Tour Type
International Tours
DEPARTURE INFORMATION
Lower Mainland
August 21, 2025 – 19 Days
Vancouver Island
August 20, 2025 – 21 Days
BC Interior
August 20, 2025 – 21 Days
Activity Level 3
GROUP SIZE
TOUR SUMMARY
Scotland Highlands & Islands
Scotland is renowned for its rich heritage, its passionate people, and its contribution to the world past and present. Scottish culture has spread across the globe through emigration, and about 40 million people world-wide identify themselves as Scottish. Those whose ancestry reaches back to the land of Robert the Bruce, Sir Walter Scott, and Sir Sean Connery hold strong to the traditions and characteristics of the people. There are so many recognizable Scottish icons: Gaelic, tartans, kilts, whisky, thistle, bag pipes, Robbie Burns, St. Andrews, and the Stone of Destiny. Far and wide, most Scots are fiercely proud to claim these as their own. Wells Gray Tours is excited to offer this in-depth but leisurely journey, our 6th tour to Scotland, that delves into the diverse land, history, and personalities of this remarkable country.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
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Meals
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37 meals
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35 meals
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34 meals
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Transportation
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Accommodation
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Guides & Gratuities
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Knowledgeable Wells Gray tour director
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Tour Highlights (Included)
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TOUR FARES
| Departure Point | Fares per Person |
|---|---|
$15,24518,075 |
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$15,42018,250 |
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$14,855$17,445 |
- Please add 0.3% GST.
- There is an additional cost to passengers flying from/to Nanaimo or Comox to join this tour.
DEPARTURE POINTS & DATES
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Level
High Activity: You are an active traveller who wants to explore wherever you go. You don’t mind a mix of full days, early morning starts, and some late nights. You can walk longer distances, up to 4 km without difficulty, and stand for prolonged periods. Due to the historic nature of many attractions, it may be necessary to climb stairs and walk on uneven surfaces. You can climb three flights of stairs easily and unassisted, and can handle your own luggage in airports or at hotels where luggage handling may not be available. This tour is not appropriate for people with canes, walkers, wheelchairs, or other mobility assistance devices. You can bring walking poles. The tour director, Scottish guide, and drivers have many responsibilities, so please do not expect them, or your fellow travellers, to provide ongoing assistance. If you are not capable of keeping up with the group or require frequent assistance, the tour director may stop you from participating in some activities or some days of the tour. In extreme situations, you may be required to leave the tour and travel home at your own expense; travel insurance will probably not cover you.
Please note: Prior to accepting your booking, you will be required to sign a declaration that you are capable of travelling on an Activity Level 3 tour.
Tour Size
This tour is limited to 25 participants, making it a more intimate travel experience.
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Documentation: A passport is required for this tour and must be valid until your return to Canada. A Canadian citizen does not require a visa to enter the United Kingdom. An Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) may be required by August 2025, but no date has been set for implementation. This is an online application.
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Tour director & guides: A Wells Gray tour director accompanies you throughout the tour. A Scottish guide is with you for 17 days in Scotland. Local guides are hired for some cities to provide in-depth commentary and a regional insight.
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Itinerary and Fare Changes: This tour was planned nearly 2 years before departure as there is high demand for hotels in Scotland in summer, particularly outside Edinburgh and Glasgow. It has been released for sale 13 months before departure. Due to continuing after effects of the pandemic, sometimes we are notified about changes to the itinerary prior to departure and sometimes during the tour. We do our best to substitute a similar service if something cancels, but occasionally the only alternative is to provide a refund for the missed activity. Please note that if we are forced to cancel a tour component due to an issue beyond our control, the current penalties still apply if you choose to cancel the entire tour. Fuel surcharges and changes to taxes, currency exchange rates, or other tour costs can occur at any time, therefore Wells Gray Tours reserves the right to increase fares due to such changes up to departure. The flight cannot be booked until October 2024, so the included air fare has been estimated based on 2024 rates.
