Welcome to our ultimate guide to the best of Scotland and Ireland! If you’re planning a trip to these breathtaking destinations, we’re here to help you make the most of your journey. From stunning landscapes and ancient castles to vibrant cities and charming towns, Scotland and Ireland offer a wealth of unforgettable experiences. Our expertly curated tour will take you through the best of both countries, ensuring you create memories to last a lifetime.
Arrive at Edinburgh Airport from the USA and transfer to your hotel.
Edinburgh is Scotland’s magnificent capital situated on the east coast. In the medieval town, you find many historic buildings such as Edinburgh Castle, Giles Cathedral, and Holyrood Palace. See the statue of Bobby the faithful dog who visited the grave of his master for 14 years.
Overnight in Edinburgh city center.
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Today you can experience the Scottish Capital. This morning you will meet with your local guide for a private city sightseeing tour around the city.
In the afternoon, visit Edinburgh Castle, a historic fortress that dominates the skyline of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position on Castle Rock. Royal Castle has been on the rock since at least the reign of David I in the 12th century. Thereafter, enjoy the hustle and bustle of The Royal Mile, Edinburgh’s busiest shopping street.
Overnight in Edinburgh city center.
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After a typical Scottish breakfast, you are heading north to Lomond, one of Scotland’s most famous and scenic lakes, before traveling further to the Isle of Skye.
The mesmerizing loch lies in the heart of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, where you’ll be surrounded by charming villages, rolling countryside, and hills. Enjoy the drive through some of the most breathtaking scenery that Scotland offers.
Overnight on the Isle of Skye.
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One of this tour’s highlights must be the wonderful Isle of Skye. The Isle of Skye is 50 miles long and consists of small towns and villages, undulating moors, jagged mountains, spectacular cliffs, and sparkling lochs.
Visit the main attractions – Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, the Quiraing, Cuillin Hills, and the bustling port village of Portree.
Overnight on the Isle of Skye
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Today we travel over the Skye Bridge to visit Eilean Donan Castle – one of the worlds ́s most photographed castles.
Afterward, continuing to Fort Augustus, we travel north along the banks of Loch Ness to the picturesque village of Inverness. Loch Ness is shrouded in mystery. Tales of a giant monster living deep beneath the dark expanses of Loch Ness have circulated the world since the first photograph emerged in 1933.
Overnight in Inverness.
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This morning meet with your private guide for a city tour of Glasgow with free time in the afternoon. George’s Square and the Town Hall are of particular interest here. Visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, one of the most visited museums in the UK, or do some shopping on Buchanan Street.
Overnight in Glasgow city center.
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Flight from Glasgow to Dublin. Transfer from the hotel to Glasgow Airport and transfer from Dublin Airport to the hotel, local guide in Dublin.
Upon arrival at Dublin airport, you will meet your driver to transfer to your hotel located in the city’s heart and within walking distance of all the main attractions.
After some time to relax at the hotel, you will set off on a private walking tour with a local guide which is a great way to get to know the city. Dublin has all the attractions of a modern city combined with the beauty and heritage of the past. Elegant shops, hotels, galleries, art-house cinemas, coffee houses, and a stunning variety of restaurants have sprung up on almost every street in the capital. Roughly half of the Irish Republic’s population of 3.6 million people live in Dublin and its suburbs. As Ireland’s capital city, Dublin is steeped in history and culture and has plenty of sights to see, from museums to Georgian squares.
Overnight in Dublin city center.
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This morning, you will join the Fab Food Trail, a walking stroll around the city, visiting food outlets and enjoying tastings. You will see a range of bakeries, food halls, street markets, cheesemongers, delicatessens, and other specialty shops. You will meet artisans whose families have traded for generations producing great food and new arrivals to the food scene bringing new international tastes and food ideas to the Irish table. And you will taste Irish produce served in both traditional and contemporary styles.
As you enjoy the food, you’ll also learn a little about the culture and history of each neighborhood. Those familiar with the city will be amazed to discover food outlets and tasty surprises they never knew existed. Visitors will leave with an insider and up-to-date knowledge of the best of what is happening in Ireland. You will be free to discover the city at your own pace in the afternoon thanks to your Hop on/off bus ticket.
Overnight in Dublin city center.
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Today we make our way to the west of Ireland. In the afternoon, your local guide will take you on a walking tour of the city. Galway City is the best way to experience this vibrant place for about 2 hours – savor and remember the experience. The historic town of the tribe dances to a beat uniquely on its own.
There are specific chemistry and vibrancy to this friendly University City, which many delights in and few forget. Music, festivals, horse racing, pubs, restaurants, shops, theatres, and Galway people obviously combine to create this atmospheric medieval city of culture. From this pulsating heart, the rest of the county flows.
Overnight in Galway city center.
