7 days · Ireland, United Kingdom
Irish Explorer
From AED 6,865per person, twin share
Seven days across Ireland and Northern Ireland, taking in music, monuments and mystical locations.
- Duration
- 7 Days / 6 Nights
- Route
- Starts and ends in Dublin
- 2 countries on this tour
- Ireland
- United Kingdom
- Activity level
- Moderate (3 of 5)
- A fast coach tour with a new hotel most nights and guided walking tours of up to three hours; one free day in Killarney breaks up the pace
- Accommodation
- 6 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels in Dublin, Derry, Galway and Killarney (two nights)
- Meals
- 6 breakfasts and 3 dinners
- Group
- Group tour, up to 51
- Guide
- English-speaking tour leader throughout
- Transport
- Air-conditioned coach
- Best time to go
- Runs April to October: mild spring, warm summer and a mild autumn, though rain is possible in Ireland in any month
Tour overview
This seven-day Irish Explorer tour goes all round the “Emerald Isle”, with historic cities, friendly locals and natural scenery. Dublin, Belfast and the Giant’s Causeway come early on, with Galway and the Cliffs of Moher later in the week.
Highlights
- A walking and driving tour of Dublin
- Welcome dinner in Dublin
- A driving tour of Belfast
- The Giant’s Causeway
- Free time in Galway
- The Cliffs of Moher
- Limerick, with the Treaty Stone and King John’s Castle
- A stop in Adare, a village in Ireland
Show all 10 highlightsShow fewer highlights
- Blarney Castle, an included visit, and the chance to kiss the Blarney Stone
- An orientation tour of Kilkenny
See the journey come to life
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
Dublin
1 night · Day 1
Louis Fitzgerald Hotel
Belfast
Day 2 · on the way
Giant's Causeway
Day 2 · on the way
Derry
1 night · Day 2
Holiday Inn Express Derry - Londonderry by IHG
Sligo
Day 3 · on the way
Galway
1 night · Day 3
Imperial Hotel
Cliffs of Moher
Day 4 · on the way
Killarney
2 nights · Days 4–5
The Parkavon Hotel Killarney
Show all 11 stopsShow fewer stops
Blarney Castle
Day 6 · on the way
Kilkenny
Day 6 · on the way
Dublin
1 night · Day 6
Louis Fitzgerald Hotel
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Start of tour in Dublin
Dinner included
You meet your tour leader and the rest of the group at the hotel, ahead of an orientation tour of Dublin, Ireland’s capital. The afternoon is free, or you can book ahead to join the Discover Dublin excursion for a closer look at Irish culture and key sights. The day ends with a welcome dinner with the group.
Included
- Orientation tour of Dublin, including St Patrick’s Cathedral, the GPO and the River Liffey bridges
- Welcome dinner with the group
Optional extras
- Discover Dublin · AED 405 per person
- Overnight
- Dublin
- Hotel
- Louis Fitzgerald Hotel
Day 2
Dublin – Belfast – Giant's Causeway – Derry
Breakfast and dinner included
The day heads into Northern Ireland, taking in the history of the Rising, the Civil War, the Fight for Independence and the Troubles. There is a stop in Belfast, the capital city, for a driving and walking tour, before the route follows the Causeway coastal road to Giant’s Causeway. The last stop of the day is the riverside city of Derry.
Included
- Driving tour of Belfast
- Walk among the basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway
Optional extras
- Titanic Belfast Experience · AED 145 per person
- Travel
- Dublin → Belfast → the Giant’s Causeway → Derry by coach
- Overnight
- Derry
- Hotel
- Holiday Inn Express Derry - Londonderry by IHG
Day 3
Derry – Sligo – Galway
Breakfast includedThe route to Galway joins the Wild Atlantic Way, said to be the world’s longest drive along the coast, with a comfort stop in Sligo along the way. Galway is reached in the afternoon, an arty, bohemian city where you have free time to explore. In the evening, the optional Tales of Galway excursion offers an evening of Irish folklore with live music in a historic pub.
Included
- Free time in Galway
Optional extras
- Tales of Galway · AED 150 per person
- Travel
- Derry → Sligo → Galway by coach
- Overnight
- Galway
- Hotel
- Imperial Hotel
Day 4
Galway – Cliffs of Moher – Killarney
Breakfast and dinner included
The day’s first stop is the Cliffs of Moher, which rise over 200 metres above the sea. From there, the route continues to Bunratty Castle, where an optional excursion includes a self-guided tour. There is a photo stop in Limerick, and a walk through Adare, a village often described as Ireland’s prettiest, before the day ends in Killarney for the night.
Included
- Views of the Cliffs of Moher
- Stop in Limerick to see the Treaty Stone and King John’s Castle
- Photo stop in Adare, known for its thatched cottages
Optional extras
- Bunratty Castle with Lunch · AED 195 per person
- Travel
- Galway → the Cliffs of Moher → Limerick → Adare → Killarney by coach
- Overnight
- Killarney
- Hotel
- The Parkavon Hotel Killarney
Day 5
Killarney: Free Day
Breakfast includedThe Kerry region offers a free day, with the option to join the Ring of Kerry Day Trip. The route takes in stops such as Kerry Bog Village and the Beenarouke viewpoint, along with a jaunting, or carriage, ride through Killarney National Park.
