Orkney’s coast is crowded with life: grey seals on skerries, seabird cliffs loud with guillemots, puffins in season, all set among 5,000-year-old Neolithic stones. The 3 tours below spend most of their time ashore, built around those sites on Mainland.
Related: Best Tours & Experiences in Kirkwall Orkney
Top-Rated Orkney Islands Scotland Tours & Experiences
Experience the Magic of Orkney Islands
A general Orkney sightseeing day. Read the itinerary to see whether it leans on Neolithic sites, coast or towns, and where it starts. It suits first-timers who want an overview of Mainland without planning ferries or driving.
Private Orkney Island Tour with Expert Guide Gordon T
A private tour means your own vehicle and a flexible pace, which helps if you want long stops at the stones or time for birdwatching. Good for small families and photographers; confirm duration, pickup point and whether entry fees are included.
Orkney Travel Day Trip
A day outing built to cover the main Orkney highlights in one go. Details differ by operator, so check the departure town, the stops and the timing, especially if you arrive by ferry or cruise ship with a fixed return time.
5 Day Orkney Islands Tour from Edinburgh Including the Scottish Highlands
A five-day small-group trip starting in Edinburgh, with the Highlands on the way north and Orkney as the destination. The Pentland Firth crossing is part of the journey. Check how many nights are spent on the islands.
Orkney West Mainland Tour
West Mainland is the heartland of the Neolithic sites, typically Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and Maeshowe, along with west-coast cliffs. Check which entries are included, and whether Maeshowe’s timed slots are covered.
Whichever experience you choose, booking online ahead of time in Orkney Islands Scotland means one less thing to worry about once you land.
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Getting to Orkney and where to base
Ferries run from Scrabster to Stromness and from Gills Bay to St Margaret’s Hope, and there are flights to Kirkwall from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and other Scottish airports. Most visitors base in Kirkwall, the larger town with St Magnus Cathedral, or in Stromness, a stone-built harbor town. Cruise ships also call, which makes the main sights busier on those days.
When to Go to Orkney
May to August brings long daylight, with near-continuous twilight in June known locally as the simmer dim. Seabirds nest on the cliffs from spring into summer, though puffins are mostly gone by August. Winter is mild for the latitude but windy and dark, and storms can disrupt ferries. Northern Lights are possible on clear winter nights.
Why We Picked These Tours
Orkney packs a remarkable amount of prehistory into one island group. The Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, includes Skara Brae village, Maeshowe chambered tomb, the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness, all within a short drive of each other on West Mainland. The stones stand in open farmland beside lochs, so weather shapes the visit.
Orkney West Mainland Tour leads on both rating and volume, with 5 from 199 reviews, among 399 reviews across 3 tours.
Budgeting for Orkney Tours
Two of the three tours here cost $160, the benchmark to compare against. The priciest, at $294, uses an expert-guide format with more personal attention. Ferry fares and accommodation are often a bigger expense than the tour.
Smart Ways to Book Orkney Tours
Wind is near-constant and the stones sit on open ground, so wear a windproof layer in any season. Maeshowe in particular is entered on timed slots, so check whether the listing covers entry and book early for summer. Roads are quiet but narrow, and distances are short, so a day covers more than you expect.
Choosing Between the Top Orkney Tours
Orkney is easy to drive, which makes a rental car a real alternative for the Mainland sights. A guide adds the stories behind the stones, plus Viking and wartime history such as the Italian Chapel, and saves you juggling entry slots.
Common Questions About Orkney Tours
How many days do you need on Orkney?
Two full days let you cover West Mainland and Kirkwall without rushing, while a day trip only reaches the highlights. The tours here run from $160 to $294, so compare formats before you commit.
Which Orkney tour has the strongest reviews?
Orkney West Mainland Tour leads on both rating and volume, with 5 from 199 reviews, a large sample. Another listing has only a handful of reviews so far, so judge it by its itinerary instead.
Is Skara Brae included in Orkney tours?
It depends on the listing. West Mainland tours commonly stop at Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and Maeshowe, but entry tickets may not be covered, so read the inclusions before booking.
Can I see puffins on Orkney?
Yes, but timing matters. Puffins nest on certain cliffs from roughly May to July and are mostly gone by August. None of the listings here appears to be a dedicated wildlife trip, so book a separate boat if puffins matter.
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