We set off from just underneath Edinburgh Castle and meander our way up north to the wild and mystical region of Scotland known as the Highlands. This first day gives you a taste of Scottish History, mythology and your first glimpse into the rugged landscapes of Scotland.
Forth Bridges
Pitlochry/Dunkeld
Cairngorms
Whisky Drinking
Culloden Battlefield
Loch Ness
Glen Shiel
Eilean Donan Castle
Kyleakin
Our day on Skye starts in the small fishing town of Kyleakin in Skye, where we spent the night, and takes us north along one of the country’s most scenic roads towards the towering Cuillin Range and all that Skye has to offer. Full of sweeping vistas, breakthaking hikes and incredible scenery; it’s easy to see why these lands inspired tales of giants, monsters and faeries. Spend most of the day off the bus absorbing the full Scottish experience!
Sligachan
The Cuillin
Portree
Old Man of Storr
Kilt Rock
The Quiraing
On Easter Morning we depart the magnificent Isle of Skye to start our journey back to the capital. Our route takes us through glens and across some of the country’s most formidable terrain as we criss-cross the land through some Scotland’s most iconic locations.
Ben Nevis
Mallaig
Glenfinnan Viaduct (Harry Potter Train)
Fort William
Glen Coe
Rannoch Moor
Trossachs
Sterlingshire
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.
Our New 3 Day Women Only Tour
A one off Women Only Tour of the Scottish Highlands and Isle of Skye
Spend Women’s Day on Skye
With MacBackpackers!
To celebrate International Women’s Day this year we thought we’d do something different. Introducing our Women’s Day 3 Day Isle of Skye tour. A one off 3 day tour for ladies only, so that you can enjoy a weekend in the Highlands surrounded by incredible feminine energy.
After being inspired by the Main Character Club Road to Skye tour back in October 2023, we decided that it was our turn to give our female fans the chance to go on an all woman tour. So we’ve asked our incredible Branka to lead our first Women’s Day 3 Day Tour for 28 lucky lasses to explore the beautiful Scottish Highlands this March.
So strap in for the Ultimate Scottish Adventure, with a feminine twist!
For Women Only. Running Only on 7 March 2025.
For other tours check out our 3 Day Isle of Skye , 3 Day Skye & Loch Ness Magic and our 5 Day Skye and Highland Fling.
*Please note this tour may be run in 16 or 28 seater buses depending on the popularity of the tour*
Setting off early from Castle Rock Hostel in Edinburgh, you’ll get to meet Branka and the rest of the women on your tour as you get to know the ladies you’ll be calling friends in absolutely no time. Our route today takes us north through Perthshire, the Cairngorms and past the stunning Loch Ness; with plenty of stops along the way. The first taste of the Highlands and what’s to come!
- Forth Bridges
- Pitlochry/Dunkeld
- Cairngorms
- A taste of whisky
- Culloden Battlefield
- Loch Ness
- Glen Shiel
- Eilean Donan Castle
- Overnight in Kyleakin, Isle of Skye
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.
After our night spent at Lochbuie Guest House on Skye, we set off early to try and pack as much as possible in for the day on Scotland’s most famous isle. The incredible terrain, rich folklore and jaw dropping sites will have you falling in love with this beautiful part of the world. Pack your hiking gear as we try spend as much time off the bus as possible today.
- Sligachan
- The Cuillin
- Colorful harbour houses of Portree
- Old (Wo)Man of Storr
- Kilt Rock
- The Quiraing
- Trotternish
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 Sunday we begin our journey back towards the capital, but not without stops at some of the country’s most incredible locations. Leaving behind the beauty of Skye we’re greeted by glens aplenty and mountain ranges that will make your jaw drop. Listen in for the history of this hugely important part of the country and spend your day dreaming of your return to our shores.
- Fort William
- Glen Coe
- Rannoch Moor
- Trossachs
- Stirlingshire
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 our Where We Stay page
This Tour is for 18-39 Year Old Women Only
As a one off tour, we’re offering solo female travellers the chance to explore Scotland without any male energy and that’s why we have restricted the booking to women travellers only. If you are looking for an all genders tour, please check out some of our other tours here.
We are also a true youth tour company with a strict age range of 18-39. We do this 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 or male 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 £34 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.
*Please note these tours may be run in 16 or 28 seater buses depending on the popularity of the tour*
Tour Gallery
Tour Gallery
Where we stay
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!
Check out our Where We Stay Page to learn more!
Merch
If you’d like to dress for the Highlands and look even better on your tour, then check out our range of merchandise! Available as an add-on for your tour or to buy at your departure point (Castle Rock Hostel)
Check all our Merch out here!
T&Cs
This Tour is for 18-39 Year Old Women Only
We are putting on a completely female tour over Women’s Day and all guests on our tour must be female and 18-39 to join. Please don’t join this tour if you are not within these categories as you may have your booking cancelled. For other dates all our other tours are 18-39 only and you can see our range of tours here. This tour is for women only, but all our other tours are for any gender.
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 £34 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 your departure point (Castle Rock Hostel) on your departure date.
Upcoming Tours Schedule
Events in February 2025
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3 Day Isle of Skye -
3 Day Isle of Skye -
3 Day Isle of Skye -
3 Day Isle of Skye -
3 Day Isle of Skye -
3 Day Isle of Skye -
3 Day Isle of Skye -
3 Day Isle of Skye
Reviews of 3 Day Isle of Skye
Was a fantastic trip and managed to fit a lot into a three day tour! Really enjoyed it and definitely came at the perfect time. Hope to come back to Skye again as so much I probably didn’t see. The tour guide Neil was superb and his knowledge of the area and the tales told on the journey elevated this trip. Thanks for a perfect January break!
This was an amazing trip. Surprised that I got to see so much in 3 days. Also didn’t feel rushed at all. The accommodation was nice and cosy. Kyleakin is a beautiful place to stay. Good decision Macbackpackers! The guide Dave was a gem of a guy. Funny easy going and all round amazing! Plans the day really well even though it feels like roaming around with your mates without a plan. We went for awesome walks and Dave gives you so much space and options. Highly recommended!
I would said that this was one of the most unique, beautiful, fulfilling experiences I had ever done. Please don’t hesitate to book this tour with MacBackpackers just do it and allow yourself to live this magical experience. Thank you so much Tim you were the most incredible guide. Your knowledge about Scotland, the unique hikes and trails and your amazing sense of humor. And of course the whiskey shots. Thank you for this experience MacBackpackers!
Team Macbagpackers arranged the best trip ever. I want to highlight particularly they have exceptional customer service, Due a confusion I missed their tour and was 40mins late, but the staff were so understanding and took me in a separate car and patched me up with the group. I believe no tour company would go that far to help their customers and they have the best customer satisfaction.
Amazing trip with these guys, had a lot of fun exploring scotland. We went for a 3 day trip. Our guide Branka is a gem, lovely person, full of energy. The hostel stays were good, the pace of tour was also good. Enjoyed overall.
Go for a 5 day trip if you can.
3 day tour was great way to see the highlands / Isle of Skye, if I had more time I would definitely do the 5 day tour. Our tour guide Branca was awesome! Very knowledgeable about the history, folklore and best photo spots. We would only be in the bus for an hour & a half max at any one time, plenty of stops. Absolutely loved it!
