Final Information - Ubuntu Life- Edinburgh Explorations
Deshmukh
Saturday 8th June – Wednesday 12th June 2024
Day by Day
Day 1 - Saturday 8th June - Arrive in Scotland
Meet your private transfer on arrival at Glasgow Airport to whisk you off to Edinburgh and your luxurious city centre hotel. Have time to refresh at your hotel and relax, before meeting your guide this evening. Take the short walk to your private tour, discovering the hidden dwellings of the Real Mary King’s close. Experience a private guided tour and learn how the locals used to live and work in these underground alleyways.
Drive time from Glasgow Airport to the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh is approximately 1 hr 45 mins without stops and depending on traffic.
Please note that dinner reservations have not been made at this time, a list of recommended restaurants for Edinburgh has been attached for your reference. Your hotel concierge will be able to assist if required.
Overnight: Edinburgh | The Balmoral Hotel
Room Type: x2 Executive Old Town View Rooms
Meals Included: None
Day 1 - Flight Details Read More +
Airline: Emirates | Flight Number: EK027
Departure Airport: Dubai | Departure Time: 07:50
Arrival Airport: Glasgow | Arrival Time: 12:45
Day 1 - Transfer Details Read More +
Supplier: Airport Reps - Glasgow Airports VIP Services
Booking Reference: Deshmukh
Pick Up Location: Glasgow Airport | Pick Up Time: 12:45
Phone: +44(0)7711 307 706
You will be met at the Aircraft door and helped through priority immigration, once clearing customs you will be taken for onward transportation. A porter has also been booked to help with additional bags. There will be a Mercedes V-Class and a separate vehicle for luggage.
Day 1 - Guide Details - Ian Jones Read More +
Name:
Ian Jones
Contact Number: +44 (0)7910 717 044
Meeting Place: The Balmoral Hotel- Reception. | Meeting Time: 18:30
Your guide will meet you in your hotel reception.
Day 1 - Private tour Read More +
Activity: Private tour
The Real Mary Kings Close:
Start Location: The Real Mary King's Close, 2 Warriston's Close, High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1PG | Start Time: 19:15
Booking Reference: 41768402
Phone: +44(0)131 225 0672
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the tour. Meeting location is on the Royal Mile, across from St Giles’ Cathedral and the Mercat Cross.
Your tickets are in the Important Information section of your Final Information, please remember to take them with you to Mary King’s Close.
Day 2 - Sunday 9th June - Dean Village
Discovering the quieter areas of Edinburgh. With your host guide and expert city guide, you will visit Dean Village, a quaint hamlet once home to 11 mills running off of the local river. The river, the Water of Leith, is one of Edinburgh’s hidden natural assets with a diversity of flora and fauna that you will have time to discover as you stroll along the 13 mile walkway at the river’s edge. This afternoon is at your leisure to prepare for your exciting evening ahead!
Please note that dinner reservations have not been made at this time, a list of recommended restaurants for Edinburgh has been attached for your reference. Your hotel concierge will be able to assist if required.
Overnight: Edinburgh | The Balmoral Hotel
Room Type: x2 Executive Old Town View Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 2 - Guide Details - Ian Jones Read More +
Name:
Ian Jones
Contact Number: +44 (0)7910 717 044
Meeting Place: The Balmoral Hotel - Reception. | Meeting Time: 09:30
Your main host guide Ian will meet you at the reception of your hotel.
Day 2 - Guide Details - Mary Birch Read More +
Name:
Mary Birch
Contact Number: +44(0)7711 517 508
Meeting Place: The Balmoral Hotel - Reception. | Meeting Time: 09:30
Mary, is an expert city guide who will meet you along with Ian in the hotel reception this morning before transferring together to Dean village.
Day 3 - Monday 10th June - Step out of the City
This morning meet your guide to journey to visit a traditional Scottish farm. Enjoy meeting the local farmer and gaining an insight into what daily life looks like in rural Scotland. Meet the farm’s friendly herd of sheep, tame lambs and other farm animals. Your visit will be tailored to your family. Have time for lunch, before visiting the enigma that is Rosslyn Chapel. Made famous by The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown called this chapel “the most mysterious and magical chapel on earth” and there are certainly lots of unanswered questions about this unique building. Originally founded in 1446, the chapel features intricate carvings and decorations which have prompted many different theories connected with the Knights Templar and the Freemasons, amongst others.
Your host guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.
Please note that dinner reservations have not been made at this time, a list of recommended restaurants for Edinburgh has been attached for your reference and your guide or hotel concierge can assist if required.
Overnight: Edinburgh | The Balmoral Hotel
Room Type: x2 Executive Old Town View Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4 - Tuesday 11th June - Edinburgh and the Firth Of Forth
After breakfast, meet your guide in the foyer of your hotel and head out for a morning exploring the beautiful cobblestone streets of the city. Full of history, the capital is very accessible by foot. Wander up the Royal Mile, stopping to visit the architecturally stunning St Giles Cathedral, and enjoy panoramic views from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle.
