Whisky Trail Cruises on European Waterways (Luxury Hotel Barge Cruises)

About this Cruise

There is nothing quite like a wee dram of Scotland’s favourite export, whisky. This is why we offer whisky cruises along the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness, allowing you to visit local, long-established distilleries and enjoy whisky tours in style. With whisky tasting at the heart of each tour, you’ll get the chance to explore some of the best distilleries in Scotland.

Whether you want to take a tour with loved ones and sample some of the best single malts in the world or you want to see the casks in all of their glory, we can help. Our Whisky Trail Cruises will take you on an unforgettable journey through the Scottish Highlands, visiting some of the most incredible sites and exploring the Great Glen by water.

• The 8-passenger Scottish Highlander is a first-class hotel barge, with a traditional Country House ambience

• Contemporary in design with a choice of living spaces, the 12-passenger Spirit of Scotland is a deluxe hotel barge with a show-stopping dining room

• Both barges follow the same itinerary, but in the reverse direction – often meeting in the middle of the week!

If you want to see Scottish Highland distilleries, booking a Whisky Cruise in Scotland is one of the best ways to do it. Our Scottish hotel barges carry between 8 and 12 passengers, ensuring that these small groups of passengers have the best experiences. You’ll get a private guided tour of four of the Scottish Highland’s finest distilleries,. and each hotel barge also has an extensive selection of single malts to choose from, including Aberlour, Jura, Laphroaig, Highland Park, and Glenmorangie.

We offer both deluxe and first-class accommodation for your cruise through the Great Glen, with the Spirit of Scotland boasting well-equipped cabins for up to 12 passengers. These comfortable cabins are all complemented by en-suite bathrooms so you can enjoy the same comforts you would at home. Many guests onboard the Spirit of Scotland are blown away by the upper-level sun deck, which provides the perfect place to relax and admire the dramatic backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.

Experiencing a Whisky Trail Cruise is made better by visiting multiple distilleries over a few days. There are so many whisky-producing regions in Scotland including sweet Speyside single malts and smoky Islay scotch. You can sample a thimbleful from many different distilleries and have an unforgettable experience.

Our whisky tours won’t just take you to the finest distilleries in Scotland. You’ll also visit incredible historical sites including the infamous battle site of Culloden Moor, and the enchanting Eilean Donan Castle, as well as the vast Cairngorms National Park. You could see some beautiful wildlife including otters and red deer, and if you are lucky, you may spot some puffins. It is easy to reach the starting point of your cruise, whether you are travelling internationally via Glasgow, Edinburgh, or further across the United Kingdom – getting to Inverness by train, plane or road is simple.

Cruise through Moy Bridge, the last hand-operated bridge of its kind on the Caledonian Canal
Tour Dalwhinnie, Tomatin, Benromach and Glen Ord distilleries
Experience the Muirtown lock flight and Tomnahurich swing bridge
Visit to the ruins of Inverlochy Castle
Explore Culloden Moor, which in 1746 saw the last major battle on British soil.

You will visit an extensive range of distilleries on your Scotland whisky cruise, with stops at some of the most incredible distilleries in the country. The family-run Benromach speyside distillery is ideal for whisky beginners was founded over 100 years ago and is the smallest distillery on Speyside. The Tomatin distillery, founded in 1897, was founded at the height of the Victorian whisky book and is situated in the most beautiful location, to the south of Inverness.

Lovers of single malts will know the name Dalwhinnie, and your tour will take you to the distillery in Cairngorms National Park. This tour will give you the chance to taste the single malts which have been carefully paired with chocolates, so you get the best of both worlds. You’ll also get to visit the Glen Ord distillery on the Black Isle, which was founded by Thomas Mackenzie in 1838.