Top 15 Highlands Day Trips in Inverness

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

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

Ride from Inverness through Loch Ness and the Highlands, then board the Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William to Mallaig. Your English-speaking guide, such as Harrison, Iain, Emma, Fraser, or Stewart, adds stories and local context. Expect a long day, superb views, and possible diesel train substitution in fire-risk conditions.

“It was great! A 12 hour tour all along the highlands. It was a bummer that we couldn't go on the stream train, but that was due to the fire hazard and was understandable. We took a diesel train instead.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Jacobite Steam Train and Highlands Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 921 reviews · 12.5 hours · from $268

Spend 12.5 hours touring Loch Ness and the Highlands by coach, then ride the Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William to Mallaig. Guides such as Karen, Iain, Craig, Sonia, and Harrison add Scottish stories, music, and humor. Expect photo stops, free time in Mallaig, and a full day on the road.

“Craig our tour guide driver was very informative and made the trip enjoyable on a wet Inverness day. Highlight was riding the Jacobite train”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Loch Ness and the Highlands Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 638 reviews · 9 hours · from $65

Travel from Inverness by air-conditioned coach with an English-speaking driver-guide such as Fiona, Owen, Alex, or Karen. See Urquhart Castle, cruise Loch Ness, stop at Fort Augustus, Invermoriston, Falls of Foyers, and Dores Beach. The $65 price covers transport and commentary, while food, castle entry, and the optional cruise cost extra.

“Without any doubt the highlight of our 10-Day-Scotland journey! Karen was a wonderful guide and a hella great bus driver 💙 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🤍 Thank you sooo much for all the fantastic spots you showed us and your caring support troughout the trip.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Loch Ness & The Highlands

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

Spend about 8 hours 45 minutes circling Loch Ness from Inverness with a driver-guide such as Alex, Karen, Malcolm, or Jack. Expect castle ruins, a possible sonar cruise, Fort Augustus, Foyers Falls, and Dores Beach, with live commentary and several photo stops. Castle and cruise tickets cost extra.

“This was a nice tour to take if staying in Inverness as it covers areas of importance all around Lochness. Alex was our tour guide, and he was kind and knowledgeable on all the stops we had in the tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

Spend two days touring the Isle of Skye from Inverness in a small group of up to 19 people. Visit Dunvegan and Eilean Donan castles, the Fairy Pools, Quiraing, Kilt Rock, and more, with an overnight in Portree. Driver-guides such as Karen, Fiona, Owen, and Jack S. are known for lively stories, local history, and flexible routing in Scottish weather.

“It was a great tour. Our tour guide Willie was great! It wasn’t the best of weather but we still did a lot of things and some more. Special shout out to Willie who was great. Thank you for an unforgettable trip”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Classic Highland Shore Tour from Invergordon

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

Travel from Invergordon in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide, visiting Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Loch Ness, and Inverness. Guides such as Murdoch, Andrew, Rob, and Gordon are known for vivid storytelling, while the small-group format keeps the day personal.

“Murdoch was wonderful. Our 5th cruise in 2 years. By far our best tour director. Knowledgeable, funny. Always coming across as genuine. Passengers back early to interact more with him. Wonderful!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Inverness Highlands Bucket List Tour

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

Join Richie, Richard, or George for a six-hour small-group tour from Inverness, limited to eight people. Visit Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, and Great Glen Distillery, with local stories, bottled water, and a wee whisky dram. Castle and battlefield exhibition tickets cost extra.

“Richie was a fantastic guide, knowledgable, funny and even offered a wee dram of whisky by Lochness. Culledon was an absolute highlight. Reserve time for the museum. Clava Cairns was also very interesting. Best of the three Highland tours we took.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Applecross, Loch Carron & Wild Highlands Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 109 reviews · 10 hours · from $83

Travel from Inverness to Applecross in a modern air-conditioned bus with a live English-speaking guide. You’ll cross Bealach na Bà, stop at Lochcarron, Applecross, Shieldaig, and Kinlochewe, and look for deer, otters, red kites, and eagles. Guides such as Sinclair, Alix, Sandy, Chris, and Tonks are known for lively local stories and careful driving.

