Scotland 14 Day Tour: July 8 – 22, 2016 = $3279**
Scotland 14 Day Tour
14 Day Tour from Glasgow to Glasgow
July 8 – 22, 2016 – Other dates are available.
**$3529. MRTA Member Price if booked by April 26, 2016, is $3279.*
Save on Air Fare! Save $300 per couple on Air Fare if you book by April 26, 2016!
*Based on double occupancy (two to a room). Seats are limited. Air fare is not included in price but is available for purchase.
Prices quoted are current as of the date provided by the travel supplier. Please contact Travelers Lane for the most up-to-date information. 314-223-1224. Thank you.
Please call 314.223.1224 to complete your reservation.
Vacation Overview
From its historical castles to its stunning landscapes and from its exciting cities to its charming, small towns, Scotland has it all.
On this comprehensive Scotland tour, you’ll overnight in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Thurso, Isle of Skye, and Isle of Mull. Along the way, you’ll visit some of its historical castles; witness its unspoiled, breathtaking scenery; experience its cities and some of its small towns; learn about its fascinating history; and much more.
Scotland is known for its many castles, and you’ll have the opportunity to visit Stirling Castle, the favored residence of Scottish kings and queens; Edinburgh Castle, dating to the 12th century and home of the Scottish Crown Jewels; Cawdor Castle, the romantic, fairytale castle dating back to the 14th century; and Dunrobin Castle, where you’ll visit the formal gardens.
Scotland is also known for its interesting and often bloody history, and you’ll have an opportunity to visit some of its historical sights. On the Orkney Islands, visit Skara Brae, with remains from a 5,000-year-old Neolithic village. Learn about 13 centuries of clan history at the Museum of the Isles on the Isle of Skye. Hear about the famous battle in 1314 at the Bannockburn Visitor Centre and the battle in 1746 at the Culloden Visitor Centre.
Of course, no vacation to Scotland is complete without seeing the amazing scenery. Throughout this Scotland tour, sit back and enjoy as you witness Scotland at its best—the breathtakingly wild and unspoiled scenery and miles of yellow sandy beaches on Scotland’s northern coast; the waterfalls and jagged, dark peaks on the Isle of Skye; the inspiring hills, green woodlands, and spectacular beaches on the “Road to the Isles”; and much more—while being escorted by an expert Tour Director who will bring Scotland to life with in-depth knowledge of its history, customs, stories, and secrets.
Itinerary
Day 1Arrive in Glasgow, ScotlandWelcome to Glasgow! Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax in Scotland’s largest city. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner with wine at your hotel. |
Day 2Glasgow–Glengoyne–Stirling–Bannockburn–EdinburghStart your grand tour of Scotland with a guided tour of a WHISKY DISTILLERY, where you hear about the ancient art of converting barley, water, and yeast into a heart warming liquor. Next, visit STIRLING CASTLE, a great symbol of Scottish independence and favored residence of Scotland’s kings and queens. Today’s final highlight is the BANNOCKBURN VISITOR CENTRE, commemorating the key battle in the Scottish Wars of Independence of June 23-24, 1314. Drive on to Edinburgh, your base for the next three nights. Tonight, don’t miss our optional Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis. |
Day 3EdinburghMorning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and famous scientists, inventors, and novelists who lived there. In the “Old Town,” drive up the narrow Royal Mile to EDINBURGH CASTLE to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels, then explore HOLYROOD PALACE (when available). After time on your own in Edinburgh, why not take an optional excursion to Rosslyn Chapel, made world-famous by Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, and also one of Scotland’s most remarkable buildings. |
Day 4Edinburgh. Abbotsford ExcursionToday’s excursion brings you into parts of the Scottish Lowlands and Border Counties. Drive through rolling hills and leafy valleys to ABBOTSFORD HOUSE and enjoy a guided tour of Sir Walter Scott’s home. It contains an impressive collection of historic relics, weapons, and armor, as well as an extensive library with over 9,000 rare volumes. Then, visit MELROSE ABBEY, the burial place of Robert the Bruce’s heart. This afternoon, join a unique optional experience: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia to see how the Royal Family and crew of 240 lived and worked on board. Dinner rounds off this optional evening. For departures August 6, August 13, and August 20, tickets are included for tonight’s performance of the world-renowned MILITARY TATTOO. |
Day 5Edinburgh–St. Andrews–Braemar–InvernessOver the elegant Forth Road Bridge and through Fife to St. Andrews. Cross the Firth of Tay and from Dundee, head into the Highlands with a lunch stop in pretty Braemar, home of the Royal Highland Games. Drive through the Grampian Mountains and Cairngorms National Park to Inverness, the Highland capital where you spend the next two nights. |
