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Treasures of Shetland and Orkney Islands
Private tour

Treasures of Shetland and Orkney Islands

gbUnited Kingdom
6 cities
12 days, 11 nights
Day by day
Places you explore
Recommended hotels
Landmarks & Experiences
Day 1 Edinburgh

Arrival
Upon arrival, you have a check-in at the hotel. The rest of the day is at your own leisure.

Breakfast included
Market Street Hotel
Market Street Hotel
6 Market Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, GB, EH1 1DE
Room (Cozy)
1 room
Up to 2 guests
1 King Bed
18 m²
Breakfast included
More amenities
Arrival: Private Transfer Sedan
Day 2 Edinburgh

Edinburgh Royal Mile and Departure
Following breakfast you get to explore the capital of Scotland - Edinburgh! 

Together with the guide you start a 4-hour tour of the Old Town and explore this culturally and historically important part of the city. Today you walk along the famous Royal Mile which connects two royal residences - the Castle and the palace of Holyrood House.

Before you visit the Edinburgh Castle  you hear a comprehensive history insight from your guide and visit the castle independently. Here you may see the Honours (Crown Jewels) of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny, the famous 15th century gun Mons Meg, the One O' Clock Gun inside the castle.

Your guided walking tour ends before you visit the castle and after exploring the castle you return to the hotel.

In the late afternoon, you walk to the train station to board the train to Aberdeen.

Market Street Hotel
Address
6 Market Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, GB, EH1 1DE
4h
Edinburgh City Tour
Edinburgh City Tour
Train from Edinburgh to Aberdeen
Departure
2 h 30 min
Arrival
Day 2 Aberdeen

Arrival
​​​​​​​Upon arrival, you have a check-in at the hotel. The rest of the day is at your own leisure.

Breakfast included
Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel & Spa
Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel & Spa
St. Andrew Street, Aberdeen, Scotland, GB, AB25 1AD
Signature Room, 2 Double Beds
1 room
Up to 4 guests
2 Double Beds
23 m²
Breakfast included
More amenities
Arrival: Private Transfer Sedan
Day 3 Aberdeen

Castles Tour
Following breakfast in the hotel, you meet your private guide-driver and start a full-day tour to explore Scotland's Castle Country. Today you visit two very different castles - Dunottar and Crathes.

The first stop is at the seaside town of Stonehaven to explore Dunnottar Castle. This iconic castle sits on a rocky outcrop glaring out to the North Sea. It is one of the most photographed castles & was the backdrop of the film "Hamlet". Together with the driver-guide you visit the castle and learn its story. Continue to the town for a coffee break and take a stroll along the pebble beach, boardwalk and take in the picturesque harbor.

Continue to the second castle of the day - Crathes, which is a 16th-century castle. It was a family home for nearly 400 years and over the centuries it evolved from a defensive structure to a sumptuous home. Following a lunch break you get to visit the castle and see it from the inside, as well as its gardens.

During the trip, you also have a stop at the Falls of Feugh for tea and traditional scones. There is a chance to see salmon battling against the torrents of water attempting to return to their spawning grounds after 7 years at sea.

​​​​​​​After the tour, you return to the hotel.

8h
Dunottar and Crathes Castles Tour
Dunottar and Crathes Castles Tour
Day 4 Aberdeen

Departure
Following breakfast in your hotel, you check out and depart from Aberdeen.

Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel & Spa
Address
St. Andrew Street, Aberdeen, Scotland, GB, AB25 1AD
Departure: Private Transfer Sedan
Ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick
Departure
13 h
Arrival
Day 5 Lerwick

Arrival 
Upon arrival in Lerwick, you have a check-in at the hotel and the rest of the day at leisure. 

