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Achmelvich Beach - 5 Day Tour The Grand Tour of Scotland

5 Day Grand Tour of Scotland

This classic 5-day tour showcases the best of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. From dazzling white beaches to the dramatic mountain landscapes of Skye and Assynt, our Grand Tour will live with you forever.

Our 5 day adventure begins by crossing the famous Forth Bridge, travelling past the Fair City of Perth before our first stop at the picturesque Victorian Highland village of Pitlochry.

Five days exploring the Highlands in a very small group

Get off the beaten track in the Wee Red Bus

Surrounded by a stunning Perthshire landscape of mountains, woodland and water there is an optional visit to the Blair Athol distillery for a tour and tasting – a must for all Scotch lovers! Non whisky drinkers can enjoy the bustling High St or stretch their legs beside the River Tummel.

We continue north through the Cairngorms National Park with sweeping views across the Spey Valley and the Central Highlands.

By mid afternoon we arrive at one of Scotland’s most evocative and scared prehistoric sites, the 4000 year old stone circles and burial cairns at Clava Cairns.

Highland town of Pitlochry

Walk and talk at Culloden Battlefield

Standing stones at Clava Cairns

Malt whisky tasting and tour at Blair Athol Distillery

Our final stop is Culloden Moor where the Jacobites were finally defeated by government soldiers in 1746, the last battle to be fought on British soil.

You will have time to walk on the battlefield and learn more about this tragic event that killed 700 Highland clansmen in three minutes. Our base for two nights is the Highland capital, Inverness.

Inverness - your base for two nights and capital of the Highlands

A trip to Assynt and the Coigach peninsula will live with you forever as an area of outstanding natural beauty encompassing hundreds of lochs, beautiful coastline, and native woodlands all set against the stunning backdrop of some remarkable mountains.

This dramatic Highland landscape has inspired many from all over the world. We stop at the pretty fishing village of Ullapool for coffee, before continuing north-west to the unique landscape of Assynt and the Inverpolly Nature Reserve.

Stac Pollaidh mountain in unique and dramatic Assynt

Famous mountains such as Suilven and Stac Pollaidh are never far from view. There can be few more scenic roads in the country than that from Badnagyle to Lochinver, where we pause for lunch. It’s then onto stunning Achmelvich beach to enjoy the wild coastline and beautiful sands.

Achmelvich Beach

Our drive continues to the ruins of 15th century Ardvreck Castle on the shores of Loch Assynt before we finish this fabulous day at the dramatic Corrieshalloch Gorge.

We say goodbye to Inverness and head to the Isle of Skye via the magic of Loch Ness and the rugged splendour of the Western Highlands.

Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle

Cruise on Loch Ness

First stop is the world’s most famous lake, best known for sightings of Nessie, the legendary Loch Ness monster!

There’s an option to take a 1 hour boat trip with views of Urquhart Castle or alternatively spend time at the loch-side village of Drumnadrochit for souvenir shopping and/or a visit to the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition.

We continue to the southern end of the loch for lunch in the picturesque village of Fort Augustus.

Getting away from the crowds

The spectacular Cuillin mountains on Skye

Eilean Donan Castle

Plenty of scenic photo stops

Dramatic scenery unfolds as we drive west, stopping for photos at the famous viewpoint over Loch Garry and the wilderness of Knoydart beyond. We continue past the Five Sisters of Kintail – a high mountain ridge rising steeply from Glen Shiel – towards world-famous Eilean Donan Castle.

Perhaps the most iconic image of Highland Scotland the castle has been used as the backdrop for countless well-known movies. It is perfectly situated on a small island, surrounded by water and fabulous scenery – a ‘must-see’ Scottish landmark.

From here it’s only a short drive to the Skye Bridge and onwards to Sligachan for a stunning view of the Cuillin Mountains. Our final stop of the day is the island capital of Portree where we will stay for two nights.

Portree - your picturesque base for two nights on the Isle of Skye

Today is spent touring the Isle of Skye, a flexible itinerary at the discretion of your driver / guide * (see below).

We enjoy a half-day scenic drive along the dramatic Trotternish Ridge with its spectacular cliffs and rock formations. Stops can include Lealt Waterfall, Kilt Rock sea cliffs, the Old Man of Storr rock pinnacle and a walk at the Quiraing mountain pass. Another popular stop is the Fairy Glen, a delightful miniature Highland landscape and legendary home of the ‘wee people’!

Small groups and plenty of time with your guide

The Wee Red Bus on the dramatic Quiraing mountain pass

A full day exploring the stunning Isle of Skye

The second half of the day explores the stunning southern part of the island which includes well-known sights and some hidden gems we’ve discovered over the years.

Nestled under the Cuillin mountains is beautiful Glen Brittle. Rugged scenery surrounds us and there are several fantastic options for this section of the tour, including a short walk in the iconic mountain landscape to the famous Fairy Pools.

