2024 Vacations

Book early and save 15%

Book any of our wonderful self-drive vacation packages before the 31st of May 2024 to receive a 15% discount off your tour price!
This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts or special event packages.

Tour Overview

‘Excellent’

Discover Ireland’s best pub locations on this 8 night Ireland self drive tour.

Irish pubs are known throughout the world for the friendliness and warmth of their hospitality and also for being the meeting place for like minded souls who find themselves in search of quality conversation, humour, music and food. Of course, let’s not forget that your typical Irish publican has also been known to occasionally provide the odd drink or two.

While the Irish pub is indeed a focal point for so much of the Irish social scene, there are a number of locations that simply seem to have more than their fair share of excellent watering holes. To this end, the Irish Pub & Folk Tour takes you to towns that offer numerous great pubs renowned for their atmosphere, food and superb traditional music.

As you travel between these towns in the east, south and west of Ireland, you will also have the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful & picturesque landscapes that Ireland has to offer. Combine that with the history of the regions that you are passing through and you have the makings of an unforgettable vacation.

This tour will provide you with a real insight into both the country of Ireland and its people and their way of life.

What's included

  • Accommodation in rooms with Private Bathroom Facilities 
  • Full Irish Breakfast Each Morning
  • Rental Car or Chauffeur Driven Car
  • 24/7 Local Telephone Support During Your Trip
  • Our Renowned Customized Sightseeing Guide
  • Unlimited Services of Experienced Ireland Based Travel Planner
  • Map of Ireland

Tour highlights

  • Belfast
  • Burren
  • Cliffs of Moher
  • Dublin
  • Giants Causeway
  • Killarney
  • Galway
  • Cotswolds
  • St Andrews
  • Blarney Castle
  • Cardiff Castle
  • Conwy Castle
  • Edinburgh Castle
  • Kensington Palace
  • Snowdon National Park
  • Waterford
  • The Titanic Museum
  • Trinity College Dublin & Book of Kells
  • Roman Baths & Pump House
  • Waterford Crystal Centre
  • Stonehenge
  • Windsor Castle
  • York Minister
  • Edinburgh City
  • Glasgow
  • Loch Ness
  • Shakespeare's Birthplace
  • St Paul's Cathedral
  • Glencoe
  • Pithlochry
  • Muckross House, Gardens & Traditional Farms

Overnights for this tour

  • Kilkenny for 2 Nights
  • Killarney, County Kerry for 2 Nights
  • County Clare for 2 Nights
  • Dublin/Galway for 2 Nights

Accommodation options

  • Superior & First Class Hotels
  • Luxury Accommodation & Service in our 4-Star Country Manor Houses
  • Deluxe Accommodation in our 4 & 5 Star Irish Castles
  • Our Recommended & Handpicked B&B's, all rooms with private bath facilities
  • Any Combination of the above

Day 1 - London Arrival & Kensington Palace

Tour begins 2:00 PM at your London hotel. Take a panoramic tour of London with a local guide. Visit Kensington Palace, Queen Victoria’s birthplace and former home of Princess Diana. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group at your hotel before a free evening for independent dining.

Day 2 - Independent London Sightseeing & St. Paul’s Cathedral

Enjoy an independent day of sightseeing with tickets for the Original London Hop-On, Hop Off city tour. Explore St. Paul’s Cathedral with your enclosed admission voucher. (B)

Day 3 - Cotswolds & Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Travel through the Cotswolds, ¬ filled with rolling hills and charming villages. Stop for photos before arriving in Stratford-upon-Avon to visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace. Enjoy free time in Stratford for lunch and some independent exploration before heading to your hotel in York. (B, D)

Day 4 - York Minster & Scottish Evening

Take a walking tour of central York and visit York Minster. Drive through the lush green scenery of northern England and cross into Scotland. View the ruins of Melrose Abbey. Celebrate with a traditional Scottish banquet and entertainment this evening. (B, D)

Day 5 - Edinburgh Castle & Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo

Tour Edinburgh with a local guide, Scotland’s capital city, famous for its medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town. Tour Edinburgh Castle to view the Crown Jewels of Scotland. August 9 and August 16 departures will attend the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade. (B)

Day 6 - St Andrews & Pitlochry

Take a tour of St Andrews the “Home of Golf.” Enjoy some free time before traveling on to Pitlochry for lunch. Proceed to Aviemore, a popular resort town in the Highlands. (B, D)

Day 7 - Loch Ness Cruise & Glencoe

Cruise along Loch Ness; perhaps you’ll catch a glimpse of the legendary Nessie. Drive though the Highlands and visit Stirling Castle before going to your hotel in Strathclyde. (B, D)

Day 8 - Rabbie Burns Birthplace Museum & Belfast

Stop at the Robert Burns’ Birthplace Museum to learn about the famous poet. Drive to the Cairnryan port to travel by ferry to Belfast, where you will dine in your hotel. (B, D)

Day 9 - Glens of Antrim & Giant’s Causeway

Drive through the scenic Nine Glens of Antrim. Visit the Giants Causeway, hexagonal columns formed over 60 million years ago. Return to Belfast for a panoramic tour of the city. Enjoy free time for dining independently. (B)

Day 10 - Donegal & Galway

Depart for Donegal, where you will enjoy some free time and lunch independently. Visit Knock Shrine, a pilgrimage site where an apparition of the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared. Depart for Galway and take a walking tour of the city with a local guide. Return to your hotel for dinner there. (B, D)

