From Edinburgh: 2-Day Steam Train & The Great Glen Tour
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Edinburgh, Scotland
- 2 days (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
This 2-day heritage tour of the Scottish Highlands features historic locations linked to the Jacobite movement of 18th-century Scotland. Visit the village of Dunkeld, travel through Cairngorm National Park to Loch Ness, and stay overnight in Fort Augustus—without worrying about arranging your own travel logistics. You’ll ride to Mallaig aboard the Jacobite steam train, featured as the Hogwarts Express in the "Harry Potter" films. Along the way, hear tales of battles fought by the Jacobites, supporters of the exiled King James II.
- Skip the hassle of booking multiple activities with one convenient package
- Leave the navigating to someone else with round-trip transport
- Includes overnight accommodation with breakfast
- Exploring with a guide adds context to what you see
What's Included
- Breakfast
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
- Professional guide
- Overnight accommodation with breakfast
- Steam Train Experience (Jacobite Steam Train or Strathspey Railway)
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Pickup and drop off from Accommodation
- Admission Fee - Optional: Combined Loch Ness Cruise and Urquhart Castle Ticket£31.00 per person
- Admission Fee - Optional: Combined Loch Ness Cruise and Urquhart Castle Child Ticket£22.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1 Parliament Sqr, Edinburgh EH1 1RF, UK
Highland Experience Tours, 1 Parliament Square, Cafe Nero, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 1RE
End point
- 22 St Andrew Sq, Edinburgh EH2 1AY, UK
Operating hours.9:00 am
Itinerary
This group tour of the Scottish Highlands offers a historical spin on the region; your guide regales you with tales of the Jacobite army, which led several 18th-century rebellions in Scotland under the exiled court of King James II. Along with visits to Loch Ness, Dunkeld, and Mallaig, enjoy a Jacobite steam train ride, aka the Hogwarts Express.
Travel in the personalized comfort of a minivan, and stay overnight at a hotel or B&B accommodation in Fort Augustus, including breakfast.
Travel in the personalized comfort of a minivan, and stay overnight at a hotel or B&B accommodation in Fort Augustus, including breakfast.
Day 1
Heading north
4 Stops
1
Pitlochry
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Clava Cairns
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Culloden Battlefield (National Trust for Scotland)
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
4
Loch Ness
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Accommodation: Overnight: Fort Augustus
Meals: Not included
Day 2
All Aboard
3 Stops
1
Fort William
4 hours • Admission Ticket Included
2
Mallaig
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Glencoe Visitors Centre
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Accommodation: Not included
Meals: Breakfast
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Adult pricing applies to all travellers
- If you are travelling alone, please choose the ‘Single Room’ option or we may not be able to accept your booking
- Children must share a room with 1 or more adults
- Children under 3 years not accepted. Valid proof of age may be required at check in.
- Luggage Restrictions: Maximum weight: 15kg. Maximum size: 55cm x 40cm x 20cm per person plus small carry on
- Double/twin room: these rooms are for 2 people. If 3 people choose this option, you will be allocated a family room for 3, subject to availability. If you prefer 2 rooms, you must choose ‘Single Room’ for one person
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 34 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 6 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 337 reviews
Bobbie_B, Oct 2025
Our guide and bus driver Paul was extraordinary! He made every stop interesting and I felt like I had gained a good deal of Scottish history in just a very short time. Paul went out of his way to be helpful and create a memorable experience. We loved the Jacobite steam train ride, the boat tour, Loch Ness, the bed and breakfast at Fort Augustus, the Glenco stop and all the extra places we got to see. Thank you!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hello Bobbie,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us this excellent review!
We are so pleased you enjoyed the vast range of Scottish experiences on this tour. It sounds like every part of your trip was perfect, which is exactly what we represent at Highland Experience.
We hope to welcome you back in the future.
Kind regards,
Georgina
Highland Experience Tours
Anna_B, Sep 2025
Tour was amazing. Our bus driver and tour guide Paul was an absolute gem. He was so knowledgeable about the history of the tour and went the extra mile to show us little extra things. Our Accommodation at Rose Cottage B&B was excellent, the best breakfast ever and the hosts were the nicest people 😀.well worth the money.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear you had such an amazing time on the Jacobite Experience — it’s truly a magical journey through some of Scotland’s most iconic scenery.
