Get €150 off your next Wild Atlantic or Castles & Classics Essential Ireland Tours with this Black Friday special offer code: Ireland or €115 of the True North Tours with this code: Ireland-North
Limited places so Book Now! Offer valid until 4 December
Solo supplement of €850 approx applies to solo travellers, see FAQs for details
We run a limited number of exclusive tours each year, all sell out! Book early to avoid disappointment
If a tour is 'SOLD OUT' you can email us to join a waiting list.
If a particular date does not suit your friends or family group, please get in touch about organising a private tour
Saturday 19th to Friday 25th March, 2023 SOLD OUT
Saturday 23rd April to Sat 29th April 2023 SOLD OUT
Saturday 21st May to Sat 27th May 2023 SOLD OUT
Sunday 23rd to 29th July - OPEN - some spaces left
Sunday 27th Aug to Sat 2nd Sep 2023 - OPEN
Saturday 9th to Sat 15 Sep 2023 SOLD OUT
Sunday 8th Oct to Sat 14th Oct 2023 - OPEN
You’ll never forget checking in to a 12th century fortress and sleeping in its luxurious bedrooms.
This tour features all the fantastic activities and experiences ‘Essential Ireland Tours’ are famous for, but it’s extra magic is the luxury accommodation and the small group size (8 - 16 tour guests only).
You’ll have the travel experience of a lifetime in some of the world’s best hotels and stately homes. We leave nothing out and the attention to detail on this tour is exceptional. Great memories, fun experiences, gourmet food and wine, wonderful music, a luxury Castle, an epic VIP tour of Ireland.
This marvelous tour overnights in historic gems such as Ashford Castle and Milltown House. For our foodies, a gourmet Irish dinner with private Chef, a whiskey tasting, fun picnics with local produce (especially Irish cheese!). Epic experiences each day from historical walking tours, great traditional music and pubs, to our very own private School of Falconry and so much more
All activities are fully covered in the Essential Ireland Tour Package
Take a Jaunting car through Killarney historical national park
Stay in historic Adare (Ryder Cup 2027), one of Ireland's most picturesque villages
Great experiences galore from the iconic Guinness Brewery to our very own award-winning 'Kingdom Falconry'.
Visit the preserved historic village and castle in Bunratty county Clare, where you can see Ireland's history through the ages
Stay in the exquisite 5 star Ashford Castle, in the heart of Connemara
Explore the early medieval site of the Rock Of Cashel: follow in the footsteps of St. Patrick
See where 'The Quiet Man' was filmed in the charming village of Cong, home to Cong Abbey
All activities are fully covered in the Essential Ireland Tour Package
All Breakfasts are Included. From cooked gourmet feasts of eggs and bacon; and healthy fruit, homemade muesli and porridge
Luxury Accommodation: Ashford Castle included. Stately Homes, Country Houses, fine town-centre 4 & 5 star Hotels . Range of luxury accommodation outlined below
All tips to guides, drivers, local guides, bar-staff, servers etc ALL covered while on a tour activity or meal
All transport, from luxury coach travel, shuttle buses, taxis etc used for tour activities are paid for.
Snacks are occasionally provided while aboard our small luxury coach going from destination to destination.
1 picnic lunch is provided - hand-picked artisan Irish cheese board , cold meats, homemade breads and fresh-fruit
We provide 1 gourmet group-meal, this takes the form of a 3 course meal served in the waterfront conservatory at Milltown House. We include unlimited drinks (drinking responsibly is obviously encouraged) and wine pairings with this meal.
We handpick quality accommodation based on quality, location, and the best customer-service on offer. We like to provide a balance between 5 star luxury hotels and also high-quality Guesthouses, to give a variety of experiences, we also offer one night in a traditional B&B to experience life with an Irish family environment ned world-class quality customer-service.
Our co-founder, Patrick, always like to remind guests that we “dont stay in generic big-brand hotels, we prefer to offer you historic and luxury homes of character.. that have housed Hollywood stars and withstood sieges”.
5 STAR LUXURY TOUR
7 DAYS AND 6 NIGHTS (1 NIGHT IN KILLARNEY , 1 NIGHT DROMOLAND CASTLE, 2 NIGHTS DINGLE, 2 NIGHTS ASHFORD CASTLE)
Day 1: Dublin to Killarney (1 night)
Highlights:
Welcome Irish-coffee
Visit Dublin’s Phoenix Park
Rock of Cashel Tour
Group lunch at Cashel
Sleep in a Stately home, Killarney
An evening of Irish music in lively Killarney
Day2: Killarney to Kenmare to Dingle ( 2 nights )
Highlights:
Jaunting-car ride through Killarney National Park
Mini ‘Ring of Kerry Tour’
Kenmare (and the stone circle!)
