Scotland's Mystical Lands, French Guided Tour

Arrive at Edinburgh Airport. Transfer to your hotel on your own.

Remainder of your day and evening at leisure.

Stay overnight at the hotel in Edinburgh.

Have breakfast at the hotel and meet your French-speaking guide for a city tour of Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh. Visit Edinburgh Castle, which has a superb view of Princes Street; see the jewels of the Scottish Crown.

Then depart with your grand touring bus to Glasgow and have lunch on your own along the way.

During your Glasgow city tour, you will be able to see Victorian palaces and classical facades. Glasgow is considered the cultural and musical capital of the country.

Visit Glasgow Cathedral, founded in the 6th century and in Scottish Gothic style.

Stay overnight in the Glasgow area.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then depart for a visit to a local distillery. You will learn about the distillation process used to make the famous scotch whisky.

Then depart to Loch Lomond passing through the Trossachs National Park, an expansive region in the heart of the Scots, appreciated for the beauty of its lochs and forests. Have lunch along the way, followed by a cruise on Loch Lomond.

Stay overnight in Fort William/Oban.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then depart to the Glencoe Valley. This valley has been nicknamed "the valley of tears" after the terrible massacre of Glencoe, perpetrated in 1692. Then make a photo stop at the Glenfinnan Viaduct built from 1897 to 1901. This famous viaduct is seen in the Harry Potter films and is located at the top of Loch Shiel in the West Highlands.

Then, board a ferry to reach the Isle of Skye (77 km long, 40 km wide), the largest island in the Inner Hebrides.

Upon arrival, have lunch on the way to the southern part of the island. Note that the Isle of Skye is today one of the last bastions of the Gaelic language, which is spoken by 58% of the population. Check in at your hotel.

Stay overnight in Skye.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then depart for Portree, the capital of Skye and notorious island port. Portree has a choice of shops, galleries and artisan shops.

Then drive to Eilean Donan Castle, the famous castle from the movie Highlander.

Enjoy a short break and a photo stop to appreciate this place.

You will then head to Loch Ness to discover and visit Urquhart Castle.

Stay overnight in the Aviemore area.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then depart to the Highlands through the Cairngorms National Park. This region is characterized by lakes, rivers and huge Munros (mountains more than 914 metres high). Following this crossing, you will visit a typical farm of Highland cattle, famous long-haired Scottish cows. Before hitting the road again, enjoy lunch on site consisting of local beef.

You will then take the road to Aberdeen, the third largest city in Scotland. Once you arrive, enjoy a panoramic tour of the city. Aberdeen is home to excellent museums and art galleries that are free of charge that you can visit independently (open 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.), if time permits. Your guide will advise you.

Stay overnight in the Aberdeen area.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then depart for the east coast towards the ruins of the castle of Dunnottar. Stop for lunch along the way at a local pub/restaurant.

Then drive to St. Andrews, an elegant and picturesque little town, surrounded by beautiful beaches by the shores of the North Sea. This is the golf capital of the world! You can also visit its castle (in ruins) and its Cathedral. We'll head south again and make a photo stop at the Forth Road Bridge. Drive to and check in at your hotel. Your transport pass will be waiting for you in the lobby of your hotel. For your last evening, enjoy the city in peace.

Stay overnight in Edinburgh.

After breakfast, make your own way to Edinburgh airport for your return flight back to Canada.