Included
- Free day in Killarney to explore at your own pace
Optional extras
- Ring of Kerry Day Trip · AED 255 per person
- Overnight
- Killarney
- Hotel
- The Parkavon Hotel Killarney
Day 6
Killarney – Blarney Castle – Kilkenny – Dublin
Breakfast included
The journey back to Dublin includes a stop at Blarney Castle, where you can kiss the Blarney Stone for the traditional ‘gift of the gab’. The medieval town of Kilkenny comes next, with an orientation tour taking in its old centre, called the Medieval Mile. On the last night, you can join the optional evening of Irish music in Dublin.
Included
- Visit to Blarney Castle, home of the Blarney Stone
- Orientation tour of Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile
Optional extras
- Irish Music Evening · AED 295 per person
- Travel
- Killarney → Blarney Castle → Kilkenny → Dublin by coach
- Overnight
- Dublin
- Hotel
- Louis Fitzgerald Hotel
Day 7
End of tour in Dublin
Breakfast includedAfter breakfast, the tour comes to an end and it is time to say goodbye. It is worth exchanging contact details with your fellow travellers before heading off, taking with you memories of the sights, culture, scenery and history from this part of Ireland.
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room. A single room costs the supplement shown.
11 dates
Sun 11 Apr – Sat 17 Apr 2027
Available
AED 7,510
Single room +AED 4,295
Sun 9 May – Sat 15 May 2027
Few seats left
AED 8,335
Single room +AED 4,295
Sun 6 Jun – Sat 12 Jun 2027
Available
AED 7,830
Single room +AED 4,295
Sun 20 Jun – Sat 26 Jun 2027
AvailableBest price
AED 6,865
Single room +AED 4,295
Sun 4 Jul – Sat 10 Jul 2027
Available
AED 7,510
Single room +AED 4,295
Sun 18 Jul – Sat 24 Jul 2027
Available
AED 6,865
Single room +AED 4,295
Sun 1 Aug – Sat 7 Aug 2027
Available
AED 7,510
Single room +AED 4,295
Sun 22 Aug – Sat 28 Aug 2027
Available
AED 6,865
Single room +AED 4,295
Sun 5 Sept – Sat 11 Sept 2027
Available
AED 6,865
Single room +AED 4,295
Sun 19 Sept – Sat 25 Sept 2027
Available
AED 7,140
Single room +AED 4,295
Show all 11 datesShow fewer dates
Sun 10 Oct – Sat 16 Oct 2027
Available
AED 7,140
Single room +AED 4,295
What’s included
Included
- 6 nights in mostly 3-star and 4-star hotels, in twin rooms with a private bathroom
- A room to yourself for a single supplement, subject to availability
- 6 breakfasts and 3 dinners, with a vegetarian option at every meal on request
- A modern coach with air conditioning, reclining seats and a toilet
- Public transport the tour uses, except on free days
- Guided from start to finish
Not included
- Flights to the start of the tour and home from the end: we can book them from Dubai
- Travel insurance: take out a policy that suits your trip
Optional extras
Excursions and upgrades you can add to the tour. Prices are per person.
Discover Dublin
Day 1AED 405per personA day with your tour leader taking in Dublin’s top sights: a traditional pub lunch, the EPIC Irish Emigration Museum, plus the Guinness Storehouse, finishing with a pint at the rooftop Gravity Bar. €95. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
See day 1 in the itineraryTitanic Belfast Experience
Day 2AED 145per personInteractive galleries on the Titanic’s construction, maiden voyage and sinking, with full-scale reconstructions and special effects, in the city where she was built. €34, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 2 in the itineraryTales of Galway
Day 3AED 150per personAn evening of storytelling and live Irish music in a historic Galway pub, with a pint of Guinness or an alternative drink included. €35, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 3 in the itineraryBunratty Castle with Lunch
Day 4AED 195per personA self-guided tour of Bunratty Castle, a tower house from the 15th century, in County Clare, with lunch at the castle cafe, followed by a walk through Bunratty Folk Park’s reconstructed Irish village. €45, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 4 in the itineraryRing of Kerry Day Trip
Day 5AED 255per personA scenic drive around the Ring of Kerry with stops at Ladies View, Caherdaniel and Moll’s Gap, a visit to the Kerry Bog Village Museum, and a jaunting ride that takes you through Killarney National Park. €60, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 5 in the itineraryIrish Music Evening
Day 6AED 295per personA traditional Irish dinner at a Dublin pub, with live music and dancing, plus return transport to your hotel. €69, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 6 in the itinerary
To add an extra, mention it in your booking notes, and we confirm it with your seats before you pay. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day instead: their description says so.
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Good to know
Practical details to read before you travel.
Passport & visas
This tour visits both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom; neither is in the Schengen area, and each has its own entry rules.
