I read the fine print that said not everything on the itinerary will be seen. Which makes sense due to weather. But the two things I really wanted to see, the tour guide said the bus was too big. Either get a smaller bus or please do not advertise on your itinerary that you would go to those places. Those two places were the whole reason of why I had booked this tour. So this is false advertising. I don't think this tour company is worth booking. Our tour guide was not organized or seemed that professional. She would make up on the spot what she felt like showing us that day and not tell us where we would be going most of the time. We saw pretty lame spots that were not on the itinerary and I always felt rushed. (But I guess that is every tour) We had great weather for all 4 days but would get back to the hostel at 5, when it doesn't get dark until 10pm. So either let us see more stuff or stop rushing everyone. We stayed in a pretty crappy hostel where the showers were in a literal closet. I understand that hostels are like that but if I'm going to be paying a lot of money for a tour, then either be transparent about where we are staying or charge more to stay in a better place. Our tour guide also made a creepy, weird comment when we first got on the bus and said that she could be a serial killer and dump all of our bodies. I know she was joking but that's not funny. We also did two strenuous hikes at Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing. She said they were "wee walks." No they are not. I wish she would of told us how hard they were so I would have been more prepared via enough water and food. If you are going to run a tour and do two hard hikes in one day, you need to make sure everyone is prepared with the right shoes/clothes, water and food. I really regret booking this tour and wish I had rented a car. read more

While I absolutely love Edinburgh, I decided it was time for a quick trip to the Highlands. I did look at a lot of tour companies, but I guess I am also testing this out for my students... so Macbackpackers seemed like the best option as it is geared toward the younger crowd and was a reasonable price. Booking online was super easy, so already a bonus. Finding the hostel was easy as well, and close to a Starbucks so when you have to be there at 7:45 a.m., you can get your caffeine fix. I printed my receipt/confirmation, but it wasn't even looked at (but I would still take it just in case). The tour guide/driver was there at 7:45 a.m., but there was no intro or anything like that until 8 a.m. when we were on the coach ready to go... so it was a bit pointless to be there that early (yes, when it comes to me and my sleep... every minute counts). Anyway, Michael was our guide, he talked a bit, and then played Scottish music or music by Scottish artists. Glad there was a mix of music because while I appreciate bagpipes, there's only so much I can take. Did appreciate the Scottish folk songs, which played when relevant, really added to the experience. There were 11 of us and just about everyone else slept through the tour, which I think annoyed the guide because he didn't feel like anyone was listening to him, but I was. Lots of history, lots of stories which was nice, but would've liked some more stories... more of the thing that maybe only locals would know because those are the things you can't look up. I know it means that it would take a little longer, but a couple more stops, just on and off the bus to take pictures would be nice as it is difficult to snap pictures when you're speeding along the twisting and narrow roads. Wasn't necessarily a fan of some of the stops... and if you're not a fan of the large tourist stops, you probably won't like them either. We got to Loch Ness at about 12:30 p.m., giving me enough time to run to the supermarket, grab a sandwich and crisps, then get on one of the boat trips. The boat trip is about an hour long and 11 quid with your Macbackpackers discount. I liked the relaxing trip, but I don't know if it was really worth it. I would've liked more time in Fort Augustus to wander about. Some of the people in our group were late (20 minutes...so I guess I could've had a wee wander), but as a result we did get to see the swing bridge in action and boats going through the canal. We did get to go for a wee walk at a viewpoint in Glencoe, another tea and pee break, and a stop to see Hamish the hairy coo. We did arrive back in Edinburgh an hour earlier than anticipated... so I guess it actually is possible to add a couple more photo stops in there. Overall it was a nice trip, wished our guide had been a bit more lively, but then again our group wasn't very lively either. Glad I did it, but was expecting a little more. read more

Macbackpackers Ltd - Tours Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Great! We only stayed for one night to catch a bus to Portree the next morning. Place was clean and outside was well-lit. Dorm room was clean and so were the showers and toilets. read more

