Orkney Tourist Guides Association
How to book a guide
We are not a booking agency and all our members are self-employed, so you need to contact our guides direct to make a booking. The easiest way to do this is by completing our contact form which is submitted to all of our guides. Alternatively you may browse all our guides and contact the individual guide of your choice via the contact details on their own page.
Tour prices
Each guide has their own pricing structure, terms and conditions and cancellation policy, which you should confirm with your guide when you book your tour. All tours offered by our qualified Orkney Guides are unique and tailored to your specific requirements, and as such tour prices are negotiated depending on the circumstances of each tour. The tour price will vary depending on the service offered, what is included in the price (e.g. ferry fares, entry fees, lunch etc) the language required, whether you require a 'step-on' guide to join you in your own vehicle or if you require a driver-guide with their own vehicle.
The Scottish Tourist Guides Association (STGA) advises that the following rates would generally be applicable in Scotland to 2024 tours, please note that these rates are indicative only of the amount you might expect to pay:
Driver guiding
(Where your guide provides your tour in their own licensed vehicle)
Full day tour (up to 8 hours): from £650
N.B. In Orkney the current touring rate for taxis (i.e. the price for a licensed taxi & driver, but without a guide) is set by the Orkney Islands Council, and the minimum charge is £50 per hour for up to 4 people, and £75 per hour for 5 - 8 people. This equates to £400 (up to 4 people) or £600 (5 to 8 people) per 8 hour day simply for transport between sites in a licensed vehicle. When you hire a driver-guide you are receiving both transportation and qualified and insured guiding services.
Step-on Guide Tours in English
(Where your guide joins you in your own vehicle)
Half day (up to 4 hours): from £200
Full day (up to 8 hours): from £320
Step-on Guide Tours in Other Languages
Half day (up to 4 hours): from £240
Full day (up to 8 hours): from £370
Cancelling your tour
You should agree the cancellation policy with your guide at the time of booking. If your guide cancels your tour before it starts then under UK law you have the right to a full refund of the tour fee paid.
If you cancel your tour before it starts then you need to refer to your guide's cancellation policy. Please do not assume that you are entitled to a refund if you cancel your tour for any reason – this includes expecting a refund if your cruise ship does not dock. You must ensure that you are happy with a guide's cancellation policy before making a booking. Travel insurance can be taken out to cover you in the event of cancellation.
Disputes
Should you be unhappy with your tour please take this up with your guide in the first instance. OTGA cannot arbitrate between you and your guide in the event of any contractual dispute which may arise from anything connected with your tour. Our governing body is the Scottish Tourist Guides Association (STGA) and should you wish to raise any matters which you believe are a breach of the STGA's codes of conduct please raise this with the STGA by emailing info@stga.co.uk