Compare Ireland, Scotland, & London by Under30Experiences vs Best of Ireland & Scotland - Small Group Small Group by Insight Vacations
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 12 days | 14 days |
| Price From | $ 2,895 | $ 7,063 |
| Price Per Day | $ 241 | $ 505 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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N/A |
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Airfare included |
| Activities |
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N/A |
| Meals Included |
12 breakfasts, 1 Lunch and 7 Dinners |
N/A |
| Description |
Year-round rainfall gives these nations some of the greenest, most beautiful scenery you will ever see. The Irish countryside is home to castles, majestic cliffs, rich culture, and lush green scenery. Enjoy live Irish music, have a pint of Guinness, and learn about Ireland's history as you visit the best places this small island country has to offer. Scotland is the northernmost country in the United Kingdom, rich in history and tradition over the last 9,500 years. Hike through the mind-blowing landscapes of the Scottish highlands where films like Harry Potter and Braveheart were filmed. London, the capital of the United Kingdom, offers something for everyone. With countless of world-class attractions, you will be surely be planning your next visit before you leave. |
Experience centuries of rich Gaelic history as you take High-Tea at the Ardgowan Estate near Glasgow and see the Queen’s residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. Glencoe offers a glimpse of Britain’s highest mountain Ben Nevis ahead of a cruise on Loch Ness and the chance to seek out Scotland’s most infamous bonnie monster. Up in the highlands, a whiskey tasting at a distillery, to uncork tales of smugglers before the vacation embarks on a grand tour of the Scottish capital. Edinburgh doesn’t disappoint with the Royal Mile, home to Edinburgh Castle, Scotland’s Crown Jewels and the Scottish Parliament. Not to be outdone, Dublin impresses with the cobbled courtyards of Trinity College and the millennia old Book of Kells. |
Day 1: Arrival in Ireland & Howth Cliffs
We highly recommend booking pre-trip accommodations if you'd like to fully immerse yourself in Dublin's vibrant atmosphere.
Morning
- Arrive at the Dublin International Airport (DUB) before 7:00 am and take included transportation to Howth village with your fellow group travelers (~30 min drive).
- Start the day with a good Irish breakfast and go for an incredible cliff walk on the Bay of Dublin.
- Spend your first morning exploring the lighthouses, shops, and cafes of Howth. If you’re lucky, you’ll even get to spot some seals!
Afternoon
- After lunch in Howth, travel to Kilkenny, an Irish medieval town famous for its castle and witch legends (apx. 2 hour drive).
- Go explore Kilkenny with your trip leader on a short walking tour before dinner.
Evening
- Have dinner in an Irish pub and spend the evening listening to live Irish music and dance.
Day 2: Kilkenny Cultural Experience
Morning
- Enjoy an Irish breakfast at your hotel/guesthouse.
- Take a city cycling tour with an Irish and learn about Kilkenny's history and legends.
Afternoon
- Explore Kilkenny and the surroundings with a wide range of optional activities.
- Suggestions: Play Hurling, Ireland's national sport with a professional; Climb to the top of St. Canice Cathedral and the Round Tower constructed in the year 1250 for a view of the city; experience the Smithwicks Brewery; or visit the Dunmore caves.
Evening
- Enjoy a delicious dinner in the historic Kilkenny.
- Optional night out and experience Ireland's unique river dancing at a local pub.
Day 3: Rock of Cashel & Galway
Morning
- Enjoy another full Irish breakfast right at your hotel/guesthouse.
- Depart early in the morning for your next adventure in Ireland at the famous Rock of Cashel (~1 hour drive).
- Spend the morning visiting the historic site, marveling at the Celtic art and experiencing the medieval architecture.
Afternoon
- Take a cross country drive to beautiful the west coast city of Galway (~2.5 hour drive)
- Arrive in Galway in the afternoon and take a walking tour of the city with your Trip Leader.
Evening
- Have dinner in a local Galway restaurant with your group.
- Optional night out in an Irish pub.
Day 4: Cliffs of Moher
Morning
- Enjoy breakfast right at your hotel/guesthouse.
- Travel to the Burren region and visit the Cliffs of Moher, rising 390 ft above the Atlantic Ocean. (~2 hour drive)
Afternoon
- Spend the afternoon exploring the Cliffs of Moher and hiking around the surreal landscape.
- Learn more about how the Cliffs of Moher is a place of conservation and sustainability.
Evening
- Arrive back in lively Galway and immerse yourself in the live Irish music playing throughout the city.
- Have dinner in a restaurant in Galway and get ready for your next adventure in Dublin! (Not included)
Day 5: Explore Dublin
Morning
- Depart for Dublin, the famous capital of the Republic of Ireland, located on the east coast of the country. (~3 hour drive)
- Arrive at your hotel/guesthouse before lunch.
Afternoon
- Explore Dublin, a UNESCO City of Literature.
- Make your own adventure in Dublin with the help of your Trip Leader.
