Trip Itinerary

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

Day 1: Friday, June 14, 2019: Departures
We will depart from Birmingham today on our international flights to Edinburgh, Scotland. (IF)

Day 2: Saturday, June 15, 2019: Arrival in 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. We will dine in our hotel this evening. (IF/D)

Day 3: Sunday, June 16, 2019: Edinburgh
This morning will be free with the option of attending church, or relaxing. In the afternoon 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. We will dine in a restaurant this evening. (B/D)

Day 4: Monday, June 17, 2019: Edinburgh
This morning we will visit the royal palace of Holyrood where in 1561 John Knox had discussions about Christianity with Mary Queen of Scots. The rest of the day will be at leisure. (B)

Day 5: Tuesday, June 18, 2019: St. Andrews, Perth
Today we will head to 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). We will transfer to our hotel in Perth and dine in the hotel. (B/D)

Day 6: Wednesday, June 19, 2019: Balmoral Castle, Leault, Inverness
Balmoral Castle, nestled in the Cairngorms National Park, has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family for over 150 years. We will tour the grounds, gardens and exhibitions, followed by free time to visit the café and gift shop. 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 and dine in our hotel. (B/D)

Day 7: Thursday, June 20, 2019: 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. We will enjoy some traditional Scottish music this evening. (B/D)

Day 8: Friday, June 21, 2019: 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. The evening will be free to dine in the restaurant of our choice or try some local fish and chips. (B)

Day 9: Saturday, June 22, 2019: 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/D)

Day 10: Sunday, June 23, 2019: 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. Our Farewell Meal will be at a restaurant serving traditional Scottish food. (B/D)

Day 11: Monday, June 24, 2019: 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!

Edinburgh, Scotland
June 15-18, 2019
Glasshouse Autograph Collection
2 Greenside Place
Edinburgh, EH1 3AA

Perth, Scotland
June 18-19, 2019
Murrayshall House Hotel
Scone
Perth, PH2 7PH

Inverness, Scotland
June 19-21, 2019
Pentahotel
63 Academy Street
Inverness, IV1 1LU

Oban, Scotland
June 21-23, 2019
Columba Hotel
North Pier
Oban, PA34 5QD

Edinburgh, Scotland
June 23-24, 2019
Marriott Hotel
111 Glasgow Road
Edinburgh EH12 8NF

Flight Information

We have reserved group flights on American, but we will continue to monitor pricing and so we might switch to a different airline if a better fare becomes available. These flights are $1,649 per person round-trip. If you would like to make your own arrangements, please wait until the tour is a guaranteed departure.

What’s included in the land price of *$3,499?

*Price based on a minimum of 20 participants.

Your Tour Includes

•   Transportation: via deluxe air-conditioned coaches
•   Accommodations (double-occupancy) in superior 3-star and moderate 4-star hotels
•   Meals as indicated in the itinerary
•   Professional Tour Director throughout the tour
•   Local step-on guides for city tours and major attractions
•   Admission to all activities indicated in the itinerary
•   All transfers, as a group
•   Baggage handling (1 piece of baggage per guest)
•   All taxes and tips, other than the driver and tour director

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   Round-trip air transportation (currently $1,649 round trip from Birmingham)
•   Single supplement ($960)
•   Tips to driver and tour director
•   Meals and beverages not identified in itinerary
•   Items of a personal nature, such as passports and visas. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond return date.
•   Passenger trip cancellation insurance (details sent with reservation form)

Payment Schedule

•   Initial deposit of $350 will secure your place on the tour. Please make checks payable to “Pack Your Bags Travel” and send to Shannon Wright,  2750 Beacon Hill Parkway, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406.
•   Final invoices will be sent in February 2019
•   Final payment is due by March 31, 2019
•   Reservations will be accepted after March 31, 2019, subject to availability

Insurance

Insurance is available for this tour from Travel Insured International. You can choose from the Deluxe Plan or the Deluxe Plan with Cancel for any Reason. If you have questions, please contact Ree or Shannon at packyourbags1@gmail.com. Click here for the plan details.

Cancellation

Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly. To offset these costs the following fees will apply, plus any non-recoverable expenses to our suppliers:
From time of deposit to until 100 days before departure: $100
From 99-15 days prior to departure: $350 plus any non refundable deposits
14 days or less prior to departure: No refund– Cancellation charges also apply to additional accommodation reserved prior to and after the tour.
– Cancellations must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. central time on the last business day of the applicable time period.
– For flight changes or cancellations, revision fees and/or airline cancellation charges will apply.
– Roommates canceling can result in a single supplement charge for the roommate. The Participant who cancels will be responsible for that charge if a substitute roommate cannot be found.
– Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is strongly recommended.
Reformation Tours cannot assume responsibility for any additional costs or fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other arrangements not made through Reformation Tours.