Semi Private Tour - Orkney and Kirkwall
Badge of Excellence
Kirkwall, Scotland
- 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Overview
Orkney is home to some of the oldest and best-preserved Neolithic sites in Europe, but they are spread around the island. This cruise excursion from Kirkwall ensures you spend less time waiting for infrequent buses and more time exploring such landmarks as the Stones of Stenness, Ring of Brodgar, Broch of Gurness, the Italian Chapel, and St. Magnus Cathedral.
- Check off plenty of Orkney highlights in just a few hours
- Go beyond the guidebooks with insights from your guide
- Enjoy hassle-free pickup from Kirkwall Pier
- Time your tour to your cruise ship's schedule
What's Included
- ADJUSTABLE TIMES BASED ON THE SCHEDULE OF YOUR CRUISE
- Broch of Gurness
- Italian Chapel
- Professional tour guide
- Shared tour
- Minimum of pax required
- We wait only 10/15minutes of courtesy
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
We will drop off on cruise ship is dock
Start time.9:00 am
Itinerary
1
Standing Stones of Stenness
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Broch of Gurness
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
The Italian Chapel
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
4
Saint Magnus Cathedral
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
5
Kirkwall
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
6
Ring of Brodgar
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 9 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.6
based on 111 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Wonderful way to see various aspects of Orkney. I came away feeling like I had learned so much. The small group setting (there were 5 of us total) is perfect for interaction with the guide, driver, and fellow travelers.
My only suggestion would be for the guide to not lean so heavily on detailed archeological information.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear customer,
Thank you much for your comments... glad to know you enjoy our semi private tour
many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private Tours
Thomas was an exceptional tour guide. Has a lot of knowledge as this tour
We were on a semi private tour. 15 people. It was perfect
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear customer,
We are delighted to find out you enjoy our semi private tour at Kirkwall... we agree, Thomas is an exceptional tour guide with great knowledge, very professional.. we passing over this nice review to him
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private Tours
Michael was our tour guide. He did such a good job of explaining the history of each place we visited and had lots of extra information and threw in a few jokes to keep it light. I would rank him as one of the best tour guides I have ever had and the places we toured were extremely interesting.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
DEar customer
Thank you so much for your comments we will pass it over to Michael
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private tours
Our guide Chris was good. However we waited 30 minutes for a no show. So we got started a little bit late. Also the coach was crowded and there was no water or snacks provided. For the price of this tour we were a little disappointed.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear Customer,
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback about our semi-private tour. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed Chris and found him to be a good guide. He is indeed a wonderful professional, and we will be happy to share your kind comments with him.
Regarding the 30-minute wait, we understand that this was frustrating. Unfortunately, two guests did not show up at the meeting point, and we needed to allow enough time to make sure they were not left behind. We believe that, if you were in the same situation, you would also appreciate your guide waiting rather than potentially leaving you behind.
Once the tour started, there were five guests in total in an 8-seater vehicle, which is within the intended capacity of our semi-private experience. We understand that everyone has different expectations regarding space, but we hope this provides some context.
Regarding water and snacks, these are not included in this tour. Our Viator listing clearly indicates what is and is not included in the experience, and complimentary water or snacks are not advertised as part of the tour.
We are sorry that the experience did not fully meet your expectations, but we genuinely appreciate your feedback. Comments like yours help us identify areas where we can improve and better communicate what guests can expect.
Thank you again for choosing our tour, and we hope you enjoyed the rest of your time on your cruise
Pilar Gonzalez
Top private tours
Splurge and enjoy a semi private tour when you can. Our group of 7 (dwindled down to 5) part way through. Our guide Thomas was so interested and interesting about the Orkney area and it's archeology and history. We really enjoyed this tour. Kevin was the driver and was really great at listening to what our group wanted
Response from Host, Sep 2026
DEar customer,
thank you so much for your nice words about our semi private tour... we are deligthed to learn you enjoy it
Thank you so much for choosing us and hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private tours
Lots of uneven walking spots. Tour guide Thomas was extremely helpful & appreciated. Wear warm clothing cuz the windy really was strong.
Kevin (driver) & Thomas (guide) were knowledgeable, sensitive to each person in the tour & patient. Plus they were friendly & answered all our questions 👏👌👍
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your nice comments... I am so happy to know you enjoy our semi private tour
Thank you so much for choosing Top Private tours & viator, hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private tours
This was a lovely small tour group led by an excellent Swedish guide named Karin. She is an excellent baker and brought our group some brownies and cinnamon rolls. She has a small home business providing bread and desserts to various businesses. Her command of English is excellent and knowledge of Scottish history is superb. Our driver was very skilled and is also a school bus driver. It was an expensive excursion but worth the money.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear customer
Thank you so much for your wonderful 5-star review! It was a real pleasure welcoming you
I’m delighted that you enjoyed Karin’s sweets — I’ll be sure to pass on your lovely comments to her! 😊 She always do her very best to make every guest feel welcome and ensure they have a memorable experience.
