The Essence of Scotland: Highlands, Lochs and Castles
From the Trossachs to the Highlands, a journey through wild lochs and legendary castles in the heart of authentic Écosse.
Duration
8 days
From
€1,190/pers.
Ideal seasons
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Style
Self-drive tour
Comfort
classique
Travelers
Couple, Solo, With friends, senior
The spirit of travel
Discover the different facets of Écosse with this circuit combining culture and legendary landscapes. Upon your arrival, you will be immersed in nature at the Trossachs National Park before exploring the rural and wild regions on the Argyll coast. You will experience all the majestic beauty of the Highlands around Fort William before heading back down to the lush forests and valleys of Perthshire.
The itinerary includes numerous castles and famous sites such as Loch Ness.
Finally, you will experience the lively atmosphere of Edinburgh and its charming monuments.
From the peaceful shores of the lochs to the spectacular mountains of the Highlands, each stage reveals a new facet of Écosse. Cross through villages full of character, discover fortresses steeped in history and immerse yourself in the legends that surround this fascinating land. Between whisky tastings in traditional distilleries, grandiose panoramas and exceptional heritage, this circuit offers a complete immersion in the Scottish soul. An invitation to explore a country where nature, history and traditions blend together to create a journey as authentic as it is unforgettable.
The stages of your journey
Highlights
Day-by-day itinerary
Arrival in Edinburgh - Trossachs National Park
Édimbourg → Callander
Upon arrival, you take possession of your rental vehicle.
Head west towards the Trossachs National Park. You will encounter the first Highlands. The park covers 25,000 hectares. At its heart lies the Loch Lomond, one of the most beautiful in the country. You can take a tour around it. The main town in the region is Stirling, where you can visit the impressive Medieval castle.
Overnight in the heart of Trossachs National Park, near Callander.
Argyll and Bute Region
Callander → Inveraray
After your breakfast, you will continue westwards to reach the Argyll region, which consists of charming typical villages. Recommended stop at Inveraray, on the western shore of Loch Fyne. It is a former royal village (it was the residence of the Dukes of Argyll). The region is very rural. The landscapes alternate between mountains and lochs. The coastlines offer magnificent views of the Inner Hebrides islands (islands of Jura, Kerrera, Mull…).
Oban is the main town in the region. Its name means "Little bay", and as the name suggests, the town is open to the ocean. It is very pleasant to stroll through its streets, day and night. There, you can visit the distillery of the same name and enjoy excellent dishes based on local fish and seafood.
Overnight stay near Oban.
Argyll and Bute Region
Why not set off today to discover an island? From Oban, it's possible to take a day trip to the island of Mull, Iona, Staffa or even the small island of Kerrera, which can be explored on foot in a few hours.
If you prefer to stay on land, the surroundings of Oban are full of discoveries : castles, gardens, villages, forests. Argyll is an ideal region for observing birds (puffins), seals, otters…
Night near Oban.
From Oban to Fort William
Today, you will head north towards the Fort William region. You will pass through Glencoe, a village nestled on the shores of Loch Leven at the entrance to Glen Coe. There, the Highlands are even more majestic.
As you head towards Fort William, you will see Ben Nevis, the country's highest peak (1345 metres). It is a must-visit location for hikers.
The Fort William region has served as a filming location for many films such as Harry Potter and Skyfall. You can also follow the Jacobite train route (Harry Potter train) between Glenfinnan and Mallaig.
Discovery of Loch Ness (or Ardamurchan Peninsula)
Today, heading towards the Loch Ness, Scotland's most famous loch. You will follow the Caledonian Canal to Fort Augustus. The canal allows passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea by crossing several lochs via an elaborate system of locks. You will then follow the western shore of the Loch to the famous Urquhart Castle.
Alternative programme:
If you prefer getting off the beaten track, our recommendation is to head towards the Ardnamurchan peninsula, south of Fort William. It is a wild peninsula offering an end of the world feel with a total of 10 villages and 2000 residents living there year-round. It is the ideal place to observe the local wildlife and flora, and possibly encounter some deer and other wild animals.
Overnight stay near Fort William.
From Fort William to the Perthshire region
Route towards the historic central region. You will leave the Western Highlands behind you. Perthshire is characterised by lush forests and tumultuous rivers.