Day 6Inverness. Highlands ExcursionFascinating visits on today’s excursion. At CULLODEN VISITOR CENTRE the story unfolds of the crushing Hanoverian victory over Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Scottish clans. Then, call at romantic, fairy-tale CAWDOR CASTLE, set in stunning grounds with beautiful gardens and home to the Thanes of Cawdor since 1370. Back in Inverness, the rest of the day is at leisure. Our recommendation for this afternoon would be to join the Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle optional excursion, which includes a cruise on the loch. |
Day 7Inverness–ThursoContinue an unforgettable journey and follow the coast road to majestic DUNROBIN CASTLE, for centuries the seat of the Dukes and Earls of Sutherland. Visit the formal gardens and enjoy a fascinating |
Day 8Thurso. Excursion to the Orkney IslandsA fascinating day full of adventure. At John o’Groats, board a FERRY for the 45-minute crossing to South Ronaldsay, one of the Orkney Islands, where a local coach and driver-guide await you. Cross the four Churchill Barriers and overlook Scapa Flow, where the German fleet scuttled itself in World War I. Visit the ITALIAN CHAPEL, built by prisoners of war in 1943 from scrap metal, concrete, and other materials. After |
Day 9Thurso–-Durness-Ullapool-Isle of SkyeA day to sit back and enjoy the breathtakingly wild and unspoiled scenery, some of the finest in Britain. The northern coast is lined with miles of yellow sandy beaches and pretty estuaries, and the hills and mountains take on a purple hue as the summer progresses. This is Scotland at its best! Drive via Durness to the quaint fishing port of Ullapool, where you enjoy a |
Day 10Isle of SkyeStriking landscapes, weird rock formations, and dramatic waterfalls will capture your attention on your drive around the Trotternish peninsula. Visit the thatch-roofed cottages at the MUSEUM OF ISLAND LIFE, close to the last resting place of Highland heroine Flora MacDonald. Then, follow the spectacular coast route, stopping for photos of waterfalls and gorges, to the island capital of Portree. On the way back to Broadford, take in the views of the jagged and dark peaks of the Cuillin Hills. |
Day 11Isle of Skye–Glenfinnan–Isle of MullCall at the Clan Donald Centre for a visit to its MUSEUM OF THE ISLES and insight into 13 centuries of clan history before boarding your FERRY at Armadale to sail across the Sound of Sleat. Rejoin the mainland at Mallaig and follow the “Road to the Isles,” passing Glenfinnan. Take the FERRY to the Isle of Mull, where you conclude your day with a visit to the quaint island capital of Tobermory. |
Day 12Isle of Mull. Iona ExcursionA leisurely day to relax and enjoy the best of the Scottish western isles. Drive across Mull for a visit to the beautiful and fascinating Isle of Iona. Time to visit the ABBEY and explore the religious settlement before returning to the hotel in the early afternoon. |
Day 13Isle of Mull–Inveraray–GlasgowThe final island FERRY crossing brings you to Oban. Then, over the Pass of Brander and from Inveraray to the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond. Back in Glasgow this afternoon, your orientation city tour takes in the fine 12th-century cathedral, imposing university buildings, and elegant Georgian squares. Time for last-minute shopping before enjoying a farewell dinner with wine at your hotel. |
Day 14GlasgowYour vacation ends with breakfast this morning. |
Vacation Highlights
GLASGOW
Welcome dinner; orientation drive; farewell dinner
GLENGOYNE
Guided tour of the whisky distillery;
STIRLING
Visit Stirling Castle
BANNOCKBURN
Visit the innovative visitor centre commemorating Robert the Bruce’s victory
EDINBURGH
Guided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace
ABBOTSFORD
Guided tour of Sir Walter Scott’s house
MELROSE
Visit the abbey
ST. ANDREWS
Visit the home of golf
INVERNESS
Visit the Highland capital;
CULLODEN MOOR
Visit the battle site’s visitor center
CAWDOR
Visit the castle and gardens
DUNROBIN
Visit the castle, [LF] see a falconry display
JOHN O’GROATS
Take the ferry to and from the Orkney Islands
ORKNEY ISLANDS
Board a local coach for a driver-guide commentary and visits to the Churchill Barriers, Italian Chapel, Skara Brae and Skaill House, and Kirkwall; visit the Orkney Brewery and [LF] enjoy lunch at the Tasting Hall café
ULLAPOOL
[LF] Fish & chips lunch
ISLE OF SKYE
Visit the Museum of Island Life and the Museum of the Isles
ARMADALE–MALLAIG
Cross the Sound of Sleat by ferry
GLENFINNAN
Take pictures of the monument
LOCHALINE–FISHNISH
Take the ferry to the Isle of Mull
ISLE OF MULL
Visit Tobermory
ISLE OF IONA
Take the ferry to the island and visit the center of Celtic Christianity
CRAIGNURE–OBAN
Take the ferry back to the Scottish mainland
LOCH LOMOND
Take photographs of this stunning beauty spot
NOTE:
- Edinburgh Military Tattoo ticket included for departures on August 6, 13 & 20
Meals
Full Scottish breakfast daily; 2 lunches; 9 three-course dinners with wine and choice of menus, including a welcome dinner and a farewell dinner in Glasgow
Hotels
Prices based on double room occupancy.
