Scottish Highlands and the Caledonian Canal

From the wild, rugged beauty of the Kyle of Lochalsh to the warm, welcoming city of Edinburgh, enjoy days filled with spectacular scenery, fascinating engineering, and distinctively Scottish culture and cuisine as you cruise for seven nights aboard the classic Lord of the Glen. Travel with alumni and friends from June 12 to 23, 2027, for an exceptional exploration of Scotland.

Experience Scotland in all its great variety. Tour Scone Palace, which contains needlepoint created by Mary Queen of Scots, a desk used by Marie Antoinette and the bedroom where Queen Victoria slept while visiting. Cruise around the island of Eigg, a nature preserve. The nutrient-rich waters here support many species of seals, whales and dolphins, and 212 different bird species!

Add in the exciting engineering of the historic Caledonian Canal and you have an unparalleled travel experience. Shared with participants from cosponsoring association, this trip is sure to fill quickly.Please contact the Georgetown Travel Society at 866-525-8664 or GeorgetownTravelSociety@Georgetown.edu for more details and to confirm your place today.

Dates and Rates:

Date Range: June 12 – 23, 2027

Countries: Scotland

Price Range:

Date Range: June 12 – 23, 2027

Destination(s): Scotland

Price Range: $9,995 – $12,995 per person.

Traveling solo? Select cabins are offered to single travelers at 1.6x the per person rate, all others are at 2x the per person rate –  or please contact us to inquire about any possible roommate options

Trip Type: Land/Cruise

Deposit: $2,000 per person (https://www.gohagantravel.com/terms for complete terms and conditions)

Trip Status: Open for reservations –  Request a reservation today!

Program Itinerary:

Air Program: 12 DAYS | 11 NIGHTS – (includes 1 air night)
Land & Cruise Program: 11 DAYS | 10 NIGHTS
Breakfasts: 10
Lunches: 7
Dinners: 7
Receptions: 3
B | L | D | R denotes included breakfasts, lunches, dinners and reception

A special note about air: If you have purchased only the Land & Cruise Program, please book flights that arrive on Day 2 of the program. The date is listed in the itinerary below.

Day 1 | Saturday, June 12 – DEPART HOME CITY
Depart for Inverness, Scotland on independently scheduled flights

Day 2 | Sunday, June 13 – INVERNESS, SCOTLAND
Arrive at Inverness Airport in Inverness, Scotland. Proceed through the immigration checkpoint to the baggage claim area and retrieve your luggage. After completing a customs screening, meet a Gohagan & Company representative. Transfer to the first-class Kingsmill Hotel.

Free Time: Spend the afternoon exploring Inverness at your leisure. Make your own plans for lunch and dinner today. The Gohagan Travel Hospitality Desk stands ready with dining and sightseeing suggestions.

Day 3 | Monday, June 14 -INVERNESS | KYLE OF LOCHALSH | EMBARK B | R | D
Enjoy breakfast this morning at the hotel before checking out. Embark on today’s excursion. Urquhart Castle. Once one of Scotland’s largest castles, Urquhart Castle has a dramatic history. There has been a fortified building on this spot dating back to the sixth century. Urquhart was an important medieval fortress with an ideal location alongside Loch Ness, guarding the entry into the Great Glen (and the Highlands, the center of the country). During the last of the Jacobite Risings in 1692, government troops had occupied Urquhart and as they left, they blew up the castle behind them to prevent the Jacobites from taking it. What remains are picturesque ruins surrounded by the cold, deep waters of Loch Ness. Climb the tower, stroll the remains of the great hall and even peer inside a prison cell. (Moderate activity level)

This afternoon, transfer from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh on a scenic motorcoach drive. Take in rolling hills, lochs and glens as you head to Scotland’s rugged west coast. Embark Lord of the Glens. Settle into your stateroom and explore the ship. Attend a welcome briefing and safety drill. Welcome Reception: Join your fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception on board the ship this evening.

Enjoy a delicious dinner with entertainment provided by Scottish dancers.