I should preface that I hate tours and their strict schedules. That said, I love this tour! I had the best time! It was geared towards backpackers so the age range was young and active! The tour guide was so funny and animated. He made up the best stories. I was cracking up most of the time. I felt like a little kid on a field trip. Not once did I feel that I had to drag my feet. I did the 3 day tour and it was perfect, not too long or too short. Scotland is a small country so I probably saw 70% of it through this tour. I totally recommend trying this if you're in Edinburgh!!! read more

As my last weeks in the 'burgh approached, I realized that I hadn't spent nearly enough time outside of the cities. To solve this problem, my friend Mike and I booked a three day tour with Macbackpackers. I'll admit that going into the tour, I didn't care at all who I booked with. Coming back, I wouldn't book with anyone else. Macbackpackers is the only fully Scottish owned and operated tour company in Edinburgh, and I highly recommend them. Our tour guide, Graeme had grown up in the highlands and knew their story intimately. He provided an incredibly rich background to everything that we saw and experienced. Additionally, he had the best color commentary and sense of humour I've ever heard. If I stopped laughing for more than a few minutes during the tour, it was either because I was hanging off every word of his enthralling tales or my jaw was hanging open in response to the incredible beauty I was experiencing. If you're in Scotland, you absolutely MUST visit the Highlands. If you visit the Highlands, you absolutely MUST go with Macbackpackers read more

I went on this trip a couple years ago, but I still recommend it to all of my friends visiting Scotland. It's an amazing tour and they really make it hassle free. It's such an inexpensive way to see the Scottish Highlands and the beautiful Isle of Skye. The tour guides give wonderful history lessons on your bus ride up! You first start off in Edinburgh and go visit a variety of castles (i.e., Doune- monty python castle), then you end up in the isle of skye and visit waterfalls and fairy glenn. Honestly, it's worth your money and a great way to tour the highlands!!! read more

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This is THE BEST WAY to see the Scottish Highlands! Our group of 3 was stuck in Skye stressing about the fact that you can't get around the island at all without a car when we came across the Skye day tour operated by Macbackpackers. It turns out we joined Ruthie and her crew on their 5-day tour, and we had a fantastic day around Skye! In fact, we had so much fun, we stuck around for another day and followed the tour to Inverness - abandoning our pre-booked, non-refundable train tickets. That's how good of a time we had. As a tour guide, Ruthie did not seem like she was doing a job at all - she was energetic, excited to tell us as many stories as possible, and very good fun! The structure of the day is a "loose guideline" - the tour guides are encouraged to follow their hearts and the guidance of the weather gods in Scotland, so each day might be a little different. We spent a lot of time out of the minibus, which is really nice. We also had regular stops to stock up on food at grocery stores to make sure we could eat cheaply for those on a budget. In Skye and around Inverness, we had two days of good weather and took great advantage of it! I was able to see SO MUCH of Scotland (and the un-touristy bits too, to boot!) in the two days I was part of this group. Ruthie told us all kinds of interesting folklores about the giants and monsters in Skye, and the history of Scottish battles in Scotland, while she maneuvered the minibus around single-lane mountain roads - and all with a big smile on her face. Thank you, Macbackpackers, and thank you Ruthie for our awesome two days!!!! We'll be sure to recommend you to all of our friends looking to discover Scotland. read more

"What do I have on under my kilt? Nothing but a smile." -coolest tour guide ever. Have to go into the highlands. GO. read more