Day 11 - Wild Atlantic Way Drive & Quiet Man Walking Tour

Drive through the stunning scenery of Connemara. In Cong, take a short walking tour to see locations from the “Quiet Man.” Have lunch at Eddies of Clonbur, then travel to Galway via Maam Cross. The afternoon is free to enjoy Galway on your own. (B, L)

Day 12 - The Burren & Cliffs of Moher

Drive through the Burren and visit the Cliffs of Moher, and take a ferry across the River Shannon. Stop at John B. Keane’s Pub, where the famed playwright wrote his famous works. (B, D)

Day 13 - Muckross House & Sheep Farm

Visit the 19th-century Muckross House and Gardens. Take a scenic drive along the highlights of the Ring of Kerry before stopping in Kenmare for lunch and some free time to explore. Travel to a traditional farm to see highly-skilled sheepdogs herd sheep. Enjoy a free evening in Killarney. (B, L)

Day 14 - Blarney Castle & Cobh

Visit Blarney Castle and kiss the “Stone of Eloquence.” Visit Cobh and learn of this colorful town’s connection to the Titanic. Enjoy a walking tour of the historic city of Waterford with a local guide. (B, D)

Day 15 - Waterford Crystal & Taylors Three Rock

Tour the famous House of Waterford Crystal to see how its famous glassware is made. Visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship to learn the history of Irish emigration. Enjoy a night of traditional Irish entertainment and cuisine at Taylors Three Rock Pub. (B, D)

Day 16 - Dublin & Book of Kells

Tour Dublin, then take a walking tour of Trinity College and see the 9th-century Book of Kells, one of Ireland’s ¬ nest cultural treasures. Explore Dublin independently for the remainder of your day. (B)

Day 17 - Ferry to Wales & Conwy

Sail to Holyhead in Wales. Discover the town of Conwy and take a guided walking tour of its famous sights. Tour Conwy Castle with free time to explore on your own. (B, D)

Day 18 - Snowdonia & Brecon Beacons

Head south through Snowdonia National Park, stopping in a traditional Welsh market town, where you’ll have some free time for lunch. View the stunning scenery of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Enjoy a panoramic tour of Cardiff before heading to Cardiff Castle, where you’ll enjoy a tour followed by an elegant banquet. (B, D)

Day 19 - Bath & Bodmin Moor

In Bath, visit the hot springs and the ancient Roman Baths. Stop in Glastonbury with its historic sites. Enjoy free time to explore and have lunch. Take a scenic drive through Devon, across Bodmin Moor and into Cornwall to your hotel in St Austell. (B, D)

Day 20 - St Michael’s Mount & St. Ives

Travel to Marazion and see St Michael’s Mount, a remarkable tidal island. If the tide allows, walk out across the causeway. Travel to the artistic community of St. Ives for a walking tour. Browse the picturesque ¬ fishing village of Mevagissey. (B, D)

Day 21 - Stonehenge & Salisbury

Visit the stone monoliths at Stonehenge. Take a tour of Salisbury, a medieval city famous for its cathedral, which houses one of the original copies of the Magna Carta. (B, D)

Day 22 - Windsor Walking Tour & Windsor Castle

Head to Windsor for a walking tour with a local guide, then visit Windsor Castle, the Queen’s Residence. Explore independently for the rest of the day and evening. (B)

Day 23 - Tour Ends in London

Your program ends after breakfast. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner All components of this tour (hotels, visits and attractions) for 2020 itineraries are subject to change until finalized in September 2019.   >

Route map

Tour attractions

2024 Vacations

Book early and save 15%

Book any of our wonderful self-drive vacation packages before the 31st of May 2024 to receive a 15% discount off your tour price!
This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts or special event packages.

Tour Prices

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.

ACCOMMODATION WITH CAR RENTAL PRICING

Notes

  • Please note prices are per person based on 2 persons in each room with full Irish breakfast and taxes included.
  • The Combination package includes 4 Nights in 3*** Hotels, 2 nights in Luxury Manor House Hotels & 2 Nights in our hand-picked B&B's.
  • Children Sharing with 2 adults (aged 2-11) pay 40% of the Adult option.
  • Children under the age of 2 are free when sharing with 2 Adults.
  • Your Accommodation & Car Rental Package rate includes an Economy class car eg., Opel Corsa or Fiat Punto.
  • Included with your car is all compulsory insurances - Collision Damage Waiver insurance (CDW with an excess/deductible), theft protection insurance, location fee of €30, Road fund tax, sales tax at 13.5%, unlimited free mileage, third party liability insurance, 24 hour peace of mind break down cover.

Private Chauffeur Option Available For This Tour

  • Enjoy the services of an experienced and friendly driver guide
  • Luxury vehicles so you get to travel in style and comfort
  • Take the stress out of driving on unfamiliar and sometime narrow roads
  • With our knowledgeable drivers you see more in less time
  • You get to see the scenery instead of worrying about crashing into it!
  • Contact Us for a price quotation today

Prices in other currencies are indicative only. Please note that we charge in Euro.

Detailed Enquiry Form

Please enter your vacation requirements in the form below. If your enquiry requires a more immediate response, please use the Tollfree & International numbers as listed down the page.

For customers based in North America, please note that as we are based in Ireland, we are 5 hours ahead of EST.

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