Loch Ness Tour – The Complete Loch Ness Experience
Looking for a Loch Ness day tour?
One that takes in all the beauty of this spot?
Well, that’s exactly what this tour does!
It’s the complete Loch Ness experience.
How long does it take to tour Loch Ness?
If you drive non-stop around Loch Ness from Inverness it will take you around 2-2.5 hours. If you want to tour Loch Ness you can do that easily in a day taking 6-8 hours depending on how long you stop for.
Loch Ness Tour Headlines
- Private small group tour in a private car for up to 3 people
- Full day trip tour with timings to suit your cruise ship
- Departs and returns to Invergordon
- Travels the whole way round Loch Ness – you see it all!
- Visits the popular Western side with its dramatic castle
- Visits the stunning Eastern side which has amazing views and stops to enjoy
- Includes a 1 hour Loch Ness cruise boat trip
- A chance to see one of the most popular places to visit in the Scottish Highlands
Loch Ness Tour Practical Information
- The tour is in a private car with a driver guide
- It is 7-8 hours long depending on your ships schedule and timings
- It can be personalised to suit your interests
- It includes a stop at Fort Augustus where you can get some lunch (lunch is not included)
- There are comfort stops throughout
- The longest drive without a stop is the 1 hour 15 minutes journey to Loch Ness from Invergordon
- The roads are mainly single lane roads, and some single lane with passing places
Loch Ness Tour Type
This Loch Ness tour is full of views and scenery with plenty of stops throughout the day
It’s a friendly, fun, and relaxed tour designed to show you the best of this amazing location.
There are options to adapt this tour to suit your interests. Perhaps you would prefer to visit the Loch Ness Visitor Centre and do some shopping for souvenirs rather than a boat trip for example?
Here’s the itinerary and timings from Invergordon cruise port.
Loch Ness Tour – Hello from Me, Your Tour Guide
Hello. My name is Melanie and I am delighted to be able to offer this Complete Loch Ness Tour. It’s such an amazing spot.
I’ve lived in the beautiful Highlands for 20 years. During that time I have taken many tour groups around this amazing place – whether on cruise ship tours, or extended tours. I want to show you the real Highlands. The places we locals love, great places to see wildlife and great spots for photos. I want to take you to my Highlands and help you fall in love with the place too.
I have guided tours for groups all over the world and spent 20 years taking tours around Scotland and the Highlands. For 8 years I have guided tours for cruise ship guests coming into Invergordon.
If you want to know more about my experience then check out my dedicated About Melanie page.
I always describe myself as a good all-rounder type of guide. If you want a detailed history of all the clans, or the Kings and Queens then I am not the right guide for you – there are plenty of other fantastic guides that can help you with that.
If you want lots of information which includes history, geography, wildlife, nature, daily life in the Highlands then that’s what I am good at.
I am flexible when comes to adapting the tour to suit your interests. I will also adapt the tour according to the weather too so we can make the most of our day.
Loch Ness Tour Pricing Details
- This tour can be personalised to suit your requirements and interests.
- It is 7-9 hours long depending on the cruise ship time in port and the options you choose.
- This tour is in a private car and is for up to 3 people travelling.
- It includes a 1 hour boat cruise
- I am your guide and also your driver
- It is £500 for the full day which includes a hire car, all fuel, insurance, and a boat cruise for 3 people
(If you are happy to be driven in my 3 Series BMW, which is air conditioned with leather seats then this tour is available for £400 for 3 people, as I don’t have to hire a car. Just so you know my car is older but well loved and looked after. It is a clean diesel so due to the low emissions there is very little tax to pay.)
Please note that to ensure you get a cruise on Loch Ness you really need to book in advance, particularly for June, July, and August when demand is at its highest. The more notice the better!
Complete Loch Ness Tour Itinerary
Drive from Invergordon to Loch Ness and drive through Inverness
This journey will pass over the sea bridge, the Cromarty Causeway. It will then cross the Black Isle and travel through Inverness.
On the way through we pass through the city centre and pass by the Castle and the Cathedral. We will drive past the pretty Ness Islands on the River Ness before heading out of Inverness on the A82.
