★★★★★
The day tour from Inverness with an hour at Eilean Donan
Twelve hours of looking out of the window, and the views were too good to sleep through on the way back. We were lucky with the sun, and the guide made the long day easy.
Susan W. · 2026
Isle of Skye Tour Reviews
What travellers wrote after twelve hours from Inverness with an hour at Eilean Donan, a wet walk to the Fairy Pools from Portree, a private day to the Fairy Glen and the Quiraing, or three days with two nights in Portree. Comparing guided tours of the Isle of Skye? The operators' own ratings and fares sit side by side below.
What travellers said afterwards
These are travellers' own accounts, paraphrased, each tagged with the tour it belongs to. The low scores stay in, because they are the useful ones. One traveller spent twelve hours in the middle of the back seat. Another slept two kilometres from Portree and walked in through the rain. A coach full of people could not hear their guide for two days, and a driver-guide was superb on the roads with little history to tell.
★★★★★
The day tour from Inverness with an hour at Eilean Donan
Our eight-year-old, who hates buses, loved the whole day. The guide knew the island well and kept everyone laughing.
Raymond L. · 2026
★★★★★
The day tour from Inverness with an hour at Eilean Donan
It snowed on the day, and the island looked all the better for it. The guide was what made the tour.
Mark T. · 2026
★★★★☆
The day tour from Inverness with an hour at Eilean Donan
It is a long day, and even beautiful driving can feel like too much of it. Still, you see a great deal without having to drive those roads yourself.
Todd M. · 2026
★☆☆☆☆
The day tour from Inverness with an hour at Eilean Donan
Ask about the vehicle before you book. Twelve hours squeezed into the middle of the back seat was hard going.
Linda B. · 2026
★★★★★
The day tour from Inverness with an hour at Eilean Donan
I would have liked fewer stops and longer at a few of them, but the storytelling carried the day.
Nancy A. · 2026
★★★★★
The 3-day tour from Edinburgh with two Portree nights
A clean, comfortable guesthouse in Portree, with breakfast. Pack for every kind of weather.
Tina M. · 2026
★★★★★
The 3-day tour from Edinburgh with two Portree nights
A quick run through the Highlands and Skye that gives you a taste of both, and leaves you planning to come back for longer.
Lawrence B. · 2026
★★★★★
The 3-day tour from Edinburgh with two Portree nights
Wear hiking boots: it rains often and turns cold. It was worth it for the scenery and for the legends along the way.
Jessica S. · 2026
★★★★☆
The 3-day tour from Edinburgh with two Portree nights
We loved it, though we would have liked a few more stops.
Katerina H. · 2025
★★★★★
The whole day on Skye from Portree
We saw Skye without the stress of the single-track roads or hunting for a parking space, and far more of it than we would have found on our own.
Kim O. · 2026
★★★★☆
The whole day on Skye from Portree
Lots of short stops and a fair hour at the Fairy Pools: the typical day that covers a lot of ground.
Rony D. · 2026
★★★★★
The whole day on Skye from Portree
It goes ahead rain or shine. Expect mist, and a fair bit of walking in the wet to reach the Fairy Pools.
Jean A. · 2026
★★★★★
The whole day on Skye from Portree
Local snacks and drinks, Scottish music in the van, and hosts who were relaxed and friendly all day.
Charles A. · 2026
★★★☆☆
The Fairy Pools day tour from Inverness
It may rain, a lot, and it did. Otherwise it would have been the trip of a lifetime; the guide gave good information with a sense of humour.
Wendy B. · September 2026
★★★★★
The Fairy Pools day tour from Inverness
I felt safe and entertained all day. The short stops mean you are never on the bus for long, and Portree makes a good lunch stop.
Christine R. · September 2026
★★★☆☆
The Timberbush day tour from Inverness
I booked it for the Old Man of Storr and hoped to walk up it, but our time there was too short for the hike.
Candra M. · September 2026
★★★★☆
The Timberbush day tour from Inverness
The castle stop was good for photographs outside, but one hour was tight with the crowds, so we did not go in. Lawrence was full of energy and stories.
Diane R. · September 2026
★★★★☆
The WOW Scotland day tour from Inverness
Portree runs out of takeaway lunches at weekends, so bring your own. The guide was excellent at both jobs, though our pre-assigned seats were at the very back.
