How much does it cost?

From €1,350 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,565 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this trip guided or independent?

Authentic Europe describes it as self-guided overall, but it includes a guided 1.5-hour walking tour of Glasgow and a full-day guided excursion to Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle.

Which trains are included?

Standard-class train tickets covering the Edinburgh to Glasgow to Inverness to Edinburgh route.

Where does the trip start and end?

It starts and ends in Edinburgh, with stops in Glasgow and Inverness in between.

What hotels are included?

Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge in Edinburgh, Ness Walk Hotel in Inverness, and Market Street Hotel (no city given in the evidence, presumably Glasgow).

Is Loch Ness included?

Yes, a full-day guided excursion to Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle is included in the price.

Authentic Europe · Self-guided

The Scottish Highlights Tour

Self-guided 8-day rail trip through Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness

Authentic Europe runs this 8-day, 7-night rail trip around Scotland, starting and ending in Edinburgh. 5-hour walking tour of Glasgow on day 4 and a full-day excursion to Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle on day 6. The trip opens with two days in Edinburgh, including a day at leisure, then travels by train to Glasgow on day 3 and on to Inverness and the Highlands on day 5, before the train returns to Edinburgh on day 7 for departure on day 8. Full Scottish breakfast is included at each hotel, along with standard-class train tickets for the whole route. This suits travelers who want the structure of fixed hotels, pre-booked trains and two set excursions, but who are also comfortable with unguided time in Edinburgh and during the train journeys between cities, rather than a fully escorted tour.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen €68 since 4 Jul, to €1,350.

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

Market Street Hotel is listed with no city given. Since Edinburgh (Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge) and Inverness (Ness Walk Hotel) already have named hotels, this is presumably the Glasgow hotel, though the evidence does not say so directly.
5-hour walking tour in Glasgow and a full-day excursion to Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle. The rest of the trip, including travel between cities and time in Edinburgh, is unguided.
No current departure dates are listed in the evidence available to us; confirm availability with Authentic Europe.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Edinburgh
Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland
Day 2overnight: Edinburgh
Day at leisure in Edinburgh
Day 3railovernight: Glasgow
Travel by train to Glasgow, Scotland's largest city
Day 4overnight: Glasgow
Guided walking tour of Glasgow
Day 5railovernight: Inverness
Train to Inverness and the Highlands
Day 6overnight: Inverness
Guided day tour to Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle
Day 7overnight: Edinburgh
Return to Edinburgh
Day 8
Departure from Edinburgh

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3The trip travels by train to Glasgow, Scotland's largest city.
Day 4A 1.5-hour guided walking tour explores Glasgow.
Day 5The train continues to Inverness and the Highlands.
Day 6A full-day guided excursion visits Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle.

Included

7 nights hotel accommodation in a standard room with private shower and or bath/WC, including full Scottish breakfast
Train tickets as per the itinerary in standard class
1,5h guided walking tour in Glasgow
Full day guided excursion to Loch Ness & Urquhart castle
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 €1,350 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,565 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this trip guided or independent?: Authentic Europe describes it as self-guided overall, but it includes a guided 1.5-hour walking tour of Glasgow and a full-day guided excursion to Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle.
Which trains are included?: Standard-class train tickets covering the Edinburgh to Glasgow to Inverness to Edinburgh route.
Where does the trip start and end?: It starts and ends in Edinburgh, with stops in Glasgow and Inverness in between.
What hotels are included?: Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge in Edinburgh, Ness Walk Hotel in Inverness, and Market Street Hotel (no city given in the evidence, presumably Glasgow).
Is Loch Ness included?: Yes, a full-day guided excursion to Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle is included in the price.