11 Day Small Group Tour 2024

€2970 / per person

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Experience the Best of Ireland in 2024.

We visit the Cliffs of Moher, Giants Causeway, Glendalough, Kylemore Abbey, numerous castles and so much more.

Fill your heart with Ireland.

We explore the beautiful landscapes along the Wild Atlantic Way, the Ancient East and the Causeway Coastal Route. Join us on the Dingle Peninsula, the Burren, the Golden Vale, the ‘Garden of Ireland’ and Connemara. We also go off the beaten path to allow you to experience Ireland’s hidden gems.

Connect the Dots Tours are culturally rich and immersive.

Connect the Dots Tours is all about getting to meet and chat with the locals. Whether it’s a farmer herding sheep with his dog, a weaver quietly working away in the back of their small shop deep in western Donegal or visiting a unique traditional Irish pub that is owned by the same family for 7 generations.

Discover Ireland’s History.

We visit Castles and Ancient Ruins such as the Rock of Cashel, Donegal Castle, abandoned abbeys, 5000-year tombs, 1000-year old Celtic Crosses and much more. Exploring Ireland’s darker side of tourism. We visit haunted castles. Tour with a local “Black Taxi Cab” driver to learn of Belfast’s ‘Troubles’ from those who have lived through it. We learn the tragic history of cruel landlords during the 19^th century famine times.

Visit key museums such as Titanic Belfast and the Museum of Country Life in Mayo.

Superb activities

We get to enjoy a boating excursion around Donegal’s Slieve League Cliffs. We experience a jaunting cart ride (horse and carriage ride) around Killarney National Park. We visit a sheep farm to meet a local farmer and witness how they work with their dogs to round up their sheep. We visit old-world pubs with traditional Irish music. Experience the best of Irish food. Enjoy shopping opportunities where you get meet the craftspeople of genuine handmade Irish crafts.

The Best of Accommodations

Our 2024 Small Group Tours include luxury Castle Hotels to boutique family-owned waterfront Bed and Breakfasts. We stay in many of Ireland’s most spectacular locations such as Dingle, Westport, Kilkenny, Donegal, Doolin, Cobh and the glorious Causeway Coast. These locations allow you to experience the best that Ireland has to offer.

Our Regular Hotels are;
The Sea View Rooms in the 400 year old Ballygally Castle on the Causeway Coast

The Bay View Rooms in the Central Hotel in Donegal town

The Wyatt Hotel in the heart of Westport town – Voted by the People of Ireland as their Favorite Town in Ireland

In Doolin – The Traditional Music Capital of Ireland – We stay at the Doolin Inn

Benners Hotel in Dingle – No vacation to Ireland is complete without Dingle.

The Sea View Rooms in Watersedge Hotel in the Historic town of Cobh

The Pembroke Hotel in Kilkenny – Just across the road from one of Ireland’s Finest Castles

We also occasionally stay at the Mill Park Hotel or the Gateway Lodge in Donegal and the Castlecourt Hotel in Westport.

Max Group Size

16 people

Meeting Point

All our 2024 Small Group Tours pick up from 2 Dublin city locations

1 – Stauntons on the Green, St Stephens Green, Dublin
2 – Grand Canal Hotel Dublin

End Point

A location of your choice in Dublin city centre

Transportation

Luxury Mini Coach with plenty of luggage space.

Luggage Allowance

One suitcase and one carry-on bag per person

Tour Dates for 2024:

March 15th – March 25th (High Availability)
April 5th – April 15th (Full)
April 26th – May 6th (Full)
May 10th – May 20th (Full)
May 31st – June 10th (Full)
June 14th – June 24th (Low Availability)
June 28th – July 8th (Full)
July 19th – July 29th (Low Availability)
Aug 2nd – Aug 12th (Full)
Aug 23rd – September 2nd (Full)
Sept 6th – Sept 16th (Low Availability)
Sept 27th – Oct 7th (Full)
Oct 11th – Oct 21st (Full)

To book a place on one of our 2024 tours please follow this link:

2024 Tour Booking Request

2024 Tour cost :

Tour Price per adult sharing (11 Full Days): €3200* **

*Single Supplement of €650 for adults travelling alone/not sharing accommodation

**15th March up to April 15th and from September 15th to October 31st Tours run at the reduced rate of €2750

Payment Terms:

10% non-refundable deposit required to secure your place on the tour.
Balance due 45 days prior to your chosen tour start date.

Includes

Professional Licensed Driver Guide

Luxury Mini Coach

11 Full Days of Touring

10 nights in Luxury Hotel Accommodation with breakfast

Entrance Fees Included to all Sites, Activities and Attractions on Itinerary – No Exceptions.