Janet B. · September 2026
★★★★★
The WOW Scotland day tour from Inverness
Andrew is a born storyteller and should be recording audiobooks. The stories and the humour kept us going through the whole day.
Kylie W. · September 2026
★★★★★
The WOW Scotland day tour from Inverness
One of the highlights of my trip, full of facts and local knowledge without ever feeling like too much. The stops were timed so there was enough time at each without a rush. As a solo traveller I found it easy to meet people, and I would recommend it to anyone travelling on their own.
Sara G. · July 2026
★★★★☆
The Fairy Pools and Dunvegan day tour from Inverness
A good day with a friendly guide who knew the area. We only saw Eilean Donan and Urquhart from a long way off, and five minutes close up would have been nice.
Simone A. · September 2026
★★★★★
The Fairy Pools and Dunvegan day tour from Inverness
An early start from Inverness, so pack a breakfast and something to drink. The minibus was comfortable and easy to climb into, and Tim tied the past to the present.
Heather D. · July 2026
★★★★★
The private day to the Fairy Glen and the Quiraing
We had only one day on Skye, and Andy made sure we saw the best of it. The van was comfortable and spotless.
Holly D. · June 2026
★★★☆☆
The private day from Inverness, priced per group
Beautiful scenery, but too long a day. Plenty of stops and not enough time at any one of them; we wanted more say over the timings.
Lisa O. · July 2024
★★★★★
The private day from Inverness, priced per group
Andrew let us decide how long to spend at each place. We were worn out at the end of our holiday and nearly stayed in, and we are so glad we went.
Keli M. · May 2026
★★★★★
The private adventure day from Inverness
The best tour of our holiday. We were the only two in the van, so it was private in every sense, and John was great fun and full of knowledge.
Brad R. · August 2026
★★★☆☆
The private day from Portree
Willie has lived on Skye all his life and was kind. We had terrible weather with five in the car, and a day that depends on the scenery was a dreary one.
Joel H. · August 2024
★★★★★
The private day from Portree
Willie planned a route that covered everything on our wish list and changed it as we went, and was flexible about how long we stayed at each stop.
Amy P. · July 2026
★★★★★
The customisable private day on Skye
I am a photographer, and Ben knew exactly where to take us for the pictures I wanted to make.
Mark O. · June 2026
★★★★★
The customisable private day on Skye
Photographs with Highland cows, and a special stop at An Corran beach to look for dinosaur footprints. Every stop had a view.
Alissa D. · August 2026
★★★☆☆
The 2-day tour from Inverness
The driver-guide handled the narrow roads very well but gave us little history. Two staff, a driver and a guide, would make the tour.
Dorrie L. · August 2026
★★★★☆
The 2-day tour from Inverness
A great tour overall, but the days run 10 to 11 hours, and arriving late in Portree left little time to see the town.
Christina K. · May 2026
★★★★☆
The 3-day tour from Edinburgh with the steam train
We thought driving Skye ourselves would be daunting, and this was a good alternative. Cliff knew the island and told great stories between stops.
Anastasia B. · September 2026
★★★★★
The 3-day tour from Edinburgh with the steam train
Karis was an excellent guide and driver. The tour hit the highlights with good timing, and our inn in Portree had everything we needed.
Ann B. · September 2025
★★★★★
The 3-day tour from Inverness with the steam train
Torquil went out of the way to keep us safe and happy. The Skye Inn was comfortable and its staff helpful.
Laureen H. · September 2025
★★☆☆☆
The 3-day tour from Edinburgh with nights in Inverness
We covered a lot of the Highlands, but for two days nobody on the coach could hear the guide's commentary, even after several of us said so.
Sandra M. · July 2026
★★★★☆
The 3-day tour from Edinburgh with nights in Inverness
With this tour you choose breadth over depth, and I loved how much of the country we saw. Chris was entertaining and passionate about Scottish history.
Yelena C. · September 2026
★★★☆☆
The 3-day small-group tour from Edinburgh
Rugged scenery and a lovely Portree, but it is too far for three days with such short breaks, and nothing is included, so every stop costs extra.
