Scotland
Wild Island Escape
2 spots left!
4 Nights, 5 Days | Rest or Quest on Iona
1 - 5 September 2025
Escape to Iona - a wild, ancient Scottish island of white sands, sea air and stillness. No cities, no cars, no rush. Just windswept beaches, pilgrimage paths and quiet magic that stays with you long after you leave.
You can combine this trip with the GGI Scotland Culture Trip.
Not ready to book? Ask us a question or sign up for more information.
Book now with a refundable deposit to reserve your spot. The rest is paid later in easy instalments. Secure & protected under UK/EU travel rules. Supports Girl Gone International, a global non-profit community supporting women to go anywhere & belong everywhere.
"Whether this is your first group trip or fifth, I am here to answer all your questions about the trip before or after booking. You can send me a Whatsapp anytime or book a 1:1 chat with me!" Anne Scott, GGI founder.
When
Monday 1st - 5th September 2025 (5 nights, 6 days). Your flight should arrive by 8:30am on the 1st and depart after 5pm on the 5th.
Who
Group of max 14. Experienced host (founder of GGI, Anne Scott). International women all ages, nationalities.
Where
Start in Glasgow and journey to Iona, a tiny island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. 1.5 miles wide by 3 miles long, with a population of around 170 permanent residents.
Price
From £1050. Three accommodation options (see below). Pay in instalments or Buy Now, Pay Later. All payment methods accepted.
Included
Accommodation, host, activities listed, 5 breakfasts, 2 dinners, train ticket, boat tickets, pre trip support.
Support
We offer full support at all stages of this trip. Whether you are thinking about the trip or have already booked you can talk to Anne via Whatsapp to +447405571339 or book a 1:1 call with her.
Rest or Quest on the Scottish islands of Iona and Staffa
Return to the wild edges. Back to nature. Rest, reflect, and remember who you truly are.
Return. Step off the grid and into the stillness of sea, sky, and ancient land. Wonder. Walk wild island paths, stargaze by firelight, and hear the sea sing in caves. Reconnection. Rest deeply or quest inward and leave with clarity, calm, and lifelong kindred friendships.
Day 1 Journey to Iona
- World famous scenic train ride from Glasgow to Oban through the stunning Highlands
- Fresh seafood stop in Oban harbour
- Ferry to Mull, travel across the stunning island landscape
- Short foot ferry to Iona, arriving by sea at sunset
- Settle into cosy wee wooden houses, share a welcome dinner, and stargaze by the open fire
Days 2,3 and 4 Rest or Quest on Iona
- Slow mornings, fresh coffee, sea swims, hill walks
- Optional personal quest journaling and quiet reflection
- Full-day pilgrimage walk across the island and gentle hikes (optional)
- Boat trip to the magical Fingal’s Cave on Staffa
- Evenings around the fire, shared meals, deep conversations, and starry skies
Day 5 Return
- Wake slowly, say goodbye to the island
- Reverse the journey or continue island hopping
- Return with a lighter heart, a clearer mind, and a circle of new friends
Experience Highlights
Iconic train through the Highlands
Glamping in gorgeous wooden huts
Day trip to the island of Staffa to Fingal’s Cave
Open fire cooking, fresh seafood, Scottish food
Rest, read and/or did a quest made just for me
Walk barefoot on some of the oldest rock on Earth
I have a question about this trip!
No question is too small! Ask us anything anytime!
a) email us by filling out the form below. Please save hello@goneinternational.com to your email contacts and check spam for a reply.
b) Whatsapp the trip host on +447405571339
If you would like to book your spot so you don't miss out, you can simply pay your refundable deposit here .
Your Quiet Time to Rest or Quest
In Celtic tradition, thin places are where heaven and earth meet -Iona is one of them.
Some come to rest - read, write, sleep, craft, walk, talk. Others come with something quietly shifting - a feeling, a question, a sense that change is near. This trip gives you permission to pause with intention - recognising and appreciating where you’ve been, feeling safe and steady in where you are, and gently opening to what might come next.
For those who choose to Quest, a custom guide will be created based on a few short questions answered before the trip. The guide, tucked inside your own GGI journal, offers light reflections and prompts that can help you:
- Honour your past and how far you’ve come
- Feel at home in your here and now
- Listen for what’s ahead —-and where you feel called next
Themes often explored in a Quest include:
- Life direction
- Career or creative clarity
- A shift in identity or stage of life
- Letting go or starting again
- Simply learning how to rest
There’s no schedule. No coaching. No follow ups. No pressure. No need to share. Just something to carry with you - to dip into by the fire, by the sea, or in a quiet moment alone.
Each Quest is different. Designed with care. A soft space for clarity, reconnection, and remembering that your answers are already within you - sometimes it just takes the right place to hear them.
Glamping Pods! Our GGI Island Wee Homes!
Our home for the trip is a cluster of cosy, hand-built wooden cabins nestled on a quiet family croft at the foot of Iona’s highest hill. Surrounded by wildflowers, sea views, and the occasional wandering sheep, these simple yet beautiful glamping cabins offer warmth, comfort, and a deep sense of peace. Each comes with underfloor heating, thick quilts, a small kitchenette, and fire pits outside for starry-night chats.
