WHY IT'S DIFFERENT?
Swimming with giant Basking Sharks, learning about the legends of Loch Ness and of course sampling some of Scotland's finest whisky!
Basking Sharks
Growing up to 12m long and weighing several tonnes, basking sharks are the second largest fish in the world. Slow moving and archaic, it's impossible not to be in awe of these truly impressive creatures.
Marine Wildlife
Another popular part of the Scottish island wildlife is the wonderful sealife. Look out for White-tailed Eagles, spectacular diving gannets, puffins, numerous species of dolphins and of course, the playful seals.
Loch Ness
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The Whiskey
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"Amazing family holiday. Well organised, lovely staff very helpful and very professional. I would recommend this to anyone."
Gary - Guest
YOUR EXPERIENCE
After arriving in Inverness you will be transferred to the Hebrides through the beautiful Cairngorms National Park. Then it's onwards to the quaint coastal town of Oban, the perfect base to explore the Hebrides. On day two, enjoy a ferry transfer to the island of Coll to meet with the basking sharks team before exploring the stunning coastline in search of marine wildlife such as seals, dolphins, whales and of course the Basking Shark. Growing up to 12m long and weighing several tonnes, basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) are the second largest fish in the world. The expertise of your team will give you the very best opportunity to swim with Basking Sharks and should they locate them you'll have the opportunity to share the sea and observe these gentle giants from a few metres. Late evening you'll return to Oban for a well-earned sleep! Last but not least, we will be stoping to the most famous place in Scotland - Loch Ness. Grab some lunch at Dores Inn and Visit the Tomatin Distillery for a taste of Scotland's finest whisky.
YOUR EXPERTS
James
The Brains Behind the Operation - Meet James
NEED TO KNOW
| DESTINATION | Scotland |
| DURATION | 2 nights |
| GROUP SIZE | 8 people |
| ASSISTANCE | Hands on |
| AIRPORT(S) | Inverness |
| FLIGHTS | For more information on flights from the UK please refer to how it works section. |
| VISA | UK, EU & US not required |
| VACCINATIONS | No |
Arrive in Inverness and transfer to the Hebrides through the beautiful Cairngorms National Park. Stop for a quick lunch at The Druie Cafe on the shore of Loch an Eilein. Afterwards, it's onwards to Oban where you'll check-in to your cosy B&B before enjoying a stroll down the pier or a swanky seafood dinner in one of the town's handful of restaurants.
INCLUDED
Early morning ferry transfer to the island of Coll to meet with the basking sharks team and after a short introduction and a brief of the day you’ll swim with seals followed by a picnic lunch. After lunch, you’ll go out searching for basking sharks. In the afternoon you’ll be transferred back to the island of Coll where you’ll change back into your dry clothes and have a wander before travelling back to Oban in the early evening.
INCLUDED
Travel back to Inverness airport but not before stopping at the most famous place in Scotland - Loch Ness. Grab some lunch at Dores Inn and Visit the Tomatin Distillery for a taste of Scotland's finest whisky. After that you'll be to Inverness in time for your flight home.
INCLUDED
A selection of our accommodation, which is subject to availability, however alternatives are always of a similar price, grade and location.
The Scot Hotel
Oban United Kingdom
With a traditional bar and restaurant, The Scot offers continental breakfasts and free Wi-Fi. Situated in Oban centre, the hotel is a 2-minute walk from the seafront and Oban Ferry Terminal.
Stylishly decorated with modern furniture and wooden flooring, the rooms at The Scot have private bathrooms with free toiletries. Rooms also feature a flat-screen TV/DVD player.
WHERE YOU'RE GOING
Located in the north-west of Scotland, the Hebrides archipelago boasts an impressive range of wildlife and culture in its isles, fjords, beaches and sounds. With some of the richest waters in the world, the Hebrides attracts a host of marine life, particularly during the spring when the warmer waters provide the perfect conditions for plankton blooms. It is here that basking sharks, among others, migrate to gorge on the plankton and mate in the waters, making the Hebrides a worldwide hotspot for shark spotting. Add coastal towns filled with buzzing seafood restaurants, fish and chip shops to make Rick Stein proud, the famous deep-fried Mars bar, looming Scottish castles, cosy local pubs, and more whisky that you can shake a stick at and you’ve got yourself the ideal weekend getaway.
FAST FACTS
| CAPITAL | London |
| POPULATION | 67.22 million |
| TIME DIFFERENCE | UTP |
"It may seem expensive but when you consider all the equipment, the zodiac boat, expertise of the captain, the knowledge of marine biologist, small group and of course the possibility of viewing these magnificent creatures up close then it definitely adds up"
James - Untravelled Paths
Warm clothing
Expect all the seasons in Scotland, especially with the wind chill when racing around in a zodiac. A waterproof jacket will also be very useful for keeping you dry and warm.
Pack a towel
Don't forget to pack a towel as you'll want to dry off as much as possible and it will also come in handy for those wishing to change back into their regular clothes.
Binoculars
Not essential but is likely to enhance your experience so do bring binoculars if you or any of your friends have them! Alternatively, if you have one your camera zoom may help.
Pre-book restaurants
There are some lovely restaurants in Oban but they do get booked up so we would suggest booking them in advance. Eeusk, one of our favourites, definitely needs to be booked.
As a tour operator we are not able to offer inclusive flights as part of our experiences however we are more than happy to help you find the most appropriate incoming and outgoing flights for you. All the listed airports fly directly in and out of Bucharest with multiple different airlines to choose from. We highly recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights.
Please note: Departure from the airport on the arrival day is before 12:00 and you will return to the airport on the final day at 16:00. You will need flights that fit with these times.
INSURANCE
In order to be fully covered on your trip should anything happen, we suggest getting an insurance before you travel. We recommend True Traveller, designed especially for adventure travel, who will be able to tailor an insurance package based on your needs. You can find out more here.
SOLO TRAVELLERS
Our prices are based on people sharing, for solo travellers who would prefer a private room the price per person will include a solo occupancy fee.
EXTRA NIGHTS
If you wish we can also organise extra nights at either end of your trip for you.
Book your trip in a few easy steps.
While the basking sharks migrate to the Scottish waters anytime from the spring when warmer waters cause the blooms of plankton, the most common time for sightings span from June through the end of August. This is why we only run the experience during the peak summer months to give you the best chance of spotting these incredible creatures.
