Ireland Small Group Tours & Trip Packages

Ireland Small Group Tours & Trips

515 Ireland trips. Tours from 129 tour companies. 2,023 reviews. 4.5/5 avg rating.

110 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Small Group Tour
Ireland Forever 2021
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Visits

Cork, Dublin

Highlights

  • Irresistibly Irish
  • one of our favorite family tours of Ireland journeys from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher. Travel by a World War II amphibious vehicle... take a cooking class at a world-famous cooking school... discover the story of the Titanic... learn a bit of Irish step dancing... and immerse in Emerald Isle fun. Hands-on family fun has everyone’s eyes a-smiling... learn how to Irish Step Dance... explore Dublin by land and water and go on a treasure hunt back in time
  • from the Viking age to the Middle Ages... ride aboard a train through emerald landscapes... learn the real story of the Titanic... make pottery
  • Celtic jewelry and a home-grown Irish dinner... explore the wild Atlantic Way and stay seaside... step back centuries at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park... and learn all things Irish during a family trip to Ireland.

Themes

Family Friendly

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

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The Best of Ireland, Small Groups 2021
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Visits

Belfast, Dublin, Kilkenny

Highlights

  • Splendid scenery
  • rich cultural traditions
  • centuries of intriguing history
  • warm hospitable people – all combine to create the eternal charm of Ireland
  • north and south.Tauck's Yellow Roads take you from the Giant's Causeway in the north to the Ring of Kerry in the south – and along the way you'll stay at luxury accommodations including grand hotels and elegant manor houses. Learn the story of three centuries of Irish emigrants building a new life in North America at the Ulster American Folk Park. Get a little taste of the artistic side of Ireland on visits to the Belleek Pottery factory. Experience past and present in Dublin and Belfast and the warmth of small villages. Have lunch with a family who run a working dairy farm. Explore the magnificentTitanic exhibit and enjoy a special 9-course tasting dinner inspired by the great ship's menu in the city where it was built
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Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

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Unforgettable Ireland (Canada Special)
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Dublin, Galway

Highlights

  • VisitthemedievalBlarneyCastleandkissthefamedBlarneyStone
  • Marvelatthespectacularscenery,mountainsandlakesoftheRingofKerry
  • Explorethelunar-likeBurrenregionandseethemajesticCliffsofMoher
  • SeetheartycityofGalwayandvisitbeautifulConnemaraNationalPark
  • TourIreland’sexuberantcapitalcity,Dublin

What travelers are saying

"BUYER BEWARE!!! This company has a policy that if THEY cancel your trip…THEY get to keep your money and you get a credit the company. They cancelled my first trip..found out the hard way about their policy. Booked a trip…then had left over money so booked another…which they cancelled…again. Surprisingly…this time they offered a refund, but only gave me back the money I had put down…not what was left of “my credit”. So now I am forced to do business with a company I no longer wish to, that picks and chooses when to follow their own policy!! There are plenty of other travel agencies with similar tours…don’t give these guys your hard earned money for them to keep."

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The Best of Ireland 2022
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Visits

Belfast, Dublin, Kilkenny

Highlights

  • The Emerald Isle bids you a hundred thousand welcomes on Tauck's most popular Ireland tour. Splendid scenery
  • fascinating history
  • a vibrant culture and warm
  • hospitable people all contribute to the great charm of Ireland
  • north and south.Feast your eyes along the Yellow Roads from the Ring of Kerry to the Cliffs of Moher to the Giant's Causeway. Learn the story of three centuries of Irish emigrants building a new life in North America at the Ulster American Folk Park. Get a little taste of the artistic side of Ireland on visits to the Belleek Pottery factory and a literal taste of Irish whiskey at The Jameson Experience. Enjoy the sophistication of Dublin and Belfast and the peaceful ambiance of small villages. Have lunch with a family who run a working dairy farm. Experience the award-winning
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Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
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Best of Ireland in 14 Days Tour
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1/5 Terrible
23 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Connemara, Dingle Peninsula, Dublin, Galway

Highlights

  • Dublin, learning about its rich history from the days of Viking raids
  • Enjoy scenic drive along the forests, mountains, and lakes of Killarney National Park
  • Experience walk along the local paths and lanes, hire a bicycle and pedal the scenic 30-mile Dingle Loop
  • Enjoying the beautiful Irish countryside
  • Enjoy dramatic Cliffs of Moher, where you'll find yourself leaning into the wind

Themes

Cultural, Hiking & Walking, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"We purchased two backpacks from Rick Steves Europe. One of them arrived damaged and unusable. Their website says that you must contact them if you receive damaged merchandise. I have attempted to email them through their website and I have left 3 voicemails (nobody answers the phone, ever!) and nobody has contacted me back. At this point, it seems like I've been ripped off. Buyer beware. Extremely disappointed."

