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Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Day Tour from Edinburgh
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Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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From $78.70
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Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Day Tour from Edinburgh
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation
- 24 hours prior100% refund
- Within 24 hoursNo refund
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Learn more about cancellations
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Safety measures
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
Vaccine? Quarantine? Masking?
Vaccine? Quarantine? Masking? We know, there’s a lot to keep track of. Be sure to check local guidelines so you’re aware of all travel requirements before you go.
What you can expect during your visit
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
Guides required to regularly wash hands
COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
Safety precautions are provided by the tour operator and are not checked by Viator for accuracy
More questions?
(888) 651-9785
12 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Good for avoiding crowds
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Overview
Uncover the mysteries of Loch Ness on an exciting day-trip from Edinburgh. Set out north along Scotland's West Coast to experience one of the country's most iconic lochs, best known for the fabled 'monster' said to reside deep within its waters. En route, pass some incredible sights, including the ruins of Linlithgow Palace, Ben Nevis―Britain's tallest mountain―and dramatic Highlands landscapes recognizable from films like 'Skyfall.' Your guide regales you with stories about the area, making for an exciting, informative―and if you're lucky, truly legendary―trip.
- Loch Ness and the Highlands small-group day tour from Edinburgh
- Traverse one of Scotland's most stunning and stark landscapes en route to Loch Ness
- Learn the true story behind 'Braveheart,' see the ruins of Linlithgow Palace
- Board a boat or seek out Nessie from the shores of Loch Ness
- Have a leisurely stroll through a Highlands village and drive across Forth Road Bridge
- Enjoy fascinating facts and stories from an onboard guide
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From $78.70
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What's Included
Small group tour - 16 passengers or less
Live commentary on board
Local guide
Transport by air-conditioned Mercedes mini-coach
Driver/guide
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Attraction Entrance Fees
Departure & Return
Waterloo Place , Waterloo Pl, Edinburgh, UK
This activity will end right where it started.This tour departs from (and returns to) Bus Stand ZE, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3BQ. Please arrive no later than 07.45
7:45 AM
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Small group tour - 13 passengers or less
- Minimum age is 5 years old
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions (unless it is unsafe to do so), please dress appropriately
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Please inform us 7 days in advance if you are bringing a service animal
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
- OPERATED BY Heart of Scotland Tours Ltd
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Learn more about cancellations.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Day Tour from Edinburgh?
A:The policies on face masks and attendee health are:
- Face masks required for travelers in public areas
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Face masks provided for travelers
Q:
What is the policy on sanitization during Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Day Tour from Edinburgh?
A:The policies on sanitization are:
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
Q:
What is the social distancing policy during Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Day Tour from Edinburgh?
A:The policy on social distancing is:
- Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Q:
What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Day Tour from Edinburgh?
A:The policy on staff health & safety is:
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
Traveler Photos



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Traveler Tips
- "Highly recommended, but be ready for a lot of time on the bus." See review
- "A 12 hour bus trip may sound daunting but there were so many stops it didn't feel like long at all!" See review
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Reviews
5.0
570 Reviews
5 stars
496
4 stars
57
3 stars
8
2 stars
3
1 star
6
Reviews by Viator travelers
We perform checks on reviews
Showing 1-10 of 570 reviews
A++ for The Wee Red Bus!
Robert_K
, Jun 2022
Loch Ness an Highlands
Jeffrey_R
, Jun 2022
Stellar tour of the Lochs and Highlands.
Elizabeth_V
, Jun 2022
Keith was great!
SueP_M
, Jun 2022
We were grandparents traveling with our 16 year old granddaughter. Our driver, Keith, was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, entertaining, and considerate. My husband accidentally left his favorite hat on the van, and Keith came to our hotel and dropped it off. Can it get any better than that?
Jammed pack but fun
Molly_C
, Jun 2022
Andy our tour guide was amazing and so accommodating. He kept us on track and helped make sure everyone was getting a good experience. Tour was a great way to see the beautiful highlands and visit Nessie. Would suggest doing the boat tour as it was worth it.
