The Stevens' Family - Irish Adventure

Monday 13th July – Friday 24th July 2026

Number of Travellers:  9
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 | Monday 13th July | Céad míle fáilte - One Hundred Thousand Welcomes | Overnight: Dublin

Day 2 | Tuesday 14th July | Iconic Dublin & Family Ties | Overnight: Dublin

Day 3 | Wednesday 15th July | Irish Gin in the Heartlands | Overnight: Boyle

Day 4 | Thursday 16th July | County Roscommon | Overnight: Boyle

Day 5 | Friday 17th July | Stories & Sheepdogs | Overnight: Connemmara

Day 6 | Saturday 18th July | Inishlacken Island Landing Tour | Overnight: Connemmara

Day 7 | Sunday 19th July | Traditional Baking Experience | Overnight: Ballyvaughan

Day 8 | Monday 20th July | Hiking in The Burren National Park | Overnight: Ballyvaughan

Day 9 | Tuesday 21st July | The Kingdom of Kerry | Overnight: Killarney

Day 10 | Wednesday 22nd July | Killarney National Park | Overnight: Killarney

Day 11 | Thursday 23rd July | The Skellig Islands | Overnight: Killarney

Day 12 | Friday 24th July | Depart

Day by Day

Day 1 - Monday 13th July - Céad míle fáilte - One Hundred Thousand Welcomes

Céad míle fáilte – or one hundred thousand welcomes – to Ireland’s capital, Dublin! Upon arrival, a private transfer will provide a smooth journey into the city and onwards to the hotel. There is no better introduction to Dublin than a private walking tour with a local guide, so after a bite to eat, head out to see the best of the city. Your guide is also a historian who will share the stories, characters, and events that have shaped Dublin through the centuries.

Overnight: Dublin | Brooks Hotel
Room Type: x1 Executive Triple, x3 Exectuvie Twin/Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 2 - Tuesday 14th July - Iconic Dublin & Family Ties

Explore some of Dublin’s most iconic sights today, starting with a tour of Trinity College and the Book of Kells. Your guided Trinity tour will take you around the campus, discovering some of the secrets and famous pupils who graced its halls and quads before making your way to the Old Library for an audio tour of the Book of Kells with its new immersive digital experience. Take a walk through the famous Temple Bar, the live trad. music spills out from many of the pubs and cafes along the cobbled stone streets. Stop for a beverage or two, checking out some musicians and buskers as you go. We have arranged tickets for you at the emigration museum, where you will learn the stories of the Irish diaspora who became scientists, politicians, poets, artists, and even outlaws all over the world. Here, you will enjoy a private genealogy consultation.

Overnight: Dublin | Brooks Hotel
Room Type: x1 Executive Triple, x3 Exectuvie Twin/Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Wednesday 15th July - Irish Gin in the Heartlands

This morning, our private guide meets us in the lobby of our hotel, and after some short introductions, we begin our journey west. Before joining the Wild Atlantic Way, we have two nights in Kilronan Castle, situated in County Roscommon in a secluded corner of the idyllic West of Ireland. Before checking in, we pay a visit to an artisanal gin distillery, nestled in the heart of County Leitrim. Enjoy a fully guided experience followed by an expert tasting of Drumshanbo Single Pot Irish Whiskey, and finishing with a refreshing Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and Tonic at the Honey Badger bar in their majestic botanical glasshouse.  Tonight our guide joins us for a welcome dinner and a chance to chat about the week to come.

Overnight: Boyle | Kilronan Castle
Room Type: x1 Classic Family, x3 Lake Classic King/Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4 - Thursday 16th July - County Roscommon

Today, our guide is on hand to take us around Roscommon, exploring the county and the place our family came from all those years ago. Today will be fully tailored to any areas we would like to see, whether it’s old townlands, country pubs, or small villages.

Overnight: Boyle | Kilronan Castle
Room Type: x1 Classic Family, x3 Lake Classic King/Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Friday 17th July - Stories & Sheepdogs

After a leisurely breakfast, we head west to Connemara, where we enjoy a visit to a working sheep farm. While we watch the brilliant sheepdogs work the flock, chat to the local farmer about a life spent on the rugged west coast. Afterwards, we take a stroll along the abandoned Famine Trail and hear stories of the people who emigrated en masse due to the harsh conditions they found themselves in.  Tonight, arrive at Ballynahinch Castle. Once owned by an Indian Raj, this traditional hunting lodge has seen presidents and dignitaries grace its halls and rooms for generations. Today, surrounded by thousands of acres of estate land and forests, Ballynahinch boasts fine dining, a traditional pub, on-site fly fishing and a remote escape in the wilds of Connemara.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: x5 Classic Riverside Doubles/Twins
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Saturday 18th July - Inishlacken Island Landing Tour