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Currency & Expenses: The currency in Scotland is the British Pound and, as of July 2024, a Canadian dollar is worth about £0.57 (or a British Pound will cost you about $1.75). You should order pounds from your bank 2-3 weeks before departure, or plan to use ATMs in Scotland, or exchange funds after arrival. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. Costs for meals and attractions you choose yourself are generally higher than in Canada.
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Flights : Flights between Vancouver and Edinburgh cannot be booked until October 2024. After that, we can advise you of the airline and flight schedule.
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Flight seating: We are unable to take requests for window or aisle seating on the planes. The airline will not accept them, as group seating is assigned as a block. If this is important to you, we suggest you take the “No Flight” option and we can quote the fare reduction after October 2024. Then you can book your own flight which allows seat selection.
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Flight upgrades: Please enquire about current prices for upgrades on the flights between Vancouver and Edinburgh. Premium economy and business class may be available.
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Flight delays due to weather: In the event flights are delayed or cancelled by airlines due to weather, there may be additional costs to you. Wells Gray Tours Ltd. will not pay for hotel rooms and meals during the delay. Most travel insurance policies cover expenses incurred for weather delays.
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Food Allergies: You must notify us no later than at final payment if you have a food allergy. This tour goes to some remote places where restaurants may not be able to satisfy all food allergies. An allergy causes medical distress, a preference does not. For some allergies, please consider bringing your own snacks or food items so you are not dependent on what restaurants are able to serve.
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Gratuities: The gratuities to the Scottish guide, local guides, and coach drivers are included in the tour fare. The customary gratuities to the Wells Gray tour director and Canadian drivers are not included and are left to your discretion.
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Hotels: Please expect basic accommodations in Scotland as there are no better options in the remote areas of the country. Hotels in Edinburgh, Inverness, and Glasgow are rated 4 stars, but others are rated 3 stars and one is 2 stars. Some hotels do not offer luggage handling services, so you must be prepared to carry your own between the coach and your room.
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Rooms for singles: Rooms for singles are often a different style or smaller size than twin rooms. We are very limited in the number of singles we can accommodate, since many hotels limit the number of single rooms for a group. Additional single rooms may be added to the tour but would likely be at a higher cost.
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Payments: A deposit of $1,000 per person is requested at the time of booking and the balance is due May 15, 2025. By paying the deposit, you agree to the Terms & Conditions, Activity Level and Cancellation Policy outlined. Payments can be made by online banking or cheque (1.5% discount on tour fare), or by Visa or Mastercard ($5,000 limit per person on credit cards).
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Cancellation Policy: Up to April 15, 2025, your tour payments will be refunded less an administrative charge of $100 per person. From April 16 to May 15, the cancellation charge is $300 per person. From May 16 to June 13, the cancellation charge is 40% of the tour fare. From June 14 to July 15, the cancellation charge is 80% of the tour fare. After July 15, there is no refund.
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Travel Insurance: A Comprehensive Insurance policy is available through Wells Gray Tours and coverage is provided by Travel Guard. Policies purchased at deposit include a waiver of the pre-existing condition clause for medical and cancellation claims, otherwise policies can be purchased no later than at final payment. Medical questionnaire is not needed. Please contact us for details. If you have your own travel insurance, please read the policy carefully to be sure that you are adequately covered for medical, cancellation, interruption, and luggage. Please do not leave Canada without medical insurance as a minimum.
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Photo Credits: Visit Scotland (Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness), Wikimedia (Skye, Edinburgh Tattoo, Dunvegan Castle), and Flickr (Standing Stones of Stenness).
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Experience Points or E-points: This tour earns 248 e-points. Each time you travel on a Wells Gray tour, you earn e-points that are added to your account after the tour returns. One e-point equals $1. Redeem your earned points on select tours or accumulate enough points to earn a free tour! Redemptions offered until May 15, 2025.
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Consumer Protection BC Licenses: Kamloops 178, Vernon 655, Kelowna 588, Penticton 924, Victoria 65842