At Blair Atholl, you can visit Blair Castle, one of the finest castles in Écosse. You can also taste whisky in one of the region's distilleries (Dalwhinnie, Bell's Blair Atholl or Edradour).
You will then pass through the Killiecrankie pass, where the first battle of the Jacobite rebellion took place in 1689. The region has also served as a filming location for many famous films and series such as Highlander or more recently The Crown. Overnight stay near Pitlochry.
From Perthshire to Edinburgh
You can easily reach Edinburgh in 1 hour 30 minutes and return your vehicle there.
Capital of Écosse since the 15th century, and the second largest city in Écosse after Glasgow, it is a very popular city. Several districts have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1995. Edinburgh has many surprises in store for its visitors, with its historic monuments and its pubs along the Royal Mile (one of the city's main streets).
Things to see include: the castle which overlooks Princes Street Gardens, the pedestrian district around the Royal Mile, the hill of Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Palace, …
Have a good trip!
Last stroll in Edinburgh before heading to the airport, by taxi, express bus or tram. Meet 1 hour 30 minutes before your flight departure for baggage check-in.
Price per person
Indicative price per person, based on double room. Each trip is customized according to your preferences.
This trip can be tailored to your preferences
This itinerary provides an excellent foundation for discovery, but it can be fully customized. Our local advisors build each trip tailored to your budget, dates and preferences.
Not included
- International and domestic aviation
- Airport taxes & visas
- Lunches and dinners
- Beverages, personal expenses & tips
- Travel Insurance & Assistance
- Everything not listed in "Inclusions"
Included
- 7 nights in B&B in double or twin room with bathroom and toilet facilities
- 7 Scottish or continental breakfasts
- Rental of a category 2 vehicle, Opel Corsa 3-door type or equivalent for 2 people, category 3, Opel Astra 5-door type or equivalent for 4 people, manual transmission, unlimited mileage, with comprehensive insurance, theft insurance, airport taxes for 7 days
- Your personalized travel journal
- English-speaking telephone support 7 days a week
Practical Information
Registration is considered firm and final after payment of a deposit of 30% of the total price and acceptance of the specific terms of sale.
The balance must be paid no later than 45 days before the departure date.
See our specific terms of sale for full details.
In the event of cancellation by the traveller, the following fees apply:
- Plus de 60 jours avant le départ : 40 % du prix total (acompte retenu)
- Entre 60 et 30 jours avant le départ : 50 % du prix total
- Moins de 30 jours avant le départ : 100 % du prix total
We strongly recommend taking out cancellation insurance. See our specific terms of sale for full details.
Les informations ci-dessous concernent les voyageurs ressortissants de l'Espace économique européen (EEE), de la Suisse et du Canada se rendant en Écosse dans le cadre d'un séjour touristique. Les règles d'entrée pouvant évoluer, nous vous recommandons de vérifier les informations auprès des autorités officielles avant votre départ.
Passeport
L'Écosse fait partie du Royaume-Uni. Pour y entrer, les ressortissants de l'EEE et de la Suisse doivent être munis d'un passeport valide pour toute la durée du séjour. Depuis le Brexit, la carte nationale d'identité n'est plus acceptée comme document de voyage au Royaume-Uni pour la grande majorité des voyageurs.
Les ressortissants canadiens doivent également présenter un passeport valide pour la durée du séjour.
Le document doit être en bon état (pas de pages détériorées, déchirées ou modifiées).
Séjour touristique sans visa
Les ressortissants de l'Espace économique européen, de la Suisse et du Canada bénéficient d'une exemption de visa pour les séjours touristiques au Royaume-Uni.
Cette exemption permet un séjour pouvant aller jusqu'à 6 mois sur le territoire britannique. Il n'est pas possible de prolonger ce séjour depuis le Royaume-Uni au-delà de cette durée dans le cadre d'un séjour touristique.
Les autorités britanniques peuvent demander :
un billet de sortie du territoire (vol retour ou continuation),
une preuve de ressources financières suffisantes pour la durée du séjour,
une preuve d'hébergement (réservation d'hôtel, invitation, etc.).
