Enjoy the Scottish Highlands this Summer or Fall

Travel to Scotland this SummerHome to some of the continent’s most stunning scenery, coupled with one of Europe’s least densely populated countries, Scotland perfectly fits the bill for post-pandemic travel. Whatever sport you choose, we can arrange the activity, lodging, guides, and meals with a tour operator we love to use in the UK, Celebrated. Hikers and mountain bikers can head to the ancient pine forest of Cairngorms National Park, the largest national park in the UK. Or canoe on the River Spey to the famous Speyside whisky distilleries. Sea kayakers can paddle around Applecross and the spectacular Isle of Skye, where for one summer, my brother worked as a bellhop for a hotel. The Brits didn’t tip so well back then, but he still loved being there. Sailors head to the Inner Hebrides for two days of sailing around Mull, Islay and Jura (where George Orwell wrote many of his books), finishing at Isle of Eriska and their Relais & Chateau estate. Celebrated has vetted many private estates in Scotland, from medieval castles to island cottages. So if you prefer a private home to a resort, Scotland is a great option. Let ActiveTravels know your dates and we’ll package together a memorable trip!

Celebrated Experiences Launch Private Homes Division

Private home rentals in the UKThose of you who had the good fortune to travel with Celebrated Experiences to Scotland, Ireland, Britain, or Wales know firsthand how exceptional they are as a tour operator. At least twice a year, they visit every hotel they recommend, and include a special Celebrated perk like a spa treatment or bottle of wine at dinner. They also hire fantastic guides that add unparalleled insider knowledge like the gardener to Prince Charles or a 9th-generation cheesemaker. In the latter half of 2020, they added Celebrated Homes, a collection of 200 private homes they personally vetted across the UK. So now you can stay at the Spring Cottage, a historic 3-bedroom house on the Thames River outside London, and still get the same stellar concierge service including private guides, tours, and drivers with Celebrated. The Celebrated Homes collection includes some remarkable estates including Borthwick Castle in Scotland, where Mary Queen of Scots slept, and the 12th-century Roch Castle in Wales. If interested, please let ActiveTravels know and we’ll help create an exciting itinerary with Celebrated.

Bucket List Travel, Slice of Europe

Amalfi Coast First-time visitors to ActiveTravels often ask us what’s our expertise? That’s not an easy question to answer, because we delight in sending you to the most remote corners of the globe, whether it’s the chance to see the orangutans of Sumatra or hiking the W Trek in Chilean Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park. Yes, we know New England like the back of our hand. But we also know Europe exceptionally well and wow, do we love our local suppliers, especially TFL in Italy, Madrid and Beyond in Spain, Celebrated in Scotland, Ireland, and the UK, and Original Senses in Greece. It’s easy for us to design itineraries in major cities like London, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Rome. Yet, if you want to get a real taste of Europe away from the masses, please give us the chance to show you Puglia, Provence, and Paros, where the Europeans go on vacation. Whether you want to bike to Monet’s house in Giverny, go out on a tasty tapas tour in Madrid, hike the Dolomites, or sail to Greek’s undiscovered islands, we’ll create those lasting memories! Also consider slowing down on two wheels with Backroads, DuVine, VBT and Ciclismo Classico, biking and hiking outfitters, who know how to get you off-the-beaten-track to more isolated and scenic locales.