Single room supplement:
$389
Triple room reduction per person:
$96
Extra nights per person in Glasgow:
Pre tour: in single room $144-$160, in twin $93-$109, in triple $88-$105
Post tour: in single room $143-$150, in twin $109-$113, in triple $109-$113
Heritage Daily
Optional Excursions |
The following list of optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These optional excursions might or might not be offered. Whether it’s a special dinner, a local show or a special behind-the-scenes glimpse into an historical site, optional excursions are a wonderful way to enrich your vacation even further. Plus, they give you flexibility. We include the must-see sites and experiences, and we also understand that people take interest in different activities and may want to craft a more personal vacation by hand-picking optional excursions that appeal to them.
Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, days of operation, group interests, and general feasibility for your vacation. The approximate value listed gives you a good, general idea of what you can expect to pay but may vary once you are on your vacation. Some information provided might be in a foreign currency; to get an estimated price, use a currency converter for exchange rate information (pricing may vary at the time of booking).
Once you have booked your vacation, Globus provides the ability to pre-purchase excursions, register for your vacations and provide emergency contact information online.
CITY: Edinburgh
Excursion to Rosslyn Chapel Described as a ‘Bible in Stone’, the 15th century Rosslyn Chapel is one of the most remarkable buildings and yet at the same time, one of the most mysterious places in Scotland. During your excursion to Rosslyn you will have time to visit the medieval chapel with its exquisite carvings, which have inspired – and intrigued – artists and visitors for generations, as well as the visitor center containing an award-winning exhibition. You might also like to take a short walk to photograph the ruins of nearby Rosslyn Castle.
Approximate value: £19 GBP per person
Royal Yacht Britannia Excursion & Dinner Enjoy a visit to the former Royal Yacht Britannia, which was used on over 700 overseas visits and sailed over a million nautical miles. Having served royalty and prime ministers and hosted presidents, the last commissioned royal yacht offers a rare opportunity to explore areas not normally seen on a conventional visit to a royal residence; from the bridge through the private and state apartments, from the officer and crew quarters to the engine room. After the visit, dine at a fine local restaurant.
Approximate value: £59 GBP per person
Scottish Evening with Bagpipers and the Ceremony of the Haggis No visit to Scotland’s capital city would be complete without joining a Scottish evening. A piper welcomes you in traditional Scottish style, then savor a delicious four-course banquet with wine and let your host lead you through an evening of music, song and dance culminating in the traditional Ceremony of the Haggis and the joint singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ written by Robert Burns.
Approximate value: £67 GBP per person
CITY: Inverness
Loch Ness Exhibition, Cruise & Urquhart Castle Visit Explore the Loch Ness Exhibition, a fascinating experience, revealing the legends, history and natural wonders of the world’s most famous lake. Then, visit Urquhart Castle. It commands great views up the length of the loch, is one of Scotland’s most iconic castles and also one of the main sites for reported sightings of the legendary Loch Ness Monster. Finally, board a motorboat for a cruise on the loch and maybe a glimpse of the famous monster.
Approximate value: £38 GBP per person
CITY: Thurso
Ceilidh Evening, Thurso Take an early evening drive to the Old Smiddy Inn. Surrounded by old blacksmith tools and articles from the days of work horses, you can relax by the coal fire and enjoy Gaelic storytelling and local music with two drinks of your choice. Unmissable!
