Samantha MacKenzie, Creator.

FAQ about the tour

What is included in the tour cost?

What accommodation will we have?

What makes our tours unique?

What is the difference between the higher and lower cost of each tour?

When should I sign on to a tour?

What is the itinerary?

My partner hasn't read any of the books. Will he/she enjoy the tour?

Are these tours for both men and women?

This is my first international travel, how can you help?

Why should I consider arriving 24 hours early?

Is this tour only for Canadians/ Americans?

Will we do the tour in the order in which they happened in the book?

What level of walking will there be?

Will I be automatically paired up (as a single traveler)?

Which month would have the best weather?

Which is the best season to visit Scotland?

What other information can you send me about the tour?

What are the smoking laws in Scotland and your policy?

You can email me if your question is not answered here by translating this email address
Samantha @ JamieandClaireTour 'dot' co 'dot' uk

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE TOUR COST?
~ All accommodation
~ Evening group entertainment including Highland Tales
~ Driver Guide transportation
~ Tour guides (DG fans and a kilt-wearing Highlander)
~ All Entrance fees and applicable taxes ~ Daily breakfast
~ Meals for the 8 day tour - 6 lunches and 3 evening meals
~ Meals for the 5 day tour - 4 lunches and 2 evening meals

WHAT ACCOMMODATION WILL WE HAVE?
Though we promise a minimum 3 star rating, we often stay in 4 STAR RATED accommodation when possible, with the Castle as 5 star equivalent. Most of the time your rooms are En-suite. We stay in private B&Bs, inns and small 18th/19th century hotels, wherever possible, although one or two nights of the tour may be in a modern, tasteful, Scottish Hotel. Accommodation is chosen for the fresh decor and cleanliness of your rooms, great breakfasts AND the customer service of the owners and staff. Individuals will have the option to add a one night stay in a Castle or Baronial Mansion if it's not included in the tour they are on. Below are some pictures of places we have used. Back to top

Edinburgh touch of Elegance Upgrade (available on any tour)

Baronial Mansion upgrade (available on any tour)

WHAT MAKES OUR TOURS UNIQUE?
1. GABALDON FAN TOUR GUIDES
Our tours are run by long time Diana Gabaldon fans (Scot & myself) who have read the series more than once (do I detect an understatement here).
2. WE STICK TO PLACES IN THE BOOKS
These are places that readers and non-readers will enjoy. We don't venture off to see unrelated castles and islands, etc., that either did not exist in the time period or were not depicted or represented in Claire and Jamie's travels. ALL 8 of your days are covering the parts of Scotland that they experienced. There is more than plenty to see just sticking to the places depicted!
3. PLACES INCLUSIVE OF JAMIE AND CLAIRE TOURS We take you to places other tours do not with some sites on private estates and offered for our use only.
4. LESS DRIVE TIME
You see Scotland with your feet firmly on terra firma and not just whipping by you through a vehicle window. If it's in the itinerary, we stop and give it a good thorough visit. If you want to have time to enjoy the beautiful scenery, ancient stones, wee villages or monumental castles, this is the place to do it. We don't rush you through each location in one afternoon.
5. A GOOD MIX OF PEOPLE
Joining us are male & female readers of the books and non-reading partners, professionals, non-professionals, teachers, sailors and a mix from so many wonderful walks of life, of all different ages.
6. WE GUIDE EVERY DAY OF THE TOUR
This gives you more 'not to be missed' experiences.
7. ACCESS TO BACK ROADS & HIDDEN TREASURES
Our vehicles allow us to go where coaches cannot go e.g. quaint and adventurous roads and sites like Lallybroch.
8. FRESH AIR ON TWO FEET
You get out into the fresh air on your two feet! Our walking level varies daily from 'easy', to 'moderate' and 'moderate PLUS' involving going up and down hills including Edinburgh!
9. SMALL GROUPS
Our maximum number of guests are 14, (unless by special event or private tour).
10. TOUR BEGINS & ENDS IN SAME PLACE
We begin and complete our tours from the same point for your convenience of flight reservations.
11. EXCHANGE RATES
We don't make extra on your payment. Make your deposit and then pay the balance any time up until 12 weeks prior to your tour, when the exchange rates are in your favor, potentially saving you money.
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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HIGHER AND LOWER COST OF EACH TOUR?
Single vs. Double/Twin: The "Single" rate is higher and is for Outlandish Spirits traveling on their own. It allows them to have a private bedroom all week with the exception of The Castle stay, Baronial Mansion or Edinburgh Touch of Elegance. Double/Twin is the lower rate per person for each tour based on two people who are traveling together (friends, partners) and sharing a bedroom all week.

Summer Tours - June, July August: Accommodation, vehicles, venues, etc., all have higher prices in the summer - unfortunately this must be reflected in the tour price.

WHEN SHOULD I SIGN ON TO A TOUR?
Sign on from the time the tour is on the web until 12 weeks before the tour date. Finale balances are due 12 weeks before the tour date. The Sooner a tour is filled the sooner we can establish everyone's accommodation, vehicles, any special events, etc. If you wish to sign on after the 12 week mark, there may be extra costs incurred for late comers.

