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Overview

Harry Potter Special in the Scottish Highlands
Inverness, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Oct 11 - 18, 2024
La Karavana, The Outdoor Hostelbus image
La Karavana, The Outdoor Hostelbus
€1,875
Deposit: €900

About your trip

HARRY POTTER SPECIAL 

 

Join us in our ‘Harry Potter-bus’ through the wizarding world of Harry Potter! We’ll visit all the high lights of the books & movies and at the same time experience the Scottish Highlands!


 

All inclusive:

 - 7 days, 6x accommodation in the bus 

- (almost) all activities included

- Almost all meals included (minus 2x dinner)

- Small groups (max 7)

- Unique way to travel


Join us on this epic 7-day road trip through the Scottish Highlands all themed in Harry Potter style. We will visit as many Harry Potter sights as we can, eat Hogwart dishes and even learn to fly the broom! Expect to visit

– ‘HogwartsCastle (Alnwick) and learn to fly a broom!
– Go on the Hogwarts Express Train
– Learn even more on the Edinburgh Harry Potter tour
– Visit Dumble Dores resting place
– See locations where the Triwizard Tournaments have been filmed
– Hike Glencoe Lochan Trail, where multiple scenes have been filmed
– and more!
(all included)


Imagine yourself looking out the window in our unique “Harry Potter” double decker bus. Some nice tunes coming from the speakers, making new friends, cruising through the mountains and passing the most iconic Harry Potter sights. 

We won’t be in the bus all the time; we will explore the sights by going hiking & biking too. So join us and enjoy this Harry Potter experience through the beautiful Scottish High lands!

We will roadtrip, eat and sleep in the bus. 

 

Check our reviews here  

The Bus

Aside from the most unique form of transportation, the bus is also your accommodation on wheels! It will be your home away from home for the next 8 days. Fully equipped with a big lounge, kitchen, 9 comfy beds, heating, bathroom,  and of course.. a fire pit!


Of course part of the fun is to be driving around in our ancient bus, transformed from an old public transportation bus into a comfortable hostel on the move. We’ll be on a road trip together to discover the beautiful Norway. Sitting upstairs you'll almost have a 360-degrees view!


You’ll have your own bed, with curtains to provide some privacy and your own little reading light. Upstairs you’ll also find the lounge with a view, while downstairs is the living area, with kitchen, bathroom and dining area. 


Both areas have what we call in Dutch ‘ARKO’ (Alle Ramen Kunnen Open’) and a heating system for the colder nights.  

Practical Information

Hop on: Inverness, October 12th - 10.00 A.M.

Hop off: New Castle, October 18th, 12.00 P.M. (noon)



Please note:  We are traveling in an old-timer bus - delays can be part of the adventure. We recommend you to not book your return journey too close to the planned time of us getting back. It's better to give it at least 4 hour in between, just to be sure (and to explore some more!?)

 

We will provide you with the detailed information about the pick up and drop off after booking. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us by phone or e-mail. Happy to help! 

 

We offer different optional activities for this trip that are not included due to it's character. Mostly they are a bit more adventurous and can be added to spice things up a little! You can add these activities as an add-on. Please note: due to availability there might be a deadline for this. The add-on activities are:

 

- Canyoning in Fort William

- The Jacobite Train ride between Fort William and Mallaig

- Visit to Eilean Donan Castle. We will stop here because of the view, you can enter if you like. 

 

For all our transactions we use SEPA Direct Debit or Credit card. SEPA is a one-time authorization that ensures an easy and safe (inter)national transaction. More info on SEPA click here. 

 

Upon booking, you agree to our Terms and Conditions

 

Ready to book and save your seat? Click on the green select button in the top right corner!

How to get there

There are several ways to get to Edinburgh and Inverness. 


Ferry

Since last year there's a direct ferry leaving from Ijmuiden (Netherlands) to New Castle, from there you can take a train to our pick up location in Edinburgh. Ideal for the Dutchies amongst us! For more information on their schedule and bookings, check out their website.


