Exclusive ISU departure – September 7-18, 2020 : Highlands and Islands 12 days from $4,796 total price from Newark ($4,295 air & land inclusive plus $501 airline taxes and fees) “My heart’s in the Highlands,” said Robert Burns – as will you, as we travel from city to country, mainland to island, on this sweet journey. From loch to loch and glen to glen, we encounter stunning natural beauty and welcoming clans, while city life serves up the colorful past – and cosmopolitan present.

Map Legend Brora Destination Motorcoach Entry/Departure Isle of Skye

Fort William Loch Ness SCOTLAND St. Andrews North Sea Glasgow Atlantic Ocean

Avg. High (°F) Sep Oct Glasgow 60 54 Edinburgh 61 55 Eilean Donan Castle, which we visit on Day 5, stands as one of Scotland's most beautiful fortresses.

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Glasgow, Scotland greatest collection of Spanish art. We take a privately guided tour of the Edwardian country house after we Day 2: Arrive Glasgow We arrive in Scotland’s enjoy lunch here. Then we return to our hotel mid- Your Small Group Tour Highlights larg­­­­est city and transfer to our hotel. As guests’ afternoon; the remainder of the day is at leisure. B,L Well-paced journey through Scotland • Glasgow touring arrival times may vary greatly, we have no group • Glasgow’s unique architecture • Private guided tour activities planned during the day. Late this after- Day 4: Glasgow/Loch Lomond/Glencoe/Fort of Pollok House • Beautiful scenery, noon we gather with our Odysseys Unlimited Tour William We leave Glasgow this morning by motor- including Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, Director for a briefing on the journey ahead. Then coach, bound for the scenic Highlands, Scotland’s Glencoe, Loch Ness • Evocative ruins of Urquhart Castle • we enjoy a welcome dinner at either the acclaimed sparsely populated historic northern region. We Isle of Skye excursion • Historic Culloden Moor • Medi- National Piping Centre or the well-appointed Corin- stop by the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, Great eval St. Andrews • Edinburgh touring, including Edinburgh thian Club.­ D Britain’s largest lake and part of Loch Lomond & Castle and Holyrood • Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo The Trossachs National Park. We tour the island- (select departures only) • Pleasing mix of guided touring Day 3: Glasgow This morning’s tour highlights dotted loch by coach before continuing on to Glencoe, and time for independent exploration “Glasgow Style,” the city’s distinct architecture of one of Scotland’s most beautiful spots with deep valleys the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Though Glasgow flanked by steep-sided mountains, rushing rivers, Day Itinerary Hotel Rating has a rich medieval history, very few structures from and dramatic waterfalls. Then we travel on to Fort 1 Depart U.S. for Glasgow that time survive; it is the Victorian-era buildings of William, the Highlands’ second largest settlement, 2-3 Glasgow Grand Central First Class red or blond sandstone with long lines that define the arriving late afternoon. B,D Hotel city’s historic built environment. Among the stand- 4-5 Fort William Nevis Bank Not rated Hotel out buildings we see: Glasgow Central Station, the Day 5: Fort William/Isle of Skye We embark on a Royal Exchange, and Glasgow City Chambers. We full-day excursion to the Isle of Skye, the largest of 6-7 Brora Royal Marine First Class Hotel also visit Sir John W. Simpson’s immensely popular Scotland’s Inner , known for its vivid history, 8 St. Andrews Old Course Hotel Deluxe Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, housing an strong Gaelic influence, and stunning scenery. En 9-11 Edinburgh Tigerlily Edinburgh Sup. First Class excellent collection of arms and armaments, and route, we make a photo stop at Monument 12 Depart Edinburgh for U.S. European artwork including Salvador Dali's Christ honoring “Bonnie Prince Charlie” for his leadership Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel in- of St. John on the Cross. Following our city tour we in the Jacobite Rising of 1745. Then we board a ferry dustry standard reference. Unrated hotels may be too small, visit Pollok House, ancestral home of the Maxwell for Armadale on the southern tip of Isle of Skye, where too new, or too remote to be listed. clan and now a museum with the ’s our touring begins with a visit to Armadale Castle

6 Visit us at www.isualum.org/travel B – Breakfast; L – Lunch; D – Dinner Tour membership limited to 24 total alumni and friends and gardens, where we have lunch. Next we set out Another BEST ISU trip; a on a scenic drive through the imposing Cuillin Hills great way to explore and fall (or “Black Cuillin”). Returning to the mainland via the Skye Bridge, we stop to visit iconic Eilean Donan in love with Scotland.” Castle then dine tonight at our hotel. B,L,D – Wendy Wullbrandt

