Private Personalised Tour

A private, bespoke Orkney tour designed around you—explore ancient sites, coastal scenery, hidden gems, local food and drink, Norse heritage, and wartime tales at your own pace.

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Highlights

Enjoy the ultimate Orkney experience with a private, personalised tour tailored entirely to your interests. Over the course of 6 unhurried hours, or longer if you wish, you’ll have the freedom to explore ancient Neolithic sites like standing stones, burial chambers, and prehistoric sites, bringing Orkney’s deep past vividly to life.

Along the way, you’ll take in dramatic coastal landscapes, towering sea cliffs to sweeping bays, and discover hidden local gems that most visitors miss.

Immerse yourself in Orkney’s rich Norse heritage, following in the footsteps of Viking settlers who left their indelible mark on these islands’ place names, folklore, and archaeology.

Delve into the islands’ wartime history, uncovering the secret stories of Orkney’s role in two world wars.

And if you wish, we can weave in visits to some of Orkney’s world food and drink producers, sampling flavours that make this place truly special.

This is your day (or longer if you wish) done your way – with expert local guidance, comfortable travel, and a commitment to sustainable, responsible touring.

What’s Included

Door to door pick up and drop off service.

What to Bring/Wear

Bring a waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers, comfortable footwear, hat and gloves. Don’t forget any personal medication and please bring a reusable water bottle if you have one.

Meeting Point

Kirkwall Harbour Basin, Kirkwall Airport, St Margarets Hope, Stromness Pier Head or your accommodation.

Key Highlights/Stops

Neolithic wonders and standing stones.
Rugged cliffs, bays, and lochside hideaways.
Norse heritage and wartime history (incl. Italian Chapel, Barriers).
Optional tastings with local producers.
Private, flexible, sustainable.

Sustainability Features of This Tour

At Orkney Odyssey we’re proud to offer this eco-friendly tour in a fully electric vehicle powered by Orkney’s renewable energy. With small groups, support for local businesses and a commitment to protecting wildlife and historic sites, your journey is designed to as kind to the environment as it is unforgettable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are admissions included?
Admissions are usually booked in advance by us. We take care of that ahead of your tour, once we have agreed the itinerary for your tour. Should you wish to change things on the day and include additional stops, then the admission fee will be paid on the day. Please note that during the busy times of the season, the most popular sites may not have availability.
Can we focus on a specific theme?
Absolutely — it’s your tour. While most of our tours already have a theme, we’re always delighted to tailor the experience to your interests. Whether you’d like to dive deeper into local history, landscapes, or culture, we’ll shape the day around what inspires you most.
Suitable for kids?
Yes, all of our tours are family-friendly and designed to be enjoyed by guests of all ages. Very young children may find a full 5–6 hour tour a little long, but we’re happy to adapt the pace or add breaks so everyone feels comfortable and engaged throughout the day.

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 🇬🇧

Ready to Experience Orkney Your Way?

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