October 5, Sunday Day 1:
Welcome to Edinburgh, Scotland! I’ll pick you up at the airport and take you to our hotel. Your room will be ready when you get there if you wanna take a nap or freshen up. The rest of the day is all yours.
Meet in the hotel lobby to walk over to The Scotch Whisky Experience for our Welcome Dinner and their gold tasting tour (four samples). Dinner and a drink are on me!
October 6, Monday Day 2:
After breakfast (which is included all week), we’ll be heading to the Royal Mile. Starting at the top, we’ll spend our morning at Edinburgh Castle where we will see the Crown Jewels of Scotland. Everyone will get an audio guide and I will set you all free to tour at your own speed.
Heading down the hill to the bottom of the Royal Mile, next up is Holyrood House Palace. Everyone will have an audio guide again to take in the Palace at their own speed.
The evening is free for your own plans. Personalized suggestions can be made for what to do with your time. Autumn in Scotland is my favorite and there are tons to do!
October 7, Tuesday Day 3:
This morning, we’ll head out for my walking tour of Edinburgh where we stop at all the famous photo spots and some of my favorite shops.
After we’ve spent plenty of time walking around, we’ll take a break with Edinburgh Gin Distillery for a tasting experience. Scottish gin has been gaining popularity as more and more distilleries turn to making gin while they wait for their whisky to age. This will be a very fun glimpse into the world of gin production!
October 8, Wednesday Day 4
We head out with Rabbie’s Tours today. From their website, “You head north through the Kingdom of Fife, stopping for refreshments along the way before heading to Glenshee viewpoint for a view out over the kingdom. You then enter the UK’s largest National Park, Cairngorms National Park. This will be a stunning drive, so keep your cameras ready.
You stop in Braemar and have some time for lunch and a little explore. A bite to eat is a good idea though because your next stop is Royal Lochnagar Distillery*. The outstanding flavor of its whisky was appreciated by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on one of many visits to their summer residence, Balmoral Castle.
Once you’ve warmed with this dram of “the gentle spirit”, you continue through the Cairngorms National Park before reaching Grantown-on-Spey, your base for two nights. If the group is feeling up to it, we can stop in at The Whisky Castle shop for another cheeky tasting along the way.”
October 9, Thursday Day 5:
“Time for some fun. Today you spend the whole day exploring Scotland’s most famous whisky region. Your first stop is Cardhu Distillery, which is the first distillery pioneered by a woman, Helen Cumming. Today, Cardhu is the most important whisky in Johnnie Walker Black Label.
After lunch in nearby Aberlour, you travel along the Spey River to Craigellachie for a visit to the Speyside Cooperage, where you see another aspect of the whisky-making process.
After a scenic drive towards the coast, you head to Glen Moray, where you can try whisky matured in a wide selection of casks.
Time permitting, your driver-guide might stop in at Sueno’s Stone for a quick photo, where you can admire this incredible Pictish standing stone. From here you travel back to Grantown-on-Spey.”
October 10, Friday Day 6:
“In the morning you visit Scotland’s highest distillery at Dalwhinnie, set in splendid mountain scenery at the heart of the Cairngorm National Park.
You then leave the Highlands and journey south to Perthshire. Lying in the heart of Scotland, Pitlochry is a beautiful little town with plenty of shops, restaurants, and cafes. The time is yours to explore and have some lunch.
From here the route south takes you to the stunning wee village of Dunkeld, where you’ve got some time to explore.
You then over the Firth of Forth, take in the magnificent South Queensferry bridges, and head back into Edinburgh.”
This evening, we’ll head to the Devil’s Advocate for our farewell dinner (included).
October 11, Saturday Day 7:
Sadly, we will all go our separate ways today but I’ll see you back to the airport so you can start your journey home.
Slàinte Mhath (cheers) and safe travels as you head home! Until we meet again!
Included with your Scotch Whisky Tour:
- Airport transfers to/from Edinburgh Airport
- Six nights over two hotels
- Included Meals
- 7 hot breakfasts at the various hotels 2 dinners at local restaurants
- 1 entree, a side, and one alcoholic beverage or dessert
- Tickets and Audio Guides (where applicable)
- Edinburgh Castle
- Holyroodhouse Palace
- Any entry tickets needed to visit the distilleries
- Activities:
- The Scotch Whisky Gold Tour with four samples
- Tours and tastings at the distilleries
- One customized three-day guided trip with Rabbie’s Tour Company to Speyside Distilleries
- Driver/Guide
- Suggestions and recommendations for your free time
- One guide who is a text away if you need her (that’s me!)
- Brighter Things Amenity Kit mailed to you before the trip to make your flight more comfortable
- A pre-trip group Zoom call to say hey to everyone and go over any details you may be uncertain about.
- For example: flying internationally if this is your first time.
- A swag bag waiting for you in your hotel room full of fun stuff.
NOT Included with your Scotch Whisky Tour:
- Flights
- Public transportation or cabs used during free time
- Meals not included:
- Any meal not listed above
- Meals and snacks during travel days
- Entry tickets to places suggested for free time
- Shopping
This tour is an Activity Level 4. Click here for the Terms, conditions and the cancelation policy.
*Subject to change. Updated May 11, 2023
