3 Day Loch Ness & Skye Magic
For the Magic & Mystery Lovers
3 DAY LOCH NESS & SKYE MAGIC TOUR
Spend three glorious days (2 nights) exploring Scotland’s myths, monsters and mountains. Spend one night sleeping on the shores of the infamous Loch Ness and one night on Skye, Scotland’s most famous island. Swim and sleep on the shores of Loch Ness!
Tour leaves every Wednesday from Castle Rock Hostel, Edinburgh.
Prices starting from £245 (includes fees, before accommodation).
Discover Loch Ness & Skye with MacBackpackers!
A visit to Scotland wouldn’t be complete without at least trying to spot our most famous “monster” Nessie! We give you an entire evening to spend looking out over the shores of the stunning Loch Ness. Sleep at the perfectly located Lochside Hostel and take a dip in its icy waters!
Set off from Edinburgh and head north through Scotland’s first National Park, the Cairngorms, with a stop in the beautiful forested Perthshire region before visits to The Highland Folk Museum and Culloden en-route to the banks of Loch Ness. After taking a swim with Nessie, warm up around a campfire with a dram of whiskey in hand (weather dependent).
The next day we venture onto the magical Isle of Skye to search this mystical land for faeries and giants as we visit the Cuillin, Portree and the Trotternish Peninsula; before we spend the night overlooking the Skye Bridge in Kyleakin. The follwing day we head back towards Edinburgh with a spellbinding stop at Glenfinnan Viaduct, the hauntingly beautiful Glencoe and the historical Stirlingshire. A tour that’s sure to leave you mystified as to why you didn’t book it sooner!
Arrive back into Edinburgh on Friday evening, just in time for a wild weekend in the capital city!
Tour Video
Customer Reviews
This was the BEST trip I could’ve asked for. Tim (our guide) knew every trail, mountain, and bit of history on Skye and the rest of Scotland. The only time we weren’t laughing on this tour was when we were sleeping in Mackbackpackers’ very own hostel in picturesque Kyleakin. We were so so lucky to be in this small group, enjoying the beautiful country with exceptional weather and company. The worst part? Leaving. It is a lot of walking and hiking, so make sure to bring appropriate shoes and clothes when you inevitably book this trip!!
This tour is as good as you get for a 3 day Skye tour. Neil was our tour guide and he’s the perfect mix of knowledgeable and entertaining with his information. I saw views/sights that I never thought I would see in my lifetime. If you are wondering if you should book the 3 or 5 day, 100% go for the 5 day. People (like myself) don’t fully take into account how long it takes to get to IoS and 5 days would give you more but if you only have 3 days, Neil and MacBackpackers is the way to go! I met lifelong friends on this trip! Thank you Neil!
Would HIGHLY recommend this tour! I did the 3 day Isle of Skye! Our tour guide, Branka, was amazing and knew of all the best spots and viewpoints! She had SO much knowledge about Scotland and its history and was a great storyteller as well! I’ve done several tours while traveling and this was by far my favorite! It was a small group size and we were able to do more adventurous things (hiking, swimming in Loch Ness and Fairy Pools etc) than you’d be able to do in a more ‘typical’ tour setting! You won’t leave this tour disappointed!!
As someone who has done 3 tours through the Highlands and Isle of Skye I can say with confidence MacBackpackers is the very best. You can tell the whole team are passionate about showcasing their beautiful country. Our guide Tim was incredibly knowledgeable and was a gifted story teller! He also had a wicked sense of humour that we all appreciated, in fact I laughed so hard I cried! Our hostel on Skye was clean, and cozy to return to after amazing days off of the bus exploring nature, it ended up being the best sleep I had our entire stay! Tim made us all feel welcome our first night playing his guitar and getting all of us singing together it was a magical evening we wont ever forget.
Don’t settle for sitting on a different company’s tour bus when you can go with MacBackpackers and get out into the stunning Scottish wilderness with guides who love their country and know how to make you feel at home with their warm Scottish hospitality!
With the taste of whiskey still on my lips and the winds of Skye in my hair, I know the memories of this tour will never fade. If you seek adventure, if you want to know everything that the Scottish Highlands have to offer, come wind or snow, sunshine or hail, Macbackpackers will provide you with the best possible itinerary, the most impressive views and the visits you cannot miss. With a whole day to spend in Skye, we discovered some of the best spots and itched for our next visit to the island … with Macbackpackers obviously!!!
