Signature: Scotland’s Edinburgh, the Highlands & Loch Lomond

Welcome to the Athens of the North. Your expedition begins in Edinburgh, where medieval spires and neoclassical grandeur dominate the skyline. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Later, join your National Geographic Expedition Leader and National Geographic Expedition Expert for an engaging presentation that sets the stage for your time in the Highlands. As the evening light softens over the city's volcanic crags, gather with your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner, marking the start of your Scottish exploration with a feast of local flavours and warm hospitality.

Meals included: Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Private Arrival Transfer Edinburgh Airport to hotelActivity - Your opportunity to meet your Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.Accommodation - The Bonham Hotel

The day opens with a private, before-hours access to the Royal Yacht Britannia. Alongside a local guide, explore the state apartments and gleaming engine room before the doors open to the public, absorbing the details of a floating royal residence. Later, Edinburgh Castle commands the skyline on a guided tour of its ancient ramparts, where sweeping views stretch across the rooftops to the Firth of Forth. In the afternoon, the Royal Mile is explored through a different lens — an Invisible Cities tour led by a formerly unhoused guide, whose personal perspective transforms this famous street into something quietly profound. This evening enjoy dinner in the heart of the city.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - A before-hours visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh is a rare opportunity to step into the private world of the British Royal Family before the crowds arrive. This is not just a museum tour; it is a "behind-the-velvet-rope" experience led by a resident expert who understands the intricate protocols and personal stories of the 44 years the yacht served as a floating palace.Activity - A visit to Edinburgh Castle is a journey into the fortified heart of Scotland. Perched atop the volcanic Castle Rock, this "Defender of the Nation" has been a royal residence, a military garrison, and a prison over its 900-year history.Activity - Join a "socially conscious" walking tour along the Royal Mile that refines the standard historical tour into a powerful human narrative. A local social enterprise trains individuals who have experienced homelessness to become professional guides, meaning you aren't just hearing dates and names—you are seeing the city through the eyes of someone who has lived in its shadows and now stands proudly in its light.Accommodation - The Bonham Hotel

History and innovation meet at the Falkirk Wheel — a one of a kind 35-metre rotating boat lift that represents the boldest chapter in Scotland's canal engineering story. Watch the massive mechanism in motion before continuing to Stirling, where the formidable castle that was once home to the young Mary, Queen of Scots, rises above the surrounding plain with quiet authority. After lunch in town, visit the Glenturret Distillery — Scotland's oldest, dating to 1763. A refined whiskey tasting offers a first taste of Highland culture before the return to Edinburgh, where the evening is yours free to discover.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - A photo stop at the Falkirk Wheel is a study in "sculptural engineering." Standing as the world’s only rotating boat lift, this 35-meter-tall marvel is a favorite for photographers because of its constant motion and the way its futuristic, bone-like structure reflects in the water basin below.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s grandest castles due to its imposing position and impressive architecture. The scenery will take your breath away. Explore the fascinating history of this castle up on the crag of what was once Scotland's capital. Look out over the city at the edge of the Highlands and home to the Stewart Kings and Queens, who held court and other grand celebrations at Stirling Castle.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - A visit to The Glenturret in Crieff is a masterclass in the "new era" of Scotch whisky. While it proudly holds the title of Scotland’s oldest working distillery (est. 1763), its recent transformation under the ownership of the Lalique Group has turned it into a high-end destination where rugged Highland tradition meets French crystal elegance.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - The Bonham Hotel

St Andrews reveals itself as more than just the home of golf — it is a town of ancient universities, ruined cathedrals, and a seafront that has barely changed in centuries. Choose between one of 2 included activities: Take a walk through its storied university or visit the Old Course Clubhouse, where the history of the game is told with reverence and wit. After, take a lunch stop in Pitlochry, the Victorian resort town that serves as the gateway to the Highlands. Continue through the wild, open beauty of Cairngorms National Park, where red deer graze the moorland and golden eagles circle overhead. Inverness waits at the end of the road, its riverbanks twinkling as the Highland dark closes in.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - St Andrews is a rare jewel—it is simultaneously the hallowed "Home of Golf" and the "Cradle of Scottish Education." Whether you choose to follow the footsteps of medieval scholars or the divots of legendary golfers, you are walking through 600 years of global history.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - A stop in Pitlochry is like stepping into a perfectly preserved Victorian postcard. Nestled in the heart of Perthshire, this town became a favorite of Queen Victoria herself, and it retains that refined, "mountain resort" elegance. Enjoy a short stop with lunch among grey stone buildings and lush Highland greenery.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Hotel Inverness

