Sustainable Private
Orkney Tours – Your Way

Preserving the Past • Protecting the Future

Explore the unique wonders of Orkney sustainably

Welcome to Orkney Odyssey, where we offer private, personalised tours of Orkney with sustainability at the heart of everything we do.

Whether you want to explore ancient Neolithic sites, dramatic coastal landscapes, or hidden corners that only locals know, your tour is shaped entirely around your interests and pace. This is Orkney – your way, with care and attention to both your experience and the environment.

We believe that meaningful travel should leave a positive footprint, which is why we use eco-conscious transport, support local businesses and follow responsible trade practices. As a locally based guide, I’m proud to share not just Orkney’s famous landmarks, but also its living culture, food, and wild places – all with respect for the land and its communities.

Join us for an unforgettable journey through Orkney’s landscapes and stories. Whether you’re here for history, wildlife, or to just breathe the clean and pure island air, I’ll help you connect with this extraordinary place in a way that’s thoughtful, relaxed, and truly personal.

Image of electric vehicle - Orkney Odyssey private sustainable tours

At Orkney Odyssey, we’re proud to offer tours in a fully electric vehicle, helping to reduce emissions while exploring Orkney’s beautiful landscapes.

Quiet, comfortable, and powered by Orkney’s own renewable energy, travelling this way lets you experience the islands in a cleaner, more sustainable way. It’s a small step with a big impact – protecting the places we visit while supporting Orkney’s commitment to green energy.

By choosing Orkney Odyssey, you’re joining a growing movement of travellers who want their adventures to benefit local communities and preserve the environment.

Together, we can keep Orkney’s wild places wild, its heritage protected, and its future bright. Travel thoughtfully. tread lightly.

Let’s explore responsibly – one journey at a time.

View our tours

Orkney Odyssey Private Tours offer a unique, personalised way to experience the islands, combining deep local knowledge with a commitment to sustainability.

All tours are delivered in a fully electric vehicle, making your journey quieter, cleaner and kinder to the environment.

Every tour is fully customisable, designed around your interests, needs and pace. With Orkney Odyssey you don’t just visit the islands – you experience them your way.

In addition to our deep knowledge of the Neolithic, Norse, and middle ages, we have deep expertise in Orkney’s extensive wartime history, taking you to hidden the corners of Fortress Orkney that most visitors often miss.

We are also deeply passionate about Orkney’s vibrant food and drink scene. Our food and drink are world renowned and we want to share it with you.

View our tours

Private Personalised Tour

Discover Orkney on a private tour shaped entirely around your interests, from ancient sites and wild coastlines to local food, drink and hidden gems.

Duration: 6 hours (flexible)
Group size: Max 6

Tour information

Wartime Orkney Tour

Uncover Orkney’s pivotal role in two world wars with visits to dramatic coastal defences, poignant memorials and the beautifully hand-crafted Italian Chapel.

Duration: 6 hours
Group size: Max 6

Tour information

Orkney Food & Drink Tour

Taste your way around Orkney with visits to local producers, mills, breweries and distilleries, plus a relaxed loch-side lunch, all by electric vehicle.

Duration: 6 hours
Group size: Max 6

Tour information

Orkney Through the Ages

Journey through Orkney’s layered past in one day, from Neolithic sites to Viking stories and wartime heritage, with sweeping island views along the way.

Duration: 6 hours
Group size: Max 6

Tour Information

Multi Day Tour

Spend two days exploring Orkney’s must-see highlights and hidden corners, blending Neolithic wonders, Norse history, wartime stories and local flavours at a relaxed pace.

Duration: 2 days
Group size: 6

Tour Information

Viking Orkney Tour

Step into saga landscapes, tidal islands and cathedral stories on a private Norse history tour that delves deeper than standard Viking sightseeing.

Duration: 6 hours
Group size: Max 6

Tour Information

Orkney Cruise Day Tour

Make the most of your day in port with a flexible private shore excursion taking in Skara Brae, stone circles, cliffs and Viking heritage to suit your ship’s timings.

Duration: 6 hours
Group size: Max 6

Tour Information

Scapa Flow Tour

Explore Scapa Flow’s dramatic naval history, Churchill Barriers, Italian Chapel and coastal viewpoints, with options to focus on whisky, wildlife or wartime stories.

Duration: 6 hours
Group size: Max 6

Tour Information

Neolithic Orkney Tour

Step back over 5,000 years to Skara Brae, stone circles and chambered tombs on a private World Heritage tour through Europe’s best-preserved prehistoric landscape.

Duration: 6 hours
Group size: Max 6

Tour Information

Orkney Renewable Energy Tour

Discover how Orkney leads the way in clean energy on a private tour linking traditional peat use to wind, wave and tidal innovation across the islands.

