2026 SCOTTISH ISLES
& GLENS w/ CIE TOURS
and RLX TRAVEL GROUP
Scottish Isles & Glens Guided Bus Tour w/ CIE Tours
and RLX Travel Group
13 Days/12 Nights with 19 meals
August 10 - 22, 2026
Are you yearning to explore Scotland and move beyond the typical touristy areas? Join Melissa and her husband, Mason on an extraordinary bus journey around Scotland for 13 days / 12 nights with CIE Tours.
Discover the untamed beauty of the Highlands, marvel at ancient castles steeped in history, enjoy the warm hospitality of local Scots, and attend the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a must-see event, attracting visitors worldwide with its dazzling display of music, precision, and pageantry. Set against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, the Tattoo creates a truly unforgettable experience, showcasing the talents of military bands, dancers, and performers from across the globe.
CIE Tours carefully curated the tour and it offers a unique opportunity to experience the true heart of Scotland, from rugged landscapes to its vibrant cultural heritage. Take a look at the tour highlights below. We are sure the itinerary will inspire you to go along with Melissa and Mason on this trip.
TOUR MAP
To help you visualize the journey, please review the trip map. As you will see, the tour winds throughout Scotland allowing you to visit plenty of off-the-beaten path destinations.
ITINERARY
DEPARTURE DAY ~ August 9, 2026
ARRIVE IN EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
Depart home for your trip to Edinburgh, Scotland with arrival scheduled for morning of August 10, 2026.
While the tour begins in Glasgow, transfers will be available from the Edinburgh Airport.
(Note: It is highly recommended that you reserve one Pre-tour night to avoid any airline delays or cancellations. RLX Travel Group will assist in adding the hotel to your reservation.)
Day 1 ~ August 10, 2026
ARRIVE IN GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
At 2:30 PM, begin your Glasgow city tour showcasing its distinctive Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture. Discover the legacy of this important port city, shaped by shipbuilding and international trade. Today, Glasgow thrives as a vibrant cultural center.
Later, enjoy a welcome drink with your group and dinner at your hotel.
Meal: Welcome Dinner and Drink
Day 2 ~ August 11
ISLE OF BUTE & MOUNT STUART HOUSE
FREE EVENING IN GLASGOW
Take a ferry to the Isle of Bute for stunning island scenery and a guided tour of the 19th-century Mount Stuart House. Spend time in Rothesay, the main town on the island.
Enjoy a free evening in Glasgow and dine independently.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 3 ~ August 12
LOCH LOMOND & EILEAN DONAN CASTLE
Travel along famous Loch Lomond, renowned for its unsurpassed beauty.
Journey through Glencoe, one of Scotland's most beautiful regions.
Travel through Fort William and visit romantic Eilean Donan Castle, spectacularly situated on an island at the meeting of three lochs.
Meal: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 4 ~ August 13
ISLE OF SKYE, DUNVEGAN CASTLE & PORTREE
Explore the Isle of Skye and its many associations with Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Tour Dunvegan Castle, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and former stronghold of the Chiefs of MacLeod. Enjoy photo opportunities including stunning Kilt Rock.
Stop in picturesque Portree with its brightly painted houses clustered around the bay. Enjoy free time before dinner at your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 ~ August 14
INVEREWE GARDENS & GAIRLOCH
Soak up the Highland scenery as you head to Inverewe Gardens, a colorful lochside garden filled with rare species of trees and flowers from around the globe, created in the wilderness by a father and daughter in the 19th century. You will likely see wildlife including deer, otters, seals, and golden eagles, as well as huge California redwoods towering into the sky.
Continue on to your hotel in Gairloch, where you can relax in tranquil and scenic surroundings before dinner with your group.
Meal: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 6 ~ August 15
DORNOCH, DUNROBIN CASTLE, FERRY TO ORKNEY
Spend time in the historic town of Dornoch before visiting grand Dunrobin Castle, in a fairytale setting with breathtaking coastal views. With 189 rooms, the stunning architecture and majestic gardens were inspired by the Palace of Versailles.
Admire the amazing scenery of the Highlands as you continue on to Scrabster on the northern coast of Scotland.
Take a ferry to the Orkney Islands, where you will spend the next two nights.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 7 ~ August 16
ORKNEY SIGHTS, RING OF BRODGAR, SKARA BRAE, & ST MAGNUS CATHEDRAL
Explore Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a scenic drive around the north of the main island, past the Earl's Palace at Birsay.
