Christmas In The Scottish Highlands

Itinerary

Day 1

Fly north, and upon arrival at Inverness, or Edinburgh Airports, meet your friendly tour manager for the transfer to your hotel. Take some time to rest and relax as you settle into your new surroundings. The Carrbridge Hotel is situated on the edge of the village, which offers some delightful local walks (the hotel staff will be happy to point you in the right direction) and acts a gateway to the scenic Cairngorms National Park. The famous old packhorse bridge, dating back to 1717 and reputed to be one of the oldest in the Scottish Highlands, is just opposite the hotel. This evening, enjoy dinner followed by some traditional entertainment – the perfect start to your festive break.

Day 2

After a relaxed breakfast, join your tour manager for a two-hour cruise across the beautiful Loch Ness, taking in views of the castles and following in the footsteps of Queen Victoria. When you’re back on land, you’ll travel to the resort town of Aviemore, set in Cairngorms National Park. The final stop of the day is a visit to the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, home to around 150 reindeer, which you can see up close with their handlers.  Return to the hotel to begin your Christmas in earnest. Once again dinner is served at the hotel and is followed by some light-hearted entertainment. Perhaps stroll the 400 yards to Carrbridge Church in time for the traditional service.

Day 3

Merry Christmas! Enjoy a relaxed, informal day in the hotel, with plenty of opportunities to chat with your new-found friends over morning coffee and tea. Perhaps after breakfast you’ll choose to join in the short Christmas Morning service at the Carrbridge Church. This afternoon, enjoy a traditional sherry in the lounge, followed by a full Christmas Lunch with all the trimmings. A relaxed afternoon is followed by a buffet dinner in the evening and the chance to enjoy a traditional Highland Cèilidh band, completing the pleasures of a wonderful Christmas Day.

Day 4

Following breakfast, you’ll set off on a tour of many of the nearby area’s highlights. The first stop is Spean Bridge, a small village known for its iconic Commando Memorial. You’ll then be driven to Neptune’s Staircase, a succession of eight lochs on the Caledonian Canal, the town of Fort William, considered a gateway to Ben Nevis, and finally, the hamlet of Glenfinnan. Here, you’ll call at the visitor’s centre, and a short walk uphill will allow you to see the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, which was featured in several Harry Potter movies.

Day 5

After breakfast, bid farewell to the Highlands and travel back to the airport for the return flight, at the end of a wonderful few festive days. Back to top

Further Information

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 45 minutes from Inverness, and two hours 30 minutes from Edinburgh

European closing times

Shops in Europe will generally close from early afternoon on Christmas Eve until 27th December. Included tours and excursions have been chosen for their scenic or historic value.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Changes to your hotels

Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Travelling to Europe

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. You do require government issued passport to travel. Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names. Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you return home (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date"). Visa - You do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Due to commence in 2025, all citizens of the United Kingdom will require a ETIAS electronic form completed prior to their arrival into the EU and Schengen member countries. The cost for this travel authorisation will be €7.00 per person with exceptions for under 18’s and over 70’s. The latest information and further details can be found at www.etias.com. Back to top