Approximate value: £26 GBP per person
CITY: Isle of Skye
Eilean Donan Castle and Pub Visit One of the most iconic images of Scotland, Eilean Donan castle is situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet. First inhabited around the 6th century, it has 800 years of history of the Clan Macrae within its walls. You have the opportunity to explore the castle at your own pace and to capture it on your camera from all possible angles. Later, discuss your impressions over a drink at a local inn.
Approximate value: £23 GBP per person
CITY: Isle of Mull
Private Visit to Duart Castle Duart Castle is the ancestral home of the Clan Maclean. Standing proudly on a cliff top guarding the Sound of Mull, Duart enjoys one of the most spectacular and unique positions on the West Coast of Scotland. For over 400 years this has been the base of the Clan Maclean’s sea-borne power. Discover the history of the castle and the Macleans during this private visit which includes a glass of whisky in the banqueting hall.
Approximate value: £31 GBP per person
Travel Terms & Conditions
The purchase of any travel services offered by the tour company constitutes a contractual arrangement between you (the Traveler) and the tour company and represents your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions. Please ensure that you read carefully and understand the Terms & Conditions prior to booking. These Terms & Conditions cover Deposit & Final Payment information, Air-Inclusive Deposits & Final Payment, Revisions & Revision Fees, Air Arrangements, Participation, Travelers Who Need Special Assistance, Young Travelers, Smoking, Price Policy, Visas and Passports, Hotels & Accommodations, Baggage Allowance, Travel Documents, Not Included in the Land Price, Refunds, Service Inquires After the Vacation, Holidays, Safety, Photos & Pictures, Optional Excursions, and Responsibility.
Important Notes
o Vacation departures, itineraries and prices are subject to change.
o A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is required for the tour company to reserve space for you. View Terms & Conditions for limited exceptions.
o The following charges are not included in the land vacation price unless otherwise noted: airfare to and from the start of your vacation; Intra-vacation air unless specified in the itinerary; airline baggage fees including checked and/or excess baggage fees; Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities; airport taxes and fees including the September 11th Security fee up to $10 per person, passenger facility charges up to $18 per person, Federal domestic flight segment fees up to $3.70 per segment, and U.S. and International arrival and departure and other government-imposed added by the airline and applicable at time of booking; port taxes; passports; visas (except on Cuba programs) and vaccinations; tips to your Tour or Cruise Director, the tour company Group Leader in Cuba, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ship’s crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted Globus menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or onboard your vessel (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; optional excursions; additional activities and excursions purchased online; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection; and all other items of a personal nature.
Booking your Vacation with Air For air departure dates within 331 days, you’ll be offered a choice of carriers and flight schedules as well as price points to choose from when selecting your flights. Your schedule will be provided to you at the time of booking (schedules are subject to change by carriers). The tour company offers 2 air options: Flex Air and Instant Purchase Air. Flex Air allows flexibility if you want to make changes to your vacation schedule. Instant Purchase Air may offer additional airline options but has more restrictions. Some vacations may only offer one Air type option. Guaranteed air-inclusive prices: air is only available to passengers traveling from the United States and only available when booked in conjunction with a land vacation. An additional $300 per person non-refundable air deposit is required for Flex Air booked in conjunction with any land vacation (i.e. air-inclusive vacation). Air can only be booked by the tour company in conjunction with a vacation package. Instant Purchase Air requires air payment in full at time of booking (i.e. air-inclusive vacation) plus non-refundable service fee ($30 per person for North America, $50 per person for International air). Once booked, Instant Purchase Air is non-refundable, and non-changeable. Some vacations may only offer one Air type option. However, once your airfare is confirmed and the tour company has received your full air and land deposit, your air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed.
Air-Inclusive Vacations — Applicable Taxes & Fees Air inclusive price quotes will include all government-imposed taxes and fees applicable at the time of booking and will be shown as a Total Amount. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply. At the time of booking your air-inclusive vacation online, carrier Websites will be provided to check baggage fees, or you can visit http://www.iflybags.com for up-to-date baggage pricing/restrictions. The total airfare price, the base airfare price, and the applicable government taxes and fees are broken-out line-by-line and shown while booking online and on the invoice after your travel is booked. For
return travel from some countries, international travelers are required to pay entry and/or exit fees at the airport. These fees will be collected by the local government and are payable by the traveler at time of travel. Your confirmation booking information will contain information about these fees.
[LF] – The tour company has created special experiences that will bring you behind the scenes, spotlight the unique stories of your journey, and bring to life the local flavor of your destination. Just look for the “[LF]” to see what we’ve included for you.
