Wizard’s Journey to Scotland

Enter the story…without planning a thing.

7 unforgettable days through Scotland’s most enchanting landscapes, cinematic cities, and real-life places, alongside a small group of fellow wizarding fans.

🗓️ Travel Dates: May 15 – 22, 2027

📍 6 Main Destinations: Edinburgh, Alnwick (England), Glencoe, Fort William, Glenfinnan, Inverness (view full itinerary here)

⚡ Maximum 20 travelers.

Wizard’s Journey to Scotland (May 2027)

What You’re Actually Getting: A fully planned 8-day Scotland experience with accommodations, transportation, admissions, guided experiences, breakfasts, select meals, and a host traveling alongside you. You handle your flights and personal spending. We handle the logistics.

Why this trip

  • A genuinely small group — With a maximum of 20 travelers, you’re not being herded around Scotland on a giant tour bus praying for a reprieve.
  • The locations you’ve dreamt about — Visit filming locations across the Edinburgh, Fort William, Glenfinnan, Glencoe, and Alnwick (England) instead of piecing them together through separate day tours.
  • Scotland beyond the fandom — Experience historic cities, castles, Highlands, and local experiences alongside the locations that brought you here.
  • Room to breathe — The itinerary is structured, but you won’t spend seven days being rushed around.
  • The logistics are handled —Transportation, accommodation, admissions, guides, and the itinerary are all taken care of.
  • Come alone without traveling alone — Meet a small group of people who already have at least one thing in common with you, without mandatory group bonding activities.

Why not plan it yourself?

You totally can (I have!). But putting this trip together on your own means researching hotels, figuring out transportation between Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands (hello, opposite side of the road driving), booking filming locations and attractions before they sell out, coordinating multiple destinations, finding reliable guides, and building an itinerary that isn’t more exhausting than fun.

Periodic Escapes handles ALL the logistics so you can spend your time actually enjoying Scotland.

You get the filming locations you came for, the history and culture that enhance the visit, transportation between destinations, carefully chosen accommodations, a local guide, planned experiences, and free time to explore on your own.

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What traveling with us is actually like

This is a group trip, but it isn’t a trip where you have to be “on” every minute.

  • Maximum 20 travelers. Small enough to feel personal without being a private tour.
  • Coming alone? That’s normal. You don’t need to bring a friend to have someone to travel with.
  • Free time is intentional. There are opportunities to explore on your own, grab a coffee, shop, take photos, or simply recharge.
  • No forced icebreakers. You’ll have natural opportunities to connect with the group without mandatory awkward games.
  • You don’t have to be the biggest fan in the room. Whether you’ve been obsessed for decades or simply love the stories and what to see where they came to life, you belong here.
  • I’ll be traveling with you. I’m your host (Alanna here, hi!) throughout the trip, alongside our local guide and travel partners.

Trip highlights

  • Themed tour of Edinburgh to story-inspired locations
  • Alnwick Castle flying lessons
  • Glenfinnan Viaduct viewing
  • Ride on Jacobite Steam Train
  • Loch Ness cruise
  • Exploration of the Highlands

Who this is—and Isn’t—for

This trip is perfect for you, if:

  • You’ve always dreamed of seeing these places in real life
  • You don’t want to plan a UK trip alone
  • You’d love built-in travel friends
  • You enjoy nostalgia, stories, history, and magic
  • You want a well-paced itinerary, not chaos

This trip is probably not for you if:

  • You want a completely unstructured vacation
  • You dislike traveling with a group
  • You want every minute of the day to be fandom-focused
  • You’d rather built your own itinerary from scratch

Cost

  • $4,499 for shared rooms
  • $5,599 for single rooms
  • Deposit to book: 30%
    • $1,350 for shared
    • $1,680 for single
  • Payment plans available

What You’re Actually Paying For

7 nights accommodation✓
Daily breakfast✓
Welcome + farewell dinners✓
Local transportation✓
Private guide✓
Periodic Escapes host✓
Edinburgh wizard’s walking tour✓
Potion making experience✓
Glenfinnan Viaduct train viewing✓
Jacobite Steam Train ride✓
Scottish Highlands exploration✓
Scottish Owl Centre experience✓
Loch Ness cruise✓
Scottish bagpipe interactive activity✓

What’s Included:

  • 7 nights of accommodation (3 in Edinburgh, 2 in Ballachulish, 1 in Inverness, and 1 in Edinburgh)
  • Daily breakfast
  • Welcome and farewell dinners
  • All outlined activities and admissions
  • All local transportation
  • Private guide
  • A custom welcome bag

What’s Not Included:

  • Flights
  • Any additional meals, alcohol, and activities not outlined in the itinerary
  • Mandatory travel insurance
  • Recommended tips for our lovely guides

Ready to join us in Scotland?

