Lowest price here5,019 reviews
12 hInverness: Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Trip
★ 4.8 · 5,019 reviews
- Twelve hours, Old Man of Storr photo stop
- Lunch stop in Portree
- Bestseller
- Free cancellation
$91$7.58 / hour
Check availability→ Skye from Inverness
Isle of Skye trip from Inverness, tour by tour
An Isle of Skye trip from Inverness comes in two lengths on this site: four day tours of 12 hours each, from $91 per person, and one overnight trip of two days at $224. All four day tours stop at Eilean Donan and in Portree. Below: each tour in turn, the prices side by side, and a straight verdict.
Quick answer
The short answer. For most travellers, the Isle of Skye trip from Inverness to book is the Skye and Eilean Donan day at $91: the lowest price on this site, 12 hours, and 5,019 reviews at 4.8. Pay $94 for the small-group day if you want the highest rating here, 4.9, and a group of up to 16. Pay $105 if the Fairy Pools are the reason you are going.
Isle of Skye trip from Inverness at a glance
- Day tours
- Four, 12 hours eachfrom $91 per person
- Overnight trip
- Two days$224 per person
- Day tour prices
- $91 to $105per person
- Reviews
- 5,019on the Skye and Eilean Donan day, the most on this site
- Highest rating
- 4.9the small-group day, 1,809 reviews
- Meeting points
- Railway Terrace, Union Street, Ardross Streetdepends on the tour
- On all four day tours
- Eilean Donan and Portreetime at each varies
- Fairy Pools
- 90 minuteson one of the four day tours
- Lunch
- Not includeda lunch stop on each day tour
- Cancellation
- Free cancellationon all five; the deadline varies by tour
How the day works
One long day: Loch Ness, the castle, the island and back
Where the 12 hours go, and what kind of day it is.
All four day tours follow the same plan. You leave Inverness in the morning, pass Loch Ness, stop at Eilean Donan, cross to the island and spend the middle of the day on Skye, with a lunch stop in Portree. Each is listed at 12 hours, so this is a full Isle of Skye tour from Inverness, not a short outing.
What changes is how the hours are spent. Three of the four stop at the Old Man of Storr; the Fairy Pools day gives you 90 minutes at the pools in Glen Brittle instead.
When you compare day tours from Inverness, keep one fact in mind: no tour on this site goes to Skye and back in one day from Edinburgh or Glasgow. If you have one day for the island, Inverness is where it starts. Vishal from India: «Would definitely recommend this tour if you want to experience Skye but only have a day to do it.»
Tour by tour
The four day tours, one by one
What each Isle of Skye trip from Inverness covers, in the words of its listing, lowest price first.
- Skye and Eilean Donan — $91, 12 hours
The Inverness to Isle of Skye tour with the most reviews on this site: 5,019, rated 4.8. Meet at Railway Terrace; the bus is air-conditioned. A short break at Invermoriston on Loch Ness, time at Eilean Donan to go in or admire it from outside, lunch time in Portree, the Old Man of Storr and Lealt Falls. The itinerary adds Sligachan Old Bridge and Kilt Rock.
- The small-group day — $94, 12 hours
The Inverness Isle of Skye tour with the highest rating here: 4.9 from 1,809 reviews. Up to 16 people, no more than 8 on one booking. Meet by Inverness Cathedral on Ardross Street. Time to go inside Eilean Donan or enjoy the views, then Sligachan, Portree, the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock and the Quiraing, with a different route back. Due back around 20:00.
- Myths & Legends — $94, 12 hours
180 reviews at 4.7. Meet opposite the Victorian Market on Union Street, 15 minutes early. A small-group day of legends, folklore, rival clans and a fugitive prince. Stops by the minute: 10 at Loch Ness, an hour in Portree, 15 each at the Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock, 30 at the Quiraing, 20 at Rogie Falls. Eilean Donan is at your own expense.
- The Fairy Pools day — $105, 12 hours
1,278 reviews at 4.7. The Inverness to Skye tour for anyone who came for the pools: 90 minutes at the Fairy Pools in Glen Brittle. Meet at 25 Union Street; an air-conditioned vehicle and a driver-guide. Add an hour in Portree, Sligachan Bridge below the Cuillin Hills, a 20-minute photo stop at Eilean Donan and 10 minutes at Loch Ness.
