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Scotland and Ireland

4.7(11,234 reviews)
United Kingdom
13 days
Operated by Partner

$3,275

Destinations

United Kingdom

Overview

Welcome to the ultimate Scottish and Irish adventure, where you'll find warm locals, trendy cities and breathtaking scenery everywhere you turn. On this trip you'll see highlands, bagpipes & whisky go head to head with Irish folk songs & Guinness: it's impossible to choose a favourite, which is why you need to do them both. And with heaps of eye-widening travel inclusions like Blarney Castle and a cruise around Loch Ness, there's no better way than this 13-day journey, starting in Edinburgh and finishing off in Dublin.

Itinerary Teaser

Royal Mile, old Castle, home of the brave, Edinburgh is going to turn it on from start to end. With days of adventure up ahead, we'll kick off the evening with the option to indulge in a whisky tasting where you can get to know your new Scottish Contiki family.

Day 1
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Day 13
Day 1
Tour1 day

Start Edinburgh Royal Mile, old Castle, home of the brave, Edinburgh is going to turn it on from start to end. With days of adventure up ahead, we'll kick off the evening with the option to indulge in a whisky tasting where you can get to know your new Scottish Contiki family.

Day 2
Tour1 day

Edinburgh Today is yours to roam free - but if you want to get the low down on the history of this city why not join our local guide for an optional tour of Edinburgh Castle (which is resting on an extinct volcano!!) to kickstart your love affair with this city. Or maybe you'll do a spot of tartan shopping on Princes Street.

Day 3
Tour1 day

Edinburgh to Scottish Highlands It's time to blaze a trail out of Edinburgh & head for the Scottish Highlands. On the way to the main affair of the day we'll stop by St. Andrews, the birthplace of golf, would you believe? As well as Scotland’s oldest university town. Already blown away by the beauty of the rugged mountain scenery en route, we'll ...

Day 4
Tour1 day

Scottish Highlands to Glasgow via Loch Ness and Dundreggan We might be coming down from a high (geographically speaking) this morning, but as we seek out the stunning Loch Ness, the mood will only be rising. We'll stop to see lovely Loch Ness and hop on board for a cruise of the most voluminous lake in the UK - containing more water than all the ...

Day 5
Tour1 day

Glasgow Wakey wakey everyone. We're up bright and early this morning. Next stop, Stirling! We'll make a stop in Stirling, the town where William Wallace took on the English and yelled "Freeedom!" (and also known for its famous hill-top Castle). Today, we'll also check out the epic engineering feat called the 'The Kelpies' in Helix Park. Get ...

Day 6
Tour1 day

Glasgow to Dublin Scotland, you've been unreal. If Ireland puts on half the show you did, we have many happy days ahead of us. We arrive in the port town of Larne, your first steps on Northern Irish soil, but not for long... So much more than the capital city, Dublin is a place of heritage, character, and more cute pubs than you could crawl in a ...

Day 7
Tour1 day

Dublin to Clonmel That's us done with Dublin…for now. But fear not Dub-lovers, we'll get another taste of this fine place before our trip comes to an end. Wanna break up your coach hangs with some bicycle time? Then choose to join us for a bike ride in a city sure to leave you wanting Irish in your blood. Explore the castle, a cathedral and take in ...

Day 8
Tour1 day

Clonmel to Galway Clonmel, it's been fun, but we have to leave you now. Next up, we're off to an Irish city that was propelled into the pop culture stratosphere by none other than Ed Sheeran. Anyone wanna guess where? Irish folklore tells us there's a chunk of limestone built into a castle that grants its kissers the gift of the gab. Pucker up kids ...

Day 9
Tour1 day

Galway Try your tongue at some Gaelic and carry on exploring gorgeous Galway. Or, if you hear the call of the wild, you can sign yourself up to a ferry ride to Aran Islands (summer departures only) where you can dance around with horses and take a bike ride around the picturesque farms, or head up to Dún Aonghasa (the ruins of a prehistoric ...

