• 12 Breakfast (B)
• 4 Dinner (D)

• London: You’ll need Essential Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)From?January 8, 2025, UK law means that if you’re entering/transiting through border control in the United Kingdom (UK) and Northern Ireland you’ll need an?Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)?before you travel. Confused? Don’t be – just read on here.
• London: A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
• Edinburgh: You’ll cross the Irish Sea aboard a modern, high-speed ferry with comfy facilities. Best part? You’ll be able to leave the coach and explore the ferry and its food court during the 2-hour journey. We’ll hop back on the coach before disembarking.
• Edinburgh: You’ll be on the road for around 2-3 hours between stops. We’ll check out some cities along the way, so that you can soak up some more of the localities in the British Isles. Either way, get ready for all the beautiful backdrops you’ll see.

• St. Andrews: If you like golf, you’ll love St Andrews. But if you think it spoils a nice walk in the park, there’s also Swilcan Bridge.
• Loch Ness: Sit back, relax and cruise along the loch with your Contiki crew. But keep your eyes peeled and camera ready for mythical ‘Nessie’.   
• Scottish Highlands: Ever wondered how native animal species – like the Scottish Red Squirrel, Lynx and Beavers – are reintroduced into the wild? Come learn about it all from an expert (who’ll also tell you how the Caledonian pine forest is being reforested too!). Every penny you spend here will directly support Trees for Life, a TreadRight supported project.
• Stirling: Explore the sights of Stirling and get a selfie with the memorial to the iconic Scottish knight.
• Mallaig: We’ll visit Helix Park, home to The Kelpies (horse statues, standing at 100ft tall & weighing more than 300 tonnes each). It’s a wonder to behold. Plus, there’s also an adventure play park with woodlands and boardwalks for some added fun. 
• Blarney Castle: Your chance to kiss the Blarney Stone and get the ‘gift of the gab’. And to visit the medieval Irish castle. 
• Cliffs of Moher: These rugged, photogenic cliffs have been the star of many films, including a Harry Potter one.
• Galway: Tread the cobbles of this well-loved Irish city with your new Contiki crew. See Lynch’s Castle, Eyre Square and all the best pubs.
• Derry/Londonderry: One for the history fans. Take a look around Ireland’s only walled city, built in the 17th Century.
• Giant’s Causeway: Sure, rock formations may sound a bit dull on paper, but this quirky natural wonder has to be seen to be believed.  
• Belfast: Hang with a local guide to see all the landmarks and learn about the city’s checkered history. 

Join a local guided panoramic tour to see Belfast City Hall, Queen’s Quarter and the grand Stormont estate. Roll past the political murals on the Falls and Shankill and into the revitalized Titanic Quarter.

Hear how shipbuilding, conflict and creativity have shaped the city’s identity. Dockyards and cranes stand beside cafes and studios, revealing a Belfast that is both resolute and forward-looking.

Ascend volcanic Castle Rock to tour Edinburgh Castle with a local guide. Step into the Crown Room to view the Honours of Scotland and the storied Stone of Destiny, and take in sweeping city views from the battlements.

Hear of monarchs, sieges and the mighty Mons Meg cannon as you explore this fortress-palace above the Royal Mile. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Gather on a hillside as a shepherd whistles commands and working border collies sweep across the fields, guiding sheep with astonishing precision. After the show, share a homemade farm lunch rich with local produce.

This hands-on window into Irish rural life pairs skill, tradition and warm hospitality in equal measure. Optional sheepdog demonstration at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Follow the brewing journey inside the seven-storey Guinness Storehouse, from roasted barley aromas to the dark cascade in the glass. In the academy, learn to pull a pint and toast your handiwork.

Exhibits celebrate advertising icons and Dublin’s ties to the black stuff, culminating with skyline views from the Gravity Bar. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; non-alcoholic alternatives available.

Gather for a convivial farewell dinner in Dublin, sharing highlights over hearty Irish dishes in a warm pub setting. Raise a glass and toast with your group to a journey well-travelled.

Between classic comfort plates and lively conversation, this closing evening captures the Dublin pub atmosphere—cosy, musical and full of good cheer. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Explore the pioneering Rewilding Centre at Dundreggan to discover how native habitats are being restored in the Highlands. Walk interpretive trails and meet specialists re-establishing the Caledonian pine forest and its wildlife.

Hear how projects supported by Trees for Life aid species like the Scottish red squirrel and beaver, and how a mosaic of wildwoods is returning to Glenmoriston. Your visit supports hands-on conservation while revealing Scotland’s wilder future.

Survey the skyline of historic Stirling from vantage points that frame Stirling Castle and the National Wallace Monument. Capture sweeping photos of the River Forth’s loops and the patchwork of fields and hills beyond.

Here, the Wars of Scottish Independence echo in stone towers and battlements. Your stop brings the feats of William Wallace and the strategic importance of this gateway town vividly into focus.

Marvel at The Kelpies in Helix Park—two shimmering, 100-ft steel horse heads that mirror in the canal below. Walk the pathways to admire their intricate plates and the play of light across sculpted muscle.

Designed by Andy Scott, these monumental works salute the heavy horses that powered Scotland’s canals and industry. The canal-side setting of Helix Park and the statues’ colossal scale make this a striking encounter with modern Scottish art.

Wander the 15th-century ramparts of Blarney Castle and, if you wish, kiss the Blarney Stone for the famed “gift of the gab.” Gardens unfold below—fern-carpeted glades, the Poison Garden’s curiosities, and quiet water features.

