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- Tours from Inverness
- 1 Day Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle
Escape the city on a full-day Isle of Skye tour from Inverness, venturing through the rugged Highlands to the enchanting ‘Misty Isle’. Along the way, cast your eyes upon the world-famous Loch Ness and venture inside the iconic Eilean Donan Castle on an optional tour. Then it’s off to Skye for an afternoon of jaw-dropping coastline scenery, rock formations, and history galore.
* Save 10% on tour dates until 27 Feb 2026.
Tour Highlights
Inclusions
Small Group Tour
Passionate Local Guide
Live Commentary & Storytelling in English
Foreign Language Audio Guide Available
Audio guide links will be provided after booking. Please download over WiFi and bring your own headphones
What Other Explorers Say
Karen was an amazing guide, super friendly and really knowledgeable, and she made the tour special even in bad weather!
Ana
06/01/2026Sonia was our tour guide and she was awesome. She was very knowledgeable about history and told stories that were interesting. She also gave suggestions for restaurants, pubs, and shops to check out. She was enthusiastic and had great playlist of local folk music.
Brandon
05/01/2026This tour is a must-do for anyone visiting Inverness. The tour was fairly long, being 12 hours long however we got to see a vast amount of the highlands and the Isle of Skye. The scenery looked just like the photos, and in many cases, even better. There was plenty of opportunities to jump off the bus for photos, exploring and then for lunch. The tour guide Sonia was very knowledgeable and friendly. The group size was perfect and the bus was modern and clean.
Jack
30/12/2025The day was perfectly paced. Emily was both knowledgeable and funny. She had many references to history which made the time fly by.
Steve
16/09/2025Karen did an amazing job taking our tour bus on a journey and making sure we were all comfortable and taken care of. We had awesome views and plenty of opportunities to rest, take photos and enjoy the time as we preferred. I would highly recommend her as a tour guide!
Clinton
15/09/2025Craig was entertaining and very accommodating. Had lots of great information about all the sights. Well worth the price for the tour.
Jack
14/09/2025The stops were absolutely beautiful. Iain was super friendly and full of information about the mountain ranges, Scottish history, and Gaelic. Eilean Donan Castle was by far my favorite castle to visit. For those of you wanting to see the highlights of Isle of Skye, I highly recommend the tour.
Jessica
13/09/2025Karen was an amazing guide and gave us a nice balance of history and whimsy. I went with a friend of mine, and Karen made our trip to Isle of Skye unforgettable!
Cassidy
15/09/2025Great day with Karen exploring Skye. Wonderful scenery, comfortable bus, frequent stops for photos and refreshments, and an entertaining and informative commentary. Thanks Karen!
Tom
15/09/2025Loved this tour! Our tour guide, Torquil, was also very fun and eager. He was good at telling the history of Scotland along the way in a entertaining way. Highly recommend!
Hanne
12/08/2025Great day trip from Inverness. Our driver and tour guide Craig was awesome and a great storyteller. I highly recommend this tour.
Danielle
10/08/2025Amazing experience from our host Sonia. An experience that I will share with everyone I know. The weather was a bit rainy and a lot windy, but I'd did not matter, as the visit was incredible any way.
Javier
09/08/2025Craig is the best tour guide the highlands have to offer. Great history and commentary along the more than scenic drive through the highlands. Get the fish and chips at The Chippy in Poretree when you stop for lunch and enjoy some local scotch. 10/10 recommend!
David
20/07/2025Absolutely wonderful day!!! Our guide Emily was very informative and very lovely to listen to !! She was so kind and polite. The stops were well planned and timed. Her driving was great as well as her commentary, she kept us well entertained!!
Amanda
19/07/2025Great tour, well organized and felt like we had enough time at each stop. We saw many incredible sights and learned a lot from our guide, Harrison. This was a great way to explore the Highlands in a day!
Stephanie
15/07/2025The tour was amazing!! Torkin and Tony were awesome guides and made the tour so much fun and interesting!! They looked out for everyone and were wonderful guides.
Dancer P
15/06/2025Could not recommend this tour enough! So many incredible views and stops along the way. Sonia went above and beyond providing so many great stories and a lot of information about the highlands. She played great music too!!
Dawn
14/06/2025The awe-inspiring beauty of this part of the country (and much of the rest of it) goes without saying. However, the rich storytelling and historical information provided by our guide Iain gave it another layer of meaning that enhanced the experience altogether. You’ll be lucky to have him, enjoy the tour! :)
Axelle
13/06/2025The tour was very informative. Iain our tour guide was very knowledgeable and his fairy stories were funny. He even stops at a few more places that weren’t on the tour because we had time. The only draw back was it is a very long tour, you are on and off the bus for 12 hours otherwise it is a great way to see the Isle of Skye.
Mary
17/05/2025Torquil was our tour guide and his knowledge and wit made it very pleasurable, the weather was perfect plus the music he played went perfectly with the tour 😎🤩
Kylie
15/05/2025We had a great day on the Isle of Skye! Our tour guide Torquil was super fun and entertained us all day. He has a lot of background knowledge and great anecdotes in store. The tour covers a lot and there are enough stops to go to the toilet or buy something to eat and drink. I took the most beautiful photos and will remember this day for a long time!
Lisa
15/05/2025Donnie was lovely. Highly energetic, has funny stories, drove safely, yet despite the high energy, he knows how to balance it out with a good calm with his awesome Spotify playlist. I had a lovely day.
