Best of Ireland & Scotland - Small Group
Best of Ireland & Scotland - Small Group
Temple Bar Street, Dublin, Ireland
Walking along the bank of the River Lee in Cork, Ireland
Blarney, Ireland
The famous "Ladies View", Ring of Kerry, Ireland
Ross Castle, Killarney National Park, Ireland
Salmon Weir Bridge, Galway City, Ireland
Classiebawn Castle, Mullaghmore, Sligo
Galway's cobblestone streets, Ireland
Giant's Causeway
George Square, Glasgow, Scotland
Ben Nevis, Scotland
Hikers descending Conic Hill towards Loch Lomond, Scotland
Glencoe, Scotland
Loch Ness, Scotland
Cityscape of Inverness, Scotland
St Andrews, Scotland
Edinburgh city skyline from Calton Hill, Scotland
$8675
Best of Ireland & Scotland - Small Group
14 Days Starting in Dublin, Ireland and ending in Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Visiting: Dublin, Kildare, Cork, Blarney, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Sligo, Londonderry, Giant's Causeway, Antrim Coast, Ardgowan Estate, Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Loch Ness, Inverness, Culloden Moor, St. Andrews, Edinburgh
Tour operator:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the enchanting landscapes of Ireland and Scotland with the "Best of Ireland & Scotland - Small Group" tour. This immersive experience takes you from the vibrant streets of Dublin to the historic charm of Edinburgh, offering a perfect blend of cultural exploration and natural beauty. Discover the iconic Cliffs of Moher, the mystical Giant's Causeway, and the breathtaking Ring of Kerry. Enjoy authentic experiences like a traditional Scottish tea at Ardgowan Estate and a whisky tasting in the Highlands. With guided tours of historic sites, scenic drives, and unique activities such as a horse-drawn jaunting car ride in Killarney, this tour promises a rich tapestry of experiences. Delight in local cuisine with included meals, including a celebration dinner in Edinburgh, and relax in luxurious accommodations throughout your journey. This small group tour ensures a personalized and intimate exploration of these captivating Celtic lands.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Dublin
Location: Dublin
Accommodation: Hotel, Clayton Charlemont Dublin.
Accommodation Name: Clayton Charlemont, Dublin
Meals Included: Dinner
Relax at your hotel before joining your Travel Director for a warm and friendly dinner, an opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers.
Day 2: In Dublin’S Fair City
Location: Dublin
Accommodation: Clayton Hotel Charlemont, Dublin.
Accommodation Name: Clayton Charlemont, Dublin
Meals Included: Breakfast
An orientation with your Local Expert will take you past the Custom House and travel along the River Liffey. See the Guinness Storehouse, Christchurch Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Enjoy entrance to the 9th century Book of Kells and a walk through the cobbled courtyards of Trinity College to gain insight into the establishment's impressive history.
Day 3: Kildare And Cork
Location: Kildare, Cork
Accommodation: The Kingsley Hotel, Cork., Maldron Hotel South Mall Cork City., Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa.
Accommodation Name: The Kingsley, Cork, Maldron South Mall, Cork
Meals Included: Breakfast
Witness life behind the scenes of the National Stud Farm, where many legendary racehorses are bred. Then see the finest Japanese gardens in Europe, where the gardens portray the symbolism of life and trace the journey of a soul, designed by master horticulturists, Tassa and Minoru Eida. Continue on to Cork, Ireland's second most populous city, built on the River Lee. Travel along Grand Parade to see Cork's City Hall and Opera House.
Day 4: Blarney Castle And Killarney Relaxed Start
Location: Blarney, Killarney
Accommodation: Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa.
Accommodation Name: Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Your Ireland and Scotland tour continues with a visit to the partially ruined 15th century Blarney Castle, home of the famous Stone of Eloquence - once kissed, never forgotten!
Day 5: Ring Of Kerry Experience
Location: Killarney, Ring of Kerry
Accommodation: Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa.
Accommodation Name: Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast
Explore Killarney with Insight Choice. Choose a memorable ride on a horse-drawn jaunting car with the local jarveys. Alternatively, join a gentle hike with a Local Expert along the lake shore and past the grounds of Ross Castle, admiring the incredible scenery of the National Park. While there aren't any mountains to climb, walkers should be fit, have good walking shoes or boots, sunscreen and rain gear. Tour the superb seascapes, towering cliffs and spectacular mountains of the Ring of Kerry. Journey past lush lakelands and through delightful villages like Sneem. Cross the peat bogs of the Black Valley to Moll's Gap and admire Queen Victoria's Ladies View. Upon returning in the mid-afternoon, the rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 6: The Cliffs Of Moher
Location: Cliffs of Moher, Galway
Accommodation: The Galmont Hotel & Spa, Galway.
