Large group tours from Edinburgh usually allow just one bag per person — so travellers with big cases often store them in Edinburgh. A private Toyota Alphard comfortably takes luggage for up to 4 guests; tell us your case count and we confirm, and we can collect you at the airport and go straight into the tour.
Part of our Skye: private driver vs self-drive vs group tour
What luggage do group tours allow?
Multi-day coach tours have limited hold space, so operators set strict rules. One large operator's three-day Skye tour includes one small checked bag of about 22 x 17 x 10 inches; another allows one medium suitcase per person, roughly 60–69cm by 45cm. That works for a backpacker; it does not work for a family at the start of a two-week holiday with long-haul suitcases.
The usual workaround is leaving big cases at an Edinburgh hotel and packing a small bag for the Highlands — fine if you are returning to the same hotel, awkward if you are flying out from somewhere else or continuing to England.
How much luggage fits in a Toyota Alphard?
Our Alphard comfortably takes luggage for up to 4 guests. Because every party packs differently, tell us your case count and approximate sizes when you book and we confirm before you travel. If you are carrying something unusual — golf clubs, a pushchair, a wheelchair or camera cases — mention it too, so we can plan the space.
Our 3-day Isle of Skye private tour is £1,530 for the whole vehicle, up to 4 guests — tell us your case count and we confirm.
See the 3-day Skye tourWhat about shopping and whisky bottles?
Scotland is easy to over-buy in: wool, tweed, shortbread and above all whisky bottles from distillery shops, some of them only sold on site. On a coach, every extra bag competes for limited space and you carry purchases yourself. In a private vehicle, bottles stay in the car between stops and travel to your hotel with you. Pack bottles carefully for your onward flight and check your airline's and destination country's allowances before buying in quantity.
Can we go straight from the airport into the tour?
Yes. Flying into Edinburgh and joining a group tour usually means a taxi to the hotel, a night in the city and an early walk with your bags to the departure point. With a private driver, we can meet you at arrivals, load your cases and start the trip from the airport — useful when your flight lands in the morning or you want to reach the Highlands the same day. See our Edinburgh Airport private tour for arrival-day options.
At the end, we can drop you at the airport, a station or your next hotel, cases and all.
Which option suits travellers with a lot of luggage?
If you travel light, a group tour is the cheaper choice and its bag limit will not trouble you. If you have large suitcases, children's equipment or plans to shop, a private vehicle removes the problem entirely. Our Skye comparison sets out prices for two and four people side by side.
Our 3-day Isle of Skye private tour is £1,530 for the whole vehicle, up to 4 guests — tell us your case count and we confirm.
See the 3-day Skye tourFrequently asked
How much luggage can I take on a Scotland group tour?
Typically one bag per person: one large operator allows one small bag of about 22 x 17 x 10 inches, another one medium suitcase of roughly 60–69cm by 45cm.
How many suitcases fit in your Alphard?
The Alphard comfortably takes luggage for up to 4 guests. Tell us your case count when booking and we will confirm.
Can you pick us up at Edinburgh Airport and start the tour straight away?
Yes, we can meet you at arrivals and go straight into the tour with your luggage on board.