The following itinerary is an example of a 10 days scotch whisky focused tour that we have planned in the past. If you are interested in hearing about future dates for this tour join the interest list here. Knowing you are interested will help inspire us to make it happen! And if you’d like to organise a private tour for your own group contact us.
This tour includes a small group, a great guide, exclusive whisky experiences, 4-star iconic hotels, all visits mentioned on the itinerary, and some very special drams!
Our Scotland Whisky Tour has been meticulously and lovingly prepared as a collaboration between Colin Mairs (Mondumo Tours / Excursion Scotland) and Vikki Bruce of MacLean & Bruce.
Along with Charles MacLean, famous author and whisky nose, Vikki is a Director of MacLean & Bruce and specialises in organising whisky dinners, tastings and masterclasses, tuition, and tours; offering guests unrivalled whisky excellence… and a dram from independent bottlers, Adelphi is never too far away. Vikki's husband Alex Bruce is Managing Director of Adelphi and Ardnamurchan Distillery.
Colin Mairs is a professional tour guide and self-confessed whisky geek. He began guiding in Scotland in 2009, and guides in in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. Colin moved to New Zealand in 2015 and took up the challenge of guiding in two hemispheres, working on a freelance basis in New Zealand and also arranging his own New Zealand tours. Colin still regularly leads tours of Scotland for Rick Steves Europe and has featured in TV shows with Rick about Scotland. More recently (2020) Colin began working in the whisky industry too, with a local Auckland-based importer and retailer of Scotch whiskies and representing a local whisky distillery in Sales and Ambassadorial work.
Experience Highlights
Getting There
Our journey of whisky discovery and delight begins in Speyside.
- 1If you decide to spend the night prior to the tour in Aberdeen, we’ll arrange lunchtime transfers for you from central Aberdeen to our hotel in Speyside
- 2Aberdeen Airport has direct links from over 40 locations across Europe.
- 3There are overnight trains from London Kings Cross to Aberdeen which arrive around 7 and 8am.
- 4There are buses and trains from both Glasgow and Edinburgh to Aberdeen.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Our tour begins in Speyside with an afternoon welcome meeting, followed by a flight of whiskies and a delicious Scottish meal, while we begin to get to know our fellow whisky buddies! Dinner and whisky flight included. Sleep Craigellachie (3 nights).
Day 2
Visit Macallan, Ballindalloch and Glenfarclas distilleries. While we drive around Speyside, at every turn you’ll see another famous name. Free for dinner and evening amusement – a well stocked whisky bar or two in close reach. Lunch included.
Day 3
Today we visit GlenDronach, BenRiach and Speyside Cooperage. See master coopers building and refurbishing casks for distilleries throughout Scotland. Just 14 coopers work here and must complete a four-year apprenticeship before becoming a “master”.
Day 4
After breakfast whiskies at Tomatin Distillery, we’ll travel via Inverness and then southwest down the Great Glen. Just to freshen up and clear out the cobwebs we’ll take a boat cruise on the famous Loch Ness and maybe even see if Nessie is around to take a selfie or two! Visit the evocative site of Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness, then retreat to a nearby local haunt for a hearty lunch and, guess what, another world-class whisky bar (we know where all the best ones are)! Continue to Fort William with a stop on the way for a dram at Ben Nevis Distillery. Dinner included. Sleep in Fort William (1 night).
Day 5
Today we head for the peaty whisky mecca of Islay! But before the ferry there is time for a tour and tasting at Oban Distillery. Lunch included in Oban. We’ll then travel through Kilmartin Glen and stop off at a very special site: Dunadd, the ancient hillfort capital of the Scots of Dalriada. Afternoon sailing from Kennacraig to Port Ellen. Dinner together at our hotel on Islay, where we sleep for 3 nights.
Day 6
Release the peat! We visit the Kildalton distilleries along the south coast of Islay – Lagavulin, Laphraoig and Ardbeg. Enjoy the hospitality of the local Ileachs and try your hand at peat cutting – not as simple as it looks!
Day 7
Another day for visiting Islay distilleries, this time to Islay’s farm distillery – Kilchoman, also Caol Ila and Bruichladdich. We’ll also have a look at the Islay’s new kid on the block distilleries.
Day 8
A lazy morning to do your own thing, another distillery visit if you can handle it (Bowmore), and then we take an afternoon flight to Glasgow. Short transfer from Glasgow Airport to our city centre hotel. Evening free to explore the sights and sounds of Glasgow (Unesco City of Music). We know where the best bars are and will be happy to show you the way and maybe even shout the first round – hey we are Scottish y’know! Short arms and deep pockets and all that.
Day 9
Glaswegians are renowned for being the friendliest souls in the British Isles and today we’ll experience more of the Glesga hospitalitae. Visit to two distilleries – Clydeside and Glengoyne – and round off the day and the tour with a very special whisky tasting hosted by our good friend and well-known whisky personality, Charles MacLean. A final dinner to toast new friends and regale tales from the tour. As Robert Burns said “Freedom an’ whisky gang the gither!”
Day 10
There are no visits planned today but breakfast is included and your guide will be on hand to help you plan your onward travels or your day’s activities in Glasgow. Edinburgh is less than an hour away by train, and we’ll be happy to assist with any add-on travels in Scotland (or Ireland… to be sure) that you may be tempted to do.
Itinerary specifics subject to change.
All details bound by Mondumo Terms and Conditions.
If you have any questions about this tour please email colin@mondumo.com
More Details
Route
Tour starts in Speyside ends in Glasgow
Tour Dates
There are no current departures planned for this tour – join the waitlist here if you would like to be the first to know when future plans are being hatched. Knowing you are interested will inspire us to make it happen!
Accommodation
Overnight stays: Speyside (3), Fort William (1), Islay (3), Glasgow (2). All 4-star rated hotels, iconic in the whisky world.
Tour Price
Indicative pricing (2023): Twin share USD $6,700 per person. Tour price covers accommodation every night of the tour; all breakfasts; 9 other meals; transportation throughout the tour; ferry to Islay; flight from Islay to Glasgow; services of a professional Scottish tour guide; admissions for all group activities mentioned on the itinerary; all tips for drivers, local guides and waiting staff.
Single Supplements
Optional single supplements — we have a limited number of private rooms for solo travellers at an additional fee.
Solo Travellers
Solo travellers may be able to arrange a same gender room share. Email colin@mondumo.com to discuss.
Note
You are responsible for the cost of your own drinks at meals (except where mentioned on the itinerary) and cost of any additional free-time sightseeing. International flights not included in tour cost. We strongly recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance at the time of tour and flight booking. See Terms and Conditions for important details regarding all of the above.