Loch Ness: The 15 Best Cruises and Day Tours

Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe and Pitlochry Tour - Choosing Your Version: Callander and Deanston, or Loch Ness Cruise and Castle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6,854 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $67Our pick

Edinburgh to Loch Ness and Glencoe in one day, with expert guide stories, great photo stops, and optional Nessie cruise.

“I wouldn’t do this tour when the sun is setting so early. We arrived at our last stop just after 5pm and Pitlochry was pitch black and only 2-3 places were open. It was disappointing. Only 30 mins in the first stop too, not really enough time to enjoy the sites.”

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Loch Ness & Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh with Cruise

2.Loch Ness & Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh with Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6,022 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $84

See Loch Lomond, Glencoe, and Loch Ness from Edinburgh on a small-group day tour, with a sonar Nessie cruise included.

“It was a unique experience. We were amazed by the beauty of nature. Please note that it is an approximately 12-hour experience, and most of the time is spent traveling by bus. Fortunately for us, our tour guide made it pleasant with important information and explanations, as well as local music that fit the tour perfectly. I would definitely recommend it.”

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1 Day Loch Ness, Glen Coe & the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh

3.1 Day Loch Ness, Glen Coe & the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,186 reviews · 12 hours (approx.)

12-hour coach trip from Edinburgh to Glencoe and Fort Augustus, with optional Loch Ness cruise, Great Glen scenery, and picnic lunch.

“Beautiful highlands and places along the way. Only one downfall. The lunch. When asked for prefences for lunch I made the comment that I needed one for diabetic. It wasn’t even listened to. They had sandwiches with chips with cookie. All carbs and nothing for my husband. If they couldn’t supply then if they had told us we would have supplied our own. For a 12 hour day it was little for a long day. If this part was changed it would make for better time. They did make a point of plenty stops for bathroom breaks as the bus wasn’t equipped with a toilet.”

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Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands

4.Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,771 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $62

A long but rewarding coach day from Edinburgh to Callander, Glencoe, Fort William, Fort Augustus, Loch Ness and Pitlochry.

“Keith was perfect. Enjoyed the accent and true Scottish knowledge. The places we went were astonishing, so beautiful”

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Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness and Glencoe Day Trip from Edinburgh

5.Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness and Glencoe Day Trip from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,793 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $74

A full-day Highlands coach trip from Edinburgh, with Loch Ness time, Urquhart Castle ruins, and Glencoe photo stops.

“This is a MUST DO! It was an amazing trip into the Highlands. This shouldn’t be missed! Our guides gave us so much history, showed us breathtaking views of Scotland, and took amazing care to make the day phenomenal. Shout out to Brody and Jaclyn for a day well spent!”

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Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands Guided Day Tour from Edinburgh

6.Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands Guided Day Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,233 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $85

Guided Loch Ness, Glencoe, and Highlands day trip from Edinburgh, with major photo stops, Loch Ness time, and optional cruises.

“Nick the bus driver was very helpful and informative through out the trip. The trip was planned and coordinated. The stops and sightseeing spots were excellent.”

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Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh

7.Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,884 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $59

Loch Ness and Scottish Highlands day tour from Edinburgh: Callander, Glencoe, Nessie time and Pitlochry by comfortable coach.

“Excellent taste of the highlands and visit to Loch Ness. Our driver Brendan was great, interesting and funny!”

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Loch Ness Cruise, Outlander & Urquhart Castle Tour from Inverness

8.Loch Ness Cruise, Outlander & Urquhart Castle Tour from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,384 reviews · 9 hours (approx.)

Inverness day tour with Loch Ness cruise, Urquhart Castle, Beauly Priory Outlander stops, Culloden, and Clava Cairns in one long day.

“Tour guide was very good. Excellent tour which enabled my adult daughter and I to see more than we would have on our own.”

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Loch Ness & the Highlands Day Tour from Glasgow Including Cruise

9.Loch Ness & the Highlands Day Tour from Glasgow Including Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,211 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $83

Small-group Highlands day tour from Glasgow with a Loch Ness cruise. Glencoe, Fort William, Cairngorms views, and a monster-chase chance.