With your host guide, travel to South Queensferry, where the famous Forth Bridges span the Firth of Forth. Have lunch here, before stepping on board a cruise to get a completely different perspective of the Edinburgh coastline, the bridges and the local islands. Keep your eyes open for the local seal community, as well as a huge variety of different seabirds. Later, your guide will take you back to your hotel and leave you to enjoy the final evening of your Edinburgh adventures.
Your host guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.
Please note that dinner reservations have not been made at this time, a list of recommended restaurants for Edinburgh has been attached for your reference. Your guide or hotel concierge will be able to assist if required.
Overnight: Edinburgh | The Balmoral Hotel
Room Type: x2 Executive Old Town View Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4 - Guide Details - Mary Birch Read More +
Name:
Mary Birch
Contact Number: +44(0)7711 517 508
Meeting Place: The Balmoral - Reception. | Meeting Time: 09:30
Meet Mary in your hotel reception to step out on a historic walking tour of the city.
Day 5 - Wednesday 12th June - Depart
A private transfer will collect you from your accommodation and take you to the airport to make your onward connections. Waving farewell for now but taking with you special memories and wonderful stories of your explorations.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 5 - Transfer Details Read More +
Supplier: Airport Reps - Edinburgh Airports VIP Services
Booking Reference: Deshmukh
Pick Up Location: The Balmoral Hotel | Pick Up Time: 10:30
Phone: +44(0)7711 307 706
Your transfer will collect you out front of the Balmoral Hotel, there will be a Mercedes V-Class and a separate vehicle for luggage.
Day 5 - Flight Details Read More +
Airline: KLM | Flight Number: KL928
Departure Airport: Edinburgh | Departure Time: 13:25
Arrival Airport: Amsterdam | Arrival Time: 15:50
Trip Details
- Inclusions
-
- 4 nights accommodation, as stated in the itinerary
- Most meals, as stated in the itinerary above
- Arrival airport transfer – with VIP services
- Departure airport transfer – with VIP services
- All transfers in a private vehicle, on guided days
- Entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary, specifically:
- Private Mary Kings Close Experience
- Private Morning Tour of Dean Village
- Private Local Farm Tour
- Rosslyn Chapel – Admission
- Private Morning Edinburgh City Tour
- Private Afternoon Catamaran Tour
- Personalised trip design and delivery
- 24/7 In-Country Support form the Wilderness Team
- Exclusions
-
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
- Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
- Gratuities for the main driver guide
- Notes
-
Activities are only private if specifically stated
Notes On Weather & Flexibility
Weather – June in Scotland can be a very wide range of weather, and very changeable. Suitable clothing and footwear is essential, as well as a flexible attitude. Plans may have to be changed to accommodate Mother Nature, and your guide will have back-up plans that they will discuss with you if required.
Essential Packing List
- Waterproof jacket with hood
- Waterproof over-pants
- Sturdy hiking boots/shoes – for farm visit
- Day pack 20-30 litre for carrying water and extra layers
- Reusable water bottle
- Warm layers and perhaps warm hat and gloves
- Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Smart casual attire for dinners
Useful Contacts
24 hour in-country support (Wilderness Scotland): +44 (0)1479 420 020, or out with regular office hours +44 (0)7766 794 640 (urgent calls only)
Emergency services: 999 or 112
NHS 24 (24 hour free medical advice): 111
Tipping Guidelines
For tipping our guides – We don’t generally recommend a set amount as tipping is not expected in the same way that it is in North America. However, similar North American travel companies generally suggest something along the lines of £10-30 per person per day for your guide, which is a wide range to choose from. Generally, we would encourage you to ask yourself what you were expecting from your guide, and then think about how they have exceeded those expectations and choose an amount you are comfortable with.
For local services such as restaurants again tipping is not expected but if you receive great service then 10-15% of the bill is normal.
- Terms & Conditions
-
Please see our booking terms here.
Accommodation
The Balmoral Hotel
1 Princes Street |
Edinburgh |
EH2 2EQ |
Scotland
Phone: +44 (0)131 556 2414
Web: roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/the-balmoral-hotel
Meet Your Guide
Ian Jones
Contact Number: +44 (0)7910 717 044
Born and educated in Edinburgh, I began my teaching career. Throughout over 40 years in education in Scotland and abroad, I have used the outdoors both as a classroom and for leisure. Some of my fondest memories are of introducing young people to the varied Scottish landscapes and encouraging them to develop their skills in a range of activities including skiing, hill walking, climbing, sailing, canoeing, and cycling. I now look forward to sharing my knowledge of Scotland with a different audience.
Places to Play
I have had the opportunity to work and travel across the world. However, from scaling mountains to strolling through its glens and along its shores Scotland is unique. Now living in Strathspey, I have the Cairngorm National Park on my doorstep and easy access to the spectacular west coast.
Not a lot of people know this
I lived and worked in Dubai for 6 years and took the opportunity to do a skydive over The Palm.
Final Information – Ubuntu Life- Edinburgh Explorations
Saturday 8th June – Wednesday 12th June 2024