Scotland spiritual tour

Explore the Magic & Mystery of Ancient Scotland & Shetlands

June 11th – 27th, 2026

This spiritual tour of Scotland blends exploration of the Shetland Islands, sacred sites, and highland landscapes with qigong and meditation.

We’ll spend the evening of Summer Solstice at the Calanais Stones.

Slow down your busy mind, open your heart, and embrace joy and peace. Explore and practice tools to take home and use long after the retreat is over.

On This Adventure, You Will:

• Explore the magic of the Scottish Highlands: Immerse yourself in awe-inspiring landscapes, ancient stone circles, and neolithic passage tombs. Imagine yourself living life as it was lived hundreds and thousands of years ago.
• Traverse the Shetland Islands: Spend days exploring remote and beautiful terrain, learn about its captivating Viking history, and visit National Nature Reserves to see amazing birds and wildlife.
• Experience the Spirit of Scotland: Connect with the warmth and resilience of the Scottish people, their rich cultural heritage, and their deep connection to the land.

• Awaken Your Inner Wisdom: Daily qigong and meditation practices will help you cultivate a deeper awareness of your internal qi, connect more fully to your inner self, and harmonize energetically with the natural world around you.
• Experience Transformative Growth: Tap into the opportunity for self-discovery as you explore historic sites and new environments. Connecting with your qi and cultivating compassion for yourself and others, fostering a sense of peace, joy, and vitality.
• Create lasting memories: Visualize the wonders you’ve seen and recall the stories you’ve heard long after you’ve departed for home.

Your Scotland Spiritual Tour Itinerary:

June 11/12, Day 1-2: Leave the US on the 11th, take an overnight flight to Edinburgh, and spend the night of the 12th at The Norton House Hotel in Edinburgh, which is included in your tour. Transportation to the hotel is on your own; taxis, public transport, and Ubers are available. Dinner is on your own.

June 13, Day 3 (B): After breakfast, we meet our driver/guide and head north toward Aberdeen. We’ll visit LUNAN BAY and walk the coastline to DUNNOTTAR CASTLE on the way. After arriving in Aberdeen, we’ll board an OVERNIGHT FERRY to the SHETLAND ISLANDS. Dinner is on your own on the ferry.

June 14, Day 4 (D): We’ll arrive early in Lerwick and then explore the southern realms of Shetland. We’ll take a short boat ride to Mousa Island and visit the BROCH of MOUSA, Scotland’s best preserved Iron Age broch. After returning to the mainland, we’ll take a walk at SUMBURGH HEAD, which combines natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and maritime history. Our afternoon’s exploration ends with a visit to JARLSHOF PREHISTORIC and NORSE SETTLEMENT. Neolithic people first settled at this site in Shetland around 2700 BC, and it remained in use until the AD 1600s, encompassing over 4,000 years of human history. Overlooking the North Sea, this site offers a unique glimpse into Shetland’s distant past and the lives of its earliest inhabitants. We’ll end our day of exploration at the Scalloway Hotel, our home for three nights.

June 15, Day 5 (B/D): Rise early for breakfast. Today, we’ll explore the northern region of the Shetlands. We’ll drive to Toft on the mainland and then take a ferry to YELL, the second-largest island in Shetland. Yell is a haven of unspoiled natural beauty and is known for its abundant wildlife. We’ll then take another ferry to UNST, the northernmost inhabited point in the UK. On Unst, we’ll have a chance to explore some Viking history. We’ll spend an hour’s walk each way across the moorland of HERMANESS NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE to reach the seabird cliffs of HERMANESS HEAD, a dramatic clifftop, home to more than 100,000 birds in the breeding season, including puffins, gannets, and great skuas. We’ll practice qigong on the dramatic clifftop, surrounded by the energy of the birds, sea, and land. If time allows, we’ll visit MUNESS CASTLE before making our way back to Scalloway for the night.

