Hop on a small group tour of Ireland for an intimate experience of the Emerald Isle. A local guide will take you around the country, sharing stories and anecdotes along the way. You’ll visit sights you really can’t miss as well as lesser-known spots, from Dublin to Cork. Let yourself be charmed by the flavours, scenery, music and hospitality of the Irish on this 10-day adventure.
Just a few of the majestic sights you’ll take in during your trip.
A day-by-day plan to guide your journey.
Upon your arrival in Dublin, make your way to your accommodation in the city centre. You may choose to take a taxi or hop on public transport. For a more direct and comfortable ride, we will be happy to organise a private airport transfer for you.
Immerse yourself in the eclectic mixture of heritage sites, museums and historic pubs of the Irish capital. Take a stroll along the cobbled streets of the Temple Bar district, grab a pint at the Guinness Storehouse for a taste of the world-famous beer or visit the historic Trinity College to see the ancient Book of Kells.
You could enjoy an afternoon tea sightseeing tour of the city on a vintage bus or stroll along the characterful O’Connell Street filled with interesting shops and landmark buildings.
Spend the night at Dylan Hotel or similar.
Today, your guide picks you up to start your group adventure around Ireland. The tour will start with a drive across the beautiful midlands and towards the west coast. Take in the rolling hills and lush countryside during the journey.
On the way to Galway, your group will have the opportunity to learn about Irish history at Trim Castle, the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. You will also go for a tour of a local distillery.
Finally, we’ll arrive in Galway, a lively city by the Atlantic Ocean, where you’ll enjoy dinner with the group.
Spend the night at Park House Hotel or similar.
Included:
• Breakfast at your accommodation
• Entrance to Trim Castle
• Tour and tasting at local distillery
• Dinner at the accommodation restaurant
Average travel & exploration time: 7-8 hours
Today you get to pick your adventure. You can stay in Galway to relax or explore more of this cultural city. You could also book an optional island excursion. You’ll hop aboard a ferry to Inis Mór (Inishmore), the largest of the western Aran Islands. These three windswept islands are one of the few places where the Gaelic language, culture and music still truly thrive.
Spend another night at Park House Hotel or similar.
Included:
• Breakfast at your accommodation
Average travel & exploration time: 8-9 hours
The group will start the day by visiting Dunguaire Castle. Sitting on a rocky outcrop overlooking Galway Bay, it is one of the most photographed castles in Ireland. Further ahead, explore the unique, lunar-like landscape of The Burren, where you’ll see the portal tomb Poulnabrone Dolmen, one of Ireland’s oldest megalithic monuments.
Next stop is the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, Ireland’s top attraction, showcasing some of the country’s most iconic coastal scenery. On a sunny day the views are expansive, but even a stormy day can be exhilarating with the powerful Atlantic below.
Spend the night at Hotel Woodstock or similar.
Included:
• Breakfast at your accommodation
• Entrance to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre
• Dinner at your accommodation
Average travel & exploration time: 6-7 hours
Start the day visiting the 15th-century Bunratty Castle. Here you’ll also find the Bunratty Folk Park, where you can experience Irish rural life from the 1800s. Your group will then stop in Adare, one of Ireland’s prettiest villages with its thatched cottages housing craft shops and restaurants.
In the afternoon, explore Killarney National Park set beneath Ireland’s highest mountains. Here, you can discover the 19th-century mansion of Muckross House. Tonight, you dine with your group at your accommodation restaurant.
Spend the night at Randles Hotel or similar.
Included:
• Breakfast at your accommodation
• Entrance to Bunratty Castle
• Entrance to Bunratty Folk Park
• Dinner at the accommodation restaurant
Average travel & exploration time: 7-8 hours
Today, your guide will take the group around the magical Ring of Kerry. This is one of Ireland’s most famous routes and a must-see when visiting its countryside. Along the way there’ll be plenty of stops for you to take photos and admire the striking landscape.
First take some time to wander around the grounds of Kells Bay House to see its primeval forest of planted giant ferns. Then, if the weather allows, your guide will make a stop by the charming Derrynane Bay with its stunning white sands. Later, you’ll complete the circular tour ending back inside the Killarney National Park, where the group will go for a walk to the picturesque Torc Waterfall.
