Compare Wildlife for Beginners by Speyside Wildlife vs Scotland in 8 days - Highlands, Castles and Medieval Cities - Charm by Exoticca
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Price From | $ 1,300 | $ 1,599 |
| Price Per Day | $ 163 | $ 200 |
| Highlights |
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N/A
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions | N/A |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Airfare included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
Dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8 |
7 Breakfasts. |
| Description |
One of National Geographic Traveler's 50 Tours of a Lifetime 2015 and the best place to start if you're new to wildlife watching! An all-inclusive bird and mammal watching holiday based at our converted steading in the Cairngorms National Park, with our popular single-centre, houseparty style. Learn to identify those tricky species that are so confusing, from the common to the rare, including the Highland specialities. Comfortable minibus transport. |
Discover Edinburgh, the mountainous and compact capital of Scotland. Explore the different castles that the cities of Stirling and St. Andrews offer. Discover the port city of Aberdeen on a panoramic tour. Relax whilst tasting the famous whiskeys in Speyside. Admire the wild nature of the Highlands on the way to Inverness and enjoy a quick visit to the Trossachs and the city of Glasgow. |
Day 1:
Dinner together on Saturday evening starts the holiday
Day 2-7:
Specially created to help you gain confidence in identifying birds, this is a week to ask as many questions as you like, no matter how simple you think they may sound. We love helping you learn and whether it is a bird call you don’t recognise, a raptor high overhead, or the fine art of telling a Meadow Pipit from a Tree Pipit we can help!
We’ll tailor the week to what you need, but also find exciting new birds for you, so while picking out the difference between Great Tit and Coal Tit calls, we’ll show you Crested Tit as well!
Raptors can cause great confusion, so grab this opportunity to become familiar with them - with young on the wing they are at their most numerous. Learn to tell that distant Golden Eagle from a Buzzard (well most of the time!), tell a Sparrowhawk from a Kestrel and we’ll hope to find Peregrine, Hen Harrier and Merlin, all of which become easier with experience.
The most difficult bird of all is the crossbill, with three species possible - even the experts can’t always be sure which is which!
The meandering River Spey and its rushing tributaries hold Dipper and Grey Wagtail, while abundant Curlew, Redshank, Lapwing and Oystercatcher call to their young. It’s a great mix of exciting birds in beautiful glens, forests and moorland scenery. We’ll see Red-throated Diver and Slavonian Grebe on the coast and learn to identify Sandwich, Little and the more difficult Common and Arctic Tern. If you are really keen, we can do the gulls too! Ospreys fish in the surf here and ducks are challenging with the males in ‘eclipse’ plumage.
We’ll also seek out the different species of deer and hare that can be seen, and on one evening we’ll visit our hide and look for Pine Marten and Badger - perhaps the best view you’ll ever have.
Day 8:
After breakfast on Saturday we say our farewells.
Day 1: US - Night on board
Arrive at your US departure airport ready to board a flight to Edinburgh. Night on board.* * If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.
Day 2: Edinburgh
Arrive in Edinburgh and self-transfer* to the hotel. The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is famed for its charming medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town with neoclassical gardens and buildings. The rest of the day is free at your leisure to explore the city. Overnight stay in Edinburgh. Please note: During the winter season, the itinerary may be affected. In this case, it is important to review the notes section before your departure. * You will have the option to add a transfer from the airport to your hotel in the next step of the booking process.
Day 3: Edinburgh
Breakfast at the hotel. Discover the city’s most famous tourist sights and monuments on a panoramic walking tour of Edinburgh with a professional English-speaking guide, visiting the Grassmarket area of the city, the elegant Georgian New Town and the historic Old Town. Among its main attractions, there is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, St Giles Cathedral and The National Gallery of Scotland. Stroll along the majestic Royal Mile and visit Canongate. Take some free time in the afternoon to wander through the city's atmospheric streets at your leisure, browsing the shops or stopping for a warming 'dram' of whiskey in one of the local bars. Overnight stay in Edinburgh.
Day 4: Edinburgh
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a full day at your leisure to continue discovering this amazing city. Why not take in the views from Carlton Hill or, if the weather is good, take a hike up Arthur's Seat for an unforgettable panorama of Edinburgh and beyond. Alternatively, Edinburgh is a paradise for shoppers, with plenty of quirky boutiques to explore. Overnight stay in Edinburgh.
Day 5: Edinburgh - Stirling - St Andrews - Aberdeen
After breakfast, meet your guide and depart towards Stirling. The castle played an important role during the Scottish independence wars and many will recognise it as it is featured in the 1995 film, Braveheart. Continue to St Andrews where to visit this picturesque town, known as the home of golf. Enjoy some free time to take in the sea views before continuing towards Aberdeen, stopping on the way to take pictures of beautiful Dunnottar Castle. Overnight stay in Aberdeen.
Day 6: Aberdeen - Castle Fraser - Cairngorms National Park - Aberdeen
Breakfast at the hotel. Explore the city of Aberdeen on a guided Panoramic coach tour. Visit the area surrounding the Cairngorm Mountains, home to breathtaking scenery, typical of the Scottish Highlands. Enjoy some free time at your disposal at lunchtime. In the afternoon, head to Speyside, famous for the whisky distilleries. Here, pay a visit to a local whisky distillery for a fascinating tour and tasting session. Afterwards, return to Aberdeen for an overnight stay.
Day 7: Aberdeen - Inverness - Aviemore
Breakfast at the hotel. Head west today as you depart on a guided coach journey towards Inverness. Along the route, admire the wild nature of the Highlands as you pass by spectacular landscapes of moorlands and glens. Arrive in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, and enjoy a city tour. Afterwards, leave the city behind as you head to your hotel in the beautiful area of Aviemore, within the Cairngorms National Park. Overnight stay in the Aviemore area.
Day 8: Aviemore - Trossachs - Glasgow - Edinburgh
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, depart south towards Glasgow via the beautiful Trossachs where you can admire the scenery and see the largest Loch in Scotland, Loch Lomond. On arrival in Glasgow, the second most important and largest city in Scotland, enjoy a panoramic tour and some free time to explore the city at your leisure. In the evening, return to Edinburgh to enjoy your final night in Scotland at your leisure. Overnight stay in Edinburgh.
Day 9: Edinburgh - US
Breakfast at the hotel.* At the indicated time, self-transfer** to the airport for a flight back to the US. Arrive in the US and end your trip. * Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day. ** You will have the option to add a transfer to the airport in the next step of the booking process.
