Travel Enthusiasts Indiana

Join me for a day in Bloomington-Normal. We will see - and I hope to be able to tour, where applicable - places that are on the National Historic Register, as well as doing some shopping, having lunch (your expense) and eating ice cream (your expense).

The final details are in the works as I am awaiting information about tour options for several places.

This trip is going "rain or shine" (unless monsoon-like rains LOL).

We will be looking for those who are willing to drive - and offer carpooling options to those located near you - but, we will cross that bridge about a week before the trip.

If you sign up, please put in the "Comments" below the town in which you live so that I and others can see who might be near and, perhaps, "natural carpools" will form themselves. (Of course, those who are passengers are encouraged to give the driver a few $$ to cover gas and wear/tear on the vehicle.)

JOIN SHELLY AND JEAN
From its ancient castles to its rolling landscapes and blaring bagpipes, Scotland is undeniably intriguing. With 10 days to explore, you’ll get your dose of well-known Scottish icons and then head a little off the beaten path, moving farther into the untamed Highlands and through craggy hillsides laden with lochs and Gaelic-speaking villages.
PRICING: (subject to change, check website for latest based on your individual selections).
• Double Occupancy: $3,099
• Single Occupancy: $3,729 (inc. $630 single supplement)
R/T Airfare from Chicago O'Hare: $1,570 (alternate airports available)

Reserve your spot at https://grouptoursite.com/jean-and-shelly

$300 DEPOSIT (+ cost of optional insurance) REQUIRED AT TIME OF BOOKING. No further payment required until final payment due 02/13/2025. (You may instead opt for auto-pay with a $99 deposit.)
TOUR PACE: You will walk for at least 1 hour daily across moderately uneven terrain, including cobblestone streets and unpaved trails, with some steep hills and stairs.

TRIP PRICING INCLUDES:

• Transfer to / from Airport / Hotel
• 8 nights hand-picked hotels
• Breakfast daily
• 1 lunch
• Two 3-course dinners (including wine or beer)
• One liquor tasting
• Expert Tour Director & local guides
• Private deluxe motor coach

STOPS/CITIES AND TOWNS ON TOUR:

• Glasgow Cathedral
• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
• Inveraray Castle
• Urquhart Castle
• Loch Ness
• Blair Castle
• Scotch whisky distillery
• Edinburgh Castle

FULL ITINERARY -
OVERNIGHT FLIGHT (1 NIGHT)
Day 1: Travel day
Board your overnight flight to Glasgow today.

GLASGOW (2 NIGHTS)
Day 2: Arrival in Glasgow
Included meal: Welcome dinner
Welcome to Scotland! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.
Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Glasgow
Included meal: Breakfast
Set out to explore Scotland’s “second city” today with a local as your guide.

• Drive past The Burrell Collection museum and admire the city’s university
• Visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which features everything from medieval suits of armor to a collection of work by Scottish artists
• Discover local highlights, including George Square and the River Clyde
• Stop outside the city’s medieval cathedral for photos

Spend a free afternoon in Glasgow or add an excursion.

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS (3 NIGHTS)
Day 4: Transfer to the Scottish Highlands
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Continue on to the Scottish Highlands, admiring incredible sights as you go.

• Pass Loch Lomond as you drive through scenic Trossachs National Park
• Stop to explore Inveraray Castle and its gardens with a local guide
• Take in stunning scenery as you travel through the Scottish Highlands
• Sit down for an included lunch with your group

Day 5: Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness & Inverness
Included meal: Breakfast
Surrounded by legend and lore, Loch Ness is one of Scotland’s most mysterious sites. Today, get to know the country’s largest loch as you explore the area.

• Pay a visit to the medieval ruins of Urquhart Castle
• Cruise along the legendary Loch Ness, a deep, freshwater lake, and dock in Clansman Harbour
• Stop in Inverness and enjoy free time to explore the city

Day 6: Free day in the Scottish Highlands
Included meal: Breakfast
Spend a free day in the Scottish Highlands or add an excursion.

EDINBURGH (3 NIGHTS)
Day 7: Transfer to Edinburgh
Included meals: Breakfast, Liquor tasting
En route to Edinburgh, stop in Perthshire, the gateway to the Scottish Highlands.

• Visit medieval Blair Castle, the former home of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl
• Explore Blair Athol Distillery with a guide and enjoy a whisky tasting

Enjoy a free evening in Edinburgh or add an excursion.
Day 8: Sightseeing tour of Edinburgh
Included meal: Breakfast
Get to know Edinburgh in all its medieval beauty on a tour led by a local expert.

• View the elegant Georgian New Town and the Royal Mile -- two UNESCO World Heritage sites
• Pass the King George statue, Bute House, and Sir Walter Scott monument
• Enter Edinburgh Castle to view the Scottish crown jewels and Stone of Scone

Spend a free afternoon in Edinburgh or add an excursion.
Day 9: Free day in Edinburgh & bagpipe lesson
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
Enjoy a free day in Edinburgh or add an excursion.
This evening, head to a private room at a local restaurant and meet with a professional bagpipe player.

