Days 1 & 2 — Depart the U.S. for Edinburgh, Scotland

Fly overnight to Edinburgh, and transfer by coach to Glasgow, where you check in at your hotel. After time at leisure, meet your group for a briefing on the journey ahead. Then enjoy a welcome dinner at the National Piping Center or the well-appointed Corinthian Club. (D)

Day 3 — Glasgow (2024)

Set out to discover the city’s unique architectural heritage on a morning tour. Learn about “the Glasgow Style,” born at the turn of the 20th century, and see some of its most celebrated buildings, including the Glasgow Central Station, the Royal Exchange, Glasgow City Chambers, and Glasgow School of Art by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Take a guided tour of The Burrell Collection, a museum dedicated to the art collection of Sir William Burrell and Lady Constance Burrell, with over 9,000 pieces that span over six millennia, from ancient Egyptian artifacts to modern sculptures.  Enjoy lunch together at a local restaurant and then browse the collection at the remarkable Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, a Victorian gem that houses important Renaissance and Impressionist works. Explore the unique Zaha Hadid-designed Riverside Museum before returning to your hotel. (B,L)

Grand Central Hotel

Day 3 — Glasgow (2025)

Set out to discover the city’s unique architectural heritage on a morning tour. Learn about “the Glasgow Style,” born at the turn of the 20th century, and see some of its most celebrated buildings, including the Glasgow Central Station, the Royal Exchange, Glasgow City Chambers, and Glasgow School of Art by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Then browse the collection at the remarkable Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, a Victorian gem that houses important Renaissance and Impressionist works. Later, take a private, curator-guided tour of the Pollok House, an Edwardian country manor that was the ancestral home of the Maxwell clan. See its superb museum of Spanish art, and enjoy lunch in the award-winning restaurant. Explore the unique Zaha Hadid-designed Riverside Museum before returning to your hotel. (B,L)

Day 4 — Loch Lomond, Glencoe, and Fort William

Head for the sweeping landscapes of the Highlands, Scotland’s vast, sparsely populated northern region. On the way, stop on the banks of Loch Lomond for a short cruise. The island-dotted lake is Great Britain’s largest and part of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Continue to beautiful Glencoe, a place of emerald valleys and lochs flanked by vertical slopes that gained infamy as the site of the Clan MacDonald massacre in 1692. Turn north toward Fort William, the second largest settlement in the Highlands, and arrive late this afternoon. Dinner tonight is at the hotel. (B,D)

Day 5 — Isle of Skye

Embark on a full-day excursion to the Isle of Skye, the largest of Scotland’s Inner Hebrides known for its Gaelic culture and stunning scenery. En route, visit Glenfinnan Monument honoring “Bonnie Prince Charlie” for his leadership in the Jacobite Rising in 1745. Board a ferry for Armadale on the southern tip of Skye, then set out on a scenic drive, passing through the jagged peaks of  the  Cuillin Hills, often known as the “Black Cuillin” for their dark, rocky summits. In the fishing town of Portree, sit down to lunch at a local pub. Your tour of Skye continues this afternoon. Return to the mainland via the Skye Bridge, and stop to see iconic Eilean Donan Castle, situated at the junction of three lochs. Dine tonight at the hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 6 — Loch Ness, Culloden Moor, and Inverness

Spend today exploring the northern Highlands, beginning with fabled Loch Ness. Drive the full 23-mile length of the lake, taking in the scenery and hearing local tales of the mythical creature said to inhabit the deep. Visit the ruins of the 13th-century Urquhart Castle, perched on a bluff at the water’s edge. At Culloden Moor, hear about the last battle of the Jacobite Rising, which took place here in 1746. Settle into your hotel in Inverness early this evening. (B,D)

Day 7 — Inverness and Highlands

Delve into the prehistory of the Highlands as you follow the Pictish Trail, which links Iron Age and Celtic sites. Discover the history and culture of the ancient Picts at the acclaimed Tarbat Discovery Center. At Dunrobin Castle and Gardens, learn about the age-old practice of falconry and witness a falconry demonstration. Then stop in for a tour and tasting at Glenmorangie Distillery, where single malt whiskys have been crafted since 1843. A late afternoon drive along the coast brings you through rolling farmland, where sheep, cows, and Shetland ponies graze in verdant pastures. (B,D)

Day 8 — Kincraig, Pitlochry, and St Andrews

Start the day in Kincraig, within Cairngorms National Park, watching border collies adeptly herd their charges during a sheepdog demonstration. Travel to Pitlochry, a town in the heart of Scotland, and enjoy some free time to stroll through the charming town center. Continue to Scotland’s eastern coast, where your home for the night is the historic university town of St Andrews, renowned as the birthplace of golf. Dinner is on your own. (B)

Day 9 — St Andrews and Edinburgh

Get acquainted with the medieval seaside town of St Andrews on a morning walking tour followed by a traditional pub lunch. After time to explore on your own, journey to Edinburgh, where you’ll have a free evening to enjoy the city’s vibrant culinary scene. (B,L)

Day 10 — Edinburgh

Set off on foot to discover the two sides of Edinburgh: the 18th-century Georgian "New Town" and the medieval "Old Town." Tour Edinburgh Castle, built on the volcanic Castle Rock some 900 years ago. Enjoy a full afternoon at leisure to experience Edinburgh as you wish; museums, galleries, and shops abound. Select departures in July and August include an evening performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the spectacular annual pageant set in the floodlit esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. (B)

Day 11 — Edinburgh

Explore the Royal Mile, the historic boulevard connecting Edinburgh Castle with the Palace of Holyrood House. Visit the State Apartments at Holyrood, where Mary Queen of Scots and other royals lived and ruled. The remainder of the day is yours for independent exploration. Gather this evening for a private whisky tasting with an ambassador from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Then celebrate your sojourn at a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 12 — Depart for the U.S.

Transfer this morning to the airport for return flights to the U.S. (B)