An Turas - Ireland Adventure

Tuesday 3rd June – Tuesday 10th June 2025

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

Overview

Picturesque coastal towns and villages, green pastoral fields, soaring cliffs, wild barren landscapes, the crash of the ocean, the laugh of a local. Ireland is romantic, and authentic, a home away from home where both old and modern seem to cohabit seamlessly on a small island in the middle of the sea. Packed with history and tradition your days are spent exploring the island of Ireland’s famous and off-the-beaten-track sites of natural, cultural and political interest. A world-renowned food scene means your evenings are spent dining in style and with the promise of a pub just around the corner, music and laughter are never far away. Your trip to Ireland will surprise and delight you but the people of Ireland will stay with you, long after your journey has taken you home.

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1 | Tuesday 3rd June | Céad míle fáilte | Overnight: Dublin

Day 2 | Wednesday 4th June | Historical Dublin | Overnight: Dublin

Day 3 | Thursday 5th June | The Hill of Uisneach | Overnight: Sligo

Day 4 | Friday 6th June | Hiking Knocknarea | Overnight: Sligo

Day 5 | Saturday 7th June | Sheepdog Demonstration & Derry Explorations | Overnight: Derry

Day 6 | Sunday 8th June | The Causeway Coastal Route | Overnight: Belfast

Day 7 | Monday 9th June | The Troubles | Overnight: Belfast

Day 8 | Tuesday 10th June | Depart

Day by Day

Day 1 - Tuesday 3rd June - Céad míle fáilte

Céad míle fáilte – or one hundred thousand welcomes to Ireland’s “Fair City”. Arriving at Dublin Airport this morning, your private guide will meet you at arrivals and together you will head into your centrally located hotel. Your guide will join the group for lunch before you have an afternoon of free time, you can choose to catch up on some sleep, head out on foot to explore the city or people-watch at a nearby cafe. Dublin has been described as a ‘city with a village feel’; as you walk by the lines of Georgian houses along cobbled streets, you’ll soon see why. This evening, you’ll meet your fellow adventurers and guide for a welcome dinner in one of Dublin’s many award-winning restaurants.

Overnight: Dublin | Drury Court Hotel
Room Type: Classic
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2 - Wednesday 4th June - Historical Dublin

This morning, your guide will lead you on an exploration of Dublin City. Your first stop is an old Tenement building, now a museum, for an in-depth telling of Dublin’s social past. Your guide will bring to life the stories of the humans who lived in the house, their changing circumstances, their experience of family life, politics, and the impact of world affairs. After lunch in a local pub, the group will head to the Jameson Distillery on Bow Street for a whiskey cocktail-making class. You’ll try your hand at creating a Whiskey Sour, Old Fashioned and what could be your new favourite cocktail – Jameson Punch. Tonight you have free time for dinner but your guide will give you plenty of recommendations.

Overnight: Dublin | Drury Court Hotel
Room Type: Classic
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3 - Thursday 5th June - The Hill of Uisneach

This morning, you’ll begin your journey west to County Sligo on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, but not before stopping in the heartlands to delve into Ireland’s ancient and mythological past. You’ll stop at the Hill of Uisneach, whose origins lie far beyond recorded history. Surviving monuments and relics date from the Neolithic (3700-2500 BC) and Bronze Ages (2500-500 BC). After lunch, you’ll continue to Sligo, a town from which renowned poet W.B. Yeats drew inspiration. Spend time this evening wandering around the centre before you join the group for dinner in one of Sligo’s lovely restaurants.

Overnight: Sligo | Riverside Hotel
Room Type: Classic
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4 - Friday 6th June - Hiking Knocknarea

This morning you make the short drive to Strandhill and the imposing Knocknarea mountain which stands tall dominating the peninsula’s landscape. Legend has it that the Warrior Queen Maeve is buried atop the mountain, signified by a large 10-metre tall cairn visible from sea-level, as the mountain served as an important outpost during her reign over the western counties. Following your hike, you’ll meet foraging expert Lucianne to discover the different uses of seaweeds and seashore plants along the Strandhill coast. Enjoy some tasters before lunch in the small seaside village.