Culloden Moor holds its silence like a secret. Stand on the windswept battlefield where the last pitched battle on British soil was fought in 1746, and walk the lines with a guide who brings the Jacobite Rising and the clan system to vivid, human life. The weight of the place is palpable underfoot. In the afternoon, drive to the atmospheric ruins of Cawdor Castle, set among ancient woodland for a guided tour. As midday light fills the Highlands, a local pub becomes the setting for an afternoon of traditional music, storytelling, and hearty Scottish cuisine — the kind of shared table that needs no formal agenda, only good company and the warmth of a Highland fire.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - A guided visit to Culloden Battlefield is a somber, deeply moving immersion into the site of the last pitched battle fought on British soil (April 16, 1746). It is a place where the landscape itself serves as a monument to the end of the Jacobite Rising.Activity - A visit to Cawdor Castle, just east of Inverness, is a journey into a "living" history. Unlike many Scottish strongholds that feel like sterile museums, Cawdor has been the private home of the Campbell family for over 600 years. This gives the castle a warm, remarkably intimate atmosphere.Activity - Immerse yourself in an authentic "Cèilidh-style" encounter at MacGregor’s Bar in Inverness. This award-winning experience blends modern Scottish gastronomy with the world-class fiddling and storytelling of host Bruce MacGregor.Accommodation - Hotel Inverness

Depart for the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, stopping first at the dramatically situated Urquhart Castle. Perched on the shores of Loch Ness, these iconic ruins have witnessed centuries of conflict. Next, drive to Fort William, known as the gateway to Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the United Kingdom. Journey through Glencoe, perhaps the most romantic and haunting glen in Scotland, where towering peaks hem in the road. Stop at Loch Tulla to capture the reflection of the mountains in the still water before arriving at your hotel for a delicious dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - A visit to Urquhart Castle is an encounter with one of Scotland’s most dramatic and strategically vital ruins. Perched on a rocky promontory overlooking the darkest, deepest waters of Loch Ness, the castle offers a perfect blend of medieval warfare history and the enduring mystery of the Highlands.Activity - A stop in Fort William offers a concentrated dose of Highland character. Known as the "Outdoor Capital of the UK," the town sits at the feet of Ben Nevis and serves as the gateway to the West Highlands. During free time for lunch, you can experience its blend of Jacobite history, engineering marvels, and rugged scenery.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - A stop in Glencoe is an encounter with the most hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric landscape in the Scottish Highlands. Known as the "Weeping Glen," this deep, U-shaped valley was carved by ancient volcanoes and glaciers, creating a scale of natural drama that feels almost cinematic.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Cameron House on Loch Lomond

Embrace a slow morning before walking to the Cameron House marina for a private boat charter. Glide across the glass-like waters of Loch Lomond, weaving past mysterious islands and the rugged Highland fault line. Return to the estate for a gentle stroll through old-growth woodland trails, listening for the rustle of wildlife in the undergrowth. The afternoon is yours to enjoy a decadent tea or explore the estate's activities. Tonight, gather for a farewell dinner as the mist settles over the surrounding peaks.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Walk to the docks within the grounds of Cameron House for a private cruise on Loch Lomond, the definitive way to experience the "Bonnie Banks" far from the crowds. Relax and scan the scenery as you explore the loch’s 30+ islands and the dramatic transition from the Lowlands to the Highlands.Activity - Join your Expedition Leader for a walk around the Cameron House Estate to absorb its "Baronial Grandeur." Set within 400 acres on the southwestern shores of Loch Lomond, the grounds offer a sophisticated blend of manicured "country house" elegance and the untamed beauty of the Scottish Highlands.Accommodation - Cameron House on Loch Lomond

After a final Scottish breakfast, take a moment to look out over the water one last time. Your expedition concludes today as you are transferred to the airport. Reflect on a week of dramatic landscapes and deep history, carrying with you the echoes of bagpipes and the enduring legends of the North.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport at the end of your adventure.