Grand Tour of Ireland
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Get to the heart of Irish culture on this sweeping survey of the Emerald Isle.
Beyond the sheep-dotted landscapes and cliff-carved coasts that are its calling card, the island of Ireland comprises dynamic cities, cute villages, and a certain charm you won’t find anywhere else. From the Ring of Kerry in the south to Derry in neighboring Northern Ireland, you’ll get a proper look at life in the region. And after two weeks of exploring, you’ll leave feeling like a local (if you can even bear to leave at all). Should you choose to stay a little longer, Scotland awaits on this trip’s extension, showcasing another side of Celtic culture that’s just as captivating.
Your tour package includes
- 12 nights in handpicked hotels
- 12 breakfasts
- 1 lunch
- 4 dinners with beer or wine
- 12 sightseeing tours
Included highlights
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral
- Glendalough
- Kilkenny Castle
- House of Waterford factory tour
- Cobh Heritage Centre
An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.
Day-by-day itinerary
Print itineraryBoard your overnight flight to Dublin today.
Welcome to Ireland! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner and get familiar with the concept of craic—the lively, fun banter you’ll encounter across Ireland.
Settled by the Gaels and disputed over centuries by the Vikings and Anglo-Normans, Dublin traces its history back more than 1,300 years. Today, you’ll peel back some of its layers on a comprehensive tour, led by a local expert.
- Stop in Phoenix Park, the largest enclosed public park in any European capital city. First established as a royal hunting ground by government decree in 1662, this 1,750-acre greenspace today houses the country’s presidential residence.
- Pass by St. James’s Gate Brewery, the legendary 260-year-old brewery behind Guinness dry stout. More than 50 million barrels ship out of the plant each year, making it the world’s most prolific producer of stout-style beers.
- Drive through Old Dublin, then step into St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the country’s largest church. Founded in 1191, it serves as the national cathedral for the Church of Ireland, and its arresting Gothic architecture befits a building of its stature.
- Traverse Dublin’s city center, passing 17th-century St. Stephen’s Green as you go. Afterward, take some time to admire the Georgian architecture of Merrion Square. Another gardened area in the heart of Dublin, it’s been called home by some of Ireland’s foremost writers—Oscar Wilde and W.B. Yeats among them.
- See the dignified facade of Trinity College—Ireland’s oldest university—and embark on a walking tour of its hallowed grounds.
For a walk down Dublin’s (even more) festive side, spend your afternoon strolling Grafton Street or the Temple Bar. The former is the city’s primary shopping boulevard; the latter, its buzzy bar district. Alternatively, wrap yourself in shades of emerald by tacking on an optional excursion to the immaculate gardens of Powerscourt Estate.
Powerscourt Estate & Gardens
From $59 per person
Leave Dublin and traverse County Wicklow, marveling at some of Ireland’s wildest scenery as you go. Enter Wicklow Mountains National Park—one of six such preserves in the country—and make your way to the Glendalough Visitor Centre. After getting situated, explore the ancient abbey: Cradled in a glacial valley, this sixth-century monastery was founded by the hermit Saint Kevin and contains ruins like the Round Tower, the Gateway, and St. Kevin’s Cross.
From there, you’ll cross into County Kilkenny and stop at its namesake settlement. Briefly the capital of Ireland in the 17th century, Kilkenny lays claim to the country’s best-preserved medieval town, put on full display along the Medieval Mile—a stretch that connects Kilkenny Castle and St. Canice’s Cathedral.
Built along the River Nore in 1260 and restored more than 700 years later, the imposing Kilkenny Castle welcomes more than one million visitors inside its walls annually. Count yourself among that number today as you roam the fortress and its gardens, then pass by the Gothic St. Canice’s Cathedral before heading to Waterford.
Once you arrive in town, you and your groupmates will sit down for an included dinner, served with beer or wine, before ending your day.
Please note: Between November and February, the sightseeing tour of Kilkenny may take place on day 5 due to the closure of some attractions.
Ireland’s oldest city is neither Dublin nor Cork—that honor belongs to Waterford, a former Viking settlement established in the ninth century. Today, a local guide will introduce you to its rich history by way of its most famous sites and exports.
- Walk through the Viking Triangle, a cultural district encircled by the remains of 1,000-year-old walls.
- Pass Reginald’s Tower, the oldest civic building in the country and the lynchpin of Waterford’s medieval defenses. Outside, you’ll glimpse another pair of local icons: the Vadrafjordr, a replica Viking longship, and the Dragon Slayer Sword, a hulking, 75-foot wooden sword with hand-carved panels depicting Viking history in the area.