The journey time from Invergordon to Inverness is around 1 hour.
Visit An Talla at Dochgarroch
After travelling through Inverness we make our first stop at Dochgarroch.
This stop has a cafe, gift shop, and bathrooms and it is right beside the Caledonian Canal which flows into Loch Ness. There are generally a couple of Heilan Coos (Highland Cattle) there too. They love having their photograph taken!
The journey time from Inverness to Dochgarroch is around 10 minutes.
We will stop for around 20 minutes.
Visit the Nessie Village of Drumnadrochit
Following the Western side of Loch Ness, we travel down to Drumnadrochit.
Here you take an included boat trip with a Nessie Hunter. We visit the deepest part of the Loch and get a fantastic view from the loch of the Urquhart Castle. Even as a ruin the castle is impressive and beautiful. The boat trip is 1 hour long. (Included boat trip).
(Please note for any booking before 1st April this boat trip will leave from the Clansman Hotel)
The journey time to Drumnadrochit is around 15 minutes. The boat trip is 60 minutes
Visit Scenic Invermoriston
Continuing South along the A82 we head for Invermoriston.
We take a walk to see the pretty bridge and river Moriston.
Depending on the time of year you may see salmon jumping the falls here. It’s a great spot for photos.
The journey time to Invermorison is around 15 minutes. We will stop for around 20 minutes.
Stop at Lovely Fort Augustus
We continue further South to Fort Augustus.
This village is at the south end of Loch Ness. There is an opportunity to walk to the Loch viewpoint for a great photo.
In the village centre there are a series of canal locks and the Caledonian Canal visitor centre. It explains the construction and history of this major Highland engineering project.
It is also an ideal spot to get a bit of lunch (lunch is not included)
The journey time to Fort Augustus is around 15 minutes. We will stop for around 1 hour.
Head up to Suidhe Viewpoint
We head up the much quieter Eastern side of Loch Ness.
We will make a stop where you can get a great view looking out over the hills towards Loch Ness and to Inverness.
It can sometimes be quite windy but whatever the weather it’s always spectacular.
The journey time to the viewpoint is around 15 minutes. We will stop for 15 minutes.
Visit Pretty Foyers
We continue along the Eastern side of Loch Ness making our way to the pretty village of Foyers.
You can choose to take a walk to the Falls of Foyers if you wish or visit the Waterfall cafe or a local farm shop cafe. It’s entirely up to you.
The journey time to the viewpoint is around 15 minutes. We will stop for 15 minutes.
Visit Dores Beach
We stop at the Northern end of Loch Ness to visit the pretty beach at Dores. This spot gives a great view looking down Loch Ness and is our final opportunity for Nessie spotting.
The journey time to Dores is around 30 minutes. We will stop for around 20 minutes.
Pass Through Inverness
Our route back to Invergordon will take us through Inverness again. We then head North on the A9 retracing our route from this morning.
The journey back to Inverness from Invergordon is around 1 hour.
Return Through Invergordon
If time allows we will drive through Invergordon at the end of our tour. This town has a mural trail. All the murals tell local stories and feature local people.
Keen to see the view of Loch Ness now? Check out these live webcams.
Loch Ness Tour – FAQs
Is this tour suitable for people in a wheelchair?
Unfortunately due to the number of stops, the size of the boat, and the terrain at the stops it isn’t. Sorry 🙁
How much walking is involved in this tour?
As much or as little as you would like. There are a couple of walks that you can avoid if you prefer – the woods at Invermoriston and the walk down to the Falls of Foyers. The program can also be adapted to suit less walking if preferred.
Will I see Nessie on this tour?
You will see a Nessie on this tour for sure!
Interested in Booking This Loch Ness Tour?
Just send a message to check availability for your chosen date or to ask any questions. I’d be happy to help 🙂
Loch Ness Tour Booking Terms and Conditions
You can cancel up to 3 days in advance with no cancellation fees payable.
After that time there are cancellation fees as follows;
- 2 days before 50% payable
- 1 day before 75% payable
This is simply because I have to hire a vehicle, and I may have turned down other bookings to carry out your tour.
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