The man, who was in his 20s, died after the crash on the B9039 at Ardersier at about 08:00.
Another man and a woman were injured in the incident, which involved a Citroen Picasso and a Honda CR-V.
They were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for treatment. Police Scotland appealed for anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
A man has been killed in a two-vehicle collision in the Highlands.