Rowena S. · June 2026
★★★★★
The 3-day small-group tour from Edinburgh
One of our best tours in a week in Scotland. If you are debating whether three days on Skye is worth it, this is your sign.
Mattie G. · September 2026
★★★★★
The 3-day small-group tour from Edinburgh
As a first-time traveller to Scotland, I was blown away by the Highlands. Our driver-guide made it a lovely, lively trip.
Indu A. · May 2026
★★★★★
The 3-day tour from Edinburgh, rooms booked by you
The tour started and ended in Edinburgh, and we booked our own rooms for the two nights in the town the operator suggested. Colin was friendly and knew a great deal.
Jennifer M. · June 2026
★★★★★
The 3-day tour from Edinburgh via Inverness
Three full days of riding a bus with frequent stops, and we saw so much. The one thing we would skip is the Loch Ness boat ride.
kway S. · August 2026
★★★★★
The 3-day tour from Edinburgh via Inverness
We are a family of five, with children aged 8 to 13, and they hung on every story the guide told. Funny, personable and knowledgeable, the guide made us keener to see each place.
Sun L. · August 2026
★★★★☆
The 3-day tour from Edinburgh via Glenfinnan
Ideal if you do not want to drive the narrow, winding roads yourself. The van was too tight for four couples, so we took turns sitting apart.
Timerra J. · September 2025
★☆☆☆☆
The Timberbush 3-day tour from Edinburgh
Your B&B can be up to two kilometres from town. I paid the solo price for a tiny room with a cot-sized bed and a long walk in the wind and rain.
Lynn M. · August 2026
★★★★★
The Timberbush 3-day tour from Edinburgh
If you take the room option, get to your B&B early and book dinner, because nobody told me and I could not get a table until other travellers invited me to join them.
Helen D. · September 2026
★★★★★
The Timberbush 3-day tour from Glasgow
A lot of ground in three days, yet it never felt rushed. Scott mixed the history and the myths with a good sense of humour.
James C. · August 2026
★★★☆☆
The Timberbush 3-day tour from Glasgow
A beautiful itinerary, and good accommodation. What spoiled it for me was the way the driver-guide arranged the seating on the bus.
MdShahadat H. · June 2026
★★★★★
The Timberbush 3-day tour from Glasgow
I was picked up on time at the Glasgow stop, and the bus held a mix of solo travellers and people with family or friends. The guide balanced stories with quiet time for the scenery and adjusted the plan for the weather. Bring hiking boots and waterproof trousers, because it drizzled all the time and the wind turned my umbrella inside out.
Anne L. · July 2026
★★★★★
The private 3-day tour from Edinburgh or Glasgow
Alisdair fitted in the stops we asked for and many more of his own suggestions. It was the highlight of our trip by far.
Richard M. · July 2026
★★☆☆☆
The 4-day small-group tour from Edinburgh
The scenery was the plus. The hotels were below the standard we were told to expect, and as a couple we sat apart on the side seats for all four days.
Rahul C. · August 2024
★★★★★
The 4-day small-group tour from Edinburgh
Expect small towns and a lot of driving. The company stops often for toilet breaks and time off the bus, and Peter was funny and knowledgeable.
Katie S. · July 2025
★★★★★
The 4-day small-group tour from Edinburgh
This was my first trip to Scotland, after a week in Edinburgh. I chose the 4-day tour over the 3-day one for the extra time on Skye, and I was glad I did. The mini-hikes into the countryside and the guide's stories were the best of it.
Christine G. · February 2024
★★★★☆
The 4-day tour from Edinburgh with Glenfinnan
Stewart was informative and entertaining, and the B&Bs were clean and lovely. Our one serious complaint was that the two rooms for our family were not kept together.
Joy F. · August 2026
★★★★☆
The 5-day hostel tour from Edinburgh
Beautiful scenery and a great guide in Paul. Choose a hotel or B&B tour over the hostels if you can, and plan to be damp a lot of the time.
Carmen S. · August 2023
★★★★☆
The 5-day tour from Edinburgh via Inverness
Plenty of stops, and Sophie would add one more if the group asked. We saw a few castles from the outside, but there was never time to go in.
