Loch Ness Tours
Journey deep into the Highlands to Scotland’s most legendary loch — through ancient woodland, mountain passes, dramatic glens and some of the country’s greatest stories.
Loch Ness Is the Destination. The Highlands Are the Journey.
Everyone knows the name Loch Ness. Reaching it through the Scottish Highlands is what turns the visit into an adventure.
The loch stretches through the Great Glen, surrounded by forested hills and mountains and carrying centuries of Highland history alongside the world-famous mystery of Nessie.
Our dedicated tours do not simply drive north, photograph the water and turn around. They combine Loch Ness with ancient woodland, whisky, Glencoe, national parks and time outside the vehicle.
Choose one long Highland day from Edinburgh, slow the journey down over two days, or include Loch Ness within a much bigger adventure to Skye, Orkney or the Outer Hebrides.
One Big Highland Day or Two Days to Explore.
Both tours put Loch Ness at the heart of the journey. Choose the one-day Highland loop or add an overnight stay and a completely different second day.
Best for a Day Trip
in One Big Day.
Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour
Cross Scotland’s Highland heartland in one unforgettable loop.
Travel north through Perthshire and the Cairngorms to Loch Ness before returning through Fort William, Glencoe and Loch Lomond.
More Time Exploring
Glencoe. Stirling.
Loch Ness & Highlands 2-Day Tour
Slow the Highlands down and turn the journey into two distinct days.
Reach Loch Ness on Day 1 and stay beneath Ben Nevis in Fort William, then explore Glenfinnan, Glencoe and Stirling Castle on your journey back to Edinburgh.
Start With the Time You Have.
Both tours reach Loch Ness from Edinburgh. The real decision is whether you want one long Highland day or a second day exploring the western Highlands.
The Essential Loch Ness Day Trip
Best if your Scotland itinerary is short and you want Loch Ness, Glencoe and a broad sweep of the Highlands without changing accommodation.
The Deeper Highland Journey
Best if you want Loch Ness without compressing the Highlands into one day, plus Glenfinnan, Glencoe and Stirling Castle.
Make the Loch Part of a Bigger Scotland Adventure.
Loch Ness also appears on several of our multi-day journeys, letting you combine it with Skye, Orkney, Lewis & Harris and much more of the Highlands.
Visits Loch Ness
Isle of Skye & Highlands
Spend two nights on Skye and return through Eilean Donan, Fort Augustus and Loch Ness.
Cruise & Castle
Isle of Skye & West Highlands
Combine Skye and Scotland’s west coast with a Loch Ness cruise opportunity and historic Urquhart Castle.
Biggest Island Journey
Skye & Outer Hebrides
Travel through Skye, Lewis & Harris and the Highlands, with Loch Ness on the journey south.
Ancient Scotland
Orkney & North Coast 500
Journey through the far north and ancient Orkney before returning through Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle and the Highlands.
Outer Hebrides
Lewis & Harris
Explore Atlantic beaches, ancient standing stones and island history before returning through Loch Ness and Glencoe.
There Is More Here Than the Monster.
The legend may have made Loch Ness famous, but its scale, history and Highland setting are why the journey is worth making.
Myth & Mystery
The Loch Ness Monster
Hear the stories, famous sightings and theories behind the mystery that has fascinated visitors for generations.
On the Water
Cruise Loch Ness
Heading onto the water gives you a completely different sense of the loch’s length, depth and surrounding Highland scenery.
Highland History
Urquhart Castle
Centuries of conflict overlook the water from these dramatic ruins, visited on selected longer Loch Ness itineraries.
Highland Journey
Glencoe & the Highlands
The road to Loch Ness crosses mountains, forests and historic glens, making the journey every bit as important as the loch.
Loch Ness Is Not a Twelve-Hour Bus Ride.
A long Highland journey should still give you time to get out, stretch your legs and experience Scotland beyond the road.
Our dedicated Loch Ness tours combine driving through the Highlands with short walks, scenic stops, local stories and time beside the water.
On the one-day tour, that includes a woodland walk beneath towering trees at The Hermitage. The two-day adventure adds further outdoor stops around Glenfinnan, Glencoe and the western Highlands.
Make the Highland Journey Part of the Experience.
Loch Ness may be the name on the itinerary, but the day is designed around everything you encounter on the way there and back.
More Personal Touring.