Overnight: Sligo | Riverside Hotel
Room Type: Classic
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5 - Saturday 7th June - Sheepdog Demonstration & Derry Explorations

This morning you’ll begin your journey north, but not before getting the opportunity to see an Irish farmer in action. The most recent Best Sheepdog Experience in Ireland award winner will introduce you to his dogs, who will demonstrate their herding skills with Sligo’s iconic landmarks of Benbulben’s ribbed mountainside as your backdrop. Arriving in Derry in the afternoon, you’ll meet local man Damien for a historical walking tour of the city. Built in the 17th century, Derry is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples of Walled Cities in Europe. Your private guide will incorporate the tragic events of Jan 30th 1972 when a peaceful protest turned violent leading to the killing of 14 unarmed men and boys along with the injury of many others in an event known as Bloody Sunday into your guided experience today.

Overnight: Derry | Bishops Gate Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6 - Sunday 8th June - The Causeway Coastal Route

Heading to Belfast today, you’ll follow the fiercely panoramic clifftop of the Causeway Coastal Route. The scenery gets wilder and more alien upon approaching the Giant’s Causeway, a fascinating geological phenomenon. Folklore claims that the Giant’s Causeway was formed by two rival giants who hurled rocks at each other across the sea, while science attributes this place to a long-ago volcano. Designated as a UNESCO site, the Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast have inspired visitors for centuries. After your walk you’ll continue to the city, the last stop on your Irish adventure.

Overnight: Belfast | Titanic Hotel
Room Type: Standard
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7 - Monday 9th June - The Troubles

Today is all about exploring the capital of the North of Ireland and its complicated history. Your first stop is Crumlin Road Gaol (known locally as ‘The Crum’), which dates back to 1845 and closed its doors as a working prison in 1996. You’ll learn the history of the site from when women and children were held within its walls to the political segregation of Republican and loyalist prisoners. You’ll then take a walking tour with two locals who lived through these times, hear their stories, and visit the Peace Wall and the murals dotted across the city. You have free time to explore after lunch before you join the group and guide for a farewell dinner tonight.

Overnight: Belfast | Titanic Hotel
Room Type: Standard
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8 - Tuesday 10th June - Depart

This morning, your guide will drop the group at the ferry port in time for you to make your way to Scotland for your onward journey. We hope your time in Ireland has been memorable and we look forward to welcoming you to our shores once again.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More
  • All accommodation from Day 1 to Day 8
  • Most meals as indicated above: Breakfast each morning, 7 lunch and 6 dinner
  • Services of an experienced and knowledgeable qualified guide from Day 1 to Day 8
  • Ground transportation from Day 1 to Day 8
  • All guided hikes and activities mentioned in the itinerary, specifically;
  • Guided Tour of Henrietta Museum
  • Cocktail Making Class at the Jameson Distillery
  • Guided Tour at the Hill of Uisneach
  • Guided Hike on Knocknarea
  • Guided Foraging & Tasting in Strandhill
  • Guided Sheepdog Demonstration
  • Guided Historical Walking Tour of Derry City
  • Entry to the Giants Causeway
  • Entry to Crumlin Road Gaol & Guided Tour of Belfast Murals & Peace Wall
  • Tips for included meals, accommodation and activity providers
  • Personalised trip design and delivery
  • Snacks throughout the trip
  • 24 hour in-country support from the Wilderness Team
Exclusions Read More
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Gratuities for the main driver guide
Notes Read More
  • All suggested accommodations and services are subject to availability at the time of booking
  • This quote is valid for 14 days from the date quoted, after this time pricing may be subject to revision
Pricing Read More

This trip is confirmed on 5 pax and the pricing is as follows

5-8 pax = €4,850 per person

9-12 pax = €4,600 per person

Two single supplements are available and the additional cost is €870 per person.

Virtuoso

An Turas – Ireland Adventure

Tuesday 3rd June – Tuesday 10th June 2025