WHAT IS THE DETAILED ITINERARY?
The J&C Itinerary Page shows the "Visits and Experiences" you will have. However tours may vary slightly by the routes we take, weather conditions and size of group. Some of the locations are a surprise and not available on other tours. On the J&C tour and the Highlands & Islands tour we will be in the Highlands for the majority of the time. Each evening, we will go over the next day's plan so you can prepare the appropriate clothing and have something to chat and dream about. So we ask that you kick back, relax, eat lots, take photos, do some walking and enjoy the views, while WE make sure we're getting you to the next destination. We will provide daily contact numbers for your home based contact before you leave home in case of emergencies. Back to top

MY PARTNER HASN'T READ ANY OF THE BOOKS. WILL HE/SHE ENJOY THE TOUR?
Yes! While we ourselves are DG fans, we are also experienced tour guides. That, combined with the fact that Scotland is a gem-box of beauty and interest, will leave plenty to enjoy. All of the activities are available to non-readers e.g. an evening of traditional Tales, walking, historical sites. See "Who are the tours for?" on the Home page...Back to top

ARE THESE TOURS FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN?
YES! Men are just as comfortably welcome. The adventures are led by Scot and Samantha (me) / male and female for balance. Guys have been on recent and previous tours (so far in couples). See the History page and the May 2010 blog and September 2009 blog for our Outlandish Spirits' (male & female) own words on the tour and their photos.

THIS IS MY FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, HOW CAN YOU HELP?
I will send you a packing list if needed. We will do the driving for you (on the left hand side). We'll tell you which airports to avoid if you are flying. I will assist you with recommendations if you want to extend your stay in Scotland beyond the tour week. Back to top

WHY SHOULD I CONSIDER ARRIVING 24 HOURS EARLY?
We do usually spend the first night in Edinburgh so if your plane is only a couple of hours late, you'll be able to settle into your accommodation at your leisure and meet up with us. Try to get a flight that arrives in Scotland by early to mid-morning and in most cases you should be fine.
However, there are two very good reasons for flying in a day early:
a) if you are coming a very long distance (western Canada & states), with change overs, then by arriving early, you will have a chance to recover from jet lag and enjoy the first days of the tour more.
b) if you are very late in arrival (plane delayed by 8 hours or more) and have not given yourself a 24 hour cushion, then you might miss the tour start. If you are late, we cannot wait. So far, 40% of our guests have suffered delays via airlines. Luckily they all took our advice and had an early arrival time built in. Back to top

IS THIS TOUR ONLY FOR CANADIANS & AMERICANS?
No. While I understand that Diana Gabaldon's biggest fan base is in the Americas, including South America, we have heard from and been joined by fans from the UK and Europe. The guiding IS conducted in English though. If you have a group of at least 6 non-English speaking people who would like to come along, please contact me! Back to top

WILL WE DO THE TOUR IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY HAPPENED IN THE BOOK?
Remember, it took Claire and Jamie the better part of their first year to make their initial journey just in the first book. Even with modern transport, the order of the locations in the book would literally have us going up/down/up and around in a couple of circles, and would not be practical or possible in one week! What we do, whenever possible, is to go to the locations of the first book early in the tour, Culloden quite late in the tour, then finish with Edn. There is a logical flow to our tour.Back to top

WHAT LEVEL OF WALKING WILL THERE BE?
Walking varies daily. But we do walk. On one day we will manage a 300 foot, fairly steep ascent at a pace, the next day we will be leisurely strolling through a village. That said, we've had retired aged people passing up younger walkers! You will need walking boots or shoes with ankle support for some days. Edinburgh is all hills, so be prepared to stretch your calves and keep up with the group in between pubs and closes! If you are normally active and have good lungs, you'll enjoy yourself. All walks are guided. Back to top

WILL I BE AUTOMATICALLY PAIRED UP (AS A SINGLE TRAVLER)?
For accommodation, you will have your own room (see 3rd question). Usually within our small groups (up to 14 people) there is a natural camaraderie that happens. I do help this along and I remain aware of any single travelers and do my utmost to make everyone feel part of the group. But it is a two way path and each traveler, single or in couples, needs to meet us part way! Scot and I are part of the group too! So we socialize with everyone. Back to top

WHICH MONTH WOULD HAVE THE BEST WEATHER?
1.My favorite, the pre-spring and spring months of March, April, May are filled with flowers, light green leaves and usually have less rain than summer months. The days can get comfortably warm. There are fewer travelers, so you are more aware of your surroundings and less aware of crowds.

2.The autumn months of September/October can be a bit dryer again than summer with the added value of the autumn sun that casts a lovely glow over the landscape - artists love this time of year. The heather turns to a deep rusty red that covers the hillsides. Many of our northern trees on our journey turn to a lovely golden yellow. Again, fewer crowds.
Note: More people show up in the summer months, not because of the weather, but because schools are out in England and Europe, so many travel here for their holiday/vacation. They all bring coats and umbrellas in the summer - and rightly so!

WHICH IS THE BEST SEASON TO VISIT SCOTLAND?
Following on from the above answer. Spring or Autumn are regarded by connoiseurs of Scotland to be the best months. Winter is very beautiful too, providing you have the appropriate outdoor clothing. Summer (June-August) is a bit hectic, but we get requests for those months, hence the Summer Tour. Back to top

WHAT OTHER INFORMATION CAN YOU SEND ME ABOUT THE TOUR?
Have you read the Blog yet? There you will find some of the completed tours, much of it written by the guests, with photos and comments. It will give you a feel for what the tour is like. Prior tours Blog.
Also see Billy Connolly - "Welcome to Scotland". An Eejit's guide to Scotland. Brilliant! Contains Strong language. Also explains why all my rented kitchens pior to this one were carpeted (?!)

WHAT ARE THE SMOKING LAWS IN SCOTLAND AND YOUR POLICY?
Scotland has strict No Smoking laws. It is now illegal in/around accommodation and within public interiors. For ease of rules and everyone's comfort, we do not allow smoking at any time on the tour, even in the off hours. Back to top