Scotland · HIGHLANDS DAY TRIPS IN INVERNESS

15 Highlands Day Trips in Inverness Worth Booking

25 tours  ·  from $20 a head

This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 highlands day trips in Inverness worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.

Hogwarts Express and the Scenic Highlands Day Tour from Inverness - What the guide adds to the long day
Harry Potter and Film Location Tours, Highlands and Glencoe Day Trips, Highlands Day Trips in Inverness, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Inverness

Hogwarts Express and the Scenic Highlands Day Tour from Inverness

1.Hogwarts Express and the Scenic Highlands Day Tour from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,227 reviews · from $262Our pick

Travel from Inverness around Loch Ness to Fort William, then ride the Jacobite Steam Train to Mallaig before returning by coach. Your English-speaking guide shares Highland history and local stories along the way. Expect a full 12-hour day, a maximum group of 30, several short photo stops, and a steam train service that can change at short notice.

“Our guide Emma was fun, amazing and informative. I would definitely recommend this tour to my family and friends.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Inverness: Loch Ness & The Highlands - Fort Augustus gives you time to pause
Highlands and Glencoe Day Trips, Highlands Day Trips in Inverness, Loch Ness Tours, Loch Ness Tours in Inverness, Tour Reviews, Tours in Inverness

Inverness: Loch Ness & The Highlands

2.Loch Ness & The Highlands

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 301 reviews · 8 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $59

Travel from Inverness around Loch Ness with a driver-guide, stopping at Urquhart Castle, Fort Augustus, the Falls of Foyers, and Dores Beach. The $59.27 fare covers transport and commentary, while the castle and cruise cost extra. Guides such as Alex, Malcolm, Karen, and Jack are known for lively local stories.

“Alex was a great guide, very knowledgeable and funny. We were able to make a couple additional stops along the way which was awesome. Perfect day tour and broken up so you're never in the vehicle for longer than ~30 min. He also always let us know if there were bathroom facilities at the location or next and when/where to be back, which was super helpful. We booked very last minute and we're still able to get tickets to Urquart Castle even though sold out online (which I was semi worried about dinner unfamiliar with process). Bring cash for the boat tour if you plan to go (and would highly…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Inverness: 2-Day Isle of Skye, The Fairy Pools & Highland Castles - Day two: Fairy Pools, castles, and Loch Ness
2-Day Experiences, Castle Tours, Castle Tours in Inverness, Highlands and Glencoe Day Trips, Highlands Day Trips in Inverness, Isle of Skye Tours, Isle of Skye Tours in Inverness, Tour Reviews, Tours in Inverness

Inverness: 2-Day Isle of Skye, The Fairy Pools & Highland Castles

3.2-Day Isle of Skye, The Fairy Pools & Highland Castles

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 225 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $223

Travel from Inverness to the Isle of Skye in a small group of up to 19 people, with a driver-guide such as Karen, Fiona, Owen, or Jack S. Expect dramatic viewpoints, castle visits, the Fairy Pools, one night in Portree, live commentary, and a compact schedule that favors seeing many highlights over long hikes.

“Hello. My name is Akshay and I want to write this review for Owen our guide for the tour. He is a top top guy with a lot of knowledge and extreme professionalism with a lot of compassion and friendliness. The combination of these qualities in a single guy is hard to come by. He took us to all the places was very patient and made our 2 day tour a success. Thank you Owen, you’re a gem of a person.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Classic Highland Shore Tour from Invergordon - Culloden Battlefield: the emotional center of the day
Highlands and Glencoe Day Trips, Highlands Day Trips in Inverness, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Inverness

Classic Highland Shore Tour from Invergordon

4.Classic Highland Shore Tour from Invergordon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 131 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $197

Travel from Invergordon by air-conditioned minibus to Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Dores Beach on Loch Ness, and Inverness. Your guide, possibly Murdoch, Andrew, Rob, or Gordon, adds Scottish history and folklore between stops. Castle entry and an audio guide are included, while lunch is extra.

“It was a lovely day…so much to see and we had a an unusually beautiful sunny day in Scotland!! We highly recommend this tour!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Inverness Highlands Bucket List Tour - Culloden Battlefield and the cost of the exhibition
Highlands and Glencoe Day Trips, Highlands Day Trips in Inverness, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Inverness

Inverness Highlands Bucket List Tour

5.Inverness Highlands Bucket List Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 111 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $165

Join Richie or another local guide for a small-group Highlands tour from Inverness, limited to eight people. Visit 4,000-year-old Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, and Great Glen Distillery. The tour includes transport, bottled water, and a small whisky dram, but castle and Culloden exhibition tickets cost extra.

“Very extensive tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable. Took us to famous sites from the TV series "Outlander." Knows the history of the area well. Enjoyed Culloden very much.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Full-Day Outlander Experience in the Scottish Highlands from Inverness - What the Inverness day is really about
Full-Day, Harry Potter and Film Location Tours, Highlands and Glencoe Day Trips, Highlands Day Trips in Inverness, Tour Reviews, Tours in Inverness

Full-Day Outlander Experience in the Scottish Highlands from Inverness

6.Full-Day Outlander Experience in the Scottish Highlands from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Spend about eight hours with a private driver-guide exploring Outlander-linked sites and Highland history from Inverness. Visit Culloden, Clava Cairns, Castle Leod, Beauly Priory, Fort George, and more. Guides such as Andrew, Michael, Ryan, Steve, and George are praised for flexible routes, storytelling, and personal service.

