Itinerary Sneak Peek: This preliminary itinerary offers a glimpse of what we’re planning for Scotland & Ireland 2028. Details are still being finalized, and experiences, accommodations, activities, and scheduling are subject to change as we thoughtfully refine the tour.
Scotland and Ireland
July 13-27, 2028
15 Days | Small Group | Maximum 14 People Including Hosts (only 6 spots left)
Working Price: $6,750 per person, double occupancy
Edinburgh → Scottish Highlands → Isle of Skye → Dublin → Galway → Cliffs of Moher → County Kerry → Dingle
This is a working itinerary, and some accommodations, activities and scheduling remain subject to change as 2028 arrangements are finalized.
But the heart of the trip is already taking shape:
Small group. Beautiful places. Memorable experiences. Enough structure to make travel easy, and enough freedom to make the trip your own.
Scotland & Ireland 2028
An Elsewhere Tours & Travel Small-Group Adventure
From Edinburgh’s cobbled streets and Scotland’s dramatic Highlands to Dublin, Galway, the Cliffs of Moher and an Irish castle, this 15-day journey is designed to give you more than a checklist of famous sights.
We’ll stay in historic properties, travel through spectacular countryside, create one-of-a-kind souvenirs, enjoy memorable local experiences, and still give you something traditional tours often forget exists: time to explore on your own.
Please note: This is our current working itinerary. Specific hotels, experiences and scheduling may change as final arrangements are confirmed for 2028.
Day 1 Thursday, July 13
Off to Scotland!
Our adventure begins as we depart Jacksonville for Edinburgh.
Settle in for our overnight flight and get ready for two weeks of castles, Highlands, dramatic coastlines, Irish pubs, historic cities and the occasional sheep.
Overnight: In flight
Day 2 Friday, July 14
Welcome to Edinburgh
Welcome to Scotland!
After arriving in Edinburgh, we'll transfer to our centrally located hotel and keep the afternoon deliberately relaxed after our overnight journey.
Later, Pamela and Cathy will lead an easy orientation walk through the historic heart of Edinburgh. We may wander along the Royal Mile, see St. Giles' Cathedral, explore colorful Victoria Street, walk through Grassmarket, and discover some of the closes and hidden corners of Old Town.
That evening, we'll officially begin our adventure with an Elsewhere Welcome Dinner.
Included: Airport transfer • Edinburgh orientation • Welcome Dinner
Overnight: Edinburgh
Day 3 Saturday, July 15
Edinburgh Castle & Create Your Own Harris Tweed Handbag
Today begins at magnificent Edinburgh Castle, perched high above the city on Castle Rock.
We'll have an introduction to the castle before having time to explore its fascinating history, royal chambers, military exhibits and spectacular views.
Then comes an experience you won't find on the average giant-bus tour.
Elsewhere Signature Experience
Create Your Own Harris Tweed Handbag
You'll choose from beautiful Harris Tweed fabrics and create a personalized handbag to take home.
Instead of another souvenir manufactured somewhere far away, you'll leave Scotland with something you actually helped make.
The remainder of the afternoon and evening is yours to enjoy Edinburgh.
Included: Edinburgh Castle • Harris Tweed handbag experience
Overnight: Edinburgh
Day 4 Sunday, July 16
Explore Your Way: Edinburgh
Today belongs entirely to you.
Sleep late. Start early. Spend six hours in a museum. Spend six hours shopping. Find a pub and decide you've completed your cultural studies for the afternoon.
Some possibilities include:
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Royal Yacht Britannia
National Museum of Scotland
Scotch Whisky Experience
Dean Village and Stockbridge
Edinburgh's underground vaults
Arthur's Seat
Afternoon tea
Shopping along the Royal Mile
There is no required group sightseeing today.
That's an important part of Elsewhere. We want you to experience the destination, not simply follow us around for 15 consecutive days.
Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Edinburgh
Day 5 Monday, July 17
Stirling Castle • Pitlochry • Into the Scottish Highlands
Today we leave Edinburgh behind and begin our journey north into the Highlands.
