Arrive at Edinburgh Airport. Proceed through immigration to the baggage claim area and retrieve your luggage. After completing customs, AHI FlexAir passengers traveling on flights that qualify for the group arrival transfer and Land Program passengers who have purchased seats on the group transfer should exit the baggage claim area and proceed to the Arrivals Hall, where an AHI Travel representative will meet you.

Transfer to the Stirling Highland Hotel. Please note, if you arrive before check-in time, your room may not be immediately available.

Tonight, attend a Welcome Reception and Dinner. Get better acquainted with your fellow travelers, listen to traditional Scottish tunes played by a musical duo and enjoy a traditional haggis ceremony and a lively performance by Highland dancers.

Enrichment: Medieval Scotland. Delve into the rich history of Scotland during the Middle Ages. Learn about the country’s struggle for freedom, and hear stories of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace, two heroes of that era.

Stirling. Stirling sits in the center of a very historic area of Scotland. Set out on a guided tour through town and visit the 700-year-old Bannockburn battlefield. Against all odds, Robert the Bruce exploited Bannockburn’s marshy ground to win a decisive battle in the war for Scottish independence. View the axe-wielding statue of Robert astride his warhorse that overlooks the site. End the morning with a visit to beautiful Stirling Castle, where Mary, Queen of Scots, spent her early childhood. With your guide, walk through the Great Hall and the splendid royal chambers. Take in stirring vistas from the ramparts and delight in the serene gardens, then explore the grounds on your own during free time. (Moderate)

Free Time: Spend your afternoon discovering more of charming Stirling.

Enrichment: Meet the People. Chat with residents in an engaging discussion about everyday life in Scotland.

Gather with your group for a delightful dinner in Stirling this evening.

Enrichment: The Stewart Line and the Jacobite Rebellions. Examine Scottish history from the time of Mary, Queen of Scots, through the rise and fall of the Stuart line to the onset of the Jacobite Rebellions.

Edinburgh. Journey to cosmopolitan Edinburgh for the day. On your route, see the Forth Bridge, a multispan cantilever bridge that first opened in 1890, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of Europe’s most distinguished capitals, Edinburgh is a showstopper — spread across seven hills and brimming with remarkable architecture, a dynamic cultural scene and soul-stirring scenery. Get a wonderful perspective of the city on a panoramic tour, including its medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town, then break for lunch in town. Walk along the Royal Mile to visit majestic Edinburgh Castle, a former royal residence and important military stronghold. This strategically advantageous spot atop the craggy Castle Rock has been inhabited since the Iron Age, although the imposing building you see today is largely from the 16th century. During your guided tour, marvel at the crown jewels, the Stone of Destiny and the elegant Royal Palace, while learning how the castle’s history is intertwined with that of the country. (Active)

Free Time: Spend some free time in Edinburgh for sightseeing and dinner on your own before rejoining the group to attend the Tattoo. Your Travel Director will provide the details.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Later this evening, revel in the unforgettable Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, performed before the stunning, floodlit castle. First staged in 1950, this glorious annual spectacle combines regimental pipes and drums, military bands from across the globe, colorful Highland dancers and dazzling fireworks.

Free Time: Enjoy the morning at leisure and lunch on your own before departing for Perth.

Scone Palace and the Glenturret Distillery. Visit Scone Palace in Perth, where Scottish kings, including Robert the Bruce, were crowned. Take a guided tour through the lovely rooms filled with furniture, decorative objects and portraits, and then head outdoors to wander through the grounds. Enter the famed Murray Star Maze and see if you can find your way out! Next, head to Crieff for a visit to Glenturret Distillery. Established in 1775, it is Scotland’s oldest working distillery. Delve into their time-honored methods of making fine whisky and savor a tasting. (Mild)

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. Delight in the spectacular scenery of this vast national park known for its pristine lochs and munros, or mountains. Begin with a cruise on Loch Lomond. Then, stop in the pretty village of Luss along the lake, filled with rows of slate and sandstone cottages originally built for workers at the nearby slate quarries. Savor lunch at a lakeshore restaurant in Luss, then relish the scenery on a drive through Aberfoyle and Queen Elizabeth Forest Park in the heart of the Trossachs. Stop at some of the most picturesque areas to admire more of the views and take photos. (Moderate)

St Andrews. On your way to St Andrews, stop briefly at the National Wallace Monument, built in the late 19th century to honor Scottish hero William Wallace. Continue to St Andrews to explore its medieval castle ruins, dramatically poised at the edge of the sea. Next, visit the ruins of the 12th-century St Andrews Cathedral, and envision its scale and grandeur from the remnants that still stand. See golf’s most iconic turf, the St Andrews Old Course, where the sport has been played for more than 600 years. (Moderate)

Try some tasty local specialties during lunch at a restaurant in St Andrews.

Free Time: Delve into St Andrews’ historic town center on your own. If you’d like to stretch your legs, you might stroll along the West Sands beach near the center of town. West Sands may look familiar to you if you have seen the movie “Chariots of Fire.” The opening scenes of this Academy Award Best Picture winner were filmed here.

Enrichment: Scotland Today. Discuss the political issues and current events shaping Scottish life and culture.

Free Time: The rest of the day is yours to plan! Stay in Stirling, visit nearby distilleries, venture further afield to see the Falkirk wheel or spend the day in Glasgow. Your Travel Director can help you plan your day.

Gather with your fellow travelers for a Farewell Reception and Dinner tonight to celebrate the wonderful time you’ve shared in bonnie Scotland. Experience a joyful ceilidh, a traditional Celtic party featuring music and dancing.

After breakfast, AHI FlexAir passengers traveling on flights that qualify for a group transfer and Land Program passengers who have purchased seats on the group transfer depart for the Edinburgh Airport for your return flights home. Your Travel Director will provide the details.