How much does it cost?

From £3,199 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,321 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes Standard Class rail from Edinburgh to Aberdeen, Thurso to Inverness, and Inverness back to Edinburgh via the Cairngorms, plus all ferry and coach travel throughout the tour.

Is this tour escorted or independent?

It is an escorted small group tour. A UK Tour Manager leads the entire journey and all guided tours and excursions are included.

What meals are provided?

Breakfast and dinner are included each day, plus one lunch (fish and chips on Day 4). Other meals are at your own expense.

What accommodation is provided?

Five nights in 4-star hotels: Radisson Blu Edinburgh (1 night), a hotel in Brae (2 nights), Ayre Hotel in Kirkwall (1 night), and Best Western Palace Hotel in Inverness (1 night). Two nights are in Northlink Ferries cabins during overnight crossings.

When does this tour run?

Departures are scheduled in May, June, July, August, September and October, with dates in 2026 and 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Orkney & the Shetland Isles

Island-hopping through Orkney and Shetland by rail, ferry and coach from Edinburgh

Great Rail Journeys operates this 8-day escorted tour of Orkney and Shetland, departing Edinburgh and ending in Inverness. The journey combines rail travel across mainland Scotland, overnight ferry crossings in cabin accommodation, and coach excursions led by local guides. Day 2 takes guests by train over the UNESCO-listed Forth Bridge to Aberdeen for a walking tour of its fishing villages and historic quarters. Days 3 to 5 are spent in Shetland, where visitors meet Shetland ponies, walk along clifftops at Eshaness, and explore the 4,000-year-old settlement of Jarlshof and its surrounding neolithic sites. Days 6 and 7 focus on Orkney's archaeological treasures, including a talk from an archaeologist on the Ness of Brodgar excavations, the neolithic village of Skara Brae, and a visit to the Castle of Mey. The return journey on Days 7 and 8 includes a scenic train ride through the Cairngorms. All rail, ferry, coach travel, hotels, breakfast, dinner and guided excursions are included. This tour suits history-lovers, photographers and repeat rail travellers who want a guided structure with substantial included experiences.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £700 since 4 Jul, to £3,199.

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. 3 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.

What to know before you look closer

The single supplement (GBP 3,369) is approximately 35 percent above half the double price, making solo travel significantly more expensive.
Two nights are spent in Northlink Ferries cabins rather than hotels; confirm your preferences for cabin type and facilities before booking.
Maximum group size is 22 travellers, so the tour is not a small or intimate experience.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Edinburgh
Arrival in Edinburgh
Meet the Tour Manager at the hotel in Edinburgh, with free time to explore the Royal Mile and Old Town before the first group dinner.
Day 2railovernight: Onboard Northlink Ferries cabin
Discovering the hidden gems of the Granite City
Train to Aberdeen over the Forth Bridge, a guided tour taking in Footdee, Old Aberdeen and St Machar's Cathedral, then board an overnight ferry to Shetland with dinner on board.
Day 3overnight: Brae
Exploring the charming Shetland Islands
Disembark at Lerwick and travel to Scalloway to meet Shetland ponies and visit the town's museum, then a walking tour of Lerwick before a scenic drive to a hotel in Brae.
Day 4overnight: Brae
The wildlife of the Shetlands
Coach to Eshaness via Ronas Voe for a clifftop walk, then the Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary, a Shetland pony croft, and the wartime Shetland Bus base at Lunna.
Day 5overnight: Kirkwall
Incredible views and Norse history in the Shetlands
Visit St Ninian's Isle, Rerwick Bay and the ancient settlement of Jarlshof, then Sumburgh Head nature reserve, before an evening ferry to Orkney and a late check-in at Kirkwall.
Day 6overnight: Onboard Northlink Ferries cabin
Uncovering Orkney's ancient sights
A talk by archaeologist Professor Nick Card, then the Italian Chapel, Kirkwall and St Magnus Cathedral, and the Heart of Neolithic Orkney sites - Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness - before an overnight ferry from Stromness to Scrabster.
Day 7railovernight: Inverness
Royal Castle of Mey and John O'Groats
Arrive at Scrabster and visit the Castle and Gardens of Mey, then a photo stop at John O'Groats before a scenic train from Thurso through the Highlands to Inverness.
Day 8rail
Homeward bound
Train through the Cairngorms back to Edinburgh, where the holiday concludes.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Train from Edinburgh to Aberdeen crosses the UNESCO-listed Forth Bridge, passing sandy beaches, rugged cliffs and rolling farmland.
Day 4Coach trip with a local guide to Eshaness includes a short clifftop walk along an ancient volcano and a visit to Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary with rescued seals and otters.
Day 5Visit to Sumburgh Head nature reserve to see puffins, guillemots, razorbills and fulmars before an overnight ferry crossing to Orkney.
Day 6Archaeologist Professor Nick Card gives a talk on excavations at the Ness of Brodgar, followed by visits to the Heart of Neolithic Orkney sites including Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar.
Day 7Coach to the Castle of Mey, the northernmost castle on mainland Britain and former home of the Queen Mother, with views across the Pentland Firth to Orkney, then photo stop at John O'Groats.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
5 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
2 nights in a cabin on Northlink Ferries
Standard Class rail travel; all rail, ferry and coach travel throughout the tour
Breakfast and dinner each day, 1 lunch
Small Group: average group size of 22, with enhanced excursions and exclusive experiences
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £3,199 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,321 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes Standard Class rail from Edinburgh to Aberdeen, Thurso to Inverness, and Inverness back to Edinburgh via the Cairngorms, plus all ferry and coach travel throughout the tour.
Is this tour escorted or independent?: It is an escorted small group tour. A UK Tour Manager leads the entire journey and all guided tours and excursions are included.
What meals are provided?: Breakfast and dinner are included each day, plus one lunch (fish and chips on Day 4). Other meals are at your own expense.
What accommodation is provided?: Five nights in 4-star hotels: Radisson Blu Edinburgh (1 night), a hotel in Brae (2 nights), Ayre Hotel in Kirkwall (1 night), and Best Western Palace Hotel in Inverness (1 night). Two nights are in Northlink Ferries cabins during overnight crossings.
When does this tour run?: Departures are scheduled in May, June, July, August, September and October, with dates in 2026 and 2027.