Scotland · ORKNEY DAY TRIPS
Skara Brae is older than the pyramids and the Ring of Brodgar is a field away from it. These 15 tours are built around the ferry crossing, so read the sailing times first: they decide how long you get on the Mainland and whether the day is worth doing at all.
Small-group Orkney day trip from Stromness to Skara Brae, Yesnaby cliffs, Ring of Brodgar, Stenness, and Kirkwall.
“Great tour and operator who was informative and knowledgeable. Weather was rainy and windy but we wet still able to see all that was advertised.”
See Neolithic Orkney, Viking Kirkwall, and the Scottish Highlands in a small group with ferry crossings, included admissions, and 4 nights aboard.
“Wonderful tour, excellent guide, just the right size group. Accommodation was perfect and the locations visited made for a wonderful trip.”
Small-group Orkney West Mainland tour from Kirkwall with Scapa Flow views, Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar, cliffs, Earl’s Palace, and a farm museum.
“our guide was so knowledgeable about most aspects of Orkney life and archeology and managed to weave in a few experiencesof his own to illustrate some of the points he was making. The minibus was comfortable and everything went according to schedule”
Private 6-hour Orkney highlights tour with pickup anywhere, Neolithic stops like Skara Brae, henges, Italian Chapel, Scapa Flow history.
“This was a wonderful experience as given us by our tour guide Dougie. He was extremely knowledgeable, amiable, patient, and an excellent and safe driver. I cannot imagine how anyone could have given us us a better Orkney tour.”
A semi private Kirkwall day tour packed with Neolithic stones, WWII Italian Chapel, and Saint Magnus Cathedral, designed for cruise timing.
“Orkney Private tour with Viator Chris was our tour guide. We saw standing stones, learned about the Picts, saw old grave stones and churches, My favorite was visiting a chapel built during WW2 by Italian POWs”
An 8-day small-group tour from Edinburgh covering Skye, Orkney, and the North Coast 500, plus the Jacobite Steam Train and B&B stays.
“We had a wonderful time on our 8 day tour with Highland Explorer Tours. Although we drove over 1100 miles during the trip, we never felt like we were in the van too long, because we stopped every hour or two, and our driver/guide, Ali P., told stories about the places we were visiting, and we also enjoyed listening to and talking about her playlists. The scenery on the Northcoast 500 was stunning. We saw so many beautiful and interesting places each day. Although the van held 16, we had 13 people in the group, so it was very comfortable. Our group got along very well, and it was interesting…”
3 days exploring Orkney’s Neolithic wonders and Viking-era Kirkwall from Inverness, with reserved key tickets and hassle-free logistics.
“We enjoyed the tour to Orkney very much. The sites on Orkney are amazing! Our guide, Amy, was fantastic! She was well-organized, very knowledgeable, personable & friendly. She made it a terrific trip! The only suggestion I have is that Rabbies should not use The Orkney Hotel. We paid extra for a hotel, but this hotel which we were assigned to was not worth it. While the food at the Orkney Hotel was good, the hotel and rooms are extremely out-dated.”
Private Kirkwall day tour of Orkney’s Neolithic sites and WWII Scapa Flow, with Skara Brae and Skaill House tickets included.
“This was a wonderful tour. We took several tours on our cruise and Pilar was incredibly responsive and proactive in keeping us updated. Chris was super knowledgeable, friendly and really listened to see what we needed. We wished that our cruise ship gave us more time. One of our favorite tours!”
Private Orcadian-led Orkney tour with cruise-port pickup, Skara Brae and Italian Chapel optional entrances, and coast-and-stones views.
“Collum was a wonderful guide and took us to locations that a larger bus wouldn't do. His knowledge of the island as a native was perfect for the four of us.”
A 7-hour private Orkney Mainland day with Paul in a luxury electric vehicle, from the Italian Chapel to Skara Brae and Brough of Birsay.
“Our family was so fortunate to take this tour with Paul. We booked it well in advance as we knew he was good per his reviews. It did not disappoint. Paul was so personable, knowledgeable and engaging. We learned so much at each of his stops, and thoroughly enjoyed each one. He made us feel so comfortable and by the end of the day he felt like part of our family. Orkney is a beautiful part of Scotland and Paul is very proud to show it off!”
8-day Highlands, Skye, and Orkney tour from Edinburgh with ferry, 7 nights B&B, expert guides, and included prehistoric sites. Max 35.
“Overall, a wonderful experience. Our guides, Brodie and Kenny, were fantastic! Both were so knowledgeable about the locations and the associated history and legends. Brodie even got most of the group together one evening in a pub to enjoy traditional Scottish music and dance. Kenny managed to veer off the beaten path to show us sites that weren't necessarily on the itinerary, but were remarkable. We always felt safe with both of them. Both were safe drivers on some challenging roads. The B&Bs were a little hit and miss. Our expectation was that they would be better than they were, given what we paid. Two B&Bs were very nice. The…”
5-day Orkney and Highlands tour from Edinburgh with 4 nights lodging, breakfast, ferries, and big-name ancient sites.
“Our five day tour of Orkney couldn’t have been better. Our guide, Stefan went above and beyond his responsibilities. He was the most wonderful tour guide I’ve ever experienced. He was so knowledgeable so informative, so generous with his information and his goodwill. he added discretionary stops to our bus ride to show us beautiful and unusual sites. He told us very thoroughly the background of the events, the etymology of the words the history of the and any useful information, all the while, pointing out birds flying by and facts about climate and terrain. He had a translation of the Orkney saga and had me read relevant passages as…”
A private Orkney highlights tour with flexible pickup and a car just for your group, hitting Skara Brae, cliffs, and stone circles.
“We had an absolutely fabulous tour with Anna. She is very knowledgeable about the island’s history, so we learned a lot. She patiently waited for us as we went on a cliff hike to get amazing views and when we returned she offered us a cheese plate. She sent us off with Orkney mementoes and memories. We loved spending the day with her.”
5 days from Edinburgh to Orkney and the North Coast 500 with ferries, guided stone circles, Viking-era stops, and added whisky and castle options.
“An absolutely wonderful experience from start to finish. The tour operator - Scotland's Wild - did a great job in every detail. We greatly appreciated both the planned itinerary and the opportunities to make changes as needed. The guides - Calum and Karen - were great company and really enhanced the trip with their knowledge of Scottish geography, history and lore. I particularly valued the many stops at ancient archaeological sites, especially on Orkney, and every stop on every day added a lot to the overall enjoyment of the trip.”
Private car tour from Kirkwall to Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar, Stenness and Yesnaby Cliffs, with pickup, guided stops, and short site visits.
“Gail is an absolute gem! She was friendly, knowledgeable and responsive and I would highly recommend to anyone visiting Orkney. 10/10!”
Every kind of day out, from an hour under the Old Town to a week in the islands.