June 16, Day 6 (B/D): Rise early for breakfast. Today is a day of adventure local style! First, we’ll catch a LOCAL BUS from Scalloway to Lerwick. Next we’ll RENT BICYCLES, and take them with us on a small ferry to the isle of BRESSAY. We’ll cycle across the island, only a few miles, lock our bikes, and catch an inflatable ferry to the isle of NOSS. We’ll visit NOSS NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, which includes a 600-foot tall cliff that is essentially a high-rise apartment for up to 150,000 nesting sea birds. We’ll reach the cliff via a coastal path that meanders through colorful patches of flower-filled grassland. Along the way, we’ll be enticed by the bird’s cacophonous chorus. We’ll visit other stops throughout the day based on the weather and timing. We’ll also find a place and time to practice qigong. Ultimately, we’ll return to Lerwick, say goodbye to the bicycles, and head back to Scalloway for the night.

June 17, Day 7 (B): Meet for morning qigong and meditation, followed by breakfast. Today, we’ll explore the western region of Shetland and visit a few locations featured in the TV show Shetland. We’ll visit SCALLOWAY CASTLE and the isles of TRONDRA and BURRA, known for their gorgeous coastlines. These spots showcase the island’s dramatic landscapes and bring fans closer to the settings of the show. We’ll grab a picnic from a roadside “honor fridge” and have lunch at MINN BEACH, known for its white sands and crystal-clear waters. We’ll then head back to Lerwick and board the FERRY to ORKNEY ISLAND for an evening sailing. Dinner is on your own on the ferry. After arriving in Orkney, we’ll take a 30-minute drive to our hotel in Stromness, our home for three nights.

June 18, Day 8 (B/D): Meet for breakfast. Then we’ll visit the town of KIRKWALL, where you’ll have time to explore on your own. Be sure to visit The 12th Century ST. MAGNUS CATHEDRAL. We’ll spend the rest of the day exploring beautiful landscapes and Neolithic sites. The order of things is tide-dependent. At low tide, we’ll walk across a title causeway, then ascend to the lighthouse on BROUGH HEAD, passing Pictish, Norse, and medieval remains. We’ll also visit the World Heritage Site SKARA BRAE, one of the best-preserved groups of prehistoric houses in Western Europe. This site, uncovered by a storm in 1850, gives a remarkable picture of life 5,000 years ago before Stonehenge was built. At the end of the afternoon, we’ll practice qigong on the beach by Scara Brae then head back to Stromness for dinner together.

June 19, Day 9 (B/D): Rise early breakfast. Today, we’ll continue our visit to the World Heritage Site HEART of NEOLITHIC ORKNEY. Each of the four Heart of Neolithic Orkney sites (including yesterday’s Skara Brae) is a masterpiece of Neolithic design and construction in itself. But together, they represent one of the best-preserved surviving Neolithic landscapes in Western Europe. Today’s visit includes THE STONES of STENNESS (possibly the oldest henge site in the UK), THE RING of BRODGAR (the only stone circle in Britain which is an almost perfect circle), and MAESHOWE (a massive chambered tomb and the finest Neolithic building to survive in north-west Europe). In addition to spending time at these sacred sites, we’ll also hike the beautiful cliff tops at YESNABY CLIFFS, where we’ll practice qigong. After a full day, we’ll return to the Stromness and have dinner together.

June 20, Day 10 (B): Rise early for breakfast. Today is a full day of travel, punctuated by scenic stops and a lovely walk. We’ll have some time in the morning to visit the grocery to get drinks and snacks for the day, as we’re having a rolling lunch. Consider getting snacks for dinner as well to eat in the lounge of our hotel. Mid-morning, we say goodbye to Orkney, take the FERRY to the MAINLAND, and make our way to Ullapool. Once on the mainland, we’ll stop for a walk to visit SMOO CAVE, a dramatic sea cave set into a limestone cliff. We’ll also stop at other scenic sites and have some time to do qigong to keep our energy flowing. We’ll arrive in Ullapool in the early evening and settle into our hotel, Harbour House B&B. You can walk half a mile into town for a bite to eat on your own or enjoy the view from the hotel as you settle in with your own picnic.