From there you can take the train to Edinburgh (1h30) or Inverness (5h)


Train

Would you like to feel on a holiday as soon as you leave your doorstep? Then consider the train! There's a good connection between Amsterdam and London, which will take you there in 4 hours. For tickets and the schedule, check the Eurostar website.


From London you can take the train to Edinburgh or Inverness.


If you're coming from abroad, then this website might be useful when planning your trip.


Flight

There are many flights taking off and arriving in both Edinburgh and Inverness airport daily. This is definitely the fastest way to travel. EasyJet flies from Amsterdam to Edinburgh every day. With a transfer in London you will also make your way to inverness easily. 


Coming from somewhere else? We like these websites: Google Flights or Skyscanner.

Cancelation Policy

We would recommend you to just join. ;)


But if inevitable, and you do really have to cancel your trip:

 - within 48 hours after booking, you will get a 100% refund 

- More than 8 weeks before departure, we charge 15% of the travel fee

- 5-8 weeks before departure , we charge 30% of the travel fee 

- 3-4 weeks before departure, we charge  50% of the travel fee 

- 2 weeks before departure, we charge  80% of the travel fee 

- 1 week before departure: we charge 100% of the travel fee 

What's included

Transportation

The entire road trip will be done in our oldtimer bus! Especially when sitting upstairs you'll have an amazing view over the surroundings!

Accomodation

We'll sleep in our bus at beautiful camp spots. We have 9 beds and they all have a curtain, locker and a reading light.

Two hosts

Two of us are joining as a host, driver, cook, mechanic, firestarter or whatever you want us to be!

Food

Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Except for when we go out for dinner in town.

Coffee, tea and snacks

Activities

Most activities are included, though some activities may be optional due to its character or cost. See details on this below.

Kayaking

Kayak on Loch Oich

Saddle Hike

Beatiful hike over the mountainpeaks

Eilean Donan Castle

Optional to go inside

Old Man of Storr Hike

Isle of skye

Whisky distillery

Tasting + distillery tour

Fort William

Town visit

Devils Staircase Hike

Part of the West Highland Way

Mountainbiking

Through Trossachs National Park

Stirling Castle

Visit to Stirling Castle and tour inside

What's not included

Travel Insurance

But, because we care so much about you, mandatory!

Transportation

Transportation to the pick-up point and from the drop-off point

Sleeping bag

Make sure to bring your own or add the 'bedding' option!

Towel

Please don't forget to bring your own.

Beverages

Though tea, coffee & water are included. Beers and wines are available on the bus. though for a kind price :)

Canyoning

Canyoning trip from Fort William

Jacobite Steam Train

Harry Potter train ride between Fort William and mallaig

Entrance to Eilean Donan

Castle entrance

Day 1

Day 1 image

Pick-up Edinburgh, Stirling Castle & mountainbiking

On this first day we will pick you up near Edinburgh. After getting to know each other, dropping luggage and choosing beds,  we will first make a visit to Stirling Castle. A 1100th century castle, with many stories to tell, on top of a Vulcanic rock.
 

Before we get to our first campsite we will go mountain biking through Trossachs National Park; our first encounter with beauty of the Scottish Highlands.
 

Please note: If you are to book trip number two, from Inverness to Edinburgh, the itinerary will be the other way around. The contents will be the same, with some little tweaks to make it suitable. Of course, activities and pricing don't change. 

Day 2

Day 2 image

Hike the Devils Staircase

On this second day we will take the bus on an epic road trip. Driving up the beautiful A82 Road is the best way to explore the Highlands. We will make some scenic pitstops of course. 

 
When arriving at Kings house, we will prepare for hiking the Devils Staircase. Though, the name is more terrifying then the actual hike. This scenic hike is a part of the world famous West Highland Way Hiking trail and is known as the highest and most beautiful part of the entire trail. We will end this trail in Kinlochleven, where the bus will meet us again. 