On the island
Portree, the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing
Three places you can reach on an Isle of Skye trip from Inverness. Portree is on all four day tours; the Quiraing is on two.
Portree harbour
A row of painted houses above the harbour wall, small boats out on the water and low cloud over the hills across the bay.
The Old Man of Storr
The dark rock pinnacle stands against a clear sky, and the ridge falls away to lochs and distant hills.
The Quiraing
Steep green ridges and a pointed hill under low cloud, with a footpath winding across the slope.
Every trip, current fare
What each trip costs and what the price covers
The Isle of Skye trip from Inverness in five versions. Every price is per person, and lunch is not included on any of them.
| Trip | Price | Price is for | Length | What the price covers | Where it starts | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skye and Eilean Donan | $91 | per person | 12 hours | Air-conditioned bus, guide; Eilean Donan, Portree, Old Man of Storr, Lealt Falls | Railway Terrace | 4.8 · 5,019 |
| The small-group day | $94 | per person | 12 hours | Up to 16 people; Eilean Donan, Old Man of Storr, Quiraing; back around 20:00 | Ardross Street, by Inverness Cathedral | 4.9 · 1,809 |
| Myths & Legends | $94 | per person | 12 hours | Guide and stories, audio guide; Eilean Donan at your own expense | Union Street, opposite the Victorian Market | 4.7 · 180 |
| The Fairy Pools day | $105 | per person | 12 hours | Driver-guide; 90 minutes at the Fairy Pools; Eilean Donan photo stop | 25 Union Street | 4.7 · 1,278 |
| Two days, one night | $224 | per person | 2 days | Transport, driver guide; Fairy Pools hike. Room: not stated | Railway Terrace | 4.8 · 513 |
The price
What the extra few dollars buy
Four prices within $14 of each other, and what the difference pays for.
All four one day tours from Inverness cost between $91 and $105 per person for the same 12 hours, which works out at $7.58 to $8.75 per listed hour. So the choice is less about money than about the kind of day you want.
The lowest-priced Isle of Skye day trip from Inverness, Skye and Eilean Donan, also has the most reviews. For $3 more, the small-group day adds a cap of 16 and the highest rating here. Myths & Legends adds the stories. For $14 more, the Fairy Pools day gives you 90 minutes at the pools.
If your Isle of Skye trip from Inverness can run to two days, the overnight version costs $224 per person. Starting in Edinburgh instead? Our top pick on this site is a three-day tour at $304 per person; the Edinburgh guide has the details.
Who it suits
Which of the five trips suits you
Your Isle of Skye trip from Inverness, matched to what you want, with a traveller’s line on each.
- Skye and Eilean Donan, if price comes first
The lowest price and 5,019 reviews. Christine from France: «The tour was very well paced, with enough time at each stop while keeping the day moving smoothly.»
- The small-group day, for fewer people
Up to 16 people, rated 4.9. Victoria from the United States: «This tour packed a lot of sites and scenery into one day and was a great overview of the Isle of Skye!»
- Myths & Legends, for the stories
The Inverness to Skye day tour built around legends, with an audio guide in five more languages; bring a headset. Hazwan from the United Kingdom: «Apart from the stunning scenery and destinations, the tour also presents a real Scottish experience.»
- The Fairy Pools day, if the pools are the point
Ninety minutes in Glen Brittle; wear proper footwear. Carol from the United States: «This was a perfect one day trip to the Isle of Skye.»
- The two-day trip, if one day is too short
A second day and the Fairy Pools hike. Susana from the United States: «We had a good amount of time to explore the sites visited.»
Two days instead of one
The overnight trip: what the second day adds
One trip from Inverness has a night in the middle. Here is what is known about it.
If a day trip to Skye from Inverness feels too short, the overnight version runs two days for $224 per person, rated 4.8 by 513 reviewers. It starts at Railway Terrace, with transport and a driver guide included, in a small group. It names Eilean Donan, Sligachan, a lunch stop in Broadford, Fort Augustus and Loch Ness, and a hike to the Fairy Pools on the second morning.
The listing does not say whether the room is part of the price or where you sleep, so check before you pay. It does advise booking a restaurant table in Portree ahead. The two-day guide has more.
