UK- SCOTLAND SPECIAL

DAY 01 : ARRIVAL IN GLASGOW, SCOTLAND. 
CHECK INTO YOUR HOTEL. THE REST OF THE DAY IS FREE FOR YOU TO RELAX BEFORE JOINING YOUR TRAVELING COMPANIONS FOR DINNER. (D)

DAY 02 : GLASGOW-OBAN. 
YOUR TOUR OF SCOTLAND STARTS IN EARNEST THIS MORNING WITH AN ORIENTATION DRIVE THROUGH GLASGOW, TAKING IN THE FINE 12TH-CENTURY CATHEDRAL, IMPOSING UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS, AND ELEGANT GEORGIAN SQUARES BUILT BY THE WEALTHY TOBACCO BARONS. THEN HEAD FOR THE “BONNIE BANKS” OF LOCH LOMOND AND ENTER THE HIGHLANDS. FOLLOW THE ROAD KNOWN AS “REST AND BE THANKFUL” TO INVERARY AND LOCH AWE AND LOCH ETIVE BEFORE REACHING THE PRETTY FISHING PORT OF OBAN. (FB,D).

DAY 03 : OBAN. EXCURSION TO THE ISLES OF MULL AND IONA.
TAKE THE FERRY TO THE ISLE OF MULL. LAND AT CRAIGNURE AND ENJOY THE SCENIC DRIVE TO THE DEPARTURE POINT OF THE PASSENGER FERRY ACROSS TO THE BEAUTIFUL AND FASCINATING ISLE OF IONA. THIS IS THE BURIAL PLACE OF MANY SCOTTISH KINGS AND CHIEFS, INCLUDING MACBETH. AND IT IS HERE THAT IN 563 A.D. ST. COLUMBA ESTABLISHED ONE OF THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MONASTERIES IN THE BRITISH ISLES. TIME TO VISIT THE CATHEDRAL AND EXPLORE THE RELIGIOUS SETTLEMENT BEFORE RETURNING TO OBAN. (FB,D)

DAY 04 : OBAN-INVERNESS.
A DAY OF SPECTACULAR HIGHLAND SCENERY: FOLLOW THE SHORES OF LOCH LINNHE TO FORT WILLIAM BENEATH BEN NEVIS, BRITAIN’S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN; TAKE THE “ROAD TO THE ISLES” AND AT MALLAIG BOARD THE FERRY TO SAIL ACROSS THE SOUND OF SLEAT TO THE INNER HEBRIDEAN ISLE OF SKYE. CROSS THE BRIDGE BACK TO THE MAINLAND AND AFTER PHOTOS OF ROMANTIC EILEAN DONAN CASTLE, HEAD FOR ACHNASHEEN ALONG THE SHORES OF LOCH CARRON.
AT A WHISKEY DISTILLERY LET YOUR GUIDE EXPLAIN THE ANCIENT ART OF CONVERTING BARLEY, WATER, AND YEAST INTO A HEART WARMING LIQUOR. LOCH NESS, KEEPING A LOOKOUT FOR THE MYSTERIOUS MONSTER, IS THE FINAL HIGHLIGHT ON THE WAY INTO INVERNESS, THE HIGHLAND CAPITAL. (FB,D)

DAY 05 : INVERNESS-EDINBURGH.
STOP AT THE BATTLEFIELD OF CULLODEN MOOR, WITH ITS MEMORIES OF BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE, AND AT ROYAL DEESIDE, WHERE THE QUEEN IS AN ANNUAL VISITOR, ENJOY A BREAK IN BRAEMAR, HOME OF THE ROYAL HIGHLAND GAMES FOR OVER 900 YEARS. IN THE AFTERNOON, TRAVEL VIA DUNDEE TO ST. ANDREWS WHOSE ROYAL AND ANCIENT GOLF CLUB, FOUNDED IN 1754, HAS GIVEN US THE RULES OF GOLFING. CONTINUE THROUGH FIFE AND OVER THE MIGHTY FORTH ROAD BRIDGE TO SPEND THE NEXT TWO NIGHTS IN THE SCOTTISH CAPITAL. (FB)

DAY 06 : EDINBURGH.
A FULL DAY TO ENJOY THIS “PRINCE OF CITIES.” MORNING SIGHTSEEING WITH A LOCAL EXPERT STARTS WITH AN ORIENTATION DRIVE ALONG PRINCES STREET AND THE ROYAL MILE, WITH TALES OF SOME TRULY INTRIGUING CHARACTERS: THE BODYSNATCHERS, DR. JEKYL AND MR. HYDE, AND GREYFRAIRS BOBBY. HISTORY COMES ALIVE AS YOU TOUR MIGHTY EDINBURGH CASTLE. AFTERNOON AT LEISURE. DON’T MISS OUR OPTIONAL SCOTTISH NIGHT OUT FEATURING HIGHLAND DANCERS, BAGPIPERS, AND OF COURSE THE CEREMONY OF THE HAGGIS. (FB)

DAY 07 : EDINBURGH-GLASGOW.
AN INTERESTING LAST DAY ON THE ROAD TAKING PHOTOS FIRST AT HISTORIC STIRLING OF BRAVEHEART FAME. THEN INTO THE TROSSACHS, AN AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY CELEBRATED IN SIR WALTER SCOTT’S LADY OF THE LAKE, TO ENJOY A BREAK IN THE PRETTY RESORT OF ABERFOYLE. BACK IN GLASGOW TIME FOR LAST-MINUTE SHOPPING BEFORE JOINING YOUR TRAVELING COMPANIONS FOR DINNER AT THE END OF A GREAT TOUR. (FB,D)

DAY 08 : DEPARTURE FLIGHT