Planning to visit Skye? Feeling overwhelmed with the choice of tours? Our comparison of the best Isle of Skye tours will ensure you pick the right tour for you.
For many visitors to Scotland, seeing the Isle of Skye is a must. This breathtakingly beautiful location is shrouded in magic and mystery, from the Fairy Pools in the shadow of the Cuillin Mountains to the panoramic views from Quiraing and the Old Man of Storr, a film star in its own right.
If you are not planning to hire a car and drive around Scotland the easiest way to see the key sights of Skye is to take an organised tour, as this maximises your time in each destination.
Reaching many places by public transport is also not practical – and in some cases is pretty much impossible. Whether you opt for a 7 or 9-hour tour from Portree on the Isle of Skye or travel northwards on a longer trip, taking a guided tour makes life so much simpler.
You can take an Isle of Skye tour from Edinburgh, Inverness, Glasgow or from Portree, the island capital. The latter is ideal if you’re already planning to stay overnight while taking an organised Isle of Skye trip from one of the Scottish cities means you don’t have to worry about planning, driving or taking public transport.
Read on to find the very best Isle of Skye day trip or a longer tour to suit your travel plans. With a dozen great options covered, there’s sure to be one you’ll love the look of.
12 of the best Isle of Skye tours in Scotland
Isle of Skye tours from Portree
Best of Skye tour
- Duration: 9 hours
- Destinations: Fairy Pools, Talisker Distillery, Fairy Glen, Quiraing & Old Man of Storr
- Departure time: Varies
- Departure point: Bus Stop, Somerled Square, Portree
- What’s included: Transport, local guide, small group
- What’s not included: Lunch, entrance fees, hotel pick-up
This Best of Skye day trip departs from Portree, so it’s ideal for anyone staying on the island. It’s our pick of the Isle of Skye tours from Portree, as it covers all the key sights during a nine-hour day trip.
The tour begins at the mystical Fairy Pools at the foot of the Cuillin Mountains before heading to the Talisker distillery for a whisky tasting. Next up is Dunvegan Castle or Neist Point, then the Fairy Glen.
The day is rounded off by seeing the magnificent views from Quiraing and visiting the Old Man of Storr – star of many movies including Prometheus.
Luxury Skye highlights tour
- Duration: 8 hours
- Destinations:•
- The Fairy Pools, Neist Point or the Fairy Glen
- The Quiraing
- Trotternish Coastline
- Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls
- The Old Man of Storr
- Dunvegan Castle
- Departure time: By arrangement
- Departure point: By arrangement
- What’s included: Transportation is in a clean, air-conditioned, 8-seater Mercedes-Benz with leather interior, privacy glass and heated seats
- What’s not included: Lunch, entrance fees, souvenirs
If you’d like to agree your own itinerary for the ideal Isle of Skye day tour, then booking a private tour by luxury vehicle and with your own personal guide could be perfect. This one can take you to all the key sights you want to see while on the island.
Your choice will dictate the day’s running but always includes a visit to the incredible rock formations of the Quiraing and the Trotternish coastline as well as some of Skye’s most iconic structures – Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls and the Old Man of Storr – and Dunvegan Castle & Gardens, built in the 13th century and seat of the MacLeod Clan still to this day.
Isle of Skye tours from Inverness
Skye and Eilean Donan Castle tour
- Duration: 12 hours
- Destinations: Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Ness & the Isle of Skye
- Departure time: Varies
- Departure point: Stance 6, Inverness Bus Station, Margaret Street
- What’s included: Transportation, tour guide
- What’s not included: Lunch, entrance fees
This 12 hour Isle of Skye tour from Inverness is ideal for those who want to see main sights outside the bigger cities. Beginning in Inverness, you’ll visit various parts of Skye as well as Loch Ness and Eilean Donan Castle.
The castle is surely the most photographed in Scotland, while Loch Ness is home to the mythical Loch Ness monster – unless, of course, you can prove its existence once and for all by witnessing a sighting.
