Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party

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New Year's in Edinburgh
& Scottish Highlands
6-Day Tour

Departure Information

Departs from:

Edinburgh

Tours leave:

27th December

and 2nd January

Begins:

5pm on Day 1

Ends:

5pm on Day 6

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Celebrate New Year's Eve in Edinburgh & Adventure Through
the Scottish Highlands

Make your New Year's unforgettable with six days of Scottish adventure, city exploring and Highland magic! Start your trip in the heart of Edinburgh with welcome drinks, a Scottish whisky tasting and tasty nibbles, before joining a traditional Scottish ceilidh party.

Explore Scotland's capital on a guided Edinburgh walking tour, discovering the city's winding Old Town streets, fascinating history and iconic landmarks. Then swap city streets for mountain views as you hike up Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh's famous extinct volcano, for incredible views across the city and beyond.

The celebrations reach their peak on New Year's Eve, with tickets to Edinburgh's legendary Hogmanay Street Party included. Join thousands of revellers in the heart of Edinburgh for one of the world's most famous New Year's Eve celebrations.

Then it's time to leave the city behind and head north into the wild landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. Spend three nights exploring dramatic mountains, ancient glens, shimmering lochs and some of Scotland's most spectacular scenery with our local guides. Discover the legendary Isle of Skye, explore historic castles and take in rugged Highland landscapes as you experience the best of Scotland in winter.

With two nights in Edinburgh and three nights in the Highlands, this is more than just a Hogmanay celebration. It's the ultimate six-day Scotland adventure, combining Edinburgh's history and nightlife with the wild beauty of the Highlands.

There are two departure dates available: 27th December and 2nd January, giving you the option to celebrate New Year's Eve at the start or end of your Scottish adventure.

Edinburgh, Hogmanay, the Highlands in 6 days... and memories you'll be talking about for years.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Traditional Ceilidh

Whiskey Tasting

Street Party Entry

View Gallery

Welcome drinks and nibbles

with your new travel clan

Pick up and Drop-off from Edinburgh City Centre to Skye

Whiskey tasting with guided

experience and storytelling

Iconic Locations and Hidden Gems across the Highlands

Traditional Scottish Ceilidh

Dance at the Edinburgh hostel

Luggage Allowance of 1 Cabin Bag and 1 Small Backpack or Purse

Ticket to Edinburgh's famous street party on New Year's Eve

Transport in 28 Seat Coach with

expert local Scottish guide

5 nights hostel accommodation in Edinburgh and the Isle of Skye

Free continental breakfast daily (toast, cereals, fruit, tea, coffee)

Excludes

Flights to and from Edinburgh, or airport transfers

Meals and drinks other than breakfast and welcome snacks

Accommodation

Accommodation is included in the price of your tour (includes free continental breakfast).

You will stay overnight for three nights at Castle Rock Hostel in Edinburgh, right next to the castle! You'll also spend two nights in the scenic and peaceful fishing village, Kyleakin, on the Isle of Skye.

We stay in shared dormitory style rooms, with shared bathrooms and a shared kitchen and lounge. Private rooms in Scotland at this time of year are expensive and you need to book with plenty of notice. We have reserved hostel beds for each guest, but if you wish to book a private room separately please email info@macbackpackers.com to let us know.

Includes

HIGHLANDS TOUR ITINERARY

Your Hogmanay experience combines our 3-Day Isle of Skye adventure with an unforgettable New Year's celebration in Edinburgh. Depending on your departure date, your Edinburgh celebrations will take place either before or after your Highlands trip.

27th December departure: Your 3-Day Isle of Skye tour comes first, followed by your Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh.

2nd January departure: Your Hogmanay celebrations come first, followed by your 3-Day Isle of Skye tour.

Your Edinburgh celebration includes arrival drinks and nibbles, whiskey tasting, a traditional Scottish ceilidh dance, a walking tour of Edinburgh, a hike up extinct volcano Arthur's seat, and a ticket to the Hogmanay Street Party. The 3-Day Isle of Skye itinerary below shows what to expect from your Highland adventure (subject to driver's guidance).

Edinburgh to Skye

We depart from Castle Rock Hostel, Edinburgh, in the morning and set off on our adventure, with a full day of exploration and excitement ahead. We strike out into the Highlands seeking out spectacular scenery, clan rivalry and the odd mythical legend. - Forth Bridges - Pitlochry/Dunkeld - A taste of whisky - Culloden Battlefield - Loch Ness - Glen Shiel - Eilean Donan Castle - Kyleakin

Isle of Skye

A full day’s adventure lies ahead exploring the incredible Isle of Skye as we set off from Kyleakin around the island that has inspired countless artists and creators. Crammed with stunning vistas, breathtaking hikes and entrancing tales of warriors, monsters and faeries. Spend most of the day off the bus getting amongst it! - Sligachan - The Cuillin - Portree - Old Man of Storr - Kilt Rock - The Quiraing

Skye to Edinburgh

We say goodbye to the misty isle and head south taking in views of the Nevis range and Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. We’ll discover the haunting beauty of Glen Coe and hear tales of clan massacres, the likes of which inspired George R.R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones” series. - Glen Shiel - Fort William - Glen Coe - Rannoch Moor - Trossachs National Park

Check-in: 7:45am
Departure: 8am

Please note: We are unable to wait for guests who are late and no refunds will be issued in this instance. It is your responsibility to make sure you arrive on time for departure.