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Ireland Biking
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4.9/5 Excellent
74 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Connemara, Galway

Highlights

  • Explore the sleepy village of Roundstone on foot
  • Fabulous cycling along the breathtaking Wild Atlantic Way to the famous Cliffs of Moher
  • Ride through the spectacular limestone landscapes of the Burren National Park
  • Enjoy cycle your way through Inagh Valley

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Cycling & Biking, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Butterfield and Robinson just planned and executed a great, great trip for us to the Amalfi coast. All the services and hotels were wonderful and the guides were great fun and and well informed. Many nice surprises along the way and an itinerary we would have had trouble putting together on our own was effortless. All guides were well trained the transportation and drivers were polite and on time. The recommended hotels were amazing. We loved every minute of our vacation."

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Heart of Ireland in 8 Days Tour
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4.2/5 Great
23 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Dingle Peninsula, Dublin

Highlights

  • Visit the Ennis and Ireland's Dingle Peninsula
  • Experience some of Europe's wildest natural beauty and most ancient Christian sites.
  • Visit the famous Slea Head Drive the most beautiful road in Ireland
  • Tour the strikingly situated Great Blasket Centre, a close-up look at the language, literature, and traditional Gaelic Blasket community.
  • Walking tour of Dingle Town, learning about its seafaring heritage, rich history, and perhaps a bit of local gossip.

Themes

Cultural, Hiking & Walking, Local Immersion & Homestays, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We purchased two backpacks from Rick Steves Europe. One of them arrived damaged and unusable. Their website says that you must contact them if you receive damaged merchandise. I have attempted to email them through their website and I have left 3 voicemails (nobody answers the phone, ever!) and nobody has contacted me back. At this point, it seems like I've been ripped off. Buyer beware. Extremely disappointed."

Trip dates & details
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Introduction to Ireland
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Dublin, Galway

Highlights

  • Dublin : Orientation drive; welcome dinner
  • Kildare : Guided tour of the Irish National Stud
  • Rock of cashel: Take photographs of this famous landmark
  • Limerick: Orientation drive
  • Cliffs of moher: Savor the spectacular views
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Themes

50 plus, Cultural

What travelers are saying

"This tour has amazing sites, good hotels in great locations, great pace BUT the tour director that was assigned to be with our small group added nothing to the experience. He did not give us any info, tell us about what we were seeing, give us any info at all. The only time he talked was to tell us when the next bathroom break would be. Apparently this is common for Globus to use retirees starting another chapter. Our guide was 76 and had no energy. Travel with Gate 1 or Intreped.... guides can make or break a tour."

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110 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Small Group Tour

Ireland Reviews & Ratings

4.5/5  Excellent
2,023  Reviews
See all Ireland tour reviews
Excellent
729
Great
359
Average
84
Disappointing
16
Terrible
10
D

Diane Turnbull

May 2024

Written on

Irish Highlights

It was great. Saw alot if things and had a kit of wonde...

R

Ronald Bigelow

May 2024

Written on

Irish Highlights

A whirlwind of activities and experiences! All worthwhile, interesting, and enjoyable. We were lucky to have a wonderful tour director, an amazing bus driver, and a ...

T

Trusted Customer

May 2024

Written on

Irish Highlights

Beautiful, scenic, full of history. Experiences with locals deligh...