Day 3

Day 3 image

Canyoning in the outdoor capital

Today we make our way to the outdoor capital of Scotland; Fort William. It is possible to go a canyoning tour at the Inchree Falls. This tour is a great mix of jumping, sliding, swimming, climbing, abseiling and gorge walking down a series of waterfalls. This is an optional activity and can be added to your itinerary when booking. If you prefer some chill-time instead of canyoning you can just go and explore the beautiful surroundings on your own. 

 

Tonight dinner is not included, allowing us to enjoy one of the nice restaurants in Fort William and visit the Pub afterwards.. We'll sleep just a little drive out of town, so we have all the time to enjoy the evening here. 

Day 4

Day 4 image

The Jacobite Steam Train, Isle of Skye and Whisky tasting

One of the most unique and amazing ways to explore the Highlands (apart from our bus of course ;p) is the Jacobite Steam Train. Many of you may know this as the famous Harry Potter train. This ride takes you straight through the centre of the Highlands and over the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Described as the greatest railway journey in the world, this 84 mile round trip takes you past a list of impressive extremes. Starting near the highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis, it visits Britain's most westerly mainland railway station, Arisaig; passes close by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain, Loch Morar and the shortest river in Britain, River Morar, finally arriving next to the deepest seawater loch in Europe, Loch Nevis! (this train ride is optional)
 

After getting off the train, you can get straight onto the Ferry, taking us to the Isle of Skye. of course a trip to Scotland isn't complete without a proper whisky tasting. And where better to do so than on one the most beautiful islands in Scotland: Isle of skye . So this is where we will visit a Whisky Distillery for a tour through the distillery and a tasting. 

Day 5

Day 5 image

Explore the Isle of Skye

We will make our way further onto the Isle of Skye. The island is known for its stunning coasts and rock formations. We will make our way all the way up to the area of Portree from where we will hike The Old man of Storr. This is al small hike, but leaving us with amazing views of the islands. 

 

After passing the only bridge connecting Scotland tot the Island of Skye, we will make a stop at Eilean Donan Castle. This historic castle is positioned beautifully and is the perfect place for a pit stop. For those who wish, you can enter the castle and take a look around inside. (optional activity)

Day 6

Day 6 image

The Saddle Hike

It's hiking day! From our beautiful campsite right in between the mountains we will get ourselves ready to go on the Saddle hike. This is an 8 hour hike taking us over the peaks of the mountains; the Forcan Ridge and Sgùrr Sgìne. We will feel all alone in the amazing nature around us, scouting for wildlife. For the ones that wish, there is even an extra challenging path that you can choose to take. If you prefer not to walk for 8 hours, there's also the possibility just walking a small bit of the hike.
 

After this we deserve nothing more than a campfire, some good food, drinks and marshmallows!

Day 7

Day 7 image

Kayaking Loch Oich and Loch Ness

The next morning we will take it easy and go Kayaking on Loch Oich. This scenic lake is absolutely beautiful and will not disappoint. We will explore the lake for about three hours and then visit Fort Augustus.  A small historical town at the bottom of Loch ness. While driving past this world famous lake, make sure to keep your eyes open because we might even get a chance to spot the mythical Nessie!

 

We will drive all the way up to our very last campsite, at the waterside. Our host Simon will greet us with a smile and we will have a final meal and campfire. 

Day 8

Day 8 image

Back Home

We'll have an easy morning. At breakfast, we can go over all the things we've done together on this trip one more time, before taking you to the drop-off location in Inverness (12.00 am)
 

Please note: we highly recommend you don't book any flights home within 4 hours after our estimated arrival time, just in case we have any delays on the way. We are traveling in an old-timer bus after all - delays can be part of the adventure. 

Location

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1. Inverness, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Inverness, Verenigd Koninkrijk

About your organizer

La Karavana The Outdoor Hostelbus! An English double decker bus from 1976 converted into a hostelbus with 9 beds, a kitchen, bathroom and cosy livingroom. Join us on one of our trips or just sleep in our bus with a group of friends!

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