Sheepdog demo on the Ring of Kerry
‘Welcome to Dingle’ Gourmet banquet with private chef
Day 3: Dingle Peninsula tour and Falconry
Highlights:
Award-winning Walking Tour of Historic Dingle
Slea Head Tour, experience the idyllic peninsula
‘Dingle Crystal ‘workshop visit
Irish bread making class and lunch
Free afternoon to enjoy Dingle
Dingle Whiskey tasting session
World Champion Irish dancer performance
Fun musical Pub tour (including Dick Macks)
Private Dingle Falconry Experience. (awesome!)
Day 4: Dingle to Dromoland castle
Highlights:
Visit Adare, National ‘tidy town’!
Lunch in Adare Manor
Tour Bunratty Castle and folk village
Drinks reception at Dromoland Castle
Day 5: Dromoland Castle to Ashford Castle (2 nights)
Highlights:
Free morning to enjoy the exquisite gardens of Dromoland Castle
Experience the famous Cliffs of Moher
Walk the Burren
Galway Bay scenic drive
Guinness & Oysters in Galway city
Ashford Castle
Day 6: Connemara in-depth
Highlights:
Visit the historic village of Cong (The Quiet Man)
Walking tour of Cong Abbey
Tour the epic Kylemore Abbey (Ireland’s Taj Mahal)
Scenic drive through Connemara
Day 7: Ashford Castle to Clonmacnoise, Guinness Storehouse & Dublin
Highlights:
Free morning to enjoy Ashford Castle
Visit Clonmacnoise, ancient monastic city on River Shannon
VIP Connoisseur experience at Guinness Storehouse
SEE NEXT TAB FOR DETAILED ITINERARY
5 STAR LUXURY TOUR - Incredible Value. Ashford Castle (or Dromoland or Ballyseede Castles) included!
7 DAYS AND 6 NIGHTS
(1 NIGHT ASHFORD CASTLE, ADARE, KILLARNEY & 3 NIGHTS DINGLE)
note: Sep 3rd 2022 tour will stay 2 nights Killarney, 2 nights Dingle.
Oct 17th Tour will stay 1 night Killarney, 3 nights Dingle
Day 1: Dublin to Ashford Castle
Highlights:
Connemara
Cong village (National tidy town!)
welcome drink in the Prince of Wales cocktail bar
Overnight in a magical Irish castle
[9.30am] Depart central Dublin. Pick up in one central location City’s south-side (The Harding Hotel, just in front of Christchurch Cathedral). We’ll enjoy some fun and informative commentary on Dublin’s attractions to the beautiful Irish countryside.
[10.30] Stop outside Dublin for a welcome-coffee! You’ll have an itinerary Q&A session with Stephen McPhilemy, our Co-Founder and Chief Tour-Guide.
Then onward to the idyllic village of Cong, one of Ireland's most beautiful spots and scene of the Hollywood classic 'The Quiet Man'
[12.30] Enjoy free time for lunch in charming Cong..
[1.30pm] Checkin to Ashford Castle, the worlds most beautiful and luxurious Castle Hotel. The warm welcome from the staff is an experience in itself.
[3pm] explore the exquisite gardens, perhaps ride some of the Castle's horses through the woods, fish on Lough Corrib for salmon or pike or relax in the award-winning spa.
[5pm] Gather in the Prince of Wales Bar for a welcome drink, courtesy of Stephen and the Essential Ireland team.
Optional dinner in the Castle Dungeon...
Day 2: Ashford Castle to Adare (1 night)
Highlights:
The world-famous Cliffs of Moher
Adare heritage town
Visit 'the Normans' exhibition
Explore the Burren
[9am] After a delicious breakfast fit for royalty, you'll have all morning free to enjoy the facilities of Ashford Castle.
[12.30pm] Onwards through Connemara to the world-famous Cliffs of Moher to enjoy the awe-inspiring scenery. We go to a unique secret spot to enjoy the Cliffs and are able to avoid all the tourist hordes.
[2pm] Enjoy free-time to explore the unique geological formation of the Burren.
[3pm] Coffee and photo-stop at at Bunratty Castle.
[4pm] Arrive in the heritage village of Adare in County Limerick, enjoy a visit at the fascinating exhibition of the Normans
[5pm] checkin in to the historic Dunraven Arms in the heritage village of Adare. Ryder Cup host-venue 2027.
