Scotland Challenge
Trip Summary
Fàilte gu Alba! Join us for a 16-day journey through the stunning, lush colorful landscapes of Scotland. Hike around the country's southernmost munro, Ben Lomond, in Trossachs National Park for unbeatable views of Loch Lomond and nearby islands. Enjoy different national park scenery on two different backpacking expeditions, including in the wild Cairngorms National Park. Then trade your backpack for a canoe as we glide along the waters of the Great Glen Way, taking a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to paddle from the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea. At night, the banks of the lochs offer gorgeous star-gazing opportunities. Harry Potter fans, get ready for a view of the Jacobite steam train over the Glenfinnan viaduct—famous for getting featured in the movies. Finish your expedition with a thrilling day of rafting and canyoning!
Itinerary
Day hike and backpack in Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park
Jump right into your Scotland adventure with a day hike in Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, home to 21 of the country's munros, sparkling lochs, and countless trails. We'll head to one of the national park's summits (which sits right on the Highland Boundary Fault) for the reward of long-range loch views.
Backpack in Scotland's national parks
We'll embark on two different backpacking trips over four days in Scotland's national parks, around Ben Nevis and Glen Coe National Scenic Area and in the Cairngorms. Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles, offers incredible views and is neighbors with one of the tallest waterfalls in the country. The Cairngorms is Britain's largest and wildest park that's full of rugged adventure and four of the five highest peaks in the United Kingdom. In the Cairngorms, students will trek over tundra-like plateaus with 360-degree views of the surrounding high peaks all the way down to the boggy peatlands. Pine marten, osprey, golden eagles, and Scottish wildcats all call the Cairngorms home.
Canoe the Great Glen Way
Get excited for one of the world's best canoeing adventures on the Great Glen Way! We'll paddle for five days from the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea, portaging around lochs and camping on the shores throughout our trip. With the winds at our backs, we'll glide along the waters of Loch Lochy and Loch Ness, in the shadows of famous munros like Ben Nevis.
Whitewater raft the River Tay
The longest river in Scotland awaits! Hop in a raft for a day of splashing down rapids, and start splash wars with other rafts on the calmer sections. Otters, beavers, and seals all call the River Tay home. We'll also rope up and abseil (i.e. rappel) into canyons next to cascading waterfalls and jump off rocks into shimmering plunge pools.
Summit a famous Scotland munro
We will cap off our adventure (literally) with a summit of a famous Scotland munro! Get ready to earn the best views of your life!
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