It’s a back-to-nature experience with enough comfort to feel held and enough wildness to feel free.
You can choose a shared twin cabin with private outdoor facilities - perfect for those who want connection and adventure.
Prefer a little more privacy? Opt for a shared double bed cabin with an ensuite, ideal if you are coming with a friend or travel companion.
And for those seeking full solitude and space to reflect, a solo ensuite cabin offers a peaceful retreat all to yourself. Whichever option you choose, you’ll be part of a thoughtful, caring setup designed for deep rest, real connection, and island magic.
Who you will meet
Connect in Bali with other women who have gone international
Vanessa Hernandez
Girl Gone International Global Mentor
From the USA to Finland to northern Sweden, Vanessa's international journey began with isolation - but everything changed when she found GGI. Now a vibrant part of the Skellefteå community, she’s heading to Scotland to trace her roots and visit the town that shares her mother’s maiden name!
Gerrie Douglas Scott
Counsellor / Humanist Celebrant
Anne's mum Gerrie knows Iona like the back of her hand. After just turning 70, Gerrie is travelling more than ever, hosting trips and women's walking tours in Glasgow. A Scottish icon, always on a talk show or newspaper campaigning for LGBTQI rights, she is excited to show you around Scotland.
Anne Scott
Girl Gone International Founder
Originally from Scotland, Anne has lived in 10 countries and will bring her 15 years of building GGI communities to this experience "Once per year I escape to Iona to get some quiet time, some rest and recover from the stress of the year by returning to simple joys. Join me!"
Your Options
Choose your option that suits you best! It’s a back-to-nature experience with enough comfort to feel held and enough wildness to feel free. Talk to us about payment plans. Want to combine this trip with the Scotland Culture, Castles and Cities Trip you can find the info here or talk to us!
Shared / Simple
For those who love adventure, warmth, and wild skies. Share a twin cabin with another GGI. Toilets and showers are in a very close, clean outdoor block. It’s cosy, back-to-nature, and part of the island experience.
- Single Bed
- Outdoor facilities
- Underfloor Heating
- Fire pit
Friends / Luxury
Perfect if travelling with a friend and you want a touch more comfort. Share a double bed with your travel mate - great for sisters, best friends, or duos. Comes with your own private shower and toilet inside the cabin.
- Double Bed
- Ensuite
- Underfloor Heating
- Fire pit
Solo / Luxury
The top-tier option for those craving peace, rest, and total independence.
Your own space, your own double bed, your own ensuite. Simple luxury in the middle of nowhere.
- Double Bed
- Ensuite
- Underfloor Heating
- Fire pit
What's Included in our Scottish Wild Island Escape!
Prices are in UK POUNDS STERLING. Instalment payment plans available at no extra cost.
(Fixed price shared room is £1050. Estimated price in dollars $1413 and euros €1226 Check exchange rates which can fluctuate).
✽ Full Experience from £1050
-
Glamping Luxury Wee Wooden Houses!
included
4 nights in your selected wee home - warm, clean, simple, and beautiful -
Train and Boat Travel
included We will cross the Highlands in train and sail between islands -
Meals
included Breakfast packs. Welcome dinner (restaurant) and 2 open air Community Dinners. - Nature Watching Boat Trip to the isle of Staffa included We will visit Fingal’s Cave & enjoy wildlife spotting
- Tour Guides included Local Scottish guides and host (founder of Girl Gone International, Anne Scott)
- Personal Quest included Custom GGI Journal + optional personal quest designed just for you for where you are and where you want to go next.
✽ Extras
-
Massage, kayaking, Mull tour, private boat tours
POA
✽ Excluded
Flights to/from Scotland. UK Traveller Visa (this is low cost and easy to get in minutes online). Drinks. Additional meals not listed above, snacks, or shopping. Entry to optional sites like Iona Abbey, bike rental, massage (book ahead of time).
✽ Notes
Balance due closer to the trip. Terms and conditions apply. Terms & Conditions
A deposit of £300 secures your spot and supports the event portion of the trip. Full payment is due via at least 30 days before departure. Deposits are refundable within 7 days of paying it, unless the trip is canceled due to low numbers. Please wait for official confirmation before booking flights. Travel insurance is required.
Experiences
No matter where you have been, where you are, where you are going.. Come exactly as you are.
Come rest. Come quest.
Unique Journey
Take the world’s most scenic train ride through the Highlands Sail to Staffa, see pregnant seals, visit the otherworldly Fingal’s Cave and walk on basalt rock. Cross the sea like a pilgrim to reach the white beaches of Iona.
Simple Joys
Sleep in a cosy wooden cabin under the stars
Wake up to the sound of seabirds and silence
Share stories, tea, and quiet laughter by candlelight with new friends.
Foodie Adventures
Eat fresh seafood by the harbour in Oban
Cook meals over an open flame or hob with my cabin mates
Try traditional Scottish food in a Hebridean island pub.