6-daagse Buiten-Hebriden, Isle of Skye & Glenfinnan Viaduct

This tour was such a delightful experience. Let me first state that it was wonderfully organized, and it would not have been as an outstanding if it wasn’t for our tour guide Alistair. We could not have gotten a better guide. He provided us with wonderful music during our road trips between sites, he was diligent, knowledgeable, and really cared about our group and what he does. The length of the tour was six days/5 nights. We stayed in very nice accommodations in the different areas. It was nice to be able to stay and unpack for two nights in two different places. We lucked out with only three couples in our group who were so wonderful to travel with. The value for our money was outstanding in terms of all that we saw and in the accommodations. The van was comfortable. There were no surprises. While we did spend a lot of time traveling in the van between different sites,(and it would be nice to linger a bit longer), what we took away from this was a taste of the areas , and knew we wanted to come back to spend a longer time in the future. It’s so nice to be able to have someone do the driving, arrange all of the ferries, accommodations, and offer suggestions for restaurants and sites to see. Hats off to Highland Explorer Tours for a job well done. My only suggestion to the company would be to provide better communication, a head of the tour, to their customers who are taking longer trips like many tours companies I have used in the past.

Our 6-day Highland Explorer tour was absolutely spectacular from start to finish. If you are looking for a trip that is flawlessly organized, perfectly paced, and incredibly rich in history and scenery, this is it. We saw so much and learned an immense amount without ever feeling rushed. In addition, there were only 11 of us on the bus, so the experience felt more personal. What truly made this trip unforgettable, however, was our tour guide and bus driver, Rich Lawrence. Rich is a master of his craft. He is remarkably knowledgeable and kept us deeply engaged with Scottish history and lore. When he wasn't narrating, he was pointing out local wildlife like Red Kites, showing us drying peat, or playing wonderful Scottish music. He is also hilariously entertaining and kept the entire bus laughing with his jokes—from explaining the meaning of a "MAMIL" to the "fundamental differences between Qatar and Abu Dhabi", "the best cheese to hide a horse", and by pointing out a cemetery at Luskintyre Beach that is "very popular because people are dying to get in there." Rich went completely above and beyond to be accommodating and ensure everyone had a special trip. When we asked to see some famous Scottish Highland Coos, he didn't just find them—he bought a bag of fruits and vegetables so we could actually feed them, including a memorable one with a "wee wonky horn!" His care for his passengers is unmatched; he even spent extensive time and effort trying to track down a local dentist for a fellow tourist who developed a toothache. On top of being an amazing host, he is an expert driver. He handily navigated some pretty treacherous roads with ease, and even made spontaneous stops so we could spot sea lions and Oyster Catchers along the Golden Road. The itinerary itself was breathtaking. Every single stop was stunning, including the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore, Glen Coe, the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, the Butt of Lewis, Kilt Rock, the dramatic landscapes of the Quiraing, and the gorgeous Luskintyre Beach. To keep us organized, Rich always mapped out our stops on a large map and wrote down the day's timeline on a whiteboard so we always knew what to expect. He also gave us fantastic recommendations for local places to eat during the journey, as well as excellent sightseeing tips for those of us staying in Edinburgh after the tour ended. I loved how seamless, easy, and educational this entire experience was. Thank you, Rich, for a perfect Scottish adventure!

Rich was an amazing guide- knowledgeable, entertaining and flexible. Our tour visited all the highlights of the Outer Hebrides, Skye and Scotland. Time at each stop was enough to see and do what we wanted and the food at each place had variety and was very good. Even though there was no official hiking on the tour we found our hiking shoes were worth wearing most of the time in the mixed weather. Accommodations were fine at all 3 hotels- walkable to city centers for dinner or exploring. Rich had a custom Scottish playlist that was an added bonus to our tour. Rich always introduced what we were listening too, what we were seeing and how long for each area and the history behind it- very good tour guide- he obviously loves his job!

Great! This was an unforgettable journey filled with breathtaking scenery, wonderful experiences, and warm hospitality. Every moment was enjoyable.

We loved every minute of the tour. Allie P was excellent.

Had a wonderful trip with Ali P. as our driver/tour guide. We got to see so many things that just kept us saying WOW!! I loved every second of the tour. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to see the beauty and majesty of Scottish Highlands, Isle of Skye and Outer Hebrides!

This was a great adventure, beautiful places. Only downside was the food situation in Portree. We didn’t know we had to make reservations yet some places didn’t take reservations the knowledge to know the difference. Suggestion: sack lunch options for daily outings where food stops may not fit in the schedule Ali P (Ali-oop) was awesome! Knowledgeable, funny, approachable and navigated all personalities on board with great professionalism

This trip was a dream come true. Magical from start to finish...I didn't want it to end. My best friend and I work really demanding jobs, so we were looking for a trip that did all the "deciding" for us so that we wouldn't have to do much more than sit back and relax. This trip was all we wanted and so much more! Tiegan took great care of us- she was caring, hilarious, such a fantastic storyteller, and amazing navigator. Without her this trip would have been bland or confusing, but we ended up bringing Scotland home in our hearts thanks to her. (Tiegan's mom, if you're reading this- you raised a gem. ) I cried and cried leaving Scotland. If you're wanting the best way to tour everything from the history to the wild outdoors to the music and food and more- this is time and money so well spent. I'll never ever forget it!

I recently returned from an amazing 6-day Outer Hebrides and Isle of Skye tour with Highland Explorer Tours! I can honestly say it was one of the most unforgettable travel experiences I’ve had, and that is thanks to our phenomenal guide, Steve! Steve set a great tone for the journey even including his very own playlist. His knowledge of Scottish history, culture, and landscape brought every stop to life. He has a unique gift for storytelling – blending facts, folklore, music, and humor – which made the long drives fun and exciting. The tour itself was reasonably priced and included lodging which made it an easy choice to just sit back and relax. It was beautifully curated – intimate, immersive, and thoughtfully paced. The group was small and we all got along really well. I so enjoyed making new friends and seeing so much! Each day struck a perfect balance between guided experiences and free time to explore on our own. I felt like I got to know the Outer Hebrides and Skye, not just see them. From gorgeous windswept beaches to ancient standing stones, picturesque villages to wild mountain passes - it was perfection. The hostels were warm, welcoming, and comfortable. It was a nice relief to have everything taken care of so I could just relax. Steve went above and beyond to make the experience memorable. His passion for Scotland is infectious, and it made a huge difference in how we all connected along the way. Steve made it feel like a journey shared with a friend, not just a tour group. If you're considering this tour – do it. And if you’re lucky enough to have Steve as your guide, you’re in for a great time!

Had a fantastic time touring with Alistair from Highland Explorers. Alistair was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the areas we were touring. He was also helpful recommending places to eat and things to see. He is witty and humorous. He was an excellent driver and we felt very confident in his driving skills. We felt lucky to have him as our guide/driver!!