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Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour from Aberdeen

Badge of ExcellenceAberdeen, Scotland

12 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

This guided tour is a great introduction to Scotland and ideal for first-time visitors and those with limited time. You'll pass by some of Scotland's most famous castles and mountains, see the ancient Clava Cairns, learn about the doomed Jacobite Rising at the Culloden Battlefield. You'll also visit the mysterious Loch Ness where you can take an optional boat trip.

Scottish Highlands tour from Aberdeen: See multiple attractions in one day
Great introduction to the Scottish Highlands for first-time visitors
Learn all about Scottish history and culture from your guide
Group size of no more than 16 guests promises an uncrowded experience

What's Included

Driver/guide
Transport by air-conditioned mini-coach
Small Group Tour (16 people max)
Jacobite Cruise on Loch Ness included in the tour price.

Gratuities
Food and drinks

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Bus Station, Guild St, Aberdeen AB11 6NA, UK
(Stance 5) Aberdeen Bus Station, Guild Street, AB11 6NA

Start time

08:00 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
Minimum age is 5 years
Luggage Allowance: You're restricted to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person on our tours. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus a small bag for onboard personal items.

In order to retain the integrity of the tour and try to ensure that all our customers have the best possible experience, we do cap bookings from any one party to 8 passengers.
This route may be reversed on some occasions.
Jacobite Cruise on Loch Ness included in the tour price
*The Loch Ness boat cruise is weather dependent and may be cancelled without notice.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

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Q:What is the departure point for the Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour?

A:The tour departs from the Aberdeen Bus Station on Guild Street.

Jun 2021

Q:Is parking available near the departure point for the Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour?

A:Parking can be difficult to find in the center of town. It is highly recommended that you take advantage of the excellent public transportation that is available.

Jun 2021

Q:How early should I arrive for the Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour?

A:Check-in closes 15 minutes before your departure time. The tour departs on time, so please do not arrive late.

Jun 2021

Q:Can I bring luggage with me on the Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour?

A:You may bring up to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) and a small bag for onboard personal items.

Jun 2021

Q:What should I bring with me on the Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour?

A:Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Bring your camera and spending money for food, optional admission tickets, etc.

Jun 2021

Q:Are admission fees included in the Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour?

A:No. You pay for access to sites such as castles and museums as you arrive. Most of these locations accept both cash and card.

Jun 2021

Q:What type of vehicle is used during the Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour?

A:The tour is conducted in a 16 seat Mercedes Mini-coach. There are three steps up into the coach – each 150mm in height. There are grab handles on both sides, the step edges are clearly marked and the treads are non-slip.

Jun 2021

Q:Can I bring a wheelchair on the Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour?

A:The bus is not wheelchair accessible, however, there is storage available for a folding wheelchair or walking frame. Guests must be able to get on/off the bus on their own or with the assistance of a companion as guides cannot assist physically.

Jun 2021

Q:Are restrooms available on the bus during the Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour?

A:There are no restrooms on board the bus, however, the group does make regular breaks to use the restroom during the tour.

Jun 2021

Q:Can I bring my small child with me on the Loch Ness and the Highlands Small-Group Day Tour?

A:All guests must be at least 5 years old to participate in this tour. If your child is 5 or older, but under 1.35m (4.4 ft.) tall, please notate this in the "Special Requirements" box so a booster seat can be arranged.

Jun 2021

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Sandra_C

A huge thanks to our guide-driver Douglas. He was very knowledgable, professional and friendly. The tour was amazing, we were taken through history, current issues and of course whiskey 🥃 tradition. We loved it!!

Reviews

5.0

123 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 123 reviews

Fantastic day in the Scottish Highlands & Loch Ness

Thomas_K, Mar 2024

We had a fantastic day on our Rabbie’s group tour from Aberdeen to the Highlands & Loch Ness led by our knowledgable, entertaining and engaging driver-guide Doug. The tour started and ended on time, with lots of little stops along the way as well as our main itinerary of Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield and Loch Ness. Extra highlights included a meet and greet with highland cows and seeing the stunning Old Craigellachie Bridge lit up at night. Nothing felt rushed, with a good balance between time on the road and time at attractions. The minibus was very comfortable and perfectly suited for the 12 hour day. What elevated the tour from great to exceptional was our driver-guide, Doug. His commentary on the bus was engaging and it bought to life the history of the areas we passed through and balanced with an insight into contemporary Scotland topics too. We all came away having learnt a lot from the day. To top it off, the driving was smooth and the music on the way back to Aberdeen was great. Overall, a fantastic day and we would have no hesitation to recommend this tour to anyone holidaying in Aberdeen looking for a taste of the highlands and Loch Ness. We look forward to booking another Rabbie’s tour soon!

Wonderful and informative.

Guro_R, Mar 2024

The trip was informative, and a good spend of time. We got a lot of value for the money. It was a great way to get more knowledge about the Scottish history.

It was a very fun day all around. Neil was very informative.

Felicia_H, Jan 2024

Favorite spot was Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness. Neil had alot of information and great stories. Glad we were able to travel the mountain route.

