Edinburgh Cultural Tours &amp; Trips

Group Tour

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Strenuous

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Visits

Belfast, Derry, Dublin, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Galway, Glasgow, Inverness, Kilkenny, Loch Lomond, Loch Ness

Themes

50 plus, Cultural

What travelers are saying

"We've taken over 10 group tours using Cosmos and Gate1. This trip last month, 9000 was not very good. -During booking, incorrect information was given about airport-hotel transfers -The whispers (listening devices) didn't work from the get-go, so no whispers were used during the 13 day trip. - Porters are no longer hired to bring your luggage to and from your room. (Very elderly had to handle their own luggage. Our friends had to help many of them.) -A few days into the trip one couple left. At the end of the trip we found out they had covid. Cosmos did not let us know; a few people weren't feeling well and two of our friends then tested positive. -One hotel was awful and not even up to "budget" standards -Many of the stops had castles, churches... but were not included, so be sure to count that in when pricing.  don't plan to use Cosmos ever again. Gate1 is the best in my opinion. When my husband's passport was stolen, they assigned someone to go with him to the embassy, translate, etc...It was above and beyond what we expected  "

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12 days From$2,369

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A Week In... Scotland 2024

none

4.2/5 Great

Small Group Tour

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Moderate

Visits

Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness

Highlights

The haunting skirl of the bagpipes during a private evening in Inverness... treasured family tartans... the strong traditions of the Clans... a private tour of Glenturret Distillery
the Highland's oldest single malt distillery... This is Scotland. Tartans and kilts... the fields of Culloden where Bonnie Prince Charlie lost his chance at the crown and a piece of the nation's heart... the King's residence at Holyroodhouse... Cawdor Castle (home of Macbeth)... St. Andrews (the home of golf)... Edinburgh and the Royal Mile of pubs
shops
and enchanting historical sites... you'll become part of the unique story of Scotland
today and yesterday...

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour.   5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for.   Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

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8 days From$5,990

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Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland

By Cosmos

none

4/5 Great

Group Tour

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Strenuous

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Visits

Bath, Britain, Cardiff, Chester, Cotswolds, Dingle Peninsula, Dublin, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Galway, Glasgow, Hadrian's Wall, Inverness, Lake District, Liverpool, Loch Lomond, Loch Ness, London, Perth, Plymouth, Stonehenge, York

Themes

50 plus, Cultural

What travelers are saying

"We've taken over 10 group tours using Cosmos and Gate1. This trip last month, 9000 was not very good. -During booking, incorrect information was given about airport-hotel transfers -The whispers (listening devices) didn't work from the get-go, so no whispers were used during the 13 day trip. - Porters are no longer hired to bring your luggage to and from your room. (Very elderly had to handle their own luggage. Our friends had to help many of them.) -A few days into the trip one couple left. At the end of the trip we found out they had covid. Cosmos did not let us know; a few people weren't feeling well and two of our friends then tested positive. -One hotel was awful and not even up to "budget" standards -Many of the stops had castles, churches... but were not included, so be sure to count that in when pricing.  don't plan to use Cosmos ever again. Gate1 is the best in my opinion. When my husband's passport was stolen, they assigned someone to go with him to the embassy, translate, etc...It was above and beyond what we expected  "

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18 days From$3,739

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A Week In... Scotland 2023

none

4.2/5 Great

Small Group Tour

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Moderate

Visits

Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness

Highlights

The haunting skirl of the bagpipes during a private evening in Inverness... treasured family tartans... the strong traditions of the Clans... a private tour of Glenturret Distillery
the Highland's oldest single malt distillery... This is Scotland. Tartans and kilts... the fields of Culloden where Bonnie Prince Charlie lost his chance at the crown and a piece of the nation's heart... the King's residence at Holyroodhouse... Cawdor Castle (home of Macbeth)... St. Andrews (the home of golf)... Edinburgh and the Royal Mile of pubs
shops
and enchanting historical sites... you'll become part of the unique story of Scotland
today and yesterday...