Paul will be over the moon to hear your kind words. He takes great pride in sharing his knowledge and going that extra mile for our guests. We're also so pleased you enjoyed your stay at Rose Cottage B&B — it’s lovely to know the breakfast and hosts made such a great impression!
Thank you again for joining us — we hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon.
Best wishes,
Eleonora
Highland Experience Tours
Alex_Z, Aug 2025
The views were beautiful. Our guide Brodie did a great job. Very informative and enthusiastic during the whole trip. Had a wonderful playlist of Scottish music.
Would’ve been great if we had stopped to see a distillery!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Hi Alex,
Thank you for your fantastic review! I'm so glad to hear that you loved the beautiful views and that Brodie did a great job keeping you informed and enthusiastic. I'll be sure to pass on your kind words to him about his wonderful playlist.
I also appreciate your feedback regarding a distillery stop. While not all of our tours include this, I recommend checking out one of our multi-day or specialised whiskey tours for that experience.
We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
Kind regards,
Cameron
Highland Experience Tours
Frances_O, Aug 2025
Wondeful experience visiting the Highlands they are absolutely amazing! We had the privilege of touring we Steven B as our guide. He seamlessly arranged train tickets for the Harry Potter train easiest way to get tix when all sold out to the general public. He made sure all our accommodations were sorted. Great sense of humor & detail as he shared the local history of each spot we visited, he played Scottish music on the ride. Highly recommend the Highland Experience. Toured with my young adult children & we usually rent a car, this experience was top notch & we definitely would book again !
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Hi,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you and your family had such a memorable time on the 2-Day Jacobite Experience. The Highlands truly are magical, and it’s great to know that Steven B helped make the journey smooth, fun, and enriching.
Steven will be so pleased to hear your kind words he’s passionate about sharing Scotland’s beauty, history, and a good bit of humour along the way. We’re especially glad we could help you secure those hard-to-get Jacobite train tickets and take the stress out of planning.
It’s lovely to hear that, even as frequent travellers used to exploring by car, you found the experience top-notch. We’d love to welcome you back on another Highland adventure in the future!
Warm regards,
Highland Experience Tours
Danielle_B, Jul 2025
Totally worth it, highly recommend! Our tour guide Paul (AKA The Kilted Biker) was wonderful. He was an incredibly knowledgeable, passionate storyteller, and made the trip highly engaging for the entire group. His timings were perfect, and he leaned into the interests of the passengers to make the most of our time together. Hearing that there were some Harry Potter fans onboard, he even rushed up the viaduct trail to get a video of our group’s train as it went by over the Glenfinnan viaduct, which was incredibly kind. We had a relatively intimate tour group of 16 and were transported on a Mercedes Sprinter mini bus. Highlights on the first day included the cruise on Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, but we appreciated seeing Culloden Battlefield as well. We had opted for the Double B&B room with en suite and were placed in Rose Cottage in Fort Augustus for the overnight stay. Our hosts were helpful in recommending a dinner spot, which was a short walk away. As expected, the room was simple but quite comfortable, and covered all essential needs. Breakfast was delicious and plentiful. Highlights on day 2 were the Jacobite stream train with lunch in Mallaig, and driving through Glencoe. We did few extra quick stops, including some beautiful scenic viewpoints on our Glencoe route, walked the viaduct trail, stopped to see some hairy coos, and did an extra speedy rest stop for a stretch and much needed bio break for some passengers. We also learned about different tartan affiliated with Scottish families, and the differences between modern kilts and the versatility of those worn historically. Overall, a great experience!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hi,
Wow, thank you so much for this thoughtful and glowing review! We're absolutely thrilled that you had such a memorable time on the 2-Day Jacobite Experience. It sounds like you made the most of every moment, from the scenic cruise on Loch Ness to the incredible ride on the Jacobite steam train.
Paul (aka The Kilted Biker) will be over the moon to hear your kind words. He genuinely loves what he does, and it's wonderful to hear how his passion, attention to detail, and thoughtful touches like capturing that special Glenfinnan Viaduct moment helped make the trip so engaging for everyone.
We’re also happy you enjoyed your stay at Rose Cottage in Fort Augustus and found the accommodation comfortable and welcoming. Thanks for highlighting the small details the tartans, kilts, "hairy coos," and all the hidden scenic stops that make this journey uniquely Scottish.
It was a pleasure having you on tour, and we hope to see you again for another adventure through Scotland!