Spend another night at Randles Hotel or similar.
Included:
• Breakfast at your accommodation
• Entrance to Kells Bay House
Average travel & exploration time: 7-8 hours
The first stop of the day is Kenmare, the “Jewel of the Ring of Kerry”. Next, you’ll visit Blarney Castle, a legendary medieval stronghold that houses the Blarney Stone, surrounded by many myths and tales.
Finally, you’ll spend the rest of the day in Cork, a buzzing city with a vibrant cultural scene. Your guide will show you around the city, noting the top highlights. You can then spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Explore the English Market, the Church of St Anne’s, or the Crawford Art Gallery.
Spend the night at Kingsley Hotel or similar.
Included:
• Breakfast at your accommodation
• Entrance to Blarney Castle
• Dinner at your accommodation
Average travel & exploration time: 6-7 hours
You have a day full of historic attractions ahead of you. First, the group will stop in Cashel to visit the spectacular Rock of Cashel, one of Ireland’s most visited attractions. The site is a fantastic collection of medieval buildings that span over 1,000 years of history. Later, your guide drives east to Kilkenny, a medieval town nestled around a majestic 12th-century castle. Here you can visit Kilkenny Castle before enjoying dinner at your accommodation with the group.
Spend the night at Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel or similar.
Included:
• Breakfast at your accommodation
• Entrance to Rock of Cashel
• Entrance to Kilkenny Castle
• Dinner at your accommodation
Average travel & exploration time: 7-8 hours
Today is your last day touring the charming Irish countryside. Before returning to Dublin, you can expect some more dramatic landscapes and scenic stops. First, your guide drives you through the Wicklow Mountains. This area is known for its green pastures and wooded valleys, rocky hillsides and winding mountain roads.
Next stop is Powerscourt Estate, the home of the restored mansion Powerscourt House. You’ll have time to wander through the beautiful gardens and even catch sight of Ireland’s highest waterfall.
Back in Dublin, your guide will then drop you off at your accommodation. You can enjoy the rest of the day and evening at your leisure in Ireland’s capital.
Spend the night at Dylan Hotel or similar.
Included:
• Entrance to Powerscourt Gardens and Waterfall
• Breakfast at your accommodation
Average travel & exploration time: 8-9 hours
On your final day in Ireland, make your way back to the airport in time for your departure flight. You can add additional nights in Dublin to your trip or arrange a private transfer in the booking steps.
If your flight is later in the day, spend your morning enjoying some last-minute shopping, visiting one of the city’s many attractions or simply relaxing at a local café before heading home.
Customise your adventure with these Optional Extras.
We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.
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Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.
Don’t worry, we’ve got this covered.
These should tide you over until you’re in Ireland to take your own pictures.
Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.
The Dylan is a 5-star boutique hotel located near the city centre of Dublin. The hotel sits in a leafy neighbourhood by the Grand Canal in the south of the capital. Stay at the Dylan Hotel...
Park House Hotel is located near the leafy Eyre Square and within the vibrant city centre of Galway. It will remind you of classic hotels with its modern style and luxury bedrooms. In-ro...
Park House Hotel is located near the leafy Eyre Square and within the vibrant city centre of Galway. It will remind you of classic hotels with its modern style and luxury bedrooms. In-ro...
Hotel Woodstock is located on the grounds of the Woodstock Golf & Country Club, a few kilometres outside Ennis. It is a classic country lodge where you can expect a peaceful stay, mode...
Randles is a 4-star, family-owned hotel located in Killarney. This scenic town borders the lush national park of the same name. Here you can expect to experience all the charms of the Iris...
Randles is a 4-star, family-owned hotel located in Killarney. This scenic town borders the lush national park of the same name. Here you can expect to experience all the charms of the Iris...
The Kingsley Hotel is a luxurious 4-star hotel nestled by the River Lee in the centre of Cork. All bedrooms are spacious, elegant and designed for comfort. You can expect a modern d&eacu...
The Ormonde is a 4-star hotel just a stone’s throw from Kilkenny Castle in the heart of the town. It also boasts the title of the only hotel in Kilkenny’s centre with a swimmin...