Pick-Up & Drop-Off

Our meeting point is at Castle Rock Hostel in Edinburgh, right next to Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Royal mile. This central location is close to many of the city's hostels and hotels. The address is: 15 Johnston Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2PW.

We recommend spending the night before your tour at Castle Rock Hostel for ease, or if you'd like to stay in a smaller hostel and don't mind a 10 minute walk in the morning we can also recommend Royal Mile Backpackers or High Street Hostel. You will be given a 10% off code for all three of these hostels when you book a tour with us.

Departure Times

Frequently Asked Questions

Restorative Yoga

Accommodation is not included in the price of the tour, but is guaranteed for you whilst on tour. If you opt to stay with us you will be asked to pay on arrival at the departure point (Castle Rock Hostel). We accept both cash and credit/ debit card. You also have the option to pre-pay for your accommodation on tour by adding this option at the point of booking. The cost is £38 per person per night which includes a continental breakfast of cereals, toast, jams, fruit, tea and coffee. There are vegan options available. Please let us know if you have any gluten, nut or other allergies.

It’s important to come prepared for everything we get up to on tour. We spend a lot of time outdoors exploring Scotland’s landscapes and we also do a 2-3 hour moderate hike. We recommend bringing:

- Sturdy walking boots or trail shoes from a reputable brand.

- A lightweight waterproof jacket. Choose a fully waterproof outer shell (not just water-resistant) that can be worn over your layers.

- Warm layers (even in summer). It can get chilly, particularly in the evenings or at higher elevations. Bring a warm jumper or fleece, and in colder months consider a hat and gloves.

- Comfortable everyday clothing. Casual, practical clothes are best for travel days and sightseeing.

- A small day backpack. Ideally with a waterproof lining or rain cover. You’ll need space for daily essentials like water, snacks, waterproofs, extra layers, medication, camera and dry socks.

- A water bottle. Staying hydrated on hikes is essential.

- Personal medication and toiletries. Bring enough for the duration of your trip, plus a little extra just in case.

- Travel adapter (UK plug type G). Scotland uses UK-style sockets.

- Spending money. Whether it’s whisky, meals, or souvenirs to take home, you’ll want some spending money. If you exchange currency and receive Bank of England notes, don’t worry – they are perfectly acceptable in Scotland.

- An open mind. Travelling is about new places, new people and new experiences. Embrace it and make the most of every moment.

You are more than welcome to bring along one smaller bag to use while on the bus, as well as one medium sized piece of luggage, suitcase or backpack, which we will put in the hold of the bus during transit. The luggage restriction has been set because our vehicles do not have the space to hold more than this.

If you are concerned you have too much luggage with you, please arrange with Castle Rock Hostel directly before your departure to store luggage while you are on tour. You can contact reception at castlerock@macbackpackers.com.

While many shops, cafes and restaurants in the Scottish Highlands do accept card, most local businesses prefer cash, and power outages are not uncommon in the area. Therefore, when cashier tills have no power, cash becomes essential. You might also like to tip your driver guide at the end of the tour. Therefore, we highly recommend bringing cash.

ATM’s are located at multiple stops along the route, but you could alternatively take out cash in Edinburgh before departure. We recommend around £20 per day if you are buying lunch in cafes/ shops and then cooking your own supermarket food in the hostel at night. However, if you intend on eating in a restaurant at night you would likely need to spend an additional £20-30 per night for this option. If you'd like to buy any souvenirs please factor this in too.

It is very common to see solo travellers on our tours. The majority of our passengers are there by themselves. We do also get groups or friends, siblings or relatives - there is typically a mix of both. Whether you arrive alone or in a group, we encourage everyone to get to know each other and make the most of the incredible opportunity to speak to people from different cultures from all over the world. If you are nervous about coming alone, don't worry! You'll make new friends in no time and be laughing your way around Scotland.

It doesn’t matter what time of year you are travelling, the weather in Scotland can be incredibly unpredictable and sometimes you can even experience several seasons in one day. Even in the summer months!

As a result of this, we would always encourage our passengers to wear waterproof shoes and clothing, ensuring they have several removable layers. You are more than welcome to leave jackets/jumpers on the coach during stops if you find that the weather is nice when you are due to get off. The bus will be locked and your belongings can be left with peace of mind.

If you'd like to make any specific requests for your stay, please email us at info@macbackpackers.com.

We will do our best to ensure that your request is satisfied. We generally aim to keep genders separate. However, please be aware that there are the same number of hostel beds as seats on the bus. Therefore, depending on the mix of genders on the tour, it may not be possible. However it is very rare that we would not be able to satisfy this request.

Our tours do involve long walks and moderate hikes taking 2-3 hours to complete. We only take 18-39 year olds on tours, who agree they are mobile and physically capable of joining all aspects of the tour. This allows us to be one of the only tour companies who take you up the mountains instead of just admiring them from the bus. If you don't think you are physically capable for this tour, please try another tour company. We need to lock the bus while the group is gone so you will need to stand alone for hours outside, even it is raining. Therefore, we would strongly encourage you not to join a tour if you have any injuries or mobility issues.

Check out our full list of FAQs here if you have any more questions!