The 7 Best Orkney & Outer Hebrides Tours from Edinburgh

1.6 Day Outer Hebrides, Isle of Skye & optional ‘Hogwarts Express’

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 223 reviews · 6 days (approx.) Our pick

Travel from Edinburgh through Glencoe, Lewis, Harris, Skye, and the Highlands in a small group of up to 30. Your English-speaking guide handles the driving, ferries, and route, with five nights of B&B accommodation included. Add the Jacobite steam train when booking.

“Tour guide Sophie made this an amazing trip. Not only was she an amazing driver but she was knowledgable,kind and made the driving time so fun. Some on the tour stayed at actual B&B which i was expecting but the hotels did serve breakfast. All with friendly and accommodating staff.”

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2.5-Day Orkney & Northern Coast Tour from Edinburgh Incl Admissions

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 132 reviews · 5 days (approx.) · from $1,454

Travel from Edinburgh to Orkney and back through the Highlands in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach. You’ll see Skara Brae, Maeshowe, the Italian Chapel, Culloden, and Clava Cairns, with four nights in B&Bs or 3-star hotels. Guides such as Mac, Kelly, and Martin have brought local history to life on past departures.

“This trip was everything I expected and more. Our driver/guide, Karen Marr, was knowledgeable, entertaining, and very patient with our diverse group of travelers. The scenery was stunning, Karen's information and stories were wonderful, and the accommodations we chose to stay in hotels instead of B and B or Guest Houses were excellent. No complaints, whatsoever. We had a wonderful time and I would highly recommend this trip.”

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3.5-Day Iona, Mull and the Isle of Skye Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 86 reviews · 5 days (approx.) · from $1,417

Ride a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach from Edinburgh through Loch Lomond, Oban, Iona, Mull, Skye, Glencoe, and Loch Ness. A professional driver-guide handles the roads and ferries, while you choose between B&B or hotel accommodation. Staffa, castle entries, meals, and most admissions cost extra.

“The best!. Heather was an amazing guide - very knowledgeable and entertaining. Also a great driver. She also was able to take us to off the road views and place she knew about. Just a stunning time!”

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4.8 Day Isle of Skye, Orkney & North Coast 500 tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · 8 days (approx.)

Travel from Edinburgh through Culloden, Orkney, the North Coast 500, Skye, Glencoe, and Oban in a small group of up to 16. You get seven B&B nights, breakfasts, and the Jacobite Steam Train, with guides such as Rich, Steve, or Ali P. bringing Scotland’s stories to life.

“We had a wonderful time on our 8 day tour with Highland Explorer Tours. Although we drove over 1100 miles during the trip, we never felt like we were in the van too long, because we stopped every hour or two, and our driver/guide, Ali P., told stories about the places we were visiting, and we also enjoyed listening to and talking about her playlists. The scenery on the Northcoast 500 was stunning. We saw so many beautiful and interesting places each day. Although the van held 16, we had 13 people in the group, so it was very comfortable. Our group got along very well, and it was interesting…”

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5.6-Day Outer Hebrides and Isle of Skye Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · 6 days (approx.) · from $1,779

Leave Edinburgh for a six-day island journey through Lewis, Harris, and Skye. Travel by 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach and ferry, with five nights’ accommodation, breakfast, and a driver-guide. Expect Arnol Blackhouse, Dun Carloway Broch, Luskentyre, Portree, Glencoe, and plenty of weather-ready walking.

“I cannot say how much I enjoyed this tour. I would definitely book with Rabbies again. What the company contributed to the trip was the quality of rooms booked. I was travelling as a single female and very often had ended up in lousy rooms. I knew we would be using 3 star hotels but each one had some thing to offer. The first two had outstanding views and beds were comfortable. The third one in Dkye was tiny but had the most amazing restaurant that went out of it way to make sure I had a reservation...a huge deal in Portree! You need reservations on Skye! The best part…”

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6.4-Day Magical Mull, Iona & West Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews · 4 days (approx.) · from $1,080Best value

Travel from Edinburgh to Mull in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach, using Tobermory as your three-night base. You’ll visit Glencoe, Iona, Calgary Bay, Inveraray, and Loch Lomond, with time for Iona Abbey or an optional Staffa boat trip. Guides such as Rob, Alan, and Murray are praised for lively local commentary.

“Our guide Alan was a superb driver and provided a continuous round of information and entertainment during the long scenic driving sections of the journey. Tobermory was an absolutely lovely base for our 3 night stay on Mull and the trips to Staffa, Iona and round the north of the Island all worked really well. A great trip, thank you!”

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7.4 Day Mull, Iona and Staffa Puffin Experience from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 35 reviews · 4 days (approx.) · from $1,177

Travel from Edinburgh to Mull, Staffa, Iona, and Glencoe in a small group of up to 16. Expect island ferries, a wildlife boat, puffin spotting, Iona Abbey, historic forts, and a Glenturret whisky tour, led by an English-speaking guide.

“I've thoroughly enjoyed this tour even though we were affected by Storm Floris. Our guide Dusty made sure we had an enjoyable trip with his skilfull driving and interesting commentaries. The sceneries on Iona and Staffa were absolutely stunning. Highly recommended!”

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