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Periodic Escapes is New. The Experience Behind It Isn’t.

Periodic Escapes may be new, but I’m not new to planning travel.

I’ve been creating detailed, thoughtfully planned travel experiences since 2018, and I’ve spent years organizing group travel through conferences, workshops, and other group experiences. I’ve built my travel business around taking complicated trips and turning them into itineraries people can actually follow and enjoy.

For this trip, I’m not doing everything alone. I’ve partnered with an experienced UK destination management company and local guides to provide on-the-ground support with logistics, transportation, accommodations, and activities. I’ll also be traveling with the group throughout the trip as your host.

Periodic Escapes is an insured, authorized seller of travel, and this trip has been planned with the same Type A attention to detail I bring to every itinerary I create.

You don’t have to figure out Scotland on your own. That’s exactly the point.

7+ Years

Travel planning & content

UK Partner

Local logistics & support

Local guide

On-the-ground expertise

Hosted by Alanna

I’m traveling with you

Insured & Authorized

Seller of travel

How Booking Works

  1. Reserve your spot. Choose a shared or single room and pay the 30% deposit.
  2. Get your confirmation. You’ll receive your booking information and next steps.
  3. Pay over time if you choose. Use the available payment plan to spread out the remaining balance.
  4. Get ready for Scotland. As the trip approaches, you’ll receive the information you need to prepare, including what to pack, arrival details, and trip logistics.
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The Itinerary

Details are subject to change. No matter what, it will be magic!

Day 1: Welcome to Edinburgh

  • Check into our hotel
  • Welcome dinner at a fun themed restaurant

Upon arrival to the airport, you’ll meet us at our first hotel, get checked in, and have some free time before our first group dinner! Your first day is the perfect time for currency exchange, and some light wandering to any sites of interest not included in our itinerary. Alanna is happy to share some suggestions.

Day 2: Wizard’s Edinburgh

  • Guided themed tour of Edinburgh (Greyfriar’s Kirkyard, Victoria Street, The Elephant House)
  • Free afternoon

Start your day with breakfast at our hotel before we meet up for a guided tour of Edinburgh from the lens of the author’s inspiration. While these aren’t filming locations, you’ll see the connection at once. Edinburgh has a delightfully dark academia vibe with inspiration around every corner. Some locations we may visit include Greyfriar’s Kirkyard, Victoria Street, and The Elephant House.

We’ll disperse for lunch and shopping along Victoria Street, where there are lots of great choices. In the afternoon we’ll reconvene for a potion making experience as a group. Then, you’ll have the rest of the day to explore on your own. Consider stopping by the National Museum of Scotland to see the Lewis Chessman (they’ll look familiar), Edinburgh Castle, or even participating in an Islander Workshop Experience.

Day 3: Scottish Borderlands

  • Bamburgh Castle
  • Flying lessons at Alnwick Castle

After fueling up with breakfast at our hotel, be transported to Alnwick by way of Bamburgh Castle, a seaside fortress, which we’ll explore before arriving at Alnwick Castle, where we’ll participate in flying lessons and have the day to explore the castle, grounds, and gardens.

Enjoy lunch on site, or venture into town to sample a local restaurant before returning to Edinburgh on our private transport. Your evening is free. Enjoy a night out in Edinburgh or take a restful break at our hotel.

Day 4: Magical Scotland

  • Scottish Owl Centre
  • Three Sisters Viewpoint
  • Stirling Castle
  • Trossachs Woolen Mill

Enjoy breakfast at our hotel before checking out. We’ll then travel to Ballachulish, which will be our base for a couple nights. Located in the Highlands, today’s a big travel day, so we’ll be stopping along the way to some notable spots like the Scottish Owl Centre, Three Sisters Viewpoint, Stirling Castle, and Trossachs Woolen Mill to see some highland coos.