Day 4 | Tuesday, June 15 – KYLE OF LOCHALSH | ARMADALE, ISLE OF SKYE B | L | D
Tuck in to a tasty breakfast this morning, and every morning on board. Then disembark for the day’s first
excursion.

Eilean Donan –  Visit Eilean Donan Castle, one of the world’s most recognized and famous castles— located on a tiny island at the confluence of three sea lochs amid some of Scotland’s most dramatic scenery. During your visit, learn the rich history of this castle and its clansmen. Eilean Donan was named for the sixth-century Irish saint who established the first community on the island. There has been a fortified castle on this site since the 13th century, although it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times in its long and turbulent history. The restored castle you will see today was completed in the 1930s. (Moderate)

Return to the ship and dig in to a delectable lunch as the ship sails across the Sound of Sleat to Armadale on the Isle of Skye. Disembark for this afternoon’s excursion.

Museum of the Isles –  Explore this fascinating museum, located near the ruins of Armadale Castle, which is surrounded by 40 acres of woodland gardens. The exhibits here tell the history of Clan Donald, Scotland’s largest and most powerful clan. Learn about 1500 years of history and culture in this area —
once known as the Kingdom of the Isles. (Moderate)

Tonight, and every night on board, enjoy a delicious dinner.

Day 5 | Wednesday, June 16 – EIGG | TOBERMORY, ISLE OF MULL B | L | D
While you savor a delicious breakfast this morning, the ship will arrive in Eigg. Eigg. This community-owned island is a designated nature preserve. The nutrient-rich waters around the island support many species of seals, whales and dolphins, and a variety of seabirds. 212 different bird species have been recorded at Eigg, an impressive feat for such a small island. On this scenic cruise, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife — don’t forget your camera! (Mild)

Enjoy lunch as the ship departs Eigg and sails to Tobermory this afternoon. As we cruise, look out for lovely seascapes and glimpses of nearby islands.

Tobermory –  The Isle of Mull, in the Inner Hebrides archipelago, is well-known for its rugged beauty and marine and bird life. As you disembark in Tobermory, you may even spy eagles diving in the coastal water. Charming, brightly painted houses line the waterfront, which the British Fisheries Company originally built to house its workers. (Moderate)

Day 6 | Thursday, June 17 – CRAIGNURE, ISLE OF MULL FOR ISLE OF IONA B | L | D

Iona Abbey. Visit the Inner Hebridean Isle of Iona. On this emerald-green, teardrop-shaped island, experience an in-depth visit to Iona Abbey, founded in the year 563 and considered the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland. It was the monks of Iona who spread Christian ideas across Scotland and the North. Today, Iona remains a place of pilgrimage and spirituality. Enjoy a guided visit of the Abbey and see the cloisters and the graveyard, which is the burial site of numerous Scottish clan chiefs and kings (including Macbeth, buried here in 1057!). There’s an impressive collection of over 180 medieval carved stones and crosses. (Moderate)

Free Time: Enjoy free time after the tour to soak up the atmosphere of the Abbey and explore the lovely little shops and cafes of the village.

Return to the ship for a tasty lunch. Spend the afternoon relaxing on board. This evening the ship departs Craignure and sails for Oban.

Day 7 | Friday, June 18 – OBAN B | L | D
Oban and McCaig’s Folly –Take a walking tour of the charming town of Oban, with its waterfront shops, cafes and cobbled streets. Then tackle a bit of a challenge on a guided walk up to McCaig’s Tower, perched on Battery Hill above the town. Inspired by the Roman Colosseum and made of local granite, the tower affords spectacular views of the Hebrides Islands. (Moderate)

Dig in to a terrific lunch on board before disembarking for this afternoon’s excursion, in Corpach.

Glenfinnan Viaduct – Take a train ride along part of the famed West Highland Railway. Glide over the spectacular Glenfinnan viaduct, curving high above the waters of Loch Shiel; this scene will feel familiar to fans of the Harry Potter films as the route of the Hogwarts Express. (Moderate)

Return to the ship for dinner on board, followed by a whisky tasting.