Day 10
Tour1 day

Galway to Derry/Londonderry Goodbye Galway, hello more Irish eye-candy. This afternoon, we'll drive into Derry/Londonderry - a historical city with 17th century walls. Today, you can opt for an authentic rural Irish experience with sheepdogs, a local shepherd and some homemade lunch. Next, we'll head into town for an optional guided tour of the ...

Day 11
Tour1 day

Derry/Londonderry to Belfast Today we've got a one way ticket to Belfast and a whole lot more exploration to do. UNESCO World Heritage site of the Giant’s Causeway - also known as those giant rock columns you've probably drooled over on Pinterest, needs to be seen to be believed. Get those hashtags ready, a snap with the group is essential on this ...

Day 12
Tour1 day

Belfast to Dublin With one night left in Ireland and on tour, we're on the fast track to Dublin where our Irish fairytale first began. A promise is a promise. Here we are back in the city that started our Ireland infatuations. Use this second stint to do your missed critical activities such as visiting the Guinness Storehouse where you can learn ...

Day 13
Tour1 day

End Dublin We leave Ireland today with leprechauns in our hearts and memories in our souls. Say goodbye at breakfast as it will be the last bite our crew has together.

What's included

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Activities and Logistics
  • St. Andrews: If you like golf, you’ll love St Andrews. But if you think it spoils a nice walk in the park, there’s also Swilcan Bridge.
  • Loch Ness: Sit back, relax and cruise along the loch with your Contiki crew. But keep your eyes peeled and camera ready for mythical ‘Nessie’.
  • Scottish Highlands: Ever wondered how native animal species - like the Scottish Red Squirrel, Lynx and Beavers - are reintroduced into the wild? Come learn about it all from an expert (who'll also tell you how the Caledonian pine forest is being reforested too!). Every penny you spend here will directly support Trees for Life, a TreadRight supported project.
  • Stirling: Explore the sights of Stirling and get a selfie with the memorial to the iconic Scottish knight.
  • Mallaig: We'll visit Helix Park, home to The Kelpies (horse statues, standing at 100ft tall & weighing more than 300 tonnes each). It's a wonder to behold. Plus, there's also an adventure play park with woodlands and boardwalks for some added fun.
  • Blarney Castle: Your chance to kiss the Blarney Stone and get the ‘gift of the gab’. And to visit the medieval Irish castle.
  • Cliffs of Moher: These rugged, photogenic cliffs have been the star of many films, including a Harry Potter one.
  • Galway: Tread the cobbles of this well-loved Irish city with your new Contiki crew. See Lynch’s Castle, Eyre Square and all the best pubs.
  • Derry/Londonderry: One for the history fans. Take a look around Ireland’s only walled city, built in the 17th Century.
  • Giant's Causeway: Sure, rock formations may sound a bit dull on paper, but this quirky natural wonder has to be seen to be believed.
  • Belfast: Hang with a local guide to see all the landmarks and learn about the city’s checkered history.
Dining Summary
  • 12 Breakfast (B)
  • 4 Dinner (D)
FAQs
  • London: Travelling to (and through) the UK & Northern Ireland? You’ll need Essential Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)From?January 8, 2025, UK law means that if you’re entering/transiting through border control in the United Kingdom (UK) and Northern Ireland you’ll need an?Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)?before you travel. Confused? Don’t be – just read on here.
  • London: What does a modular trip mean? A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
  • Edinburgh: How do we travel between Scotland and Ireland? You'll cross the Irish Sea aboard a modern, high-speed ferry with comfy facilities. Best part? You’ll be able to leave the coach and explore the ferry and its food court during the 2-hour journey. We’ll hop back on the coach before disembarking.
  • Edinburgh: How long are the drives? You’ll be on the road for around 2-3 hours between stops. We’ll check out some cities along the way, so that you can soak up some more of the localities in the British Isles. Either way, get ready for all the beautiful backdrops you’ll see.
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