Escorted and group guided tour experts – check out Travel Departments 2026 holidays flying from Scotland

Group travel creates a sense of community

Many people discover the most memorable moments come not only from the places they visit, but from the people they share those experiences with. Guided group holidays bring together like-minded travellers, offering the chance to form new friendships and create lasting memories. When you travel as part of a group, every step of the journey becomes even more extraordinary.

Whether it’s a European break, or a long-haul adventure to explore a far-flung destination, Travel Department has a host of carefully planned excursions to the must see sites – and they fly direct from Scotland too.

These are carefully curated escorted trips with group tours and outings, designed with the independent traveller in mind – whether you’re in a couple, with friends, or going solo, these trips take the hassle out of holidays, giving you the experience all the comfort and companionship of a group tour.

And with everything taken care of, from your transfers to accommodation, guides and tours at your destination, food and excursions, plus flights from Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as London, Belfast and Dublin, you can leave all the details to them and simply look forward to your trip.

Global group travel for the independently minded.

Whether you’re dreaming of a European city experience, or a relaxing coastal getaway, there are a number of competitively priced options available in and around Europe from Venice to Vienna, Croatia to the Costas.

But if you’re looking to tick off a bucket list dream destination in a far-flung land, then you won’t be disappointed either. African safaris, exploring Egypt, visiting Vietnam and indulging in the splendours of India are all just a phone call away, with Travel Department by your side.

What makes Travel Department so special?

Three decades of experience and building up an enviable network of local knowledge and links with local guides, hotels and tour options set Travel Department ahead of the competition. Add to that their special solo tours, dedication to ensuring that every detail is covered, and wide range of holiday options, both in terms of choice, destination and budget, and you have the perfect one-stop shop for any voyage of discovery.

There’s no wonder it’s rated 4.7 out of 5, from over 5,000 customer reviews on Trust Pilot. Ms Martina Power, who recently travelled to Egypt said: “This trip was made great because I met a wonderful group of people. Our guide in Egypt was Dodi, from Cairo, and he made the trip very interesting and very enjoyable. Everything seemed to be so well planned and organised, that I would have no hesitation to book with the Travel Dept again.

Whilst Elizabeth Cronin said of her November Malta experience: “Our guide was fantastic. Learned so much about the places we visited. Lots of history and interesting facts. The tour suited as we didn't even have to find a place to park the car! Our hotel was great. We went on a b&b basis. Tried a few cafés and restaurants locally which were great too. Great service everywhere. Weather in November was like an Irish summer so was perfect. The trips were all very interesting.”

Many of their clients are mature singles or couples or small groups of friends, but sometimes the people that start as strangers on a common journey often become lifelong friends.

If you love to experience the local cuisine, wander the streets to explore in your own time and at your own pace as well as not miss the key sights and attractions the flexibility of these tours allow you to do just that, and your local guide can point you in the right direction.

With a Travel Department holiday there is plenty of down time to do your own exploring or relaxing in between organised tours – forget exhausting long days in packed coaches ticking off sites too quickly to enjoy them.

At the same time you won’t be in any danger of missing out on the must-see sights and experiences, as guided tours will be part of your carefully planned holiday.

Each trip will have a certain number of people on the tours –and always with knowledgeable local guides who have been carefully selected by the travel team with specialist experience of that country.

Travel Department started in Dublin and is now one of the leading guided group holiday tour operators in Ireland They arrange holidays to over 140 destinations with flights going out of Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London.

Trust and peace of mind

Feeling secure while you travel is important, and guided group holidays provide added reassurance throughout your trip. When you choose a travel company that is fully licenced and bonded, you can be confident that your holiday is backed by strong protection and industry standards. If unexpected situations occur, such as cancelled flights or medical issues, support is available to help manage the situation. With a team handling the practical details, you can focus on enjoying your holiday knowing that assistance is on hand if needed.

Travel Department is ATOL protected and clients booking with them can have complete peace of mind that everything has been taken care of, and that there are plans for any eventuality. They work with fully-licenced guides and transport in your host country, hotels and guesthouses will have been given the Travel Department approval and, should anything go wrong during your stay there is 24-hour support back at home as well as representatives on the ground.

Whatever your travel dreams are, they could come true with Travel Department.

Browse a brochure or the website

Check out the website here, where you can order a brochure, or pick up the phone to ask for a brochure or speak to one of the experienced travel advisors.

Call them on 0203 9665882 or email [email protected]