- See the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, the oldest post-reformation Roman Catholic cathedral in Ireland, before visiting the House of Waterford. You may not have heard of this famed glassworks by name, but you’ve almost certainly seen its work: Waterford crystals adorn the ball that drops over Times Square every New Year’s Eve.
Cap your day by venturing into County Tipperary for a tour of the iconic Rock of Cashel. Home to more than 1,000 years of history, this 360-foot-tall outcrop guards a collection of Celtic, Christian, and Viking ruins and is one of Ireland’s premier attractions.
Please note: Between November and February, the sightseeing tour of Waterford may take place on day 4 due to the closure of some attractions.
From Waterford, head southwest to Cobh, a seaport town of roughly 14,000 on the other side of massive Cork Harbor. Here, you’ll enter the Cobh Heritage Centre: Learn about Irish life, emigration, and maritime tradition over the centuries. (Did you know that Cobh was the Titanic’s final port of call before its doomed maiden voyage?)
Then, skirt around the city of Cork to one of Ireland’s most famous tourist sites. First erected in 1210, then rebuilt in 1446 as a stronghold of the local MacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty, Blarney Castle lays claim to one legendary item: the Blarney Stone. Originally added as a defensive structure, this slab of limestone supposedly grants all who kiss it “the gift of gab.” Stretch out over the parapet and give it a smooch—then let us know how you feel!
Set out for a drive along the Ring of Kerry, a 112-mile coastal route that winds around the Iveragh Peninsula and covers some of Ireland’s most spectacular scenery. Expect your breath to catch with every rugged mile of coastal vistas and windswept beaches.
- Pass the pristine Lakes of Killarney in Killarney National Park and gaze across Dingle Bay. On a clear day, the lakes’ mirror-like surfaces reflect the surrounding forests and hills.
- Don’t blink! You won’t want to miss the ever-changing views, cycling between mountains, beaches, and the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
- Explore the quaint villages that line the route—places like Sneem, the “knot in the ring” replete with candy-colored storefronts. (Why the interesting nickname? Sneem’s Irish name, An tSnaidhm, directly translates to “the knot.”)
Sit down for an included dinner this evening, then prep for tomorrow’s journey to County Galway.
Board your bus and roll north to the beautiful, lake-dotted expanse of County Galway. Before arriving in Galway proper, stop to enjoy some of the best views on the Emerald Isle.
- Redefine “taking the scenic route” with a quick detour into County Clare and a walk along the mesmerizing Cliffs of Moher. Sheer cliffs stretching into the distance, crashing waves below—you know this one.
- Drive on through the Burren. Distinct from the lush greens that typify the rest of the Irish landscape, greys dominate this limestone plateau, punctuated by bursts of wildflowers. Botanists will surely delight in this journey: More than 70% of Ireland’s flower species grow here.
Arrive in Galway, then let your Tour Director take the lead on a walking tour of the city’s highlights.
- Stroll past a trio of Galwegian icons: Lynch’s Castle, a castle-turned-bank that dates to the 16th century; the rustic home of “Ireland's most prestigious” troupe, the Druid Theatre Company; and John F. Kennedy Memorial Park, a popular green space better known to locals (and the world) as Eyre Square.
- Get a grasp of Galway’s Norman history by viewing its medieval walls—12th-century fortifications that once encircled the city—and the Spanish Arch. First erected in 1584 as an extension of Galway’s protective walls, its name alludes to the Spaniards who moored their ships and lived in the area.
- Peruse authentic Claddagh (said “CLA-da”) rings in a local shop. Steeped in legend and symbolism, these pieces of jewelry have been produced in their current guise—two hands clasping a crowned heart—since at least 1700 and are inextricably linked to Galway.
How will you fill your evening? If you add it to your itinerary, you’ll dig into a traditional dinner, served with a rousing step dance show.
Please note: On some departures, the Traditional Irish Music & Dance Show with Dinner excursion will be offered on day 9.
Traditional Irish Music & Dance Show with Dinner
From $109 per person
Up next: a full day in Galway, all to yourself. Early risers should head for the Long Walk, a not-so-long row of color-blocked houses just past the Spanish Arch. Their seaside location and vibrant aesthetics make for a great photo op—especially at sunrise.
Then, enjoy the freedom of an unstructured schedule, or build out your day with an optional excursion. For architecture and vistas plucked out of a fantasy novel, you’ll want to take up our visit to Kylemore Abbey and Connemara National Park. Keep your cameras handy: You might catch some of the latter’s famous ponies trotting about.
