groups depending on our area of interest.

In the evening we’ll reconvene to enjoy dinner of an authentic Scottish meal. Try the blood pudding, or Meade. Or not!

Breakfast

Day 4 :

Edinburgh and Royal Military Tattoo

After breakfast, we’ll have time to attend more Fringe performances. In the later afternoon we’ll meet to walk to Edinburgh Castle to see the Tattoo. I guarantee it’s an event you’ll remember for a very long time.

Breakfast

Day 5 :

Edinburg to Inverness

After an early breakfast we board our train for the 2 hour ride to Inverness, on Scotland’s north coast. When we arrive in Inverness we’ll take a transfer to our hotel, Mercure Inverness, in the city center. This quaint village is fascinating in its own right, but will also serve as a base for our excursion of the region.

After checking into our hotel, we’ll have a 2-hour tour of Inverness itself a.nd its history. In the evening we’ll meet for dinner.

Breakfast

Day 6 :

Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness and more

After breakfast we’ll meet our guide and driver for a tour of the lovely area around Inverness. Stops will of course include Loch Ness – including a boat ride on the Loch – and a number of historic castles and monasteries. Bring your camera as we’ll be passing some incredible scenery.

Breakfast

Day 7 :

Inverness to Edinburgh

In the morning we’ll have time to relax, go shopping, or continue our exploration of the coast. The choice is yours. Around 1 in the afternoon, we’ll take our return train to Edinburgh for our final night together near the airport. We’ll have a farewell dinner before heading to bed early.