The Scots Irish Tour

11 days
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4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
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Group Tour
Explore Scots Irish history on this itinerary when you start in Edinburgh, head into the Highlands and drive through the Isle of Skye. Take a ferry to Ireland to discover Belfast and Derry and stay in Kilronan Castle Hotel. Discover local history and fun stories on walking tours in many storied towns. The longer tour stays in Killarney and ends in Dublin. 
From$2,085
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Enjoy Walk along part of the Royal Mile and visit Edinburgh Castle
    • Discover some of the island and visit the Clan Donald Centre at Armadale Castle to understand the history of the powerful Lords of the Isles
    • Enjoy the views of the magnificent Highlands as you drive south through Glen Coe
    • Visit Titanic Belfast to learn about this famous liner through state-of-the-art displays
    • Explore Glenveagh National Park where Captain Adair built Glenveagh Castle in 1870

What's this trip about?

    Explore Scots Irish history on this itinerary when you start in Edinburgh, head into the Highlands and drive through the Isle of Skye. Take a ferry to Ireland to discover Belfast and Derry and stay in Kilronan Castle Hotel. Discover local history and fun stories on walking tours in many storied towns. The longer tour stays in Killarney and ends in Dublin. 

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityEdinburgh
End CityGalway

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Transformative

Destinations

  • Europe
  • United Kingdom
  • Scotland
  • Ireland

Attractions

  • Eilean Donan Castle
  • Galway
  • Loch Ness

Activities

  • Culture
  • History
  • Homestays & Cultural Immersion
  • Nature

Trip includes

    • Sightseeing by luxury coach
    • Professional tour director
    • 10 nights in hotels listed
    • Full breakfast daily (B) except on day 1: Scottish Evening in Edinburgh, Ulster Folk Museum Evening, Bunratty or Knappogue Castle, Medieval Banquet and 6 table d'hote dinners
    • Welcome get-together drink
    • Tour of Edinburgh
    • Reserved seats for Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on August 06 to 22 departures
    • Ferries from Isle of Skye and from Scotland to Ireland
    • Walking tours of St Andrews, Belfast, Derry and Galway with local guides
    • Visits and admissions to Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh Castle, St Andrews Cathedral, Clan Donald Centre at Armadale Castle, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Titanic Belfast, Giant’s Causeway, Glenveagh Castle & National Park, Boyle Abbey, Enniskillen Castle and Cliffs of Moher
    • Audio headsets and group photo
    • Deluxe carry-on backpack, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
    • All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person
    • Free Wi-Fi on coaches and in hotel lobbies

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Day 1: Edinburgh & Royal Yacht Britannia

Your Scottish trip starts at 2:00 pm from your hotel, located on two golf courses a few miles from the city center. Drive to Leith for a tour around the Royal Yacht Britannia, the floating home of The Queen on many of her travels around the world. See the various part...

Day 2: Edinburgh Castle & City Tour

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Tour central Edinburgh to see the highlights. Drive along the bustling Princes Street and through the 200-year-old Georgian New Town. Walk along part of the Royal Mile and visit Edinburgh Castle, which contains the Scottish Crown Jew...

Day 3: St Andrews & Highland Scenery

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Travel north to St Andrews, famous for golfing and Scotland’s oldest university. Take a walking tour around the town to learn about the famous people and happenings here. Visit the picturesque ruins of St Andrews Cathedral. Take a br...

Day 4: Isle of Skye & Clan Donald Centre

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Drive alongside Loch Ness and through wild Highland scenery, pausing for photos at the picturesque Eilean Donan Castle and cross to the Isle of Skye by bridge. Discover some of the island and visit the Clan Donald Centre at Armadale ...

Day 5: Glen Coe & Rabbie Burns

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

This morning enjoy final views of the magnificent Highlands as you drive south through Glen Coe and alongside the lovely shores of Loch Lomond. Stop briefly in Alloway to visit the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum to learn about the fa...

