Legendary Waters: A Journey around Loch Ness
1 day tour
New for 2025 - Monster hunters unite. It’s time to discover if Nessie – the Loch Ness monster – is fact or fiction on this day trip from Aviemore.
Tour map
Tour Highlights
Loch Ness - There are more mysteries here than just Nessie. Now is your chance to hop on an optional boat cruise and discover this eerie loch for yourself
Falls of Foyers - “Among the healthy hills and ragged woods, the roaring Foyers pours his mossy floods” - Robert Burns
Urquhart Castle - These ruins once served as a royal castle for several Scottish monarchs, including King Robert the Bruce
Drumnadrochit - Stop in at this lovely little village where monster hunters gather
Your journey
Let’s be honest... we’ve all fancied ourselves a hero at one point or another. A monster hunter in a made-up fancy in our heads. The main character of our favourite show. Something dramatic and fantastic.
Well, now’s your chance.
We know ‘go to Loch Ness in Scotland and spot Nessie’ is on many peoples’ bucket lists... and we understand why. It’s not just the Loch Ness monster that intrigues us, it’s the black waters of her home and all the other mysteries that lie beneath. Did you know only a handful of people have permission to dive in Loch Ness? Ever wonder why?
Maybe you’ll find out on this adventure.
Tour Details
Check-in closes at 00:45 (tour departs at ) - ,
- ,
You're restricted to kg (0lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus one small bag for onboard personal items.
Students, seniors over 60, and children between 5 and 15 (unfortunately, we don't carry children under 5 years old).
- Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes
- Attraction tickets may need to be purchased in advance. More information is provided in your booking confirmation e-mail
- Transportation by a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
- Air conditioning as standard
- The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide
- Entry fees to visitor attractions
Itinerary
This is a Scottish bucket list must, isn’t it? Heading to the eerie and famous Loch Ness to hunt for the enigmatic Loch Ness monster. We call her Nessie to make her seem less threatening, but let’s be honest... if she’s real, she’d be more powerful than us wee mortals.
But that’s the question, isn’t it? Is she real? Now it’s your turn to make up your own mind. We depart the quaint town of Aviemore and head towards a body of water famous around the world. With a quick stop in at the beautiful village of Dores, we first journey to another body of water you may not have heard of, but one that’s worth your attention.
The two lovely waterfalls found at the Falls of Foyers feed the mysterious Loch Ness. So, if there are any shenanigans going on under the surface of the loch, surely it’s started here? With pools of water as black as the loch itself, it’s easy to believe something dark and dangerous lurks here.
As we head for our next big stop, the village of Drumnadrochit, we’ll make a few notable stops along the way. Fort Augustus is a great spot to watch boats coming in from the Caledonian Canal. And Invermoriston’s fantasy-esque Thomas Telford bridge spans the spectacular River Moriston falls, worthy of anyone’s Instagram feed.
If life were a fantasy book, Drumnadrochit would be that darkly lit, silent village in the middle of nowhere. A village whose local tavern is filled with ‘monster hunters’ or characters with the same vibe as ‘Strider’ from Lord of the Rings, all hunched over the bar with their pints, staring at you as you enter. Because Drumnadrochit is where Nessie hunters congregate, due to its proximity to the loch... as well as being a great spot to further explore the surrounding Highlands. We stop here for lunch, so you can mingle with the hunters over a pint or two.
A wee jaunt down the road brings us to Urquhart Castle. With an enviable spot on the shores of Loch Ness, you’ll have no trouble understanding why these ruins are popular. Backed by a brilliant mountainous silhouette, boats cruise past on glistening water, and you wonder what’s just beneath...
Explore the castle at your leisure before braving the high seas (and by that, we mean the loch) for a cruise along these magnificently eldritch waters. Your cruise ends at the small settlement of Dochgarroch, where your driver-guide will meet you with the mini-coach.
Whether you spotted Nessie or not, we’re quite certain you’ll have a theory or two that you can call yourself monster hunter. We head back to Aviemore and arrive early evening.
Attractions
Tour Attractions
You are able to pre-purchase entrance tickets to the following attractions at the time of booking:
- A 1-hour visit to Urquhart Castle followed by a 1-hour cruise
Other attractions may be booked and paid locally during the tour.
FAQs
Do you offer hotel pickups in the departure cities?
The UK and Ireland's historic city centres are full of narrow streets and winding roads. So, to speed up your departure, we only pick up from our central meeting points. What's more is leaving the city using the most direct route also reduces the carbon footprint of our tours.
Is there parking close to the departure point?
We don't recommend bringing your car into the centre of our departure cities. It can be hard to find parking, and there are excellent public transportation services.
When should I get to the departure point?
Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time. Due to waiting restrictions, we can't wait for you if you're late.
What happens if I'm late or miss the tour?
If you're late for your tour, our cancellation policy applies. 100% charges are applicable, and you will not be entitled to a refund or alternative.
What are your cancellation policies?
Your cancellation terms depend on which tour you've booked.
For one-day tours: You'll receive a full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more before the tour departure
For tours of between two and nine days: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 15 or more days before the tour departure
For tours of 10 or more days: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 21 or more days before the tour departure
For all European packaged tours: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 42 days before the tour departure.
If you cancel inside these notice periods, full charges will apply and no refunds will be issued.
To cancel your booking, email tours@rabbies.com as soon as possible. The effective date of cancellation will be the date we receive written confirmation from you.
Click here to view terms and conditions
Can Itineraries change?
Your tour will always follow the itinerary as closely as possible. Your driver-guide will keep you up to date on the road, and we'll try to get in touch about any large changes prior to your departure.
Can I pre-book a specific seat?
Due to logistical reasons, we're unable to let you pre-book a seat on the bus. But our comfortable 16-seat mini-coaches have huge windows. So, you'll always get a good view.
Are there toilets on the bus?
Unfortunately, we have no on-board toilet facilities, but you'll have regular comfort breaks.
How do you cater for people with accessibility needs?
We aim to accommodate everyone. To read more information on how we do this, click here to go to our accessibility guide.
Do you take children on your tours?
We regret we don't carry children under the age of five on our scheduled tours.
You can ask us about the tours we recommend for younger children. And if your child is less than 1.35m tall, you should let us know, so we can provide them with a suitable booster seat.
How much time do I get off the bus?
We want you to enjoy Britain and Ireland. And we believe the best way to do this is to get you off the mini-coach and out exploring. So, we give you plenty of time to take photos, go walking, and explore ancient ruins.
Why do you exclude visitor attractions?
We exclude visitor attractions in your tour price because it lets you travel your way. It means you can pamper yourself with a luxury lunch or skip an attraction whenever you feel like it.
Do we need to bring our own lunch?
You don't need to. We stop in small towns, villages, and rural eateries where you can choose whatever meal pleases both your taste buds and your budget.
Should I tip the driver-guide?
Let's be honest, our driver-guides would never refuse a cheeky bonus. But it's up to you, and the amount is entirely at your discretion.
What about travel insurance?
We advise you take out travel insurance.
What is ABTOT?
You're protected by ABTOT when you chose to let us reserve your accommodation on a multi-day tour. This means you can claim back anything you've paid us if we become bankrupt. Read our terms and conditions for more information.
I have more questions, who can help me?
If you have any more questions, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, email tours@rabbies.com , or check out our full FAQs .
Restrictions
We regret we dont carry children under the age of 5 years old on our scheduled tours.
If your child is less that 1.35m tall, you should let us know and we will provide a suitable booster seat.
You're restricted to kg (0lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus one small bag for onboard personal items.