Click here to book the Skye and Eilean Donan Castle tour
Fairy pools and Isle of Skye tour
- Duration: 12 hours
- Destinations: Fairy pools, Eilean Donan & Urquhart castles, Portree
- Departure time: Varies
- Departure point: To be advised
- What’s included: Transportation, tour guide
- What’s not included: Lunch
Another of the best Skye island tours from Inverness is this one taking in Urquhart Castle as well as Eilean Donan, Portree and the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye.
After seeing Eilean Donan castle you can also stop for lunch in Portree before taking a tour of Skye’s finest sights including the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, Quiraing, the Fairy Pools and Cuillin Mountain.
Finally, you will stop on the way back to Inverness to see Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness.
Click here to book the Fairy pools and Isle of Skye tour
Full day Eilean Donan castle and Skye tour
- Duration: 12 hours
- Destinations: Eilean Donan castle, Isle of Skye, Loch Ness
- Departure time: Varies
- Departure point: Stance 7, Inverness Bus Station
- What’s included: Transport, local guide, small group
- What’s not included: Lunch, entrance fees
This one day Isle of Skye bus tour also leaves from Inverness, but on this trip, you’ll be part of a small group rather than a larger crowd. A maximum group size of 16 will travel from Inverness by luxury Mercedes mini coach.
Along the way your small group guide will tell you all about Scotland’s past while you marvel at the views of Wester Ross. After stopping at Eilean Donan, you can then break for lunch in Portree.
An afternoon tour of Skye is followed by a scenic return trip via Loch Clunie and Loch Ness.
Click here to book the Full day Eilean Donan castle and Skye tour
The Skye Experience day trip
- Duration: 10 hours
- Destinations: Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Ness, Red Cuillin Hills, 5 Sisters
- Departure time: Varies
- Departure point: Stance 7, Inverness Bus Station
- What’s included: Transportation, tour guide
- What’s not included: Lunch, entrance fees
This day trip to Skye from Inverness lets you see another side of Scotland, as you can stop at little villages en route and see lesser-known sights like the Red Cuillin Hills and 5 Sisters mountain range.
Going a little off the beaten tourist track, this tour also includes locations like Invermoriston, Glen Moriston, Glen Shiel, Broadford, Glen Suardal, Bla Bhein, Loch Slapin, Strathaird and Achnasheen.
Click here to book The Skye Experience day trip
Isle of Skye tours from Edinburgh
3 day Highlands, Loch Ness and Skye tour
- Duration: 3 days
- Destinations: Glencoe, Fort William, Skye, Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Ness and more
- Departure time: Varies
- Departure point: Varies
- What’s included: Transportation, tour guide, accommodation (if selected)
- What’s not included: Meals, entrance fees
If you’re touring from Edinburgh, it’s best to take a little longer to see the best of Scotland. This 3 day Isle of Skye tour from Edinburgh takes in many of the key sights, including Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Loch Ness and Eilean Donan Castle as well as Skye.
During the three day period you’ll see Loch Lomond, the Fort William area, the Kintail mountains and Pitlochry as well as Skye. Once on the island, the itinerary is variable but may include Dunvegan Castle, Uig, Flora MacDonald’s grave, the Black Houses, Duntulum Castle, Kilt Rock or Lealt Falls.
Click here to book the 3 day Highlands, Loch Ness and Skye tour
3 day Inverness, Skye and the Highlands tour
- Duration: 3 days
- Destinations: Stirling Castle, Glencoe, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Isle of Skye, Inverness
- Departure time: 08:15
- Departure point: Deacon’s House Cafe, Lawnmarket, Royal Mile, Edinburgh
- What’s included: Transportation, tour guide, mini coach
- What’s not included: Accommodation in Inverness, meals, entrance fees
This 3 day trip to Skye and the Scottish Highlands takes in Stirling, Doune, Urquhart and Eilean Donan castles as well as dramatic Glencoe, the Glenfinnan Viaduct from the Harry Potter movies, and various Highland locations.
In addition to touring Skye, you can see Loch Ness, Glen Shiel, Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, the Highland Folk Museum, the Cairngorms, the Dalwhinnie Scotch Whiskey-Distillery and the famous Forth Bridge.