- Suggestions: Trinity College, Guinness StoreHouse, Old Jameson Distillery, Book of Kells, St Stephen’s Green Park, Dublin Castle and much more.
Evening
- Enjoy your last dinner in Ireland with your new friends with a pint of Guinness! (Not included)
Day 6: Arrival in Scotland
Morning
- Take an included early morning flight to Scotland! (~1.5 hour flight)
- Arrive at Edinburgh International Airport (EDI) and take included transportation to breakfast near the Stirling Castle.
Afternoon
- Enjoy a beautiful drive to Glencoe, the scenic glen where Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was filmed. (~4 hour drive)
- Arrive at your guesthouse nestled in the breathtaking Scottish highlands and settle into your home base in Fort William.
Evening
- Enjoy dinner with the group at a local Scottish restaurant.
- Optional night out.
Day 7: Explore Glenflinnan & Hike the Lost Valley
Morning
- Have breakfast right at the guesthouse.
- Depart to Glenfinnan and hike to the viaduct 100 feet above the valley and enjoy the sweeping views the Highlands Region are so famous for.
Afternoon
- Enjoy a challenging but rewarding hike as you venture into the scenic and dramatic Lost Valley with our mountain guides (~3 hour hike).
- The terrain is rocky and steep. Good footwear and an active lifestyle is highly recommended!
- Learn the principles of 'Leave No Trace Hiking' with our Scottish mountain guide.
Evening
- Return back to your guesthouse in Fort William
- Enjoy dinner with the group at a local Scottish restaurant.
- Optional night out.
Day 8: Steall Falls Hike + Fort William
Morning
- Have breakfast right at the guesthouse.
- Experience the glory of Scotland’s second highest waterfall, Steall Falls. (~2 hour hike).
- The terrain is a clear, well-walked path but can be rocky and steep. Good footwear is highly recommended!
Afternoon
- Explore Fort William and opt for different optional activities:
- Suggestions: Visit the West Highland Museum; taste some Scottish whiskey at the Ben Nevis Distillery; take a walk to the Neptune Staircase or experience the UK's only mountain gondola to Nevis Range for a stunning view on the Scottish Highlands!
Evening
- Enjoy your last dinner in Fort William with the group.
- Optional night out.
Day 9: Explore Edinburgh
Morning
- Have breakfast and depart early for Edinburgh.
Afternoon
- Explore Edinburgh on an included walking tour with a local guide.
- Create your own adventure in the fairytale city
- Suggestions: Edinburgh Castle; Scott Monument, Museum of Scotland, Arthur’s Seat hike.
Evening
- Have dinner in Edinburgh with your group (not included).
- Optional night out.
Day 10: Edinburgh Immersion
Morning
- Another delicious Scottish breakfast in the heart of the country's capital.
- Begin an optional hike to Arthur’s Seat from your hotel.
Afternoon
- Visit Calton Hill for more views of this beautiful city.
- Grab lunch in the heart of Edinburgh.
- Head over to Deans Village after lunch for one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in the city.
Evening
- Have a final dinner in Scotland - don't forget to try Haggis!
- Enjoy a night out in Scotland.
Day 11: London
Morning
- Depart Edinburgh early in the morning on a direct train to London (~4 hour train ride).
- Arrive in London before lunch to begin your day in England.
Afternoon
- Spend your afternoon on a walking tour of the city to see sights.
- After you take in the sights, create your own adventure in London with a wide range of options.
- Suggestions: Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, The London Eye, Buckingham Palace,The Globe Theater, Tower Bridge, local markets and more.
Evening
- Enjoy your last dinner in the UK with your new friends and experience the nightlife of London.
Day 12: Relaxation & Departure
Morning
- Depart at any point during the day to the airport.
- Your Trip Leaders can provide information on trains, taxis, buses and Uber to get you there.
- If you plan to spend extra time in the city let your Trip Leaders know and they will provide recommendations.
Day 1: Welcome to Dublin
On arrival at Dublin airport, your airport transfer service leaves for your hotel at 08:30, 11:00 and 13:00. Join your Travel Director at 18:30 for a warm and friendly Welcome Dinner, an opportunity to get to know each other over a meal with wine.
Day 2: In Dublin’s Fair City
An orientation with your Travel Director will take you past the Custom House and travel along the River Liffey. See the Guinness Brewery, Christchurch Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Enjoy entrance to the 9th century Book of Kells and a walk through the cobbled courtyards of Trinity College accompanied by a Local Expert, gaining their insight into modern life and the establishment's impressive history.
Day 3: Kildare and Cork
Witness life behind the scenes of the National Stud Farm, where many legendary racehorses are bred. Then see the finest Japanese gardens in Europe, where the symbolism of life the gardens portray, trace the journey of a soul, designed by master horticulturists, Tassa and Minoru Eida. Continue on to Cork, Ireland's second most populous city, built on the River Lee. Travel along Grand Parade to see Cork's City Hall and Opera House.
