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Edinburgh · Lothian · Scotland
4 Day Islay & the Whisky Coast Small Group Tour from Edinburgh
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From $1,530.48 per person
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The Experience
What your day looks like
On this delectable tour, you will explore distilleries without having to drive and enhance your knowledge of whisky, Scotland, and Islay, ‘Queen of the Hebrides’. You will savour the distilled essence of Scotland’s fine landscapes and exquisite whisky. You may know a thing or two about whisky. Like how taxes forced distillers to produce whisky at night, or how the Scots once called it the ‘water of life’. But even if you’re knowledgeable about whisky, you’re going to learn a lot more on this four-day whisky tour. You discover the smoky flavours of Islay’s single malt whiskys, explore the historic sights of Islay, and spend your time trading notes with fellow whisky lovers. Places you'll explore: Oban - This Victorian harbour town offers excellent seafood and a charming intimacy. Kilmartin Glen - Return to the past at one of the richest areas in the UK for Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Scotland. Bowmore - Journey to the home of Islay’s oldest distillery, this charming place lies on the shores of the picturesque Loch Indaal. The Islay Single Malt Whiskies - On an island known locally as ‘The Queen of the Hebrides’, there is a regal quality to the distinctly peaty style of its single malt whiskies. Sandy beaches of Islay - Stroll some of the most beautiful and rugged beaches in the UK along Islay’s West Atlantic coast. Inveraray - Explore the fabulous hometown of the Duke of Argyll and the stunning ancestral castle. *Bruichladdich: No longer visited—Bunnahabhain tasting offered instead. *Laphroaig (Monday Departures): Replaced with Lagavulin; museum/shop/bar still accessible. *From 16th March 2026 , cooked breakfast options will be available at the Harbour Inn instead of the previous 'self-service breakfast' option. *If the tour departs on a Friday, we will not be able to stop at Kilchoman Distillery. The tour will follow a more flexible itinerary, stopping in at other distilleries for a shorter shop visit *Please note that from 11 June to 13 July, Ardbeg Distillery will be in its Silent Season. Production tours will not be available; however, guests will enjoy a tutored tasting featuring 5 drams. *Please note that from 8th July to 13th September, Laphroaig Distillery will be observing its Silent Season. During this period, distillery tours will not be available. Instead, your visit will include access to the museum, a guided talk, and a tasting of two drams. *Please note that Kilchoman Distillery will be observing its Silent Season from 20th July to 16th August. During this period, your visit will include a 12:00 pm tasting (2 drams), followed by lunch at your own expense. Please also note that Kilchoman Distillery is unavailable on 30th July, so a visit to Caol Ila Distillery has been arranged instead.
At a Glance
The experience, in brief
- Visit Oban, Kilmartin Glen, and Bowmore
- Visit Islay Distilleries
- Sandy beaches of Islay
- Explore the fabulous hometown of the Duke of Argyll and the stunning ancestral castle
Your Itinerary
Your day, step by step
Day 1
Edinburgh
Leaving Edinburgh.
Continued
Callander
Sightseeing. You head into the Highlands with a short stop in the Trossachs National Park. Here, you can admire Scotland’s scenic beauty and enjoy some local delicacies.
Continued
Oban
Sightseeing. After traveling through the mountainous part of the Loch Lomond National Park, you arrive in the busy harbour town of Oban. You have a couple of hours here, where you can visit the Oban Distillery and sample some local seafood for lunch.
Continued
Kilmartin
Boating. You then depart Oban mid-afternoon for the journey through Kilmartin Glen to the port of Kennacraig where you catch the evening ferry to Islay. The sail is just over two hours, and you should look out for dolphins, whales, and seabirds.
Continued
Edinburgh
On arrival, it’s a short drive to Bowmore for your three-night stay.
Day 2
Edinburgh
Local Flavor at Bowmore distillery. After you’ve had an ample amount of breakfast, you enjoy a tour of Bowmore Distillery,* one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. You have time for a tour and a whisky tasting here before you continue exploring the island.
Continued
Edinburgh
Local Flavor. Next, your driver-guide will take you to *Kilchoman Distillery for a tour and a lunch of local treats. Kilchoman is known as Islay's only Single Farm Single Match Scotch Whisky, reviving traditional farm distilling of barley to bottle, making their whisky 100% Islay.
