Scotland · INVERNESS TOURS

The 15 Best Inverness Tours & Loch Ness Trips

172 tours  ·  from $10 a head

Inverness is less a destination than the best base in the north: Loch Ness starts ten minutes away and Skye is a long day west. The 15 below sort the cruises, the castle stops and the island runs by price and by how early the bus goes.

Loch Ness: Urquhart Castle Round-Trip Cruise - Boarding a modern boat with two good viewing areas
Boat Trips in Inverness, Castle Tours, Castle Tours in Inverness, Cruises & Boat Tours, Inverness Tours, Loch Ness Tours, Tour Reviews

Loch Ness: Urquhart Castle Round-Trip Cruise

From Inverness: Loch Ness Cruise and Urquhart Castle - Cruising Loch Ness and Watching for Nessie
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From Inverness: Loch Ness Cruise and Urquhart Castle

2.Loch Ness Cruise and Urquhart Castle

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,241 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $76

Cruise Loch Ness, explore Urquhart Castle, and hear Highland stories on a practical half-day trip from Inverness.

“The guide was top-notch. Very knowledgeable, but not too much kitsch, which I appreciate. The boat trip to Loch Ness and Urquart Castle site visit were well organized. The longer trip back was beautiful, picturesque, and packed with great historical information. I would have loved enough time to stop in at some of the smaller towns and sites, but I would book again. Thanks! Great value. book again. Thank”

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Inverness: The Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle - Invermoriston begins the scenic run
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Inverness: The Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle

3.The Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,039 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $58Top rated

See Skye’s dramatic scenery, Portree, Kilt Rock, and Eilean Donan Castle on a 12-hour guided trip from Inverness for $58.25.

“This tour was amazing! Our guide Karen did a great job explaining the history of the area and the scenery was absolutely stunning! The Isle of Skye is a must see when traveling to Scotland!”

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From Inverness: Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Tour - The road beside Loch Ness
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From Inverness: Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Tour

4.Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,440 reviews · 12 hours · from $57

Travel from Inverness to Skye, Eilean Donan, Loch Ness, and the Trotternish Peninsula on a scenic 12-hour small-group tour.

“I had the most amazing day! Ryan was the perfect guide, he was funny and he had a lot of tips, and also, it was incredible to hear the history behind every single stop.”

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Loch Ness Cruise, Outlander & Urquhart Castle Tour from Inverness - Clava Cairns and the Outlander connection
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Loch Ness Cruise, Outlander & Urquhart Castle Tour from Inverness

Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Tour from Inverness - One hour at Eilean Donan Castle
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Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Tour from Inverness

Hogwarts Express and the Scenic Highlands Day Tour from Inverness - Urquhart Castle and the road west
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Hogwarts Express and the Scenic Highlands Day Tour from Inverness

7.Hogwarts Express and the Scenic Highlands Day Tour from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,227 reviews · from $262

Ride the Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William to Mallaig, then tour Loch Ness, castles, beaches, and Highland viewpoints from Inverness.

“Excellent tour! But the actual Jacobite / Harry Potter train part is a waste of time. No steam engine , no air conditioning , no opening windows , and dirty 1970s train cars. Thank god we had the clean air conditioned coach to take us around to even better views than what Read more”

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Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal 2-Hour Cruise from Dochgarroch - Urquhart Castle from the water
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Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal 2-Hour Cruise from Dochgarroch

The Ultimate Isle of Skye Day Tour from Inverness - Loch Ness starts the Highland story
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The Ultimate Isle of Skye Day Tour from Inverness

9.The Ultimate Isle of Skye Day Tour from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,135 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $151

Review of the 12-hour Isle of Skye tour from Inverness, with Eilean Donan, Portree, Kilt Rock, Fairy Pools, and practical booking tips.

“I’ve always wanted to see the Isle of Skye and this tour did not disappoint. So many breathtaking stops along the way. My favorite part was the Faerie Pools. It was a trek but worth the hike. Also, the lunch recommendation was awesome! It was a packed lunch from a local artist that also did catering. The buttery biscuits were delicious. We were sad we couldn’t order more!”

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Loch Ness 1-Hour Cruise with Urquhart Castle Views - Who will enjoy this Loch Ness cruise?
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Loch Ness 1-Hour Cruise with Urquhart Castle Views

10.Loch Ness 1-Hour Cruise with Urquhart Castle Views

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,102 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $30

Cruise Loch Ness for one hour, hunt for Nessie with sonar, and see Urquhart Castle from a comfortable boat near Inverness.

“The one-hour cruise fully met my expectations for our adventure on the waters of Loch Ness. While it's getting chilly this time of year (and I'd suggest a lined wind-breaker or other waterproof jacket with a hood), the upper deck was manageable. If it hadn't been, the fully enclosed lower deck would have accommodated all of us comfortable. Polite crew, good navigating, interesting lessons on the public-address - just right!”

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Isle of Skye Full Day Private Tour from Inverness - An 8 a.m. start from Inverness
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Isle of Skye Full Day Private Tour from Inverness

11.Isle of Skye Full Day Private Tour from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,065 reviews · 9 hours (approx.)

A long but rewarding private day from Inverness to Skye, with Loch Ness, Eilean Donan, Portree, and the Old Man of Storr.

“We booked a private tour. Our guide, Niall was exceptional. He is knowledgeable and knows how to tell a story to make it interesting to a visitor. He went out of his way to make the experience memorable for us. Thanks to him, we were able to see the top breathtaking parts of the highlands along with the fascinating history of the area. We even tried to dip our faces in the enchanted water that is supposed to give you eternal beauty 😊 He showed flexibility and yet made sure that we were able to see all the beautiful areas included in the tour. We could not have asked for…”

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Loch Ness & Culloden Battlefield Private Tour from Inverness - Highland cows, alpacas, and Beauly produce
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Loch Ness & Culloden Battlefield Private Tour from Inverness

From Inverness: Jacobite Steam Train and Highlands Tour - Leaving Inverness beside Loch Ness
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From Inverness: Jacobite Steam Train and Highlands Tour

13.Jacobite Steam Train and Highlands Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 921 reviews · 12.5 hours · from $268

Ride the Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William to Mallaig, see Loch Ness and Highland views, and explore Scotland with a lively local guide.

“I loved the friendly, knowledgeable driver. The train ride was so fun and there’s so much beautiful scenery. Our tour included many stops and opportunities to take memorable photos.”

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From Inverness: Isle of Skye and Fairy Pools Day Trip - Loch Ness begins the Highland route
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From Inverness: Isle of Skye and Fairy Pools Day Trip

14.Isle of Skye and Fairy Pools Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 890 reviews · 12 hours · from $93

Review the 12-hour Isle of Skye day trip from Inverness, with Fairy Pools, Eilean Donan Castle, Portree, Loch Ness, and expert guides.

“This was truly the best tour I’ve taken in Scotland. Highland Experience Tours delivered an incredible journey, and David — our guide — made the day unforgettable. His storytelling was captivating, covering everything from the legends of Nessie to the history of Flora MacDonald and the Jacobites. He struck the perfect balance of history, humour, and charm. We had just the right amount of time in Portree to explore and soak in its beauty, and the visit to the Fairy Pools was absolutely magical — a true bucket-list moment. The pacing of the day was ideal, giving us time to enjoy each stop without ever feeling rushed. If you’re visiting…”

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Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Small-Group Day Tour from Inverness - The Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing
Castle Tours, Castle Tours in Inverness, Eilean Donan Castle Tours, Inverness Tours, Isle of Skye Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Small-Group Day Tour from Inverness

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