Leisurely United Kingdom

Welcome to LONDON! On arrival to the airport, we will be waiting to transfer you to the hotel. Later, our guide will give an overview of the tour or you can check the informative panels in the hotel reception area.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Visit London. Changing of the Guard. Evening transfer to Soho.

Get to know LONDON on a locally guided tour featuring style, cul­ture and history. See the Houses of Parliament, the River Thames, the Tower of Lon­don and Buckingham Palace, where we will be able to watch the famous “Changing of the Guard” (depending on the season). Afternoon at leisure. In the evening, we will take a walk through Leicester Square, China Town and Soho, with a lively atmosphere, theatres and entertainment. There are several restaurants to chose where you can dine. Return to the hotel.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Picturesque countryside with hills and woods.

We start the day leaving London towards northern England. Our first stop is CAMBRIDGE to admire its beautiful residential colleges. After lunch, we will continue to YORK where its cathedral, Roman walls and lively shopping streets will create a charming memory, some free time to stroll around. Afterwards, we will continue north to DURHAM. Explore this charming medieval town full of life which has a wonderful cathedral right in front of the castle.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Cross into Scotland. Castles, views over the sea. Sightseeing of Edinburgh.

Today we will travel to Scotland, stopping in ALNWICK, a picturesque town with lovely gardens and a large medieval castle which was used in the Harry Potter films. We will continue to EDINBURGH, arriving at noon. This is Scotland’s capital city and one of the most active cities in Northern Europe. Its monumental center has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its castle overlooks the city’s steep streets and parks. We will enjoy a sightseeing tour with a local guide.

Free day. You can enjoy the charm of this city and explore and discover memorable places.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Traditional whisky distillery in Pitlochry. Blair Castle. We will travel to northern Scotland.

We will visit STIRLING, famous for its historic downtown area and castle which sits atop the mighty Castle Hill. We will then continue travelling north. Not far from the village of Dunkeld we will stop at HERMITAGE FOREST, where we will enjoy a nature walk along pleasant paths of low difficulty level, great for hikers of all fitness levels and ages. Next, we will head to PITLOCHRY, a picturesque town where we will visit Blair Athol, the traditional whisky distillery which manufactures Bell´s whiskey. Time to have lunch. After the break, we will explore BLAIR CASTLE (entrance included) and its impressive grounds. We will continue travelling north. Late-afternoon arrival in INVERNESS, a seaside town quite close to the world-famous Loch Ness.

Note: Hotel and room availability in northern Scotland is quite limited. For some departure dates (normally in the peak-season month of August), we may have to offer accommodation in towns around Inverness.

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: Beautiful landscapes of Northern Scotland, Eilean Donan Castle, Boat tour on Loch Ness.

We will have a day full of excitement as we travel along the hauntingly beautiful landscapes, forests, lochs and plains of northern Scotland. We will visit the fascinating EILEAN DONAN CASTLE probably the most photographed fortress in the entire country (entrance included). Next, we will travel to FORT AUGUSTUS where we will visit the sluice gate system. Time to have lunch and a stroll. In the afternoon, we will then travel to LOCH NESS and go on a boat tour on the lake’s dark and mysterious waters. After that, we will visit the medieval castle of URQUHART (entrance included). Accommodation in INVERNESS.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Beautiful landscapes of Northern Scotland.

We will continue enjoying a stage with gorgeous landscapes. We will make a brief stop in SPEAN BRIDGE to visit a monument that speaks about the Second World War. We will later stop in FORT WILLIAM, a tourist centre at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest summit in the United Kingdom. We will go by KILCHURN Castle, which displays its beautiful ruins right by a dark lake. INVERARAY, a quite picturesque historic village by Loch Fyne with a large castle and quiet streets. Lunchtime. We will return contouring Loch Lomond, one of the most popular lakes in Scotland. Time for a stroll around BALLOCH, the liveliest town on its banks. Arrival in GLASGOW at mid-afternoon. Time for a stroll around the centre of this lively city.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Ferryboat to Ireland.

Today we will leave Glasgow heading towards southern Scotland. We will board a ferry in Cairnryan. Our journey takes us towards Northern Ireland, arriving in BELFAST, Northern Ireland’s capital city. This monumental city is overcoming its religious conflicts. We will resume our journey to EIRE in Ireland. Last stop will be DUBLIN, arriving at the end of the day.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Sightseeing tour of Dublin.

We start the day with a sightseeing tour of DUBLIN, Ireland’s peaceful capital city. We will enjoy a stroll on the banks of River Liffey, visiting its parks, old university and its lively downtown streets. We will stroll around Trinity College (depending on the duration of sunlight, this visit may take place the afternoon before, upon arrival in Dublin). Free time during the afternoon.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Ferry from Ireland to Walles. Maritime landscapes. Caernarfon.

We will board a ferry in the early morning. After a journey of three hours, we will arrive in Wales. We will visit CAERNARFON, a World Heritage site by the sea overlooked by an impressive castle. There will be time for lunch and a stroll. We continue to LIVERPOOL, where you will have a chance to visit The Beatles Story Exhibition.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Shakespeare’s hometown. Oxford.

Today we explore central England. We will visit STRATFORD UPON AVON, Shakespeare’s hometown. Free time to have lunch and a stroll. Afterwards, we will travel to OXFORD, a town that is synonymous with study and culture. Kings, statesmen, philosophers and scientists have studied here! We will continue to LONDON, arriving in the late afternoon.