Breakfast included
Lerwick Hotel
Lerwick Hotel
15 South Road, Lerwick, Scotland, GB, ZE1 0RB
Twin Room
1 room
Up to 3 guests
2 Twin Beds
350 m²
Breakfast included
More amenities
Arrival: Private Airport Transfer Sedan
Day 6 Lerwick

Southern Exploration Tour 
Following breakfast in the hotel, you meet your private guide-driver and embark on a full-day tour to the southern part of Shetland Island. This trip is one of the most scenic with amazing panoramic views, history, and wildlife.

Today you have a short photo-stop at Scalloway and travel across from Mousa to take in a view one of the best-preserved broch in the world. Here you visit St Ninian's Isle, the 4000-year-old Jarlshof settlement, and the Crofthouse museum. On the way through Fladdabister, you learn more about what was life like in Shetland over a century ago and then you reach the wild cliffs of Sumburgh Head. Here you see Puffins from mid-April to mid-August and have a close look at Sumburgh Lighthouse which was opened in 1821.

On the way back to Lerwick you see lots of Shetland ponies, seabirds, and other wildlife. For a lunch break, you can choose a restaurant in the Sumburgh Hotel, which was built in 1867.

After the tour you return to the hotel.

Full day
Full Day Private Shetland Islands Tour (South Mainland)
Full Day Private Shetland Islands Tour (South Mainland)
Day 7 Lerwick

Unst and Yell Islands Tour 
Following breakfast and check-out, you meet with your private guide-driver and start a tour to the Northern Isles: to Unst and Yell. To reach the destination you also enjoy a hop on and off two ferries on the way.

Firstly you visit Island of Yell, which is Shetland's biggest island and from here you catch the 5-minute ferry to Unst. Today you see a 400-year-old Muness Castle, the ex-RAF base of Saxa Vord, where there is now a brewery and gin distillery. From Saxa Vord you may see Muckle Flugga, the most northerly part of the British Isles. Continue to Haroldswick boat museum and visit the reconstructed Viking longhouse and longship created by Viking Unst before visiting Hermaness and its visitor center.

You will also see Stanydale Temple in Shetland's West Mainland and the Lund standing stone in Unst.

After the tour you are taken to the port for a ferry to Kirkwall.

Lerwick Hotel
Address
15 South Road, Lerwick, Scotland, GB, ZE1 0RB
Full day
Full Day Private Tour to Unst and Yell
Full Day Private Tour to Unst and Yell
Departure: Private Airport Transfer Sedan
Ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall, Orkney
Departure
6 h 30 min
Arrival

Description for connection

Late evening ferry.

Day 7 Kirkwall, Orkney

Arrival In Kirkwall 
Upon arrival in Kirkwall, you driver meets you and transfers to the hotel for check-in.

Breakfast included
The Ayre Hotel
The Ayre Hotel
Ayre Road, Kirkwall, Scotland, GB, KW15 1QX
Standard Double or Twin Room
1 room
Up to 2 guests
1 Double Bed
Breakfast included
More amenities
Arrival: Private Transfer Sedan
Day 8 Kirkwall, Orkney

UNESCO Heritage Tour 
Following breakfast, you meet your private guide and embark on a full-day trip to explore four of Orkney’s pre-history sites included in the UNESCO list.
The first place you visit today is Maeshowe which is the finest and largest chambered cairn (tomb). Here you witness the most amazing Viking graffiti and learn about burial traditions of Neolithic people. Continue to Standing Stones of Stenness still raising many questions about its purpose. Together you drive to Watchstone, situated on the Bridge of Brodgar, and pass the Ness of Brodgar. Since a Geophysical survey in 2003 this place revealed up to twelve possible archeological structures.
Travel to Ring of Brodgar one of the finest stone circles and head for the last of the four World Heritage Sites - Skara Brae. It is a remarkably well preserved Neolithic village which was only revealed following a fierce storm back in 1850 when the sand dune that covered it was partially washed away.
The last site on your trip today is a Skaill House, situated next door to Skara Brae. Here you visit the museum displaying finds from Skara Brae of jewelry, tools and earthenware.
After the tour you return to the hotel.

