4-Day Islay Whisky Tour from Edinburgh
About this activity
Highlights
- Visit iconic Islay distilleries
- Experience traditional whisky-making processes
- Enjoy scenic Scottish landscapes
- Learn about Islay's rich whisky heritage
- Taste a variety of single malts
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Admissions to Laphroaig, Bowmore, Kilchoman, and Ardbeg distilleries
- Guided tours of each distillery
- Transportation from Edinburgh to Islay and back
- Meals and beverages not specified in the itinerary
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Check the tour's cancellation policy and any associated fees.
- Confirm the availability of the tour on your preferred dates.
- Be aware of any specific entry requirements for the distilleries.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable clothing and footwear suitable for walking and varying weather conditions.
- Bring a valid ID for age verification during distillery visits.
- Ensure you have travel insurance covering potential trip cancellations or delays.
Cancellation policy
0All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Unfortunately we don't carry anyone under 18 years old on this tour
- On this tour you will spend 3 nights in the beautiful Bowmore Distillery Cottages .The cottages have between three and six twin bedrooms, each with private bathrooms. Due to the shared nature of the accommodation, individual bedrooms don't have lockable doors. The kitchen and lounge facilities are shared with other passengers, and basic self-service breakfast ingredients are provided. Full Scottish breakfasts are available at the nearby hotels if you prefer, payable locally. *From 16th March 2026 , cooked breakfast options will be available at the Harbour Inn instead of the previous 'self-service breakfast' option.
- Booking three or more people? We can accommodate up to 8 guests in a group, please add each required room to your basket separately
- When booking three or more people, efforts will be made to book a combination of suitable rooms (double/twin/family). Preferences should be noted upon booking in the Special Requirements section
- Passengers are restricted to 20kg of luggage (44lbs); one medium sized suitcase/bag similar to airline standard carry-on luggage (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus a small bag for onboard personal items.
- Monday departures offer the chance to see more whisky production as all the distilleries are in operation on weekdays.
- Itinerary and distillery visits are subject to change.
- *Laphroaig (Monday Departures): Replaced with Lagavulin; museum/shop/bar still accessible.
- * For Friday departures, the tour will visit Ardnahoe Distillery instead of Kilchoman Distillery. Lunch at Kilchoman Distillery on Fridays will no longer be included - the driver guide will arrange an alternative lunch spot on the day (at customers own expense). To compensate for the removed prepaid lunch, Ardbeg Distillery will now include 5 drams and Bunnahabhain Distillery will include a Rabbie's exclusive tour and tasting.
- * Please note that from 11 June to 13 July, Ardbeg Distillery will be in its Silent Season. Production tours will not be available; however, guests will enjoy a tutored tasting featuring 5 drams.
Traveler reviews
4-Day. Whisky Islay Tour - Fantastic
Just finished the 4 day whisky tour with Rabbies and it was fantastic from start to finish. Our guide Billy made the whole trip. He was genuinely one of the best guides I've had. He was knowledgeable, funny, and clearly passionate about whisky and Scottish history, and he made sure everyone in the group felt looked after the entire time. The Islay distillery lineup was incredible. We visited Bowmore, Kilchoman, Bunnahabhain, Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Bruichladdich, and Caol Ila, and each one had its own character and story. Billy timed the visits perfectly and gave brilliant context before each tasting, so even the less experienced whisky drinkers in the group came away with a real appreciation for the different styles, from Laphroaig and Lagavulin's peaty punch to the lighter, more delicate drams at Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain. Billy's commentary on the drives between distilleries made the journey just as enjoyable as the stops themselves, full of stories, local insight, and great recommendations for food along the way. Everything ran smoothly, the group size felt just right, and he went out of his way to make sure the trip suited everyone's interests. Can't recommend this tour enough. Ask for Billy if you can! Would absolutely book with Rabbies again.
Islay & Billy
We just returned from Scotland and took the Rabbie's Islay and the Whiskey 4 day tour with the marvelous Billy! Wow! A dram to start and end the tour and two full days on Islay visiting or tasting 9 distilleries! What is not to like?!?!?!? Billy absolutely made the trip for us, his love and knowledge of whisky was amazing and provided us with lots of laughs and splashes!
Gold Plated Islay
What an amazing trip to visit and understand key distilleries on Islay by the end of the trip you will have a great er appreciation of Islay whiskies as well as the entire process to making g Scotch whiskey. Fabulous accommodation at Bowmore cottages. Andy was our driver and was fantastic. Yes it expensive but the trip is worth it on the 1st night you need to eat on the ferry as your arrival is late.
Highlight of my 3 month backpacking trip!
Simply incredible experience. I did this with Rabbies Tours (booked through trip advisor) and Adam was an excellent driver, story teller, tour guide and was very insightful for all things whiskey and Scotland (he knows his stuff). The days were packed with great tours and whiskey, the accommodation was just perfect and I really have nothing to complain about I highly recommend this to anyone!
An unmissable trip to whisky distilleries
Fantastic tour, a must do for whisky lovers, Al was our driver and guide, excelent person, he knows each secret of Islay and each stop we made on the route he talked about the history of each Don’t miss this tour!!!