“Do it! Book this tour it was utterly amazing! The guide Andrew was stellar, knowledgeable and had the best insights to each site! Very accommodating and enjoyed every minute! Our son loved it!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Inverness: Applecross, Loch Carron & the Wild Highlands - Crossing the Black Isle toward Lochcarron
Highlands and Glencoe Day Trips, Highlands Day Trips in Inverness, Tour Reviews, Tours in Inverness

Inverness: Applecross, Loch Carron & the Wild Highlands

7.Applecross, Loch Carron & the Wild Highlands

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 50 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $85

Travel from Inverness in a small group of up to 19 people, crossing the Black Isle and Bealach na Ba to Applecross, then returning by Loch Torridon and Beinn Eighe. Expect live local commentary, photo stops, time for lunch, and guides such as Marita, Malcolm, Kathleen, Sinclair, or Ryan when scheduled.

“It was a great day out! We really enjoyed the experience. Lots to see, and not having to drive made it easy!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Alternative Loch Ness Tour by Secret Highlands - Corrimony Chambered Cairn and Scotland’s distant past
Highlands and Glencoe Day Trips, Highlands Day Trips in Inverness, Loch Ness Tours, Loch Ness Tours in Inverness, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Inverness

Alternative Loch Ness Tour by Secret Highlands

8.Alternative Loch Ness Tour by Secret Highlands

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $376

Spend about eight hours with guide Jamie exploring Loch Ness, Corrimony Chambered Cairn, Glen Affric, Plodda Falls, and Beauly Priory. The tour uses a private vehicle for no more than five people, includes water and snacks, and favors quiet Highland roads over a standard sightseeing route. Lunch is not included.

“I would leave 10 stars if possible. This is a completely unique & incredible experience. Jamie took me on a highlands hike/walking tour of a lifetime. We drove on roads and took trails that are impossible to reach by anyone other than a true local, with a passion & knowledge of the geography. Jamie cares deeply for this land and is so well versed in the history. He takes his guests “where he would want to go and where he knows are the most special, hidden gems”. I was a solo traveler and couldn’t believe he catered the entire days journey just for me. It is something I won’t soon…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Invergordon Shore Excursion Highland Bucket List Tour - Clava Cairns and 4,000 years of Highland mystery
Highlands and Glencoe Day Trips, Highlands Day Trips in Inverness, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Inverness

Invergordon Shore Excursion Highland Bucket List Tour

9.Invergordon Shore Excursion Highland Bucket List Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $176

Richie of Highland Bucket List Tours leads a seven-hour Invergordon shore excursion for up to eight people. You’ll visit Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness, Great Glen Distillery, and Urquhart Castle, with room to adjust the day around your interests and ship schedule.

“Richi picked us up on time at the meeting point and we were back on time to the ship. The day was super organized and we were able to determine the process ourselves, how long we wanted to stay where. Communication went great. Highly recommended 👍🏼Auto-translated”

Check availability →Read our full review

Slow Food Highland Dining and Storytelling in Inverness - Main courses with a local character
Dining Experiences, Dinner Experiences, Food Tours, Highlands and Glencoe Day Trips, Highlands Day Trips in Inverness, Tour Reviews, Tours in Inverness

Slow Food Highland Dining and Storytelling in Inverness

10.Slow Food Highland Dining and Storytelling in Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 23 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $103

Join Karen in her Inverness home for a private, roughly two-hour dinner for up to six people. Expect traditional Scottish dishes such as Partan Bree and Cranachan, food shaped by local history, and stories about Highland cooking. Dinner is included, while wine and whisky pairings cost extra.

“Karen is an amazing host , highly recommend this experience. She told us stories that brought the food to life and made every bite a part of the journey . The food itself is worth the price of admission but Karen’s story telling skills were the cherry on top.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Loch Ness, Outlander and Highlands Private Chauffeur Tour from Inverness - Clava Cairns and the real stones behind Outlander
Harry Potter and Film Location Tours, Highlands and Glencoe Day Trips, Highlands Day Trips in Inverness, Loch Ness Tours, Loch Ness Tours in Inverness, Private, Private Car with Driver, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Inverness

Loch Ness, Outlander and Highlands Private Chauffeur Tour from Inverness

11.Loch Ness, Outlander and Highlands Private Chauffeur Tour from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.)

Spend 8 to 9 hours with a local driver-guide in a Mercedes V250, visiting Culloden, Clava Cairns, Beauly, Castle Leod and Loch Ness. The private format lets you adjust the day to your interests, with Wi-Fi, snacks, water and pickup in Inverness. Guides such as Michael, Andrew, Ryan and Morven have been praised for personal service.