Full Day Private UNESCO Heritage Tour
Full Day Private UNESCO Heritage Tour
Day 9 Kirkwall, Orkney

Departure 
Following breakfast in the hotel and check-out, you meet the driver for the transfer.

The Ayre Hotel
Address
Ayre Road, Kirkwall, Scotland, GB, KW15 1QX
Departure: Private Transfer Sedan
Ferry from Kirkwall, Orkney to Inverness
Departure
5 h 30 min
Arrival

Description for connection

Board the ferry to arrive on the mainland and have a private 2.5-hour transfer straight to Inverness.

Day 9 Inverness

Arrival
Upon arrival, you have a check-in at the hotel. The rest of the day is at your own leisure.

Breakfast included
River Ness Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals
River Ness Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals
CHURCH ST 83-97, Inverness, Scotland, GB, IV11QN
Standard Room
1 room
Up to 2 guests
2 Twin Beds, 1 Queen Bed
Breakfast not included
More amenities
Arrival: Private City Transfer Sedan
Day 10 Inverness

Exploration of the Loch Ness
Following breakfast in the hotel, you meet with the private guide-driver you set off on a tour to Scotland's famous lake, Loch Ness. 

Upon arrival at the lake, you have a one-hour cruise around the loch on a small cruise boat. Enjoy an informative expedition coupled with comfort and great service on board the spacious boat Nessie Hunter equipped with color sonars, radar as well as an underwater camera.
Following the cruise, you continue to the Loch Ness Center for a short visit and have a photo stop by the Urquhart Castle.

Next, you head to Invermoriston and drive by the Fort Augustus, an inspiring old settlement with an impressive Abbey and sailing Caledonian Canal. Afterwards, you travel through the forested landscape of Loch Ness and have a stop at the forest community of Foyers to see a stunning waterfall. The final destination of the route is the picturesque Great Glen Valley boasting simply stunning panoramas. After the tour, you are taken back to the hotel.

7h
Explore Loch Ness Tour
Explore Loch Ness Tour
Day 11 Inverness

Departure to Edinburgh
Following breakfast in your hotel, you check out and walk to the train station.

River Ness Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals
Address
CHURCH ST 83-97, Inverness, Scotland, GB, IV11QN
Train from Inverness to Edinburgh
Departure
4 h
Arrival
Day 11 Edinburgh

Arrival
Upon arrival, you have a check-in at the hotel. The rest of the day is at your own leisure.

Breakfast included
Market Street Hotel
Market Street Hotel
6 Market Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, GB, EH1 1DE
Room, Accessible (wheelchair friendly)
1 room
Up to 2 guests
1 King Bed
18 m²
Breakfast not included
More amenities
Day 12 Edinburgh

Departure
Following breakfast in your hotel, you check out and depart from Edinburgh.

Market Street Hotel
Address
6 Market Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, GB, EH1 1DE
Departure: Private Transfer Sedan

What's included

Exceptional downtown hotel accommodations
Guided sightseeing tours with expert English-speaking guides
Delicious breakfasts at your hotels
Entrances to Scott Monument, Edinburgh Castle and more
Entrances to Scott Monument, Edinburgh Castle and more
Tickets and intercity transportation as per itinerary
Professional meeting services at the airport
Dedicated support team before and during your trip

Reviews

As you prepare for your travels, we proudly highlight our 99.8% customer satisfaction rate. Below are reviews from travelers who have enjoyed our award-winning service. Thank you for choosing us—your extraordinary journey awaits!
4.9 / 5
Excellent
962 Reviews
This was a dream trip for me, and they helped make it a dream come true.
The guides Firebird works with are top-notch.
We had a “trip of a lifetime,” thanks to Firebird.
I was extremely pleased with Firebird's personalized service.
gbEdinburgh
1 night
gbAberdeen
2 nights
gbLerwick
2 nights
gbKirkwall, Orkney
2 nights
gbInverness
2 nights
gbEdinburgh
1 night