The 4 Best North Coast 500 Tours

1.8 Day Isle of Skye, Orkney & North Coast 500 tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · 8 days (approx.) Our pick

Travel from Edinburgh in a small group of up to 16, with seven B&B nights, breakfasts, ferries, and the Jacobite Steam Train included. You’ll see Skara Brae, Culloden, Skye, Orkney, Smoo Cave, Glencoe, and the North Coast 500. Guides such as Steve, Rich, and Ali have been praised for safe driving, local stories, music, and practical dining advice.

“Packed itinerary showcasing the best of the Scottish Highlands. As a couple, we were part of a group of 14 travelling on a small, comfortable coach. Our driver/guide, Rich, was extremely knowledgeable, and mixed factual narrative with funny stories about family and friends. He really made all the daily journeys thoroughly enjoyable, and helped us all get to know each other as the days passed. The overnight accommodation was generally good overall, and Rich always recommended good places to eat in every location we stayed. In summary, this tour was an excellent overview of the Scottish Highlands, and we would definitely recommend it (particularly if you are lucky enough to…”

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2.3-Day North Coast 500 Small-Group Tour from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $595Best value

Travel the North Coast 500 from Inverness in a 16-seat Mercedes minicoach, with two nights in Ullapool and Thurso. Your driver-guide handles the winding roads while you enjoy lochs, beaches, sea caves, ruined castles, Dunnet Head, and John O’Groats. Guides such as Scott and Deanna have led departures, adding local stories and flexible photo stops.

“Magical experience. Day 1 was rainy/ foggy and we missed the famous mountain pass. But still amazing. Day 2 and 3 spectacular. Day 2 along the top of UK from Ullapool to Thurso My favourite. The beaches and Smoo Cave are spectacular. We had plenty of time at stops with a few extra stops for pics along the way too. We where always kept informed of our next loo stop. I NEVER PUT MY CAMERA DOWN it was insane how stunning the West/ North Coast is! The East Coast is OK! Personally I'd do it the other way around get the boring East side done first. Lol Anyway.... I recommend…”

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3.5 Day Orkney Islands and North Coast 500 Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 5 days (approx.) · from $928

Travel in a small group of up to 16 with guides Calum and Karen from Edinburgh through the Cairngorms, Orkney, and the North Coast 500. You’ll see Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, Culloden, Glencoe, and Loch Ness, with ferries included and optional paid visits along the way.

“An absolutely wonderful experience from start to finish. The tour operator - Scotland's Wild - did a great job in every detail. We greatly appreciated both the planned itinerary and the opportunities to make changes as needed. The guides - Calum and Karen - were great company and really enhanced the trip with their knowledge of Scottish geography, history and lore. I particularly valued the many stops at ancient archaeological sites, especially on Orkney, and every stop on every day added a lot to the overall enjoyment of the trip.”

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4.5 Days Orkney Islands & NC500 Tour from Glasgow

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 5 days (approx.) · from $828

Travel from Glasgow to Orkney and back through the Highlands on a five-day English-language tour for up to 16 people. You’ll visit Culloden, Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, John O’Groats, Loch Ness, Glencoe, and more, with ferry crossings, short walks, and free time in Kirkwall and Inverness.

“We did this tour from Edinburgh and it was fantastic. The stops and scenery were terrific. Great tour mates and our tour guide, John Macrae, was excellent. John was knowledgeable, friendly and always went the extra mile. Would definitely recommend.”

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