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1 Day
48 Hour Cancellation
Highland Games
Grab your tartan – we’re off for the buzz of the Highland Games. Join us in 2026 as towns and villages across Scotland host these legendary gatherings, packed with tradition, bagpipes, and plenty of action.
Tour Highlights
Small But Mighty
Travelling in a wee group means more banter, more space, and plenty of laughs along the way. Cosy, right? Just a heads-up – while we usually travel in smaller vehicles, sometimes a larger bus might be used due to availability.
Traditional Dress
Feast your eyes upon our vibrant traditional dress, including the iconic kilt. Tartan is proudly worn as a symbol of belonging to a particular clan, and there’s no such thing as too much tartan at the Highland Games!
Highland Dancing
Prepare your senses for the mesmerising movement of Highland dancers to the bagpipes, and the rhythmic roar of the Pipe Bands. These traditional sights and sounds will have you tapping your toes, and feeling a wee bit Scottish!
Caber Tossing & Hammer Throwing
Hardcore Highlanders in kilts, throwing hammers and huge wooden poles? Aye, that sounds about right. It’s thought the Highland Games originated to test the strength of soldiers, and these ‘Heavy Events’ are not for the faint hearted! Seriously impressive.
Clan Gathering
For hundreds of years, the Scottish clans have come together at Highland Games to enjoy sport, music, dance – and drams! Get in amongst the epic tartan-clad celebrations, as we pay tribute to Scotland’s culture and heritage.
Inclusions
Your Legendary Local HAGGiS Guide
Entrance to the Highland Games 2026
Scenic Drive Through the Highlands
Full Refund if Cancelled 48 Hours In Advance
Frequently Asked Questions
This Highland Games 2026 tour departs from the city centre in Inverness. Check out our departure info page for more details on your pick-up location.
Our Highland Games tour from Inverness lasts around 10 hours*, except for the Braemar Highland Games and Lonach Games, which returns later and is approximately 13 hours long*.
*Tour duration might change based on traffic and weather.
Highland Games 2026 Programme
Sun 17/05/2026 Gordon Castle
Sat 04/07/2026 Forres
Sat 22/08/2026 Lonach
Sat 05/09/2026 Braemar
Yes, the entry ticket to the Highland Games is included in your tour.
The world-renown Braemar Highland Games takes place on Saturday 5 September 2026.
Aye, we also run Highland Games departures from Edinburgh.
While our coaches don't offer onboard toilets, rest assured that our itineraries include regular comfort stops, allowing frequent access to restroom facilities.
Our guides are unable to assist with wheelchairs or provide physical assistance during boarding or disembarking from the coach. Passengers should be capable of boarding and disembarking independently using the access stairs or with the help of a traveling companion. Foldable wheelchairs can be stored in our onboard luggage storage during travel.
Please note that some stops on our tours may involve rough terrain or only be accessible by steps.
It's important to be aware that your accommodation may have limited accessibility for wheelchair users. More info can be found on our Accessibility page.
Yes! Our routes include stops where you can grab a snack or recharge with a drink. Occasionally, we pause at shops offering local souvenirs as well. For precise details about timing and stops, don't hesitate to inquire with your guide.
Although our tours follow a structured plan with key stops, part of the excitement comes from unexpected surprises! We refrain from providing additional details beyond what's outlined here, as factors like weather, traffic, and the preferences of our driver guides may lead to slight deviations. Trust that your journey through Scotland will be unlike any other!
If you need to cancel your tour, you will need to inform us in writing by sending an email to info@highlandexplorertours.com. You can find our cancellation and refunds policy in section 3 in our Terms and Conditions.
Feel free to visit our general Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common queries, or reach out to us directly via our Contact Us page.
- Home
- 1-5 day tours from inverness
- 1-day-highland-games
We’ve handpicked a select range of Highland Games 2026 for our day tours from Inverness. Each event has its own local flavour, showcasing Scotland’s culture alongside some seriously impressive scenery. And if you fancy something extra special, there’s the world-famous Braemar Gathering, known for its long-standing royal connections.
1 Day Tour Itinerary & Map
Let the clan rivalries begin. The Highland Games are Scotland’s most famous test of strength, with roots going back more than 900 years. Expect kilted athletes taking on caber tossing, hammer throwing, and tug-o-war, with pipe bands and Highland dancing keeping the atmosphere lively throughout the day.
We’ve handpicked a select range of Highland Games 2026 for our day tours from Inverness. Each event has its own local flavour, showcasing Scotland’s culture alongside some seriously impressive scenery. And if you fancy something extra special, there’s the world-famous Braemar Gathering, known for its long-standing royal connections.
Day Highlights
Departure Point
Inverness City Centre
Our departure point is located at 15 Union Street in Inverness (IV1 1PP), across from the entrance to the Victorian Market. Look out for a blue or yellow coach bus. Parking is available at the Old Town Rose Street Multi-Storey, just under a 10-minute walk from our departure point.
Not sure how to get here? Find more info on our Departure Info page.
Departure & Return Time
Tours Dates & Prices
Choose a departure date, number of people and accommodation option.