Irish Explorer
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Summary
Filled to the brim with must-see attractions & hidden gems, Ireland will surpass your wildest expectations. Visit Dublin and experience the magical mix of heritage and contemporary culture. Step foot on the Giant's Causeway and learn about its hair-raising legends and myths. Eat Ireland's finest oysters on the bay of Galway and stop by the famous towering cliffs of Moher. Drive around the Ring of Kerry for the most phenomenal views. Welcome to the Emerald Isle! Unhurried nature, rich history and the friendliest of locals await.
Why this Trip
- All tour dates are guaranteed to depart.
- No minimum numbers required.
- FREE Wi-Fi in hotels.
- Services of your Expat Explore tour leader.
- Only 10% deposit or minimum $110.00 required and no booking fees.

Itinerary PrintView full Itinerary here
Dublin hotel, 15:00-17:00 hrs
Dublin - Hotel, 10:00 hrs
DAY 1: Dublin

Céad míle fáilte! (Or, should we say, a hundred thousand welcomes!) Welcome to Ireland and the start of your tour! Depending on when you arrive and settle in, you may have some time to see a bit of the city and find a local pub to sample a pint of Ireland's national drink, Guinness! Meet up with your tour leader and fellow travellers, do a spot of sightseeing or just relax – your time is yours. Big enough to keep one amused, but small enough to cover in a relatively short time, Dublin boasts an extraordinary history, rich heritage and a touch of indulgence. Enjoy! Tonight at the welcome dinner you’ll have a proper chance to meet your fellow travellers and your Expat Explore tour leader, who will give you more information on the exciting days to come on this incredible tour of Ireland.
DAY 2: Belfast - Giant's Causeway - Derry

Today, we set off from Dublin on our first day of travel. Your tour leader will give you an introduction to the history of Ireland, and, as we’re headed into Northern Ireland it’s particularly important to learn about topics like the Rising, the Civil War and the Fight for Independence, along with The Troubles. Although peaceful now, this is an important part of Ireland’s history, particularly the north. We’ll stop first in the famous city of Belfast, where we’ll take a combined driving and walking tour. We then head to Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge for a photo stop, and also visit the famous Giant’s Causeway - legend has it that the causeway was built by an Irish giant named Finn McCool, so that he could challenge his Scottish rival Benandonner to a battle. Our last stop for the day is the riverside city of Derry, where we spend the night.
DAY 3: Derry - Galway

Heading out from Derry, we make our way to Galway, joining up with the famous Wild Atlantic Way - the longest coastal drive in the world, and probably the most scenic! We’ll make a comfort stop, and then will arrive in Galway in the early afternoon. Enjoy some free time in this arty, bohemian city that boasts a vibrant ambience, thanks to its large student population. With students making up a quarter of the population, you’ll find plenty of bars and cafes, some of which will feature live music. Check out the remnants of the medieval town walls, or take a stroll down the promenade to Salthill, on Galway Bay, source of the area’s delicious well-known oysters.
DAY 4: Cliffs of Moher - Limerick - Killarney

First up today, we have one of the highlights of the tour – the world-famous Cliffs of Moher. Here, we’ll have the chance to capture a few spectacular photos of this natural wonder, which rises over 200 meters above the churning sea. We then make our way to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. The present version of Bunratty Castle was erected in the early 1400s, though several constructions preceded it, dating back to the 10th Century. Adjoining the castle is Folk Park, a reconstructed traditional Irish village complete with cottages, weavers, pie-makers, a forge and a working blacksmith. We'll then take a photostop in Limerick, with its fascinating castle, traditional pubs, art museum and a thriving café culture. Before the last leg of the tour to our hotel in Killarney today, we stop off in Adare for photos, and you’ll marvel at what’s often called ‘Ireland’s prettiest village.’ Catch a glimpse of the perfectly-preserved thatch cottages, which today are home to craft shops and restaurants. We arrive in Killarney, where you can reflect on the day over dinner with your fellow explorers.
DAY 5: Ring of Kerry

Keep your camera fully charged and at the ready – it’s going to be a day of stunning scenery! The famous Ring of Kerry is our stamping ground today, home to breath-taking coastal views, emerald-green pastures and charming villages, where we’ll make comfort stops.
DAY 6: Blarney Castle - Kilkenny - Dublin

