The Gallaghers 2025 Trip to Ireland

Thursday 7th August – Monday 18th August 2025

Duration: 12 Days / 11 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 | Thursday 7th August | Welcome to Dublin | Overnight: Dublin 2

Day 2 | Friday 8th August | Kayaking Along the River Liffey & The League of Ireland | Overnight: Dublin 2

Day 3 | Saturday 9th August | The Rock of Cashel | Overnight: Killarney

Day 4 | Sunday 10th August | Killarney National Park | Overnight: Killarney

Day 5 | Monday 11th August | Foraging the Shores of West Kerry | Overnight: Killarney

Day 6 | Tuesday 12th August | The Dingle Peninsula with a Falconry Experience | Overnight: Doolin

Day 7 | Wednesday 13th August | The Burren - Farm Tour & Tasting | Overnight: Doolin

Day 8 | Thursday 14th August | Crystal Factory & Galway City | Overnight: Connemmara

Day 9 | Friday 15th August | Inishlaken Island Landing | Overnight: Connemmara

Day 10 | Saturday 16th August | Exploring Connemara | Overnight: Connemmara

Day 11 | Sunday 17th August | Return to Dublin | Overnight: Dublin 2

Day 12 | Monday 18th August | Depart

Day by Day

Day 1 - Thursday 7th August - Welcome to Dublin

Arriving in Ireland today, a private transfer will pick you up from the airport and whisk you into the city to your boutique hotel. Check-in is at 3 pm however feel free to drop your bags, freshen up and grab a bite to eat before heading out in the afternoon to enjoy a walking tour with a local private guide through this vibrant capital city. With its mix of 1,000 years of architecture from the mediaeval to Georgian to modern, you’ll see the Georgian style Merrion Square, lush St. Stephen’s Green and Fitzwilliam Square, as well as O’Connell Street, the site of the ‘1916 Uprising’ that led to Ireland’s independence in 1922. Your guide is also a historian who will bring the city to life with colourful tales of life in the city in times gone by.

Overnight: Dublin 2 | The Alex Hotel
Room Type: x2 classic twins, x1 classic double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 2 - Friday 8th August - Kayaking Along the River Liffey & The League of Ireland

Kick off your morning with an unforgettable adventure on the River Liffey. After breakfast, you’ll meet your expert local guide for a thrilling couple of hours of kayaking through the heart of Dublin. As you paddle past the city’s most iconic landmarks and bridges, you’ll be treated to something truly special: live performances by some of Dublin’s musicians and artists beneath the famous Ha’Penny Bridge. It’s an experience like no other, offering you a front-row seat to the magic of Ireland’s ‘Fair City’—where history, culture, and music come together on the water! This evening you will attend a League of Ireland football match.

Overnight: Dublin 2 | The Alex Hotel
Room Type: x2 classic twins, x1 classic double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Saturday 9th August - The Rock of Cashel

This morning, your private guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and after some short introductions, you will begin your Irish adventure together. You’ll head straight for what is known as the Kingdom of Kerry, a stunning region on the southwestern coast of Ireland, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage. The drive is under 4 hours, and we’ve got some stops planned to break up the journey. You’ll visit the Rock of Cashel, a cluster of immaculately preserved medieval buildings including a Gothic cathedral, an abbey, and a fifteenth-century Tower House. You’ll stop for lunch before continuing to your accommodation, nestled right in the heart of Killarney town

Overnight: Killarney | Randles Hotel
Room Type: x2 deluxe twins, x1 deluxe double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Sunday 10th August - Killarney National Park

Killarney National Park is the most famous of Ireland’s national parks – and with good reason, as it is flourishing with breathtaking mountains, lakes and waterfalls. You’ll take a tour of the famed Killarney Lakes with Dux, your Kerryman skipper who has been sailing these lakes since he was a child with his family. Grab some lunch before you step back into the past with a visit to Muckross Traditional Farms, which showcases a very different Ireland – the Ireland of the 1930s and 1940s. Back then, a trip to the well was still a daily chore for the housewife and electricity had yet to be introduced to the countryside.

Overnight: Killarney | Randles Hotel
Room Type: x2 deluxe twins, x1 deluxe double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Monday 11th August - Foraging the Shores of West Kerry

Today head to the wild and windswept lands of the southern Iveragh Peninsula. Here you will meet the charming John Fitzgerald who will introduce you to the abundant seaweeds on the southern shore as you will learn all about the fascinating folklore of this region. One of Ireland’s civil rights leaders, who campaigned for equality for the Catholic population in the 1800s, was born here and you will visit his boyhood home in a secluded and leafy estate. Enjoy the rest of the day with your guide exploring the Iveragh Peninsula.

Overnight: Killarney | Randles Hotel
Room Type: x2 deluxe twins, x1 deluxe double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Tuesday 12th August - The Dingle Peninsula with a Falconry Experience

The county of Kerry is made up of four peninsulas, The Kerry Head, The Beara, The Iveragh and probably its most well-known,  The Dingle Peninsula and your destination today. Following a relaxed Irish breakfast hit the road to explore the beautiful Dingle Peninsula. This is Gaeltacht country where the Irish language is still widely spoken as a first language and culture and traditions remain strong. Tour around the peninsula visiting a fascinating array of ancient sites including Iron Age forts, beehive huts, inscribed stones, and historical churches. The Peninsula culminates at the dramatic Slea Head—Europe’s most western point. Before leaving, meet some feather friends on an exhilarating Hawk Walk. Watch as these magnificent birds of prey swoop and soar with breathtaking speed and learn all about their fascinating habits. Continue on to Doolin where you can settle in for a delicious dinner.

