Key: IF = In Flight Meals, B = Breakfast,  L = Lunch, AF = Afternoon Tea, D = Dinner

Day 1: Departure
We will depart from the USA today on our international flights to Edinburgh, Scotland. (IF)

Day 2: Edinburgh
On arrival in Edinburgh, we will meet our Scottish tour director and board our air-conditioned bus. We will begin our time in Scotland with a bus orientation tour of Edinburgh, viewing the sites that we will see in more detail during the tour. We will then check-in to our hotel and the afternoon will be at leisure to explore in Edinburgh. We will dine in our hotel this evening. (IF/D)

Day 3: Edinburgh
This morning we will have a Reformation-themed walking tour including the John Knox House, Greyfriar’s Church, Magdalen Chapel and the Royal Mile. Our guide will tell us about the Reformation in Edinburgh: John Knox and the Covenanters.  In the afternoon, we will tour Edinburgh Castle, including tiny St. Margaret’s Chapel, which dates back to the 1100s. We will dine in a restaurant this evening. (B/D)

Day 4: Edinburgh, Perth
After breakfast we will visit the royal palace of Holyrood where in 1561 John Knox had discussions about Christianity with Mary Queen of Scots. We will then travel up to Perth, which was once Scotland’s capital. Much loved by James 1, the “Fair City” of Perth lies on the River Tay. We will visit Scone Palace, immortalized in Macbeth, which was the home of the Stone of Destiny on which many of the Scottish Kings were crowned. Our tour will include a traditional afternoon tea.  (B/AF)

Day 5: St. Andrews, Perth
We will take a day trip to nearby St. Andrews, a spiritual center in Scotland for centuries. During the Reformation, St. Andrews University was third in significance after Oxford and Cambridge. In the now ruined castle, we will see the Bottle Dungeon where George Wishart was imprisoned before being burned at the stake, and pause at his martyrdom site, also remembering fellow martyr Patrick Hamilton. St. Andrews Cathedral was once the largest church in Scotland, but fell into ruin after John Knox’s sermon, which was inspired by Wishart’s martyrdom. We will see a monument to Robert the Bruce, the first king to unite the Scottish people and the wide sandy beach made famous in the film Chariots of Fire. (We can arrange an early-morning transfer for golfers this morning, who can play first, then join the tour – $25 transfer fee).  If you’d like to apply to play on the Old Course, here’s the link to the ballot information. We will return to our hotel in Perth and dine in the hotel. (B/D)

Day 6: Balmoral Castle, Leath, Inverness
This morning we will worship in a Presbyterian Church in Perth, followed by a group lunch. In the afternoon we will tour Balmoral Castle, nestled in the Cairngorms National Park, has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family for over 150 years. On the way to Inverness, we will stop near Aviemore to see sheepdogs in action in Leault Farm. We will then continue on to our hotel in Inverness. (B/D)

Day 7: Loch Ness, Inverness
This morning we will enjoy the Highlands of Scotland, including a one-hour cruise on Loch Ness. At the end of our cruise, we will tour Urquhart Castle. Steeped in national heritage and history, this area is home to some of the most influential and quintessentially Scottish icons of all time such as Rob Roy MacGregor and Sir Walter Scott. The rest of the day will be at leisure. Options include golf, visiting a kilt maker, a distillery, or exploring Inverness. (B/D)

Day 8: Glencoe, Oban
On our way south, we will spend some time in Glencoe, where the massacre took place on February 13, 1692. The visitor center includes a 15-minute video presentation explaining what led up to the sad events. Scotland is famous for its whisky and we will take a tour of Oban’s distillery, which includes a taste of their famous single malt with some crystallized ginger. We will dine in our hotel in Oban this evening. (B/D)

Day 9: Iona, Oban
This morning we will board a ferry to the Isle of Mull, then take another short foot passenger ferry from Fionnport to St Columba’s Island of Iona. Iona, the site of the first Christian settlement of Scotland, has been known as a place of spiritual power for centuries. It was founded in 563 by St. Columba (521-97) and was a leading center for Christian scholarship throughout Europe. Iona Abbey dates back to the 11th Century. We will return to Oban for dinner and overnight. (B)

Day 10: Oban, Stirling, Edinburgh
We will have breakfast in the hotel, then travel to Stirling. We will tour the Church of the Holy Rude, once a royal cathedral where John Knox preached for James VI baptism in 1566. Nearby is the magnificent Stirling Castle, where James VI was educated by Scottish Reformer George Buchanan. We will end the tour with our farewell meal in Edinburgh. (B/D)

Day 11: Return
We will transfer to the airport this morning, to return to the USA. (B/IF)

 Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

What are accommodations like?

Our hotels are chosen for their quality, amenities and proximity to areas of interest. Whenever possible, we choose hotels in town centers, so that you are able to go off and explore in your free time. It may be necessary for us to substitute hotels for others of equal quality. You will be fully informed of any changes that affect you. Enjoy your stay!

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