Ireland is a remarkable country with a unique culture, beautiful landscapes and proud history. To do it justice when visiting from, or heading towards, London requires the perfect multi-day tour.
(Photo: Viator.com)
Ireland, or Eire, is dubbed the Emerald Isle with good reason. The stunning green landscape is a joy to behold, dotted with prehistoric ruins, pretty loughs, mighty castles and charming towns. A good tour helps visitors realize that there is so much more to Ireland than Guinness and Catholicism. In fact, these stereotypes are far from the truth, which is why these five tours are the perfect way to spend a few days getting to know the real Ireland, as well as parts of the UK along the way. Ideal for anybody looking to add Ireland into a wider European itinerary.
Great Tour of Ireland
The Great Tour of Ireland is the ideal option for those who wish to spend as much of their trip in Ireland as possible before heading to London. Starting in Dublin, get an introduction to Irish culture along the banks of the River Liffey and around Trinity College. Next, you’ll head southwest to Cork, visiting historic sites like the Rock of Cashel, where you will learn more about Irish history through its kings and religion. Other highlights include Killarney National Park, the Cliffs of Moher, and Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. This tour departs once a week on Wednesdays. From £1,014 per person.
Discover the United Kingdom and Ireland
(Photo: Tourradar.com)
For a similar itinerary to the tour above, but with more time in the United Kingdom as well, this 11-day trip is bookended with a few days in the respective capital cities. Start out in Dublin, where you’ll have time to soak up the culture and explore a little on your own. A similar amount of time is allotted to the highlights of London. In the middle, you’ll discover Irish culture, history and natural beauty at sites such as Clonmacnoise monastery, an ancient burial tomb called Poulnabrone dolmen, dating back thousands of years, and the castle at Limerick. From £1,306 per person.
Exploring the United Kingdom and Dublin
If your time is limited, or if you’re keen to have the travel between Dublin and London taken care of by a tour, after making your own way around Ireland, then this week-long tour might do the trick. You’ll get a few days to explore Dublin, sightseeing along the lively streets surrounding the Liffey and Trinity College. Then take a ferry to Wales, and the stunning castle at Caernarfon. In England, you’ll spend a day seeing the highlights towards London, including the Beatles Experience in Liverpool, and the university city of Oxford. From £734 per person.
Majestic Britain and Ireland 20-Day Tour
(Photo: Tourradar.com)
When time and money is less of an issue and you want every little detail taken care of in the most luxurious way possible, this 20-day tour of the UK and Ireland is a must. The well-crafted itinerary packs in highlights in Ireland (Killarney, the Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs of Moher), Northern Ireland, Scotland and England. You’ll dine in traditional pubs and restaurants along the way, and there’s a chance to visit the Guinness Museum while in Dublin at the start of the trip. Like all tours on this list, all transportation, accommodation and some meals are taken care of. From £7,654 per person.
Majestic Britain and Ireland 22-Day Tour
Starting in Dublin instead, this slightly longer itinerary allows two additional days to see a little more of these beautiful nations. The Ireland itinerary remains similar to the previous tour, exploring the Iveragh Mountains and fishing villages along the Ring of Kerry, the stunning coastline south of Galway, including the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle, and the highlights of Dublin. You’ll also spend a few days in Northern Ireland, a week in Scotland, then work your way down through Yorkshire in England to London, via Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon and the Cotswolds. From £7,933 per person.