Continued
Edinburgh
Local Flavor at Bunnahabhain distillery. After trying local larder, you travel through the beautiful countryside to the third distillery of the day. You taste the unpeated and salty notes of Bunnahabhain in the most remote distillery on Islay. After this, you head back to Bowmore where you can enjoy some free time.
Continued
Edinburgh
Overnight at Bowmore.
Day 3
Edinburgh
Local Flavor at Laphroaig distillery. Today you explore the southern side of the island, home to a few of the most famous whiskies in all of Scotland: Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg. After you’ve made it out of bed and eaten your breakfast, you visit Ardbeg*. You stay here for a tour, tasting, and lunch*(lunch not included). *Please note that your lunch will either be at an outdoor food truck at Ardbeg (weather dependent) or in Port Ellen.
Continued
Edinburgh
Local Flavor at Ardbeg distillery. After you’ve made it out of bed and eaten your breakfast, you visit Ardbeg*. You stay here for a tour and tasting, enjoying some fine Scottish drams, flavours that are beloved around the world. Ardbeg has been producing whisky on Islay for over 200 years, so you just know they've perfected the process.
Continued
Edinburgh
Local Flavor at Laphroaig distillery. After grabbing a local bite to eat, we head for our next destination. If your tour departs on Monday, you visit Lagavulin Distillery to savour their whisky packed with deep richness, signature smoothness, and bold layers of smoke. You still have an opportunity to visit Laphroaig for a tasting and a visit to their museum with your driver-guide during the afternoon. If your tour departs on Wednesday or Friday, you visit Laphroaig***. This 200-year-old whisky distiller is a favourite with the British royal family and bears the seal of the Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) to prove it. Throughout the day, your driver-guide takes you to historical spots such as the ruins of Kildalton church and Dunyvaig Castle. And you can also stop at Lagavulin for some intensively flavoured, rich and smoky whisky.
Continued
Edinburgh
Overnight at Bowmore.
Day 4
Inveraray
Local Flavor. This morning you take the ferry back to the mainland. From here the tour continues round the coast to the beautiful village of Inveraray on the banks of Loch Fyne. The town is full of historic buildings, old ships in the harbour, and a great whisky shop!
Continued
Edinburgh
Sightseeing at Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. Your trip continues to Loch Lomond where you have a chance to admire Great Britain’s largest body of water by surface area. You arrive in Edinburgh in the early evening. *Itinerary and distillery visits are subject to change.
Before You Go
What to know before booking
Included
All ferry and bridge crossings Transport in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach Air conditioning as standard The stories and services of a driver-guide Entry fees (subject to change): Ardbeg Distillery, Kilchoman Distillery, Bowmore Distillery, Laphroaig Distillery(Monday departures include Lagavulin Distillery instead) Bunnahabhain Distillery, Ardnahoe Distillery (Friday departures only) * For Friday departures, the tour will visit Ardnahoe Distillery instead of Kilchoman Distillery. Lunch at Kilchoman Distillery on Fridays will no longer be included - the driver guide will arrange an alternative lunch spot on the day (at customers own expense). To compensate for the removed prepaid lunch, Ardbeg Distillery will now include 5 drams and Bunnahabhain Distillery will include a Rabbie's exclusive tour and tasting.
Not Included
Entry fees to visitor attractions unless specified Food and drinks unless specified Tips
What to Bring
Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes
Restrictions
No Children are permitted on this tour. To retain the integrity of the tour and try to ensure that all our customers have the best possible experience, we do cap bookings from any one party to 8 passengers. For groups larger than 8, please submit an inquiry for a private tour.
Meeting & Pickup
Check-in closes at 08:15 (tour departs at 08:30) - Edinburgh Bus Station Pick Up, Gate J, and Gate K, inside Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ
Planning Notes
Minimum age: 18 Hotel pickup offered: No Confirmation: Automatic
Traveler Impressions
What travelers are saying
2022-10-18
5.00 / 5
The experience was fantastic. It was an excellent variety of smaller local distilleries along with the big names, and overall it was so much more than just whisky. Our tour guide Adam was so impressive and knowledgeable, and showed us so much of the culture and history of Scotland on the way to the distilleries.
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