Warm regards,
Highland Experience Tours
Andy_S, Jul 2025
Very short time at each activity mostly driving drop off in different spot than initially told and hearty breakfast wording misleading as it was a very limited continental
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hi Andy,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're sorry to hear that parts of your experience didn’t meet your expectations, and we appreciate the opportunity to clarify a few things and thank you for your feedback.
Regarding your breakfast on tour, we work with many different providers, and it is a little tricky to provide a detailed description of breakfast, as it is different in each location. At the Loch Ness Guest House a light breakfast of cereals, yoghurts, muffins, tea and coffee is offered. We have now removed the word hearty and apologise that this was misleading.
As for the drop-off location, we apologise for the change. Due to the Royal Mile being closed to traffic in the evenings, the drop-off had to be moved to St Andrew Square. This should have been communicated more clearly in advance, and we’re currently updating our tour information to reflect that accurately.
We’re sorry to hear the time at each stop felt rushed we do try to balance travel time with the highlights of the Jacobite route, but we continuously review our pacing to see where improvements can be made.
Thank you again for your feedback it’s extremely valuable in helping us improve.
Kind regards,
Highland Experience Tours
Jennifer_L, Jun 2025
Overall it was fantastic with Steven B as our guide and driver. He was very knowledgeable and had passion for historical information. The train trip was a bit disappointing as our seats allocated meant we had no view of the viaduct and we didn’t get to see it on the return back by bus. We don’t know if there was a choice to pay extra for this view but our seats were on the right side facing backwards and this was unsatisfactory. There were good surprises with the rest of the itinerary and our accomodation at the Bank House in Fort Augustus was terrific. The food places were minimal and hard to find. One pub served no food, the Bothy was shut. Fortunately The Legion let us eat our fish and chips in their pub. It was cold and windy out which was the option if you bought fish and chips. They vey accomodating at the Legion to others as well. In conclusion we would recommend this 2 day trip if you weren’t worried about missing the viaduct. Please pass on our commendations to Steven B.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Hey,
Thank you so much for your detailed review and kind words about your experience! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour overall and that Steven B made a strong impression — we’ll be sure to pass along your compliments to him. His passion for Scottish history really shines through, and it's wonderful to know it enhanced your journey.
We’re sorry to hear the train seating didn’t meet expectations. Unfortunately, seat allocation on the Jacobite train is managed externally, and while we try to make every part of the experience special, some elements are outside our direct control. That said, your feedback is very helpful and we’ll take it into account when advising future guests.
We’re also glad to hear you enjoyed your stay at the Bank House and that you found a warm welcome at The Legion — it’s always great to see local hospitality shining through.
Thanks again for your recommendation and for traveling with us — we’d love to welcome you back again!
Kind Regards,
Highland Experience Tours
Scott_P, Jun 2025
Our excellent tour guide, Jamey, was very friendly, informative and knowledgeable.
The van was very clean and comfortable. The bed and breakfast that was included with the package was fantastic!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Hello,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so happy to hear you enjoyed the tour and had such a positive experience with Jamie — he’ll be delighted to know his knowledge and friendliness made a lasting impression. It's great to hear that both the van and B&B added to your comfort throughout the trip. We truly appreciate you choosing us and hope to see you again for another Highland adventure!
Kind Regards,
Terri
Highland Experience Tours
CHINWAN_K, May 2025
I think for most people the most crucial selling point of the tour is the Harry Potter stem train. However, it’s not like any review on the site. Firstly there is no stem train at all and all the window cannot open and people are prohibited to go anywhere to take pictures or videos when the train passing the bridge which is even used as the propaganda of the tour. This is completely like a scam.
Secondly, I heard from other tour mates that I paid 50% more than them which made me more angry.
In this case, I completely lost confidence on Viator and I will not make any orders afterwards
Response from Host, May 2025
Hi,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re truly sorry to hear about your disappointment with the tour and completely understand your frustration.
Unfortunately, due to extreme weather conditions a steam train ban was imposed by Network Rail, meaning that, for safety and operational reasons, they were required to use diesel-powered trains instead. As soon as we were notified of this issue by Network Rail, we promptly emailed all affected customers to inform them of the change. We understand that this was a significant part of your expectations, and we sincerely apologise that the experience didn’t meet your hopes.
