Edinburgh
A legendary trip to the Highlands including Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh. New Year will never be the same again!
Get ready for the awesome, action-packed New Year’s adventure you’re going to brag about for years. This festive package includes 4 amazing days in Edinburgh for the Hogmanay celebrations and a legendary 3 day Skye High trip of Scotland. Take in the New Year at the best party in the world; Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party and explore some of the most epic Scottish landscapes. Get immersed in the stunning rugged landscapes of the Isle of Skye with its Celtic and Viking heritage. Explore dramatic Highlands and hunt for Nessie on the banks of Loch Ness. But most importantly - prepare yourself for the ultimate Scottish experience!
We spend 7 days exploring Scotland. We visit Edinburgh, Isle of Skye, Loch Ness.
What Is Included...
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Legendary local HAGGiS Guide
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3 day Skye High Tour
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6 nights’ hostel accommodation
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Hogmanay Street Party Ticket
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Our exclusive HAGGiS Ceilidh night
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Kiwi & Aussie New Yew celebrations
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HAGGiS walking tour of Edinburgh
Trip Highlights
- Dance to Scottish traditional music at HAGGiS Ceilidh night
- Get dazzled by Edinburgh’s Winter Festival
- Explore Edinburgh with the HAGGiS walking tour
- Take part in the festival opening Torchlight Procession
- Celebrate Aussie and Kiwi New Years’
- Have a blast at Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party
- Tackle the extinct volcano – Arthur’s Seat
- Fall in love with Loch Ness and Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands
- Discover the jaw-dropping scenery of the Isle of Skye with its myths and legends
Trip Departures
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions in place globally, we will not be running any trips in 2021. Get more information on why this decision was made or see below for similar trips being run by our sister brands, Contiki and CostSaver.
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7 Day Itinerary
Hogmanay & Highlands 7 day full itinerary breakdown and route map
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Day 1
Edinburgh
Arrive in Edinburgh and check in to your city centre hostel from 3pm onwards where you will meet your Guide and trip mates for the duration of your adventure. You will be given all the information you need and then it’s time to have fun and get into the festive Hogmanay spirit! Perhaps sample some local beers in a couple of Edinburgh’s famous pubs, or try your first Haggis supper before heading out with your Clan to party like a Scotsman. If you’re arriving early and want some recommendations about what to do in the city, pop in and see us on the Royal Mile for some ideas as we’re the local experts!
Day 2
Edinburgh
You have some free time to explore the exciting capital of Scotland. Why not start with The Royal Mile which runs from the Castle right down to the Palace of Holyrood House and the Parliament? As locals, we’ll be on hand if you need some tips on where to go and what to see, our crew are all more than happy to help out. You will also have the chance to join a walking tour led by your HAGGiS Guide. See the city highlights and hear the stories behind some of Edinburgh’s legends. Get your warm-up for all the Hogmanay festivities at the official opening of the festival – the Torchlight Procession. Have your cameras at the ready and join the torchbearers led by the famous Shetland Vikings and march through the city streets. Then it’s on to our legendary HAGGiS Ceilidh for a night of traditional Scottish dancing. You can bet that your feet will be sore in the morning from all the spinning on the dance floor!
Day 3
Edinburgh
We kick off with the Aussie and Kiwi New Year surrounded by loads of fellow Antipodeans, all keen to celebrate early in the morning. Party on as the celebrations continue around the globe or take some free time to explore the capital and its Winter Festival. Get ready for the main event, wrap up and don't forget to grab your Street Party ticket before heading to the best New Year celebration in the world. Four street party stages, DJ's, traditional Scottish music and dancing in the streets are on the cards. Did we mention that fireworks are set off against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle? When the clock strikes 12, it’s your chance to kiss everyone you can get your hands on, wish them Happy Hogmanay and sing 'Auld Lang Syne'.
Day 4
Edinburgh
Feeling brave? Then choose to add the ‘Loony Dook’ to your tour! This is a crazy but once in a lifetime experience. Join thousands of other ‘loonies’ and brave the freezing waters of the Firth of Forth in costume (fancy dress optional but very much encouraged!). If you’re not feeling daring, why not fight that hangover with a climb up Arthur’s Seat, it is the highest point in the centre of Edinburgh as well as an extinct volcano. It’s a bit of a hike but you will be rewarded with amazing views across the city and beyond - towards the Forth Bridges and the Highlands on a clear day. Maybe you’ll even find some snow up there! The evening is free for you to check out what the many pubs of Edinburgh have to offer. The Grassmarket and Rose Street are a good starting point for another epic night!
Day 5
Edinburgh to Isle of Skye
It’s time leave the city behind when we head to the Scottish Highlands at 8.30am. Travel past Stirling, home to Scottish legends like William Wallace and Robert the Bruce and the scene of many bloody battles in the Wars of Independence. Our route north takes us through the windswept Rannoch Moor and dramatic Glencoe, the ‘Weeping Glen’ and the site of the massacre of 1692, before climbing up past the shadow of mighty Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. Travelling along the Great Glen Fault Line we then skirt the coast and pass Eilean Donan Castle perched on the shores of Loch Duich before crossing the bridge to the jaw-dropping Isle of Skye, our home for the night. Finish the day off sampling some local ales or whisky in the pub with your fellow tour mates.
Day 6
Isle of Skye to Loch Ness
The Isle of Skye has it all. Ruined castles, breathtaking views and faerie stories. You will hear all about the legendary MacLeod and MacDonald Clans, as well as the Celtic myths and Viking legends from the past millennia. This mystical island has stories to tell for a lifetime, so no wonder it's starred in some Hollywood hits. Take to foot as your Guide leads you to the best spots for the classic panoramic views you see in travel magazines. Skye packs an amazing array of stunning scenery, from dramatic mountain ranges and rugged coastlines to soaring waterfalls. You’ll return to the mainland past the beautiful Eilean Donan Castle, the most photographed castle in Scotland and on to your home for the night, Morag’s Lodge on the banks of Loch Ness. Here you can head to the bar and be sure to find some traditional Scottish hospitality.
Day 7
Loch Ness to Edinburgh
We follow the entire length of Loch Ness searching for a glimpse of the legendary monster (see if you are able to entice her out) and pass Urquhart Castle dramatically poised on its shores. The journey takes us on through Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, before turning south to make our way towards the town of Dunkeld, steeped in history but portrayed incorrectly by Shakespeare. Hear the true story of Macbeth as you pass through his lands and explore Dunkeld’s Gothic Cathedral and quirky wee shops. We cross the epic Forth Road Bridge on our return to Edinburgh in the early evening. After 7 days you’ll have fallen in love with Scotland, made friends for life and will truly have become part of our HAGGiS Clan.
