A division of the Atlas Travel Network
Cosmos Tours Authorized Representative
1-800-942-3301
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About This Tour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Immerse yourself in Scottish hospitality on this in-depth vacation. Board your motorcoach in London and head north, crossing the Scottish border and arriving in Edinburgh for two nights. Here, a Local Guide introduces you to the city and the mighty castle. On to St. Andrews, home of golf; Braemar, home of the Royal Highland Games for the past 900 years; and Royal Deeside, where the Queen spends her summer holidays. Stop at a distillery to learn about the ancient art of scotch whisky creation and overnight in the Scottish Highlands. From here, visit the Highland capital of Inverness and search for Nessie at mysterious Loch Ness. Take photos of the legendary Eilean Donan Castle, then cross to the beautiful Isle of Skye. Returning to the mainland, stop at historic Glenfinnan and Fort William, and spend the night at the fishing village of Oban. Ferry to the Isle of Mull, inhabited since around 6,000 BC, and the Isle of Iona, burial place of Scottish kings, including Macbeth. In Glasgow, enjoy an orientation tour and free time to explore the city on your own. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
City Highlights Visits to Edinburgh Castle, tickets for Edinburgh Military Tattoo (departure numbers 0803, 0810, 0817), St. Andrews, Braemar, Culloden Moor, Inverness, Fort William, Oban, the Centre of Celtic Christianity on the Isle of Iona, Inveraray, Glasgow Meals 2 buffet breakfast (B); 7 full English breakfasts (FB); 4 three-course dinners (D) with choice of menus and coffee Hotels: Listed below or equivalent. Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service chargesLONDON Kensington Close (ST), EDINBURGH Learmonth (ST), AVIEMORE Aviemore Inn (ST), OBAN Regent (ST), GLASGOW Quality (ST)
Day 1:
Fri. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT. Day 2: Sat. ARRIVAL IN LONDON, ENGLAND. Check into your hotel. In the afternoon there’s time to rest or explore the lively British capital; uniformed Hosts are available to help you make the most of your day. Day 3: Sun. LONDON-EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND. Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and depart at 8 a.m. for a day of northbound travel heading for the Scottish border and capital city of Edinburgh. Dinner is included tonight at your hotel. (B,D) Day 4: Mon. EDINBURGH. A full day to enjoy this “Prince of Cities.” Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and famous scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the “Old Town,” drive up the narrow Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Afternoon at leisure. Don’t miss our optional Scottish night out featuring Highland dancers, bagpipers, and, of course, the Ceremony of the Haggis. For departure numbers 0803, 0810, and 0817, tickets are included for tonight’s performance of the world-renowned Military Tattoo, a vast spectacle of massed Scottish pipe bands which takes place in an arena on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. (FB) Day 5: Tue. EDINBURGH-AVIEMORE. A day of memorable sightseeing: St. Andrews, whose Royal and Ancient Golf Club has given us the rules of golfing; Braemar, home of the Royal Highland Games for over 900 years; and Royal Deeside, where the Queen is an annual visitor. At a whisky distillery, let your guide explain the ancient art of converting barley, water, and yeast into a heart-warming liquor. Spend the night at Aviemore in the Cairngorm Mountains. (FB,D) Day 6: Wed. AVIEMORE-ISLE OF SKYE-OBAN. Cross the battlefield of Culloden Moor, then pause in the Highland capital of Inverness before tracing the shores of Loch Ness, looking out for the mysterious monster. More heather-clad moors as you drive through the western Highlands to take your photos of picture-perfect Eilean Donan Castle before crossing the bridge from Lochalsh onto the Inner Hebridean Isle of Skye. The route back to the mainland is by ferry across the Sound of Sleat to Mallaig. Follow the “Road to the Isles,” pausing at Glenfinnan, the site where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s standard was raised in 1745, and Fort William, then skirt the shores of lovely Loch Linnhe on the way to the pretty fishing port of Oban. (FB,D) Day 7: Thu. OBAN. EXCURSION TO THE ISLES OF MULL AND IONA. Take the ferry to the Isle of Mull. Land at Craignure and enjoy the scenic drive to the departure point of the passenger ferry across to the beautiful and fascinating Isle of Iona. This is the burial place of many Scottish kings and chiefs, including Macbeth. And it is here that in 563 A.D. St. Columba established one of the first Christian monasteries in the British Isles. Time to visit the cathedral and explore the religious settlement before returning to Oban. Your Tour Director will have dining suggestions for this evening. (FB) Day 8: Fri. OBAN-GLASGOW. Cross the spectacular Pass of Brander, and from Inveraray take the road known as “Rest and Be Thankful” to the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond, the most famous loch of all. In Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, your orientation city tour takes in the fine 12th-century cathedral, imposing university buildings, and elegant Georgian squares built by the wealthy tobacco barons. Time for last-minute shopping before bidding farewell to your traveling companions over dinner at your hotel. (FB,D) Day 9: Sat. GLASGOW-LONDON, ENGLAND. Relax and let the countryside pass by on your southbound journey back to London for an evening arrival. Overnight at the Kensington Close Hotel (ST). (FB) Day 10: Sun. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT FROM LONDON ARRIVES THE SAME DAY. (B)
Visits to Edinburgh Castle, tickets for Edinburgh Military Tattoo (departure numbers 0803, 0810, 0817), St. Andrews, Braemar, Culloden Moor, Inverness, Fort William, Oban, the Centre of Celtic Christianity on the Isle of Iona, Inveraray, Glasgow
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing.
© 2008 Atlas Cruises & Tours. A division of the Atlas travel network.
Site Map | Operators: Collette |Contiki |Cosmos |General Tours |Globus |Insight |Trafalgar