SAMPLE ITINERARY
Private 5-Day Highlands & Isle of Skye Tour from Edinburgh or Glasgow
If you want to see the Highlands and the Isle of Skye properly, five days gives you the room to do it. This private 5-day tour starts and finishes in Edinburgh or Glasgow, and is built for families, friends and couples travelling together, with up to 8 guests in your own vehicle with your own driver-guide. The route below is flexible, so we can shape it around the people in your group. Adventure Alba has run private tours across Scotland since 2018, with most trips starting in Edinburgh. If you'd rather start from a blank page, we can also design a custom private tour for you.
What does the 5-day Highlands & Isle of Skye itinerary cover?
Five days from Edinburgh or Glasgow: Pitlochry and Aviemore, Loch Ness and Eilean Donan, two nights on Skye, then Glenfinnan, Glencoe and Oban.
Day 1: Edinburgh or Glasgow to Aviemore via Pitlochry & the Cairngorms
Over the Forth, lunch in Pitlochry, Ruthven Barracks and into the Cairngorms.
Overnight: Aviemore
Day 1 takes you north from Edinburgh or Glasgow through Pitlochry and the Cairngorms to Aviemore, where you'll spend the night. If you start in Edinburgh, we stop on the way out of the city to photograph the Queensferry Crossing.
Lunch is usually in Pitlochry, a Victorian town that makes an easy first taste of the Highlands. Afterwards we visit Ruthven Barracks, a roofless garrison built after the 1715 Jacobite rising. Then we drive through Cairngorms National Park, Britain's largest national park, to Aviemore, a friendly mountain town with good places to eat.
Day 2: Culloden, Loch Ness & Eilean Donan Castle to Skye
Whisky, Culloden and Loch Ness, then Eilean Donan and over to Skye.
Overnight: Isle of Skye
Day 2 runs from Aviemore past Culloden and Loch Ness to Eilean Donan Castle, then over the bridge to Skye. We start with a whisky distillery, chosen to suit your group, and then walk among the 4,000-year-old cairns and standing stones at Clava Cairns. Our guide to whisky and the Highlands is good reading beforehand.
Close by is Culloden Battlefield, where the Jacobite rising ended in 1746. After a short stop in Inverness, we follow the shore of Loch Ness west to Eilean Donan Castle, which stands on its own small island where three sea lochs meet.
Day 3: A full day on the Isle of Skye
The Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing, planned around the weather.
Overnight: Isle of Skye
Day 3 is a full day on the Isle of Skye, usually the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing, with a second night on the island. Skye's weather changes fast, so we plan each morning around the forecast.
On a clear day we head north to the Trotternish peninsula, for the Old Man of Storr rock pinnacle and the Quiraing's cliffs and hidden grassy hollows.
If it's wet, Skye still has plenty to offer: the Talisker distillery, a castle visit, shorter stops at sheltered viewpoints, or extra time in the harbour town of Portree.
Day 4: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Oban
Ben Nevis views, Glenfinnan Viaduct and Glencoe, then on to Oban.
Overnight: Oban
Day 4 leaves Skye for the Glenfinnan Viaduct, Fort William and Glencoe, ending with a night in the harbour town of Oban. We start at the Commando Memorial, which honours the Second World War commandos who trained here and looks out to Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain.
Next is the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the curving railway bridge from the Harry Potter films. After Fort William we drive through Glencoe. Along the coast we stop to see Castle Stalker on its island in Loch Laich, then continue to Oban, known for its seafood.
Day 5: Loch Awe, Highland cows & Doune Castle
Loch Awe, Highland cows and Doune Castle on the way home.
Drop-off in Edinburgh or Glasgow
Day 5 heads back from Oban via Loch Awe, Kilmahog and Doune Castle to your drop-off in Edinburgh or Glasgow. Beside Loch Awe we stop at St Conan's Kirk, a beautiful and unusual lochside church. A little further along, a roadside viewpoint looks over the ruins of Kilchurn Castle, and you can walk down to the water for a closer look.
At Kilmahog you'll meet the Highland cows, shaggy, long-horned and very patient about photos. We pass through Callander and finish at Doune Castle, a medieval fortress Outlander fans will know well. If you'd like more of it, there's our Outlander day tour. Then it's on to your drop-off, at the end of your tour.
Can we customise the Highlands & Skye itinerary?
Yes, and most groups do. Think of this route as a starting point we'll adjust around what you'd like to see.
