Private Orkney tours, without rush or compromise.
Historic Orkney Private Tours
Odyssey Tour
Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae and the Italian Chapel, minus the queue.
Showcase Tour
Orkney's greatest hits: Skara Brae, Maeshowe and St Magnus Cathedral, in one unhurried day.
the orkney experience
Neolithic settlements, Iron age villages, Viking heritage, and a dram of whisky.
the Orkney Submerged Safari
Scapa Flow's blockships and the Brough of Deerness, above and below the waves.
The Orkney Blueprint
A day built entirely round what you actually want to see.
Ancient Scotland Discovery
Highland castles, brochs, whisky and ancient stone circles.
What a Historic Orkney private tour includes
Small private tours
Group size of one to four people, That means no queueing behind someone else's trip.
Tickets included
Chasing down tickets for every site is nobody's idea of holiday fun. I've already done it.
Tours at your pace
Fancy longer at one site? We stay. Ready to move on? We go. Simple as that. We'll keep an eye on the time though so you never run late for the plane.
Guided by a local Orcadian
Guided by someone who was born here that knows the good stories from the tourist-board ones.
Private Orkney tours: Custom Neolithic, Viking and Scotland-wide expeditions
Deep country access
Orkney's Neolithic and Viking sites are the heart of it, but I also run private trips across Scotland: Glencoe, Skye, the Outer Hebrides, Speyside, the Borders. Wherever you fancy.
I get you into places the coach tours can't, five-thousand-year-old sites and coastal spots most maps skip. Straight answers, a fair bit of humour and absolutely no lectures.
Fully custom itineraries
Tracing family history, photographing Pictish stones, or tasting whisky at the source, the day bends round you, not a script.
We follow the light, the weather, and whatever catches your eye with room for detours, because the best bits are rarely on the schedule.
The limits of self-driving
You can hire a car and take your chances with single-track roads in an Atlantic gale, ferry timetables, and viewing Skara Brae over forty coach-tour peoples shoulders. Or not.
The guide advantage
A hire car won't get you in early, into a distillery archive, or thirty years of local knowledge. A private tour with a local guide will.
Hi i'm, Calum let me show you Orkney's story
To me, the Viking Age is recent history. A day with me feels less like a tour and more like exploring with a local friend. There are no rehearsed scripts and no theatrics, just unhurried context tailored to your pace.
With over two centuries of family roots in Orkney, I know when to unpack over five thousand years of human history, adapt to sudden weather shifts or step back when the landscape speaks for itself.
"A better ambassador for Orkney would be hard to find"
"Calum is one of a kind, and we feel so fortunate to have had him as our guide to discover Orkney. If we could give ten stars, we would! We can’t imagine a better guide."
"A fount of knowledge about the sites and the island... enabling him to unpack the larger context of Neolithic sites."
Reviews & testimonials
Genuine feedback, collected the slow way, over years of private tours.
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Your questions answered
Who runs Historic Orkney?
Calum Thain, who was born and raised in Orkney and is based in Kirkwall. One guide, one group a day, so you get the local rather than a script.
How much does a private tour cost?
Tours are priced per group of up to four, not per person. The half-day Odyssey is £550, the full-day Showcase £650, The Orkney Experience £750 and the custom Blueprint £850. The four-day Ancient Scotland Discovery is £3,800.
Are site tickets included?
Yes, for the sites listed on each tour. Meals and drinks are on you.
Do you take cruise passengers?
Yes. The Odyssey is built around cruise ship timings, and Historic Orkney is one of the few operators allowed to do harbour pick-up and drop-off. Pick-up is also possible anywhere on the Orkney Mainland.
How many people can come?
Up to four, and three is the sweet spot for elbow room. Larger groups are sometimes possible, so ask.
How do I book?
Book online with a 50% deposit and pay the balance on the day. The booking terms cover the rest.
Got more questions about your tour?
Ten minutes, free, no obligation. We'll cover sites, timings, cruise schedules, accessibility and any odd requests you've been sitting on.