Absolutely amazing Branka truly made this tour incredible! She knew her history, her folk tales and mythology and gave us the absolute best Playlist for the bus ride She convinced me to run into Loch Ness, swim in the faerie pools and took us on a hiking adventure to remember forever. If I could recommend any tour it would be this one!
This is a wonderful tour!! It is a great sampler platter of the highlands and skye. With macbackpackers guidance, you are able to see and do so much more than if you try to use public transport and it is much lower stress than trying to do a car rental and planning. There were significant opportunities for hill walking and seeing historical sights. Neal is an incredible storyteller and gave hilarious and informative lessons on the history of the landmarks. I would definitely book a trip with macbackpackers again!
This was the best tour I have ever been on. We had Neil as our tour guide, he told funny stories and Scottish history and I loved every minute of it! Went to beautiful amazing places that I’ll definitely be coming back for again! Would highly recommend for anyone wanting to get a taste of Scotland!
Easily the best guided tour I’ve ever done! Tim was absolutely fantastic, his knowledge of the highlands of Scotland was vast and he made the experience super fun and upbeat for everyone involved with his charismatic personality. I would definitely return for a longer tour in the future and it has certainly made me want to hike more around the isle! I was disappointed when it all came to an end!
Choose This Tour If You…
✅ Are arriving in Scotland prior to a Wednesday.
✅ Only have a few days to explore the Highlands.
✅ Want to sleep on the banks of Loch Ness.
✅ Want to explore the Cairngorms at a slower pace.
✅ Enjoy staying in hostels and meeting new people.
Your Scotland Trip Itinerary
Herein lies your expertly crafted trip itinerary which has been tried, tested and perfected by our local Scottish tour guides over almost 30 years of experience. Time for you to show up and enjoy the ride, no stressing over Google Maps!
Please note this is subject to slight changes on the day depending on weather, how busy sites are, and parking availability. We trust our tour guides will do what’s best for your experience and navigate any bumps in the road as smoothly as possible.
- The Hermitage Walk
- Pitlochry
- Highland Folk Museum
- Cairngorm National Park
- Culloden battlefield
- Clava Cairns
- Invernesshire
- Sleep on the shores of Loch Ness!
This is the only hostel in the world that can offer this unrivalled setting!
Please note that this is just a sample of some of the places we go to and are subject to change at any time at the guide’s discretion. Not all sites are available to visit all year round.
What’s Included/T&CsWe’ll then explore the Isle of Skye where you will learn all about the mischievous faeries, hear tales of Celtic myths and see some of the most amazing scenery our country has to offer. We head up to the Trotternish Peninsula for a lovely hike and amazing views in this unspoilt wilderness. We’ll finish off the day with a trip to the North and the beautiful Duntulm before heading to the wee village of Kyleakin to spend the night on this magical island.
- Glenshiel
- The Five Sisters of Kintail
- Trotternish Peninsula
- The Cuilin Mountains
- Portree
- Old Man of Storr
- Kilt Rock
- Kyleakin
Please note that this is just a sample of some of the places we go to and are subject to change at any time at the guide’s discretion. Not all sites are available to visit all year round.
What’s Included/T&Cs- Glenfinnan
- Armadale Ferry
- Sleat Peninsula
- Mallaig
- Fort William
- Glen Coe
- Rannoch Moor
- Sterlingshire
- Trossachs National Park
Please note that this is just a sample of some of the places we go to and are subject to change at any time at the guide’s discretion. Not all sites are available to visit all year round.
What’s Included/T&Cs
We depart Edinburgh in the morning and set off on our adventure, a full day of exploration and excitement ahead. We strike out into the Highlands seeking out spectacular scenery, clan rivalry and the odd monster.
Forth Bridges
Pitlochry/Dunkeld
Whisky Drinking
Culloden Battlefield
Loch Ness
Glen Shiel
Eilean Donan Castle
Kyleakin
Sligachan
The Cuillin
Faerie Pools
Portree
Old Man of Storr
Kilt Rock
The Quiraing
Ben Nevis
Fort William
Glen Coe
Rannoch Moor
Wallace Monument
The above itinerary is not set in stone! Your guide may use their knowledge to modify the itinerary to best suit the Scottish weather & to maximise your experience.
