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Scotland's Highlands and Islands - a Tour of a Lifetime
Experience Scotland as few others have on what National Geographic Traveler magazine named a “Tour of a Lifetime.” Sail on waterways through the heart of the Highlands aboard Lord of the Glens, an intimate ship purpose-built for this journey, and navigate the coastal Hebrides islands, calling on villages seldom seen by outside travelers. Discover ancient landmarks and wild places while fully immersed in the lore, history, and warmth of this fabled region.
Optional extras & upgrades
Edinburgh 3 Day Extension. From $3,140 AUDScotland's Highlands and Islands - a Tour of a Lifetime itinerary:
Arrive in Inverness and transfer from the airport to Lord of the Glens. Embark the ship mid-afternoon and settle into your cabin. Gather for a reception, dinner, and a performance by junior Scottish dancers on board.
Arrival Time: Arrive before 4:00 p.m. local time.
Arrival City: Inverness, Scotland
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Visit Culloden, where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite forces met defeat in an infamous 1746 battle that had decisive consequences for life in the Highlands. See the Bronze Age standing stones and tombs of Clava Cairns. Set sail on the Caledonian Canal, built in the early 1800s to connect disparate lochs that thread across the Great Glen. Traverse Loch Ness, steeped in monstrous legend, then ascend impressive locks to moor at Fort Augustus village, where an evening hike awaits.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Continue along the Caledonian, gliding along a tree-lined canal known as Laggan Avenue, then onward across picturesque Lochs Oich and Lochy before descending Neptune's Staircase—eight interconnected locks that drop 64 feet to the sea loch at Corpach. Opt for a drive to spectacularly scenic Glenfinnan, its famous 21-arch viaduct made even more so by the Harry Potter movies. Or enjoy a bracing paddle along Loch Linnhe with Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, as your backdrop.
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Sail through Loch Linnhe to reach Oban, a lively town whose name is revered in whisky circles. Consider visiting a distillery or scoping out the panoramic Oban Bay views from McCaig’s Folly, a hilltop monument with inner gardens whose circular design and arches mimic the Colosseum. This evening, enjoy a Scotch whisky tasting aboard the ship.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Having reached Atlantic waters and the Hebrides, we disembark for a drive across the Isle of Mull and ferry-crossing to Iona, a picturesque island long revered as a Christian pilgrimage site. Stroll through St. Oran’s Chapel and the royal cemetery where Scottish kings, including the actual Macbeth, are buried. Back on Mull, tour Duart Castle, home and stronghold of Clan MacLean for the past eight centuries with the dungeons to prove it. Sail on to quaint Tobermory, where we overnight and learn about the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust’s efforts to protect marine life in these waters.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Depart for either Eigg or Rum, depending on weather conditions. Each island is home to fewer than 100 souls but and is teeming with wildlife. Among the possible sightings: Atlantic seals, minke and humpback whales, dolphins, harbor porpoises, and Manx shearwaters. If on Eigg, a hike or bike around the islet reveals views of the imposing crag of Sgurr. If on Rum, the marquee attraction is fanciful Kinloch Castle, completed in 1900 by a textile baron who clearly did not know when to stop decorating.
We then sail to the tiny village of Inverie and stop at the community-owned and operated Old Forge, the most remote pub in the British Isles, where you can chat with Inverie’s residents over a pint of local ale.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Continue north to the Isle of Skye. At the Museum of the Isles, trace the legacy of the 1,300-year-old Clan MacDonald, the Lords of the Isles, who once ruled the west coast of Scotland. Survey the ruins of Armadale Castle, the MacDonald’s ancestral home, and ramble through its beautiful woodlands and gardens. Sail onward to Kyle of Lochalsh for spectacular coastal and mountain views on a guided walk. Or explore Eilean Donan Castle, a one-of-a-kind landmark stacked on a tidal island at the confluence of three lochs. Celebrate your adventures at a farewell dinner.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Following breakfast on board, disembark in Kyle of Lochalsh for a scenic Highlands drive to Inverness. Then transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Departure Time: Depart after 12:00 p.m. local time.
Departure City: Inverness, Scotland
Meals Included: Breakfast
Itineraries are subject to change.
Scotland's Highlands and Islands - a Tour of a Lifetime reverse itinerary:
Itineraries are subject to change.
Following breakfast on board, disembark in Kyle of Lochalsh for a scenic Highlands drive to Inverness. Then transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Departure Time: Depart after 12:00 p.m. local time.