Accommodation Name: Connemara Coast, Galway
Meals Included: Breakfast
Begin the day with a short ferry ride across the Shannon estuary. Enjoy magnificent views of the Clare coast, as you journey to the Visitors' Centre at the 700-foot Cliffs of Moher.Continue on to your hotel, located at the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way. Join your Travel Director in Galway to see the infamous Lynch Memorial and the Church of St. Nicholas, where Christopher Columbus reputedly prayed before his discovery of America. Also see the aged Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the late US President, John F. Kennedy.
Day 7: Glorious Galway To Sligo Bay Relaxed Start
Location: Galway, Sligo
Accommodation: Clayton Hotel, Sligo.
Accommodation Name: Clayton, Sligo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Tour the wild Connemara region, a scenic wonderland of rivers, lakes and silent hills.Drive along the scenic shores of Sligo Bay.
Day 8: Walk In The Giant’S Steps
Location: Londonderry, Giant's Causeway, Antrim Coast
Accommodation: Ballygally Castle Hotel, Co. Antrim.
Accommodation Name: Ballygally Castle, Co. Antrim
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Cross into Northern Ireland to visit Londonderry. What better way to experience sightseeing than with one of Northern Ireland's best storytellers, Ronan, as he walks with you inside the city walls, still topped with cannons. Walk down Shipquay Street, with its elegant Georgian houses, to the Gothic Guildhall. Journey to the iconic Giant's Causeway for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. This geological masterpiece was created by the cooling of lava which burst through the earth's crust millions of years ago. Learn how the National Trust is enabling farming and biodiversity to work together, supporting both wildlife and quality food production. Next, take a spectacular drive along the Antrim Coast to your hotel, overlooking the sea at the head of Ballygally Bay.
Day 9: High Tea At Ardgowan Estate Relaxed Start
Location: Ardgowan Estate, Glasgow
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow.
Accommodation Name: Radisson Blu, Glasgow
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cross the Irish Sea by ferry and journey to Ardgowan. Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart welcomes you to his family castle, set on a 10,000-acre coastal estate. Explore the history of the area and learn the Shaw Stewart family's conservation efforts to protect the land on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, followed by delightful traditional Scottish tea and scones. Continue to Glasgow where your Travel Director will show you the city's grand public buildings, including George Square and St. Mungo's Cathedral.
Day 10: Glencoe And Loch Ness Relaxed Start
Location: Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Loch Ness
Accommodation: Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness.
Accommodation Name: Kingsmills, Inverness
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
A scenic drive takes you along the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond. Absorb the dramatic landscape of Glencoe, still echoing with the cries of massacred clansmen. Pause at the Commando Memorial for a view of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis before reaching the Great Glen. Continue on to Loch Ness and embark on a cruise to soak up the scenery, historic monuments and intriguing tales of Nessie in the heart of Scotland's great glen.
Day 11: A Highlands Experience Relaxed Start
Location: Inverness, Culloden Moor
Accommodation: Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness.
Accommodation Name: Kingsmills, Inverness
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
In the morning, see the sights of Inverness, before travelling to the Culloden Moor Visitor Centre, where Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite army was finally defeated. Then have a 'wee dram' during a visit to a local distillery, hear stories of the whisky smugglers as you delve into the fascinating world of the single malt.
Day 12: St. Andrews And Edinburgh
Location: St. Andrews, Edinburgh
Accommodation: Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh.
Accommodation Name: Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh
Meals Included: Breakfast
A scenic drive takes you through the Grampian Mountains past the Duke of Atholl's Blair Castle. Drive down and cross the Tay to visit St. Andrews. As you arrive, pass the Old Course, the home of golf since its invention in the 15th century. Enjoy free time to explore. Why not wander to St. Andrews University where the love story of Kate Middleton and Prince William began? Alternately, stroll to West Sands Beach where the famous 'Chariots of Fire' scene was filmed. Continue across the majestic Forth Road Bridge to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. In the evening, select departures attend The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Day 13: Scotland’S Capital Of Culture
Location: Edinburgh
Accommodation: Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh.
Accommodation Name: Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
In the morning, join a Local Expert to see the highlights of the city. Drive along Princes Street to the ornate Scott Memorial, then see the 18th century New Town with its neoclassical Georgian facades. In the Old Town see the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the King. Venture up the Royal Mile to visit Edinburgh Castle, home of Mons Meg and Scotland’s Crown Jewels, the Honours of Scotland. In the afternoon, you are at leisure to continue exploring as you wish, or perhaps go shopping. Join your friends in the heart of Edinburgh at a Celebration Dinner of modern Scottish cuisine served with wine.
Day 14: Farewell Edinburgh
Location: Edinburgh
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your 14 days in Ireland and Scotland come to an end after breakfast with transfers arriving at Edinburgh airport.
