3-Day Orkney Explorer Small-Group Tour from Inverness
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Inverness, Scotland
- 3 days (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Explore off the beaten path on this 3-day tour of the archipelago of Orkney. Leave the driving to your guide and travel in a top-of-the-range, 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach to visit prehistoric sites, a dramatic red sandstone coast, and some of Scotland’s most remote fishing villages. To save you time waiting around in long ticket lines, admission to the Neolithic site of Maeshowe and Skara Brae Prehistoric Site are included.
- Go off the beaten path on the Orkney Islands
- Enjoy the convenience of having accommodation organized for you
- Skip the hassle of a rental car and leave the driving to your guide
- Travel in style, in a luxurious 16-seat Mercedes vehicle
What's Included
- Admission Fee - Includes admission to Maeshowe and Skara Brae
- Transport by air-conditioned mini-coach
- 2 nights overnight accommodation with private facilities in either a B&B or 3-star hotel
- Professional and friendly driver guide
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Entrance fees: unless specified
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1 Ardross St, Inverness IV3, UK
Please meet your Rabbie's guide at the bus stop next to Inverness Cathedral, Ardross Street, Inverness, IV3 5NS. Please arrive 15 minutes before the tour departs.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.8:00 am
Itinerary
Day 1
Inverness - Dunrobin Castle - John O'Groats - Kirkwall
4 Stops
1
Dunrobin Castle and Gardens
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Dunbeath Harbour
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
John O'Groats
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
The Italian Chapel
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Accommodation: Overnight in Kirkwall, Orkney.
Meals: Not included
Day 2
Today is your chance to explore the modern and ancient wonders of this fantastic island
4 Stops
1
Skara Brae
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
2
Ring of Brodgar
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Standing Stones of Stenness
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Maeshowe Chambered Cairn
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Accommodation: Overnight in Kirkwall, Orkney.
Meals: Not included
Day 3
Kirkwall - Caithness and Sutherland - Inverness
2 Stops
1
Kirkwall
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Caithness and Sutherland
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Accommodation: Not included
Meals: Not included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- All Inverness tours will depart from the bus stop next to Inverness Cathedral, Ardross Street, IV3 5NS
- Skara Brae - We reserve tickets for you. Admission will be included in your tour price.
- Maeshowe - We reserve tickets for you. Admission will be included in your tour price.
- Italian Chapel – We reserve tickets for you. If you want to visit this attraction, please purchase your ticket whilst on tour.
- Luggage Allowance: You're restricted to 20kg (44lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus one small bag for onboard personal items.
- We apologise, but we cannot accommodate children under 5 years old on our tours. Children under 18 need to be accompanied by an adult. Please note that if this policy is not followed, we will have to refuse travel without issuing a refund. Thank you for understanding
- Booking three or more people? We can accommodate up to 8 guests in a group, please add each required room to your basket separately. To ensure that bookings for passengers traveling together are not separated, please inform us if you have multiple bookings.
- When booking three or more people, efforts will be made to book a combination of suitable rooms (double/twin/single). Preferences should be noted upon booking in the Special Requirements section
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
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Frequently Asked Questions (11)
Q:What is the departure point for the 3-Day Orkney Explorer Small-Group Tour?
A:The tour departs from the Bus stop near Inverness Cathedral
Apr 2023
The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 21 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 81 reviews
Christina_K, May 2026
This tour provides access to a bunch of neolithic sites on Orkney, so if this is your thing (its definitely mine!) this would be the tour for you.
MPaul_T, May 2026
Terrific experience! Our driver, Scotty, was first rate- very knowledgeable, professional and engaging. He was very accommodating with pick ups, drop offs and answering a myriad of questions. Excellent, safe driver. His knowledge of the area and its history was exceptional. Took us to a few extra places which were not on the formal itinerary. All of the historical Neolithic sites were fascinating. Just as importantly, everyone on the bus had fun. We would highly recommend this tour.
bgarbus851, Oct 2025
It was a fabulous tour. We saw everything we were supposed to see and then some thanks to our wonderful guide Shauna. She was a fabulous driver and tour guide. We were never rushed. If you get her you are lucky and will have a great time. Orkney is a magical place and Shauna knew where to find all the hidden gems. You need to pay her more. Thank you not for a great trip but for a fantastic memory.
Najib_S, Sept 2025
We enjoyed the trip-Scotland is of course gorgeous .The arrangements were great. Helen at the wheel who drove very well and was a great guide, informative and humorous, made the whole experience even more memorable.
Shall certainly spread the word.
Martha_S, Sept 2025
The three-day tour could not have been better. James, our driver/leader was informative, considerate, well-organized, and fun!
We saw all of the sites we had on our wish list and many other things of interest.
Robert_Z, Jul 2025
The trip was a marvel from beginning to end. It wasn't just the island experience the trip north and the trip south were full of surprises and wonders. The experience of the ancient sites and the history of World War II is what drew us to the trip, and it did not disappoint. The stories along the way were riveting and brought history to life. Definitely worth the time and effort to participate in such a wonderful tour.
JoAnn_C, Jun 2025
We enjoyed the tour to Orkney very much. The sites on Orkney are amazing! Our guide, Amy, was fantastic! She was well-organized, very knowledgeable, personable & friendly. She made it a terrific trip!
The only suggestion I have is that Rabbies should not use The Orkney Hotel. We paid extra for a hotel, but this hotel which we were assigned to was not worth it. While the food at the Orkney Hotel was good, the hotel and rooms are extremely out-dated.