Susan M. · June 2026
★★★★★
The 5-day tour from Edinburgh via Inverness
Allie changed the plan when the weather demanded it and still showed us a great deal. A good way to see the sights without driving yourself.
Deborah B. · August 2026
★★★★☆
The 5-day small-group tour from Edinburgh
Gail was the best storyteller and everything was well organised. One star off only because the B&Bs were nothing special.
Denise M. · August 2014
★★☆☆☆
The 5-day Best of Scotland tour
We lost a great deal of time waiting for bus repairs and replacement buses, and the rest of the tour was hurried to make it up.
Dan R. · June 2025
★★★★★
The 5-day Best of Scotland tour
A lot of territory and plenty of stops. Hugh was knowledgeable and engaging, and played the bagpipes for us at several of them.
Randall W. · July 2026
★★★★★
The 5-day Best of Scotland tour
My wife and I called it the highlight of our UK trip, from Glen Coe to Skye and a cruise on Loch Ness. The B&Bs in Oban, on Skye and in Inverness were cosy, with a proper breakfast each morning. Our group of 12 felt like a close-knit crew by the second day.
Sushil P. · May 2025
★★★★★
The 6-day tour to the Outer Hebrides and Skye
Sophie made the driving time fun. Some of us stayed in true B&Bs, which I had expected, but the hotels served breakfast too.
Tracy H. · August 2024
★★★★★
The 6-day small-group tour to the Hebrides
I had never been to the Outer Hebrides and was keen to go. Simon kept a free, flexible approach, and the places we went were sublime.
MaryLou B. · July 2026
★★★★☆
The 6-day small-group tour to the Hebrides
A great driver and a varied, semi-flexible itinerary. The buses are a little cramped, and we would have liked more choice of rooms and meals.
Guy P. · July 2025
What travellers keep saying
The guide is the tour
Travellers name their guides more than the places: Andrew, Torquil, Willie, Hugh, Alisdair. The praise is for stories between the stops, and for guides who change the plan when the weather turns.
A day from Inverness is mostly road
The long day is the commonest complaint and the commonest compliment at once: you see a great deal without driving, and you see much of it through the window.
Pack for rain
Wet paths to the waterfalls, mist on the pinnacles and damp clothes on the coach turn up again and again. Boots and a waterproof are the kit to bring, in every month.
Ask where you will sleep
On the multi-day tours the rooms decide the mood: a guesthouse in Portree is praised, a B&B far out of town or a shared dorm is not. Every card says whether the room is in the fare.
Operator ratings and review counts
These figures are the operators' own, published on their booking pages and shown as they stand. They belong to the operators, not to us. The second column says how long each tour runs and where it starts, and the third where you sleep.
| Tour | Length and start | Where you sleep | Rating | Reviews | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Tour from Inverness | Day trip from Inverness | Back the same night | 4.9 | 2,391 | From $98 per person |
| Inverness: The Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle | Day trip from Inverness | Back the same night | 4.8 | 2,370 | From $94 per person |
| 3-Day Isle of Skye Inverness Highlands and Glenfinnan Viaduct Tour from Edinburgh | 3 days from Edinburgh | You book the rooms | 4.9 | 1,647 | From $245 per person |
| The Ultimate Isle of Skye Day Tour from Inverness | Day trip from Inverness | Back the same night | 5.0 | 1,381 | From $162 per person |
| 3 Day Isle of Skye and Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh | 3 days from Edinburgh | Rooms in the fare | 4.9 | 1,367 | From $510 per person |
| 3-Day Isle of Skye and Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh | 3 days from Edinburgh | Rooms in the fare | 4.9 | 1,347 | From $713 per person |
| 3 Day Isle of Skye, 'Hogwarts Express' Train and Highlands Tour | 3 days from Edinburgh | Rooms in the fare | 4.9 | 1,266 | From $735 per person |