Our first major stop is spectacular Stirling Castle, one of Scotland's great royal castles and a place deeply connected to the country's history.
From there, we'll continue to the picturesque Highland town of Pitlochry, where we'll have time for lunch and exploring.
A Little Whisky, Perhaps?
We're also exploring the possibility of adding a Highland whisky distillery experience during our time in the Pitlochry area.
It isn't confirmed yet, so we're not putting it in the "you definitely get this" column. But it's firmly in the "this could be rather fun" column.
Then we'll continue deeper into the Highlands and check into our Scottish castle or historic-estate accommodations, our home for the next three nights.
Yes. Three nights.
Because if we're going to Scotland, we're going to do Scotland properly.
Included: Private transportation • Stirling Castle • Highland sightseeing
Overnight: Scottish castle or historic estate
Day 6 Tuesday, July 18
Culloden • Inverness • Loch Ness
Today takes us deeper into the stories and landscapes of the Highlands.
We'll visit Culloden Battlefield, site of the final Jacobite rising, including the excellent visitor center and a guided battlefield experience.
Then it's on to Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, with time for lunch and independent exploring.
Later we'll travel along legendary Loch Ness, where our final experience may include a cruise, a visit to Urquhart Castle, or a combination of the two.
And no, Nessie sightings cannot be guaranteed. Elsewhere has limits.
We'll return to our Highland castle or estate for the evening.
Included: Private transportation • Culloden experience • Highland sightseeing • Loch Ness experience
Overnight: Scottish castle or historic estate
Day 7 Wednesday, July 19
Eilean Donan & the Isle of Skye
Get the cameras ready.
Today is devoted to some of the most spectacular scenery of the entire tour.
We'll journey through the Highlands toward iconic Eilean Donan Castle, surrounded by mountains and water and looking suspiciously like Scotland decided to pose for a postcard.
Then we'll continue onto the legendary Isle of Skye.
Depending on weather, timing and final routing, our day may include places such as:
Portree • Old Man of Storr viewpoints • Kilt Rock • Quiraing • Cuillin Mountains • Fairy Pools • Highland villages • dramatic coastal viewpoints
After a full day of exploring, we'll return to our Highland castle or estate.
Included: Private transportation • Isle of Skye touring
Overnight: Scottish castle or historic estate
Day 8 Thursday, July 20
Scotland to Ireland
This morning we'll say goodbye to the Scottish Highlands and transfer to Inverness Airport for our flight to Dublin.
After arriving in Ireland, we'll transfer to our centrally located Dublin hotel.
The remainder of the day will be deliberately easy, with an optional Pamela-and-Cathy orientation walk for anyone ready to start exploring.
Included: Airport transfers • Flight from Scotland to Ireland
Overnight: Dublin
Day 9 Friday, July 21
Historic Dublin & Forge Your Own Claddagh Ring
We'll begin with a locally guided historical experience through Dublin, getting acquainted with the stories, landmarks and personalities of Ireland's capital.
After time for lunch, we'll head to another special Elsewhere experience.
Elsewhere Signature Experience
Forge Your Own Sterling Silver Claddagh Ring
At Silver Works Dublin, we'll participate in a private jewelry-making workshop where you'll create your own properly sized sterling-silver Claddagh ring.
The traditional Claddagh represents love, loyalty and friendship, making this one particularly meaningful souvenir of Ireland.
And you made it yourself.
Included: Guided Dublin experience • Private sterling-silver Claddagh ring workshop
Overnight: Dublin
Day 10 Saturday, July 22
Explore Your Way: Dublin
No alarms required today unless you want one.
Dublin is yours.
Visit the Book of Kells, tour Kilmainham Gaol, investigate the Guinness-making process with great academic seriousness, explore Dublin Castle, visit museums, shop, find live traditional music or simply wander.
Possible choices include:
Trinity College & Book of Kells • Kilmainham Gaol • Guinness Storehouse • EPIC • Jameson • Teeling • Dublin Castle • St. Patrick's Cathedral • museums • shopping • traditional music
You choose what interests you.
Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Dublin
Day 11 Sunday, July 23
Across Ireland to Galway
Today we'll leave Dublin and travel west across Ireland toward Galway.
Depending upon final routing, we may stop at historic Clonmacnoise, an extraordinary early Christian site overlooking the River Shannon.
After arriving in Galway and checking into our centrally located hotel, Pamela and Cathy will offer an orientation walk through the city.
We'll explore areas around Eyre Square, the Latin Quarter, Quay Street, Spanish Arch and Galway's lively historic center.
Then the evening is yours.
Included: Private transportation • Galway orientation
Overnight: Galway
Day 12 Monday, July 24
Explore Your Way: Galway
Another day designed around a radical travel concept: you deciding what you want to do.
Those wanting a bigger adventure might travel to the Aran Islands or explore Connemara and Kylemore Abbey.
Others may prefer a Galway food experience, museums, shopping, pubs, traditional music or simply enjoying the atmosphere of one of Ireland's most charming cities.
We'll provide ideas and guidance before the trip so you can plan the kind of day that suits you.
Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Galway
Day 13 Tuesday, July 25
The Burren • Cliffs of Moher • Irish Castle Stay
Today delivers another of the tour's major highlights.
We'll travel through the extraordinary landscape of The Burren before continuing to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher.
You'll have time to walk the cliff paths, take in the Atlantic views and explore the visitor area.
Then we're heading south toward County Kerry.
Tonight, We're Sleeping in a Castle
We'll begin a two-night stay in an Irish castle or historic property, with beautiful Ballyseede Castle currently our leading candidate.
Unpack. Settle in.
You live in a castle now. Try to remain humble.
Included: Private transportation • Burren touring • Cliffs of Moher
Overnight: Irish castle or historic property
Day 14 Wednesday, July 26
Dingle Peninsula • Slea Head • Irish Sheepdogs
Our final full day takes us through the breathtaking Dingle Peninsula.
We'll spend some independent time in colorful Dingle before continuing along the spectacular Slea Head Drive, where rugged coastline, green hills, islands and Atlantic views create some of Ireland's most memorable scenery.
Traditional Irish Sheepdog Demonstration
We'll also experience a working sheepdog demonstration and see firsthand how these extraordinarily intelligent dogs work with their handlers.
After returning to our castle, we'll gather for our final included Elsewhere Farewell Dinner.
Good food, good company and approximately 3,000 photographs nobody has organized yet.
Included: Private Dingle Peninsula touring • Slea Head • Sheepdog experience • Farewell Dinner
Overnight: Irish castle
Day 15 Thursday, July 27
Ireland to Jacksonville
After breakfast at the castle, we'll transfer to Shannon Airport for our journey home.
We'll leave Ireland with handmade treasures, ridiculous numbers of photographs, probably several things purchased that wouldn't fit properly in the suitcase, and two weeks of stories from Scotland and Ireland.
Included: Breakfast • Airport transportation • International airfare
The Elsewhere Difference
This journey is being designed for travelers who want the advantages of traveling with a group without feeling like they're trapped on a traditional group tour.
You'll have included experiences and private transportation when they make sense, along with several Explore Your Way days when your time truly belongs to you.
And we're keeping the group intentionally small.
Planned Group Size
Just 14 people total, including your hosts, Pamela & Cathy.
That means we're traveling together rather than moving around as a 50-person herd following an umbrella.
Some of the experiences we're building into this adventure:
Edinburgh Castle
Create your own Harris Tweed handbag
Stirling Castle
Possible Highland whisky distillery experience
Three-night Scottish castle/historic estate stay
Culloden Battlefield
Loch Ness
Eilean Donan Castle
Full-day Isle of Skye adventure
Dublin
Forge your own sterling-silver Claddagh ring
Galway
The Burren & Cliffs of Moher
Two-night Irish castle stay
Dingle Peninsula, Slea Head & working sheepdogs
Elsewhere Welcome & Farewell Dinners
Three Explore Your Way days