Regarding the pricing difference, we’d like to clarify that the reason for the discrepancy is due to the fact that you booked through a third-party seller. Unfortunately, third-party platforms often charge a premium over the direct booking price, which may have resulted in you paying more. We understand how this added to your frustration, and we’re sorry for any confusion.
As for the issue of taking pictures or walking around on the train during the journey, this is in place due to health and safety regulations on the older carriages. They are unable to allow passengers to leave their seats or open windows for safety reasons during the journey, but we do appreciate how important it is to capture the memories, and we always try to offer great photo opportunities where possible.
Once again, we apologise for the inconvenience, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. If there’s anything we can do to help resolve this or offer further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Kindest Regards,
Highland Experience
Stefanie_I, Oct 2024
This was a jam packed, incredible two day getaway! Stefan was a fantastic and knowledgeable guide. The trip included many stops along the way so it didn’t feel like you were in the van for too long. We got to feed Highland cows, view a beautiful waterfall, see many historic sites and ride the Jacobite train. The overnight was in a lovely little town and the B&B offered great accommodations. We had a fantastic time in the Highlands we will never forget!
Tony_F, Sep 2024
Great trip. Packed so much in, in 2 days. Loch Ness, various “Outlander” sites, Jacobite steam train to Mallaig, and watched it return at the infamous Glenfinnan viaduct, beautiful Glencoe and so much more. And our guide (Iain) was outstanding. Excellent overnight accommodation. And just to top it off - 2 beautiful sunny days.
Elizabeth_T, Sep 2024
Our tour guide, Ian, was attentive, knowledgeable and had us laughing throughout our 2-day adventure. Being able to ride the train and then watch its return journey from a great vantage point on a hill near the viaduct was magical. We loved every bit of all we saw and did on this tour. We highly recommend it!
jerry_c, Aug 2024
A big shout out to Hugh our guide and driver. He was so knowledgeable about the sites and destinations we were visiting.
We learned more from him in two days than we learned from reading the histories of the places.
The B&B we stayed at was 5Star!
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Hello,
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're so glad that you were able to learn so much and that you enjoyed your trip with us! We'll be sure to pass your kind words along!
Thank you,
Audrey
Highland Experience Tours
Catherine_T, Aug 2024
This trip was superb! Steven B was brilliant. I'm from Scotland and learned so much more about Scotland as he is so knowledgeable of Scottish history. Views absolutely incredible and felt very emotional at times as just such a beautiful country. Every place we visited was so interesting. Incredibly well organised. Steven B helps make the trip as so lovely and funny. Nothing was too much trouble for him. He's also a brilliant driver! Thanks a million and will be one of my most memorable trips! We'll be back for another tour. Catherine.
Michael_K, Jul 2024
First off, Jamie (I hope that's how he spells it), our guide, was great! He taught us about the different terms/phrases that originated in Scotland, knowledgeable about the history, and overall good guy to be around. I'd have a pint with him outside of the tour 🤙🏾
The tour itself was a fun time with the kids! The steam train and all the filming locations was quite magical. The B+B was very nice a quaint in a beautiful little town right on the loch. Highly recommended!
Cheer!
-Mike
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Hello!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments! We're so glad you and your family had a fun trip!
Thank you,
Audrey
Highland Experience Tours
Karen_S, Jun 2024
Ian our tour guide was fantastic! He had all of the details handled and we were truly able to just enjoy. It was a great way to see the sights outside of Edinburgh. Ian was knowledgeable and super friendly. We had an issue with the bus, but the tour company took care of it.
Joanne_S, May 2024
Michael was a great guide and gave us a lot of good, interesting information. He really knows the area and history and did a good job of catering to everyone in the group. It was a busy, fun 2 days. Transportation and accommodations were very comfortable.
Response from Host, May 2024
Hello Joanne,
Thank you for leaving us a review, we will make sure Michael get your kind words passed onto him.
If there is anything we can do to improve our tours, please let us know by contacting info@highlandexperience.com.
Safe travels! And I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Scotland.
Warm regards,
Gracie Mae
Highland Experience
Barbara_B, May 2024
We had a great time on this trip! It was so nice to meet people from other countries who were also on this bus tour. Our guide Michael was enthusiastic and friendly and had loads of interesting story’s to tell. There were plenty of stops to take pictures or have something to eat/drink. The train was a cool experience , but the whole tour was definitely worth participating . Special thanks to Michael who made it an unforgettable trip!
Response from Host, May 2024
Hello,
I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your tour with Michael and we appreciate the 5* review!