This morning, meet local fisherman Damien at Roundstone Harbour, a fourth-generation seafarer with a lifetime of experience. Explore Roundstone Bay by boat, keeping an eye out for resident seals, dolphins, and basking sharks. Pass the beautiful beaches of Ervallagh, Gurteen, and Dog’s Bay, heading towards the tranquil, deserted island of Inishlacken. Known for its stunning sands, crystal-clear waters, and panoramic views, Inishlacken offers the perfect spot for a bespoke picnic. Once a thriving community, the island is now home to a variety of wildlife, including birds, rabbits, and resident goats, sheep, and donkeys.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: x5 Classic Riverside Doubles/Twins
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Sunday 19th July - Traditional Baking Experience

County Clare on Ireland’s West Coast is home to the famed Cliffs of Moher and the lunar landscape of the Burren. Today stop at a traditional farm and meet Evelyn to try your hand at making some traditional Irish scones. Later, use the quiet of the afternoon to visit Ireland’s famed Cliffs of Moher, part of the UNESCO Global Geopark, a special region with outstanding geology. Visually stunning, the Cliffs Stand 702 ft at their highest point and stretch for 5 miles along the Atlantic coast.

Overnight: Ballyvaughan | Gregans Castle
Room Type: x5 Classic Doubles/Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - Monday 20th July - Hiking in The Burren National Park

The Burren striated, limestone landscape is said to be the inspiration for Middle Earth in JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy–and on a guided hike through this otherworldly region, it’s easy to see why! Meeting a local guide, set off to explore a place shaped by ancient seas and famous for its alpine wildflowers. The region is steeped in history as well, with over 2,500 historical monuments to be explored. Pause for lunch at a local tearoom with an option to visit the adjoining Burren Perfumery, the oldest working perfumery in Ireland.

Overnight: Ballyvaughan | Gregans Castle
Room Type: x5 Classic Doubles/Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9 - Tuesday 21st July - The Kingdom of Kerry

This morning, we make our way further south to the Kingdom of Kerry. The drive is just under 3 hours, and there are a couple of scenic stops to break up the drive time. We stop at Dromoland Castle to meet some feathered 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. Other stops along the way include Adare Village, popular for its thatched-roof cottages and yummy lunch spots, and one of Ireland’s best-kept secret beach walks along the coast. We arrive at our hotel in the late afternoon and have a chance to catch a trad session in Killarney town this evening.

Overnight: Killarney | The Great Southern Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Triple, x3 Deluxe King/Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 10 - Wednesday 22nd July - Killarney National Park

Kerry is an expanse of rugged, mountainous country that sweeps down to the world-famous Lakes of Killarney. Here, stretching across 10,000 hectares, lies Killarney National Park, with its unforgettable combination of mountains, lakes, woodland and waterfalls. Historic manor houses and abbeys make for an interesting visit, but Killarney is best explored via a private boat trip with a Kerryman skipper who has been sailing these lakes since he was a child with his family. Cruise the tranquil lakes with one of the most spectacular backdrops imaginable as you are overlooked by Ireland’s highest mountain peaks.

Overnight: Killarney | The Great Southern Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Triple, x3 Deluxe King/Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 11 - Thursday 23rd July - The Skellig Islands

Today, set out by boat to explore the Skellig Islands, two striking rock pinnacles off Ireland’s southwest coast. Land on Skellig Michael, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a three-hour visit. Here, follow a steep path to the remains of a 7th-century monastic settlement, where beehive huts still perch on the island’s dramatic slopes. Just across the water lies Little Skellig, home to over 27,000 pairs of gannets—the second-largest colony in the world. The islands are also recognised for their appearance in the Star Wars films of 2015 and 2017. Visiting the Skelligs offers a rare opportunity to step into Ireland’s early Christian past while surrounded by some of its most extraordinary coastal scenery.

Overnight: Killarney | The Great Southern Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Triple, x3 Deluxe King/Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 12 - Friday 24th July - Depart

This morning, our guide drops us off at Dublin Airport for our flight home.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More
  • 11 nights’ accommodation, as stated in the itinerary above
  • Most meals, as stated in the itinerary above
  • The services of a qualified and experienced guide from Day 3 to Day 12 inclusive
  • All transfers in a private vehicle driven by our guide on guided days
  • Private Airport Transfer on Arrival Day
  • All Ferry Travel Included in the Itinerary
  • All guided hikes mentioned in the itinerary
  • Entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary, specifically:
    • Private historical walking tour in Dublin
    • Entry to Trinity College & The Book of Kells
    • Private consultation at the EPIC museum
    • Private distillery experience
    • Private sheepdog demonstration
    • Private island landing tour
    • Private traditional baking experience
    • Private Falconry experience
    • Private traditional boat tour
    • Landing tour on Skellig Michael
  • Personalised trip design and delivery
  • 24/7 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 25% 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.
  • Activities are only private if so specified.
Pricing Read More

The price of this trip is €9,720 per person and is based on availability at the time of booking.

Terms & Conditions Read More

Please see our booking terms here.

Virtuoso

The Stevens’ Family – Irish Adventure

Monday 13th July – Friday 24th July 2026