The beautiful Isle of Skye

Lots of happy memories to take home

Another popular excursion is the drive to Neist Point lighthouse for spectacular views to the Western Isles.

The 13th century home of the famous Clan McLeod, Dunvegan Castle offers guided tours, a useful wet-weather option because of Skye’s famously changeable weather. It’s not called the ‘Misty Isle’ for nothing!

* Please note depending on weather and traffic conditions the itinerary is flexible to maximise our time on Skye.

Our day begins with a scenic drive across Skye to the ferry terminal at Armadale for the 30 minute sea crossing to Mallaig (subject to availability).

With spectacular views to the Small Isles and Cuillin Mountains, the iconic black and red Caledonian Macbrayne ferry takes us back to mainland Scotland with wildlife spotting opportunities en route including seals, sea birds and the occasional whale, dolphin or otter.

The ferry from Skye back to mainland Scotland

Enjoy the company of our friendly driver guides

The 'Hogwarts Express' crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct

On arrival in Mallaig we follow the beautiful ‘Road to the Isles’ to Glenfinnan Viaduct which famously features in several Harry Potter movies as the Hogwarts Express train crosses the bridge. Historically this stunning viewpoint also marks the spot where Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) landed on mainland Scotland and raised his standard prior to the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion.

As we drive to Fort William for lunch we stop for a photo of Britain’s highest mountain Ben Nevis at Neptune’s Staircase. This series of locks on the Caledonian Canal raises the water level 20 metres and was designed by the famous Scottish engineer Thomas Telford.

Mountains and lochs provide a dramatic backdrop as we continue to Glen Coe, perhaps the most famous of all Scotland’s glens.

Make new friends along the way

The Wee Red Bus at Glen Coe

This narrow valley is where the bloody massacre of the MacDonalds took place in 1692. You may even recognise this part of the Highlands, used as a backdrop for many movies including Skyfall.

Our Grand Tour concludes with a photo stop at 13th century Doune Castle. Protecting the gateway to the Highlands the medieval castle has recently been seen as Castle Leoch in Outlander, Winterfell in Game of Thrones but is probably most famous for featuring in the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

COVID-19 information

This business has confirmed that they have implemented, and will ensure ongoing compliance with, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels protocols. The Safe Travels stamp is based on self-assessment and it is not a certification.

From £459 per adult

Departure days.

• W Wednesday

April — October

Contact details

• +44 (0131) 2282888
• View tour details
• [email protected]

Tour information

• Edinburgh & The Lothians
• Edinburgh - City Centre
• Small coach
• Small Group (1-16)
• Architecture
• Film and TV
• Island Hopping

Tour prices

From £459 Per Adult £245 Per Child £444 Concession

Prices are subject to change depending on season

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Tour company information

Heart of scotland tours.

Our 5-star, award winning guided tours are carefully designed to give you lots of variety by including the best-loved sights as well as hidden gems that many tourists never see. Enjoy the spectacular mountains of the Highlands, ancient castles, beautiful lochs and some of the best views in the world. We look forward to welcoming you onto our famous 16 seat Wee Red Buses to experience and enjoy the essential Scotland together.

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Opening times

Our phone line is open from 07.00 to 21.00 every day +44(0)131 228 2888 Or book online at heartofscotlandtours.co.uk

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Enjoy 20% off all one day tours with code EASTER20 on tours departing until April 7th

Highland Experience Tours

Scottish highlands tours & experiences, most popular tours of scotland.

• Most popular tour!

Loch Ness, Glen Coe & the Highlands

Loch Ness, Glen Coe & the Highlands. On this tour, drive the full length of Loch Ness, get the opportunity to cruise on the loch and explore Urquhart Castle, and pass through Cairngorms National Park and the stunning Glen Coe.

• Calendar All year
• User 3+ years old
• Hour Glass 12.5 hrs
• Hour Glass 3 days

Ultimate Skye Experience

Stay, explore and travel like a local in one of Scotland’s most scenic locations, the Isle of Skye, and see the spectacular Eilean Donan Castle. Book today!

• Hour Glass 9 hrs 45 min

Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond & Whisky

This is the Scottish experience ‘distilled’. It gives you a taste of three classic Scottish ingredients — castles, lochs and whisky. Book online today!

• Hour Glass 8.5 hrs

Rosslyn Chapel, Stirling Castle & Dunfermline Abbey

We take you behind the headlines of Dan Brown’s ‘Da Vinci Code’, explaining the background of one of the world’s most enduring mysteries. Book online today!

Why Choose Highland Experience Tours?

5-Star Customer Service & Value

Award-Winning Local Guides

Comfort on Our Luxury Eco-Friendly Vehicles

Choices: Departure City, Accommodation, and More

• Change multi-day tours for free up until 14 days before your tour starts!
• Change day-tours for free up until 24 hours before your tour starts!