Thank you again for your kind words and for choosing Top private tours. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to welcoming you again very soon!
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private tours
Excellent trip. Many interesting sights and sites. We were lucky because we had sunshine but still needed to wrap up. The Italian Church is a must. An amazing story.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear customer
Thank you so much for your comments.. we highly appreciated.. we are glad to know you enjoy our semi private tour in Kirkwall
Personally I love Italian chapel site as well
many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private tours
Our tour guide, Chris was great! We thoroughly enjoyed all the stops including the coffee shop/market. His commentary had just the right amount of humor blended with the information to be fun for all! #notanarcheologist
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Customer,
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your semi-private tour with Chris! It’s wonderful to know that his professionalism, friendly attitude, and, of course, his great Scottish sense of humour helped make your experience even more memorable. 😊
Thank you very much for choosing Top Private Tours and Viator and for allowing us to be part of your travel experience. We truly appreciate your kind words and support.
We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on another unforgettable tour in the future!
Pilar Gonzalez
Top private tours
Michael is exceptional as a tour guide and the bus driver, Chris, navigated the roads with great care and safety! We loved the small group as Michael could give lots of personal attention to our questions. The itinerary is a must for anyone visiting Orkney Island.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your nice comments.. Michael is a great valued for us .. glad to know you enjoy our semi private experience
Many thanks for trusting Top Private tours
Hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Our guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining. The sites we saw were filled with mystery and stories.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Customer,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and kind words. We are truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed our semi-private experience.
Orkney is a truly magical destination, almost like a fairy tale, and we're so pleased we could help make your visit memorable.
Thank you again for choosing us. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for another unforgettable experience in the future!
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private tours
Our guide Mike provided an informative and entertaining tour of all the sites. We had just the right amount of time at each stop. The tour offers excellent value at a reasonable price.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Customer,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and kind words. We are truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed our semi-private experience.
Orkney is a magical destination, almost like a fairy tale, and we're so pleased we could help make your visit memorable.. Michael is an excellent professional
many Thanks & hoping see you soon
Pilar Gonzalez
top Private tours
Thomas was a wealth of knowledge and a joy to spend the day with! We learned so much about the history, archeology, culture and wild life - even the rain didn’t dampen the experience!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear customer,
We are delighted to know you enjoy our semi private tour manage by Thomas.. agree he is a wonderful professional
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon
PIlar Gonzalez
Top Private tours
Small group experience able to meet the groups needs. Loved the narrative along the trips talking of history and nature. Would definately advise you to go. Spent last hour in town shopping pub seeing st Marcus cathedral
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear customer,
Glad to know you enjoy our semi private tour in Kirkwall.. I personally love St. Marcus cathedral .. Chris is a lovely professional very accommodate & professional
Many Thanks & hoping see you again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private Tours
Small group of six. Conformtable Coach. Norman our guide was knowledgeable and informative . Very historic type of tour. Very comprehensive
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your kind words.. Noman is on of our main supplier.. we are very happy have him taking care of our semi private tour
Glad to know you enjoy it
many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top private Tours
Michael was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and experienced. We really enjoyed all the history spots we visited with him. This tour is not to be missed
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your comments about our semi private tour in Kirkwall .. Michael is one of our main supplier.. he is an amazing professional so passionate about his job.. we love have him working with us
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private tours
We took the Immersive Orkney tour yesterday and were blown away in so many ways. We were greeted right outside our cruise ship by Rachel, our tour guide.
She introduced us to our driver Neil and we were on our way. The first stop was The Standing Stones of Stennes, which was followed by the stone formations at the Ring of Brodgar and the Brock of Gurness. The amount of detailed information we received was very much appreciated and made the trip so interesting.
We also were impressed by their willingness to stop and allow us to take pictures of the incredible wildlife we saw on this tour. We saw an oystercatcher bird, a hefty hare running in the green grass (it was so big I thought it was a capybara 😀), a colorful pheasant, and two Highland Cows resting in the field.
We went on to see the incredible Italian Chapel, built by Italian prisoners of war back in the 1940’s. We also saw the Light in the North, St. Magnus Cathedral. This incredible church was built way back in 1137 and took approximately 300 years to complete.
It was hard to believe that Rachel and Neil had only met that morning. They were so easy to be around and their knowledge was amazing. I not sure that you can request the Rachel/Neil combo for this tour….but if you get either one you should co wonder yourself lucky.