Journeying back to Dublin and leaving the Wild Atlantic Way, we stop at Blarney Castle, where you’ll have the chance to kiss the famous Blarney Stone and gain the ‘gift of the gab’. We’ll also stop in Kilkenny, a picturesque medieval town. Your tour leader will take you on an orientation tour of the historic centre, known as the 'Medieval Mile'; narrow streets and old buildings sandwiched between a castle and cathedral. Arriving back in Dublin, celebrate the last night of your tour with an optional Irish music evening, including dinner and a show at the Merry Ploughboy Irish Music Pub, winner of the “Best Music Pub” in Ireland. Located in the Irish countryside, this is an authentic experience, held in a pub run by traditional musicians who specialise in all aspects of Irish music and dance.
DAY 7: End of Tour

After breakfast, we say our goodbyes, as the tour concludes. We hope you’ve enjoyed the scenery, the culture, the sights and the history of this incredible part of the world. Don’t forget to share your details with your fellow travellers. Farewell, Ireland!
What's Included
- 6 nights' accommodation in twin rooms with private en-suite facilities. Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room.
- Services of your Expat tour leader, who will be on hand with advice and tips to ensure that you get the most from your trip. You can also book any of the optional excursions available during your tour with your tour leader – please see the 'Essential Information' tab for more details.
- 6 breakfasts, 3 dinners
- All taxes and fees
- Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days)
- Modern air conditioned coach with reclining seats, TV for showing DVDs, and toilet.
- 15 Experiences (including guided walking tours, orientation walks, driving tours of cities plus other exciting experiences)
- Free Expat Explore tour souvenir – a memorable gift of your once in a lifetime trip.
Optional Excursions
Optional excursions are payable in cash currency to your tour leader whilst on tour.- Guinness Storehouse
- Irish Music Evening
- Titanic Belfast Experience
Return customers get 10% off!
If you have traveled with us before you qualify for a 10% rebate. To claim your rebate, simply type your previous Booking Number in the "Special Notes" box at the final Payment step of the checkout.
Save - without compromising on quality - by booking directly with the leading tour operator
How we make awesome trips affordable
- No intermediary: You book directly from the tour operator so you don't have to pay any travel agent.
- As a Europe leading bus tour operator we have 11 years of experience finding the best hotels for your budget and continuously optimizing our selection based on customer feedback.
- We book our hotels well in advance so we get great value rates that we can pass on to you!
- Thanks to the great number of people who travel with us each year, we can negotiate great deals that would be quite impossible for you to find on your own.
Detailed Info Pack
- Tour start & end points
- Pre-departure information
- Pre-tour accommodation
For more information on, starting points & times, emergency contact details, budgeting for your tour & much more you can download our information pack here.
Helpful Pre-Trip Info
Visa
Certain nationalities may require a visa(s) for this tour. Please see our visas page for more information. It is your responsibility to contact the relevant embassies to confirm your visa requirements. We can provide the support documentation upon request - please contact us.
On tour costs
Please refer to the tour itinerary for full details of what activities are included, which meals are included and what is excluded. We would recommend budgeting €25-€40 per day (this excludes optional excursions).
Room Sharing
Please note, all rooms are twin bed as standard.
- Partners: When you book for more than one person, we will by default group you together in a room (unless you specifically request us not to). If you are unequal numbers (3, 5, 7 etc.) and we are unable to secure a triple room then the remaining traveler will be roomed with another passenger of the same gender.
- Single Travelers: If you are travelling alone there is no compulsory charge - you will share a twin room with another passenger of the same gender. There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our customer services team. Please note that the room provided may be a single room with a single bed.
- Triple Room requests: We can generally provide a triple room on request; however it is not guaranteed to be available in every destination. Please contact our customer services team to request a triple room. Please note that in some hotels, the triple may be a double and a single bed, or the third bed may be a pull-out or bunk-bed. Where we cannot provide a triple room the rooming will consist of one twin room and the third passenger sharing with another single traveller of the same gender.
Free-time
In some destinations you will have a full free day, where you can choose to join our optional excursions or explore on your own.
Meeting Point
Your tour starts and finishes in Dublin. Please have a look at our Essential Tour Information page for detailed information.
Passport
This should be valid for at least six months after you have returned home from your trip. You should also have several blank pages as Visas and entry/exit stamps can take up a whole page.
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Are children allowed?
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If you have any medical conditions that may be affected by where you sit, please discuss them with your Tour Leader, but note that the seat rotation policy will most likely mean that your request may not be honoured.
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For a relatively small price, travel insurance provides you with the peace of mind so that you can enjoy your tour without any worries. To receive a quote from one of our preferred travel insurance partners, please visit WorldNomads (for all nationalities) or Hollard (for South Africans).
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- Summary
- Why this Trip
- Itinerary
- What's Included
- Departure Dates
- Pre-Trip Info
- Q & A