“James M. The driver was excellent, and went above and beyond. Very knowledgeable about history of Scotland. Scenery beautiful. Bus comfortable and tour of Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Loch Ness and Pitlochry spectacular. The added meet and greet with the highland coos was great😊”

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Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal 2-Hour Cruise from Dochgarroch

10.Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal 2-Hour Cruise from Dochgarroch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,158 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $42

2-hour Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal cruise from Dochgarroch Lock with live commentary, sonar Nessie alerts, and Urquhart Castle views.

“A little bit choatic at the beginning as customers weren’t sure where to go to get their tickets purchased online. Once on board a very pleasant and enjoyable cruise. Great hot chocolate!”

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Loch Ness 1-Hour Cruise with Urquhart Castle Views

11.Loch Ness 1-Hour Cruise with Urquhart Castle Views

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,102 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $30Best value

1-hour Loch Ness cruise from Clansman Harbour, with indoor deck, Nessie sonar, Urquhart Castle views, and free onboard Wi-Fi.

“Short and quick just how we wanted it. Very informative and fun. Friendly crew and on board snake and drinks.”

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Edinburgh: Isle of Skye, Highlands and Loch Ness 3-Day Tour

12.Isle of Skye, Highlands and Loch Ness 3-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,002 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $235

3 days from Edinburgh to Skye and Loch Ness with Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Kilt Rock, Storr, Dunvegan, Eilean Donan, and Portree stays.

“We did this tour in November 2025 - the landscape was so beautiful with the trees changing colors and misty mountains. The tour was packed full of stops at historic spots and quaint villages. There’s nothing I could say to do justice to the highlands or Isle of Skye, it’s something you’d need to experience for yourself! It was quite cold and rainy in the mornings & evenings, it being November, but we were prepared (water-proof coats/boots) and it was thoroughly enjoyable. In fact, I felt the weather lent an extra angsty-glory to the sights. Be prepared to do some walking if you want to see the Fairy Pools and…”

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Loch Ness & Culloden Battlefield Private Tour from Inverness

13.Loch Ness & Culloden Battlefield Private Tour from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 932 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $1,040

One-day private Highlands tour from Inverness with Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle views, whisky at Singleton, Culloden, and Clava Cairns.

“What a wonderful tour! A lot was packed into one day without us feeling crunched for time at any one spot. Stuart was an excellent guide and brought all the locations to life, particularly the wrenching story of the Battle of Culloden. Would highly recommend!”

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Glasgow: Loch Ness, Glencoe, and the Highlands Day Tour

14.Loch Ness, Glencoe, and the Highlands Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 806 reviews · 11 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $76

One day from Glasgow to Loch Lomond, Glencoe, and Loch Ness with photo stops and an optional Nessie cruise.

“We were fortunate to have Wee Davie as our guide and bus driver. He was a great storyteller and we learned quite a bit of Scottish history from him. He kept us entertained with puns and jokes as he took us to some beautiful Scottish scenery. He also skillfully drove the bus down those narrow Scottish roads. At photo stops he took photos of several couples and groups to help them document their vacation. His scheduled stops gave us sufficient time to investigate the places we visited. We really enjoyed feeding the Highland Coos. Finally, he gave us a contest quiz near the end of the day and the winner…”

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Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Tour from Edinburgh

15.Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 801 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $123

A small-group Highlands and Loch Ness day trip from Edinburgh with Ben Nevis views, Glencoe stops, Fort Augustus lunch, and optional boat cruise.

“The day was wonderful but very rushed and long. Our tour guide Andy was extremely knowledgeable and an excellent driver (which is important). Any one taking the tour should just know the stops are very fast and there’s time to hop out and take a couple pictures and that’s it except the lunch stop and lochness. We didn’t think the boat trip was worth the extra 20 pounds. Would have preferred to explore the town. Bring snacks and drinks and prepare for a long day. I wouldn’t personally do this tour again but only because I would have liked more time and some of the locations.”

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