Day 8 | Saturday, June 19 – CORPACH | FT. AUGUSTUS B | L | D
Wake this morning to breakfast and stunning views as you spend the morning cruising the Caledonian Canal.

Cruise the Caledonian Canal – We set sail this morning on the Caledonian Canal, built between 1803 and 1822. In the late 1700s, it was quite dangerous and time-consuming for trading ships to circumnavigate Scotland. For instance, a ship leaving Inverness on the country’s east coast would sail north through the rough North Sea and around to the North Atlantic to get to Ft. William on Scotland’s west coast. However, there was a natural waterway — a string of three lochs — cutting through the mountainous Scottish Highlands in the center of the country. Thomas Telford, in 1783, conceived of connecting the highland’s lochs via a man-made canal. It took 20 years for locals to hand-dig (with spades!) the 22 miles of canals 15 feet deep to connect lochs Ness, Oich and Lochy. The end result was the Caledonian Canal — an incredible triumph of civil engineering. (Mild) Neptune’s Staircase. After lunch, we’ll enter the spectacular Neptune’s Staircase. Ascending the dramatic series of eight interconnected locks, Lord of the Glens will be raised up and pass through picturesque Loch Oich and Loch Lochy. All the while Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in Great Britain, looks on. This is an awesome feat of (Victorian!) engineering and a highlight of the cruise. (Mild)

As we arrive in Ft. Augustus, enjoy dinner on board.

Day 9 | Sunday, June 20 – CULLODEN AND CLAVA CAIRNS | INVERNESS B | L | R |D
Savor breakfast as the ship enters Loch Ness, the largest lake in Great Britain by volume. We will pass by the romantic ruins of Urquhart Castle as we sail to the Muir Town Basin. Disembark for this afternoon’s excursions.

Clava Cairns –  Discover Clava Cairns, a fascinating, well-preserved Bronze Age cemetery. The stones and passage graves here date back 4,000 years. (Moderate)

Culloden –  Visit the battlefield at Culloden, where Bonnie Prince Charlie was dramatically defeated in 1746. The Jacobite Rising, which sought to restore the Stuart kings to the British throne, was crushed during the battle here, in which 1,500 Jacobites were killed. Tour the interesting museum at the site, peruse the award-winning shop and see the battlefield, now a grazing site for Highland cows. (Moderate)

Farewell Reception: Join your fellow travelers for a Farewell Reception and Dinner on board this evening. Then have fun during a post-prandial Scottish quiz game.

Day 10 | Monday, June 21 – INVERNESS | DISEMBARK | EDINBURGH B | L
This morning after breakfast, disembark Lord of the Glens and transfer to Aberfeldy. Distillery Visit. Head a distillery for an informative tour and tasting. (Mild)

Scone Palace – Storied Scone was an ancient gathering place of the Picts, the site of an early Christian church, and from the ninth century on, the crowning place of the kings of Scotland. The modern palace, made of red sandstone, was completed in 1807. Tour the palace, which contains needlepoint created by Mary Queen of Scots, a desk used by Marie Antoinette and the bedroom where Queen Victoria slept while visiting. And stroll the grounds — 100 acres of informal woodland gardens, including a pinetum containing rare conifers and a star-shaped maze, all patrolled by peacocks. (Moderate)

Enjoy an included lunch in the Palace Old Kitchen, then depart for Edinburgh. Transfer to the deluxe, boutique-style Hoxton Hotel and check in.Free Time: Spend the evening on your own and make your own plans for dinner. The Gohagan Travel Hospitality Desk stands ready with information and recommendations.

Day 11 | Tuesday, June 22 – EDINBURGH B | R
This morning, enjoy a delicious breakfast in the hotel before heading out to explore Edinburgh.