This means you can book and be safe in the knowledge that if your plans change, we’ll change with you.

Experience Scotland with us!

As you might have noticed, we LOVE Scotland. From the challenging mountains to the glistening lochs and mysterious glens, the variety in its natural features is as striking as it is beautiful. But that’s not all; Scotland is also a nation boasting rich Scottish folklore and historical heritage. Clans, tartans, kilts and bagpipes are world-famous Scottish symbols, and so are our myths and historical figures. Are you curious about the origins of Nessie or want to learn about William Wallace or the battle of Culloden ? Scotland has an extensive history to be unearthed. With Highland Experience Tours, you enjoy world-famous Highland hospitality and experience all that Scotland has to offer. But don’t just take our word for it. Take a tour and experience it for yourself.

We hope to see you soon.

Award-Winning Guided Scotland Tours

Your Scotland experience starts here. From monsters and mountains , chapels and chieftains to castles and whisky , we want to give you the most authentic Scottish experience possible. From the comfort of our luxury bespoke vehicles to our legendary, fully qualified guides, we can’t wait to show you our stunning country.

We consider ourselves extremely lucky to have a job doing something we really enjoy; everyone at Highland Experience shares a passion for travel and helping other people discover Scotland’s Highlands.

Our love for real, sustainable and unique tour experiences makes us who we are.

Tours from Edinburgh

Tours from glasgow, tours from inverness, we have thousands of 5-star reviews.

Michael was a great tour guide full of facts and made the journey super enjoyable! We all felt safe and comfortable even during this complicated time. Would highly recommend to all! We will definitely be making a return to the Highlands soon 😁

Just finished this 3 day tour and it was amazing. Chris, our tour guide was friendly, an excellent driver with a great sense of humor and a wealth of knowledge about the history of Scotland including Isle of Sky and the highlands. We had lots of photo opportunities and some of the places we stopped at were breathtaking. Accommodation was cozy and easy walk to town for dinner. Perfect amount of time to see some of Scotland’s beauty. Thanks for a lovely experience.

Eddy our driver was great! He had lots of stories and jokes along the way! We had a small group as it’s the off season but this gave us so much time to explore each stop. We really enjoyed this tour! The chapel was amazing and the staff there were so kind answering all our questions and showing the hidden gems the chapel had.

We had a great experience on our tour. Our tour guide Iain was thorough, well informed and funny. He made sure that our group found all of the best photo opportunities and even took us on some side adventures. He went out of his way to make sure we were safe, happy and got to feed the hairy coos!

I've been on 3 different tours with this company and would highly recommend traveling with them if you want to see the highlands! I had different drivers every time, taking me to places in the highlands I've never been before! Great company with great guides! Thanks!

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Scotland's Highlands Islands and Cities (13 Days)

• In-depth Cultural
• Fully Guided
• Sightseeing

Places You’ll See

• Introduction
• Day 1 Welcome to Edinburgh
• Day 2 Discover Enchanting Edinburgh
• Day 3 A Day of Abbeys, Landscapes and History
• Day 4 Explore Glamis Castle and on to Creative Dundee
• Day 5 Venture to Culloden and Inverness Dive Into Culture
• Day 6 Journey to Loch Ness and Thurso
• Day 7 A Day on the Orkney Islands
• Day 8 Over the Sea to Skye
• Day 9 Onwards to Oban
• Day 10 Sail to the Isles of Mull and Iona
• Day 11 Off to Glasgow Make Travel Matter
• Day 12 Uncover Stirling Castle’s Secrets Connect with Locals
• Day 13 Farewell Glasgow

Want to read it later?

Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start tour planning offline

What's Included

• Accommodation
• Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

Operated by trafalgar.

Trafalgar has been hand crafting unique guided holidays for nearly 70 years. They were the first to introduce travellers to the local experience and continue today where destinations come to life through their hand-picked insider experiences. They pave the way by presenting locals who share their stories, culture, and cuisine With over 230 holidays in Europe, North, Central & South America, Australia, New Zealand and Asia Trafalgar offers new ways to travel every year. Choose between 11 travel styles created to satisfy even the most travelled individual. So whether you wish to explore in an intimate group to less visited destinations or travel with your entire family, Trafalgar offers the perfect range of tours that tailors to your needs.

Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Customer Reviews

• Overall Rating Excellent 5.0
• Itinerary Excellent 5.0
• Guide Excellent 5.0
• Transport Excellent 5.0
• Accommodation Excellent 5.0
• Food Excellent 5.0
• Tour Operator Trafalgar 4.5

Dates & Availability

Pay-by-instalments

Take advantage of our 0% interest instalment plan on selected departures. Learn More

• Upcoming departures
• August 2024
• September 2024
• October 2024
• August 2025
• September 2025
• October 2025
• Monday 29 Apr, 2024 Saturday 11 May, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin €4,325 See Similar Tours For These Dates

Space on this tour is not guaranteed. Book this tour to request your place and the operator will confirm availability.