Visit Skara Brae to see this amazing 5,000-year-old village, the best-preserved Neolithic settlement in Western Europe.
Explore 400 year-old Skaill House, filled with fascinating archeological items, art, and furniture collected by the twelve generations of Lairds of Breckness who once lived there.
Travel on to the Ring of Brodgar, a ceremonial stone circle.
Return to Kirkwall for a visit to St Magnus Cathedral.
Your evening is free to explore the town and dine as you wish.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 8 ~ August 17
CHURCHILL BARRIERS, ITALIAN CHAPEL & STRATHPEFFER
Drive across the Churchill Barriers, causeways created during World War II to deter German submarines. Next explore the tiny Italian Chapel, a beautiful symbol of reconciliation built by Italian prisoners of war.
Depart the Orkney Islands and board a ferry back to the mainland.
Travel south to the Victorian Spa town of Strathpeffer, where you’ll dine in your hotel.
Meal: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 9 ~ August 18
LOCH NESS CRUISE, CULLODEN BATTLEFIELD & SHEEPDOG DEMONSTRATION
Board a scenic cruise along the historic Caledonian Canal, leading you to the legendary Loch Ness.
Next, visit Culloden Battlefield, site of one of the most pivotal events in all of Scottish history.
Visit a sheep farm to watch highly skilled sheepdogs demonstrate how they herd their flock.
Dine at your hotel this evening.
Meal: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10 ~ August 19
WHISKY TASTING & EDINBURGH
Visit The Glenturret Distillery, Scotland’s oldest working distillery, to discover the traditional art of whisky making and enjoy a tasting. Set in the beautiful Perthshire countryside, the Glenturret has been producing whisky since the 1700s.
Then, it’s on to your Edinburgh hotel in the Grassmarket area of the old town.
Enjoy the evening in Edinburgh.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 11 ~ August 20
EDINBURGH PANORAMIC TOUR & EDINBURGH CASTLE
Explore the wide streets and elegant mansions in Edinburgh’s Georgian “New Town” and the Royal Mile, the oldest part of the city.
Tour the imposing Edinburgh Castle to see the Scottish Crown Jewels.
Tonight our group will attend the always exciting Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 12 ~ August 21
DAY AT LEISURE / ON YOUR OWN TO EXPLORE EDINBURGH
Enjoy a day of independent sightseeing. Included is a fun "Hop-On, Hop-Off" bus voucher.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 13 ~ August 22
TOUR ENDS IN EDINBURGH
Your tour ends after breakfast. Depart for the airport for your trip home.
Meal: Breakfast
Don't Miss this Opportunity to travel with Melissa and Mason to Scotland!
Keep in mind folks, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo ONLY takes place in Edinburgh each year in August. Tickets will be limited, so we recommend booking your tour with us early, so we can secure the tickets through CIE Tours.
BOOK YOUR TRIP WITH US TODAY!
PRICING & INCLUSIONS
Scottish Isles and Glens tour with CIE Tours and RLX Travel Group
August 10-22, 2026
13 days / 12 Nights
$5,595 per person, based on double occupancy
Single Supplement: $1,895
This vacation is currently on sale
for $5,325 per person, double occupancy!!
Solo travelers, reach out for a quote.
Sale ends on September 30, 2025
RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW!
Included in this amazing tour:
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Welcome Get-together drink with the Tour Director and Group participants
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Travel with the founder of RLX Travel Group's Melissa Meredith Fail and her husband, Mason
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The services of the Professional Tour Director (I'm sure you will love them!)
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Sightseeing by motorcoach + all on-tour transportation, including shuttles and ferries
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Free Wi-Fi on the motorcoach, allowing you to stay connected and post pictures showing the fun you are having along the way!
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12 nights of Hotel Accommodations - On this off-the-beaten path tour, the hotels will match the Highlands atmosphere. Most of them are locally owned, family-run, and independent
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19 meals (12 hot breakfasts plus 6 dinners, as listed in Itinerary)
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Tickets to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
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Entrance fees to activities listed within the itinerary
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All local taxes, hotel service charges, and handling of 1 suitcase per person.
Not Included:
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Pre-Tour Hotel night (We always recommend arriving for the tour a day early to avoid airline delays or cancellations. If you would like to add a pre-tour hotel night, please let us know when you book the tour.)
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International Airfare
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Roundtrip Airport Transfers
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Travel Insurance (We can assist you in obtaining coverage to protect your vacation investment)
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Professional Tour Director and Motorcoach Driver Gratuities
