Day 1 includes travelling through Loch Lomond National Park and visits to Inveraray, Loch Fyne and the Kingdom of Dalriada. Here you can visit the Kilmartin standing stones and community museum before catching the ferry to Islay for 3 nights in Bowmore.
Day 2 Your day is quite flexible with a mixture of beautiful scenery, white sand beaches, short walks and the famous Islay whiskies - renowned for their strong peaty flavours and nurtured by the salty sea air. The day’s highlights include the lovely sandy bays of Islay’s west coast, Saligo Bay, Kilchoman Distillery, Machair Bay, the tiny harbour village of Portnahaven, Bruichladdich Distillery and the Islay Museum.
Day 3 Explore the south side of Islay, home to Laphroaig and Lagavulin followed by a tour, tasting and lunch with local produce at Ardbeg. Other options include the ruins of Kildalton church with its famous 8th Century Celtic cross, free time in Bowmore village or a visit to the community craft producers at Islay House Square and the woodlands along the River Sorn.
Day 4 Farewell to Islay as you take the ferry back to Argyll and the ancient Kingdom of Dalriada. Lunch at Kilmartin, home to 350 pre-historic monuments and stone circles and some free time in Oban before returning to Edinburgh via Glasgow.
Please note: Monday departures of this tour may reverse the itineraries for days 1 and 4
Departure Point
207 High St, Edinburgh. Click here to see map.
Return to Waverley Bridge opposite Waverley Train Station
Inclusions
Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoach for a more personal experience with a maximum of 16 passengers on tour.
We believe a small group tour with a maximum of 16 passengers really does make a big difference to your trip. It allows us to give you a more personal service and remain the only 5 Star operator to offer this personal guarantee. Touring with a maximum of 16 passengers you get more for your money, more personal attention, more time with the locals, more time off the bus, more time on the back-roads and just more of an authentic, friendly experience. The smaller groups allow you to meet people from all over the world and make friends for life.
Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide
All ferry and bridge crossings.
Rabbie's Discount Card - money off restaurants, shopping and attractions
Exclusions
All meals and refreshments.
Entrance fees to all distilleries and visitor attractions.
Accommodation
Your tour does not include accommodation in the price. By giving you a choice of accommodation it allows you to choose your budget, stay in smaller places and get closer to the local people. This also means you help to sustain the communities you visit in the long term. Choose a hotel, B&B or a hostel and we will book it for you.
On this tour we have pre-booked a number of rooms in the beautiful Bowmore Distillery Cottages. These are self catering cottages in the grounds of the distillery itself and offer a unique accommodation experience. The cottages have between 3 and 6 bedrooms and these are all ensuite. The kitchen and lounge facilities are shared and self service continental breakfast ingredients will be provided. PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE SHARED NATURE OF THE ACCOMMODATION INDIVIDUAL BEDROOMS DO NOT HAVE LOCKABLE DOORS. Prices are from £37.50 per person per night twin/double share or £70 per night for a single. For this option please select "B&B ensuite" as your first choice when booking. When these rooms are full we will book you into a nearby B&B. There is also a limited number of 3* hotel rooms available on this tour - for this option please select 3 star hotel as your first choice when booking.
For more information on accommodation and prices click here
*NB On occasions, when villages we stay in have events on, accommodation can be scarce and expensive so we may use other locations for your accommodation on the tour. We will always inform you of this when this is necessary.
Discount Price
Students, Seniors over 60. We do not carry children under 18 years on this whisky tour.
Important Information
Because we believe in time off the bus and give you opportunities to take nature walks we recommend you bring suitable clothing and footwear for your tour. Scotland can be a wet place!! |
Posted by Susan Goodfellow on 27/09/2011
Michael was an amazing guide, and both of us truly enjoyed the trip... which is saying something, since I'm not a whisky fan! Beautiful scenery and great church and castle stops along the way kept me happy. We loved how Michael incorporated music and stories into our longer bus trips. Couldn't have asked for a better experience.
Posted by James and Kate Anderson on 23/09/2011
Back in Sweden and back at work we think about our great whiskytour to the westcoast ang Islay. A lot of good whisky and our guide Neil C made the tour very special. He was an excellent guide and storyteller and he is really proud of his country. One highlight was when Neil played he bagpipe. Thank you Rabbies and Neil C! We hope weŽll bw back some day. Benny and Carina, Sweden 2011
Posted by Carina Andersson on 12/09/2011
We have a wonderful week behind us on Islay. Thanks to Al, who has given us much information about Scotland. His lively stories and the perfect organization of the tour will stay with us long remember. Greetings to all members of our travel group. Until next time!