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
Depuis le début de l'année 2025, le Royaume-Uni a mis en place l'Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), une autorisation de voyage électronique obligatoire pour les ressortissants exemptés de visa, dont les citoyens de l'EEE, de la Suisse et du Canada.
L'ETA doit être obtenue avant le départ et est liée électroniquement au passeport du voyageur. Elle permet plusieurs entrées sur le territoire britannique et est valable 2 ans ou jusqu'à l'expiration du passeport, selon la première échéance. La demande s'effectue en ligne via l'application ou le site officiel du gouvernement britannique.
Les informations requises comprennent notamment :
informations du passeport
informations personnelles et coordonnées
réponses à des questions relatives à l'admissibilité
Voyage avec des enfants
Les mineurs doivent être titulaires de leur propre passeport valide couvrant la durée du séjour.
Dans certains pays européens, lorsqu'un mineur voyage sans l'un de ses parents, une autorisation de sortie du territoire peut être exigée selon la réglementation du pays de résidence.
Autres nationalités
Les conditions d'entrée peuvent varier selon la nationalité. Les voyageurs concernés doivent se renseigner auprès de l'ambassade ou du consulat du Royaume-Uni de leur pays de résidence.
Pour participer à nos voyages, il est fortement conseillé d'être assuré en assistance-rapatriement et frais médicaux à l’étranger.
Votre agence locale vous encourage à prendre connaissance du contrat spécifique élaboré avec notre partenaire CHAPKA ASSURANCES et AXA ASSISTANCE.
Pour souscrire à une assurance, connaître les garanties et les tarifs, suivez le lien ci-dessous.
CAP EXPLORER : La solution d’assurance complète conçue pour vivre sereinement votre voyage !
Choisissez la formule qui vous correspond le mieux:
Explorer'Multirisque
Explorer'Annulation
Explorer'Assistance
Explorer' Complémentaire Carte Bancaire
Spécifiques à nos voyages, nous suggérons fortement d’y souscrire.
Si vous choisissez de souscrire à l’une de ces formules, la convention détaillant l’ensemble des garanties et les modalités de déclaration du sinistre sont disponibles sur le site Internet de l'assureur.
Votre agence locale en aura connaissance, mais seul le participant est responsable du respect des procédures de déclaration de tout sinistre. Le participant doit donc conserver cette convention avec lui pendant toute la durée de son voyage.
Chapka — Cap Explorer
Our insurance partnerTravel with peace of mind with our partner Chapka. Cancellation, repatriation, medical expenses, baggage… All the coverage for a worry-free trip.
Travel with peace of mind — I'll handle the insuranceFrequently asked questions
Since Brexit, you can stay in the United Kingdom (including Scotland) visa-free. A valid passport is required (identity cards are no longer accepted since 2021). An ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) will soon be mandatory: check the timeline. Before booking, verify the rules applicable to your nationality with the UK consular authorities.
Go to the My Trips section to find all your projects.
You can send a message to your host directly from the Tea Lounge.
For a tailor-made quality trip, budget between €220 and €360 per day per person, including accommodation, meals, internal transport and activities. International flights (€150-400 return from Paris) are additional. Car rental is almost essential for the Highlands.
Your documents are accessible in the Documents tab of your trip.
Absolutely. We tailor each itinerary to the traveler's profile. For families, we prioritize relaxed paces, family-friendly accommodations, fun and educational activities, and comfortable private transfers. Our English-speaking local guides know how to capture children's attention with age-appropriate anecdotes.
It's simple. You exchange with our local team to define your wishes, budget and dates. You receive a detailed itinerary proposal within 48 hours. You refine every detail together until it's perfect. You confirm and travel with peace of mind. Your local agency remains available 7 days a week throughout your trip.
In case of emergency, contact your local agency immediately.
Payment is generally made in two installments.
Our agency is part of the Nomadays network, registered in France. You benefit from APST guarantee (Professional Association for Tourism Solidarity) which covers 100% of your funds. Secure payment, repatriation insurance included, and English-speaking assistance 24/7 on the ground throughout your stay.
Let's talk about your adventure — Highlands
Celtic Soul Guide, based in Sligo, Irlande
Scotland is felt as much as it is visited. There is in the Highlands a strength, a light, and a memory that stay with travelers long after they leave.
— Fabienne