Day 6: Fort William/Loch Ness/Brora We depart today for the Northern Highlands, stopping en route is on our own in the Scottish capital, which boasts a at fabled Loch Ness. We enjoy a boat ride on the 23- robust culinary scene. B,L mile-long lake best known for the unearthly creature alleged to live in its deep waters. We also visit the Day 10: Edinburgh Our morning tour of this stately ruins of lakeside Urquhart Castle, one of Scotland’s city built on seven hills features both the 18th-century th most popular attractions. Dating to at least the 13 Georgian “New Town” and the medieval “Old Town” century, the castle sits surrounded by water on three – together, the districts form a UNESCO site. In sides, giving it a once-formidable advantage in battle. the Old Town, we pay an inside visit to Edinburgh Then we travel on to the historic Culloden Moor battle Castle, symbolic heart of the country. We also travel site. After time on our own to tour the museum here, the Royal Mile, the warren of medieval streets that we tour the hallowed grounds, site of the last battle form the thoroughfare stretching from the castle to of the Jacobite Rising in 1746. Early this evening Holyrood Palace, official residence of the Queen when we arrive in Brora, a quaint Highlands village and in Scotland. This afternoon is at leisure to discover our home for the next two nights. B,D Edinburgh as we wish; museums, galleries, and shops abound. Guests on select August departures will Day 7: Brora/Highlands Our exploration of the enjoy an evening performance of the Royal Edinburgh Highlands­ continues on today’s excursion along the Military Tattoo. B Pictish Trail, sites connected with the late Iron Age/ early Medieval Celtic people who once lived here. Day 11: Edinburgh This morning we again encounter We visit striking Dunrobin Castle & Gardens, where the Royal Mile, with its mix of attractions, shops, and we see a falconry demonstration then embark on restaurants. We tour Holyrood, as it is called, and see a tour and tasting at a small local distillery that where British royalty schemed and slept as we tour the has been producing hand-crafted single malt whisky State Apartments. The remainder of the day is free for generations. We continue our drive along the for independent exploration. Tonight we celebrate scenic coastal road our Scotland sojourn over a farewell dinner at a local flanked by small farms restaurant. B,D Grand Princes Street, Edinburgh's main shopping street with sheep, cows, and Shetland ponies Day 12: Depart for U.S. We transfer this morning before returning to Tour Departs: September 7, 2020 to the Edinburgh airport for our return flights to the Prices include international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees our hotel, where we U.S. B enjoy dinner together Newark $4,796 tonight. B,D Boston, Philadelphia $4,996 Atlanta, Baltimore, Day 8: Brora/ Chicago, Cincinnati, $5,096 Kincraig/Pitlochry/St. Cleveland, Detroit, Andrews Today’s first Washington, DC stop is Kincraig, where Charlotte, Dallas, we watch a sheepdog Denver, Houston, demonstration with $5,196 Miami, Minneapolis, working border col- lies, known for their Orlando, Tampa Scene from the Royal Military Tattoo herding abilities. We Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Los Angeles, Phoenix, travel on to the holiday town of Pitlochry in the $5,296 heart of Scotland, where we enjoy some free time Portland (OR), before continuing on to legendary St. Andrews late Glencoe, treasured as one of Scotland’s most beautiful locales San Francisco, Seattle this afternoon; dinner tonight is on our own in this Land Only (transfers not included) $4,095 charming town. B Your Tour Price Includes Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, Home of Scotland’s • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities Day 9: St. Andrews/Edinburgh surcharges, and fees of $501, which are subject to change oldest university (St. Andrews) and renowned as the • 10 nights’ accommodations in Deluxe, Superior First Class, until final payment is made. home of golf, where the game has been played for some First Class, and unrated hotels 600 years, delightful – and compact – St. Andrews • 19 meals: 10 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 6 dinners Single travelers please add $1,195. All 2020 tour prices measures just one mile across. This morning we • Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) embark on a walking tour of the medieval seaside • Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director are guaranteed. town, followed by lunch together then free time • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip Business Class upgrade on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: to explore on our own. Later this afternoon we • Luggage handling for one bag per person $3,495 per person in addition to the above costs (upgrade continue on our way to Edinburgh. Dinner tonight • Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport is subject to availability and pricing is subject to change). and hotel porters, and all drivers

For reservations, call the ISU Alumni Association at (515) 294-9171 or fax (515) 294-9402 7