• Learn about the history of the bagpipe, Scotland’s national instrument, and listen to the musician play a few songs
• Pick up your own bagpipe and follow along as they teach the group breathing techniques and tips on how to play
• Celebrate your trip during a farewell dinner

FLIGHT HOME
Day 10: Departure

HIGHLIGHTS OF SCANDINAVIA: Fri Oct 10 – Sun, Oct 19, 2025
(optional ICELAND extension: Sun, Oct 19 – Wed, Oct 22, 2025)
https://grouptoursite.com/jean-and-shelly
Shelly Scinto [708-542-4625] Jean Xoubi (708) 518-2201

TRAVEL FROM NORDIC CITIES TO OTHERWORLDLY FJORDS.
On this 10-day Scandinavian tour, you’ll experience the uniquely Nordic charms of three major seafaring cities. After exploring Stockholm, Sweden, travel west to Norway and see what all the buzz is about in Bergen. Enjoy the picturesque city center before cruising through the stunning fjords. Finish your journey in the modern city of Copenhagen.

PRICING (Deposit Options at time of booking/prices subject to change until deposit paid):
– Payment in full; OR
– $99 [w/monthly auto pay] (cost of optional travel insurance included in paymts); OR
– $300 + cost of optional travel insurance [final payment due 08/2025]

• $3,549pp double occ ($580 single supp)
• Iceland extension to is an extra $1,639/pp double occ ($530 single supp)
• $1,500 R.T airfare from Chicago (price adjusted for different airport)
• Iceland extension to is an extra $1,639/pp double occ ($530 single supp)
• $1,500 R.T airfare from Chicago (price adjusted for different airport)

TOUR PACE: This is a moderate physical activity-level tour. You can expect casual walks and plenty of time to explore throughout the course of the tour.

TRIP PRICING INCLUDES:

• Transfer to / from Airport / Hotel
• 8 nights hand-picked hotels / Breakfast daily
• 3 dinners with beer or wine
• 2 on-tour flights
• Expert Tour Director & local guides
• Private deluxe motor coach

STOPS/CITIES AND TOWNS ON TOUR:

• Stockholm City Hall
• Vasa Museum
• Historic Bergen
• Norway’s fjord country
• Flåm Railway
• Rosenborg Castle
• Copenhagen’s Nyhavin district

· ITINERARY -
OVERNIGHT FLIGHT (1 NIGHT)
Day 1: Travel day
Board your overnight flight to Stockholm today.

· STOCKHOLM (3 NIGHTS)
Day 2: Arrival in Stockholm
Included meal: Welcome dinner
Welcome to Sweden! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.
· Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Stockholm
Included meal: Breakfast
Explore Sweden’s sophisticated capital on a guided tour led by a local expert.
Spend a free afternoon in Stockholm or add an excursion.
· Day 4: Free day in Stockholm
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Spend a free day in Stockholm or add an excursion.

· FJORDS REGION (3 NIGHTS)
Day 5: Flight to Bergen
Included meal: Breakfast, Dinner
Fly to Bergen, Norway. Tonight, sit down for an included dinner.
· Day 6: Sightseeing tour of Bergen
Included meal: Breakfast
Join a local guide to discover historic sites in and around Bergen.
· Day 7: Norwegian fjords
Included meals: Breakfast
Spend the day journeying through Norway’s fjord country, a region of otherworldly natural beauty.

· COPENHAGEN (2 NIGHTS)
Day 8: Flight to Copenhagen
Included meal: Breakfast
Fly to Copenhagen, Denmark and get settled into your hotel. Then enjoy free time for the rest of the day in the city.
· Day 9: Sightseeing tour of Copenhagen
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
Take a guided tour of the bustling maritime city with a local guide.
Tonight, celebrate your trip with your group during a farewell dinner.
·
· EXTENSION TO ICELAND (OPTIONAL)
The untouched terrain of Iceland is comprised of an otherworldly mixture of extremes. Fly to the Land of Fire and Ice to marvel at the Golden Circle’s glacier-fed waterfalls, Reykjavik’s cosmopolitan appeal, and more.
· Day 10: Flight to Reykjavik
Included meal: Breakfast
Fly to Reykjavik, Iceland.
· Day 11: Sightseeing tour of Reykjavik
Included meal: Breakfast
Get a feel for Reykjavik, often called “the greenest city on Earth,” with your Tour Director leading the way.
Enjoy a free afternoon in Reykjavik or add an excursion.
· Day 12: The Golden Circle
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Leave the bustle of Reykjavik behind as you travel the Golden Circle, a ring of some of Iceland’s most magnificent natural wonders.
· FLIGHT HOME
Day 13: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.