Kylemore Abbey & Connemara National Park
From $89 per person
Back on your bus, drive up through western Ireland and make a stop at the Glen Keen Farm, one of the nation’s largest working sheep farms. You’ll learn about tending sheep during an interactive herding demonstration before sitting down for a traditional lunch—complete with dessert, coffee, tea, and the serenity of County Mayo’s countryside.
Then, continue to the coastal town of Sligo, where you’ll spend the night before rolling on to Northern Ireland.
Please note: Vegetarian options are available for the included lunch.
Bid the Republic of Ireland slán go fóill (“goodbye for now” in English) at the hypnotizing Glencar Waterfall, whose wooded surroundings and tiered cascade inspired the poetry of Nobel Prize-winning poet William Butler Yeats.
After, cross the border into Northern Ireland—a separate nation and a constituent country of the U.K.—and stop in Derry for a quick guided tour. As you go, you’ll see its 17th-century walls; more importantly, you’ll get a primer on the long history of tension between Derry’s Protestant and Catholic residents, something that has impacted the city for hundreds of years.
Northern Ireland’s largest city, seafaring Belfast possesses a long, proud history—one that you’ll dip into today. With help from a local guide, take a tour and get to know the Northern Irish capital from a unique perspective.
- Glimpse the patinated domes and sculpted walls of Belfast’s City Hall, where local leaders have met since the beginning of the 20th century. Then, move on to the Grand Opera House. Completely restored in the early 2020s, the almost 130-year-old building still hosts an assortment of performances, from ballet to comedy.
- Walk Belfast’s streets and let your guide educate you on the city’s past. Learn about everything from its Bronze Age origins and rise as an international seaport to its role in the vicious sectarian conflict known around the world as “the Troubles.”
- Enter the Titanic Belfast museum. The infamous vessel was built in the city’s shipyards by local manufacturers Harland & Wolff, and this exhibit highlights its history, from hopeful conception to tragic sinking.
To see a bit more of the Northern Irish countryside (and sip a spot of tea), add this afternoon’s excursion to Hillsborough Castle. If you’d rather enjoy some alone time, pop into St. George’s Market—the last surviving covered Victorian market in the city—and browse the wares of more than 300 vendors.
Castles of Northern Ireland & Afternoon Tea
From $129 per person
Catch a glimpse of geometric perfection today by adding an outing to the Giant’s Causeway. Stepping down into the sea, this UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of some 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the supposed remnants of an encounter between two mythical giants.
Or, choose to spend the day how you like. Pushing up against the edge of the Queen’s University Belfast campus, the 19th-century Botanic Gardens boast a glass conservatory, an open-air rosarium, a museum, and more. You could roam its elegant paths for hours!
This evening, celebrate your trip with your group at a farewell dinner, served with beer or wine.
Giant’s Causeway
From $95 per person
Transfer to the airport or trade a flight home for a ferry to Scotland by booking this tour’s extension. Glasgow, Edinburgh, and more wait in the wings—with so much so close by, why wouldn’t you dive deeper into Celtic culture?
Board a ferry in Belfast and cross the Irish Sea, docking in Cairnryan, Scotland—a hamlet of just 142 residents on the shores of Loch Ryan.
Then, continue to Glasgow and set off on a sightseeing tour of “the Dear Green Place” (a sobriquet drawn from the direct translation of the city’s Gaelic name) with a local as your guide.
- Walk around 18th-century George Square, admiring the craftsmanship of the adjacent City Chambers and the various statues erected around the city’s main public plaza. From there, head south through the posh Merchant City district to the banks of the Clyde, Scotland’s second-longest river.
- Admire the buildings of the University of Glasgow: Founded in 1451, it’s the fourth-oldest in the English-speaking world and one of four Renaissance universities still operating in Scotland today.
- Stop outside the city’s medieval cathedral—the oldest cathedral on the Scottish mainland and the oldest building in all of Glasgow—for photos of its Gothic spires and facades.
- Visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Opened in 1870 as Glasgow’s first municipal museum, it features substantial exhibitions of everything from European portraiture to Egyptian antiquities.
After your tour, settle into your hotel and get some rest. Tomorrow, you’ll be heading to Edinburgh!
En route to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, detour northeast through picturesque countryside to visit Stirling Castle. A fixture in the Wars of Scottish Independence, this 12th-century fortress saw the coronation of Mary, Queen of Scots, and still stands proudly atop its rocky perch.
