A Scottish Christmas

In the Scottish capital today, your festive vacation begins. After meeting the Tour Manager and checking into our hotel, you're free to start exploring.

Edinburgh's Old Town has lots of historic sites including Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. There are plenty of other attractions well worth visiting too, such as Holyrood Palace and the seat of Scotland's new Parliament, Arthur's Seat viewpoint, the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Back at the hotel this evening, we relax with festive mulled wine before dinner.

• Dinner

This morning we board our train for the journey northwards to Inverness. Gaze out of the window as we travel over the iconic Forth Bridge, through the wild and dramatic scenery of the Cairngorms and past the charming Highland towns of Kingussie, Pitlochry and Aviemore, all decked out in their winter finery.

Checking in to our hotel on the banks of the River Ness, there is time to relax with a drinks reception and make the most of the hotel's facilities before this evening's festivities. Regrouping later, a traditional Scottish dinner with live entertainment awaits.

• Breakfast, Dinner

It's Christmas Eve and we embark on a festive journey along the picturesque Kyle Line, a true embodiment of Scotland's railroad heritage. Snaking through the misty lochs and towering mountains of the Highlands, we glide through the Torridon Hills and reach the shores of Loch Alsh.

Just a short drive away the 13th-century Eilean Donan Castle is perched atop a tiny island at the confluence of Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh. Take some time to admire and take photos outside this iconic fortress, which has played a role in several movies. After, we return to our hotel for dinner with a complimentary bar between 7-10pm.

Live entertainment is provided throughout this special evening, filling us with the joy and spirit of Christmas Eve. For those who would like to attend a Christmas Eve church service, warm soup will be waiting on your return.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Christmas Day morning begins with breakfast, accompanied by a celebratory Bucks Fizz. Afterwards, Santa Claus visits to spread Christmas cheer, after which we are served some warming mulled wine.

This afternoon, you could walk beside the River Ness, before we sit down to a traditional Christmas lunch with champagne at the hotel. With time to relax and socialize, you could toast to the King's Speech with a dram or two before the festivities start up again this evening. We enjoy a festive buffet dinner with a complimentary bar included from 7-10pm. The entertainment tonight features Scottish music and traditional dancing, the perfect way to end this special day.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we travel by coach to the scenic shores of Loch Ness, part of the Great Glen. This area is a long fault line stretching over 60 miles, from Inverness in the north to Fort William in the south.

We stop off at the Loch Ness Exhibition Center which details the long history and complex geology of the area, as well as a section dedicated to Nessie herself, the world-famous Loch Ness Monster. We return to Inverness via Fort Augustus and Urquhart Castle, set on a headland looking over the loch. Dinner tonight includes a complimentary bar from 7-10pm.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We return to Edinburgh this morning, traveling through the spectacular scenery of the Cairngorms once again. After checking into our hotel, you have free time to go sightseeing. Discover famed attractions still decked out in their festive regalia, explore the city's Christmas markets or enjoy a walk through the streets of the Georgian New Town. After, you could enjoy a warming drink in a traditional pub.

Our last evening together is a fantastic occasion. We are treated to a Great Scots dinner, accompanied by traditional Scottish piping, dancers and storytelling - a wonderful end to our Scottish Christmas vacation.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After our final breakfast in Edinburgh, our wonderful Christmas vacation draws to a close. The mountains and lochs of The Highlands have been a breathtaking backdrop as we celebrated the festive period by staying in Inverness, traveling along the heritage Kyle Line and exploring the mysteries of Loch Ness before a grand end back in Edinburgh.

Once you check out of the hotel, you are free to begin your journey home or continue celebrating the season in Edinburgh or the Highlands.

• Breakfast