Day 4: Blarney Castle and Killarney Relaxed Start
Visit the ruined 15th century Blarney Castle, home of the famous Stone of Eloquence - once kissed, never forgotten! Or enjoy a sensory walk in the extensive and varied estate gardens. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure.
Day 5: Ring of Kerry Experience Relaxed Start
Explore Killarney with Insight Choice. Choose a memorable ride on a horse-drawn jaunting car with the local jarveys. Alternatively, join a gentle hike with a Local Expert along the lake shore and past the grounds of Ross Castle, admiring the incredible scenery of the National Park. While there aren't any mountains to climb, walkers should be fit, have good walking shoes or boots, sunscreen and rain gear. Tour the superb seascapes, towering cliffs and spectacular mountains of the Ring of Kerry. Journey past lush lakelands and through delightful villages like Sneem. Cross the peat bogs of the Black Mountains to Moll's Gap and admire Queen Victoria's Ladies View. Upon returning in the mid-afternoon, the rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 6: The Cliffs of Moher
Begin the day with a short ferry ride across the Shannon estuary. Enjoy magnificent views of the Clare coast, as you journey to the Visitors' Centre at the 700-foot Cliffs of Moher. Continue to Galway and take in the scenery from your hotel, which is spectacularly set overlooking Galway Bay.
Day 7: Glorious Galway to Sligo Bay Relaxed Start
Join your Travel Director in Galway to see the infamous Lynch Memorial and the Church of St. Nicholas, where Christopher Columbus reputedly prayed before his discovery of America. Also see the aged Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the late US President, John F. Kennedy. Tour the wild Connemara region, a scenic wonderland of rivers, lakes and silent hills. Drive along the scenic shores of Sligo Bay.
Day 8: Walk in the Giant’s Steps
The day begins in Drumcliffe, with a visit to the final resting place of Ireland's famous poet, William Butler Yeats. Cross into Northern Ireland to visit Londonderry. What better way to experience sightseeing than with one of Northern Ireland's best storytellers, Ronan, as he walks with you inside the city walls, still topped with cannons. Walk down steep Shipquay Street, with its elegant Georgian houses, to the Gothic Guildhall. Journey to the iconic Giant's Causeway for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. This geological masterpiece was created by the cooling of lava which burst through the earth's crust millions of years ago. Learn how the National Trust is enabling farming and biodiversity to work together, supporting both wildlife and quality food production. Next, take a spectacular drive along the Antrim Coast to your hotel, overlooking the sea at the head of Ballygally Bay.
Day 9: High Tea at Ardgowan Estate Relaxed Start
Cross the Irish Sea by ferry and journey to Ardgowan. Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart welcomes you to his family castle, set on a 10,000-acre coastal estate. Explore the history of the area and learn the Shaw Stewart family's conservation efforts to protect the land on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, followed by delightful traditional Scottish tea and scones. Continue to Glasgow where your Travel Director will show you the city's grand public buildings, including George Square and St. Mungo's Cathedral.
Day 10: Glencoe and Loch Ness
A scenic drive takes you along the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond. Absorb the dramatic landscape of Glencoe, still echoing with the cries of massacred clansmen. Pause at the Commando Memorial for a view of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis before reaching the Great Glen. Continue on to Loch Ness and embark on a cruise to soak up the scenery, historic monuments and intriguing tales of Nessie in the heart of Scotland's great glen.
Day 11: A Highlands Experience Relaxed Start
In the morning, see the sights of Inverness, before travelling to the Culloden Moor Visitor Centre, where Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite army was finally defeated. Then have a 'wee dram' during a visit to a local distillery, hear stories of the whisky smugglers as you delve into the fascinating world of the single malt.
Day 12: St. Andrews and Edinburgh
A scenic drive takes you through the Grampian Mountains past the Duke of Atholl's Blair Castle. Drive down and cross the Tay to visit St. Andrews. As you arrive, pass the Old Course, the home of golf since its invention in the 15th century. Enjoy free time to explore. Why not wander to St. Andrews University where the love story of Kate Middleton and Prince William began? Alternately, stroll to West Sands Beach where the famous 'Chariots of Fire' scene was filmed. Continue across the majestic Forth Road Bridge to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. In the evening, select departures attend The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Day 13: Scotland’s Capital of Culture
In the morning, join a Local Expert to see the highlights of the city. Drive along Princes Street to the ornate Scott Memorial, then see the 18th century New Town with its neoclassical Georgian facades. In the Old Town see the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the Queen. Venture up the Royal Mile to visit Edinburgh Castle, home of Mons Meg, the Stone of Destiny and Scotland’s Crown Jewels, the Honours of Scotland. In the afternoon, you are at leisure to continue exploring as you wish, or perhaps go shopping. Join your friends at the stylish Grazing by Mark Greenaway, located in the heart of Edinburgh's West End. Your grand finale Celebration Dinner is a mouthwatering meal of modern Scottish cuisine with a Parisian twist, and is of course served with wine.
Day 14: Farewell Edinburgh
Your journey comes to an end after breakfast with transfers arriving at Edinburgh airport at 06:15 and 09:00.