• Monday 13 May, 2024 Saturday 25 May, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin €4,325 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Monday 20 May, 2024 Saturday 1 Jun, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin €4,325 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Monday 3 Jun, 2024 Saturday 15 Jun, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin €4,375 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• 2 Other Unavailable Departures
• Get Instant Confirmation Monday 10 Jun, 2024 Saturday 22 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €4,375 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h

Frequently Asked Questions

We are there for you! If you have any questions about this tour, then please don't hesitate to contact us 24/7 and we will get back to you latest within 2 hours!

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Good to Know

• Currency £ Pound Sterling Scotland

As a traveller from USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for type G.

• Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before 11th June 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 11th June 2024, a minimum payment of €100 is required to confirm your booking with Trafalgar. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 65 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
• Some departure dates and prices may vary and Trafalgar will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
• The following cards are accepted for "Trafalgar" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
• Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
• Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Sujit Shirke Review - Star Tours... - Star Tours

• Europe    
• United Kingdom (UK)    
• England    
• London    
• London - Things to Do    

We are really happy to express our happiness after finishing this tour, because as we booked by... read more

We did a day long trip with Star Tours, to Bournemouth and Durdle Door in the first week of June... read more

Sujit Shirke Review - Star Tours Scotland Package

Sujit Shirke Review - Star Tours Scotland Package Reflecting on my recent Scotland tour with Star Tours, led by tour manager Sujit Shirke, I feel compelled to share my experience, which was marred by incidents that fell short of acceptable standards in the realm of customer service. From the outset, our journey was marked by an unfortunate incident. Despite being a mere 15 minutes late to board the bus, Mr. Shirke opted to proceed without us, even as we stood right beside the bus. What followed was an uncomfortable demand for us to leave the tour on the spot, an embarrassing spectacle for all onlookers. This lack of consideration and respect, particularly towards senior female travelers, was an upsetting and unwelcome introduction to the trip. It is also worth noting that Mr. Shirke demanded an apology from us before allowing reboarding, a demand that further exemplified his mishandling of the situation and disregard for customer satisfaction. Regrettably, our travel experience also faced logistical challenges. The absence of phone charging facilities and onboard restrooms on the bus added needless inconveniences that could have been easily mitigated. Furthermore, the time allocated for each tourist destination was disappointingly inadequate. With a mere half-hour granted per location, a substantial portion of this time often dissipated in restroom queues, leaving us with an insufficient 15 minutes to truly appreciate the sights. Our grievances appeared to fall on deaf ears, with Mr. Shirke choosing to grant us entry only after attending to the needs of all other passengers. This approach to conflict resolution only heightened our dissatisfaction. During a designated meal stop, we were unceremoniously rushed through our meal, prompting feelings of discomfort and undue haste during what should have been a leisurely break. Compounding our frustrations, there were instances of misconduct by fellow tourists. Some individuals consumed alcohol on board, in blatant violation of the no-alcohol policy. However, these transgressions seemed to go unchecked, further undermining the integrity of the tour experience. In retrospect, I am deeply disappointed by my decision to choose this particular tour package. I implore Star Tours to reconsider individuals like Mr. Shirke for roles that involve direct customer interaction, as their behavior not only casts a shadow on the tour company's reputation but also reflects negatively on our fellow countrymen traveling abroad. Having spent a month in the UK, I can personally attest to the warmth and graciousness exhibited by the British populace. It is disheartening that incidents like those under Mr. Shirke's management can mar the overall perception of the country. In light of the aforementioned events, I strongly advise against choosing this tour package, as the tour manager's conduct and the overall experience left much to be desired.

We are really happy to express our happiness after finishing this tour, because as we booked by attracted of history in Scotland but star tour's manager made that more historical with providing detail of each and every historical place.

It was a "Historic Scotland" tour of 3night/4days. It wa a very meticulously planned programme keeping in mind the tourists needs. We were never rushed while visiting a place of interest and travel time in between the visiting places we're filled with the historical and economic facts of places we would be visiting next. That's a great information upfront! The tour manager Mr Sanjay Sihag is a man who knows his job well and the historical facts of the places he's taking us to. His time managing skills and keeping the group entertained are really great. Our driver Mr Gary is one cool chap and his driving skills are very good. Even on the narrow roads of hill sides we never had anxious moments. Star tours selection of hotels for stay and restaurants for food are really top class 👌 I would recommend Star Tours to any tourist without any reservations. Keep it up Star Tours, you have many places to take us!

Extremely disappointed from start to finish, coach with a stinking toilet that did not work for the whole trip and no effort to resolve the issue. Substandard accommodation with non A/C rooms and where there was A/C didn’t work and extremely rude hotel staff refusing to speak in English. Food with almost no choice and not even a soft drink at dinner time, also dinner on 2 out of 4 days was around midnight with young children unacceptable (despite running to there schedule) and if by any chance you want to complain there not interested and also block you on Social Media so you can’t comment which is what they have done to at least 5 people who have put honest but negative reviews they have blocked us on Facebook.