Giovan
14/04/2025Emma was just great. Very informative. Skye was beautiful. Highly recommend. Wouldn't won't ro drive myself due to narrow roads
Glenn
12/04/2025We had a great experience. We visited many stunning places in this tour. Our tour guide “Emily” was so nice & friendly. She shared many interesting stories & gave us good amount of time to click pictures. I would love to recommend her to others.
Dinesh
11/04/2025We had the most incredible day trip with Highland Explorer Tours out of Inverness, and our guide Emma made it truly unforgettable. From the moment we boarded the coach, Emma’s energy, knowledge, and passion for the Highlands shone through. She brought the stunning landscapes and rich history to life with her storytelling, fun facts, and great sense of humor.
Calvin
23/03/2025Amazing tour with Emma from start to finish. Can tell Emma is well experienced as she knew the right spots to stop for us to take photos without it being too overcrowded. Very well informative and funny lots of great history and folklore stories. Brilliant sights and plenty of opportunities for photos and breaks. Would highly recommend this company and Emma for tours.
Zoe
22/03/2025We had the best time exploring Isle of Skye! It was a beautiful sunny day and we got to see so many things! The commentary and stories from Emily and Craig made it even better. I would highly recommend for anyone wanting to see these amazing places!
Hayley
21/03/2025Explore Isle of Skye with @highextours
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Frequently Asked Questions
Your Isle of Skye tour departs from the city centre in Inverness. For more details on your pick-up location, please visit our Departure Info page.
Your Isle of Skye tour from Inverness spans about 12 hours*, offering ample time to explore Skye’s mystical landscapes, Portree, and Eilean Donan Castle.
*Length of tour may vary depending on traffic and weather conditions.
No, entrance to Eilean Donan Castle is not included in the tour price. You can purchase an entry ticket on arrival at the site*.
*On certain dates the castle is closed.
While our coaches don't offer onboard toilets, rest assured that our itineraries include regular comfort stops, allowing frequent access to restroom facilities.
Our guides are unable to assist with wheelchairs or provide physical assistance during boarding or disembarking from the coach. Passengers should be capable of boarding and disembarking independently using the access stairs or with the help of a traveling companion. Foldable wheelchairs can be stored in our onboard luggage storage during travel.
Please note that some stops on our tours may involve rough terrain or only be accessible by steps.
It's important to be aware that your accommodation may have limited accessibility for wheelchair users. More info can be found on our Accessibility page.
Yes! Our routes include stops where you can grab a snack or recharge with a drink. Occasionally, we pause at shops offering local souvenirs as well. For precise details about timing and stops, don't hesitate to inquire with your guide.
Our itinerary (in tab 2, 'Itinerary & Departure') provides a helpful outline of what to expect on the day. We refrain from providing additional details beyond what's outlined there, as factors like weather, traffic, and the preferences of our driver guides may lead to slight deviations. We also believe that part of the excitement comes from the unexpected surprises along the way! Rest assured, your journey through Scotland will be unlike any other.
If you need to cancel your tour, you will need to inform us in writing by sending an email to info@highlandexplorertours.com. You can find our cancellation and refunds policy in section 3 in our Terms and Conditions.
Feel free to visit our general Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common queries, or reach out to us directly via our Contact Us page.
- Home
- Tours from Inverness
- 1 Day Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle
After crossing the Skye Bridge, your guide will entertain you with stories of local legends and folklore, as well as the true tales of rival clans and a fugitive prince. Enjoy lunch in the capital of the island on our stop in Portee, where you can visit the colourful harbour.
Marvel at the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, and take in the last of Skye’s otherworldly landscape at the Quiraing before we return to the mainland. We arrive back into Inverness in the evening.
1 Day Tour Itinerary & Map
Our Isle of Skye tour from Inverness begins with a scenic drive alongside Loch Ness - home of the elusive monster – and onwards through the mountains towards the west coast. Majestic mountains give way to vast sea lochs, once used by Vikings as an access route to our lands. We stop at the romantic Eilean Donan Castle, where you have the option of doing a tour and learn about the castle’s intriguing history.
After crossing the Skye Bridge, your guide will entertain you with stories of local legends and folklore, as well as the true tales of rival clans and a fugitive prince. Enjoy lunch in the capital of the island on our stop in Portee, where you can visit the colourful harbour.
Marvel at the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, and take in the last of Skye’s otherworldly landscape at the Quiraing before we return to the mainland. We arrive back into Inverness in the evening.
Day Highlights
Departure Point
Inverness City Centre
15 Union St Inverness*, IV1 1PP *Across from the entrance to the Victorian Market. Look out for a blue or yellow coach bus. For parking, we recommend the Old Town Rose Street Multi-Storey – less than a 10-minute walk from our departure point.
Not sure how to get here? Find more info on our Departure Info page.
Departure & Return Time
Tours Dates & Prices
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- Home
- Tours from Inverness
- 1 Day Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle
Eilean Donan Castle
Pay locallyEilean Donan Castle is situated on a sea loch surrounded by magnificent Highland scenery. This magical and idyllic setting is what makes this one of Scotland’s most iconic attractions. Take a tour to find out about the castle's colourful history. Please note there are days when Eilean Donan Castle is closed to the public. Adult from £12. Tickets are subject to availability.
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