Overnight: Doolin | Doolin Inn
Room Type: x2 classic twin, x1 classic double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Wednesday 13th August - The Burren - Farm Tour & Tasting

The Burren’s rocky alien landscape is said to be the inspiration for Middle Earth in JRR Tolkien’s world-famous Lord of the Rings trilogy – as you explore this region today you’ll see why!  Today you will pay a visit to a charming, locally-owned goat farm for an immersive tour and tasting. Meet and feed the tribe, visit the milking parlour, and learn about the history of goat farming in Ireland and the traditional methods used to care for them and produce award-winning goat cheese. You’ll witness the cheese-making process firsthand and enjoy a tasting of their full range of Irish cheeses, right there on the farm! In the late afternoon, you’ll visit the Cliffs of Moher, after the crowds have departed, make sure to take that selfie for those at home!

Overnight: Doolin | Doolin Inn
Room Type: x2 classic twin, x1 classic double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - Thursday 14th August - Crystal Factory & Galway City

On your way north you will stop in the west of Ireland’s bustling capital, Galway. Here you will visit a family-run crystal factory. Glass cutting in Ireland is part of a vibrant artistic tradition and you will have the chance today to meet the master glass cutter as they craft a personalised item for you. With its cobbled pavement and street performers, Galway is the West Coast’s most vibrant urban centre and a great place to visit. You’ll have lunch in one of our favourite restaurants in the city centre before heading to your final destination, the stunning Ballynahinch Castle in the heart of Connemara.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: x2 classic twin, x1 classic double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9 - Friday 15th August - Inishlaken Island Landing

This morning you’ll make your way to Roundstone Harbour to meet local man Damien, a fourth-generation fisherman who has been around the sea all his life. As you explore Roundstone Bay by boat, look out for the resident seals, dolphins & Basking sharks! You’ll pass by the stunning beaches of Ervallagh, Gurteen & Dog’s Bay as you make your way to the deserted Island of Inishlacken. With its panoramic views, picturesque unspoilt beaches & pristine waters, this deserted island is the perfect place to stop off for a bespoke picnic lunch!  Inishlaken has long been a centre point for writers, poets & artists because of its unique setting. A once largely populated island with its own schoolhouse & lots of quaint cottages, the population dwindled & the last of the island’s residents left for the mainland. But where man has left, nature has flourished and the island is now home to a large variety of insects & birds, rabbits, resident goats, sheep & donkeys.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: x2 classic twin, x1 classic double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 10 - Saturday 16th August - Exploring Connemara

This morning it’s a 45-minute drive through the windswept Twelve Bens Mountain Range to Killary, Ireland’s only fjord. Start the day with a sheep-herding demonstration at a local farm, and you’ll have the opportunity to cut peat from the bogs – a method that’s been used to harvest fuel in these parts for aeons. From there, walk an abandoned famine route along the southern shoreline of the fjord. After a pit stop at a local café for lunch, you’ll transfer back to Ballynahinch Castle. You will have some free time to enjoy the estate this afternoon – go fly fishing, have a pint by the fire, or simply kick back with a book by the river.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: x2 classic twin, x1 classic double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 11 - Sunday 17th August - Return to Dublin

This morning, your guide will drop you back at your hotel in Dublin City and you will say farewell. Dublin has been described as a city with a village feel, and we agree! It is best explored on foot or by using The Luas, our light rail system. We will give recommendations for those still looking to explore.

Overnight: Dublin 2 | The Alex Hotel
Room Type: x2 classic twins, x1 classic twin
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 12 - Monday 18th August - Depart

This morning, a private transfer will pick you up in the lobby of your hotel and take you to Dublin Airport in plenty of time for your flight home. We hope your time in Ireland has been memorable and we look forward to welcoming you to Ireland once again.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More
  • All accommodation from Day 1 to Day 12
  • Breakfast each morning, 8 lunch
  • Services of an experienced and knowledgeable qualified guide from Day 3 to Day 11
  • Ground transportation from Day 3 to Day 11
  • All guided hikes and activities mentioned in the itinerary, specifically;
  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Departure airport transfer
  • Private Historical Walking Tour of Dublin City
  • Private Kayaking & Music Experience on the River Liffey
  • Entry to The Rock of Cashel
  • Private Boat Tour in Killarney National Park
  • Entry to Muckross House
  • Private Foraging Experience
  • Private Falconry Experience
  • Private Goat Farm Tour & Tasting
  • Private Crystal Factory Tour
  • Private Island Landing Tour
  • Private Sheepdog Demo
  • Tips for activity providers and included meals
  • 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
  • A 20% deposit is required before any accommodation and services will be confirmed
  • This quote is valid for 14 days from the date quoted, after this time pricing may be subject to revision
Pricing Read More

The price of this trip is €6,170 per person and is based on availability at the time of booking.

Terms & Conditions Read More

Please see our booking terms here.

Virtuoso

The Gallaghers 2025 Trip to Ireland

Thursday 7th August – Monday 18th August 2025