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour.   5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for.   Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

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8 days From$5,690

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England, Scotland & Wales 2023

none

4.2/5 Great

Small Group Tour

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Moderate

Visits

Bath, Edinburgh, London, Oxford

Highlights

Pageantry and poetry are forever intertwined in all that is Great Britain... timeless traditions have been a hallmark of the cultural landscapes of England
Scotland and Wales for millennia – and on this journey
you become part of the story.Explore the best that the British Isles have to offer: Scottish castles; tastings of regional food and drink; Stratford-upon-Avon & Oxford; lunch at The Pump Room in Bath's Roman-era baths complex; 3 nights at London's stylish The Savoy and a choice of live theatre performances... just a few of the fabulous experiences you'll enjoy when you explore the British Isles. Discover royal history & architectural treasures in Edinburgh
Stirling
Caernarfon

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour.   5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for.   Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

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14 days From$7,890

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A Week In... Scotland 2025

none

4.2/5 Great

Small Group Tour

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Moderate

Visits

Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness

Highlights

The haunting skirl of the bagpipes during a private evening in Inverness... treasured family tartans... the strong traditions of the Clans... a private tour of Glenturret Distillery
the Highland's oldest single malt distillery... This is Scotland. Tartans and kilts... the fields of Culloden where Bonnie Prince Charlie lost his chance at the crown and a piece of the nation's heart... the King's residence at Holyroodhouse... Cawdor Castle (home of Macbeth)... St. Andrews (the home of golf)... Edinburgh and the Royal Mile of pubs
shops
and enchanting historical sites... you'll become part of the unique story of Scotland
today and yesterday...

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour.   5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for.   Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

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8 days From$5,990

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England, Scotland & Wales 2025

none

4.2/5 Great

Small Group Tour

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Moderate

Visits

Bath, Edinburgh, London, Oxford

Highlights

Pageantry and poetry are forever intertwined in all that is Great Britain... timeless traditions have been a hallmark of the cultural landscapes of England
Scotland and Wales for millennia – and on this journey
you become part of the story.Explore the best that the British Isles have to offer: Scottish castles; tastings of regional food and drink; Stratford-upon-Avon & Oxford; lunch at The Pump Room in Bath's Roman-era baths complex; 3 nights at London's stylish The Savoy and a choice of live theatre performances... just a few of the fabulous experiences you'll enjoy when you explore the British Isles. Discover royal history & architectural treasures in Edinburgh
Stirling
Caernarfon

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour.   5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for.   Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

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14 days From$8,490

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British & Irish Grandeur

By CIE Tours

none

3/5 Average

Group Tour

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Moderate

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Visits

Belfast, Derry, Edinburgh

Highlights

Explore Scottish and Welsh Evenings with Local Foods and Music
Explore Taylor's Three Rock Pub
Visits and admissions to Hampton Court Palace
Kiss The Blarney Stone
Drive to Salisbury Plain to view the prehistoric circle of vast monoliths at Stonehenge

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"I waited 20 years for my dream trip to Scotland and Ireland and splurged $7000 on this tour. The second half of touring Ireland was great, the first portion in Scotland was horrendous. The tour guide for Scotland made sexual advances and inappropriate comments to me and I had to cautiously avoid him and stay with the group to not have any interaction with him. I also sustained an injury on the bus, caused by the driver, which I had to report to CIE myself. I filed a complaint with a CIE customer service manager when I returned and learned that another woman also filed a complaint regarding the tour guide (2 women from the same tour!) CIE has not responded from the initial report over a month ago and have DONE NOTHING!!! This sexual predator is still working as a tour guide for them which is a screaming indicator regarding the sexual harassment investigations and policy enforcement for this company. Beware if you are a single woman and are looking to book with CIE, there are better options and I strongly recommend you avoid this company!!"