UP HELLY AA

Your 6-Day Up Helly Aa 2026 tour departs from the city centre in Edinburgh. Check out our departure info page for more details on your pick-up location.

Yes, 3 nights hostel (mixed-gender, multi-share dorm) and 2 nights ferry quad-share accommodation is included in the tour price.

No need for tickets! The festival itself is a public event.

Your local HAGGiS Guide, an exclusive part of the tour, ensures you won't miss a thing during the festival. They will provide you with tips and insights only the locals in Shetland know, making your Up Helly Aa tour truly epic and unforgettable.

Up Helly Aa is Shetland’s yearly Viking fire festival taking place on the last Tuesday in January.

The event is all about diving into Shetland’s fiery Norse tradition, where you’ll witness a torchlight procession, the ceremonial burning of a Viking longship, and a Viking-themed parade. Afterwards, it’s time to let loose and mingle with the locals at Lerwick’s various bars and pubs. The ultimate Scottish party!

Our hostels are handpicked by our crew to ensure that all our travellers enjoy a warm Scottish welcome. The specific hostel may vary, so we can't provide the exact details in advance. Rest assured, wherever you stay will be a cosy introduction to Shetland!

Find more info on our Accommodation page.

Meals are not included in your tour. Most hostels offer cooking facilities, allowing you to prepare your own meals. Essential ingredients and read-made meals are available near your hostel and the stops we make during the day. Alternatively, your guide can provide fantastic restaurant and bar recommendations for a taste of local delights!

Some of our tours run in conjunction with our mates at Highland Explorer Tours, creating a diverse mix of couples, friends, and solo adventurers. Our HAGGiS-only trips, such as the 3-Day Easter in Scotland tour, feature groups exclusively staying in hostel accommodation.

While our coaches do not have onboard toilets, our itineraries are designed in such way that allows for frequent comfort stops, ensuring access to restroom facilities.

Our guides are unable to assist with wheelchairs or offer physical assistance when embarking or disembarking from the bus. Passengers should be able to board and disembark the coach themselves using the access stairs or with the assistance of a travelling companion. Wheelchairs should be foldable so that they can be stored away in our luggage storage onboard while driving.

Please be aware that some of the stops on our tours may be on rough terrain or be only accessible by steps. 

Hostels have limited access for wheelchair users, please contact us to find out about specific hostel's access.

Absolutely! Our routes integrate stops where you can grab a wee bite or replenish your energy with a drink*. Sometimes we stop at shops that offer local souvenirs, too. It’s always best to ask your Guide about the specifics regarding times and stops.

*Vegetarian snack and meal options are available in most places in the Highlands.

While our tours have a set plan with main stops, the beauty lies in the unique twists! Due to factors like weather, traffic, and preferences of our Driver Guides, we refrain from offering more details than the ones outlined here. Rest assured you’ll have an adventure beyond the expected.

If you need to cancel your tour, you will need to inform us in writing by sending an email to info@haggisadventures.com. Our cancellation and refunds policy varies based on the type of tour:

Standard 1-Day Tours

• Full refund if cancelled more than 24 hours prior to departure time.
• No refund if cancelled 24 hours or less prior to departure time.

1-Day Harry Potter & Hogwarts Express / 1-Day Magical Highlands & Hogwarts Express

• Full refund if cancelled more than 48 hours prior to departure time.
• If cancelled 48 hours or less prior to departure time.

 Standard Multi-Day Tours

• Non-refundable flexi-deposit (defined in 3.2 in Terms and Conditions) if cancelled more than 45 days before departure time.
• 75% refund if cancelled between 45 and 22 full days before departure time.
• No refund if cancelled 21 days or less prior to departure time.

 Special Festival & Event Tours
(defined in 3.5 in Terms and Conditions)

• Non-refundable flexi-deposit (defined in 3.2 in Terms and Conditions) if cancelled more than 45 days before departure time.
• 50% refund if cancelled between 45 and 22 full days before departure time.
• No refund if cancelled 21 days or less prior to departure time.

You can head over to our general Frequently Asked Questions page or contact us for assistance.