Scotland · ORKNEY & SHETLAND TOURS
Skara Brae is older than the pyramids and the crossing to reach it is exposed. These 15 cover the long day runs, the multi-day tours out of Inverness and Edinburgh, and what happens when the Pentland Firth closes.
Explore Orkney’s ancient stones, Skara Brae, Yesnaby Cliffs, and Kirkwall on a small-group day tour from Stromness.
“Dukey was an awesome guide. Very knowledgeable and gave us a great history of the Neolithic people that once occupied Orkney.”
Review of a 5-day Orkney and Northern Coast tour from Edinburgh, with Highlands scenery, ancient sites, ferries, hotels, and practical tips.
“Totally fab -- this was an amazing tour! Our Rabbies tour guide was Nick and he was the best! Very witty, extremely knowledgeable, and kept everyone on the bus very entertained. The sites we visited were amazing and we had great weather on Orkney. Looking forward to my next Rabbies tour.”
Explore Skara Brae, Orkney’s stone circles, Yesnaby Cliffs, and Birsay on a small-group tour from Kirkwall.
“Rachel was an outstanding guide. Minivan was tight for 7 people on tour. Otherwise would have rated 5 stars.”
See Skara Brae, Orkney’s stone circles, Italian Chapel, Yesnaby Cliffs, and Scapa Flow on a flexible private six-hour tour.
“The tour was fantastic! Garry, our guide, was very friendly, helpful, extremely informative and enthusiastic. Would do it again. Highly recommended!”
Review of Orkney’s 6.5-hour small-group tour from Kirkwall, with ancient stones, the Italian Chapel, St. Magnus Cathedral, and cruise-friendly timing.
“This tour was the best one of our trip. Our guide Iain was knowledgeable and somehow managed to get us to the sites before the big buses every time! A beautiful day!”
Review of the 8-day Skye, Orkney and North Coast 500 tour from Edinburgh, with B&Bs, the Jacobite train, ancient sites and practical tips.
“Packed itinerary showcasing the best of the Scottish Highlands. As a couple, we were part of a group of 14 travelling on a small, comfortable coach. Our driver/guide, Rich, was extremely knowledgeable, and mixed factual narrative with funny stories about family and friends. He really made all the daily journeys thoroughly enjoyable, and helped us all get to know each other as the days passed. The overnight accommodation was generally good overall, and Rich always recommended good places to eat in every location we stayed. In summary, this tour was an excellent overview of the Scottish Highlands, and we would definitely recommend it (particularly if you are lucky enough to…”
Explore Orkney’s Neolithic sites, wartime heritage, and wild coastlines on a three-day small-group tour from Inverness.
“The entire experience was amazing! Stewart added so much extra to this trip from his knowledge of Orkney. I will absolutely be back. The Bellevista guesthouse was absolutely the BEST!!!!! The rooms, everything!!!”
Explore Orkney from Kirkwall on a private seven-hour tour with Skara Brae, stone circles, Scapa Flow, and the Italian Chapel.
“Had a great day touring the Orkney Islands. Chris was humorous and knowledgable about the Islands and the roll the Islands played in WWII. Loved visiting the standing stones and hearing the history and thoughts of how they came to be there. The Italian Chapel is so quaint. What great artists to transform a Quonset hut into a beautiful chapel. Dress appropriately, we had wind, rain, sun and lots of walking!”
Explore Orkney’s Neolithic sites, wartime landmarks, and coastal views with a local guide, private transport, and flexible pickup.
“Our guide Calum Thein was fantastic. He is an Orcadian by birth and truly loves his home. Calum looked after us so well, he asked us what we wanted to see and gave us lots of local history, Skara Brae was the highlight of this very personal tour.”
Explore Orkney’s Italian Chapel, Neolithic monuments, Skara Brae, and Brough of Birsay on a private seven-hour tour with Paul.
“Our family was so fortunate to take this tour with Paul. We booked it well in advance as we knew he was good per his reviews. It did not disappoint. Paul was so personable, knowledgeable and engaging. We learned so much at each of his stops, and thoroughly enjoyed each one. He made us feel so comfortable and by the end of the day he felt like part of our family. Orkney is a beautiful part of Scotland and Paul is very proud to show it off!”
Explore Shetland’s puffins, ponies, Jarlshof ruins, and Sumburgh Head on a flexible private tour from Lerwick.
“We loved the viewing of the Puffins and the Shetland ponies. That was the highlight of the trip. The ruins were very interesting our tour guide Drew was full of so much information about the history of the Norman site. Phil, our driver was very careful and felt very safe with his driving. Drew was a wonderful tour guide and would recommend him .”
Explore Lerwick, Clickimin Broch, Scalloway, and Shetland culture on a private six-and-a-half-hour tour with local guides.
“Our guide, Amanda, did a great job showing us the sites - giving us the option of going into whichever museum we wanted along the way. She knew all the history of the area. Even unexpectably packed us a nice lunch.”
See Shetland by bus for $22.62, with Sunday departures, flexible stops, coastal views, museums, beaches, and helpful local drivers.
“The scenery and a knowledgeable bus driver. Very lucky with the weather. Good value for 1 and half hours tour.”
Explore Scotland from Loch Lomond to Orkney on an 8-day guided tour with B&B stays, ferries, ancient sites, castles, and Highland scenery.
“Overall, a wonderful experience. Our guides, Brodie and Kenny, were fantastic! Both were so knowledgeable about the locations and the associated history and legends. Brodie even got most of the group together one evening in a pub to enjoy traditional Scottish music and dance. Kenny managed to veer off the beaten path to show us sites that weren't necessarily on the itinerary, but were remarkable. We always felt safe with both of them. Both were safe drivers on some challenging roads. The B&Bs were a little hit and miss. Our expectation was that they would be better than they were, given what we paid. Two B&Bs were very nice. The…”
Review of the 5-day Orkney and Highlands tour from Edinburgh, with Neolithic sites, ferries, castles, breakfasts, guides, and practical tips.
“This was an unforgettable journey! Our guide – Iain – was phenomenal. His knowledge and passion for Scotland were impressive. He shared fascinating stories and historical tidbits about each site we visited. Safety and wellbeing were clearly top priorities. Every evening, he made sure all of us were safely settled in our accommodations, and each morning, he was there to greet us with a smile, ready for another day of adventure. Always making sure that we had enough time to fully enjoy and immerse ourselves in each site without feeling rushed. He also created great atmosphere within the group, great music on the bus and engaging conversations. The Highlands and…”
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