The MacCarthy stronghold has watched over County Cork for centuries, with legends layered into every stairwell and arrow slit. Myth, masonry and lush gardens combine for a quintessential Irish castle experience.

Stand atop the Cliffs of Moher as Atlantic rollers boom far below and guillemots wheel along wind-carved ledges. Trace the cliff path to classic viewpoints and, weather permitting, toward O’Brien’s Tower.

Rising to 214 metres, these cliffs have starred on screen (including Harry Potter) and in countless photographs. The Atlantic swells, Burren limestone and seabird calls create a raw, elemental mood you can feel in your bones.

Walk the cobbles of Galway’s Latin Quarter with your crew, from Eyre Square to the shopfronts and buskers of Shop Street. Trace medieval lanes to ornate Lynch’s Castle and peek into snug traditional pubs alive with fiddle tunes.

Trade winds and Spanish links once filled this port with merchants and stories. Today, color-washed facades, stone arches and street music keep the city’s free-spirited character center stage.

Circle the intact ramparts of Derry’s 17th-century walls, pausing for views across the River Foyle and the graceful curve of the Peace Bridge. From the bastions, take in rooftops, spires and the city’s layered streets.

Interpret the skyline through turbulent centuries—from Plantation-era fortifications to the Bogside murals. This elevated stroll brings Ireland’s only fully walled city into vivid historical perspective.

Walk onto the Giant’s Causeway, stepping over interlocking, hexagonal basalt columns that tumble into the sea. Follow cliff paths that frame the surf and the rugged Antrim Coast.

Born of ancient volcanic eruptions and wrapped in the legend of Finn McCool, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is geology with a dash of myth. The textures, tides and sea spray make every viewpoint a natural amphitheatre.

Taste your way through Scotland’s spirit, comparing single malts and blends as a whisky host explains regions and style. Learn to read aromas of peat smoke and heather honey, then sip to a smooth finish.

This guided whisky tasting highlights Speyside elegance, Highland depth and Islay’s maritime tang. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; responsible measures and expert storytelling keep the focus on flavor and tradition.

Dip a paddle and canoe across Loch Ness near its southern reaches, skimming mirror-dark water beneath green ridgelines. Feel the rhythm of strokes and the hush of Highland air as you trace the shoreline.

Guides share lake lore and safety tips while pointing out wildlife and the nearby Caledonian Canal. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; no prior paddling experience required.

Savour a hearty local meal accompanied by live traditional music, where reels and ballads fill the room and toes tap along. Share plates and stories as musicians bring the city’s convivial spirit to life.

From comforting classics to modern twists, this evening channels the ceilidh spirit in friendly surrounds. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Pedal medieval streets and riverside paths on a guided bike ride, circling the lawns of Kilkenny Castle and cruising toward St Canice’s Cathedral and its round tower. Glide past craft workshops and colorful shopfronts.

Your guide layers in tales of merchant families and Norman strongholds as the city’s compact lanes unfold at an easy pace. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; bikes and helmets provided.

Trace grain to glass at Jameson Distillery Midleton, exploring heritage buildings before a guided tasting contrasts pot still richness and mellow blends. Breathe the vanilla and spice of maturation warehouses as casks do their quiet work.

Stories of coopers, copper pot stills and triple distillation illuminate Ireland’s whiskey craft. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; tasting measures are responsibly poured.

Sail by ferry to the Aran Islands and cycle quiet lanes between stone-walled fields to the cliff-edge fort of Dún Aonghasa. Hear Irish spoken in shops and breathe Atlantic air as horses graze beside the road.

This journey blends Gaeltacht culture with wild seascapes and archaeology perched above roaring surf. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; summer departures only and weather dependent.

Walk the streets of the Bogside with a local guide to unpack the Civil Rights era, Bloody Sunday, and the neighborhood’s powerful People’s Gallery murals. Hear first-hand accounts that anchor headlines to place.

Context-rich storytelling and vivid artwork illuminate the city’s recent past and hopes for the future. Optional Bogside walking tour at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Explore Titanic Belfast, where immersive galleries chart the ship’s design, launch and legacy on the very Harland & Wolff slipways where she was built. Trace workers’ lives and Belfast’s shipbuilding boom.

Artifacts, recreated cabins and archival footage bring the liner’s world to life, while the building’s shard-like form echoes Titanic’s prow. Optional visit at additional cost, bookable on tour; time to browse and reflect included.

Stroll the medieval lanes of St Andrews, soaking up the atmosphere of Scotland’s oldest university town. Pause on the Swilcan Bridge beside the Old Course, where golf legends have crossed for generations, and wander toward cathedral and castle ruins shaped by salt winds.

Founded in 1413, the University of St Andrews anchors a town steeped in scholarship and sport. Coastal light, North Sea air and stories of saints and scholars make this stop an evocative window onto Scottish history.

Cruise the deep, peaty waters of Loch Ness, keeping watch for the mythic ‘Nessie’ as the Highlands rise in dark-green folds around you. Glide past headlands and ancient shoreline while your crew shares tales that have rippled across Scotland for centuries.

Learn how this trench-like loch, carved by the Great Glen fault, holds more water than all the lakes of England and Wales combined. Camera at the ready for views toward Urquhart Castle and the loch’s ever-changing, slate-blue surface.