Where to begin? Hmmlet's start by saying that if there was such a thing as a backpacker cult, their temples would be MacBackpackers hostels. This company has been dominating the Scottish hostel and tour market for 7 years, and I pray that they keep on truckin', never changin'. I have stayed at each of the 8 hostels (multiple stays at some locations) and taken 3 of their tours. I therefore proclaim myself an expert, and you, O Reader, would do well to take my opinion as gospel First of all, the quality of their tours and accommodations is tough to beatexpect blazing, real log fires in the lounge, with hot chocolate, tea, and coffee always on hand. Beds, bathrooms, and rooms are impeccably clean. Staff are professional, yet funky and always, always friendly. Tour guides are knowledgeable and very entertaining. The entire operation seems to be run tightly and smoothly, but with an overall sense of fun. I HIGHLY recommend the Skye tour, and I really like the Oban and High Street hostels. So much character! SO cheap!! MacBackpackers tours often cost the same, or even less, than purchasing plain ol' public bus fare to the same location. Unlike other tour companies I've traveled with, there is little sense of a strict schedule that must be adhered to: twice my MacBackpackers guides altered plans or made unscheduled stops to accommodate the interests of the passengers. As tour guide Lynn put it Heyit's your vacation! I like her thinking. Lynn, who surprised us as she passed around a full bottle of whisky and shouted Welcome to the Highlands! as we cruised past the border, pretty much embodies the MacBackpackers frame of mind. Let them welcome you. Let them host you. Let them steer youyou won't go wrong. (Join themjoin themjoin them.) read more

Friendly, knowledgable staff and fun, cheap tours. I've had a lot of fun weekends away with this company, all over scotland. Bear in mind though, that they can get quite noisy and are definately aimed at the backpacking generation. read more

This is the absolute BEST backpacking trip I've ever been on. Going to Scotland I imagined seeing the sights and going on this backpacking trip and going on my way. Hell I always loved Scotland but within the first 30 seconds of meeting my kilt clad group leader Graeme, the trip and my love for Scotland got that much better and that much stronger! The trip and the sights were gorgeous and I don't believe I would have ever gotten a better tour of the country than I did! Now I did this a year ago and I still think about that trip ALL the time! ALL THE TIME!!! I went on the 3 day trip to Loch Ness and I plan on returning to go on the 7 day next time to Skye as well! He made it feel like the trip lasted longer than 3 days and not only was I upset in leaving the country, but while on the train back to England I almost bought a train ticket to go back because that's how much I fell in love with the country! I've never met such nice and wonderful people in my life and I am so excited to return! Anyone I know who ends up going to the UK or a tour through Europe I tell to use this company because that's the wonderful impression you've left on me! I love you guys and Graeme is the best! read more

The MacBackpackers Skye & Highland Fling is the best value for money trip I've been on, and I've been fortunate to have travelled quite extensively. Neil (our guide) not only had an incredible sense of humor and kept us laughing & entertained throughout, he was also very caring & thoughtful. Being a highlander himself, he knows all the best hiking & sightseeing spots (and his recommendations regarding where to get good quality food and drink were spot on as well) and he made great choices regarding where to take us. He also was considerate enough to give us the heads up in advance regarding how much time we had for each hike so that we could be mentally prepared. We also had the option to skip a hike a roam around in town if the hike was starting off in a town where we would have the opportunity to check out shops, cafes etc. Often we had the opportunity to do both. In addition to keeping our spirits up, he also shared very interesting info regarding the history of the region and also interesting geological facts regarding the rock formations in the highlands. The tour bus is very comfortable and airconditioned & the hostels we stayed at were quite good, though if you plan your trip in advance you can opt for a B&B if that's your preference & if it's available. Be sure to read the instructions when you book your trip very carefully, so you know what sort of clothing, shoes etc. to bring for your trip, and can determine what sort of accommodation you want. We visited a beach & lake too, so bringing slippers & a bathing outfit if you plan on swimming is a good idea as well. I took this trip in July 2018 and the weather was beautiful. A jacket was sometimes needed (it can get chilly) and some bug spray to keep midges away while hiking. This was an excellent lifetime experience and I highly recommend using MacBackers for this trip. Our group was great and we all returned home with amazing memories. read more

I normally hate organised tours, but this one had all the upsides of having a guide and none of the downsides. And if you go, ask which tour Graeme is doing - he's a fantastic storyteller! MacBackpackers all the way! read more