Sharon_P, May 2025
This tour is the best way to see what the Orkney Islands are about. Our tour guide Amy was fantastic. She confidently shared her indepth knowledge of the history of the people who lived there thousands of years ago. Amy is so passionate about sharing her information, she is a great driver and involves everybody. Our hotel accommodation was in a great location, included breakfast and offered delicious meals. Definitely recommend this tour.
Susan_C, Oct 2024
The age of the places and things we saw. 5000 years old graffiti in runes.
So much history.
Our guide Seana was a wealth of in formation and filled our heads with amazing stories.
Lisa_M, Aug 2024
This was a wonderful tour from start to finish. The sites visited were exceptional and James, our driver, did a wonderful job of narrating them. The places we stayed were nice and our group really interacted well and got to know each other. James went out of his way to accommodate and make suggestions of places to go to eat or drink for each person on the tour, i was sad to leave the group after only three days!
Donna_M, Aug 2024
All the stops were great but we most enjoyed Day 2 Neolithic historic areas. Every spot was fantastic and the views along the coastal areas were amazing! Far exceeded expectations! James had terrific knowledge to share and was very attentive and accommodating!
Belvel_B, Apr 2024
We enjoyed the tour very much. Our driver/Guide packed in a great deal, including a visit with two delightful Hungarian sheep pigs.
The one demerit for me, and not the driver’s fault, is that they booked us in too a guest house a mile and a half from town, so no nearby restaurants, shops, sights. And we arrived at dinner time, in a town we did not know where most of the good restaurants required bookings. So finding a good place to eat was a struggle. This all happened without warning at the end of a long day when we were tired and hungry. The bus driver picked us up and took us to town for dinner, which was an okay work-around. The guest house itself was great, run by a very nice woman.
Still, the arrangements were not the best.
kimberly_g, Oct 2023
The entire experience was amazing! Stewart added so much extra to this trip from his knowledge of Orkney. I will absolutely be back. The Bellevista guesthouse was absolutely the BEST!!!!! The rooms, everything!!!
Deborah_G, Oct 2023
My friends and I had an amazing time on the Orkney tour. The small bus experience is friendly and comfortable. The itinerary is fascinating, with scenery and Neolithic sites that offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I can't say enough good things about our driver and guide, Helen. She was kind, attentive, fun-loving and deeply knowledgable about Scottish history, politics and culture. When the weather interrupted our plans one day, she quickly created an alternate tour that was equally fun and engaging. She recommended places to eat and shop, and helped with all our needs and requests. I would recommend this tour especially to those who are wary of tours: this one is rare and exceptional!
SidneyWeil, Jul 2023
An extraordinary tour, primarily due to our tour guide, Stewart, who was flexible, incredibly knowledgeable and patient, with wonderful interpersonal skills in relating to the group members. Probably the best tour I have taken during a well-travelled life. Thank you, Stewart!
tom_R, Apr 2023
Kev, our tour guide and driver, was amazing! From the jokes and the surprises to his vast knowledge, he was a wonderful travelling companion. Our visit to Neil on Orkney, listening to the stories and history in his wonderful Orkney accent will stay in our memories for a long time!
Judy_F, Apr 2023
So many places to visit and I think we saw them all! Our guide,Sean’s, was very knowledgeable about the history and people of Orkney. She kept us busy but with plenty of opportunities to explore on our own
Jeanne_M, Oct 2022
We had an excellent guide (Stewart) -- he gave very good commentary & extras stops. Can't say enough good things about him. 3-Day Orkney tour
Peta_W, Oct 2022
Stewart the tour guide oozes history and is passionate about the Orkney islands which made it so interesting. Highlight: Neolithic village.
MaryEllen_H, Jun 2022
Our three-day Orkney tour with Rabbies exceeded all our expectations. Our driver/guide, Helen, was the very best, funny and full of interesting stories and information. She went out of her way to add extra special stops to the itinerary when she discovered what our interests were (and assured us there would be plenty of toilet stops so feel free to enjoy our morning coffee!). Our group of only eight was also lively and friendly and added to our enjoyment. We thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful tour and I will gladly book tours with Rabbie's again.
BWAYNE_H, May 2022
I had thought to do the trip by public transport, but this particular trip checked all my boxes. Emily was an amazing guide and she made the three days an absolute enjoyable experience. I saw so many different sites in that short time that I could have never done on my own. It was like another trip within my trip. My particular lodging was in a guesthouse about a mile out of the city centre of Kirkwall, but Emily either dropped us in town or came to collect us. The walk back to the lodging was easy. The transportation was in a 16 person mini bus and was very comfortable. All I had to do is sit back and relax.
Lorraine_D, Jul 2021
I joined this Rabbies tour because I wanted to see the Neolithic sites on Orkney, I was not disappointed. In fact the trip wildly exceeded my expectations. Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar were magical, and our guide, not an expert but well read and full of tales, was careful to take us to innumerable sites of interest, historical, geological and cultural, and was quick to point out things of interest, such as wildlife and traditional crafts, in passing. The Albert Hotel in Kirkwall was a good base, with staff who were friendly and helpful
David U, Jul 2019
The trip was well done and included everything as advertised. Kevin was the driver and he did an excellent job of modifying the schedule and sites to accommodate the rain. Helped us find a place to eat dinner in Orkney.
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