Posted by Ulrich Psczolla on 30/08/2011
I just wanted to say that myself and my father and brother thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Neil, the tour guide, was top drawer all the way through and we appreciated his enthusiasm, anecdotes and knowledge. You could tell he clearly tell Neil loves his country and that was great to see. He was also able to keep everyone informed and in good spirits during what must have been a very stressful time for him with us nearly missing the ferry due to an accident. I would definitely not hesitate in using Rabbie's again. Thanks, Tiago
Posted by Tiago Pedro on 22/08/2011
Our whisky Coast with Karen from 21 to 24 june has been a delightful experience:the beaches,the distillerys,our nice scottish guide Karen,the food to,in Oban at the ferry station better langoustine of our life.Thanks,Rabbie's!I wish to enjoy again with you Anna and the italians
Posted by a.g.g. on 10/08/2011
Back home in Australia now, going through my photos. A few here at the Geologist Abroad blog. Thanks Phil and Suu, it was a great holiday. One day I'll come back to visit the other islands!
Posted by Nick on 05/08/2011
Daddy!!!! You are way too early..I thought it was every 40 odd years you made contact?? lol Great to hear from you. Howz the boat..the canal..the dog..? It was fantastic fun...and folks like you just make our job so much easier...thanks for your good cheer throughout the trip and for rescuing from Le French monsieur....I owe you, pa:) Love to Liz...and the other wives... Slainte, Karen
Posted by Karen on 02/08/2011
Sorry Barrie....Jeanne obviously didn't hear me explain that it was a non-drinking tour! Must have said it whilst you were making rips with your guitar...way ta go laddie!! How the music improved..what ya doing in June, July, August, September....??? I'll let big Angus know....but I think he has Jeanne's problem....deaf ears..lol Luv to you both...next time you're in Edinburgh..you know where we are...the fab 4...
Posted by Karen on 28/04/2011
Hey Harald, The pleasure was all mine (ok ours..the Rabbies Rabble).. It was Fantastic fun...I always seem to luck out on the Islay tours....fabulous crowd of folks behind me and this trip was no different. Only too happy I had the chance to share in your birthday celebrations..your 21st will be one you treasure for a wee while yet:) Can't believe how old you actually are, laddie! Take care of you...Until the next time.
Posted by Karen on 03/07/2010
Harald's birthday trip was a four-day party for all of us - we didn't want it to end. My second time with Rabbies and it just gets better. Orkney or the Western Isles already in mind for next year. Karen and her "helpers" were the icing on the cake. Keep up the good work. You too Sue (Dad).
Posted by Les on 05/06/2010
Thanks to Karen and Pete, you really made it a birthday-trip. I enjoyed it very much. Thanks also to Sue and Gavin, who joined the tour. You all have done a great job. Go on this way !!!
Posted by Harald on 04/05/2010
Tour exceeded in every part. Alan as the driver and giving running commentary with all his enthusiasm and knowledge was really an extra added bonus.
Posted by Martin Hider on 04/05/2010
We enjoyed the whole tour. The pacing was excellent, and provided a nice mix of sights and distilleries.
Posted by ELEANOR MARSHALL on 04/05/2010
I was glad it was much more than a whisky tour: Islay is worth a visit for its own beauty and peacefulness.
Posted by Luisa Ferrari on 03/05/2010
When I think about Scotland I will forever think about Eric singing Loch Lomand whilst driving through the song's namesake. Eric was a great host and ambassador for both Rabbie's and Scotland. He was extremely knowledgeable, fun and helpful. The Bowmore cottages were outstanding.
Posted by Jerome Hessick on 30/04/2010
I went on two consecutive tours. I must congratulate both the drivers/tour guides on their professional behaviour, knowledge and helpfulness.
Posted by John J. Flood on 24/09/2009
Richard McKay was an absolutely outstanding tour guide. His knowledge and enthusiasm was tremendous. He is a great guy and he did a superb job in all aspects of the tour. He was approachable, gentlemanly, and kind. He worked to allow us to see the maximum amount we could on Islay. in short, the guy was fabulous.
Posted by howard tucker on 09/09/2009
Richard was a fantastic guide and had great commentary on whiskey, Scottish history and current Scottish issues. The distillery tours were a great deal of fun and very informative.
Posted by Daniel Pascoe on 01/09/2009
OUR GUIDE KAREN MADE THE LONG DRIVE SECTIONS VERY INTERESTING VIA HERE COMMENTARY'S. THE WEATHER MADE IT ALL THE BETTER, VERY FINE. HAVING A SMALLER GROUP (9) THAN THE POSSIBLE FULL BUS LOAD MADE THE PASENGERS BOND MORE.
Posted by JASON CHRISTIE on 28/08/2009
Our guide/driver was great as was the company on the tour. Karen's passion and enthusiasm is contageous and it shows that she truly loves her job. I thoroughly enjoyed all the visits to the different distilleries although Ardbeg stands out as my favourite of them all. Perhaps because I discovered a new whiskey. The visits to Duffy's Pub were also memorable as were the friendly people of Bowmore. The scenery of the Scottish country side throughout the trip was magnificant.
Posted by Karl Persson on 06/08/2009
Our guide Richard! He was absolutely amazing- friendly, helpful, great knowledge and also with the skill/ability to entertain and inform us in a great way. But the entire tour was fantastic. We really enjoyed everything about it! Thank you all ever som much!
Posted by Hans and Inger Ejdung on 22/07/2009