Free for dinner in the many fine restaurants or traditional gastro-pubs.
Day 3: Adare to Killarney (2 nights)
Highlights:
Jaunting Car ride by the Lakes of Killarney
Killarney National Park
Muckross House & Gardens
Ross Castle
Fun music evening the lively pubs of Killarney
[10am] A leisurely morning in Adare. Gather after breakfast and onwards to wonderful Killarney, one of Ireland's most welcoming towns.
[12noon] We’ll break for lunch at Muckross House and Gardens.
[1.30pm] Tour Muckross House and stately home
Afterwards enjoy a jaunting-car ride through the native woodland of Killarney National Park and trot by the lakes of Killarney
[3.30pm] visit Ross Castle for a photo stop under Ireland's highest mountain - Carrauntoohill
[5pm] check in to our central Killarney Hotel, relax, perhaps use the spa, and prepare for a fun night out in the lively music pubs of Killarney, within a few minutes walk of our hotel.
Day 4: Kenmare & some of the 'Ring of Kerry'
Highlights:
Kenmare
Stone Circle
Kissane Sheep Farm (subject to opening)
[10am] A relaxing morning in Killarney, we'll tour over Molls Gap and the Black Valley to the old market village of Kenmare.
[11.30pm] Visit the mysterious and ancient stone circle and free time to explore Kenmare.
[3pm] Enjoy sheep-herding by well trained and highly intelligent Border Collies are the Kissane family sheep farm.
[3.30pm] Arrive back in Killarney for free time to enjoy the bustling streets and colourful shops.
Day 5: Killarney to Dingle (2 nights)
Highlights:
Dingle walking tour
Bean in Dingle coffee experience
Dingle Crystal workshop
Musical pub crawl
Gourmet buffet dinner at Milltown House
Irish Whiskey tasting
[9am] Depart at 9am for the one hour scenic drive to Dingle.
[10am] Coffee stop at the famous 'Bean in Dingle' then we'll enjoy an indepth walking tour of historic Dingle with our local guide, using our vox systems.
[1pm] free for lunch in Dingle
[3pm] Checkin into our waterfront home on Dingle Bay, Milltown House, once the residence for Hollywood star, Robert Mitchum
[4pm] Private Falconry experience with the Master Falconers at 'Kingdom Falconry'
[5.30pm] Irish whiskey tasting
Free for dinner in the many fine choices on offer in Dingle
Day 6: Slea Head Tour and Dingle in-depth
Highlights:
Slea Head Tour
David Geaney, Irish dancer (subject to availablity)
Meet the locals at famous Dick Macks pub & afterwards Gourmet final dinner by private chef (all drinks included) at the waterfront glass Dining room at Milltown House with some great Irish traditional musicians
[10am] Depart Milltown House after a hearty breakfast and tour the iconic Slea Head drive.
[11am] Visit the Blasket Islands interpretive centre to learn of the Gaelic heritage of the local people
[1pm] Visit Gallarus Oratory
2pm - 5.30pm Free time in Dingle to explore on your own
[6pm] Gourmet final dinner by private chef (all drinks included)
Day 7: Dingle to Cashel & Guinness Storehouse & Dublin.
Highlights:
The Rock of Cashel
The golden Vale of Tipperary
The full Guinness experience at Guinness Storehouse
[9am] Depart after a fine breakfast on Dingle Bay
[11am]: Rest stop in Newcastle West, home of the legendary Halla Mor (the great Norman banqueting Hall)
[12noon] Guided tour of the Rock of Cashel, following in the footsteps of St. Patrick himself
[1pm] We’ll be providing some picnic snacks here with our compliments on the hallowed Rock of Cashel
[2pm] Depart for the Capital City.
[3.30pm] Arrive in Dublin
[4pm] We’ll say our farewells in the environs of The Guinness Storehouse and then drop you off at your desired location in Dublin city-centre, (we can also help you arrange a drop-off at Dublin Airport or to an airport hotel, after 6 pm approximately).
Go n-éirí an bóthar leat, may the road rise to meet you.
Reserve your space with a 20% deposit
One of the unique features of Essential Ireland Tours is that we bring our own in-house professional travel-photographer and videographer with us on all tours.
Stephen McPhilemy and Patrick Wade are the co-founders of Essential Ireland Tours. One Irish and one Irish-American, they met 20 years ago while Patrick was backpacking through Ireland and Stephen was his tour-guide.
Two decades later they (and their Irish Wolfhounds) are experienced and respected figures in the Irish tour and hospitality scene with a passion for providing high quality tours. Authentic Irish experiences for unbeatable value.
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