Your itinerary
Day 1
Day 1: Start Dublin
Meet your Trip Manager in the afternoon, then meet your group for dinner and enjoy an evening in Temple Bar.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2
Day 2: Dublin to Cork
Travel to Kilkenny, with the option to join a bicycle ride. Explore the castle, cathedral and medieval city. Continue to Cork, with the option to sample Irish whiskey at Jameson’s Distillery in Midleton. Dinner is included at the hotel, followed by a group outing into town.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 3
Day 3: Cork to Galway
Travel from Cork to Blarney Castle to visit the Blarney Stone, then continue to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway. Explore Galway’s pubs, streets and live music.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4
Day 4: Galway
Explore Galway and try speaking Gaelic. Optionally take a summer ferry to the Aran Islands to explore by bike, visit the farms and see Dún Aonghasa, the ruins of a prehistoric fortress.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 5
Day 5: Galway to Derry/Londonderry
Drive to Derry/Londonderry, a historic city with 17th-century walls. Optional activities include a rural Irish experience with sheepdogs, a local shepherd and homemade lunch, and a guided tour of the Bogside.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6
Day 6: Derry/Londonderry to Belfast
Visit the Giant’s Causeway, then travel to Belfast for a driving tour. An optional visit to the Titanic museum is available.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7
Day 7: Belfast to Dublin
Travel to Dublin. Use the afternoon to explore, including the Guinness Storehouse. In the evening, you can choose to join an optional farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8
Day 8: End Dublin
Say goodbye to the group over breakfast.
Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Dining Summary
- 3 Dinner (D)
- 7 Breakfast (B)
FAQs
- 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.
- Dublin: When you’re in the Republic of Ireland (or just Ireland), the currency used is Euros. In Northern Ireland, you’ll have to use the British Pound.
- Dublin: Weather in Ireland varies between the seasons, and can be somewhat unpredictable. The Irish like to say that you can expect 4 seasons in one day! In summer we recommend packing comfortable shoes for walking, a light waterproof jacket and UV protection such as a hat and sunscreen. In winter, we recommend warmer clothes; comfortable shoes for walking, a thick waterproof jacket, beanie, scarf, gloves, and an umbrella as backup.
- Dublin: Depending on the time of year you decide to travel to Ireland, the weather can vary quite a bit. In summer you will typically find the driest and warmest days, with temperatures ranging from 13 degrees to 24 degrees, and longer daylight hours. Winter visitors can expect much colder conditions, with temperatures ranging from 2 degrees to 10 degrees, shorter daylight hours and higher likelihood of wind and rain. A common saying in Ireland is ‘If you don’t like the weather just wait five minutes’ as the conditions can change throughout the day.
Included Experience
- 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.
Giant’s Causeway Coastal Visit
Walk out onto the Giant’s Causeway, a rugged honeycomb of basalt columns born of ancient lava flows. Hear tales of Finn McCool as you explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site against a backdrop of surf and sea cliffs.
Between geology and legend, the causeway’s stepping stones invite striking photos and quiet moments by the North Atlantic. The Antrim Coast’s drama is Ireland at its most elemental.
Walled City of Derry Walk
Trace the 17th-century ramparts of the Derry/Londonderry city walls, gazing over the River Foyle and the Bogside. Inspect historic cannons like Roaring Meg and appreciate the rare completeness of Ireland’s only walled city.
Stories of the 1689 Siege, the guilds, and St Columb’s Cathedral bring the stones to life, while contemporary street scenes below remind you this is a lived-in city balancing heritage with modern creativity.
Belfast City Highlights Tour
See Belfast with a local on a guided panoramic tour taking in City Hall, Queen’s University, the Cathedral Quarter, and the waterfront’s Titanic Quarter. Powerful stops at the Peace Walls and political murals illuminate recent history.
From shipbuilding might to the resilience of communities during The Troubles, this overview reveals a city that has reinvented itself with culture, cuisine, and creativity while honoring a complex past.
Kilkenny Bike Ride & The Medieval Mile (Optional)
Pedal quiet lanes along the Medieval Mile, linking elegant Kilkenny Castle to St Canice’s Cathedral and its round tower. Glide by the River Nore, pause for photos of colorful shopfronts, and savor the city’s artisan energy.
Learn how black marble and craft guilds shaped this former capital’s fortunes. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; bikes and guidance keep the ride relaxed and accessible.
Jameson Distillery Midleton Tour & Tasting (Optional)
Discover whiskey-making heritage at Jameson Distillery Midleton. Wander past gleaming copper pot stills, explore maturation warehouses, and cap it off with a guided tasting comparing grains, casks, and styles.
Set in the Old Midleton Distillery near Cork, this immersive visit blends craftsmanship and story with a smooth finish. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; non-drinkers can enjoy the history and aromas, too.
Aran Islands Ferry & Cycle to Dún Aonghasa (Summer, Optional)
Cross Galway Bay by ferry to the Aran Islands, then cycle Inis Mór along stone-walled lanes to the cliff-edge fort of Dún Aonghasa. Expect ocean panoramas, windswept grasses, and photogenic cottages.
Gaelic is still heard here, and the karst limestone landscape feels timeless. This summer-only experience is weather-dependent, at additional cost, and bookable on tour; e-bikes may be available locally for an easier ride.
Rural Sheepdog Demonstration & Farm Lunch (Optional)
Visit a family farm to watch a live sheepdog demonstration as agile border collies respond to whistles, sweeping hillsides to guide the flock. Chat with the shepherd about seasonal work and breeds.
Settle in for a homemade farm lunch with warm Irish hospitality and views of green fields. This authentic countryside experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Bogside Murals Walking Tour (Optional)
Walk with a local guide through Derry’s Bogside to see the powerful Bogside murals, Free Derry Corner, and sites linked to the civil rights movement and Bloody Sunday.
First-hand accounts and public art reveal community perspectives on The Troubles and reconciliation. This thought-provoking experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, offering context that enriches any visit to the walled city.
Titanic Belfast Museum Visit (Optional)
Step inside Titanic Belfast on the former Harland & Wolff shipyard to follow nine immersive galleries tracing design, launch, and legacy of the RMS Titanic. See the slipways and innovative exhibits that bring the ship’s story to life.
Architecture echoes a ship’s prow, while artifacts and oral histories anchor the human tale. This visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Guinness Storehouse Tour & Pint-Pouring (Optional)
Explore the multi-level Guinness Storehouse at St. James’s Gate to learn about roasting barley, coopering, and iconic ads before you pour the perfect pint in the Guinness Academy. Toast Dublin from the Gravity Bar with sweeping city views.
Rich aromas, interactive displays, and spirited hosts celebrate Ireland’s most famous stout. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Farewell Dinner in Dublin (Optional)
Gather one last time for a hearty farewell dinner showcasing seasonal Irish dishes and easy conversation. Raise a glass to shared stories, from misty headlands to lively city streets.
Warm Irish hospitality provides a relaxed close to the week, with the option of live tunes depending on the venue. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Cliffs of Moher Coastal Visit
Stand on wind-brushed headlands along the Cliffs of Moher where Atlantic swells pound the black rocks below. Follow safe cliff-top paths, climb to O’Brien’s Tower for wide horizons, and pause for photos as seabirds wheel over the Atlantic swells.
Rising to 214 metres, this iconic edge of County Clare reveals views across the Burren and the Aran Islands. Film fans may recognize the drama from Harry Potter; nature lovers will note puffins in season and stratified limestone carved by time.
Galway Guided Orientation Walk
Join a guided orientation walk through Galway’s lively streets to see Lynch’s Castle, the green sweep of Eyre Square, and the pubs and shopfronts of the Latin Quarter. Street buskers, colorful facades, and café chatter set a spirited pace.
Hear how maritime trade shaped the city around the Spanish Arch and learn the lore of the Claddagh ring. This stroll helps you map the lanes, discover music haunts, and feel Galway’s bohemian rhythm.
Blarney Castle & Kiss the Blarney Stone
Explore medieval towers and gardens as you visit Blarney Castle, then climb the narrow spiral stairs to kiss the Blarney Stone and claim the famed gift of the gab. Panoramic views reward the ascent, with woodlands and rivers spreading below the battlements.
Built by the MacCarthy dynasty in the 15th century, the castle’s lore mingles with botany in the Poison Garden and tranquil walks through ferny glades. Folklore, scenery, and a playful ritual combine in one quintessential Irish moment.
Dublin Welcome Dinner & Temple Bar Evening
Gather with your group to meet your Trip Manager and share a convivial welcome dinner before wandering into the cobbled lanes of Temple Bar. Follow the sound of fiddles and bodhráns as traditional music sessions spill from doorways, and raise a first toast with Ireland’s celebrated stout.
Brick facades, fairy-lit pub windows, and street performers create an easy-going buzz. This sociable evening captures Dublin’s creative spirit and sets the tone for the week with warm conversation and easy laughter.