Duration: 6 hours
Group size: Max 6

Tour Information

Reviews

“Loved every minute of our time in Orkney and our tour with Iain made it extra special. A truly special day in a magical place with a fantastic guide.”
— Y S, UK 🇬🇧
“Absolutely first class! Our guide, Iain was so interesting, knowledgeable and passionate about Orkney. We had a very memorable tour, seeing some amazing sites and learning about the history and landscape. Definitely recommend this tour and Iain as your guide.”
— Paula O, USA 🇺🇸
“Great welcome at the port. Iain is a very kind, prepared and helpful guide. He organised a tour for us following our requests. Highly recommended!”
— Maria M, Italy 🇮🇹
“As a solo traveller meeting other guests for a tour can sometimes feel a little awkward, but Iain’s enthusiasm, friendliness and knowledge made me feel completely at ease immediately. It was a fascinating tour. Thank you very much Iain!”
— Janelle N, USA 🇺🇸
“We had an amazing tour with our guide Iain who showed us around all the important places on the island. Iain could answer all of our questions and was very friendly! Highly recommended!”
— Annagret H, Germany 🇩🇪
“Iain was a passionate and knowledgeable guide and made a wet and windy day enjoyable for all. Learned so much and had fun at the same time.”
— Scott D, Australia 🇦🇺
“We were a group of four on this tour. In five hours, we managed to see the main sites of the Orkney mainland. I enjoyed this tour very much!”
— Robert D, Canada 🇨🇦
“Our trip started with the wonderful Iain. When any of us asked a question Iain would repeat it so that everyone could hear, then answered the question knowledgeably. What a fabulous and thoughtful addition to our tour. Handsdown, that started a tour off on a high note having such a high calibre guide.”
— Jannine C, Australia 🇦🇺
“Iain was so informative. There was never a dull moment, something always interesting or funny was shared. There was never any doubt he was making sure we were getting everything we wanted out of our tour.”
— Jannine C, Australia 🇦🇺
“We were lucky to have Iain as our guide for this tour. Of course he is one of the certified guides in Orkney, but he has also worked at Skara Brae for several years. An expert guide really helped to bring the tour alive. I would highly recommend Iain as your guide.”
— Vince HK, Hong Kong 🇭🇰
“The tour was wonderful! Iain was very knowledgeable and you could tell he has a deep passion for Orkney‘s history. Everything was well paced, fascinating and very enjoyable. I would highly recommend a tour with Iain!”
— Patricia J, UK 🇬🇧
“Loved every minute of our time in Orkney and our tour with Iain made it extra special. A truly special day in a magical place with a fantastic guide.”
— Y S, UK 🇬🇧
“Absolutely first class! Our guide, Iain was so interesting, knowledgeable and passionate about Orkney. We had a very memorable tour, seeing some amazing sites and learning about the history and landscape. Definitely recommend this tour and Iain as your guide.”
— Paula O, USA 🇺🇸
“Great welcome at the port. Iain is a very kind, prepared and helpful guide. He organised a tour for us following our requests. Highly recommended!”
— Maria M, Italy 🇮🇹
“As a solo traveller meeting other guests for a tour can sometimes feel a little awkward, but Iain’s enthusiasm, friendliness and knowledge made me feel completely at ease immediately. It was a fascinating tour. Thank you very much Iain!”
— Janelle N, USA 🇺🇸
“We had an amazing tour with our guide Iain who showed us around all the important places on the island. Iain could answer all of our questions and was very friendly! Highly recommended!”
— Annagret H, Germany 🇩🇪
“Iain was a passionate and knowledgeable guide and made a wet and windy day enjoyable for all. Learned so much and had fun at the same time.”
— Scott D, Australia 🇦🇺
“We were a group of four on this tour. In five hours, we managed to see the main sites of the Orkney mainland. I enjoyed this tour very much!”
— Robert D, Canada 🇨🇦
“Our trip started with the wonderful Iain. When any of us asked a question Iain would repeat it so that everyone could hear, then answered the question knowledgeably. What a fabulous and thoughtful addition to our tour. Handsdown, that started a tour off on a high note having such a high calibre guide.”
— Jannine C, Australia 🇦🇺
“Iain was so informative. There was never a dull moment, something always interesting or funny was shared. There was never any doubt he was making sure we were getting everything we wanted out of our tour.”
— Jannine C, Australia 🇦🇺
“We were lucky to have Iain as our guide for this tour. Of course he is one of the certified guides in Orkney, but he has also worked at Skara Brae for several years. An expert guide really helped to bring the tour alive. I would highly recommend Iain as your guide.”
— Vince HK, Hong Kong 🇭🇰
“The tour was wonderful! Iain was very knowledgeable and you could tell he has a deep passion for Orkney‘s history. Everything was well paced, fascinating and very enjoyable. I would highly recommend a tour with Iain!”
— Patricia J, UK 🇬🇧

Accreditations

Orkney Odyssey is proud to be associated with leading organisations that uphold the highest standards in tourism and environmental responsibility. We are a member of the Scottish Tourist Guides Association (STGA), the only professional membership body for fully trained and accredited guides in Scotland, endorsed by both VisitScotland and VisitBritain.