For my trip to the Scottish Highlands, I chose to take a 9-day Rabbies tour that included Isle of Skye, Iona, Mull, and the Orkney Isles. It was actually two tours in one. Halfway through (in Inverness), we switched guides/drivers, said goodbye to some of our travel mates, and welcomed nine new people for the journey north.
First group with tour guide Dave (3rd from left, back)
We traveled in a passenger van that seated 16 people. The seats were narrow, but otherwise comfortable. The first group of travelers included 5 solo travelers, including myself, and people from Australia, China, and Germany, as well as the US. The US travelers had diverse backgrounds, including ethnicity, e.g., Singapore, India, and China/Vietnam. The second group included eight Americans (from the South) who already knew each other, as well as a nice widow lady from New Zealand.
Second group with tour guide Andrew (R)We had two good tour guides/drivers. The guide for the first half of the tour was Dave. I really liked him. He had a bold, assertive personality. He was an exceptional guide, really knew his history. Andrew was the guide for the second half of the tour. He was more soft spoken and low-key. In his spare time, Andrew liked to sit on the beach and do nothing. Dave liked to climb mountains. That sums up how different they were.
Our last night together
Seven of us did the whole 9-day tour and developed a good rapport. Overall, I preferred the people from the first half of the tour. The Indian couple (from California) seated in front of the picture below were especially nice. Hillery, a young Chinese/Vietnamese women from LA, was very sweet. Avrin (sp?), an anesthesiologist originally from Singapore, was interesting and outgoing.
Selfie at Eileen Donan castle
(L-R, Avrin, Sam, me, Hillery, and Esther)
The Australian couple raised sheep (Dorpers) and were extremely likable. From the first group, there were two recently divorced ladies (Sam from Chicago and Esther from Iowa), traveling solo, who were great travel mates. Their presence was missed the second half.
