• 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.

• 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. 
• Stirling: Explore the sights of Stirling and get a selfie with the memorial to the iconic Scottish knight.
• 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.
• 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. 

Walk the windswept links of golfing legend, pausing by the Old Course and the storied Swilcan Bridge. Wander towards the medieval heart, where college quads and cathedral ruins meet the North Sea air.

Discover Scotland’s oldest university traditions amid honeyed stone and scholarly courtyards. From St Andrews Cathedral remains to snug lanes lined with independent shops, the town’s scholarly calm and coastal light create an enduring allure.

Cruise Loch Ness, gliding over dark, peaty waters framed by forested slopes and moorland. Keep your camera ready to spot ‘Nessie’ as the Highlands rise in brooding folds around the loch.

Hear lake lore and geology while passing bays and headlands, with distant views toward the ruins of Urquhart Castle. The loch’s depth, scale and shifting light give this sail a quietly thrilling atmosphere.

Experience the Highland resort of Aviemore in the heart of Cairngorms National Park, where pine forest, heather moor and mirror-still lochs shape epic winter landscapes. Breathe crisp air and frame the mountains on leisurely strolls.

Learn how glacial forces carved this plateau and why the Caledonian pinewood supports red squirrels and capercaillie. Snow-dusted summits and wide skies deliver classic Highland vistas made for scenic viewing and photography.

Discover a living conservation story at the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre. With an expert host, learn how native species are being reintroduced and how the ancient Caledonian pinewood is being restored tree by tree.

Trail exhibits and outdoor viewpoints reveal habitats for red squirrels, beavers and raptors. Your visit supports Trees for Life’s work, turning science and community action into a hopeful Highland landscape in recovery.

Walk Ireland’s “Marble City,” tracing the Medieval Mile past the riverside lawns of Kilkenny Castle and through butter-slip alleys to markets and makers. Streetfronts of limestone and slate reveal centuries of craft and commerce.

Hear how Norman lords shaped the skyline and step inside the story of St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower from the outside vantage points. It’s a compact immersion in Irish urban heritage and easygoing charm.

Visit the 15th-century stronghold of Blarney Castle, climbing spiral stairs to kiss the Blarney Stone for the famed “gift of the gab.” Gardens of ferns and exotic plantings surround the medieval keep.

Unpack the myths and masonry as guides recount chieftains, sieges and the stone’s long journey into legend. From battlements to woodland paths, this is Ireland’s storytelling spirit made tangible.

Stand atop the Cliffs of Moher where Atlantic swells hammer sheer limestone walls and sea spray rides the wind. Boardwalks and viewpoints lead to sweeping panoramas toward the Aran Islands.

Learn how layers of ancient seabed rose into this wild edge of Europe and scan for razorbills and guillemots along the ledges. From O’Brien’s Tower to cliff-top grasses bowing in the breeze, the scene is pure drama.

Join a brief city stroll from Eyre Square past buskers on Shop Street and the ornate facade of Lynch’s Castle. Cross to the Spanish Arch where the Corrib meets Galway Bay.

Hear how trade, song and storytelling shaped this west-coast hub. Colorful shopfronts, fiddles in doorways and the Latin Quarter’s lively lanes set the tone for evenings spent among locals.

Trace the intact 17th-century ramparts of Derry/Londonderry’s city walls, passing towers and the famed cannon “Roaring Meg”. Elevated views take in the Bogside and its political murals.

Unravel Plantation history, siege warfare and recent chapters of The Troubles. Between gates, guildhalls and Georgian streets, the city’s resilience and layered identity come into sharp focus.

Walk out over the Giant’s Causeway, stepping across interlocking hexagonal columns formed by ancient lava flows. Atlantic surf and headlands frame this rugged amphitheatre of stone.

Hear both the geology and the legend of Finn McCool, whose mythical pathway once leapt toward Scotland. The UNESCO-listed site pairs raw coastal power with a curiosity of volcanic design.

Join a guided panoramic tour of Belfast to see City Hall, the Cathedral Quarter’s brickwork lanes and political murals along Shankill and Falls. Stories from your guide animate every landmark.

