Scottish Highlands Tours & Vacations

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

The Scottish Highlands refers to the north-western part of Scotland. The region stretches from Fort William up to the Isle of Skye on the coast, and Durness in the far north-west to Inverness in the east.

If you’re travelling from overseas, the closest airports to fly to are Glasgow International Airport (GLA) or Edinburgh International Airport (EDI). From here, you can hire a car, catch a bus or take a train to one of the cities or towns in the Highlands.

If you're travelling from the UK, you can take a train or coach to Fort William or Inverness and transfer to a local train or bus to get around the Highlands. 

If you have a car, driving is the easiest way to get around the Highlands and explore at your own pace. 

Don’t worry if you don't have a car, as the main places and sights in the Highlands are pretty well connected with public transport. 

Trains operate between all of the main cities including Inverness, Aviemore and Fort William (and all of the towns in between). 

If trains aren’t available for where you want to go, chances are you can take a local bus or coach with Stagecoach, Scottish Citylink or the National Express. 

You can also take a ferry as a foot passenger or with your car to get to the Highlands’ many islands.

Billy Connolly once said, “There are two seasons in Scotland: June and Winter”. And he’s not entirely wrong. The weather can be very hit and miss even during the summer.

The best time to visit if you want a chance of good weather is during the summer between June and August when the days are long and the weather is at its mildest.

Visiting in the colder months can also be a great time to see snow-capped mountains and get cosy in the pub around a log fire.

No matter what time of year you visit, it’s best to be prepared for rain and chilly weather.

For a trip to the Highlands, or anywhere else in Scotland, bring plenty of comfortable clothing that will see you through long days of walking, exploring and visiting attractions.

The weather is pretty unpredictable, and even if the forecast says it will be warm or dry, it could (and probably will) change.

Bring a waterproof jacket, a warm coat, gloves, a hat and a scarf. A waterproof day sack can also come in quite handy to protect your phone and personal items if the heavens open while you're out walking.

The Scottish Highlands covers a pretty big area, including mountain ranges. 

Internet access and mobile phone coverage is fine in villages, towns and main tourist hubs, but it might be a little patchy in more remote areas or at higher elevations.

We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. 

We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.