Not Included

Shopping, Lunches, Dinners & Drinks

Travel Insurance

Flights/travel to and from Ireland

Airport Transfers

11 Full Days of Touring Ireland

Small Group Tours

Destination

Ireland
Departure

Dublin, Ireland
Departure Time

8.30am on Day 1 of Tour
Return Time

6pm on Day 11 of Tour
Dress Code

Casual, comfortable and light. Always best to dress in layers in Ireland. Always good to have a light raincoat.

From our gallery

green domed civic office with people sitting on the grass in front

a black london taxi cab with a black and white mural in the backgroung

Tour Plan

Day 1 Titanic Belfast - Black Cab Tour

Your guide, Mark Doherty, will be there to meet you. We leave Dublin’s Fair City and go north to cross the border into Northern Ireland. In Belfast, a local Taxi Tour will be waiting to take us on a tour of ‘The Troubles’ of Belfast. A sobering but insightful tour of murals, peace walls and bloody civil war, fought between a Republican Catholic community and a Loyalist Protestant community. After lunch in Belfast, we visit Titanic Belfast - the very place where Titanic was designed, built and launched. We learn of her maiden voyage and subsequent place in history. Our first night's accommodation is the luxury 4-star Ballygally Castle. A spectacular first day finishes in a spectacular 17^th century Castle that faces out towards the North Channel and Scotland.

Hotel for 1 night with Sea View Rooms is Ballygally Castle on the Causeway Coast

All entrance and activity fees on today’s itinerary are covered.

Day 2 Giants Causeway - Derry

Today is truly magical. After a wonderful breakfast in Ballygally Castle, we follow in the footprints of Ireland's great mythological Giants. We visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Giants Causeway (Free Entry) - 40,000 hexagonal columns formed over 60 million years ago. We have lunch in a former schoolhouse and stop for photos at the stately ruins of Dunluce Castle. A local guide walks us through the murals of the 'Derry Bogside'. Afterwards, we continue through the striking Barnesmore Gap to Donegal. Our hotel is in the centre of Donegal Town - within walking distance of Donegal Castle, the harbour and an array of great restaurants and pubs in the old-world town of Donegal in North West Ireland.

Night 1 of 2 nights with Bay View Rooms is the Central Hotel in Donegal town (or comparable)

All entrance and activity fees on today’s itinerary are covered.

Day 3 Slieve League Cliffs - “Off the Beaten Path”

After breakfast, we venture further west. We take our group on a boating excursion* around the Slieve League Cliffs. Wildlife spotting in the shadows of highest accessible sea Cliffs in Europe. From here we drive way off the beaten path, through the Glen of the Swans, into the heritage village of Ardara. Maybe lunch and a pint in the old-world pub of Nancys - a unique traditional Irish pub that specialised in local produce and is owned by the McHugh family for 7 generations. After lunch, we visit one of the local weavers to learn about this ancient craft with quality woolen products that Donegal is particularly famous for. In the afternoon, we return to Donegal town for free time to explore this unique town.

Night 2 of 2 nights with Bay View Rooms is the Central Hote in Donegal town

All entrance and activity fees on today’s itinerary are covered. *weather dependent

Day 4 Wild Atlantic Way - Westport

We leave Donegal and travel further down the Wild Atlantic Way - Ireland's spectacular coastal route. We visit a farm to enjoy a sheep demonstration. Watch this amazing team of one man with his dog and a field full of sheep against a backdrop of the imposing Benbulben mountain. Then it's up to Glencar lake and Waterfall to experience the landscape immortalized by William Butler Yeats, the national poet of Ireland. Sligo town is so special – we pause for lunch and a pint in one of the old world pubs. Later we travel through the scenic Mayo countryside to the Museum of Country Life – Immerse yourself in Ireland’s rural past and an almost vanished but recent way of life. We conclude another great day in Westport. The people of Ireland voted Westport as their favorite town in Ireland. Our next 2 nights are spent in this truly incredible town. Great food, super pubs filled with traditional Irish music are all on the doorstep of our Westport hotel for the next 2 nights.

Night 1 of 2 nights is the Wyatt Hotel in Westport town.

All entrance and activity fees on today’s itinerary are covered.

Day 5 Connemara - Kylemore Abbey

Another day of magic and a particularly short driving day - Today we journey through Connemara. Kylemore Abbey is possibly the finest mansion in all Ireland. We explore the house, gardens and neo gothic church. After Kylemore Abbey, we circle the dramatic landscape of Killary Fjord. From here, we go way off the beaten path to discover Aasleagh falls - A hidden gem waterfall. We continue around to Delphia and the Doo Lough Valley. An astonishing area of beauty with a dark history from 19^th Century Famine Times. We stop at Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s holiest mountain and visit the 15^th century ruined Murrisk Abbey. Return to Westport in the late afternoon, where the rest of the day is free for sightseeing, shopping, food, drink and traditional Irish music.

Night 2 of 2 nights is the Wyatt Hotel in Westport town.

All entrance and activity fees on today’s itinerary are covered.