“Beautiful views lovely lunch and very informative tour guide”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Scottish Highlands Adventure Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 74 reviews · 10 hours · from $37Best value

Travel from Inverness into the remote northwest Highlands in a 16-seat Mercedes minicoach with an English-speaking guide. You’ll see Ullapool, Knockan Crag, Ardvreck Castle, Loch Assynt, Lochinver, and Achmelvich Beach, with time for walks, local food, folklore, geology, and Gaelic language.

“our driver, Helen, was the best. She made the trip fun, informative and by the end of the day I felt we had become friends with everyone on the bus. We had a wonderful experience and would highly recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.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 tracing Outlander connections around Inverness. Visit Culloden, Clava Cairns, Beauly Priory, Fort George, and Fraser sites, with hotel or port pickup. Guides such as Andrew, Michael, Ryan, Steve, and George tailor the day to your interests, history knowledge, and pace.

“Our guide for the day was Cecile. She was one of the most knowledgeable guides we have ever experienced. She was very accommodating in changing the standard itinerary for this tour so that it was more personalized to us. We were very impressed of her knowledge of history and historical points of interest even though she was not native to the British Isles. Overall, it was the best of all private tours we took during our 2 week visit to Scotland and Ireland. Would definitely seek her out again when we return to the area.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Isle of Skye & Scottish Highlands Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 63 reviews · 12 hours · from $55

Travel from Inverness to the Isle of Skye by air-conditioned coach with a live English-speaking guide. See the Cuillin Mountains, Portree, Kilt Rock, the Quiraing, and Eilean Donan Castle. Guides such as Craig, Nick, and J have been praised for warm service and lively stories. Expect an early start, winding roads, and a long but rewarding day.

“I had an incredible experience on the Highlands tour yesterday. Our guides, Nick and J. were absolutely amazing. I loved their stories, the way they explained everything with so much passion, and how friendly and warm they were throughout the entire trip. The moment I arrived, they greeted me by name, which made me feel so welcomed and cared for. Their energy and kindness made the whole tour unforgettable. Truly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had!”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Applecross, Loch Carron & the Wild Highlands

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

Travel from Inverness through the lower North Coast 500 to Loch Carron, cross the dramatic Bealach na Ba, and spend time in Applecross. Your driver-guide handles narrow roads while sharing local history, folklore, and wildlife tips. Groups are capped at 19, with guides such as Marita, Kathleen, Sinclair, and Ryan featured on this route.

“This tour is a good way to experience the scottish highlands. You can just sit back enjoy the scenery and leave the driving to someone else. Our guides Kathleen and Sinclair were absolutely great, full of knowledge and very helpful and friendly. And Kathleen is one heck of a skilled driver. I definitely recommend taking this tour with these two guides.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Invergordon: Highlands Guided Tour with Cawdor Castle Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 43 reviews · 7 hours · from $125

From Invergordon, your English-speaking guide takes you to Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Loch Ness, and Inverness. Expect lively local stories, a castle audio tour, short walks, and a tightly planned day that works well for cruise passengers. Guides including Murdoch, Gordon, Rob, and Andrew have earned especially strong praise.

“Our guide was amazing, and the day was wonderful. The bus was a little snug, but not uncomfortable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Alternative Loch Ness Tour by Secret Highlands

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

Spend eight hours with Jamie of Secret Highlands exploring Loch Ness, Corrimony Cairn, Glen Affric, Plodda Falls, and Beauly. With a maximum of five people, private vehicle transport, snacks, and local insight, this suits adults who prefer quiet roads, short walks, and places beyond the standard Highland circuit.

“We had a great time on this tour. Our guide, Jamie, was amazing. He was a wealth of knowledge, fun, entertaining and catered to what we wanted to focus on or see. I 💯 recommend this tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Invergordon Shore Excursion Highland Bucket List Tour

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

Travel from Invergordon in a group of up to eight with a local guide, often Richie, for a seven-hour Highland route. See Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, and Great Glen Distillery. The small vehicle allows a flexible pace, photo stops, and occasional extras when time permits.

“We had a great experience and our guide made sure we enjoyed each stop. The itinerary was perfect for our cruise day in Invergordon. Our guide, Richie, was very accommodating, informative, and friendly.”

Check availability →Read our full review