Before you book
Five things to check before you pay
A few minutes on the listing makes any Isle of Skye trip from Inverness easier on the day. Whichever Inverness tour you pick, check these.
- Your meeting street
Railway Terrace for Skye and Eilean Donan and for the two-day trip; Ardross Street, by the cathedral, for the small-group day; Union Street for the Fairy Pools day and for Myths & Legends. No tour from Inverness on this site includes pickup.
- Money for lunch
Each day tour has a lunch stop; no listing says lunch is part of the price.
- Shoes for the Fairy Pools
The walk is moderately challenging. In winter the pools are sometimes not possible.
- Children
Minimum ages differ by tour, from 3 to 5; check the listing.
- Cancellation
All five offer free cancellation; the four day tours let you reserve now and pay later. Deadlines differ, so check yours.
Our verdict
Our verdict on Skye from Inverness
Book Skye and Eilean Donan at $91 if you want the classic Isle of Skye trip from Inverness at the lowest price. 5,019 reviewers rate it 4.8, and in 12 hours it covers Eilean Donan, Portree, the Old Man of Storr and Lealt Falls.
Pay $94 for the small-group day if you want the highest rating here and a group of up to 16, or $105 for the Fairy Pools day if the pools matter most.
Book direct
Book your Isle of Skye trip from Inverness
The four day tours, lowest price first. Each runs 12 hours and is priced per person.
Likely to sell out1,809 reviews
12 hFrom Inverness: Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Tour
★ 4.9 · 1,809 reviews
- Twelve hours, Small group, up to 16
- Old Man of Storr, Quiraing
- Likely to sell out
- Free cancellation
$94$7.83 / hour
Check availability→ 
Likely to sell out12 h
12 hFrom Inverness: Isle of Skye “Myths & Legends” Full Day Trip
★ 4.7 · 180 reviews
- Twelve hours, Old Man of Storr, Quiraing
- Castle tour optional, extra fee
- Likely to sell out
- Free cancellation
$94$7.83 / hour
Check availability→ 
Likely to sell out1,278 reviews
12 hFrom Inverness: Isle of Skye and Fairy Pools Day Trip
★ 4.7 · 1,278 reviews
- Twelve hours, Fairy Pools stop, 90 minutes
- Lunch stop in Portree
- Likely to sell out
- Free cancellation
$105$8.75 / hour
Check availability→ Would you rather have two days on the road and a hike to the Fairy Pools?
The two-day trip, explained→Common questions
Isle of Skye trip from Inverness: questions, answered
Can you see the Isle of Skye in one day?
Yes, on a day trip from Inverness. The four day tours from Inverness, Scotland, each last 12 hours and cost $91 to $105 per person. From Edinburgh and Glasgow, the tours on this site run over several days.
Where do the Skye tours leave from in Inverness?
Railway Terrace for Skye and Eilean Donan and the two-day trip; Ardross Street, by the cathedral, for the small-group day; Union Street for the Fairy Pools day and Myths & Legends. None of them includes pickup.
What time does an Isle of Skye day tour from Inverness return?
Only the small-group day gives a time: around 20:00. The others give a length of 12 hours; the Fairy Pools day calls its timings approximate.
Is lunch included?
No listing says so. Each day tour stops in Portree for lunch; bring money for food.
Does the price cover entry to Eilean Donan Castle?
No listing says it does. On Myths & Legends it is at your own expense, with an optional guided tour for an extra fee. Two tours give you time to go inside; the Fairy Pools day has a 20-minute photo stop.
How long do you get at the Fairy Pools?
On the Fairy Pools day, 90 minutes. On the two-day trip, the hike is on the morning of the second day, and the listing does not give a time. The walk is moderately challenging, so wear proper footwear.
Go deeper
More on trips to the Isle of Skye
In one day
In one day
What a twelve-hour day from Inverness covers on the island, and which day suits you.
Two daysTwo days
A night on the island: what the second day adds.
Fairy PoolsFairy Pools
The walk to the pools, and which tours give you time there.
Eilean DonanEilean Donan
The castle on its island at the head of Loch Duich, and the tours that stop there.
Loch NessLoch Ness
The loch on the road west, and how long each tour stays.
