Edengate

Day 1 – Thursday, August 15, 2024: Departure for Scotland

• Depart the USA on overnight international flights to Glasgow, Scotland

• Prepare for a faith-filled and cultural journey through Scotland’s sacred history and Reformation legacy

Day 2 – Friday, August 16, 2024: Ancient Saints, Stones & Rabbie Burns

• Morning arrival in Glasgow; meet Reformation Tours Tour Director and board your private coach

• Visit St. Mungo’s Cathedral, founded by David I, site of the graves of nine Covenanters who died in 1645 for their Presbyterian faith

• Tour Govan Old Church, home to the famous Govan Stones, remarkable carved Christian monuments

• Travel to Ayr, birthplace of beloved poet Robert Burns, and visit the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum

• Enjoy scenic views of the Scottish seaside

• Overnight in Stranraer (2 nights) with welcome dinner

Day 3 – Saturday, August 17, 2024: St. Ninian & the First Scottish Christians

• Full-day excursion to Whithorn, site of the earliest Christian community in Scotland

• Learn about St. Ninian, who introduced Christianity before St. Columba’s time

• Visit St. Ninian’s Chapel and St. Ninian’s Cave, places of pilgrimage for centuries

• Explore Whithorn Priory and Museum, home of the Latinus Stone, the oldest Christian monument in Scotland

• Return to Stranraer for a festive evening:

  • Celebrate Pastor Dunfee’s birthday

  • Enjoy a Robert Burns poetry reading accompanied by fine Scotch whisky

Day 4 – Sunday, August 18, 2024: Standing Stones & “Uisge Beatha” (Water of Life)

• Depart Stranraer for Oban, with enriching stops along the way

• Visit Auchentoshan Distillery, Scotland’s only triple-distilled single malt whisky producer

• Explore Kilmartin Glen, an area with over 150 prehistoric monuments

• Tour the Kilmartin House Museum of Ancient Culture and nearby standing stones

• Arrive in Oban, dine together at the hotel

Day 5 – Monday, August 19, 2024: St. Columba & the Isle of Iona

• Take a ferry to the Isle of Mull, followed by a short foot ferry to Iona

• Visit Iona Abbey, founded in 563 by St. Columba, one of Christianity’s oldest centers of learning and faith

• Optional walk to St. Columba’s Bay, where the saint is believed to have landed

• Reflect at Iona Abbey and explore the island’s spiritual landscape

• Return to Oban; evening at leisure

Day 6 – Tuesday, August 20, 2024: Into the Highlands

• Travel north through spectacular Highland scenery to Craigellachie

• Stop at Glencoe, site of the tragic 1692 Massacre of the MacDonalds

• Visit the Glencoe Visitor Centre and watch a short film on this historic event

• Continue through the Cairngorms National Park, stopping for a sheepdog demonstration at Leault Farm

• Arrive at Craigellachie Hotel (2 nights)

• Enjoy dinner with whisky tasting

Day 7 – Wednesday, August 21, 2024: Wars, Monsters & Castles

• Optional day trip to Inverness and Loch Ness region, or relax locally in Craigellachie

• For those joining the excursion:

  • Visit Culloden Battlefield, site of the last battle fought on British soil (1746)

  • Take a cruise on Loch Ness and visit Urquhart Castle, rich with Highland legends

  • Learn about Scotland’s heroes Rob Roy MacGregor and Sir Walter Scott

  • Optional visit to the Scottish Kiltmaker Visitor Centre in Inverness

• Free afternoon to enjoy walking trails along the River Spey and visit nearby distilleries

Day 8 – Thursday, August 22, 2024: Kings, Queens & Afternoon Tea

• Visit Balmoral Castle, beloved Scottish home of Queen Elizabeth II, nestled in the Cairngorms National Park

• Travel to Perth, once the capital of Scotland, located along the River Tay

• Tour Scone Palace, coronation site of Scottish kings and home of the Stone of Destiny

• Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea experience

• Overnight in Perth (2 nights)

Day 9 – Friday, August 23, 2024: Martyrs & King Robert the Bruce

• Day trip to St. Andrews, a spiritual and academic heart of Scotland

• Visit the ruins of St. Andrews Castle and see the Bottle Dungeon, where George Wishart was imprisoned before his martyrdom

• Visit the martyrdom sites of Wishart and Patrick Hamilton, early Reformation heroes

• Explore St. Andrews Cathedral ruins, once the largest church in Scotland

• Pause at the monument to King Robert the Bruce, the unifier of Scotland

• Visit the famous beach from Chariots of Fire

• Return to Perth for group dinner

Day 10 – Saturday, August 24, 2024: John Knox, the Royal Mile & the Edinburgh Tattoo

• Travel to Edinburgh and explore the Royal Mile on a Reformation-themed walking tour

• Visit St. Giles Cathedral, where John Knox first preached in 1559

• See John Knox House, Greyfriars Church, and Magdalene Chapel

• Afternoon at leisure for shopping or optional visits

• Attend the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a spectacular evening of music and pageantry

Day 11 – Sunday, August 25, 2024: Worship, Castles & Farewell

• Morning at leisure to attend church services

• Afternoon tour of Holyrood Palace, where John Knox debated Mary, Queen of Scots

• Visit Edinburgh Castle, including St. Margaret’s Chapel, dating to the 12th century

• Enjoy a farewell dinner in a traditional Scottish restaurant, celebrating friendship and faith