City tour – Embark on a panoramic tour of New Town (Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns are a UNESCO World Heritage site). Tour the Royal Yacht Britannia, which served the Royal Family for over 44 years. Next, explore Old Town, site of the ancient city, which grew up along the route of the Royal Mile. Atop Castle Rock, the core of an extinct volcano, you’ll see Edinburgh Castle. This majestic landmark has been the symbol of Scottish strength and power for centuries. The original fortress on this site was built by the sixth-century Northumbrian king, Edwin, the city’s namesake. The oldest part of the castle complex, St. Margaret’s Chapel, dates to the 12th century. The castle holds the glittering Crown Jewels and imposing Mons Meg, a siege cannon of the 1400s. (Moderate)

Free Time: This afternoon, make your own plans for lunch and explore Edinburgh on your own. Feel like stretching your legs? Take a turn down the Royal Mile, made up of ancient cobblestone streets that formed the main thoroughfare of medieval Edinburgh, linking the castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, built by James IV on the grounds of an abbey in 1498. You can take in the exhibits at the palace or stroll the grounds and gardens. Or you might be interested in learning about (and tasting!) Scotland’s national drink at the Scotch Whisky Experience. Or indulge your literary side at Lady Stair’s House, a museum dedicated to the lives and works of Scottish writers such as Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Farewell Reception: This evening, gather with your fellow travelers to bid farewell and raise a wee glass to your Scottish adventure! Afterward, enjoy dinner on your own.

Day 12 | Wednesday, June 23 – EDINBURGH | RETURN TO HOME CITY B
Following breakfast, transfer to Edinburgh International Airport (EDI) for your return flight home. Arrive in your home city and go through immigration and customs.

*This itinerary is subject to change due to operational conditions.

Activity Levels:

The Activity Level ratings indicate each excursion’s physical expectations. To make the best personal choice, please evaluate each excursion’s rating and your ability to meet the tour’s physical demands.

Mild excursions involve:
– Walking for 1.5 hours or more over uneven terrain
– Walking on challenging surfaces: cobblestones, uneven paths and/or pavements
– Climbing stairs and hills and crossing rail tracks
– Ascending and descending narrow (and sometimes steep) gangplanks
– Stepping on and off motorcoaches with 3-6 steep steps

Moderate excursions could involve the above, plus:
– Walking for 3 hours for distances of a mile or more
– Walking on uneven terrain: narrow cobblestone streets, stone floors, and/or slippery surfaces.
– There may be several flights of stairs, some without railings

Active excursions could involve the above, plus:
– Walking on uneven terrain: sandy or rocky beaches, snowy surfaces and/or steep inclines
– Standing for 2 hours or more at a time, possibly without areas to sit
– Climbing 100 stairs or more
– Additional challenges, such as long jeep rides, bumpy boat rides or hikes

Depending on the excursion, more leisurely alternatives to active excursions may be available.

Please be aware that Lord of the Glens has no elevator; guests will need to ascend and descend steep steps while on board

Additional Inclusions

• All excursions and visits, as outlined in brochure,with experienced local guides.
• Gratuities to local guides and drivers on included excursions and transfers.
• Complimentary bottled water in your Suite or Stateroom and on excursions.
• Hospitality desk aboard ship.
• The services of experienced Travel Directors throughout tile program.
• Complimentary use of a state-of-the-art audio headset for each participant during guided excursions.
• Travel document wallet, name badge and pre-departure information.

Not included:
Airfare; Taxes; passport fees; visas and fees for obtaining visas; personal expenses such as laundry and telephone calls; accident/sickness, trip cancellation, and baggage insurance; gratuities to ship and hotel personnel; optional sightseeing excursions; excess baggage charges on aircraft; local departure air taxes; airfare and associated local taxes*, airport facility taxes and federal inspection fees not listed in the “terms and conditions” at https://www.gohagantravel.com/terms/ ; transfers and baggage handling to/from airport/hotel on day(s) of arrival and/or departure if you are arriving earlier or later and/or departing earlier or later that scheduled group transfer(s); meals and and alcoholic beverages not listed as included; and all other services not specifically mentioned.