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After breakfast, your guide will take you to one of the genuinely unspoiled regions of Ireland, Connemara. From the rugged Twelve Bens mountain range in the north through lake-rich Round Stone Bog to the golden beaches reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
You’ll know you’re in Connemara by the light that constantly changes the mood and tone of the landscape. Connemara has long been regarded as the natural emerald of Ireland. We recommend a stop in the quaint village of Cong, most famous for being the film location of ‘The Quiet Man,’ which was shot in this region in 1952.
After that, you will visit Kylemore Abbey. Kylemore Abbey’s greatest attraction is its location. The building, regarded as one of Ireland’s most romantic, nestles at the base of Duchruach Mountain [1736ft] on the northern shore of Lough Pollacappul, in the heart of the Connemara mountains. The Irish Benedictine nuns purchased it in 1920. The Abbey’s history steeped in romance and tragedy will touch you when you visit its three reception rooms. You are also welcome to visit the recently-restored neo-Gothic Church (circa 1871), Mausoleum, Restaurant, and Craft Shop.
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Set a transfer to Killarney in the county of Kerry with your driver/guide. Travel along the shores of Galway Bay to Kinvara, a lovely fishing village home to Ireland’s most photographed castle, Dunguaire. Just outside Kinvara is Rathbaun Farm, where you can enjoy a farm tour followed by delicious tea and warm scones.
Afterward, continue along the coast route to Ballyvaughan in County Clare, where you will begin to see the lunar-like landscape of The Burren region, covering an area of 160 square km – it is like no other place in Ireland. There are no bogs and very few pastures. Instead, there are vast pavements of limestone called ‘clints’ with vertical fissures called ‘grikes.’
Most of the drainage is underground in caves. You may explore The Burren underworld in comfort within the developed cave at Aillwee, near Ballyvaughan. Bleak though the place may appear, man has settled here since the Stone Age. Evidence of his habitations and tombs are all around you; massive dolmens, wedge tombs, and stone forts called cahers (the homesteads of farmers of long ago) survive in various stages of preservation. Churches and castles indicate later periods of settlement. The Burren is also famous for its plant life. Limestone-loving plants such as foxgloves and rock roses grow here, and rock microclimates also nurture plants in the Aortic, Alpine, and Mediterranean regions. Botanists have attempted to find out why, but no one has come up with a complete answer.
Shortly, you continue to the Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s most stunning natural beauty spots, which defiantly stand as giant natural ramparts against the aggressive might of the Atlantic Ocean. The rise in places to over 700 feet stretches for almost 5 miles. O’Brien’s Tower, constructed in the early 19th century as a viewing point for Victorian tourists, is located on Moher’s highest cliff. You can view the Clare coastline, the Aran Islands, and mountains as far apart as Kerry and Connemara from its unique vantage position.
Later, continue south and take the Shannon Ferry from Killimer to Tarbert and on to Killarney, home to the National Park of Killarney. The town is on the northeastern shore of Lough Leane, which is part of Killarney National Park. Its natural heritage, history, and location on the Ring of Kerry make Killarney a popular tourist destination. The city and its hinterland are home to St Mary’s Cathedral, Ross Castle, Muckross House, Abbey, the Lakes of Killarney, MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, Purple Mountain, Mangerton Mountain, the Gap of Dunloe, and Torc Waterfall.
Overnight in Killarney.
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Cruise/Boat
Today your local driver/guide will pick you up for a full-day tour around the Ring of Kerry, and this is a truly spectacular drive due to the constant changes in the countryside. Quaint little towns and villages intermingle with rivers, high mountains, and extensive bogs. One of these is Waterville, where Charlie Chaplin often went on vacation. See the colorful village of Sneem, Molls Gap, and Ladies View. Before arriving in Killarney, visit Muckross Park with its stately manor house and a spectacular collection of plants.
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Today, our first stop is Blarney Castle, where the legendary Blarney Stone can be found at the top of the tower. Kiss it, and you will never again be lost for words! Afterward, we stop for a tour at the Jameson Distillery in Midleton. Visit the fantastic buildings, hear about the hardworking artisans and learn about the field to glass processes behind the famous Jameson taste. Afterward, you can sit back, relax and savor our Premium Whiskey Tasting.
Overnight area Cork
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After breakfast, we travel to the Rock of Cashel. It is one of Ireland’s most famous national monuments and the royal site of the ancient kings of Munster. Also known as ‘Ireland’s Acropolis,’ this spectacular group of Medieval buildings includes a 12th-century round tower, a High Cross and Romanesque Chapel, and a 13th-century Gothic cathedral.
After that, explore the Valley of Glendalough with its two lakes and the monastic settlement where Saint Kevin lived in the 6th Century AD. A scenic drive through the Wicklow Mountains will bring us back to Dublin.
Overnight area Dublin
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On the last day of the trip, there is no planned activity. Therefore, today is all yours until the departure time from your hotel.
Private transfer to the Dublin Airport for your home flight. As we end the Scotland & Ireland tour, we want to say Goodbye for now with our best wishes!
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Price per person in double occupancy
The rate is based on 4-star accommodation
Price excluding international flights
This trip is customizable for your private travel.
