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!
Scotland Challenge
Enroll NowScotland Challenge
Destination
Scotland
Current Grades
9th, 10th, 11th
Meeting Place
Arrive into and depart from Edinburgh (EDI)
Itinerary
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Dates and Prices
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Departure Day
06/20/25
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Return Day
07/05/25
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Price
$6,195
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Departure Day
07/09/25
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Return Day
07/24/25
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Price
$6,195
| Departure Day | Return Day | Price |
|---|---|---|
|
06/20/25
|
07/05/25
|
$6,195
|
|
07/09/25
|
07/24/25
|
$6,195
|
Due to Scotland’s challenging terrain and unpredictable weather, returning students must be invited to join, and it is recommended that new students applying to attend have previous backcountry experience (i.e., multi-day hikes or paddling trips). All students attending Scotland Adventure should arrive with good physical fitness.
Students need a valid passport whose expiration date is valid for six months past the start of their travel to Adventure Treks. For non-US citizens, please confirm your country’s requirements for traveling to Scotland.
Included in tuition:
- All meals
- Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack, and all group gear
- Guided activities
Not included in tuition:
- Airfare to and from Glasgow, Scotland (GLA)
- Program, travel, and medical insurance
- Personal clothing and items
Lodging
Sleeping arrangements include “frontcountry” campsites, where we’ll generally have a more developed campsite with running water, toilets, and sometimes cell phone service; “backcountry” camping, referring to wilderness locations where we are most likely out of cell phone service and away from our vehicles, electricity, and other amenities; and mountain cabins.
Challenge/fitness level
Fitness and physical challenge are subjective, so Adventure Treks does not “rate” its trips based on challenge. However, as noted above, Scotland is one of our more challenging trips—we will have lengthy, strenuous hiking trips in variable weather. Because we’ll be highly engaged in backcountry activities throughout trip, our students have the responsibility to be physically fit.
We cannot stress enough how important it is to come prepared so that you and your fellow students can succeed. One student not coming prepared with physical fitness can severely impact the entire group. In the months leading up to their trip, students should develop a routine that emphasizes stamina and sustaining a moderate to high level of exertion for many hours, several days in a row. Running, swimming, bicycling, aerobics classes, and team sports are all beneficial and will help improve cardiovascular fitness in preparation for a student’s trip.