Scotland: Edinburgh & the Highlands

Arrive in Glasgow, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. This evening, gather with fellow guests for cocktails and a welcome dinner at the hotel.

Make an exclusive before-hours visit to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, home to one of Europe’s great art collections. Next, explore the art of the bagpipes during an interactive workshop at the National Piping Center. Eat lunch at the Willow Tea Rooms, emblematic of the local Arts and Crafts movement of the early 20th century. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Journey to Inveraray Castle, passing Loch Lomond en route. Walk through this aristocratic residence with a private guide on an exclusive A&K experience, followed by lunch. Drive through the Highlands and past Loch Tay to your hotel beside scenic Loch Rannoch. Enjoy live piping and dancing with dinner.

Ride Like a Local into the Highlands by 4x4 vehicle on a wilderness safari, absorbing the scenic views of lakes, forests and mountains, and keeping watch for native wildlife such as red deer, mountain hares and golden eagles. Then, enjoy a picnic lunch in this idyllic location, followed by free time to relax, cast a fishing line, peruse local art galleries and craft shops, or simply marvel at the natural grandeur surrounding you.

Travel to Dundee to discover the V&A Dundee, a museum showcasing the history of Scottish design, technology and innovation. Enjoy time for lunch at your leisure, and then proceed on a unique Chef’s Table experience at the Scotch whisky distillery at Lindores Abbey, called whisky’s spiritual birthplace, where you indulge in a tasting. Continue to the lovely coastal town of St. Andrews, site of the Open and regarded as the home of golf. After an introduction to the historic town, savor a Scenic Sundowner overlooking the iconic Old Course, and then check in to your hotel set on the famed links.

Today, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities. Bike to a Nature Reserve, meandering through St. Andrews links and along the shores of a lovely estuary. Savor a Tutored Gin Tasting and create your own signature gin and tonic at a top local distillery. Walk St. Andrews’ Old Course, guided by a former caddy, to learn the secrets of the “Grand Old Lady” of golf. Relax during an afternoon and evening at leisure.

Today, journey to Edinburgh, Scotland’s elegant capital. Begin your visit with a tour of Holyrood Palace. Continue up the Royal Mile to the historic Signet Library, where you are invited to one of Edinburgh’s most substantial afternoon teas, featuring savory side dishes and sweets that make for a satisfying lunch. Afterward, explore Edinburgh Castle with an expert local guide and take in the stunning views over the city and beyond. Later, check in to your hotel for an evening at leisure.

Begin your day with a private, before-hours visit to the Royal Yacht ‘Britannia,’ a proud vessel that served as a floating home to the Royal Family for over 40 years. Enjoy a panoramic overview of the local sights before returning to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner at a fine local restaurant.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departing flight.