Edinburgh Military Tattoo Tours
Experience one of the greatest shows on earth - the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on one of 77 multi-day journeys through Scotland. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is set against the iconic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle and takes place annually during the month of August as part of the Edinburgh Festival.
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At Cosmos, we like to think of ourselves as experts in ‘thrillology’ – the art of bringing you an experience, time and time again. With over 50 years of...more ‘wow’ under our belts and no sign of slowing down, we know how to curate value touring holidays that you’ll never forget; creating the experiences you’ve always dreamed of and showing you the ones, you never thought of. Our job is to take care of the planning and logistics, so that all you have to focus on is living your dreams!
At Globus, we’re not just hooked on travel as a destination, but on the way it makes you feel. Our promise is to craft adventures that you’ll want to re-live...more forever. We’ve been creating wonder-filled first class touring for more than 90 years; we have the experience and local knowledge globally to craft immersive adventures that make Globus travellers feel alive. Not only can you expect to see the big sites, we’ll also take you deeper in each location, right to the beating heart of each new discovery. At Globus, we understand that your holiday is your treat – a gift from you to you. Let us connect you with a new world of people, places and experiences that will ignite your imagination.
When you travel with CIE Tours, you will get the warmest of welcomes and all the benefits of our 87 years of experience. The itineraries are locally crafted...more - we set our own high standards for delivering excellent holidays with state-of-the-art luxury coaches; the best hotels; carefully chosen authentic experiences and entertainment. Our outstanding local tour directors are ready to share their knowledge, stories, passion for their home places - they are our greatest assets. Many of our tours spend 2 nights in each location, and our flexible itineraries include a great balance of escorted and free time. We include full breakfasts, most dinners and some evening entertainment. No one has to worry about paying for optional extras on the trip. It’s all included, no hidden extras. We know how much these trips mean to you and we want to ensure that this is a trip you will treasure forever.
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Modern Meets Tradition Since 1950
Pairing military tradition with contemporary music, the Tattoo has something for everyone. What many maybe don’t know, is that since it's inception, the Tattoo has always included cutting edge music from the time.
No Year Is The Same
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo celebrates musicians and performers from all around the world and the event's themes change every year so each Tattoo is different from the previous one. The regular Scottish and British regiments vary their musical and drill performances from year to year, and there are different guest regiments from various different countries.
Who Doesn't Like Fireworks!
Other than musical performances, with marches and other military ceremonies, you can also expect several spectacular firework displays at the tattoo throughout August! Friday & late night Saturday performances often offer an enhanced fireworks displays.
Latest Reviews What our clients are saying about their Edinburgh Military Tattoo experiences
Stunning scenery in the wilds of Scotland, with some logistical challenges. Norm, VIC, Australia, Aug 2023
This was an excellent itinerary to see the stunning landscapes that Scotland offers. Isle of Skye, Glencoe and Orkney were standout locations, The trip also had a liberal dose of castles and stately homes, both functioning and derelict. The tour guide provided an immense amount of history and perspective, to bring locations alive with their significance. ...read more Overall a very worthwhile experience.
On the downside, the tour company, CIE, chose to deliver our 'welcome pack' to the first hotel, rather than to our home. This appears to be their practice for Australians. This was in the least inconvenient as it meant we would not have the benefit of the provided backpacks for our outward journey. All other participants, who were from the USA, had their packs delivered to their homes. The impact was exacerbated by the packs not being there when we arrived, so we were without backpacks, name-tags, maps etc for the whole trip. It was only after pestering our guide that we finally received our packs on the very last day of the trip.
Our other concern was that the the quality of some of the hotels was below our expectations, with cramped rooms and bathrooms lacking power outlets etc, This is understandable in small remote towns, but the worst examples were actually in Glasgow and Inverness. We shared those hotels with other tour companies, such as Trafalgar, so we were not alone in the experience. The multiple tour groups also made meals, especially breakfast, a bit of a bunfight and far exceeded lift capabilities. We chose to walk up 5 flights at one stage, Would we do it again? Probably not with CIE. Their offices are in Ireland and USA and they appear to be not well geared for Australian participation.
On the downside, the tour company, CIE, chose to deliver our 'welcome pack' to the first hotel, rather than to our home. This appears to be their practice for Australians. This was in the least inconvenient as it meant we would not have the benefit of the provided backpacks for our outward journey. All other participants, who were from the USA, had their packs delivered to their homes. The impact was exacerbated by the packs not being there when we arrived, so we were without backpacks, name-tags, maps etc for the whole trip. It was only after pestering our guide that we finally received our packs on the very last day of the trip.
Our other concern was that the the quality of some of the hotels was below our expectations, with cramped rooms and bathrooms lacking power outlets etc, This is understandable in small remote towns, but the worst examples were actually in Glasgow and Inverness. We shared those hotels with other tour companies, such as Trafalgar, so we were not alone in the experience. The multiple tour groups also made meals, especially breakfast, a bit of a bunfight and far exceeded lift capabilities. We chose to walk up 5 flights at one stage, Would we do it again? Probably not with CIE. Their offices are in Ireland and USA and they appear to be not well geared for Australian participation.
Once again Trafalgar turned it on again with a wonderful 20 day tour of Britian, Ireland and Scotland with the opportunity to attend the Edinburgh Tattoo on the way. Our Tour Director Joel and Coach Driver Dave were outstanding. There were many outstanding highlights far too many to list and the optional extras were excellent and well organised. Our ...read more thanks must go to our consultant Hannah for the work she put into organising this trip for us.
Firstly, we were totally impressed by the seemingly unlimited knowledge of our tour guide, Joel and the incredible skill of Stuart, our coach driver. The accommodation everywhere was totally acceptable with some memorable surprises such as the wonderful old hotel at Laggan, Scotland. It would be remiss not to mention the professionalism of Hannah Campbell ...read more at Global Journeys, our initial contact in Queensland, keeping us informed from the the start. We believe this Trafalgar tour is a must for anyone wishing to get off the beaten track and meet some very friendly and diverse people.
Yes, it was a great trip I would recommend Trafalgar tours. Rose our tour director was great nothing was too much trouble for her. The trip was well researched and there was enough free time. I found booking my trip online a bit stressful as it is encouraged to send emails then you need to wait for a reply which can sometimes be 2 days later. (GJ: Hi ...read more Susan, we do everything in our power to get back to our our clients really quickly, but occasionally we have to wait to get a definitive response from the Operator. Hopefully next time things will move along at the pace you expect.)
FAQ's Common questions about The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
When does the Edinburgh Tattoo perform?
Annually, during the of the month of August as part of the Edinburgh International Festival. Are tickets to Edinburgh Tattoo included in our tour price?
Yes. Some of the more affordable trips offer tickets to the Military Tattoo as an optional excursion, but the majority include tickets to the event. Departure prices for journeys that pass through Edinburgh during August are slightly more expensive, and the inclusions for each trip will spelt out in the itinerary...read more if the Edinburgh Tattoo is included. What happens if it rains at the Edinburgh Tattoo?
Embrace the rain! There's no cover at the arena, however no performance of the Tattoo has ever been cancelled. In the event of inclement weather, rapmacs are available for purchase from the souvenir kiosk on the Castle Esplanade. Umbrellas are not permitted. Are there fireworks every night at the Edinburgh Tattoo?
The show's big bangs and fireworks display thunder across Edinburgh each night, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays when the Tattoo holds an extended fireworks display. What should we wear?
Lots of layers! It may be August, but dress as if you are going out to play in the snow. This means hats, scarves and gloves too. 