Wish we could have spent a bit more time seeing places but know that the nature of this tour is you have a lot of ground to cover in a lot of time. Definitely made me want to come back and cook a longer tour.
Good times in the Highlands
Patrick_M
, Jun 2022
Overall, it was just a fantastic day. Our tour guide, Colm (sp?), was great and kept us entertained by the regailing us with stories and opinions on a variety of Scottish topics including history, conservation and politics to name a few. The stops early on in the tour at Glen Coe and the general Highlands were excellent. I have one complaint / suggestion which is to shorten the stop at Loch Ness and add another stop just earlier at the prior Loch Lochy.
Andy is the best!
Divya_Y
, Jun 2022
Andy was a fantastic and knowledgeable tour guide - a great storyteller who made the long bus ride well worth it. A great way to see the Highlands out of Edinburgh if you’re short on time.
Highlands and Loch Ness
Alicia_D
, Jun 2022
Trip to the Highlands
Jodie_L
, May 2022
We had a wonderful time exploring the Highlands in the Wee Red Bus and with our guide Angela. She was sweet and funny and we learned a lot about the area from her. Its hard to see such a large area in a short time, but we got a glimpse and now want to come back and just explore the highlands. This is a great way to get a taste of the area,
Picture perfect tour
Zak_S
, May 2022
Great apartment at a great location
SHIRLEY_B
, May 2022
The location was perfect and made it easy to access grocery stores as well as tourist sites around the city. The apartment was clean, comfortable, and had all of the supplies we needed during our stay. The manager was very friendly and helpful with getting us settled into the apartment and explaining how to use the different appliances.
So much Scotland in so little time!
Jessica_L
, May 2022
I loved getting so much information about Scotland during this trip. The coach was comfortable and it was easy to talk to both the guide and other travelers. I bought the tour to go to Loch Ness, but I think I enjoyed seeing all the rest of Scotland going and coming as much or more.
1 traveler found this review helpful
Excellent trip
KaShunDuncan_C
, Apr 2022
Fantastic tour to search for Nessie from Edinburgh.
Julie_S
, Apr 2022
Euan our tour guide and bus driver was full of knowledge of the area and associated that knowledge with factual and date specific historical significant stories.
Euan knew exactly what time and roads to take so that we met the loch Ness boat with sufficient time to search for Nessie.
About the only very minor negative was we did not get to see sterling castle (this was never planned as part of the trip though).
Would recommend this tour again.
I will get this out of...
Dennis_O
, Apr 2022
I will get this out of the way first. I was hesitant to spend 12 hours on a bus tour. (Bathrooms being my biggest fear). We stopped many many times and this was a non-issue. That being said...what a beautiful, historic country! Drop dead gorgeous. We visited quaint towns, often for 20-40 minutes--enough time to shop or grab a coffee. We ate at a real Scottish pub in Loch Ness. I would skip the boat tour--visiting the town is a better choice. Other highlights: the music soundtrack on the bus, and the knowledge of our driver. Of our 3 days in Edinburgh this was well worth it. Highly recomended!
1 traveler found this review helpful
Best possible experience!
Joo_C
, Apr 2022
This tour was absolutely wonderful. Keith was an amazing and very funny guide who always kept the mood light and regularly made sure everyone was doing well. He was also incredibly knowledgeable about everything and gave many interesting facts along the way.
We were very happy with Keith’s “work” but the others guides are certainly just as knowledgeable and funny.
In other words, don’t hesitate to book this tour. Utterly amazing from the first moment. Those 12 hours flew by in an instant.
Beyond our expectations
Cyrus_W
, Apr 2022
What a pretty day
MnicaAndrea_C
, Apr 2022
Best tour ever !
Cynthia_R
, Mar 2022
Everything from the...
Clarisse_M
, Mar 2022
Everything from the beginning until the end was amazing. Our guide of the day, Keith, was the best guide we could ask for. He told us everything about the history of the Highlands, talked to us about Scotland's history too. The landscapes were amazingly beautiful, I was actually sad when we had to go back. I recommend it to everyone !
1 traveler found this review helpful
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