Day 12 – Monday, August 26, 2024: Depart or Begin Post-Tour

• Depart from Edinburgh Airport for return flights to the USA or continue your travels in Europe

Optional Post-Tour Extension – Holy Island & Alnwick Castle

Day 12 – Monday, August 26, 2024: Holy Island (Lindisfarne)

• Travel to Lindisfarne (Holy Island), a tidal island off the Northumbrian coast

• Learn about St. Aidan, missionary from Iona who founded the monastery in 630 AD

• Visit Lindisfarne Priory, where the Lindisfarne Gospels were created

• Experience quiet reflection in one of England’s holiest sites

• Overnight stay on Holy Island

Day 13 – Tuesday, August 27, 2024: Alnwick Castle & Belhaven Brewery

• Return to the mainland and tour Alnwick Castle, dating back to 1309

  • Filming site for Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, and other productions

  • Family home of the Percy family, second-largest inhabited castle in the UK

• Visit Belhaven Brewery, Scotland’s oldest working brewery (est. 1719)

• Enjoy dinner at the Monks Retreat Pub

• Overnight near Edinburgh Airport

Day 14 – Wednesday, August 28, 2024: Return Home

• Transfer to Edinburgh Airport for flights back to the USA or onward travel

What are accommodations like?

Our hotels are chosen for their quality, amenities and proximity to areas of interest. Whenever possible, we choose hotels in town centers, so that you are able to go off and explore in your free time. It may be necessary for us to substitute hotels for others of equal quality. You will be fully informed of any changes that affect you.

Stranraer, Scotland
August 16-18, 2024
North West Castle
Port Rodie
Stranraer, DG9 8EH

Oban, Scotland
August 18-20, 2024
Oban Bay Hotel
Corran Esplanade
Oban, Argyll, PA34 5AE

Craigellachie, Scotland
August 20-22, 2024
Craigellachie Hotel
Victoria St., Speyside
Craigellachie, Aberlour, AB38 9SR

Perth, Scotland
August 22-24, 2024
Dunkeld House Hotel
Dunkeld
Perthshire, PH8 0HX

Edinburgh, Scotland
August 24-26, 2024
Staycity Serviced Apartments Edinburgh West End
11 Brandfield Street,
Edinburgh, EH3 8AS

Arrival and Departure Transfers

We will arrange arrival and departure transfers for group flights. If you will be arriving or departing at a different time, we can assist you with transfers, but those are not included in the tour price.

Flight Information

Group air is now available for this tour for £/€/$XXXX per person round-trip from location A, with a minimum of XX travellers. Please opt in before designated date.

If you would like alternative flights, please wait until the tour is a guaranteed departure before booking. Our air team can assist you with booking flights. We can assist you with transfers, but those are not included in the tour price.

Arrival: Please arrange to arrive in sample location no later than 10:00 AM on XX/XX/XXXX. Pre-tour accommodation is available.

Departure: You are welcome to depart from sample location at any time on XX/XX/XXXX

Pre- and post-tour nights can be booked through us.

What’s included in the land price of *£/€/$XXXX?

*Price based on a minimum of XX participants. (For this tour)

Your Tour Includes

• Transportation: via deluxe air-conditioned coach

• Accommodations (double-occupancy) in superior 3-star and moderate 4-star hotels

• Meals as indicated in the itinerary (water is included with dinners)

• Professional tour guide throughout the tour

• Local step-on guides for city tours and major attractions

• Admission to all activities indicated in the itinerary not referred to as optional

• Arrival and departure transfers for group flights

• Guides will use Whisper Headsets throughout the tour

• All other taxes and tips for provided services including tour director and driver

• Full colour personalised tour diary

• Travel app

Your Tour Does Not Include

• Air transportation and related taxes and fees (Round-trip group air £/€/$XXXX)

• Single supplement (£/€/$XXX)

• Airport transfers separate from the group

• Meals, other than as indicated above

• Items of a personal nature, such as passport fees

• Passenger trip cancellation insurance

Payment Schedule

• Initial deposit of £/€/$XXX will secure your place on the tour. Click here to pay. Click here to pay Online payments incur a % credit card fee. Cheques can be mailed to “EdenGate Travel”, 12316 244th St, Chisago City, MN 55013-9688.

• Final payment will be due 120 days before departure.

Travel Insurance

IMG is an excellent company that responds to claims quickly and efficiently. There are three possible policies depending on the amount of coverage you’d like. The brochure links are below.

iTravelInsured Travel SE is the most popular option.
iTravelInsured Travel Lite is the most economical option.
iTravelInsured Travel LX is the most expensive option.

Click here for a no-obligation quote. The contact details for Cave Insurance are listed on the website and brochures if you have any questions.

Cancellations

Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly, so we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance:

INDIVIDUAL CANCELLATIONS: All cancellations must be in writing.

• From the time of deposit until 100 days before departure, a $150 per person penalty.

• From 99-30 days before departure $350 per person penalty plus any non-refundable deposits to airlines or ground suppliers.

• An individual cancelling less than 30 days before departure will receive NO REFUND.

• Cancellations must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. central time on the last business day of the applicable time period.

• For flight changes or cancellations, revision fees and/or airline cancellation charges will apply.

• Roommates cancelling can result in a single supplement charge for the roommate. The Participant who cancels will be responsible for that charge if a substitute roommate cannot be found.

• Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is strongly recommended.

• EdenGate Travel cannot assume responsibility for any additional costs or fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other arrangements not made through EdenGate.