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Exploring Scotland & Ireland

About this tour.

Bask in the warm Celtic culture and majestic scenery of two remarkable lands. Come to know the regal city of Edinburgh on a panoramic coach tour or by foot – it’s your choice! Learn the secrets of making Scotch whisky and enjoy a tasting. Cruise famed Loch Ness and explore the ruins of Urquhart Castle. Enjoy a traditional evening of Scottish food and entertainment. Visit the Titanic Experience in Belfast and remember the century-old tragedy that shook the world. Walk the Giant’s Causeway (UNESCO) and soak up incredible views of the Causeway Coast, one of the world’s most breathtaking rail journeys. Visit Ireland’s bustling capital city of Dublin and tour historic St. Patrick’s Cathedral. From rugged natural beauty to vibrant and historical cities, the diverse charms of Scotland and Ireland await.

Your Tour Includes

• 6 Handpicked Accommodations
• 2 Choice on Tour Options

Included Highlights

• Choice on Tour
• Whisky Distillery

Your Tour at a Glance

11 Breakfasts

Travel Style

Best time for travel, customize your tour.

Optional Excursions

Starting at $75.00

Activity Level

• Level This Tour

For specific details about this tour's activity level and other info to know before you book your trip, click here.

Extension Style

Best time for travel exploring scotland & ireland.

While just about any month is great to visit Scotland and Ireland, there are a few prime times of the year for the Exploring Scotland & Ireland tour. Here are some recommendations from our destination experts.

Spring: Springtime is a wonderful time to visit the region! The countryside comes alive with flowers and shades of green, and the days of sunlight are growing just a bit longer, giving you more time to explore.

Summer: August is the perfect time to visit Edinburgh, as the Military Tattoo and Edinburgh Festival both take place then. It’s crowded, but the city is alive with many cultural events. And generally, it’s good weather (fingers crossed for not too much rain!).

Fall: Daylight hours grow shorter, and the weather is not quite as hospitable as summer, but the changing colors of the landscape are truly lovely. Fewer crowds make it easier to navigate sites and take your time to enjoy them.

Travel Styles

Highlights and inclusions.

Must-See Inclusions:

• Tour the "Fair City" of Dublin with a local guide.

Embark on a scenic cruise on beautiful Loch Ness.

Set out on a walking tour of Derry featuring its medieval city walls.

Cultural Experiences:

Embark on one of the world’s most breathtaking rail journeys along the Causeway Coast.

Explore the Titanic Experience in Belfast.

Discover the heritage of Glasgow with a local guide.

Culinary Inclusions:

• Sample the "Water of Life" at a Scottish whisky distillery.

Taste apple cider at a family-run farm.

Join in the fun during a night of traditional Scottish food and entertainment.

• Urquhart Castle
• Highland Evening
• Titanic Experience
• Giant's Causeway
• The Causeway Coast Rail Journey

Book with Confidence

* With Insurance Purchased

• *No Hassle Refunds
• Traveling Well Safety
• No booking fee, *no change fees
• Top Rated Travel Protection

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Getting Prepared

Know before you go, travel tips, enhance your tour.

Pre and Post Tour Extensions

• Choice On Tour

Pre and Post Night Stay

Unique Experience

Cultural Experiences

Enhance Your Trip

• Tour Extensions

After visiting Edinburgh Castle, home to the Scottish Crown Jewels, choose how you’ll explore Scotland’s hilly capital. For your first choice, get acquainted with the regal city via panoramic tour on your motorcoach. The route will take you through Old Town, including the Royal Mile – a traditional processional route for royalty.The coach will also take you through the Georgian-style New Town, full of elegant squares, terraces, and gardens, including Charlotte Square,and the charming local cafes and shops of Princes Street. For your second choice, explore Edinburgh on foot. Focused on the Old Town, walk along the winding cobblestone streets learning about sites such as the medieval John Knox Houseand the iconic St. Gile’s Cathedral — an integral site during the Scottish Reformation. The walking tour will also show you the vibrant Grassmarket neighborhood, a marketplace dating back to the 15th century that still hosts standing shops and visiting vendors today.

Start your trip with 3 nights in London – the capital of England and the United Kingdom. Use your included Oyster card to navigate the city with a local expert – hopping on the Tube and taking a walking tour along the River Thames, where you can see St Pauls' Cathedral, the Tate Modern Art Gallery, Shakespeare's Globe and the food stalls of Borough market. Take advantage of your included Tower of London pass. You’ll have ample time at leisure to make your stay in London exactly what you want it to be. Your other option is to book a pre night?

• Overnight Flight
• You’re on your way to the United Kingdom. Begin in England and enjoy a 3-night stay in London.
• London, England - Extension Begins
• Experience London, the esteemed capital of the United Kingdom. Often described as a world within a city, London is a sophisticated metropolis with a timeless style all its own.
• Navigate the city with a local expert. Using your included Oyster card, hop on the famous underground Tube. Take a walking tour along the Thames River, where you can see St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tate Modern Art Gallery and Shakespeare’s Globe. End at Borough Market, London’s premier food market, with history dating back around 1,000 years. You will love independently strolling the small, specialty produce stalls and sumptuous street food traders. Enjoy the afternoon to further explore the city.
• See London your way today! Be sure to take advantage of your included ticket to the Tower of London to peek into the city’s storied past and uncover the secrets of this 11th-century fortress.
• London - Edinburgh, Scotland
• Wish London goodbye as you take a high-speed train through the English countryside to Scotland.

Hotel-Radisson Blu Edinburgh

Hotel-Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge

Explore one of Ireland's best-kept secrets. Enjoy a fun and engaging evening with a local singer/songwriter and discover how the tale of Derry is intertwined with many of Ireland's most important events. Come and experience a three-course dinner at a restaurant serving pub-style food. See first-hand why Derry was named the UK City of Culture in 2013.

Join us for a rollicking evening of tastes, sights and sounds that are classically Scottish. Feast on a banquet prepared from a selection of local recipes. Your taste buds will savor the true flavor and goodness of this distinctive country. Tonight will be filled with entertainment including Highland pipers and dancers who deliver the very best in Scottish music, song and dance. Be prepared for a Scottish night of food, fun and many fond memories!

Enjoy a traditional pub lunch at a historic pub where you will soak up the atmosphere of days gone by. After lunch, continue on to the nearby Guinness Storehouse, Ireland's top international visitor attraction. Learn about the brewing process that creates this beloved beverage and discover the technique needed to pour the perfect pint! Classic Guinness ads and memorabilia create a nostalgic ambiance as you indulge in a complimentary pint and learn about a different yet key part of Ireland's history.

Tour the "Fair City" of Dublin with a local guide.

Sample the "Water of Life" at a Scottish whisky distillery.

Accommodations

Arrive earlier.

Pre Night: Radisson Blu Edinburgh From $180 per night

Radisson Blu Edinburgh

Best western palace hotel inverness, hilton glasgow, ac hotel by marriott belfast, city hotel derry, clayton hotel ballsbridge.

Nights 10-11

Stay Longer

Post Night: Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge From $140 per night

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