The Dylan is a 5-star boutique hotel located near the city centre of Dublin. The hotel sits in a leafy neighbourhood by the Grand Canal in the south of the capital. Stay at the Dylan Hotel...
Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.
Group size: Maximum group size is 15 participants.
Our best price per person when booking for two.
We recommend that you read carefully through the following section before booking this small guided group tour in Ireland. It includes important information and what you can expect during the tour, regarding accommodation, the tour guide, and more. You’ll also find more practical advice and attraction recommendations in our online Ireland Travel Guide.
AGE & PARTICIPATION
Please note that this tour is not recommended for families with young children. As the legal drinking age in Ireland is 18, those aged 17 and under will not take part in the distillery tour.
OUR NORDIC VISITOR GUIDES
This tour package includes the professional service of an experienced Irish tour guide, who will drive you around Ireland. They will offer their local knowledge and share hidden gems and stories with you along the way. The guide will also act as the logistical organiser for the group, ensuring that everything is running smoothly and that you’re having a good time during your holiday.
If you join a Nordic Visitor small group tour, you will get a personal experience of Ireland. As an expert and a local, your tour guide will be a valuable resource for questions about local customs, language, food and other practical travel information.
There will be one guide per tour, who will drive and lead the tour aboard a comfortable, high-quality mini-bus.
ACCOMMODATION
Our team of Ireland travel experts carefully selects hotels, B&Bs, and guesthouses around the country based on excellent ratings, personal experience and comfort.
Due to the historic nature of the properties included in the tour, room sizes and views may vary. Please note that in Ireland room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America.
Many of the rooms can only be accessed by stairs and none of the properties have elevators. Triple rooms are not available for this tour, only single and double rooms. Please contact us for booking assistance if your group contains 3 or more people.
FOOD & DRINK
A daily breakfast buffet is included at the accommodation during your stay. You will also enjoy 5 included dinners, as per the package inclusions (drinks are not included). They will usually include either a set dinner menu or a dinner buffet with a good variety of local fresh ingredients.
Please notify your travel consultant in advance of any dietary restrictions or allergies.
Other meals are not included, but the guide will make sure to stop along the way for you to pick up snacks, drinks and lunch.
LUGGAGE
This tour is by mini-bus and so, to ensure comfortable seating for everyone, there is a limit to the size and amount of luggage you can bring. Each guest is allowed 1 large suitcase or bag, which can be stored in the back of the van, and 1 smaller item (e.g., a small backpack or day bag) for daily essentials.
The guidance size for the large bag is no more than 158 cm (62 inches), when the length, width and height is added together. It should also not exceed more than 20 kg (44 pounds). Unfortunately carry-on suitcases (cabin bags) are too large to store inside the van in the overhead racks.
If you have any questions about luggage, your Nordic Visitor travel consultant will be able to assist you.
FITNESS & ACTIVITY LEVEL
Please note that this tour includes walking at some of the sightseeing stops. This means you need to be prepared and able to walk between 1-3 kilometres (up to 2 miles) on certain days. You also need to be able to carry your own luggage when boarding the bus each day.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
Please note that the tour programme is dependent upon weather conditions. That means that your itinerary may need to be altered if these conditions aren’t favourable during your visit. In the case of major changes to the itinerary, you will be notified and we will do our best to make sure that your experience is not be affected.
CUSTOMISING YOUR TOUR
As you’ll be travelling as part of a guided group tour, your itinerary for this portion of your trip is set. But you can still customise other parts of your package.
For instance, you could add extra nights in Dublin before or after the guided portion of your trip. This will give you more time to explore the Irish capital city at your own pace. You can add these additional days while booking your package online.
You might also like to add optional excursions and day trips to your itinerary.
CURRENCY RATE
All bookings are billed in Euro (EUR). Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. Therefore, conversions from EUR to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.
AFTER BOOKING WITH NORDIC VISITOR
After booking your package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by one of our travel consultants. They will serve as your dedicated contact person for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip.
At that time, they’ll confirm the availability of your tour. Then the booking process starts, which may take a few weeks. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. You will also receive more information about what to expect during your trip.
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