Isle of Islay Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Isle of Islay. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• 4-Day Islay Whisky Tour from Edinburgh

• 4-Day Islay and Whisky Tour Including Admissions from Edinburgh

• 4-day Islay Platinum Whisky Tour - Whisky Included! 

• Islay and Speyside Ultimate Whisky Experience. Private Tour

• 4-Day Ultimate Islay and Oban Whisky Experience

There’s no charge to visit the Isle of Islay, but return ferry tickets from the mainland cost £17.40 per adult with an additional £87.80 per car. Four-day whisky tours from Glasgow can cost as little as US$850 for a group tour with minimal inclusions or as much as US$6,000 for a private trip with many inclusions.

The Isle of Islay is on the western side of Scotland, due west of Glasgow. The 926 bus takes about 3.5 hours to travel from Glasgow’s Buchanan bus station to Kennacraig, where ferries for Islay depart on a 2-hour journey. Note that ferry schedules vary widely by season.

During summer, you can visit all nine of the Isle of Islay distilleries: Ardbeg, Ardnahoe, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Lagavulin, and Laphroaig. Some close outside the summer season; others operate restricted hours at cooler times of year; others, including Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Caol Ila, are open year-round.

Yes, you can visit both the Isle of Islay and Jura Island on a tour. The islands are about a 0.5-mile (800-meter) ferry trip apart and ferries run throughout the day. Boat trips to and around Jura Island depart from Islay, and you can also visit on guided hikes.

Yes, the Isle of Islay can be accessible to adventurers in wheelchairs, although it’s not the easiest destination. There are wheelchair-friendly boat trips out of Port Ellen, the Ardnahoe Distillery is wheelchair-friendly, Loch Gruinart offers accessible bird-watching opportunities, and the Machrie has accessible fine dining and luxury rooms.