June 21, Day 11 (B/D): Today is SUMMER SOLSTICE! Rise early for qigong, followed by breakfast. Then we’ll head to the dock and board a FERRY to the ISLE of LEWIS. We’ll have some time in STORNOWAY for lunch and exploration. Then, we’ll head to GEARRANNAN BLACKHOUSE VILLAGE, which consists of nine restored traditional thatched cottages initially constructed in the 1800s. From the village, we’ll explore the beautiful coastline at DALMORE BEACH. We’ll then check into our hotel, Doune Braes, and have a fairly early supper. After dining, we’ll head to the CALANAIS STONES to enjoy the longest day of the year. This extraordinary cross-shaped collection of stones was erected 5,000 years ago, predating England’s famous Stonehenge monument, and was an important place for ritual activity for at least 2,000 years.

June 22, Day 12 (B/D): Today is a day for quiet relaxation or exploration. No ferries. No mini-coach. We’ll start the day with qigong and meditation. Then, you may choose from OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES, including a half-day COASTAL HIKE, RELAXING at the lodge with a journal or book, or grabbing a bus or Uber to EXPLORE other areas of Lewis. You could also walk to the nearby CARLOWAY BROCH. Ask the hotel staff for recommendations for transportation. We’ll have dinner together again at our hotel.

June 23, Day 13 (B/D): Rise early for breakfast. Today, we leave the Isle of Lewis, stopping first at the CALANAIS STANDING STONES once again or perhaps other nearby sites. Then, we’ll explore the ISLE of HARRIS, including a coastal dune walk to MACLEOD’S STONE and TRAIGH IAR BEACH. The beach or rolling hills will provide a wonderful place to practice qigong. We’ll then head to TARBERT and catch an afternoon FERRY to the ISLE of SKYE. After our 90-minute ferry crossing, we’ll drive through spectacular landscapes to our home for the next two nights in the town of PORTREE. We’ll enjoy dinner together at the hotel.

June 24, Day 14 (B): Rise early for breakfast. Today, we explore the Isle of Skye. This active hike-filled day starts with a drive to NEIST POINT, the Westernmost tip of Skye. We’ll spend about an hour and a half here to allow for a cliff walk. Next, we’ll head to the otherworldly landscape of FAIRY GLEN, where we’ll have time to practice qigong and take a walk. Our final highlight includes a two hour hike in THE QUIRAING, some of the most spectacular landscapes in Scotland. After our full day, we return to our hotel in Portree. Dinner is on your own this evening; you may choose to dine at the hotel or in town at a local pub.

June 25, Day 15 (B/D): Rise early for breakfast. Today, we say goodbye to the Isle of Skye. Our first couple of stops are photo opportunities, one at EILEAN DONAN CASTLE and the other at LOCH NESS. We’ll stop at the GLENCOE VISITOR CENTER to learn about how geology, natural landmarks, and history combine to create incredible stories. We’ll also have a bite for lunch here. After lunch, we’ll spend two hours hiking in GLENCOE NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, an ancient Highland landscape formed by a super volcano hundreds of millions of years ago, then sculpted by massive glaciers in the last ice age. From here, we’ll head to the town of OBAN where we’ll stay one night at The Ranald Hotel. We’ll have dinner together as a group.

June 26, Day 16 (B/D): Rise early for qigong in the nearby park, followed by breakfast. Today is our last day of exploration on the Scotland Spiritual Tour. Our day’s first activity includes stops at various neolithic sites at KILMARTIN GLEN. More than 800 ancient monuments are within a six-mile radius of the village, with 150 monuments being prehistoric. From here, we’ll press on to the picturesque town of Inverary for a lunch stop. Then we’ll drive through spectacular landscapes in LOCH LOMOND & THE TROSSACHS NATIONAL PARK. At the end of the day, we’ll arrive at the Norton House Hotel in Edinburgh, where we’ll have a farewell dinner.

June 27, Day 17 (B): Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then make your way on your own via taxi, public transport, or Uber to the Edinburgh airport to catch your homeward flight, or extend your stay and see what else Scotland offers you!