Enjoy the rest of your travels.
Kind regards,
Gracie Mae
Highland Experience
MIchael_C, Aug 2023
This is a nice small-bus tour. Long days, but a lot to take in. Stephen was VERY knowledgable and knows his way around the Highlands.
Rickey_S, Aug 2023
We had a wonderful time on this tour. Stephan was a wonderful tour guide. The overnight stay at the B&B was nice. The rooms are small but comfortable. The ride on the steam train was a lot of fun. We were on the morning outbound run, the tour stopped at an observation area where we were able to get some great photos of the train on its way back to Ft. William. Overall we saw some great highlights of Scotland, both the highlands and the lowlands. I would definitely recommend this tour to others.
Edgar_J, Jun 2023
Nice steam train experience.
Nice stop in Malleigh.
Although we were quite long in the bus, ist was worth.
Trail657478, Nov 2019
Money well spent during our visit to Scotland! The guide, Steven, was great! He was full of information and facts that were very interesting and helpful during the tour as well as the rest of our time there! Would recommend this tour to anyone!!
hmitchell2019, Nov 2019
This was one of the highlights of our trip. The train ride was beautiful. The town we visited was crowded at lunch and we could not find any restaurants with open tables, but besides that issue we really enjoyed the train ride. The scottish highlands were beautiful and seeing Loch Ness was the most beautiful place we have ever seen! Our tour guide on the bus tour was amazing! He was the best tour guide we have ever had!
mattr24302019, Oct 2019
Great sights! Fergie was a great guide, even helped me prepare for driving my rental car on the "wrong" side of the road. Was very helpful, informative, and entertainimg but the main attraction was the incredible train ride! AMAZING views and experience!
Linda_K, Oct 2019
Bus tour shows the highlights of the Highlands, well explained by our driver/guide. The train takes each 2 hours back and forth, with a 2 hours stay. We had wet, cold and windy weather, the train windows were wet on the outside and damp on the inside. Six hours for this experience is by far tooooooo much!
Joe_B, Oct 2019
This was a fun way to get out of the city and see the highlands. Our guide, Kelly,kept it fun with references to movies and TV shows along the way. She also plays music with Scottish roots, the last song is still playing in my head. Da na na na...
There is an extra charge for the boat ride on Loch Ness, definitely worth it. Sit in front of the boat on the first floor for the best views.
If you are touring more than one day it is worth looking in to the Scottish Heritage Pass. It gets you in to most castles and palaces. Make sure to get the one with the National Trust sites included as well. 55 pounds for those under 60, 45 pounds if you are over.
Christine_S, Oct 2019
Our guide John S. Was very knowledgeable about history and very entertaining also.
We saw so much and learned a lot. Would definitely recommend anyone to do this tour.
GoodOxford, Sep 2019
What an experience! The tour went so smoothly and our guide, John S. was entertaining, careful and informative. We saw such beautiful locations and met people we will always remember. Our only glitch was at the very end when we were dropped off we were tired and a fairly large group of us had problems finding cabs to take us to where we were staying. All in all a wonderful trip! Than you!
elainelon5, Sep 2019
Our guide John was amazing & was very informative. I recommend you go on the loch Ness cruise & Urquhart Castle trip (£22 payable to driver). Steam train was amazing. Highly recommend it
PaolaLuigina_M, Sep 2019
John S. Of highlands experience wonderful driver and guide. Nice and così accomodation stunning landscape
Likely to Sell Out
From $488.00
per personup to 6 days in advance
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Likely to Sell Out
From Edinburgh: 2-Day Steam Train & The Great Glen Tour
337
2 days
Free Cancellation
From
$488.00
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Explore Similar Things to Do
Attractions in Edinburgh, Scotland
- Royal Scottish Academy Tours & Tickets
- St. Giles’ Cathedral Tours & Tickets
- St. Andrews Castle Tours & Tickets
- Princes Street Tours & Tickets
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Tours & Tickets
- Scotch Whisky Experience Tours & Tickets
- Alnwick Castle Tours & Tickets
- Edinburgh Dungeon Tours & Tickets
- Scottish National Portrait Gallery Tours & Tickets
- Gladstone’s Land Tours & Tickets
- The Canongate Tours & Tickets
- Iona Abbey Tours & Tickets
- Melrose Abbey Tours & Tickets
- Edinburgh Zoo Tours & Tickets