The Hebridean Explorer – Scottish Highlands and Islands Tours from Inverness

Frequently asked Questions about The Hebridean Explorer Tours

Who will be my tour guide?

Can I book individual tickets or seperate group tickets?

Can I book a group larger than 3?

Can I personalise and change a tour?

Do I have to book in advance?

How far in advance do you take bookings?

How do I pay for a tour?

Where do Inverness tours start from?

How often do we stop?

What clothing/footwear should I bring?

How much luggage can I bring on a tour?

Do you offer tours from mid-October to March?

Who will be my tour guide?
John Alasdair Macdonald, owner of The Hebridean Explorer, guides all tours - more about John here.

Can I book individual tickets or seperate group tickets?
I do not sell individual or separate group tickets for people to join tours. The prices quoted are for your private and exclusive group only (of up to 3 people) where your private group collectively hires the vehicle as a whole for a tour. Advertised tour prices still apply if your group is less than 3.

Can I book a group larger than 3?
The current tour vehicle is a Honda CRV accommodating up to 3 passengers with window seats. While there is a 4th passenger seat in the vehicle, it is a smaller middle seat with limited width and without a window view and as such I do not take three adults in the back. Click for Information about the Tour Vehicle

Can I personalise and change a tour?
I try and be as flexible as possible so if you would like to visit other sites or take out stops then I will do my best to adapt a tour for you.

Do I have to book in advance?
All private tours need to be booked in advance. For all bookings a 50% non-refundable deposit is required. Full payment for a tour booking is required 60 days before the tour start date.

How far in advance do you take bookings?
I take advance bookings up to 30 months before a tour date. Many dates in the popular summer months will fill up quite far in advance.

How do I pay for a tour?
I have an online Secure Payment System for deposit and balance payments which accepts Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards. After confirmation of availability and tour details you will be sent a link to our Secure Payment page.

Where do Inverness tours start from?
Tours leave from your Inverness City Centre accommodation (or within 5 miles of Inverness City Centre) or I can pick you up from Inverness train station.

How often do we stop?
All tours have plenty of viewpoint and photo stops. Along with lunch and refreshment breaks, we also have regular restroom stops throughout the day. For tours with ferry trips I plan tour days that work best with travel and mealtimes. Remember this is your private tour, so flexibility is the key, if you want to stop out with our regular stops - to enjoy the beautiful countryside or just to grab a photo - then I stop!

What clothing/footwear should I bring?
I try and get off the beaten track on our tours so some stops give you the opportunity to walk over peat land or along the side of a loch. All this is optional but if you are considering footwear then good footwear - that you don’t mind getting a bit dirty! - will give you lots of choice at stops. I always recommend a light waterproof jacket as the weather in the Highlands can be very changeable.

How much luggage can I bring on a tour?
For groups of 3 the tour vehicle can accommodate 1 medium-sized piece of luggage per person plus a small day bag each.

Do you offer tours from mid-October to March?
Due to the higher likelihood of poor weather and the reduced daylight hours during these months we do not offer tours from mid-October to March.