Included in Your Scotland Spiritual Tour:

• Qigong instruction, including various meditation techniques. Engaging with this content is an integral part of this spiritual tour. If you are not interested in qigong or meditation, different tours are available to you via other companies. On full travel days, we may not find time to practice qigong and meditation, or we may practice in unexpected natural environments.
• All ground and water transportation, including bicycle rental.
• Lodging for 15 nights in locations hand-selected for their beautiful natural settings. One night is spent in an overnight berth on the ferry to the Shetland Islands. Please note rooms may be smaller than what you’re accustomed to in the United States and most lodgings do not have elevators.
• Side Note: Our first and last night’s stay is a gorgeous spa hotel; consider booking an extra night to enjoy the spa and the grounds.
• 24 meals (fourteen breakfasts and ten dinners).
• A Scottish driver/guide, passionate about the highlands, sacred history, and lore.
• All entrance fees for ancient sites and activities, including Dunnottar Castle, Broch of Mousa, Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement, Hermaness Nature Reserve, Noss Nature Reserve, Scalloway Castle, St. Magnus Cathedral, Brough Head, Stones of Stenness, Ring of Brodgar, Maeshowe Cairn, Skara Brae and Skail House, Smoo Cave, Gearrannan Black House Village, Calanais Stones, Glencoe Visitor Center, Glencoe Nature Reserve, Kilmartin Glen.
• Nine unique ferry routes
• Spectacular coastal and highland hikes, including Dunottar Castle, Sumburgh Head, Hermaness Head, Noss Nature Reserve, Brough of Birsay, Yesnaby Cliffs, Smoo Cave, MacLeod’s Stone and Traigh Iar Beach, Neist Point, Fairy Glen, The Quiraing, and the Glencoe Valley.
• A guaranteed small group, with 12 guests maximum, which means a more personalized and intimate tour experience.
• The itinerary is subject to modification based on the weather, tides, and the needs of the group.

The Little Bits Not Included:

• International airfare to Edinburgh.
• Transportation to and from the airport to the first and last night’s hotels.
• Daily lunch, one breakfast, four dinners.
• Beverages with meals and/or alcohol.
• Driver-guide gratuity.

Tour Facilitator Amy Pattee Colvin:

In the fall of 2015, I attended a meditation retreat in Peru led by my long-time meditation teachers. One day, a local shaman joined us in Machu Picchu. During the blessing ceremony, he handed me a seed to plant after the ceremony finished. He said to look for the plant when I brought my own group on a tour to Peru. For many months, that seed of an idea quietly germinated and eventually sprouted into the development of meditation and qigong tours worldwide.

When traveling with me, you’ll practice meditation and qigong, immerse yourself in beautiful landscapes, step out of your daily routine, and embody positive ways of thinking and living.

I’m excited to share these concepts with you while we actively explore stunning landscapes and cultures.

These tours allow you to focus deeply on inner work, connect to the divine within, and harmonize with the energy of the natural world.

I’ll share with you all I’ve learned in over thirty years of Taoist meditation and the wisdom I gained from becoming a certified facilitator of Stanford University’s Compassion Cultivation Training.

Local Guide Murray:

Murray specializes in telling stories of Scotland with humor. He has an exhaustive knowledge of the country’s history, legends, and geography, so he finds something special to share with us every day.

Some days he’ll share ancient myths as if he’d lived with the fairies themselves; other days, he’ll tell you the name of every mountain and loch we pass. Every day he’ll keep you entertained on the journey with music and stories and help you learn to love Scotland as he does.

From the moment you meet Murray, you’ll feel like you’ve found that long-lost Scottish friend you never knew you had.

I look forward to spending time with you! If you have any questions, please email me at amy@amypatteecolvin.com.

Investment & Registration:

Investment: USD $6,195 per person based on double occupancy.

• Space is limited to 12 guests. Ensure your spot by placing your deposit now.
• A deposit of $2,000 is required to reserve your space, with the balance due by March 1, 2026. Payment plans are available. Please contact me for more information.
• You are welcome to register as an individual, and I will match you with a person of the same gender to share a room.
• Single rooms are available with a supplement of $1,800.

Cancellation Policy:

• Your deposit is fully refundable until December 1st, 2025. After that date, if you choose to cancel, your deposit is transferable to a future trip.
• I highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance, which covers emergency medical treatment, evacuation, and trip cancellation.

To register, email me at amy@amypatteecolvin.com.

Food budget is roughly $800 per person