Next, you’ll visit Stornoway, the largest city in the Hebrides and the cradle of Gaelic culture. The town’s thriving local food scene, featuring the famous Stornoway black pudding, provides a unique culinary experience. Nearby highlights include the Callanish Standing Stones and picturesque beaches like Luskentyre and Traigh Mhor. The town’s historical charm, cultural vibrancy, and natural beauty make it a captivating tourist destination.
Your journey then takes you to the Orkney archipelago and its windswept moorland landscape. Le Laperouse will sail towards Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney Islands, where numerous seabirds, such as gannets and European shags, have taken up residence. Kirkwall, which means “church bay,” is home to the magnificent St. Magnus Cathedral and serves as a gateway to the islands’ Neolithic sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Skara Brae, Maeshowe, and the Ring of Brodgar, which provide fascinating insights into ancient human settlements.
You will then sail towards Lerwick in the Shetland Islands. This small and charming capital offers travellers a warm port atmosphere with its seafront of old houses and narrow streets. Geopark Shetland, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located to the north, where incredibly well-preserved archaeological sites and ruins prove the islands’ occupation dates to the first Neolithic colonies.
The cruise ends in Edinburgh after a day at sea, but your Scottish adventure is far from over as you travel to the Scottish Highlands. Experience true Scottish hospitality as Lord Bruce – a direct descendant of King Robert the Bruce – welcomes you and your fellow Amaco participants to his ancestral home. Dating back almost 300 years, you’ll be made to feel at home in one of Scotland’s grandest houses, with access to the family’s private collection of photographs, prints and drawings, architectural plans, letters and journals, ceramics and textiles, and arms and armour.
You’ll also visit Lindores Abbey Distillery to learn about the whisky-making process and enjoy a private tasting class. While in the Highlands, you can also try your hand at clay target shooting. The activity is perfect for beginners and advanced shooters, offering different target scenarios that replicate real-life hunting situations, including incoming ducks, walked-up pheasants, and bolting rabbits.
We’ve also arranged a 4×4 off-road Highland Safari journey through the dramatic Scottish countryside – a land sculptured by the elements and steeped in history, culture, nature, and breathtaking views. You may be lucky to see the Majestic Red Deer, the Famous Grouse, the elusive Mountain Hare, or the soaring Golden Eagle as you travel through forests, mountains, and moors on private hill tracks.
The itinerary then returns to Edinburgh, where the dichotomy unfolds as we traverse from the ancient labyrinth of Old Town, adorned with bustling streets and architectural splendours, to the stately grandeur of New Town, a testament to Georgian elegance. Highlights include iconic landmarks like Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and Holyrood Palace.
An unforgettable farewell will be held on the Royal Yacht Britannia. The former royal residence of Queen Elizabeth II is ours exclusively for the evening, providing a truly unique way to end your Splendid Scottish itinerary. Enjoy behind-the-ropes access throughout the vessel and gain insight into the history and legacy of this former royal yacht.
With all-inclusive amenities and surprises woven into every moment, this itinerary promises unparalleled value and enchantment.
5 June 2025 @ 6:30pm
18 June 2025 @ 9:00am
Starts: Glasgow, Scotland
Ends: Edinburgh,Scotland
Conference Participant: $995 pp
Non-Conference Participant: $795 pp
Amaco Family Price: $16,995 pp
(For previous Amaco Conference Participants)
Early Bird Price: $16,995 pp
(For bookings made before 7 December 2024)
Standard Price: $17,995 pp
(For bookings made after 7 December 2024)
Splendid Scotland Single Supplement (if travelling alone): On Request
We have created a waitlist for this tour. Please complete the offline registration available at the bottom of this page and return it to the Amaco office to be placed on the waitlist. No payments will be taken until we’re able to confirm your place on the tour.
Amaco is not only a member of ATIA (the Australian Travel Industry Association) and CATO (Council of Australian Tour Operators) but we are also ATAS Travel Accredited. This means we have met strict industry financial, operational, and management standards and criteria. Only the best industry agents achieve this accreditation, meaning you can travel with us knowing that you’re in safe and capable hands.
With almost 30 years of experience in planning and running conferences, we understand that participants may want to add additional travel destinations and adventures before or after the all-inclusive packages we provide.
Other conference operators might discourage you from doing this. Sometimes, it’s because of the added complexity it creates and at other times they’ll try to talk you out of it simply because they don’t have capable or experienced staff with the breadth and depth of the advisors we employ.
We encourage all participants to make the most of the time away. This might mean departing earlier than the rest of the group and visiting other destinations before meeting up with the main group at the conference or staying on at the conclusion and doing some additional travel.
Our travel advisors are perfectly positioned to assist you with making these arrangements and will do all the hard work for you – seamlessly combining your personalised itinerary with the group program.
Amaco is an Accredited Education Provider for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine. Over the years members of our tea have also worked closely with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, the Australian Medical Association, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and various dental and specialist associations and colleges.
Each conference we run includes an education syllabus that assists GP’s, pharmacists and health professionals to improve the quality of care they provide to patients and customers while at the same time providing them the opportunity to travel to and experience new and exciting destinations.
Our conference will allow delegates the opportunity to earn CPD hours / points based on the content and time in sessions. As has been the case with past conferences, we will work closely with participants affiliated with other associations to ensure that they receive maximum recognition for attending the conference.
The content of the education sessions will be relevant to GPs, Medical Specialists, Pharmacists, Dentists, Nurses, and other health providers. We encourage all attendees to register for the conference sessions.
The Education Committee for the Splendid Scotland Conference will be selected in late-2024 with final conference topics to be chosen based on the feedback from our previous conference attendees and with input from the RACGP, ACRRM, and medical journals. Suitable speakers will be approached based on the topics selected.
Subject to final accreditation, the Splendid Scotland Conference will include up to 14 hours of accredited education.
ACRRM members can also expect the education program to be accredited and to earn CPD points. RACGP and ACRRM accreditation will be applied for under the triennium 2023 to 2025.
As has been the case in the past, Amaco will work with pharmacy bodies and those affiliated with other associations to ensure they receive maximum recognition for attending the conference.
We welcome applications from potential presenters and encourage anyone interested to contact us for further information.