Ideas and other options
- A second distillery, if places are available
- The Jacobite steam train in season (it books up fast, so tell us early)
- An extra night on Skye
- More Outlander locations around Doune and Stirling
- Shorter days and more breaks for younger children
We can also change the start, finish or length. To plan from scratch, see our fully custom private tour. For more Loch Ness and less Skye, try our 2-day Loch Ness tour. Short on time? Our 3-day Highlands tour still takes in Loch Ness, Glenfinnan and Glencoe, just without Skye.
Want more time?
This route works as a relaxed 6-day custom tour, with an extra Skye night or shorter drives.
Or choose one of our longer tours:
What our guests say
A few words from people who've travelled with us.
Why choose a private Highlands & Skye tour?
Plenty of companies run coach trips to Skye. Ours works differently.
Just your group, max 8 guests
There are no strangers on board and no seat-swapping, and nobody holds the group up at every stop. The tour is private, with a maximum of 8 guests, so it suits a couple on a once-in-a-lifetime Scotland trip just as well as two families sharing the experience.
Flexible itinerary, your pace
Think of the route below as our best suggestion. If the light is perfect at Glencoe, we'll stay longer. If rain rolls in on Skye, we'll switch the order and head where the weather is kinder. If you'd rather skip a castle and spend more time on a beach, that's fine too.
Ideal for families, friends and couples
- Families: shorter drives, plenty of breaks and the Highland cows at Kilmahog.
- Friends: there's time for a distillery, a long lunch, or a pint in a Highland pub at the end of the day.
- Couples: we know the quieter viewpoints and the moments worth slowing down for, away from the busiest car parks.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for the Isle of Skye and the Highlands?
Five days is enough for a first visit to Skye and the Highlands, with time for Loch Ness, Eilean Donan, Glenfinnan and Glencoe. With more time, see our 8-day Highlands and Outer Hebrides itinerary or ask about a custom tour.
When is the best time to visit Skye and the Highlands?
March to July is best for Skye and the Highlands, and October is lovely too. It gets much busier once the school holidays start, and the Jacobite steam train books out fast, so plan early. The tour runs in winter too, though some stops may change with the short daylight hours.
Is this tour private?
Yes. Every Adventure Alba tour is private, max 8 guests as standard. The vehicle and driver-guide are for your group only, and the pace is set around you. Larger groups need a bigger vehicle.
Should we drive ourselves or take a private tour of Skye?
You can drive yourself, but Skye is a long way from Edinburgh, and many Highland roads are narrow. On a private tour your driver-guide handles all of that, so everyone enjoys the views.
Is the Highlands and Skye tour suitable for kids?
Yes. Because the tour is private, we can plan shorter drives, more breaks and stops children love, like the Highland cows at Kilmahog.
How much walking is involved?
As much or as little as you like. At the Old Man of Storr you can walk up the path or admire it from the road. Because every tour is planned around you, we can suit most abilities, though our vehicles don't have a wheelchair lift.
Can we change the itinerary?
Yes. The route is a sample, and we can add or swap stops, add an extra night on Skye or slow the pace down, both before you travel and on the day if the weather calls for it.
Where do we stay on a 5-day Highlands and Skye tour?
You spend nights in Aviemore, on the Isle of Skye (two nights) and in Oban. Accommodation isn't included. We prefer to book it for you, but you're welcome to book your own if you have somewhere in mind.
Where does the tour start and finish?
The tour starts and ends in Edinburgh or Glasgow, with hotel or airport pick-up and drop-off. You can start in one city and finish in the other, and custom tours can also start in Inverness.
Plan your private Highlands & Skye tour
Tell us your dates, group size and anything you're keen to see, and we'll send you a plan. There's no obligation.
Pricing FAQ
How much does a private tour of Skye and the Highlands cost?
Adventure Alba prices private tours per group, not per person: around £1,000 to £1,200 per day for your whole party of up to 8 guests. That covers your vehicle, driver-guide, fuel and parking. One price for everyone suits families and friends travelling together, and summer dates sit towards the top of the range.
What isn't included in the price?
You pay separately for hotels, meals, admission tickets and anything personal. We usually book accommodation for our guests, from cosy guesthouses to grand hotels, but you're welcome to arrange your own.
Why does the price vary?
Every tour is planned around your group, so the final price depends on your dates, the season and any changes, like an extra night on Skye.
How do we get an exact quote?
Send us your dates and group size, and we'll come back with a clear quote, with no obligation. Get in touch by email or WhatsApp, or start planning on our custom private tours page.