Ireland has its own visa, separate from the UK’s. Whether you need one depends on your passport, and our visa team checks and applies on your behalf.
For the Northern Ireland leg, UAE passport holders use the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied for online before you travel; most other nationalities living in the UAE need a UK Standard Visitor visa, applied for in Dubai. Because the tour crosses between the Republic and Northern Ireland, you need entry permission for both: our visa team handles both applications when you book.
Flights and timings
Flights to and from Dublin aren’t included. Day 1 begins at 10:00 at the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel in Dublin, where you check in at reception and mention you are on a group tour; your tour leader’s contact details reach you about a week beforehand.
The tour ends at the same hotel at 10:00 on day 7.
Our team can book your flights from Dubai to match.
Meals and dietary needs
Breakfast is included every day except day 1, which opens with a welcome dinner in Dublin instead; dinner is included on three evenings in total. Lunch is on you, which leaves room to try a pub along the way.
Tell us about any dietary needs, halal included, when you book, and we pass them on before the tour.
Money
You will use two currencies on this tour: the euro in the Republic of Ireland, and the pound sterling once you cross into Northern Ireland on day 2. Cards are widely accepted in both.
Optional extras booked on tour are paid to your tour leader in cash or by card, in the currency shown.
Weather and packing
This tour runs April to October, when Ireland is at its greenest, but rain is possible in any month: pack a proper rain jacket alongside layers for cooler mornings and evenings. Comfortable, broken-in shoes help on the orientation walks in Dublin, Belfast and Kilkenny.
Plan your trip
Our Dubai team arranges what goes around the tour, so it is booked in one place.
Visas
Check the visa for each country on the route. Our visa team in Dubai applies for UAE residents once the tour is booked. For Ireland, ask them what your passport needs.
Flights
Flights are not included. We can book them with the tour: Dubai to Dublin and back. Tick “Flights” when you book and we quote them with your confirmation.
Pay in instalments
Split the cost with Tabby or Tamara, or over 3 to 12 months on a UAE bank credit card for bookings from AED 1,000.
Book this tour
Book in a minute. Your seats are held as soon as you book; you name the other travellers and pay once we have confirmed them.
Questions before you book? Our support team is on WhatsApp +971 4 589 0001.
Questions about this tour
What will my days look like?
Days are full. Most start with breakfast, then the main sights with a local guide or your tour leader. Afternoons often leave free time to wander, stop for a coffee or join an optional extra. Expect a fair amount of walking: some days mean two or three hours on your feet, so bring comfortable shoes.
Who will I be travelling with?
Travellers from all over the world, of different ages and backgrounds, who share a wish to see more. Up to 51 people share this tour, and most know each other’s names within a few days.
What are the hotels like?
Mostly 3 and 4 star, all clean, comfortable and well located, with private en-suite bathrooms. They are chosen so you sleep well and are ready for the next day. The destinations come first, but the hotels are never an afterthought.
How active is this tour?
You carry your own luggage, sometimes up hotel stairs. Some walking tours run for up to three hours, and a few sites have plenty of steps. The itinerary and the activity level at the top of this page show whether the pace suits you.
How do optional extras work?
Optional extras run in the tour’s free time, and your tour leader tells you what is on offer as the tour goes. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day. Others sell in advance and must be bought before the tour starts: to add one of those, mention it in your booking notes and we confirm it with your seats. Each extra in the Optional extras section says which way it is booked.
Will I have time to explore on my own?
Yes. The itinerary builds in free time to wander at your own pace, and your tour leader can point you to the places that suit you, so you are never left to work it all out alone.
What support do I have while I’m on tour?
Your tour leader travels with you from start to finish. They know the places most visitors miss, can suggest a restaurant before you ask, and deal with whatever crops up on the way. Transport and hotels are all arranged for you.
There is also an emergency number staffed 24 hours a day, and our team in Dubai is there to help.
How do I book Irish Explorer?
Press Book now, choose a date, your travellers and rooms, and give your name, email and mobile. We hold your seats and email your booking reference straight away; you then add each traveller as their passport shows on your booking page. Our Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails you a secure payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
When do I pay?
Once the tour operator confirms your seats. We email you a secure payment link for the total in AED, and your booking is complete when it is paid. To pay in instalments, say so in your booking notes.
Is the price per person?
Yes. Prices are per person sharing a double or twin room. Travelling alone? A single room costs the supplement shown next to each date.
Are flights included?
Only when the tour lists them under what is included. We can book flights from the UAE to the start city and home from the end city with your tour.
Do I need a visa?
That depends on your passport and the countries on the route. Our visa team arranges Schengen and other visas for UAE residents, and can apply for yours once the tour is booked.
Payment plans
Take the trip now. Pay for it in pieces.
Every booking qualifies, from holidays and tours to visas. Spread it over 3 to 12 months at 0% on a credit card plan, or with Tabby or Tamara; some banks add a one-time processing fee.
- Credit card plans from AED 1,000
- Tabby and Tamara, no minimum
- Terms from 3 to 12 months
Find your bank’s plan
Credit cards, from AED 1,000
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