Frequently Asked Questions
For FAQs relating to specific tours, please check the relevant tour page.
Booking FAQs
What forms of payment do you accept?+
Payments are taken through our secure online booking system, which utilises Stripe. Stripe accepts almost any debit or credit card, including American Express (it does not accept Diner’s Card or Discover).
Can I book with confidence?+
Yes! We know that you have a choice of tours, and we are always reviewing our offering to ensure that we are providing the best tour, combined with the best value for money and best customer care, from the minute you land on our website. We are confident that we do this, and are proud to have been awarded a coveted 5 star rating from VisitScotland every year from 2016 to 2022 for providing “exceptional” tours.
Also, we have been consistently rated as “excellent” on Trip Advisor (as of January 2022 we had 2100 5 star reviews) and are proud to be ranked as the number 1 tour company in Inverness (out of over 130!).
For those who are unsure about booking with a small company, please click on any of the following links for assurance that we are a member of the national tourism body; Visit Scotland and also of the Federation of Small Businesses.
Do you offer group discounts?+
For groups of 10+ please contact us for preferential pricing.
Can I cancel my tour if I change my mind, or if I am unable to get to Inverness for any reason?+
Yes, we try to be as flexible as we possibly can with regard to cancellation.
On our Ultimate Isle of Skye Tour we offer 48 hour cancellation, or 24 hours if you purchase a flex ticket.
On our Isle of Skye Hiking Tour we offer 72 hour cancellation, or 24 hours if you purchase a flex ticket.
On our shore tours from Invergordon we offer free cancellation up to seven days prior to the tour.
Seat upgrades are non-refundable for all tours.
For most private tours, we ask for a 25% non-refundable deposit upon booking.
If you wish to change or cancel your booking please just email [email protected] and we will be happy to assist you.
Do you offer guaranteed departures?+
Yes, if you book onto one of our tours then we will run this tour, regardless if anyone else has booked on or not! When you are booking a tour from Inverness we would highly recommend checking the supplier’s policy regarding this, as quite a number of our competitors have a minimum number policy, and will cancel your booking at the last minute (we really hate getting those stressed phone calls from customers who have been let down by other companies, particularly as we rarely have availability last minute!)
We will not cancel due to bad weather, unless the weather forecast is so bad that we or one of our suppliers consider it dangerous to travel (this has only happened once in 13 years!). If we do require to cancel the tour we will give you as much notice as we possibly can.
If we do require to cancel for any reason then we will do our utmost to accommodate you, either on an alternative tour that day, or on an alternative date.
Is it possible to pay on arrival?+
Due to high demand for our tours, we are unable to secure your booking unless you pay the full amount in advance. That being said, you are welcome to come to the bus stop in the morning and, if there are places available, you can join the tour and book/pay online on our website.
General FAQs
I am planning to drive to the tour pick-up point then leave my car – is this possible?+
Absolutely. Rose Street car park is a five minute walk from our tour pick-up point on Union Street and you can find further information on parking here.
Is the itinerary fixed/guaranteed?+
The itinerary has been carefully planned to ensure that you get the most out of your day. However, there are factors outside of our control, such as traffic flow, road closures and adverse weather, which mean that, on rare occasions, we may not be to achieve everything listed in the tour itinerary. Consequently, we reserve the right to alter the itinerary if necessary, although this will be a last resort, and we will endeavour to visit alternative places of interest instead.
Can I bring dogs and other pets on the tour?+
Unfortunately dogs and other pets are not able to travel on our tours. If you are partially sighted or blind and use a guide dog to get around please do get in touch to discuss ways in which we can accommodate you and your dog.
Can I bring luggage?+
Yes, we do have space for a limited amount of luggage. If you wish to bring luggage please contact us before booking. There are also left luggage facilities at Inverness train station for those travelling back to Inverness (please contact the station to find out opening times of this facility prior to use).
Do I need to bring cash with me on the tour? If so, are Euros/US dollars accepted in Scotland?+
It is advisable to bring some cash (GBP £) on all tours. Credit/debit cards are widely accepted but, in some small shops (or for smaller purchases), cash is the only option.
Please note that American Express is not commonly accepted in Scotland, but Visa and Mastercard should be fine. Unfortunately very few places will accept other currencies such as Euros or US dollars.
Why should we choose WOW Scotland?+
We know that you have a choice of tours, and we are always reviewing our offering to ensure that we are providing the best tour, combined with the best value for money and best customer care, from the minute you land on our website. We are confident that we do this, and are proud to have been awarded a 5 star rating from VisitScotland every year from 2016 – 2023 for providing “exceptional” tours.
Also, we have been consistently rated as “excellent” on Trip Advisor (as of January 2024 over 96% of our reviews rate us as excellent) and are proud to be ranked as the number 1 tour operator in Inverness (out of more than 100!).
For those who are unsure about booking with a small company, please click on any of the following links for assurance that we are a member of the national tourism body; Visit Scotland and also of the Federation of Small Businesses.
Who will our tour guide be?+
One of our highly competent local driver guides will lead your tour – you can read all about the team here or have a look at their reviews on TripAdvisor.
Does the tour only run on the dates listed on your website?+
Yes, you’ll find the most up-to-date tour dates on our calendar. Scheduled tours will run on the listed dates but, if you are interested in a date which is not listed, please feel free to get in touch with us and we will do our best to accommodate you.
We do have limited availability for private tours – please just get in touch to organise a private tour as these are not listed on our calendar. Please note that private tours are most suited to groups of 8+, as the smallest vehicle we have is an executive 16-seater mini-coach.
How do I get to Inverness?+
To find out how to get to Inverness click here.
Where can I stay in Inverness?+
Inverness is a compact city so any city centre accommodation will be walking distance (up to 20 minutes) from our pick-up point at 15 Union Street. Some hotels, such as the Premier Inn West, Premier Inn East and the Holiday Inn Express, are on the outskirts of the city but all are still easily reachable from the city centre (these are all 2 – 5 miles/a 5 – 10 minute taxi ride from our pick-up point). You can see a list of suggested accommodation in Inverness and Loch Ness here.
Do you offer foreign language tours?+
At the moment we only offer tours in English, and we are unable to offer any translation services. This is something which we are working to improve in the future but, for now, hopefully the fantastic Highland scenery can speak for itself!
Do you have any reviews?+
Yes, lots! Check out our TripAdvisor ratings to see what our customers say about us (we are currently number 1 in Inverness out of over 130 tour companies, with over 95% of our reviews rating us 5 stars!)
You can also see reviews for WOW Scotland on Facebook and Google
Should I tip my guide?+
If the tour meets or exceeds your expectations then please feel free to tip as it is always very much appreciated. However, please rest assured that tips are not expected in Scotland, so no offence will be taken if you don’t tip! Our guides keep all of their tips.
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