Day 6: Titanic Belfast & Ulster Folk Park

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Take a gentle walk with a Belfast guide to see the imposing City Hall in Donegall Square and Victorian buildings, including the Opera House and the Crown Liquor Saloon. Visit Titanic Belfast to learn about this famous liner through s...

Day 7: Giant’s Causeway & Derry’s Walls

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Drive along the scenic route of the Nine Glens of Antrim, for views of mountains, valleys and coastline. Stop at the Giant’s Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns which have spawned legends about the mythical giant, Finn McCool. Pause...

Day 8: Glenveagh National Park & Kilronan Castle

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Travel to Glenveagh National Park where Captain Adair built Glenveagh Castle in 1870. Learn about the history of the mansion on a guided tour and walk around the extensive gardens filled with exotic plants. Stop in Donegal town and visit the beautiful Cistercian ruins of Boyle Abbey before continuing to Kilronan Castle.

Day 9: Enniskillen Castle & Free Time

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Drive north this morning to Enniskillen, strategically situated on the banks of the picturesque River Erne. Tour Enniskillen Castle, which was once the home of the Gaelic Maguire chieftains and take a look around the town on your own. In the afternoon relax in your lovely castle hotel.

Day 10: Cliffs of Moher & Medieval Castle Banquet

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Head to Galway city for a walking tour with a local guide to see Lynch’s Castle and Eyre Square. View the Cliffs of Moher, a dramatic wall of rock that plunges to the Atlantic Ocean. In the early evening head to 15th century Bunratty or Knappogue Castle for a fun medieval-style banquet and check in to your hotel in Ennis afterwards.

Day 11: Tour Ends in Ennis

Meals: Breakfast

Your tour ends after breakfast.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,085
Price per day$190
Single supplement (single occupancy)$654
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with CIE Tours.

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.

CIE Tours Reviews & Ratings

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Exasperated

Dec 2023

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Terrible Company

I waited 20 years for my dream trip to Scotland and Ireland and splurged $7000 on this tour. The second half of touring Ireland was great, the first portion in Scotl...

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Pam H

Apr 2022

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DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME/MONEY WITH CIE!

I gave this return 1 star only because that’s the lowest possible option, otherwise they would receive 0 stars!!! I had a trip planned for September of 2021 to Icela...

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Kelli

May 2021

Provided byCIE Tours

Loved our experience

Loved our experience with our tour guide Mert our CIE tour in July/August of 2015 we have many pictures that we wanted to share with our group — I believe maybe howe...

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CIE Tours

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For the 2015 season we will celebrate 83 years of travel excellence! During this time CIE Tours International has provided travellers with the highest quality holidays to Ireland and Britain and we continue to improve our tours and our services.

Over the years we have built up an enviable reputation for security and reliability with satisfied clients throughout the world. We set our own high standards for delivering excellent holidays with state-of-the-art luxury coaches; prompt and pleasant customer service; the best hotels; and carefully chosen visits and entertainment.

Our coach tours are fully inclusive with no optional extras to purchase at your destination. You pay one price and we insist that our tour directors focus solely on your enjoyment. Once you pay the deposit, we guarantee our land tour prices.

If you prefer to travel independently, we offer self-drive and chauffeur-drive programs for Ireland with a wide range of hotel accommodation, which can be booked in advance, as well as popular B & Bs. Whichever way you like to travel, choose one of our fine holidays from our website and enjoy the greatest travel experience ever!

What makes CIE Tours unique?

Sightseeing Visits: CIE Tours includes a variety of attractions on every tour for an interesting travel experience. Check each tour itinerary to see exactly which places are featured. Admission costs are included in the tour price so that you don't waste time paying as you enter each attraction.

Guaranteed Departures & Prices: We guarantee most of our land tour departures which are updated daily on our website. We guarantee land tour costs will not increase, once you have paid your tour deposit, to protect you against international currency fluctuations.

