Scottish Island Tours & Day Trips

Our Scottish island tours take you to places that geology spent 400 million years perfecting, where the wildlife will have you reaching for binoculars, and the ancient mysteries have puzzled archaeologists for just as long. From the legendary Isle of Skye to the windswept Outer Hebrides, we run tours from 1 to 17 days, with a driver-guide who knows the ferry times, the back roads, and the stories that make all the difference.

Why Scotland's islands are worth the crossing

Every Scottish island tour we run is different, but the feeling you get when the ferry pulls away from the mainland is always the same. Here's what's waiting on the other side.

Wildlife you won't see anywhere else

Scotland's islands support species that have all but disappeared from the rest of Britain, many of them reintroduced after decades of absence and now thriving in habitats that feel made for them.

Ancient history that predates the pyramids

Scotland's islands have been inhabited for thousands of years, and the evidence is all around you. Neolithic villages, stone circles older than Stonehenge, and early Christian abbeys still standing where monks built them centuries ago.

Whisky, seafood and island life

Some of Scotland's finest whisky comes from its islands, produced in distilleries where the sea air gets into every barrel. The seafood is just as remarkable, and the locals have a warmth that makes every island feel like somewhere you've always meant to visit.

Landscapes that stop you mid-sentence

Jagged mountain ridges, white sand beaches with water that looks Caribbean until you touch it, and sea lochs that shift color with the weather. Scotland's islands do landscapes that photographs can't quite capture, which is the best reason we know to go and see them for yourself.

Islands that feel like another world

Each island has its own character, its own dialect, and its own very good reasons for thinking it's the best one. What they share is a sense of place that's increasingly hard to find, and a way of making wherever you've come from feel very far away indeed.

Where our Scottish island tours depart from

Our Scottish Isles tours depart from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness. Edinburgh has the broadest range of options, covering Skye, Mull, Iona, and Orkney across both day and multi-day itineraries. Glasgow gets you to the islands quickly from Scotland's largest city, and Inverness puts you closest to Orkney and the northern islands. Whether you're planning a Scotland island tour from Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Inverness, full pick-up details are on our Departure Points page.

How long you'll need for a Scottish island tour

Our Scottish island tours range from a single day to 17 days on land and at sea. A day trip to Skye or Arran gives you a proper taste. Three to five days lets you combine Mull, Iona, and Skye in a single journey. Go for longer and Orkney and the Outer Hebrides come into reach, along with the kind of island hopping that most visitors only dream about.

When can you go on a Scottish islands tour?

Our Scottish island tours run from late March through to October. Spring brings wildflowers and fewer crowds. Summer means longer days and the best chance of reaching Staffa by boat. Autumn brings dramatic light and, in Orkney, the first real chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Winter tours are limited, as ferries run less frequently and the islands are best experienced when you can actually get out and explore them.

How you'll travel from island to island

You'll travel in our 16-seat mini-coaches, small enough to take the single-track roads that larger buses can't manage. When the roads end, we take Calmac ferries, proper car ferries with cafes and lounges where you can watch Scotland slide past on the crossing. For Staffa, weather permitting, we use smaller boats that get right into Fingal's Cave. Your driver-guide handles all ferry bookings and timings, so you can just enjoy the crossing.

What's included on a Scottish islands tour?

Every Scottish island tour with Rabbie's includes your driver-guide, transport in our mini-coaches, and all ferry crossings. On multi-day tours, accommodation can be arranged for you, if you choose, along with breakfast at each overnight stop.. Check the individual tour page for full details on what's covered.

Where you'll sleep on overnight Scottish island tours

On our multi-day Scotland island tours, we book locally owned guesthouses, small hotels, and B&Bs. No chain hotels or resorts, partly because they barely exist on most islands, but mainly because the family-run places are far better. Expect comfortable rooms, proper Scottish breakfasts, and hosts who know where to watch the sunset. Find out more about our accommodation options.

Why book a Scottish island tour with Rabbie's?

We don't do minimum numbers, which means your trip isn’t dependent on other travelers. We travel in 16-seat mini-coaches that fit down roads bigger buses can't manage, stop when something's worth stopping for, and take the routes that actually show you Scotland, rather than the ones that just get you there fastest and take scenic routes where possible, so you can see more of Scotland along the way.

Our driver-guides know where the seals haul out at low tide, which viewpoint most people miss, and why that particular stone has a name. Have questions? Take a look at our FAQs or get in touch.