After touring the castle, continue to Edinburgh. For a little levity, add tonight’s excursion and jump into a cèilidh. (Pronounce the name of this traditional party “KAY-lee”). If you’d rather slow things down, take to the streets and find dinner on your own time.
Scottish Cèilidh
From $129 per person
Nestled between the rivers Almond and Esk, Edinburgh emerges from a series of hills and rocky ridges, earning its nickname “the Athens of the North.” Get to know the city in all its medieval beauty on a tour led by a local expert.
- View neoclassical and Georgian architecture in the New Town. The ornate sandstone and granite structures surrounding oasis-like gardens and green spaces became a model for European urban planning.
- Contrast the New Town’s grace with the Old Town’s rustic Royal Mile, which runs between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse—the official residence of British monarchs in Scotland. Here, you’ll cross moody, narrow streets and alleys, known as “closes,” flanked by brooding stone buildings and timeworn cathedrals.
- Pass the towering Sir Walter Scott monument—paying homage to the Ivanhoe and Rob Roy scribe—one of the largest sculptural tributes to an author in the world.
- Ascend Castle Rock and enter Edinburgh Castle. Standing on an extinct volcano at the top of the Royal Mile, it houses the Scottish crown jewels and Stone of Scone—a block of sandstone that has played a central role in coronation ceremonies for centuries.
Looking to be swept away by the wild romance of the Scottish Borders region? Add an outing to your itinerary and join fellow literature lovers for a quest to the home of Sir Walter Scott and the Gothic ruins of Melrose Abbey.
Prefer to see more of Edinburgh? Use your free afternoon in the city to go back and wander the winding streets of the Old Town. If you’re feeling adventurous, perhaps consider a spooky stroll through the tunnels that weave underneath the city. Of course, there’s always tucking into a booth in a cozy cafe and lingering over tea and shortbread.
Please note: The order of today’s activities is subject to change.
Abbotsford House & Melrose Abbey
From $109 per person
Transfer to the airport to board your flight home.
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Reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
Overall rating 4.6 out of 5
5 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5 stars
This was the most awesome tour. The guide, bus driver and accommodations were wonderful and worth every penny.
5 out of 5 stars
Great tour guide. Great coach driver. Great schedule of activities.
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Hotels, flights & FAQ
Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.This boutique hotel is located in Dublin’s city center. Guests enjoy the bistro, a gym, and the hotel bar. Nearby, you’ll find EPIC The Irish Emigrati...
This family-run hotel is located in the heart of Waterford. Guests enjoy spacious rooms, live music, and hearty Irish breakfasts. Nearby, you’ll find ...
This elegant hotel is located in Tralee, County Kerry, along the Wild Atlantic Way. Guests enjoy the manicured gardens and an intimate second-floor ba...
This comfortable hotel is located near the center of Galway. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, a hotel bar, and a restaurant. Nearby, you’ll find the Galway Sh...
This modern hotel is located in central Sligo. Guests enjoy a restaurant, fitness center, and two bars. Nearby, you’ll find The Model, the Yeats Memor...
This refined hotel is located in Belfast’s Lagan Valley Regional Park. Guests enjoy the indoor pool, a fitness center, and an on-site restaurant. Near...
This hotel is located in Glasgow. Guests enjoy a fitness center, bar, and locally sourced meals. Nearby, you’ll find Glasgow Cathedral, the Kelvingrov...
This modern hotel is located in Edinburgh’s West End. Guests enjoy the fitness center, a bar, and stylish rooms. Nearby, you’ll find Edinburgh Castle,...
Flights
- Round-trip flight for your tour
- Airport transfers at your destination
- A great price locked in today
- 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
- Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
- Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
- Find out more about flights
FAQ
Print FAQ- In order to enter Ireland and the United Kingdom, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
- We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
- There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
- If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code LSS.
- Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Dublin and depart from Belfast (or Edinburgh on the tour extension).
- Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost if they are arriving or departing on the standard day.
- When you arrive in Dublin, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.
Physical Activity Level
This is a high physical activity-level tour. You can expect to be on the move on a regular basis throughout the course of the tour.
Tour Pacing
This is a brisk-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:
- Most days full of included activities (more if you add excursions)
- Most transportation by motor coach
- Daily bus time varies and can be lengthy
Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements
- Travelers should be prepared to walk 2-3 miles per day - this includes city streets, cobblestones, stairs, and hills.
- Cobblestone streets can become slick when wet.
- While visiting Blarney Castle, travelers have the opportunity to kiss the Blarney Stone. In order to kiss the Blarney Stone, travelers must climb 128 very steep, narrow stairs.
- Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
- Please Note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
Climate Considerations
- Travelers can expect cool, cloudy, and rainy days throughout the year, with occasional heatwaves in the summer months (June-September).
Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions
- Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
- Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
- If you have mobility concerns or tour pace questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team. We’re here to help!
- This tour includes various modes of transportation, including ferry and private motor coach. Some modes of transportation will have raised platforms or steps and often not provide access to ramps or lifts.
- A ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan is included in the price of the tour extension.
- All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
- Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include ferry connections.
- Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
- Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights
- Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
- Travelers need to be prepared to manage their own luggage during ferry transfers. This includes carrying your luggage up/down the boarding ramp, lifting luggage onto racks; and managing crowded spaces with other people and motor vehicles.
- We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
- A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
- You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
- It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
- We recommend packing a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastic waste.
- We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
- We recommend packing your Insurance Card (from your primary insurance provider) in your carry on luggage.
- Go Ahead handpicks every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm.
- Accommodations are typically three to four star hotels.
- All accommodations include a private bathroom.
- Most rooms will include a safe for valuables.
- Your hotels will have Wifi, but it may be limited to common areas.
- Elevators in hotels are not guaranteed.
- Some hotels on this tour require travelers to walk with their luggage a few blocks as buses cannot drop travelers off right out front.
- Please be advised that the strength of the air conditioning in European hotels/buildings is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
- Ireland and the United Kingdom operate within 230-240 volts and use a Type G plug with three large, flat pins.
- We cannot guarantee that your hotel accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with the hotel once they are confirmed about 30 days prior to departure.
- Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.
- Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
- We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
- Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
- Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).
- At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website at cdc.gov.
- If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies, please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
- If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
- Most of our itineraries include headsets used during certain sightseeing tours so travelers can hear their guides or Tour Director. If you use an assisted listening device, such as a hearing aid or cochlear implant, please visit our Help Center for more information or contact our customer experience team. Please note that at this time not all our destinations offer headsets due to supplier limitations.
- The water is safe to drink throughout your tour unless posted otherwise.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code LSS.
- This tour includes one lunch and four dinners. Included meals may be plated set menus, buffet or family style depending on the location. Dinners include one glass of beer, wine, or soft drink and water, coffee and tea.
- Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
- Irish pubs serve up hearty lunches, such as the traditional stew of bacon and boiled cabbage. Soda bread is delicious, very filling and served with many meals. Nibble a scone at afternoon tea, with a pat of high-quality butter from County Kerry. Guinness stout is an international sensation, but locals might favor Murphy's, depending on where you are.
- Dublin has seen something of a culinary revolution, and the city now boasts an impressive array of new restaurants offering exciting cuisine with continental Europe, Asian, and even American influences.
- Scottish cuisine, on the tour extension, relies on readily available ingredients like game, dairy, and fish, with little use of exotic spices. Pickled kippers and smoked salmon are popular as well as hearty dishes like Scotch broth (stew of meat and root vegetables) and haggis (a savory pudding of sheep innards). Scotch whisky is a legendary local spirit, and Scottish ales are world-famous.
- At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
- We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10-$12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
- If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
- Tips can only be paid in cash.
- If you are traveling to multiple countries with different currencies and the same Tour Director, ask them what currency they prefer for their tip.
- The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.
- You will use the euro in Ireland and the Pound sterling in the United Kingdom on the tour extension.
- Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
- We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
- You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
- International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
- Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your tour director, local guides, and bus drivers. We also recommend keeping coins in the local currency on hand, as some public bathrooms may charge a fee for use.
- To ensure you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend you download the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. The app is free and provides important deadlines, entry requirements, your detailed itinerary, packing tips and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the chat feature in the app.
- Wifi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
- There is no Wifi on any of the motor coaches.
- Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
- Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have the same Tour Director throughout your tour.
- The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
- Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
- This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
- As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.
- When you travel with EF Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit, and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
- Travel, when done responsibly, can make an enormous socio-economic impact to communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at local businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
- Prepare for your trip: be aware of the monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market, learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette, and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
- When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
- EF Go Ahead Tours encourages our travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single use plastics. You can avoid single use plastics by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.
- Environment: On this tour, we recommend the use of a reusable water bottle, as the local drinking water is safe for travelers. Your Tour Director can provide additional guidance on local water standards. Make sure to bring a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastics.
- Environment: When visiting national parks, reserves, or other protected areas, please do not remove anything from the natural environment or leave any litter. Carry out what you carried in.
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