Loch Ness Cruise and Urquhart Castle visit from Inverness

Recommended by 93% of travelers

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Inverness, Scotland

Trending

Booked 5+ times in 12 hours.

3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.6

· annemarie_W ·

Jun 2026

We thoroughly enjoyed the tour. The bus driver was very nice and gave us some wonderful tips of things to see in Inverness we otherwise wouldn't have discovered. Also enjoyed the Coo's. The timings all ran smooth, the cruise and castle were great. Would absolutely recommend.

· AmberMary_O ·

Jul 2026

Such a lovely trip, Kieran was so fun and knowledgeable. We were blessed with the weather and the views were amazing not only on the Loch but driving back through the Highlands. Would highly recommend, I was travelling alone with my 10 year old and we were back in town in time for more sightseeing in the afternoon.

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Overview

Witness the mythical splendor of Loch Ness and the ruins of Urquhart Castle conveniently, without the hassle of having to rent a car, on this coach and boat trip from Inverness. Take a leisurely boat ride to Urquhart Castle—keeping your eyes peeled for the famed Loch Ness monster—where you’ll learn about the site’s bloody history and enjoy scenic views of the Scottish countryside.

Perfect for travelers who want to see a lot in one day
See Loch Ness from both land and water, something many travelers miss out on
Travel from Inverness in the comfort of an air-conditioned coach
Go beyond the guidebooks with facts and insights from your guide

What's Included

Expert guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
Loch Ness boat cruise
Restroom on board
WiFi on board
Admission Fee - Urquhart Castle entrance

Food and drinks
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

D&E Tours
BUS, Station, 1 Farraline Park, Inverness IV1 1NH, UK
Bus departs from Stance Number 7 at Inverness Bus Station Please note if arriving by cruise ship, Invergordon Cruise Terminal is approx. 25 miles (45 mins) from Inverness Bus Station. Public transport is very limited, so you’ll need to arrange your own transport and allow plenty of time to reach us.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Your journey to Loch Ness begins with pickup from Inverness Bus Station. Enjoy colorful and historic commentary from your guide on the ride to Dochgarroch Lock. From here, board the cruise ship and take a promenade along the deck as you cross the mysterious and majestic Loch Ness. Enjoy sweeping views of the lake and the surrounding hills, and keep an eye out for the mythical Loch Ness monster, Nessie.

You’ll soon arrive at the storied ruins of Urquhart Castle. Disembark and take an hour to independently explore the medieval site with a graphic and grisly past. Before or after you tour the ruins, head to the visitor center to learn about the historic figures that inhabited or invaded this site such as King Edward I in the 13th century and MacDonald Lord of the Isles during the 15th and 16th centuries. Hear about the rise and fall of the fortress, and the key role it played in the Scottish fight for independence. Don’t leave without checking out some authentic medieval artifacts and snapping lovely photos of Loch Ness from the veranda. Grab a tasty snack and drink at the cafe (own expense) before boarding the coach for the return to Inverness.

Your tour concludes at the starting point in Inverness by late afternoon.

Loch Ness

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Urquhart Castle

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level

Please note that guide dogs are the only service animals allowed.
If booking for an infant, you will required to book a seat for them and provide a car seat
This tour departs from Inverness bus station
Please note that this tour is operated by D&E coaches.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 47 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Cindy_A

We loved this tour! Kieran our guide was very friendly and informative. Loch Ness is beautiful! A once in a lifetime experience!

Reviews

4.6

based on 704 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Sort by: Most insightful

Great tour!

WILLIAMG, Aug 2026

Our bus driver was a great local resource who pointed out a number of things on both the way to the cruise and after. Also, the guide on the cruise was also very informative. Both had a very good sense of humor which further enhanced both trips. The castle was also a wonderful experience. We highly recommend this trip to everyone. We would also recommend wind and rain gear, because it is Scotland and the weather could change from minute to minute.

Tour guide was...

Abigail_A, Aug 2026

Tour guide was knowledgeable and funny. The tour was well-paced! We had a great time - would definitely recommend!

The day trip was a very...

Almuth_M, Aug 2026

The day trip was a very entertaining and enjoyable experience. Our guide had many stories to tell. He was well prepared and even brought snacks for the hairy coos.

Bad experience

Taylor_A, Aug 2026

Unfortunately this experience was ruined by the coast guard drop in. With the helicopter hovering over the boat for nearly half of the boat ride, our toddler was screaming in pain due to the noise and his sensitive ears. The whole boat experience was difficult to calm him down when we weren’t able to move inside the cabin. We wish we could have had a better experience and kinder staff to support families with small children.

Helun Coo!

Cheryleen_S, Jul 2026

Our bus driver gave us a lot of commentary along the route. He even stopped the bus so we could pet and feed a highland cow named Hector. The highlight of the trip for me. Highly recommend!

Highly recommend, perfect for kids and adults alike

AmberMary_O, Jul 2026

Absolutely Wonderful

Serena_C, Jul 2026

Kieran our driver was absolutely amazing! Very knowledgeable and a wide ranges of storytelling and facts so something to intrigue everyone and engaging for all ages. At pick up he brought some carrots with him and put stopped us off to feed some coos which was an amazing highlight on a beautiful sunny day. The cruise portion was also fantastic and beautiful balance of knowledge stories as well as some nice quiet stretches to take in the view.

Excellent tour

Nicholas_B, Jul 2026

This is a great tour, especially the cruise. Our announcer was hilarious at the same time being knowledgeable. Our bus driver was equally hilarious. Be aware that the walk from the Urquhart castle visitor centre to the bus park may take longer than expected. The bus driver is keen to get moving after the castle visit.

Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle trip

Christine_T, Jul 2026

The commentary on the coach was a little eccentric. The commentary on the boat was excellent. There was enough time to look around at Urquhart Castle. The trip was value for money.

A lovely afternoon

69dr87fd2b, Jul 2026

It was so nice to have a pick up in central Inverness. The coach driver was friendly and provided great commentary for the ride. Jacobite tours was also a rich source of information for the Loch Ness area. Once at the castle it did seem a little rushed. I would have liked to have had about 90 minutes there as opposed to an hour. An hour does give you time to efficiently tour the castle and store.

Great Tour for the Time-Crunched

kjmontville, Jul 2026

This is a great way to see Loch Ness and some other sites in a short trip! You’ll wish you had more time at Urquhart Castle, but if you are on a time crunch in the Highlands, this is perfect.

Loch Ness by water and land

Randy_S, Jul 2026

Bus ride was nice to be able to see sights riding instead of driving and driver was friendly and very funny on outbound ride and return trip. Boat ride was comfortable and we lucked out with perfect weather (mid 70’s and only a slight drizzle) day before they had rain, high winds and 4’ swells on the Loch. Castle ruins wee interesting ( main tower was closed to the top😥) but movie off of gift shop was informative. Bus driver dropped off anyone who wanted to selfie with the hairy Coos for a quick 5 mins.

Loch Ness Cruise & Urquhart Castle

Sandra_T, Jun 2026

We had an amazing time on the Loch Ness Cruise & Urquhart Castle tour! The scenery was absolutely stunning, and the cruise on Loch Ness combined with the visit to the castle made for a fascinating and memorable experience. A special thank you to our bus driver, who deserves a huge round of applause. His enthusiasm, knowledge, and great sense of humor made the journey even more enjoyable.

The bus drive was great...

Nisreen_s, Jun 2026

The bus drive was great and the driver was very informative about the area. However the boat cruise to the castle was horrible with waves up to 7 or 8 feet bouncing the boat non stop for 40 minutes of the try. It was quite scary and instead of relaxing and enjoying the cruise we were stressed out and terrified until we arrived at the castle. Knowing the lake was windy that day and high waves should that trip should have been canceled.

Nice trip wellOrganized

Zach_M, Jun 2026

Good experience. Bus pick up location was moved but the bus driver walked around to notify people. Nice boat ride and beautiful weather at the castle

Fun tour for the family

Naomi_R, Jun 2026

Loved the boat tour and our guide had wonderful knowledge about the sites and great stories. The castle itself is stunningly beautiful and the explanations of what you’re looking at are great.

Being out on the Loch...

Erin_Q, Jun 2026

Being out on the Loch Ness was a beautiful, relaxing way to start the day. Then, docking beside the castle ruins made for beautiful pictures. The castle took me back in time.

Great tour, except…

Michael_M, Jun 2026

The tour overall was great. It did lack a consistent guide throughout… Also, our touring bus had an air conditioning problem and it felt very uncomfortable.

Highly recommend

Priscilla_C, Jun 2026

Wonderful tour led by guides who love the Highlands and its history. Loch Ness is magical, the castle ruins fascinating, and we stopped to see some coos on the ride home. Perfect trip!

Great choice

Jayne_W, Jun 2026

Brilliant choice. One of the few that wasn't in the morning.... Nice surprise with delightful guide/driver and stop to see hairy coos. Combo of boat ride and castle visit is the best. Can't remember guide's name but it was 6/22 afternoon tour. We HAD to tip him

Family trip

John_R, Jun 2026

We had a great time and everyone was so friendly. I would highly recommend this tour. Make sure that you arrive at the bus station on time. Dress warm and be ready for rain.

Driver was excellent...

Michael_O, Jun 2026

Driver was excellent views were great flawless really can't think of a better way to experience Scotland and Inverness all the team were great but particularly the coach driver

It was a great...

Rohan_T, Jun 2026

It was a great experience. Perfectly curated by temptation tours. Artiste, the bus driver, has a lovely sense of humour and makes the tour extremely entertaining.

Awful, unprofessional driver/guide.

Betsy_A, Jun 2026

The driver on the bus was horrible. Opinionated ( no one needs to hear his opinions of Scotland politics and society.) Difficult to understand and unfriendly. I was not feeling well and when I asked if I could board the return early, he was definitive about HIS opinion that sitting on the bus was a waste of time. He then closed the doors and walked away. I would strongly not recommend this excursion.

The boat ride is a nice...

Cathleen_F, Jun 2026

The boat ride is a nice way to travel to the castle; we would have liked more time at the castle, the drop off point at the water should have audio available to visitors as there is not enough time to go to visitor to get an audio. The bus driver very kindly stopped on the way back for us to take pictures of the Highland Cows

Informative, entertaining boat ride and castle tour

Laurel_W, Jun 2026

weather was beautiful, which I have heard is unusual in Scotland! Very interesting commentary on a lovely boat ride. We enjoyed the stop at the castle, just wish we had more time to spend there. Do not miss the introductory film at the castle! The bus driver was entertaining and informative . Nice way to spend an afternoon. We VERY much appreciated that therewas only minimal reference to the Loch Ness monster

Great tour of Loch Ness...

Jim_S, Jun 2026

Great tour of Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle. Cruise was a bit chilly, given the rainy weather. But overall enjoyable.

Excellent tour!

Kestrel_C, Jun 2026

Amazing experience touring Loch Ness. The boat ride was fantastic and the commentary on the history and sites were top notch. The tour of the castle was also super interesting. Loved the balance of guided tour versus freedom to self discover. Perfect amount of time too - just what we were looking for!!