How much does it cost?

From €2,102 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,437 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is the train travel included?

Yes, for part of the trip. Authentic Europe includes a first-class train from Edinburgh to Inverness return; the four days through the Highlands, from Inverness to John O'Groats, Scourie, Gairloch, and back to Inverness, are by rental car, not train.

Is this trip guided or independent?

It is self-guided and self-drive. Travelers drive themselves through the Highlands using the included rental car.

What car is included?

4 days of car rental in a standard SUV (a Ford Kuga or similar, manual transmission), including time and mileage, third-party liability, road fund license, theft protection, VAT, and collision damage waiver.

What route does the self-drive follow?

The evidence describes it as the North Coast 500 route, covering Inverness, Easter Ross, John O'Groats, Scourie, and Gairloch.

What hotel will I stay in?

The evidence names only Market Street Hotel, without stating which of the seven overnight stops it serves.

What is not included in the car rental by default?

GPS, automatic transmission, and excess protection are optional daily supplements that must be requested at the time of booking.

Authentic Europe · Self-guided tour

Edinburgh & the Scottish Highlands

Self-drive North Coast 500 route with a first-class Edinburgh-Inverness train

Authentic Europe's Edinburgh & the Scottish Highlands is an 8-day, 7-night trip that starts and ends in Edinburgh, built around what the evidence calls the North Coast 500 route. Day 2 is a first-class train ride from Edinburgh to Inverness, and day 7 is the same train in reverse; the four days in between, from Inverness to John O'Groats, then on to Scourie, Gairloch, and back to Inverness, are self-drive, using an included rental SUV. Every overnight stop on this trip is a single night, so the pace is brisk and the days are mostly spent covering ground rather than settling in. The description points to mountains, lochs, sandy beaches, archaeological sites, and local eateries along the route. This suits independent travelers comfortable driving themselves through remote Highland roads, and those drawn to landscape photography, history, and food, more than travelers who want the trip's rail element to carry most of the days.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen €55 since 4 Jul, to €2,102.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 2 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

One reading is held out of the price above and this history: an unconfirmed large change. We only price on the operator's package from-price, read from its own page.

What to know before you look closer

This is mainly a self-drive tour, not a rail tour: only two of the eight days, the Edinburgh to Inverness legs, are by train; the four days through the Highlands are by rental car.
The evidence names only one hotel, Market Street Hotel, for a trip with seven different overnight stops; no hotel is specified for the other six nights.
The included car is a manual-transmission SUV; GPS, automatic transmission, and excess protection are optional daily supplements that must be requested at the time of booking.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Edinburgh
Arrival to Edinburgh - the capital of Scotland
Day 2railovernight: Inverness
Travel by train to Inverness in the Highlands
Day 3overnight: John O'Groats
Inverness - John O'Groats, via Easter Ross
Day 4overnight: Scourie
John O´Groats - Scourie
Day 5overnight: Gairloch
Scourie - Gairloch
Day 6overnight: Inverness
Gairloch to Inverness
Day 7railovernight: Edinburgh
Travel by train from Inverness to Edinburgh
Day 8
Departure from Edinburgh

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2A first-class train from Edinburgh reaches Inverness in the Highlands.
Day 3The self-drive route continues from Inverness to John O'Groats by way of Easter Ross, part of the North Coast 500.
Day 4The self-drive route continues from John O'Groats to Scourie, part of the North Coast 500.
Day 5The self-drive route continues from Scourie to Gairloch, part of the North Coast 500.
Day 7The return train from Inverness to Edinburgh, in first class, completes the loop.

Included

7 nights hotel accommodation in a standard room with private shower and/or bath and breakfast (usually a full Scottish breakfast)
Train Edinburgh - Inverness return, in first-class
4 days car rental, standard SUV (Ford Kuga or similar, manual gear); included: time & miles, third party liability, road fund license, theft protection, VAT & collision damage waiver
Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers
24/7 emergency phone service while travelling

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From €2,102 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,437 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?: Yes, for part of the trip. Authentic Europe includes a first-class train from Edinburgh to Inverness return; the four days through the Highlands, from Inverness to John O'Groats, Scourie, Gairloch, and back to Inverness, are by rental car, not train.
Is this trip guided or independent?: It is self-guided and self-drive. Travelers drive themselves through the Highlands using the included rental car.
What car is included?: 4 days of car rental in a standard SUV (a Ford Kuga or similar, manual transmission), including time and mileage, third-party liability, road fund license, theft protection, VAT, and collision damage waiver.
What route does the self-drive follow?: The evidence describes it as the North Coast 500 route, covering Inverness, Easter Ross, John O'Groats, Scourie, and Gairloch.
What hotel will I stay in?: The evidence names only Market Street Hotel, without stating which of the seven overnight stops it serves.
What is not included in the car rental by default?: GPS, automatic transmission, and excess protection are optional daily supplements that must be requested at the time of booking.