Group Airport Transfers: As a newcomer to an airport, it's great to have someone meet you. We include complimentary group transfers on the starting and ending date of tours at times specified on each itinerary. If you arrive or depart later than our tour dates, you may purchase a transfer from us.

Travel Documents: On arrival CIE Tours will supply coach tour clients with tour vouchers, maps, ticket wallets, destination information, rain poncho, carry-on backpack, phone cards, VAT tax card, luggage tags and a strap. Self-drive clients receive accommodation vouchers and listings, ticket wallets, luggage tags and a strap. Use the tags and strap on your baggage for easy identification throughout your holiday. All you need to supply is a valid passport and, if driving, a current drivers license.

Leisure & Spa Facilities: Most of the hotels we use offer wonderful leisure facilities and spas. When you travel on a coach tour, you will have some free time most days and may like to enjoy some relaxation and spa serenity! So be sure to pack a swimsuit and workout clothes.

History & Geography: People who choose to travel in Ireland and Britain usually have an interest in the long history of the region and, as you tour around, you will visit a lot of ancient cities, churches and castles. All of our tour directors are well trained in the background information of the places and incorporate this history into their narratives in a manner that is fun and easy to digest. Similarly they are able to give you facts on the geography of the regions you travel through, giving you an insight into climate, farming, weather and other topics.

Coach Touring & Sightseeing: Some people think that on a coach tour, all you do is sit on the coach all day. Not true with CIE Tours! We have created balanced and varied days of sightseeing with plenty of stops for taking photos, shopping, lunch, snacks and bathrooms. You never travel for longer than two hours without getting off the coach.

Fully Escorted Coach Tours:

See what you get on a CIE coach tour

--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain Luxury coach travel, daily sightseeing and a professional tour director

--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain Speedy group check-in at hotels

--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain All breakfasts and most dinners including special dinner/shows

--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain Airport transfers and baggage handling

--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain Prepaid hotels, meals and admissions help you control holiday costs

--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain Comprehensive tour documents

Selection Of Itineraries: Touring by coach is a holiday with a capital H! CIE Tours International offers the widest range of itineraries. Depending on your available time and budget, you can choose an ideal tour. All of our programs are carefully planned to permit full enjoyment of your holiday.

Luxury Touring Coaches: Travel in the height of comfort with CIE Tours and sit back and let an expert do the driving! Our state-of-the-art coaches feature panoramic windows for optimum viewing while reclining seats, individual climate controls and a public address system ensure your well-being.

Your Tour Director: CIE Tours could not exist without our great locally employed tour directors they are the envy of the travel industry. From the moment you land in Ireland or Britain, your tour director is there to welcome you, handle your luggage, drive you from place to place and give you a daily commentary. Tour directors make history and culture come alive and create a superb experience with daily doses of humour, information and assistance.

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Logistics

Accommodation

,Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club: Edinburgh (2 nights) Columba Hotel: Inverness (Sunday Departure) or Newton Hotel: Nairn (Tuesday Departure) (1 night) Isles of Glencoe Hotel: Ballachulish or Ballachulish Hotel : Ballachulish (1 night) Europa Hotel: Belfast (2 nights) Station House Hotel – Letterkenny: Letterkenny (1 night) Kilronan Castle: Ballyfarnon (2 nights) Temple Gate Hotel: Ennis (1 night)
Cancellation policy

All cancellations must be advised in writing (by mail, fax or e-mail) to CIE Tours prior to tour departure during normal business hours (9:00 am to 5:00 pm GMT/BST, Mondays through Fridays). Cancellations received within 70 days of departure date are subject to the following penalties on the land portion:

Between: 70 days or longer Forfeiture of deposit

69 & 46 days 25% per person

45 & 8 days 35% per person

7 & 1 days 50% per person

On day of departure 100% per person

Minimum cancellation fees are €35 per person.

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
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

10 Breakfasts and 9 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Trip ID
cie-TheScoCie

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