Continue to the Titanic Quarter, where slipways and red-brick offices recall shipyard days and innovative design. The city’s creativity and grit shine through its architecture and art.

Gather for an included group dinner in Dublin and raise a glass to the Irish leg of your journey. Afterwards, wander the cobbles of Temple Bar, where music spills from doorways and streetlamps glow on red-brick facades.

Learn a cheerful “sláinte” toast and follow your Tour Manager through snug lanes to venues known for live traditional music. It’s a spirited introduction to the capital’s convivial heart.

Taste Scotland in a glass during an expert-led session comparing Speyside and Islay single malts. Learn to nose a dram, spot peat smoke, and pick out honeyed or maritime notes.

Hear how barley, water and time shape character inside copper stills and oak casks. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Step inside Edinburgh Castle, perched on an extinct volcano above the Royal Mile. Explore the Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny and the great cannon Mons Meg, with sweeping views over the city.

Unpack royal dramas and sieges that forged Scotland’s story. This optional visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Join a local ranger to explore Rothiemurchus, one of the finest remnants of the Caledonian Forest near Aviemore. Learn about Highland wildlife and habitats on gentle trails beneath Scots pines.

From red deer to shy forest birds, the ecosystem comes alive through expert insight. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Try your hand at archery and axe-throwing under careful instruction, channeling centuries-old Highland skills. Targets thud and arrows whistle in a safe, supervised setting amid rugged scenery.

It’s hands-on fun with a dash of friendly competition and folklore. This optional activity is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Sit down to a warm, home-cooked Glaswegian meal and meet locals who share stories of the city’s wit and grit. Between courses, enjoy live traditional music that gets toes tapping.

From hearty fare to convivial company, it’s a cultural snapshot beyond the usual restaurant scene. This optional evening is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Pedal a relaxed circuit along the River Nore and the Medieval Mile, taking in castle lawns, bridges and colorful shopfronts. Guides share stories as you roll through lanes and leafy paths.

Bikes and helmets are provided for a comfortable ride in mostly flat terrain. This optional activity is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Explore the historic Jameson Distillery Midleton, home to towering copper pot stills and fragrant warehouses. Learn the craft from grain to glass, finishing with a guided comparative tasting.

Discover why triple distillation lends Ireland’s signature smoothness and hear the stories behind the label. This optional visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Witness border collies respond to whistle and Gaelic calls during a live sheepdog demonstration on a rural farm. Afterwards, share a simple, hearty farmhouse lunch fresh from the kitchen.

It’s an authentic glimpse into countryside rhythms and the partnership between shepherd and dog. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Walk through the Bogside with a local guide to see the powerful People’s Gallery murals and Free Derry Corner. Personal stories illuminate decades of conflict and peacebuilding.

Context, compassion and lived experience combine on streets where history is painted on gable walls. This optional tour is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Visit Titanic Belfast to journey from Edwardian boomtown to launch day through immersive galleries. Stand on the original slipways where the liner met the water and view archival design details.

Architecture clad in ship-hull panels mirrors the city’s maritime pride. This optional museum visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Celebrate the journey with a convivial farewell dinner in Dublin, where hearty Irish dishes pair with storytelling charm. Afterwards, tap along to live traditional music in an atmospheric venue.

Raise one last toast of “sláinte” with your travel companions and savor the city’s warm hospitality. This optional evening is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Visit Helix Park to stand beneath The Kelpies, two 30-metre steel horse heads that shimmer with Scotland’s shifting skies. Stroll the park’s boardwalks beside the Forth and Clyde Canal, where reflections dance on the water and cameras click from every angle.

Learn how sculptor Andy Scott drew on working horse heritage to create these modern titans. Pause to pause for photos and reflection as stories of canal craft, industry and folklore bring these gleaming guardians to life.

Explore Stirling’s medieval core, where the crag-top fortress of Stirling Castle commands the landscape and narrow lanes spill from the esplanade. From vantage points around town, look toward the National Wallace Monument rising on Abbey Craig.

Hear tales of William Wallace, the Battle of Stirling Bridge and royal intrigue at Scotland’s crossroads. Cobbled streets, sandstone facades and sweeping valley views set the scene for a concise slice of Scottish history.