Had an amazing European tour with the company. They also helped to process visa and handled financials and valuable documents like BRP and passports with great care. The value for money is amazing.covered the itinerary exceptionally well. Expert tour managers and Mr Raymond, our manager, is a superstar. Will definitely travel again. Highly recommended

We did a day long trip with Star Tours, to Bournemouth and Durdle Door in the first week of June, 2023. First about a few things I liked with Star Tours. The booking was smooth and uneventful. The time provided at different sites was adequate and the programme itself has been well prepared. We departed from Wembley almost on time. The 30-seater coach provided was quite cramped, with very tight space to sit and extremely limited leg room. I do not mind paying more for comfortable space and leg room. The air-conditioner did not work for two hours, when the inside temperature coach exceeded 35deg C and the interiors became oppressive. The cleanliness of the coach could be improved appreciably and the window panes could be kept clean, which will provide an enjoyable view to the passengers. The tour manager was polite and responsive. However, when I compare to the experienced and trained English tour managers, the relevance, frequency and adequacy of information provided leaves a lot to be desired. There was not much desire to proactively engage with the passengers, which is sad. The Tour Manager did not lay down the rules of the game in the beginning of the tour in terms of the need for strict punctuality etc., with the result one or two groups were invariably late (the coach departed Bournemouth half an hour late at 5pm because of late coming pax, arriving London late), putting the other punctual passengers to difficulty. There was no announcement at all about the legal requirement for wearing the seat belt, with the result most passengers in the bus did NOT use the seat belt, which is a dangerous safety lapse. Although the responsibility for wearing the seat belt is that of the passenger concerned, the Tour Manager should ensure that this legal information is shared. In fact, one or two passengers were constantly moving inside the coach for no tangible reason and the Tour Manager had nothing to say about it. At the end of the trip, there was no announcement thanking the passengers on behalf of the company, which was a bit odd. The Hindi songs played (although there were a few passengers were not from India) often were a bit too loud. The driver was ok, barring an occasional lapse of judgement.(The coach was stopped by the Police Patrol for over 5 minutes for a conversation with a driver and I am not sure if this had anything to do with any traffic violation). It is important that the review should be seen in the light of feedback and suggestion for raising the bar.

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Reviews 4.8.

5,791 total

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First time moderate experience, hoping to get better service in future.

We opted for a star tour based on your friend's recommendation. Overall, our experience was good, but there are a few points we think Star Tour could improve. The bus was not clean enough on the second day; while returning from the tour, bus seats and toilets started stinking. Additionally, the hotel experience was not good. Cold breakfast was served, and there were no water bottles in the room. Furthermore, the kettle was not clean enough.

Date of experience : 30 March 2024

Historical Scotland with Star Tour

We just finished the most wonderful tour to Historical Scotland. Our guide, Mr. Ramakant and Coach Captain Jesson were amazing. They looked after everything and provided so much information about everywhere we went. Mr. Ramakant ensured we had enough time to see each point of interest thoroughly. I highly recommend the Star Tour. The itinerary was well planned.

Date of experience : 05 April 2024

Amazing Scotland trip

Amazing Scotland trip - April 2-5th… It was a super trip. We are family of 4 including two children. The kids enjoyed the trip throughout.Out tour experts Ramakanth and Jason were fantastic especially providing the information all the time. The food provided through the entire trip was good especially the lunch and dinner provided on our day 3 Edinburgh trip. Thank you star tours and Thank you Ramakanth and Jason.

Date of experience : 02 April 2024

Day trip to Oxford and Cotswolds with Star Tours

My mum and I went on the day tour to Oxford and Cotswolds, and everything was arranged brilliantly. Our tour guide, Abhishek was very informative and made sure that we all knew where to meet each other, as well as playing nice songs to keep us enthusiastic on the coach journey! Would definitely recommend to anyone else considering travelling.

Date of experience : 07 April 2024

We went to Eastern Europe trip via Star…

We went to Eastern Europe trip via Star Tours last week and we had a fantastic time. We were very chilled as Santhosh, the tour manger did the heavy lifting by cleverly managing the local guides, organizing yummy food at local restaurants etc

Eastern European tour with Star Tour

I went on an Eastern European tour with Star tours. The tour was well managed from the time at London airport to drop back. Local guides were arranged in the all countries with local traditional food in Austria and Chez. All the other nice India dinner. Our tour manager Santosh was awesome, he gave us enough time to visit the city and arranged local cruise where possible. Only flip side long coach journey which is unavoidable.