Exceptional excursion

Judy_R, Jan 2024

What an excellent day we had on this excursion. Our bus driver Jim was extremely informative and very very engaging. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is visiting Scotland

Brilliant day trip

Alice_B, Dec 2023

Wonderful full day excursion. The bus was warm and comfortable and our guide/driver Jim was excellent not only in driving but also with a wealth of knowledge about our trip. The battlefield of Culloden was hauntingly beautiful. Loch Ness was very beautiful and the ferry trip was also worth it. Excellent day out with stop for lunch and comfort stops as well.

Great tour , Jim was outstanding as our guide highly recommended saw and learned so much , thx Rabbies

annabel_m, Nov 2023

Rabbies yours amazing , Jim took us to Loch Ness stopping at collodion , Clava cairns , for a full day and he was amazing and very informative , learnt so much , felt like a VIP , as our tour guide he made our day interesting and was a safe considerate driver ,loch ness cruise was great , would highly recommend this tour and Rabbies , thanks Jim

Great Tour Guide

kimberly_a, Oct 2023

Great day spent with our knowledgeable tourguide Doug! Will book with them again for tours in the future.

A great day!

Catherine_B, Oct 2023

Every stop has something to offer. It was a long day, but we got in a lot. The best part for me was the cruise on Loch Ness. The vistas were really quite beautiful. The little towns were lovely as were all the people. A word of advice, sit in the front of the van to avoid being bounced. The tour guide did a great job except that ny the end of the day, I was ready to just listen to some music. His selecting were quite good. Overall a great day!

Wet and windy fun

Karma_M, Oct 2023

Jim was very professional, friendly with a good sense of humour from the start to the end of the 12 hour trip. We appreciated the number of comfort breaks. Weather was torrential rain, this didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits, lol, thanks to Jim’s positive attitude. Good value for money.

Beautiful views!

Barbara_L, Sep 2023

Hairy Coos! Neil was full of great stories and history. He made sure we all got to see much of the beautiful country side and stunning views.

Great tour!

Elise_v, Sep 2023

We had an absolute blast! It was a beautiful day, saw so many places, we highly recommend this tour! Thanks to our tourguide Jim! You made our day! Love from Holland, Mike & Elise

Stunning views

Raquel_F, Sep 2023

Meeting the Highlander cows and the driving along the beautiful Scotland highlands. Jim, our tour guide, was entertaining and very obliging about seeing to our comfort. He made reasonable suggestions to us regarding loo breaks and eating.

Good trip, great tour guide

Ryan_M, Sep 2023

The first stop was to a local store with coffee on one side and a wide variety of both known and unique whisky. The stone circles were worth seeing, it is not like anything I have seen before. Culloden would have been a great experience but we did not have enough time to explore it properly.

Excellence

Aaron_W, Sep 2023

Neil was the greatest tour person ever!! The stories made the trip… The stops are unbeatable. Book with Rabbies

The Highlands and the Hidden Nessy

Rozmin_M, Aug 2023

It was a beautiful ride through the highlands and the scenery was amazing. I would definitely recommend this tour. However, it is important to note that it is a very long tour and I suggest taking a few tasty snacks for the long drive; specially if the weather does not hold the promise of a sunny day. Be prepared to see Nessy making a few ripples and waves in the Loch Ness and also have a few interesting conversations around the lake 😊 Out tour guide was good at spinning a few yarns and making them as interesting and long as the winding road. He was knowledgeable and friendly.

Loch ness with Neal

Donna_D, Aug 2023

What a storyteller! With Neal we had a full day of schotland. The spider in the web and Fiddle player story, we will never forget. Be prepared! =D

The most fun you’ve ever had during history class.

Sheryl_S, Jul 2023

I loved all our guide’s stories about the things we saw. He just had a super personality and made everything fun. I think my favorite part was the Cairns, but those cows were adorable. Our guide was Jim.

A great way to visit the Loch Ness and indulge in a wee bit of whiskey

Jason_H, Jul 2023

Amazing!!! Jim our tour guide was amazing. It is a long trip (12 hrs.) but he was up beat and knowable the entire time. As the solo operator of the tour he was able navigate and narrate throughout the entire drive. As is with any trip not all stops will be for you but if you are looking for a way to see the Scottish highlands with staying overnight or driving yourself around for 12 hours this is hard to beat. The bus was clean and very comfortable. We were able to fit in places the larger bus weren’t so entry and exit to venues was a breeze. If you have cash you can buy your cruise ticket on the bus before had and skip waiting in line for tickets when you get to Loch Ness. Highly recommend the tour and hope for Jim as your driver!!

Amazing tour - a must do!

Lisa_M, Jul 2023

This was an absolutely incredible tour. Neil, our guide, was knowledgable and so friendly; a real asset to your team. Dealt with a customer illness amazingly too. Loved the views from the windows, the choice of stops (including meeting the super cute highland cows) and it was very well organised. Thank you so much!

Perfect way to see the Scottish Highlands.

Jeremy_W, Jul 2023

Neill did a great job. Got us safely to and from all the sites. This tour had several stops which made it better versus just a long car ride. You'll see an ton, learn a lot and enjoy the stories along the way.