10 out of 10 stars….just a really fun and educational day.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
DEar customer,
Pilar here from Top Private tours.. we delighed with your comments regarding our semi private tour in Kirkwall .. Rachel is lovely tour guide caring a lot about our clients
many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private tours
Our guide Valeria was just fabulous and fun. She had the best stories and was so informative. I would highly recommend this tour as u get one day, so u might as well see all the sights, and there r many that are so different.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your nice comments... yes, in Orkney is so many things to visit.. glad to know you enjoy our semi private tour with Valeria who is a very good professional, ready to help always.. we love have her on board
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private tours
This tour was incredible. Jim took us everywhere we wanted to go and places we didn't even know about. Orkney is not to be missed. I can not say enough how fantastic it was. Thanks Jim!
Response from Host, May 2026
Dear customer,
Thank you so much taking your time to write this nice review.. I am passing it over to Jim.. glad to know you enjoy our lovely private shore excursion in Orkney
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Michael was very knowledgeable and entertaining. The tour was very interesting. We spent too much time at the Saint Magnus Cathedral.. More time at the Broch of Gurness would have been nice.
Response from Host, May 2026
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your comments... Glad to know you enjoy our lovely semi private tour
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
It was one of the best tours i have ever do.
Me and my Husband César enjoy the trip.
Realy it was amazing.
The guide, Lorrainr Jhonson is the best, and energy and special person!
I Am very thankfull.
Thank you thank you thank you
Response from Host, May 2026
Dear customer,
thank you so much for nice review.. we agree Lorraine is an amazing professional with deep roots loving his job..
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Michael is very good at making you aware of the whole story. He keeps you interested in everything. Gary is a great driver but Michael steals the show. It’s definitely worth going.
Response from Host, May 2026
Dear customer
Thank you so much for your comments.. Michael is one of our main supplier & our business coordinator on the area.. we are vey proud of him.. glad you enjoy our semi private tour
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
PIlar Gonzalez
Really great tour. Our guide was fantastic and really had great knowledge of the area with a lot of little bits of trivia we would never have known. I felt like I left with a friend. I would 100% recommend taking this small tour over anything the cruise ships offer. They took great care to make sure we missed the other tourists and we were easily back in time. What's missing from the photo I posted?.... Tourists. Just wonderful.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your comments.. we are happy to know you enjoy your tour
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon agan
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private Tours
We loved our itinerary and our Guide Michael was very informed and enjoyed . Kept us well entertained along with all the history
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear customer,
thank you so much for your comments.. we are delighted to know you enjoy our semi private experience in Orkney
many Thanks & hoping see you soon
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private tours
Orkney
Private tour with Viator
Chris was our tour guide.
We saw standing stones, learned about the Picts, saw old grave stones and churches,
My favorite was visiting a chapel built during WW2 by Italian POWs
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your comments... Chris is an excellent professional... we are happy to know you enjoy our semi private experience
many Thanks & looking forward to hearing from you
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private Tours
The guide, Lorraine knew her facts and was proud and excited about her work and country. The tour was was well planned and timed out. The group was just the right size (not too large). It was a great way to experience the Neolithic history of northern Scotland/Orkney.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your nice comments.. we passed to Lorraine.. glad to know you enjoy our semi private experience in Orkney
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private tours
Our guide Ian (I know I spelled the name wrong) but he was absolutely brilliant! He is so passionate about these islands. Knows every nook and cranny, part of history, significance and little tid bits of interesting facts of these islands. We were just so impressed. We would come back here again but only do a tour with him. He truly is the best!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear customer,
Many Thanks for your nice comments.. we are deligthed to know you enjoy your tour with Iaian
many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private Tours
This was a well organized tour that is great for cruise ship passengers. Michael was an excellent tour guide and Nicky was a great driver. Michael’s informative and engaging narratives were great. He was very knowledgeable and made it a fantastic tour.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your nice comments.. passing over to Michael... we are very happy to know you enjoy our semi private tour in Orkney
many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private tours
It was an outstanding experience. Our guide Lorraine proved to have a great knowledge of history and archeology and gave us a complete lesson on the places that we visited. The driver was excellent.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your nice comments.. we are very happy to know you enjoy our semi private experince at Orkney area.. I am passing it over to Lorraine
many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private tours
This was our favorite excursion while on our British Isle cruise. Our guide, Karin, and our driver, George, were very friendly and knowledgeable about the history, culture and life on the island. With only 14 in the group, we were able to stay on track and make all the stops listed except for Skara Brae which was due to the location being closed due to the extreme wind. Karin even planned ahead by having the group preorder lunch to prevent us being delayed at the small cafe we stopped at. For those worried that there are not restrooms available on the coach, George made sure to detour to accommodate any needs in that regard. We spent adequate time at all locations and never had any concerns about being late to the ship. George even made a quick stop to point out some seals sunbathing in the bay and Karin brought delicious treats from her bakery to share with us. The experience with this tour only makes us want to visit Orkney again.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear customer,
thank you so much for your comments.. we are very happy to know you enjoy our semi private tour experience with Karin & George...both of them are great professionals indeed
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private Tours
Member Pricing
From
$245.24
per personWas $258.16(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Semi Private Tour - Orkney and Kirkwall
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