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Ireland Tour Selection Trips

  • Walking and biking tours of Ireland can be wonderful, taking you through forests, across pastures and down small country roads you otherwise wouldn’t know existed.
  • One good reason for Americans to take a guided tour of Ireland: driving (on often narrow roads with standard transmission cars) is on the left.
  • Come prepared for rain (“liquid sunshine”) at any time, keeping in mind that this is what keeps Ireland so green.
  • While Ireland is a bit smaller than the U.S. state of Indiana, it’s rich in culture, scenery, and history, so don’t feel you have to see it all in one trip – though a number of tours do hit many of the highlights.
  • Dublin has the youngest population in Europe, making it a good choice for millennials.

Additional details

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

Ireland is open to foreign travelers.

Upon arrival, visitors must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine and fill out a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form to indicate where they intend to self isolate.

Read more about Countries Reopening for Tourism 


Ireland tours are available all year round, but it does get quite chilly. Often tours in Ireland feature a lot of time outdoors along the coast, so be sure to dress warmly!

Walking is a very popular activity on many Ireland trips. It is advised to bring a pair of warm, sturdy walking shoes or broken in hiking boots to protect your feet from blisters.

What to expect from a tour in Ireland

Touring Ireland is a wonderful experience, full of jovial fun, fascinating history, and of course a pint or two. If you enjoy beer, it’s safe to say you will enjoy traveling in Ireland. If you don’t enjoy beer, don’t worry, but be prepared for a few pub visits. You may like the taste of beer by the end of your trip!

American travelers in particular may be surprised by the pub atmosphere in Ireland and the wider UK. The Irish pub experience is far more family friendly than a typical bar or pub in the United States. Going by yourself to hang out with a book is perfectly acceptable.

But if you’re a more outgoing person, and enjoy meeting and hanging out with locals, the pub is the place to be; and you will be considered a local by the end of your trip if you go consistently. This is one reason why Ireland tours for singles are so popular.

Other than whiskey and beer, Ireland has much to offer in the way of history. Guided tours of Ireland will definitely touch on some of this, in varying degrees depending on which tour you choose.  

Ireland Tour Routes

You may be wondering whether your trip in Ireland will visit both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In most cases, Ireland tours do visit both. The Republic of Ireland is dramatically larger than Northern Ireland, so you will spend most of your time in this area.

Some likely stops on this part of your tour include the Ring of Kerry, a stunning scenic route dotted with various historical sites. The Cliffs of Moher, which are only a short distance from Dublin, are another popular spot. The only thing that makes these breathtaking cliffs more stunning is the powerful, heart-stopping wind that blows in off the sea.

Northern Ireland is home to the Titanic Museum in Belfast, a very popular tour attraction. Giants Causeway is also a main attraction in Northern Ireland, especially for being a Game of Thrones filming location. Finally, your small group tour in Northern Ireland will likely include some historical components about recent conflicts between Catholics and Protestants in this part of Ireland.

Ireland Walking Tours

Because of Ireland’s natural beauty, relative accessibility and general safety, going on hiking and walking tours is one popular way of visiting the country. Going on a walking tour around Ireland is a great way to remove yourself from the routine, and place yourself in an otherworldly landscape.

If you decide to visit the Western coast of the country, you will be confronted with contrasting, dramatic stone landscapes and beautiful mountains. This region is known for  both its rough seas, and its population of wildflowers.

If you want to experience the entire island, consider a coast-to-coast walk. On this route, you are sure to experience many more cultural landmarks, including the some of the earliest Christian landmarks.

If the call of England and Scotland are too irresistible to you, you are in luck, as many tours combine visiting the three, similar locations. This way you can get triple the dosage of intense historical drama, jaw-dropping natural landscapes, and good drink and pub food.

What is the weather like in Ireland?

As it is nearly surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Ireland’s climate is both kept temperate by the water, and also made irregular because of it. As a result, Ireland’s weather is relatively unpredictable -- but not extreme.

When traveling to Ireland in the winter, you should dress warmly, but don’t worry about freezing temperatures. It rarely drops much below 46 degrees, and a result, don’t expect any heavy snows either.

In the summer, temperatures are in generally in the upper 50’s, and reach highs of around 66 degrees. Unlike in Scotland, you never have to worry about extremely long rain spells, nor will it rain consistently enough to make you wish you had your own pair of wellies. Either bring a light rain jacket just in case, or use every drizzle as an excuse to grab a Guinness in a cozy pub -- the choice is up to you!

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