Scheduled groups are limited to a maximum of 16 guests, making scenic stops and guide interaction more relaxed.
Get Out Into Scotland.
Short walks and outdoor stops break up the Highland journey and give you time inside the landscape.
More Than Nessie.
Discover Highland history, geology, folklore, clan stories and the characters connected with the places you visit.
The Loch Is One Chapter.
Cairngorms, Glencoe, whisky, woodland and Highland communities make the journey much richer than one famous stop.
Build Loch Ness Into a Private Scotland Journey.
A private tour gives you the freedom to decide how important Loch Ness is within the trip and what you want to explore around it.
Combine the loch with castles, whisky, Glencoe, family history, Skye or Inverness, spend longer at the places that matter to you and travel at a pace designed entirely around your own group.
Loch Ness Tour FAQs
The main things to know when deciding between a dedicated Loch Ness tour and a longer Scotland adventure.
View All Tour FAQsWhich Loch Ness tour should I choose?
If Loch Ness is one of the main reasons for your trip, start with our dedicated one or two-day adventures.
- 1-Day: best if you want Loch Ness, Glencoe and a large Highland loop within one day.
- 2-Day: gives you more time, an overnight in Fort William and a second day visiting Glenfinnan, Glencoe and Stirling Castle.
If you have more time, several Skye, Orkney and Hebrides tours also visit Loch Ness as part of a larger Scotland journey.
Can I take a dedicated Loch Ness tour from Glasgow?
Our current dedicated one-day and two-day Loch Ness tours depart from Edinburgh.
Several longer adventures that visit Loch Ness are available from Glasgow, including selected Skye, Orkney and Lewis & Harris tours.
Some Glasgow multi-day tours finish in Edinburgh, so check the individual tour page before arranging onward travel.
Is the Loch Ness cruise included?
No. The Loch Ness cruise ticket is currently paid separately from the advertised tour price.
On the one-day tour the cruise is deliberately optional, allowing you to choose between heading onto the water or spending your time ashore.
The current two-day itinerary and several longer tours also provide an opportunity to cruise Loch Ness.
Does every Loch Ness tour visit Urquhart Castle?
No. Urquhart Castle is included as a planned stop on selected longer multi-day itineraries rather than every Loch Ness tour.
The dedicated one-day adventure focuses on Loch Ness as part of a wider Highland loop, while the current two-day itinerary combines the loch with Fort William, Glenfinnan, Glencoe and Stirling Castle.
If Urquhart Castle is important to you, check the exact itinerary of your chosen tour before booking.
Does the 2-day tour ride the Hogwarts Express?
No. The current two-day Loch Ness tour visits Glenfinnan and the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, recognised around the world from the Harry Potter films.
It does not include a journey aboard the Jacobite Steam Train.
Is accommodation included on the 2-day tour?
No. Your one night of accommodation in the Fort William area is separate from the advertised tour price.
Scotland’s Wild can arrange accommodation through trusted partners, or you can book your own after contacting us to confirm the correct accommodation area.
How do deposits work?
The dedicated one-day Loch Ness tour currently requires a 50% payment when booking. The remaining balance is collected eight days before departure.
The two-day tour uses the standard multi-day arrangement: a 25% deposit secures your place and the remaining balance is due 15 days before departure.
What is the minimum age?
Scheduled group Loch Ness tours are currently for travellers aged 12 and over.
Families travelling with younger children can contact us about building Loch Ness into a private Scotland tour.
Explore Private Scotland ToursHow much walking is involved?
Both dedicated Loch Ness tours use our Active Sightseeing approach, meaning there is meaningful time outside the vehicle.
The current one-day guidance asks guests to be comfortable walking for approximately 30 minutes on varied outdoor terrain.
The two-day tour includes additional short walks and guests should be comfortable walking for around 45 minutes on uneven ground.
What should I bring?
Highland weather can change quickly, so layers and waterproof clothing are useful throughout the year.
- Light waterproof jacket
- Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes
- Warm layers in colder weather
- Midge repellent in the warmer months
- Sun cream for brighter days
Even when Edinburgh is dry, conditions farther north can be very different.
Go Looking for Nessie. Find Much More Along the Way.
Choose one day for the full Highland loop, two for a deeper adventure or build Loch Ness into a longer journey through Scotland’s Highlands and islands.