On this tour you’ll be lucky enough to stay at the beautiful Lochbuie Guest House in the small fishing village of Kyleakin, just over the Skye Bridge. This small guest house is reserved exclusively for our tour guests, so you don’t have to worry about trying to find accommodation in the Highlands for your trip (no mean feat).
The hostel consists of bunk beds, a full kitchen, hot showers, a games room and your accommodation costs will include breakfast in the morning. So settle in and enjoy the quirky colours and great views from Lochbuie as you relive your day in the Highlands!
If you’d like more info or to see pictures then go to www.scotlandstophostels.com
Our Tours are for 18-39 Year Olds Only
Our company was founded out of the hostel industry and we have a focus on providing young people with the chance to explore Scotland affordably, make new friends and have an active style of tour. That’s why we have strictly limited our age range to 18-39 in order to provide our guests with the best possible tour and give everyone the chance to experience Scotland in a way not a lot of tours do. We have had so many friendships forged on tour and we think this comes directly from only offering these tours to a certain demographic and allowing everyone to mingle. So if you’re over the age of 39 please consider a different tour as we reserve the right to deny boarding to anyone who has broken our age limit.
Book with Confidence
We know it’s difficult to be confident that your plans will go ahead in these confusing times, but all MacBackpackers Tour come with a Book With Confidence Guarantee.
Book on one of our tours for just 25% upfront and rest assured that no matter what happens you have the chance to change your plans. As part of our pledge all our tours can now be rescheduled with 48 hours notice completely for free! Any tours rescheduled within 48 hours of arrival will be subject to a £50 rebooking fee, but this tour can be redeemed at any time (subject to availability).
So don’t let the stress of life put you off your dream trip to Scotland, book with us and travel with confidence!
Accommodation is not included in the price of our tours
We understand that it’s extremely difficult to find accommodation in the Highlands, which is why every person on one of our tours has a bed provisionally held for them at each of our partner hostels along the route. All nights are priced from £30 per night including breakfast and are available as an add-on to your tour in the options section of the booking window. You are welcome to pay for this upfront during your tour booking or at one of our 3 Edinburgh Hostels on or before your departure date.
Departs at 9am (8am from 30 October – 28 March) every Friday & select Mondays from Castle Rock Hostel!
*25% deposit option is only available for tours booked 28 days or more in advance of departure date.
Where We Stay
Our 3 Day Loch Ness & Skye is one of only two tours that stays at our Lochside Hostel right on the banks of Loch Ness. Enjoy your night here sipping whisky on the hostel’s private beach or dip your toes in the mysterious water’s of Scotland’s most (in)famous Loch. On day two we head over the bridge to Skye and spend the evening at our Lochbuie Guest House in the charming fishing village of Kyleakin. Explore nearby castles, treat yourself to some fresh seafood and maybe even meet some locals as you unpack stories of your day exploring the Highlands.
If you want to know more about our Lochside Hostel and Lochbuie Guest House then check them our on our Where We Stay page!
Terms & Conditions
This tour departs on Wednesday from Edinburgh and returns on Friday to Edinburgh again.
In summer, our tours depart at 9am. However, in winter our tours depart at 8am. Make sure you check your booking confirmation email to get the correct start time.
Tours return to Edinburgh on Friday evening between 4-6pm depending on traffic and other factors which may be out of our control.
Accommodation is not included in tour price, but can be added in booking process. We reserve beds for you at each of our partner hostels along the route. All nights are priced from £34 per night including breakfast and are available as an add-on in the options section of the booking window.
Our Tours are for 18-39 year olds only. It is our company ethos to give backpackers the chance to experience Scotland with like minded travellers at a similar stage of life. Our aim is to help young people meet lifelong travel buddies.
Read the rest of our T&Cs here.
Our Awards
“The Best Quick Getaway in the World!” – TourRadar Tour of the Year Award 2017
“The Best Quick Getaway in the World!” – TourRadar Tour of the Year Award 2018
“The Best Coach/Bus Tour in the World!” – TourRadar Tour of the Year Awards 2015
“The Best Quick Getaway in the World!” – TourRadar Tour of the Year Award 2017
“The Best Quick Getaway in the World!” – TourRadar Tour of the Year Award 2018