6 day EuroDisney trip

Recently we went to EuroDisney 6 days trip.We had lots of fun and the tour. Aman was knowledgeable about the history of the attractions we had seen and he was very passionate about the tour and cared for us. Jay was skilled and funny and he managed to take us to all the places mentioned on the itinerary on time.The overall experience was very good, the hotels were sublime and the Indian food was amazing. The one thing I would like to suggest about the food is that there should be a more variety of different cultures of food so that the kids can also enjoy and people don’t get tired of same food everyday. I will book more trips very soon as we had a good time,

Historic Scotland trip

This was a wonderful tour to Historic Scotland over four days. Our tour guide, Ramakanth was informative of the itinerary and explained the movements of every places of visit well. He had quite a lot of patience with us all and took part in many of the laughters throughout the journey 😊 Jason, our coach driver was very helpful, always smiling and took us through the places carefully in the highland areas! I say this as we were sitting at the back of the coach so we felt comfortable at all times. We went as three families together, as well as our company with each other, we thoroughly enjoyed the company of our fellow coach passengers whom we really connected with and have such wonderful memories to look back on! Overall as a first time traveller with Star tours, I would be going again to experience more great future trips! Thank you Star Tours… until next time 😊

A Trip To Remember

Our trip organised by Star Tours and especially by Mr Ramakant Iyengar and Mr Jason felt like a home away from home kind of experience. Mr Ramakant, very well handled all the itinerary and group. He gave us some fun moments to break the ice among the stangers in bus which later brought all of together as a family. The suggestions of the restaurants were the best both catering to vegetarian and no vegetarian people. Mr Jason also drove us around safe and was kind in his interaction wt one and all. In all this is by far the best tour experience we undertook in recent times. Looking forward to more such experience with Star Tours.

Reply from Star Tours

Thank you for your kind review Divya, we are glad to hear you had a excellent tour. Thank you Star Tours Team

Wonderful Scotland Trip with Star tours

This is our first long trip and we got so many good recommendations from friends to go with Star tours. We opted it and it is really a wonderful experience. We got holiday inn Express to stay and the food was really wonderful. Especially our coach Ramkant was friendly and he shared all the knowledge of locations and spots. Also we are the only south Indian family in the bus and he really made the environment friendly with other people. Thanks to Driver Jason for the wonderful drive, smooth drive even in highlands. Thanks to Star tours and I will really recommend to my friends and colleagues. Ram

A trip to remember

We recently went to scotland trip(2-5th Apr) with star tours and we had an amazing experience, our guide Mr.Ramkant and our coach captain Mr.Jason gave us much information about each and every spots,gives enough time to visit the places, they both are really doing their great job.Hotel stay is excellent,food was really really awesome. Well planned Trip from Star Tours!! This is our first trip with Star, Will definitely come again with Star Tours for another trip, also will recommend our friends to join with us!! Thank you Star Tours, Ramkant and Jason for making it wonderful 😍😍

Amazing Scotland with Star

The tour was well planned and the timings were perfectly given at all places. The venues were awesome. The hotels could have been slightly better. The one thing to be upgraded is meals. We are aware that Star Tours attracts a lot of Indians. Many are vegetarian and Jain. The breakfast options were almost nil beyond fruits and bread butter. Even dinners in Inverness could have b3en better. I do not understand why dinner could not be arranged for the 2nd night in Inverness. RD the tour escorts was knowledgeable, friendly and punctual. He ensured all the attractions were covered in proper time. But overall and amazing experience. I will surely recommend Star Tours to friends. Regards, Jesal Parekh

Dear Jesal, Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your valuable feedback on your recent tour experience with us. We greatly appreciate your detailed insights and are pleased to hear that overall, you had an amazing experience. Rest assured, we are actively working with our hotel partners to enhance the breakfast offerings to ensure a more satisfying experience for all our guests. We don't offer dinner on day 2 of Inverness to allow everyone to try local or their desired cuisine, but are always welcome to go the restaurant used. Thank you once again for choosing Star Tours and for recommending us to your friends. Your feedback is invaluable to us. Star Tours Team

Historical scotlannd

We had a great time in Scotland, it was great fun, we are thankful to Mr. Ramakant, He is so caring,he has good knowledge about history. From food to accommodation everything was excellent..Thanks to Mr. Ramakant . I would also like to thanks our pilot JASON..He is so cool...a smooth driver...I would also recommend star Tour to my friends and relatives. Best Harnish Patel Priyanka patel

The best part of the Star tours was the professional Tour Guide

The best part of the Star tours experience was the Tour Guide who was professional, interactive, informative, supportive, flexible, helpful and well planned in advance to look after the tour group. Highly recommend Dinshaw for future tours and to be selected as the guide as he is very professional, amusing and very helpful during all aspects of the tour. Without him, the tour would not have been the same. Highly recommend Star tour on this basis

Date of experience : 29 March 2024

Serene Europe

We went serene Europe on 30/032024 for 4 days. We had excellent tour .Mr. Atul and the Coach Captain shows their excellence in their profession. I want to give few suggestion 3 days lunch and dinner same kind of food please better to concentrate on this. We are travelled long distance to visit the tour attractions but we don`t have much time to explore the attraction. So I want the management to look into it. Because this was my third trip with star tours. I am excited to visit Switzerland in star tours very soon.

