6 Day Private Tour: Up Helly Aa Viking Festival and Shetland
Overview
About
- In this 6-day tour to Shetland from Edinburgh, you will experience the Up Helly Aa, the largest Viking Festival in the world, which started in the 1840's. Witness the 46 squads of guizers, led by Guizer Jarl, as they process through the streets of Lerwick with a Viking galley that is purpose built every year and burnt in the climax of the celebrations!
- In the days before and after Up Helly Aa, explore Shetland it all its magnanimous raw beauty. From deserted sand beaches with seals basking in the sun, to some of the most important Viking and neolithic settlements in the world. Witness breathtaking seacliffs battered by the full force of the sea, and stand on the shore of the North Sea looking at the Atlantic Ocean on the opposite side.
- Shetland is a unique place in the world, and visiting it is the experience of a lifetime for history and nature lovers!
At a Glance
- Ages: Ages 0-120
- Type: Mobile ticket
- Duration: 6 days
- Live Guide: English
What you'll do
In the days before and after Up Helly Aa, explore Shetland it all its magnanimous raw beauty. From deserted sand beaches with seals basking in the sun, to some of the most important Viking and neolithic settlements in the world. Witness breathtaking seacliffs battered by the full force of the sea, and stand on the shore of the North Sea looking at the Atlantic Ocean on the opposite side.
Shetland is a unique place in the world, and visiting it is the experience of a lifetime for history and nature lovers!
Meeting and pickup
What is included?
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Driver-guide
- Bottled water
- Scottish snacks
- Guide's accommodation and meals
- Return ferry costs for the vehicle and guide from Aberdeen to Lerwick
- Ferries within Shetland
What is not included?
- Entry to Up Helly Aa halls in the evening. (optional)
- Meals
- Accommodation
- Your ferry tickets from Aberdeen to Lerwick, optional private cabin from £130.00, sleeping pods £18.00 p/p or reclining seats £3.50 p/p.Public transportation£160.00 per booking
- Stirling Castle (optional) Payable on site - £17.50 p/p, discounts for families, children and 65yrs+Entrance fee Stirling Castle (optional) Payable on site - £17.50 p/p, discounts for families, children and 65yrs+£17.50 per person
- Black Watch Castle & Museum (optional) Payable on siteEntrance fee Black Watch Castle & Museum (optional) Payable on site£12.50 per person
- Jarlshof (optional) Payable on site - £7.50 p/p with discounts for families, pensionsers and childrenEntrance fee Jarlshof (optional) Payable on site - £7.50 p/p with discounts for families, pensionsers and children£7.50 per person
- Entry/Admission - Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement
- Entry/Admission - The Black Watch Castle & Museum
Additional Information
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travellers can participate
- Uk cars are smaller than our American counterparts, please be aware of this when booking for 4 adults in a 4 passenger sized vehicle.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Meet your host
Itinerary
Edinburgh Half-day Tours Itinerary (2026 Guide) – What You'll See & Do
Explore the full itinerary for 6 Day Private Tour: Up Helly Aa Viking Festival and Shetland in Edinburgh, United Kingdom (UK). This half-day tours experience includes 27 stops over 6 days. Duration: 12 hours. Activity level: Moderate.
Here is the starting point
Pittenweem
Pittenweem is a sleepy village in the East Neuk of Fife, where you do get the genuine feeling of being off the beaten track! Pittenweem is the busiest fishing port in Fife, and here we will visit St Fillan's cave, home to an Irish missionary in the 7th century.
Crail
It is hard to believe that this wee fishing village once had the largest marketplace in Europe! We will take you to the historic harbour where you can wander and explore the harbour, town and beach.
St. Andrews
Our first stop on our journey north is St Andrews, home to Golf, the oldest University in Scotland and a Cathedral built as early as 1158. You will have the chance to have your picture taken at the iconic Old Course, and explore the small medieval town, bustling with cobbled streets, quaint cafes and independent shops.
Dunnottar Castle
'Once see never forgotten' is the slogan of Dunnottar Castle. Once you have seen it with your own eyes, you will know why! Perched atop a 160 foot rock and surrounded on three sides by the North Sea, these dramatic and evocative cliff-top ruins were once an impregnable fortress of the Earls Marischal, one of the most powerful families in Scotland. We will make a short stop to admire the castle, but will not have time to visit inside. We will then get to Aberdeen where we will get the overnight ferry to Lerwick in Shetland. You can enjoy dinner onboard, or even a few drams at the ship's bar.
Private and Luxury
Historical & Heritage Tours
Half-day Tours
Small Group Tour
City Walking Tours
Private Sightseeing Tours
Cultural Neighborhood Tours
Private Drivers
Full-day Tours
Hidden Gems / Off-the-Beaten-Path Tours
Private Tours