| Edinburgh: Isle of Skye, Highlands and Loch Ness 3-Day Tour | 3 days from Edinburgh | Room sold as an option | 4.8 | 1,223 | From $282 per person |
| Isle of Skye Full Day Private Tour from Inverness | Day trip from Inverness | Back the same night | 4.8 | 1,073 | From $1,062 per group, up to 3 |
| 3-Day Guided Isle of Skye and Highlands with Stay from Edinburgh | 3 days from Edinburgh | Rooms in the fare | 4.7 | 962 | From $545 per person |
| 5 Day Isle of Skye, Loch Ness & Inverness From Edinburgh | 5 days from Edinburgh | Rooms in the fare | 4.9 | 953 | From $838 per person |
| Day tour to Isle of Skye and Fairy Pools from Inverness | Day trip from Inverness | Back the same night | 4.7 | 621 | From $107 per person |
| Inverness: 2-Day Isle of Skye, The Fairy Pools & Highland Castles | 2 days from Inverness | Room sold as an option | 4.8 | 308 | From $207 per person |
| 5-Day Best of Scotland Tour from Edinburgh | 5 days from Edinburgh | Rooms in the fare | 4.7 | 284 | From $1,219 per person |
| 6 Day Outer Hebrides, Isle of Skye & Glenfinnan Viaduct | 6 days from Edinburgh | Rooms in the fare | 5.0 | 238 | From $1,661 per person |
| 4-Day Isle of Skye and Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh | 4 days from Edinburgh | Rooms in the fare | 4.9 | 212 | From $925 per person |
| Glasgow: Isle of Skye, The Highlands and Loch Ness - 3 Day Tour | 3 days from Glasgow | Room sold as an option | 4.8 | 212 | From $282 per person |
| Skye Day Tour from Inverness with Fairy Pools & Dunvegan Castle | Day trip from Inverness | Back the same night | 4.9 | 207 | From $117 per person |
| 3 Day Isle of Skye and Jacobite Steam Train Tour from Inverness | 3 days from Inverness | Rooms in the fare | 5.0 | 200 | From $761 per person |
| 5-Day Highland Explorer and Isle of Skye Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh | 5 days from Edinburgh | Rooms in the fare | 4.8 | 175 | From $1,245 per person |
| Isle of Skye, Fairy Pools and Highlands 3 Day Tour from Edinburgh | 3 days from Edinburgh | You book the rooms | 5.0 | 165 | From $312 per person |
| From Edinburgh: 4-Day Isle of Skye & Glenfinnan Tour | 4 days from Edinburgh | Rooms in the fare | 4.8 | 101 | From $1,076 per person |
| Isle of Skye Adventure from Inverness | Day trip from Inverness | Back the same night | 5.0 | 96 | From $744 per person |
| Isle of Skye and Fairy Pools Day Tour leaving from Portree | All day on Skye | Back the same night | 5.0 | 80 | From $134 per person |
| 3 Day - Isle of Skye, Loch Ness, Glenfinnan Tour from Edinburgh | 3 days from Edinburgh | Room sold as an option | 5.0 | 80 | From $749 per person |
| Private Isle of Skye Full-Day Tour – Customisable Experience | All day on Skye | Back the same night | 4.9 | 75 | From $398 per person |
| 6-Day Outer Hebrides and Isle of Skye Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh | 6 days from Edinburgh | Rooms in the fare | 4.8 | 73 | From $1,770 per person |
| Edinburgh: 5-Day Isle of Skye, Inverness & Loch Ness Tour with Hostel | 5 days from Edinburgh | Hostel beds in the fare | 4.8 | 48 | From $824 per person |
| Isle of Skye Private 3 Day Tour From Edinburgh or Glasgow | 3 days from Edinburgh or Glasgow | You book the rooms | 5.0 | 37 | From $1,737 per person |
| Isle of Skye Private Tour from Portree | All day on Skye | Back the same night | 4.9 | 22 | From $532 per person |
| Isle of Skye Private 4 Day Tour From Edinburgh or Glasgow | 4 days from Edinburgh or Glasgow | You book the rooms | 5.0 | 17 | From $2,180 per person |
| Isle of Skye Tour Including Fairy Glen, Quiraing and Kilt Rock | Day trip from Inverness | Back the same night | 4.8 | 6 | From $486 per person |
A tour with two thousand reviews and one with a handful are not a verdict on each other. The gap is mostly how long each has been on sale and how many seats it sells. A private day rated 5.0 by a few dozen parties is worth reading closely rather than skipping.
Read the practical detail in the visitor guide, check the FAQs, then compare every tour on Isle of Skye Day Tours.