Best of Ireland and Scotland

15 days
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
96%
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Group Tour
Travel to see the very Best of Ireland and Scotland, from delicate Waterford Crystal to the golfing greats of St. Andrews. Kiss the Blarney Stone and you’ll be sharing tales from Giant’s Causeway, the Ring of Kerry and the Scottish Highlands for years to come.

Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Explore Dublin, Londonderry, Belfast and Edinburgh with a Local Specialist
    • Discover Waterford, Adare, Galway and Glasgow
    • Visit the Irish National Stud in Kildare, the Waterford Crystal showroom, Blarney Castle, Giant's Causeway, Titanic Experience in Belfast, Stirling Distillery, Pitlochry and Edinburgh Castle
    • View Eilean Donan Castle, the battlefield of Culloden and the 18th green at St. Andrews
    • See St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Galway Cathedral and Loch Lomond
    • Scenic Drive of the Ring of Kerry
    • Tickets for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included on departures that coincide with performance dates
    • Connect With Locals
    • Dive into Culture
    • Dive into Culture

What's this trip about?

    Travel to see the very Best of Ireland and Scotland, from delicate Waterford Crystal to the golfing greats of St. Andrews. Kiss the Blarney Stone and you’ll be sharing tales from Giant’s Causeway, the Ring of Kerry and the Scottish Highlands for years to come.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal transport included (including local flights)
Start CityDublin
End CityEdinburgh

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • 50 Plus
  • Education / Learning
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Attractions

  • Dublin
  • Edinburgh
  • Glasgow
  • Ring of Kerry
  • Scottish Highlands

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic Sightseeing

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Dublin

Explore the Celtic heritage and hospitality of Ireland and Scotland on this grand adventure through beautiful landscapes and enchanting cities. Our first day sees us delve into the whimsy of the Irish capital, before joining our fellow travellers and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception.

Day 2: Discover Diverse Dublin

Drive through the streets of Dublin, joining your Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour past the stately Georgian Squares and St. Patrick's Cathedral, the tallest church in Ireland. Enjoy a leisurely day exploring the city. Stop for a pint of 'the Black Stuff' in Te...

Day 3: Journey to Waterford

Dive Into Culture and gain insights into Ireland’s strong tradition of breeding world-class thoroughbreds at the Irish National Stud in Kildare. Enjoy a guided walk admiring the powerful steeds that have made racing history and stroll around the tranquil Japanese gard...

Day 4: Onwards to Blarney and Killarney

Travel to Cork and bend over backwards to kiss the Blarney Stone and acquire the 'gift of the gab' before crossing the Kerry Mountains to County Kerry. We journey to 1930s Ireland this evening for an unforgettable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, visiting the working f...

Day 5: A Day on the Ring of Kerry

The astounding beauty of Iveragh Peninsula accompanies us on this soul-stirring coastal journey around the Ring of Kerry – a dramatic landscape of mountains, loughs and lakes which have inspired writers and poets for centuries. See Daniel O'Connell's Cahirciveen, the fishing village of Waterville, the Black Valley and Moll's Gap with the Macgillycuddy's Reeks peaks in the distance.

Day 6: Continue to Galway and Coastal Ballina

Drive to Adare, one of Ireland's prettiest villages, known for its thatched cottages. The imposing stone cathedral, built on the site of an old prison and Eyre Square on our next stop in Galway, where we'll enjoy some free time to explore the city before continuing our journey northward. This evening we dine in our hotel.

Day 7: Off to Donegal and on to Londonderry

Head north to Donegal with its 'Diamond' centre before joining a Local Specialist in Londonderry to stroll along its 17th-century walls. See the 'Troubles' neighbourhood of Bogside, with its murals depicting the battles of that time.

Day 8: Admire the Giant’s Causeway and on to Belfast

Tread in the footsteps of Finn McCool and along the other-worldly Giant's Causeway 'steps' that descend into the sea during your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Your visit will help to conserve this iconic landmark. We arrive in Belfast later and visit the Titanic Bel...

Day 9: Cross the Irish Sea to Glasgow

Join your Local Specialist in Belfast this morning for an included city tour which will take you to Queen's University and the Baroque Revival-style City Hall. We board our ferry at Larne and cross to Cairnryan in Scotland, driving through the Ayrshire countryside bound for Glasgow, our home for the next two nights.

Day 10: Discover Glasgow’s Rich Legacy and on to Stirling

Delve into Scotland’s intriguing cultural capital and stroll through the toon to admire views of George Square and the River Clyde, once the heart of Scotland's shipbuilding industry. We head to Stirling, visiting Stirling Distillery where we’ll Dive Into Culture and ...

Day 11: Continue Over the Sea to Skye

Journey along the famous bonnie banks of Loch Lomond to the tragic site of the 1692 massacre of the MacDonalds at the 'Glen of Weeping'. Continue to Fort William at the foot of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis. Then, cross to the Isle of Skye, where we'll spend this evening dining in our hotel.

Day 12: Venture to Loch Ness and Culloden in the Scottish Highlands

We leave the rugged beauty of Skye behind and venture to the site where three lochs meet. View Eilean Donan Castle before travelling along the banks of Loch Ness in search of the elusive monster that bears its name. The bloody battlefield of Culloden is our next stop,...

Day 13: Journey to Enchanting Edinburgh

Traversing the dramatic landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, we pass Pitlochry before arriving in St. Andrews to see its famous golf course on which golfing greats have clamoured to play for centuries. We cross the scenic Firth of Forth to enchanting Edinburgh, our h...

Day 14: Uncover Edinburgh’s Treasures

Join your Local Specialist for a guided sightseeing tour which includes a visit to Edinburgh Castle, surveying the city from imposing Castle Rock. See the Royal Mile, the elegant Palace of Holyrood in the shadow of Arthur's Seat, and the new Scottish Parliament buildi...

Day 15: Farewell Edinburgh

For now it’s time to say a fond farewell to Scotland and our newfound friends, at the end of an unforgettable Celtic sojourn. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,425
Price per day$295
Last Updated: 3/14/2025

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Trafalgar Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
Excellent
35,633
Great
9,396
Average
2,798
Disappointing
859
Terrible
561
D

David Edgar Guthrie

Oct 2023

Written on

Best of Ireland and Scotland

Most hotels were excellent but others were marginal. We were disappointed changes to the hotel list was made after our reservation. For instance, Novatel was repla...

S

Susan Weston

Oct 2023

Written on

Best of Ireland and Scotland

It is excellent if you are not sick!

M

Mary Savage

Oct 2023

Written on

Best of Ireland and Scotland

This itinerary showed us a great mix of big cities and smaller villages. We traveled over much of the country, and really got a beautiful look at the natural beauty...

T

Trusted Customer

Sep 2023

Written on

Best of Ireland and Scotland

A great overall view of Ireland and Scotland with a variety of experiences. There are several additional excursions that are reasonably priced to add to your advent...

S

Sharon Henderson

Sep 2023

Written on

Best of Ireland and Scotland

The coach was comfortable and the hotels were placed so that we could make th...

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Logistics

Accommodation

  • Novotel Centre/Apex Haymarket
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
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Meals Included
  • 1 Be My Guest
  • 1 Farewell Dinner
  • 1 Welcome Reception
  • 14 Breakfasts
  • 3 Dinners
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
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Trip ID
trafalgar-BIASN18

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