What's Included
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Meals
The tour includes 13 breakfasts, 7 dinners, and 1 afternoon tea.
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Activities
Choose between two carefully selected activities in Killarney: a horse-drawn jaunting car ride or a gentle hike with a nature guide.
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Dublin Dinner
Join your Travel Director for a warm and friendly dinner in Dublin.
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Whisky Tasting
Sample a 'wee dram' and learn the whisky production process at a local distillery in the Scottish Highlands.
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Celebration Dinner
Enjoy a Celebration Dinner at Galvin Brasserie de Luxe in Edinburgh, featuring modern-Scottish cuisine with a Parisian twist, served with wine.
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Trinity College Visit
Enjoy access to view the famous Book of Kells at Trinity College in Dublin.
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Irish National Stud Visit
Visit the Irish National Stud in Kildare and explore the foaling unit, museum, and stallions.
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Londonderry Tour
Experience sightseeing in Londonderry with one of Northern Ireland's best storytellers.
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Giant's Causeway Visit
Visit the legendary Giant's Causeway and learn about biodiversity and ecosystem protection efforts.
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Ardgowan Estate Tour
Join Sir Ludovic for a tour of Ardgowan Estate and enjoy a traditional Scottish tea.
What's Not Included
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.
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Optional Activities
Optional activities and excursions not listed in the itinerary are not included.
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Flights
International and domestic flights to and from the tour start and end locations are not included.
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with a combination of scenic drives, ferry crossings, and guided tours. Enjoy a horse-drawn jaunting car ride in Killarney, a cruise on Loch Ness, and a ferry ride across the Irish Sea.
Dining Summary
- 7 Dinner (D)
- 13 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Afternoon Tea (AT)
Insight Experiences
- Dublin: A stunning combination of cobblestone walkways, emerald-green lawns and 18th-century architectural gems, Trinity College is one of Europe’s elite universities and counts poet Oscar Wilde among its alumni. See the enchanting college campus and discover insights into its impressive history. Enjoy access to view the famous Book of Kells, an exquisite manuscript of the four gospels of the Christian New Testament, renowned for the intricacy, detail and majesty of the illustrations.
- Kildare: Horse racing is key part of Irish culture; and you'll get a rare peek into it over your visit to the Irish National Stud. Set in Kildare at the breeding ground of champions and the birthplace of legends, explore the foaling unit, museum and the stallions that continue to make racing history. As the only stud farm in Ireland open to the public, learn the insights of horse-racing at a site whose former visitors include queens and presidents.
- Londonderry: There's no better way to experience sightseeing than with one of Northern Ireland's best storytellers, Ronan, as he takes you on a tour inside the city walls. See the Gothic Guildhall and the Georgian houses of Shipquay Street.
Accommodation
Experience comfort and luxury at the Clayton Charlemont in Dublin, The Kingsley in Cork, and the Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa. Enjoy the scenic views at the Connemara Coast in Galway and the historic charm of Ballygally Castle in Co. Antrim. Relax at the Radisson Blu in Glasgow and the Kingsmills in Inverness, before ending your journey at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa in Edinburgh.
Check out our Q&As
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What unique experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes a variety of unique experiences such as a visit to the Giant's Causeway where you can learn about biodiversity and ecosystem protection efforts, a tour of Ardgowan Estate with Sir Ludovic, and a whisky tasting session in the Scottish Highlands. Additionally, you can choose between a horse-drawn jaunting car ride or a gentle hike in Killarney National Park.
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What kind of dining experiences can I expect on this tour?
The tour offers a range of dining experiences including a warm and friendly dinner in Dublin, a traditional Scottish tea at Ardgowan Estate, and a Celebration Dinner at Galvin Brasserie de Luxe in Edinburgh featuring modern-Scottish cuisine with a Parisian twist. You will also have the opportunity to sample a 'wee dram' and learn about whisky production at a local distillery.
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Are there any special events or performances included in the tour?
Yes, for a limited time in August, the tour includes the opportunity to witness the incredible spectacle of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a renowned event featuring performances by military bands and performers from around the world.
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What are some of the highlights of the tour in terms of sightseeing?
The tour includes sightseeing highlights such as a visit to the Cliffs of Moher, a cruise on Loch Ness, and a tour of Edinburgh Castle. You will also explore the historic heart of Galway, the scenic beauty of the Ring of Kerry, and the iconic Giant's Causeway.
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What kind of accommodations are provided during the tour?
Accommodations on the tour include stays at the Clayton Charlemont in Dublin, The Kingsley in Cork, the Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa, the Connemara Coast in Galway, Ballygally Castle in Co. Antrim, the Radisson Blu in Glasgow, the Kingsmills in Inverness, and the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa in Edinburgh.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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Low Deposit
Insight Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of insight vacations charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions