railtour suisse · Luxury train journey

Royal Scotsman - Taster tour through the Highlands

Three-day luxury overnight train loop through the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh

Royal Scotsman - Taster tour through the Highlands, a rail journey with railtour suisse

Railtour Suisse operates this three-day, two-night trip aboard the Royal Scotsman, a luxury train that loops out of Edinburgh and back. The train departs Edinburgh in the early afternoon of day one and heads north through Fife, with an informal dinner and entertainment on board that evening. Guests wake on day two to the landscapes of the Cairngorms and take a coach to the Rothiemurchus Estate, where Ghillie Basan and her son Zeki lead a session on Scottish wildlife and Highland survival skills, followed by a barbecue and a fireside food-and-kombucha pairing. The afternoon is spent relaxing on board as the train passes Inverness and Keith. On the final morning, after a last Scottish breakfast, the train arrives back at Edinburgh's Waverley Station around 10am. The trip suits travellers who want a short, fully catered introduction to luxury rail travel rather than a long tour, with an expert, English-speaking guide included throughout.

What to know before you look closer

  • The quoted price is per person for the twin or double cabin; the Grand Suite option costs CHF 15,340 per person, more than double the standard rate.
  • Arrival and return travel to and from Edinburgh, and any hotel stay before or after, are not included in the package.
  • The day 2 excursion to the Rothiemurchus Estate is reached by coach, so part of the day is spent off the train.
  • The UK entry authorization fee (ETA) is not included and needs to be arranged separately.

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Edinburgh

    Depart Edinburgh in the early afternoon and travel north through the former kingdom of Fife. In the evening, an informal dinner is served, followed by entertainment in the panoramic coach.

  2. Day 2rail

    Rothiemurchus

    Wake to the landscapes of the Cairngorms. After breakfast, a coach takes you to Rothiemurchus, in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, where Ghillie Basan and her son Zeki introduce Scottish wildlife and Highland survival skills, continuing over a barbecue and a fireside food-and-kombucha pairing. In the afternoon, relax on board as the train glides through scenery around Inverness and Keith, with the option to visit the Strathisla Distillery. The train continues south towards Dundee. The day concludes with an elegant gala dinner and jazz music.

  3. Day 3rail

    Edinburgh

    Enjoy the last hearty Scottish breakfast on the journey south. The train arrives at Waverley Station in Edinburgh at around 10:00 am, and you say goodbye to the crew.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1An informal dinner and entertainment in the panoramic coach as the train heads north through Fife.
  • Day 2Ghillie Basan and her son Zeki lead a Scottish wildlife and Highland survival-skills session at the Rothiemurchus Estate, followed by a barbecue and a fireside food-and-kombucha pairing.
  • Day 2In the afternoon the train passes through scenery around Inverness and Keith while guests relax on board.
  • Day 3The train arrives at Edinburgh's Waverley Station at around 10am after a final Scottish breakfast.

Included

  • Travel including overnight stay in the Royal Scotsman in the booked category
  • Excursions including entrance fees as per itinerary
  • Expert, English-speaking tour guide
  • Catering on board (all meals, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages)
  • Entertainment program on board
  • Travel documents

Not included

  • Arrival and return journey
  • Hotel accommodation on site
  • Entry fee (ETA) for GB
  • Any treatments in the spa car
  • Gratuities and personal expenses
  • Cancellation and travel insurance

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included in the price?
Yes. The package covers the overnight stay aboard the Royal Scotsman in the booked cabin category for the full three-day trip.
Which train is this?
The Royal Scotsman, traveling from Edinburgh through Fife, the Cairngorms, Rothiemurchus, Inverness and Keith and back to Edinburgh.
Is the trip guided?
Yes. An expert, English-speaking tour guide accompanies the trip, and the Rothiemurchus visit on day 2 is led by Ghillie Basan and her son Zeki.
What is included?
Onboard overnight accommodation, entrance fees for the itinerary's excursions, all meals, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, the entertainment program, and travel documents.
What is not included?
The arrival and return journey to Edinburgh, hotel accommodation on site, the UK entry fee (ETA), spa car treatments, gratuities and travel insurance.
When does it depart?
There are 13 scheduled departures between May 2026 and September 2027, running in the months of May through September.

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