Best of Ireland Tour (12 Night)
This Best of Ireland Tour, our most popular tour, can be accessed using any of the Irish Airports and is a 12 night tour based on Ireland’s most famous sights.
Book any of our wonderful self-drive vacation packages before the 15th of June 2024 to receive a FREE UPGRADE from Economy to Compact AND 15% discount off your tour price!
This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts or special event packages.
Stephanie was an amazing source of help, assistance and knowledge for our first trip to Ireland. She kept us informed of the every changing covid rules as well as adapted to our many - at least three- Read more »
Staff was extremely attentive and very flexible when it came to organizing our trip. All questions were answered quickly and in great detail. When some aspects of our selected trip had to be altered d Read more »
Stephanie at Irish Tourism booked our trip- she was wonderful to work with. I am picky about my rooms - when we booked the trip I requested more spacious accommodations and paid accordingly. We had Read more »
Attractions include Trinity College and Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin, Powerscourt House & the Waterford Crystal exhibition in the South East, Blarney Castle and the Cobh Heritage Centre in Cork, Killarney and the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher and the ‘Burren Landscape’ of County Clare as well as the Aran Islands and Connemara in County Galway and Ireland's most visited attraction, the ancient Megalithic Tombs at Newgrange, just 45 minutes north of Dublin.
Depending on the airports used, the stopovers outlined below may vary in order but the same route will be covered.
This tour will leave the traveller with a wonderful array of memories of the diverse scenery and cultural differences that they will encounter from one side of the country to the other. While the accents and dialects of the spoken word will vary greatly while journeying from County Dublin in the East of Ireland to the western counties of Cork, Kerry and Clare, the one unchanging constant will be the level of friendliness, humour & welcome that you receive throughout your travels.
While the suggested tour itinerary clearly outlines how you will be able to visit many of Ireland’s most historical locations and attractions, make sure to take time-out to get to know the local people and their culture.
Tour begins at 2:00 pm at your Glasgow hotel. Tour the highlights of Glasgow and discover its unique history with a visit to the oldest house in the city, Provand’s Lordship. In the evening, join your group for a welcome drink before dinner in your hotel. (D)
Drive along the famous Loch Lomond, renowned for its unsurpassed beauty. Enjoy a photo opportunity at ‘Rest and Be Thankful,’ a scenic old road with a stunning view of mountains. Visit Inveraray Castle, home of the 12th Duke of Argyll. Tour the elaborately decorated castle containing an armory, many historic relics, and a portrait collection. Stop in Inveraray for lunch on your own then enjoy some free time to explore Oban. (B, D)
Drive along the scenic shores of Loch Linnhe to Fort William, the largest town in the Highlands. Board a train and enjoy a spectacular railway journey to the fishing port of Mallaig. Have lunch independently, then embark on a scenic ferry ride to Lochboisdale on South Uist. Travel to your hotel on the Isle of Benbecula. Enjoy dinner in the hotel restaurant. (B, D)
Drive through scenic South Uist and board the ferry to Ardmhòr on Barra to admire the beautiful white sand beaches. Stop in Castlebay, the main town of the isle, and browse independently before continuing to Vatersay, an island south of Castlebay. Take the return ferry to Eriskay. Enjoy a drink with your group at the Am Politician pub, named after the SS Politician, which sank off the island in 1941, losing its cargo of whisky – and later inspiring the film “Whisky Galore”. Return to your hotel for dinner. (B, D)
Explore the island of North Uist, a stunning landscape with fresh and saltwater lochs. Visit the Hebridean Smokehouse to see how fish is smoked and enjoy a tasting. Stop at the museum and arts center at Taigh Chearsabhagh. Enjoy some free time for lunch before continuing north to Berneray to board the ferry for Leverburgh on Harris. Travel on to Stornoway, the largest town in the Outer Hebrides. (B, D)
Enjoy a tour of Harris, which boasts a wide variety of landscapes. Visit Horgabost and Luskentyre beaches, then head to Tarbert. Go behind the scenes at the Isle of Harris Distillery to witness the distilling operation and enjoy a sample. Enjoy free time for lunch. Travel to Stornoway for a panoramic tour, followed by dinner at your hotel. (B, D)
Sightsee around the Isle of Lewis, a relatively at island with many picturesque sandy beaches and rugged coastline. Experience history and heritage at Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, a former community converted to a museum and visitor center. Located above Loch an Duin, visit Dun Carloway Broch, which dates back over 2000 years. Continue exploring with a stop to marvel at the ancient Callanish Standing Stones, which date from 2000 BC. Enjoy some free time for lunch. At Bosta Beach see the Iron Age House, a reconstructed Iron Age dwelling. Return to Stornoway for a free evening to dine and explore on your own. (B)
Take a panoramic drive and short walking tour around Stornoway, then enjoy some free time to explore independently. You may choose to visit An Lanntair, an arts and exhibition center, or Lews Castle, which boasts an interactive museum including the 900-year-old Lewis Chessmen. Or, visit the Lewis Loom Centre with demonstrations of spinning wheels, the hand loom, and a craft gift shop. Board the ferry to Ullapool on the mainland. Travel to Inverness for dinner, then join a local guide for a walking tour around the city. (B, D)
Head to the Culloden Battlefield to tour the Visitor Centre, where on April 16, 1746, British Government forces defeated the army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. Enjoy some free time for lunch and exploring in Pitlochry. Visit Scone Palace and see the collections of antiques before heading to Edinburgh. Enjoy a Scottish evening with dinner followed by traditional songs and dances. July 31 to August 21 departures attend the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade instead of a group dinner. (B, D)
Take a guided sightseeing tour of Edinburgh and notice the wide streets and elegant mansions of the 200-year-old Georgian “New Town” compared with the narrow lanes and medieval townhouses along the Royal Mile. Tour Edinburgh Castle’s historic buildings and enjoy the splendid views of Edinburgh. The rest of the day is free to explore, shop, and dine on your own. (The Scottish evening with dinner and traditional song and dances will be held tonight for departures from July 31 – August 21.) (B)
Your tour ends after breakfast. (B) Please note: This itinerary is subject to last-minute changes due to ferry timetables. B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner >
Book any of our wonderful self-drive vacation packages before the 15th of June 2024 to receive a FREE UPGRADE from Economy to Compact AND 15% discount off your tour price!
This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts or special event packages.
Below, you will find a price for this self drive tour including your car rental. Pricing for other accommodation and transport options is also available upon request. Please also note that all of our driving tours itineraries and sightseeing guides are available to those wishing to avail of one of our experienced driver guides.
Notes
Prices in other currencies are indicative only. Please note that we charge in Euro.
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