Eastern Europe - 7 Days

A great trip organised by Star Tours and, in my opinion, an all round much better trip than the 5 days we did last year on the panoramic Europe tour. The eastern Europe tour had local guides in every city/country organised for us. They were highly knowledgeable, informative and passionate about their city. The food and hotels were of a much higher standard too. Be aware alot of walking on this trip and so it is not advised for anyone who can't manage 5 miles a day minimum (some days we walked around 8 miles). Budapest and Prague were stand out days for me. Vienna also lovely. I feel we may have rushed through Krakow a bit due to the long journey onwards to Berlin. Again, food, Indian restaurants, and hotels were way better than those on the panoramic Europe tour. The local dinner and entertainment in Folklore Garden in Czech was a lovely surprise on this trip. Our tour manager Santosh was brilliant. Cool, calm, funny and flexible. He tailored specific days to the groups requirements and allowed us time to explore. I highly recommend this trip and Star Tours to give you a taster of Eastern Europe.

Eastern European Tour

My wife and I went on the Eastern European Tour with Star Tours UK from 30th Mar’24 - 05th Apr’24. The tour was well managed throughout. Excellent selection of hotels and rooms well equipped and comfortable. Food was simply great whether it was authentic Indian or local in Austria and czech republic. The one at Czech republic also comprised of local folklore music and dance performances from local artists and that took the evening and dining experience to the next level. Local guides were hired where needed and that helped to gain valuable information about the places visited. Tour manager Santosh P is very friendly and supportive. Always allow extra times when needed and also finding the extra touring opportunities wherever possible and overall managed extremely well. If anyone looking for Eastern European trip then Star Tours is highly recommended.

Amazing experience with Star Tours

We opted for Scotland Highlands tour with Star tours and the experience was amazing. The punctuality of the tour Manager (Mr. RD) was appreciable. He ensured that we covered all the places mentioned in the itinerary without any hassles and enjoyably. Star tours ensured that we feel at home while away from home. The Indian food was delicious too. RD gave us sufficient time at all the places. Also, the coach stopped at regular intervals so that everyone is comfortable having small breaks during the journey. We met some really good people in the journey and I must say that the journey was as beautiful as the destinations. I will highly recommend Star Tours for all UK, Europe, US tours and I have already booked more tour packages in upcoming months with Star Tours. As it's name says, Star Tours is a real Star in the tourism industry.

Your glowing review means a lot to us. We're glad we could exceed your expectations and provide you with exceptional service. Thank you again Star Tours Team

Jewels of Scotland

The history behind each place was explained really well by the tour manager. Also the attitude and the approach of the tour manager (Manish Jhaveri) is very friendly. We had a good time travelling with Star Tours. Thank you

It was absolutely great experience for…

It was absolutely great experience for us. Well organized and covered most of the places in short time. We will definitely recommend my friends to get this service and we are considering our next trip with startour as well. Our tour guide was Chirag, and he is very friendly and knowledgeable! He managed to finish our trip without any glitches! Thanks for everything!

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The New Star Tours Update: Everything You Need, and Want, to Know

Characters from the mandalorian, ahsoka, and andor are now part of the legendary disney attraction..

Before Disney bought Star Wars , the two brands began their courtship with a ride . Star Tours opened in 1987 and has seen many new upgrades and additions over the years . This week, for its Season of the Force event , Disney gave the ride another refresh. And this time, for the first time, it’s with characters from Disney+.

So, starting today, if you are at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, or Disneyland Paris, Star Tours now features characters from Ahsoka, Andor and The Mandalorian . But what’s new? How does it work? io9 was among a group of journalists Disney invited to an early preview of the new Star Tours at Disneyland in Anaheim, so we’ll explain.

How many new Star Tours locations are there?

Though you may have assumed otherwise, only one new, full planet has been added to Star Tours this time around: Seatos from Ahsoka. However, there are three different variations going into that. One featuring Ahsoka (with Rosario Dawson reprising the role), one featuring Cassian Andor (with Diego Luna reprising), and one featuring both the Mandalorian and Grogu.

What can happen on the new Star Tours ?

So, you get on the ride and start to pull out of the spaceport. Here’s where, potentially, your first new change will be. In the past, riders would usually see the Millennium Falcon sitting there as the ship was stopped by Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, or a Probe Droid. And while that’s still more likely to happen than not, if you happen to see a new ship there, you know exactly where this particular ride will take you.

Yes, in some Star Tours rides not only is Ahsoka Tano’s T-6 Jedi Shuttle in the first scene, you can see Ahsoka herself there in the frame. She’s talking to Stormtroopers and, when they discover the Rebel spy, Ahsoka turns on her lightsabers and battles off the troopers before jumping in the ship.

If you see that, you can impress your friends and tell them what’s going to happen next. After you visit one of many, many planets that were previously on the ride (I did it twice on Friday and both times it was podracing on Tatooine from Episode I ), you’ll then get one of the three new transmissions. However, if you got Ahsoka’s ship at the start, you are guaranteed to get Ahsoka in this moment. She’ll say “Hi” to C-3PO, and be excited to see her friend R2-D2 again, before asking to deliver a very important person—the Rebel spy. As she’s talking, we see Chopper and Huyang in the background, getting into shenanigans.

What are the two other transmissions?

These transmissions is the part of this new Star Tours that will be the most random. If you don’t get Ahsoka, maybe you’ll get the Mandalorian and Grogu. As Mando (who does not sound like it’s Pedro Pascal but we’ve asked Disney for confirmation) talks about a dangerous mission and fight, Grogu is eating one of his frogs. He then spits it out and it floats toward your face in 3D. It’s very cute and funny and just as the one-eyed creature gets close enough to almost touch it, Grogu sucks him back in. “This is the way,” Mando says, and you’re off to the final part of your mission.

Note: unfortunately, we didn’t get to see Cassian’s transmission but, from what we were told, it’s very different tonally than the other two, on purpose. While Ahsoka’s is friendly and Mando’s is funny, Cassian’s is mysterious. He comes out in a hood, lurking in a shadow, then reveals himself to the audience and asks for help with the spy. The key was that each one feels completely unique.

What happens on Seatos?

No matter what transmission you get though, everything is the same after that. Star Tours is off to Seatos, the planet from the final episodes of Ahsoka where they showdown with Thrawn. You arrive in some kind of shadow, only to emerge from the clouds flying among the majestic Purrgil (aka Space Whales). Ahsoka hails you on the side monitor and asks for help with the two ships attacking her, which R2 is more than happy to do. You fly up and around the Purrgil, along their backs, weaving in and out of its fins, and at one point almost even getting sucked in and eaten. Finally, there’s a perfect moment, which R2 uses to land the perfect shot and save the day. Ashoka thanks you, has a special goodbye for her old pal R2, and it’s back home.

Are the new additions to Star Tours good?

Yes and no. Yes, because anytime you can get to sit down and experience a new piece of Star Wars , especially on a ride that’s been around for almost 40 years, that’s a good thing. However, do I think Seatos as a planet is one of the better destinations in the ride? No. In fact, it may be one of my least favorites. It’s drastically lacking in drama compared to, say, Geonosis, Coruscant, or Naboo. But Ahsoka is great and it’s fun to follow a different ship around.

Oh, and the new transmissions (at least the ones we saw) were phenomenal. Much more detailed and eventful than the previous ones.

How long is the new ride happening?

“For a limited time” everyone who boards Star Tours will get the new planet of Seatos every time, as well as one of the new transmissions. Whether or not that’s just through the Season of the Force event or longer is unclear, and Disney wouldn’t commit to specifics. It might be a park to park decision. But, for at least a few weeks or months, if you go on Star Tours , you’ll get the new stuff.

Then, eventually, the three new transmissions and one new planet will be slotted into the ride’s randomizer. When that happens, it takes the number of possible combinations up to over 250.

Why Seatos over anything else?

In the last few years, thanks to Disney+, Star Wars has seen more new planets, characters, and creatures than ever. So why Seatos and the Purrgil? Well, Tom Fitzgerald, one of Star Tours ’ original Imagineers—who also worked on this one —said it was all about picking a planet that was different from all the others. Something unique. Maybe that’s colors or maybe, in this case, it’s a unique creature. So by choosing Seatos, not only do you get to see these massive, new, unique creatures, but those creatures allow the ride to do moves it’s never done before. That’s how we get the first barrel roll ever in Star Tours as well as a sequence he refers to as the “slalom ski run.”

How long did the new upgrade take?

Fitzgerald said he and his team first started working on these new additions sometime between 18 months and two years ago.

Could another ride get this treatment?

Since Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, Star Tours has been updated about every two or three years. This update is the first since 2019 though—so it makes you wonder, what’s next? And, will it even be Star Tours ?

When Galaxy’s Edge opened in 2019, Disney said that the Millennium Falcon ride, Smugglers Run , was designed in a similar fashion to Star Tours and that the actual visuals in the ride could be changed to take guests on new adventures. But now, that ride has been the same for five years. Could a change be coming? Unfortunately, no one from Imagineering or Lucasfilm would comment, confirm, or deny—but, fingers crossed.

The Ahsoka, Andor and Mandalorian additions to Star Tours: The Adventures Continue are now running at Disneyland, Hollywood Studios, and Disneyland Paris as part of the Season of the Force event. For more on that, check out this link.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel , Star Wars , and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV , and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who .