Day 5: Jacobite Steam Train Experience

  • Ride on the Jacobite Steam Train
  • Glenfinnan Viaduct train viewing
  • Eilean na Moine viewing
  • Loch Shiel

Slow down today while we enjoy the sights of the Scottish Highlands. As a group, we’ll ride the Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William to the harbor town, Mallaig. We’ll enjoy lunch on our own in Mallaig before making the return journey to Fort William. The whole roundtrip journey takes 6 hours. Be sure to look out the windows for other recognizable filming locations like Eilean na Moine, fit for the permanent resting place of a famous witch or wizard.

It’s one thing to ride the train and another to watch it pass over Glenfinnan Viaduct. We’ll make the short hike to the viewing point together and watch the train pass over the Viaduct. We’ll also have time to walk to the shores of Loch Shiel.

Day 6: Secrets of the highlands

  • Steall Waterfall
  • Nevis Gorge
  • Loch Ness cruise

We’ll view the natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands on foot today with a hike to Steall Waterfall and through the enchanted Nevis Gorge. Then we’ll slow down on the water with a Loch Ness cruise. We’ll stay in Inverness tonight before making our way back to Edinburgh.

Day 7: Scottish Landscapes

  • Cairngorms National Park
  • Hermitage of Dunkeld
  • Traditional Scottish Bagpipe Workshop (a group tour exclusive!)
  • Farewell dinner in Edinburgh

We’ll make some stops today on our way back to Edinburgh at more gorgeous landscapes that you can just picture students exploring between classes, including Cairngorms National Park and Hermitage of Dunkeld, where there’s a gentle and magical enchanted forest walk. We’ll complete the day with a Traditional Scottish Bagpipe Workshop (a group tour exclusive!). Learn about this cultural staple in a fun and engaging way!

We’ll return to Edinburgh for our farewell dinner and one more night in the city.

Day 8: Departure from Edinburgh

Pack your wands, robes, and memories, because it’s departure day. You can get back to Edinburgh Airport easily via public transit.

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FAQs

Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it.

You’ll meet fellow fans and instant friends. That’s the power of fandoms!

Yes, payment plans are available, with options based on when you book:

  • Book early: 30% deposit + 5 monthly payments
  • Mid-window: 30% deposit + 3 monthly payments
  • Last call: 30% deposit + shorter biweekly plan

Please note, payment plans are only available for a limited time. Once supplier and vendor payments are due on our end, new payment plans may no longer be offered. Booking earlier gives you the most flexibility.

No, flights are not included.

That’s to give you more flexibility in your own travel arrangements.

A minimum number of guests is required for this trip to run. Please do not book any non-refundable flights until you receive notice the trip is guaranteed.

This trip includes daily walking through cities, attractions, historic sites, and parks. While the pace is moderate and designed for a wide range of fitness levels, travelers should be comfortable being on their feet, using stairs, and walking on uneven surfaces.

Due to the nature of the itinerary, we’re unable to accommodate guests requiring mobility assistance.

All travelers must be 18+ years old. There is no upper age limit.

We welcome all levels of fans on our trips. If you’ve only just discovered the fandom, or you’ve been waiting on your letter since you were 11, you’re welcome here.

If you choose shared accommodation and are traveling solo, you’ll complete a custom roommate survey after booking so we can learn about your habits, preferences, and travel style.

We personally match roommates thoughtfully based on compatibility factors like sleep schedules and social energy to create the best possible shared experience.

Yes, it is mandatory for all Periodic Escapes guests to have personal travel insurance for the duration of the trip. Our affiliate, Safety Wing offers coverage at affordable rates. We recommend you book your travel insurance as soon as you make your trip deposit to protect your investment.

Have more questions? View our full FAQ page here for answers to everything!

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Departure guarantee: This trip requires a minimum number of travelers to operate. We’re currently accepting bookings while that group comes together. If the minimum is not reached by February 12, 2027, we’ll contact booked travelers directly about next steps in accordance with our booking terms. You should wait to purchase non-refundable airfare until the trip is confirmed.