Day 6 Galway - Cong

After breakfast, we leave Westport and visit Cong – this beautiful quaint town, made famous by ‘The Quiet Man’ movie. Enjoy the scenery as we head to vibrant Galway - lunch and free time through this city’s historic heart. Galway is a true jewel of the West of Ireland. It marks the halfway point on our tour. This bohemian city is full of culture, street music and exceptional food. It is always a joy to explore its wonderful cobbled streets and colorful shops. We drive around the majestic Galway Bay and pause for photos at the 15th Century Dunguaire Castle. We experience the 5,500 year old Poulnabrone Dolmen. Tonight we base ourselves in the 'Traditional Music Capital of Ireland' - Doolin. Great food and incredible music opportunities are all within a short stroll of tonight's hotel

Our Hotel for 1 night is the Doolin Inn in Doolin

All entrance and activity fees on today’s itinerary are covered.

Day 7 Cliffs of Moher - Dingle

First stop today is the towering Cliffs of Moher. Visiting this unique attraction before the crowds arrive, adds so much to the natural beauty and unique landscape of the Cliffs. After the Cliffs of Moher, we leave County Clare via the Shannon ferry. We step ‘Off the Beaten Path’ to explore the rarely visited Carrigafoyle Castle. After lunch in the heritage town of Listowel, we go to the very edge of Europe, as far west as you can go in Ireland, to the breath-taking Dingle Peninsula. It was once described by National Geographic as “the most beautiful place on earth”. It’s here that you’ll find the real Ireland. Dingle is arguably the best town in Ireland. Fill your heart with music, story-telling and real Irish craic. And fill your tummy with some of the best food in Ireland.

Night 1 of 2 nights in Benners Hotel in Dingle (or comparable)

All entrance and activity fees on today’s itinerary are covered.

Day 8 Dingle

Today is all about Dingle. You can explore Dingle at your own leisure on foot. Dingle offers endless opportunities to suit all tastes. Dingle has hidden shopping opportunities in the back streets and quirky pubs with colorful locals and traditional Irish music. While everything is on your doorstep, you may also wish to use this downtime to have a round of golf at the Dingle Links course. Or maybe taking a boat trip out around Dingle bay. You have opportunities to visit a local artisan brewery or distillery or see the crystal cutters at Dingle Crystal. In the afternoon, we experience some of the best scenery in Ireland on the 'Slea Head Drive'. Dingle inspires, it connects, it “catches the heart off guard”, and it stays with you.

Night 2 of 2 nights in Benners Hotel in Dingle (or comparable)

Dingle allows each person the opportunity to personalise their experience of this magical town. Any entrance or activity fees incurred during your downtime in Dingle are NOT included.

Day 9 Killarney - Cobh

After breakfast we bid farewell to Dingle. In Killarney, we enjoy a jaunting cart ride (horse and carriage ride) around Killarney National Park. This allows us to experience Muckross Abbey, Torc Waterfall and the majestic gardens and lake around Ireland's first national park. After lunch we experience the magic of Muckross House - Ireland's finest stately home with many famous guests including Queen Victoria. This stop is always particularly appreciated by fans of Downton Abbey. We close another great day in Cobh, County Cork. This gorgeous seaport town is known for its rich history, beautiful buildings and warm welcoming people to make this vibrant coastal town so special.

Hotel for 1 night with Sea View Rooms is Watersedge Hotel in Cobh

All entrance and activity fees on today’s itinerary are covered.

Day 10 Rock of Cashel- Cahir Castle - Kilkenny

We depart Cobh and go north to Tipperary. We visit the 13th century Cahir Castle - one of the largest (but least visited) castles in Ireland. It stands proudly on a rocky island on the River Suir. Our next stop is the Rock of Cashel - one of Ireland's key sites of historical importance. According to legend, St. Patrick himself came here to convert the Kings of Munster to Christianity 1500 years ago. The Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland’s most spectacular tourist attractions. Today is culture overload - We arrive in Kilkenny, the Medieval Capital of Ireland, in the afternoon. Loads of time to check out the grounds of Kilkenny Castle, or walk the "Medieval Mile" or maybe just an early check in at our city centre hotel. Another spectacular day in Ireland.

Hotel for 1 night is the Pembroke Hotel in Kilkenny (or comparable)

All entrance and activity fees on today’s itinerary are covered.

Day 11 Glendalough - Dublin

We leave Kilkenny and venture north towards Dublin. We stop at the mysterious and majestic 5,000-year-old Brownshill Dolmen. The capstone on this rarely visited megalithic tomb is believed to be the largest in Europe. We cross over into County Wicklow to visit Glendalough - a 6th century monastery hidden deep in the “Garden of Ireland”. With a 1000-year-old round tower and ancient Celtic crosses this valley of 2 lakes could just be one of the most idyllic places in Ireland. We arrive back in Dublin in the evening and bid our farewells after 11 full days of touring Ireland.

All entrance and activity fees on today’s itinerary are covered.