Click here to book the 3 day Inverness, Skye and the Highlands tour
3 day Isle of Skye and The Jacobite steam train tour
- Duration: 3 days
- Destinations: Loch Ness, Isle of Skye and The Jacobite steam train
- Departure time: Varies
- Departure point: 60 High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh
- What’s included: Mercedes midi coach, tour guide, steam train, ferry, B&B accommodation
- What’s not included: Meals, Clan Donald Skye entry
If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter films, then this could be the Isle of Skye trip from Edinburgh to go for. It includes a ride on The Jacobite, a historic steam train that doubles up as the ‘Hogwarts Express’ (available May to October only) and travels between Mallaig and Fort William.
As well as the Glenfinnan Viaduct immortalised on screen, you can explore the Isle of Skye as well as seeing the Forth Bridge, Dunkeld, Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle, Glencoe and Rannoch Moor.
Click here to book the 3 day Isle of Skye and The Jacobite steam train tour
5 day Mull, Iona and the Isle of Skye tour
- Duration: 5 days
- Destinations: The Scottish Highlands, Mull, Iona, Staffa and the Isle of Skye
- Departure time: Varies
- Departure point: Varies
- What’s included: Luxury transport, tour guide, small group, ferries, B&B accommodation
- What’s not included: Meals, entrance fees, optional boat trip
Comprising a five day trip, this tour takes in the Scottish Highlands as well as the western isles of Mull, Iona and the Isle of Skye. If taken as an optional extra, the trip to Staffa includes a sighting of the unique basalt columns of ‘Fingal’s Cave’, as featured in Mendelssohn’s in his Hebridean Overture.
This trip includes all the Scottish essentials, from castles to lochs, ancient clan lands and windswept islands. You can also walk along the Quiraing Mountain Pass and see the Forth Bridge, Loch Ness and Eilean Donan Castle during the trip.
Click here to book the 5 day Mull, Iona and the Isle of Skye tour
8 day Orkney, Skye and northern Scotland tour
- Duration: 8 days
- Destinations: Orkney, Skye and the far north of Scotland
- Departure time: Varies
- Departure point: Caffe Nero, Royal Mile, Edinburgh
- What’s included: Transportation, tour guide, B&B accommodation
- What’s not included: Meals, entrance fees
This tour of Scotland lasts for over a week and takes in the less-visited far north of the country, including Orkney. As well as iconic sights such as Loch Ness, Ben Nevis, Eilean Donan Castle and Skye, you’ll also visit and stay overnight in the Orkney Isles.
Full days on Skye and Orkney are built into the itinerary. You can also see fabled sites like the neolithic village of Skara Brae, and explore the Ring Of Brodgar and Maes Howe stone circles.
Click here to book the 8 day Orkney, Skye and northern Scotland tour
Isle of Skye tours from Glasgow
Loch Ness, Highlands and Skye tour
- Duration: 3 days
- Destinations: Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Isle of Skye, Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Ness
- Departure time: Varies
- Departure point: Outside Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- What’s included: Transportation, tour guide, accommodation (if selected)
- What’s not included: Meals, optional entrance fees
This Isle of Skye tour from Glasgow takes in all the main Scotland sights such as Ben Nevis, Loch Ness, Glencoe, Eilean Donan Castle and of course the Isle of Skye.
As well as these major locations, you can also see the likes of Loch Lomond, Fort Augustus and Pitlochry, and will be issued with a train ticket from Edinburgh Waverley station for your return to Glasgow.
Click here to book the Loch Ness, Highlands and Skye tour
Which Isle of Skye tour will you take?
Whether you opt for one of the Skye tours from Portree or wish to book one of the longer Skye bus tours from Glasgow, Inverness or Edinburgh, don’t miss this misty and magical island when you go to Scotland.
From the Talisker whiskey tour on Skye to the Old Man of Storr, hairy coos (Highland cattle) and the Fairy Glen, these are the best Isle of Skye tours money can buy. Enjoy!
Read our other articles about Skye too including our Skye Travel Guide, our 1, 2 and 3 day itinerary ideas for the Isle of Skye and our guide to where to stay on Skye!
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