“This was a unique tour in that I was the only client that day. Driver/guide Morven proved adaptable, competent, knowledgable, in crafting an unplanned agenda. I had actually been to Inverness in 2005, so we skipped a lot of "standard" stuff. Instead, we did things like look for obscure tartan patterns, extensively walk the Culloden battlefield. She even offered to drive ne to Fort William (not part of her usual itinerary) but we finally ran out of time. Since we got to talk extensively, I got to learn more about the average Scot, and vice-versa about the U.S.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Private Highland Whisky Tour including 10+ Single Malt Tastings - Struie Hill and Whisky at Millionaires View
Highlands and Glencoe Day Trips, Highlands Day Trips in Inverness, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Inverness, Whisky Distillery Tours, Whisky Tours in Inverness

Private Highland Whisky Tour including 10+ Single Malt Tastings

12.Private Highland Whisky Tour including 10+ Single Malt Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Spend about eight hours with a private Highland guide, exploring Struie Hill, Dornoch, Balblair, Glen Ord, and more. You receive whisky and chocolate tastings, snacks, water, and hotel pickup around Inverness. Liam and Gavin are named guides, while distillery tours and tastings cost extra.

“Gavin was an excellent tour guide and great coversionationist. His collection of scotch and descriptions of each was the highlight of the tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Discovering Inverness: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Capital of the Highlands - Along the River Ness
Audio Tours, Guided, Highlands and Glencoe Day Trips, Highlands Day Trips in Inverness, Self-Guided Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Inverness

Discovering Inverness: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Capital of the Highlands

13.Discovering Inverness: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Capital of the Highlands

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 19 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $9Best value

Use the VoiceMap app to walk Inverness from St Andrew’s Cathedral along the River Ness, across Greig Street Bridge, past historic buildings, and onto the Ness Islands. The English audio starts and stops with your movement, works offline, and lets you split the route over several days.

“We had a lovely time on this walking tour. We happened to be in Inverness the day of the Queen's funeral and because of that, the tour we originally had planned that day was canceled and everything was closed. When looking for things we could do instead we found this tour and while it would have been more fun to do being able to go in to the book shop it mentioned and other things along the way, it was still a lovely day of seeing the city and the Ness islands were so beautiful. It probably could use to be updated as the Inverness castle is currently closed and…”

Check availability →Read our full review

North Highland Tour Dunrobin Castle & More From invergordon Port - Falls of Shin and the chance to see salmon leap
Castle Tours, Castle Tours in Inverness, Highlands and Glencoe Day Trips, Highlands Day Trips in Inverness, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Inverness

North Highland Tour Dunrobin Castle & More From invergordon Port

14.North Highland Tour Dunrobin Castle & More From invergordon Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.)

Spend 7 to 8 hours with a private guide exploring the North Highlands from Invergordon. Visit Dunrobin Castle, Falls of Shin, Dornoch, Loch Fleet, Struie Hill, and Glenmorangie Distillery. Guides such as Susan, Lewis, Kate, Roy, William, and Stuart are known for local stories, flexible routing, and thoughtful help for less mobile visitors.

“Susan did a great job on our tour! She was very informative and mindful of our time. We truly enjoyed the tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

North Highland Tour including Dunrobin Castle and much more From Inverness City - Falls of Shin and the chance to see salmon leap
Castle Tours, Castle Tours in Inverness, City Tours, Highlands and Glencoe Day Trips, Highlands Day Trips in Inverness, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Inverness

North Highland Tour including Dunrobin Castle and much more From Inverness City

15.North Highland Tour including Dunrobin Castle and much more From Inverness City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.)

Travel privately from Inverness with guides such as Mike, Kate, Stuart, or Lewis through the North Highlands. See Beauly Priory, Dornoch Firth, Struie Hill, Falls of Shin, Dunrobin Castle, Loch Fleet, Dornoch, and Glenmorangie Distillery. The tour lasts about 7 to 8 hours, with hotel, airport, and rail-station pickup.

“Mike was fantastic! The van we rode in was super comfortable. Mike took good care of us and had loads of information to share with us on history, culture etc. He made sure we weren't rushed anywhere but yet he knew the schedule well enough to get us to the falcon show at Donrobin Castle on time.”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Highlands Day Trips in Inverness

★ 5.0BMW SUV Tour of the Scottish Highlands with Kilted Guide5 reviews
★ 5.0Bespoke build your own Highland Tour in 16 seat minibus5 reviews
★ 5.0Ghost, Ghouls and Graveyards Private Highland Tour5 reviews
★ 5.0Fort William and Glencoe TourFrom $4205 reviews

Keep browsing

Castle ToursLoch Ness ToursWhisky Distillery ToursHighlands and Glencoe Day TripsGhost and Underground Vault ToursWalking Tours
Scroll to Top

Explore Scotland

Pick a glen, a castle or a cellar.

Castles

Castle ToursEdinburgh CastleStirling & BattlefieldsRosslyn ChapelHistory Tours

The Highlands

Glencoe Day TripsLoch NessIsle of SkyeLoch LomondBoat Trips

Whisky and food

Distillery ToursWhisky in EdinburghFood ToursPub CrawlsDining

On foot and after dark

Walking ToursGhost & Vault ToursThe Royal MileCity ToursCycling