Departure City: Inverness, Scotland
Meals Included: Breakfast
Continue north to the Isle of Skye. At the Museum of the Isles, trace the legacy of the 1,300-year-old Clan MacDonald, the Lords of the Isles, who once ruled the west coast of Scotland. Survey the ruins of Armadale Castle, the MacDonald’s ancestral home, and ramble through its beautiful woodlands and gardens. Sail onward to Kyle of Lochalsh for spectacular coastal and mountain views on a guided walk. Or explore Eilean Donan Castle, a one-of-a-kind landmark stacked on a tidal island at the confluence of three lochs. Celebrate your adventures at a farewell dinner.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart for either Eigg or Rum, depending on weather conditions. Each island is home to fewer than 100 souls but and is teeming with wildlife. Among the possible sightings: Atlantic seals, minke and humpback whales, dolphins, harbor porpoises, and Manx shearwaters. If on Eigg, a hike or bike around the islet reveals views of the imposing crag of Sgurr. If on Rum, the marquee attraction is fanciful Kinloch Castle, completed in 1900 by a textile baron who clearly did not know when to stop decorating.
We then sail to the tiny village of Inverie and stop at the community-owned and operated Old Forge, the most remote pub in the British Isles, where you can chat with Inverie’s residents over a pint of local ale.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Having reached Atlantic waters and the Hebrides, we disembark for a drive across the Isle of Mull and ferry-crossing to Iona, a picturesque island long revered as a Christian pilgrimage site. Stroll through St. Oran’s Chapel and the royal cemetery where Scottish kings, including the actual Macbeth, are buried. Back on Mull, tour Duart Castle, home and stronghold of Clan MacLean for the past eight centuries with the dungeons to prove it. Sail on to quaint Tobermory, where we overnight and learn about the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust’s efforts to protect marine life in these waters.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Sail through Loch Linnhe to reach Oban, a lively town whose name is revered in whisky circles. Consider visiting a distillery or scoping out the panoramic Oban Bay views from McCaig’s Folly, a hilltop monument with inner gardens whose circular design and arches mimic the Colosseum. This evening, enjoy a Scotch whisky tasting aboard the ship.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Continue along the Caledonian, gliding along a tree-lined canal known as Laggan Avenue, then onward across picturesque Lochs Oich and Lochy before descending Neptune's Staircase—eight interconnected locks that drop 64 feet to the sea loch at Corpach. Opt for a drive to spectacularly scenic Glenfinnan, its famous 21-arch viaduct made even more so by the Harry Potter movies. Or enjoy a bracing paddle along Loch Linnhe with Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, as your backdrop.
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Visit Culloden, where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite forces met defeat in an infamous 1746 battle that had decisive consequences for life in the Highlands. See the Bronze Age standing stones and tombs of Clava Cairns. Set sail on the Caledonian Canal, built in the early 1800s to connect disparate lochs that thread across the Great Glen. Traverse Loch Ness, steeped in monstrous legend, then ascend impressive locks to moor at Fort Augustus village, where an evening hike awaits.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Arrive in Inverness and transfer from the airport to Lord of the Glens. Embark the ship mid-afternoon and settle into your cabin. Gather for a reception, dinner, and a performance by junior Scottish dancers on board.
Arrival Time: Arrive before 4:00 p.m. local time.
Arrival City: Inverness, Scotland
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Lord of the Glens
Vessel Type: Luxury Small Ship
Length: 46 metres
Passenger Capacity: 48
Built: 1985
Lord of the Glens is uniquely crafted to explore Scotland’s iconic waterways, offering guests a rare opportunity to traverse the Caledonian Canal and sail the rugged coastline to the Inner Hebrides. Purpose-built to fit through the narrow locks and lochs that cut through the heart of the Highlands, this 46-guest vessel combines technical ingenuity with traditional charm. With polished wood panelling, teak decks, and elegant interiors, the ship evokes the feel of a stately country manor, while offering the flexibility and intimacy of a private yacht. It’s a graceful way to discover Scotland’s wild beauty, historic towns, and remote islands.
On board, guests enjoy a relaxed and refined atmosphere across four decks, with 24 well-appointed cabins and sociable shared spaces. Two inviting lounges and open-air viewing areas provide ideal spots to unwind and watch the dramatic landscape drift by. Meals focus on fresh, healthy Scottish fare and are enjoyed in a single, open seating—either in the dining room or al fresco when weather permits. With bicycles and kayaks available, guests can explore charming villages and serene lochs at their own pace. Lord of the Glens offers a distinctive blend of comfort, adventure, and cultural immersion, making every voyage a memorable Highland journey.
• Stroll across the battlefield at Culloden—where Bonnie Prince Charlie was dramatically defeated in 1746—and discover Clava Cairns, a Bronze Age circular chamber tomb
• Hike through stunning scenery and kayak on picturesque Loch Linnhe beside the towering grandeur of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain
• Visit Armadale Castle on the magnificent Isle of Skye, beautiful Eilean Donan Castle in Kyle of Lochalsh, and explore the medieval ruins and the burial ground of Iona Abbey—where Macbeth is buried
• Transit Neptune’s Staircase, a series of eight interconnected locks on the Caledonian Canal that 3 drop, or rise, 64 feet