Scotland & Ireland

4.6

115 reviews

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$2,705

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The one that goes from the Scottish Highlands to The Emerald Isles in 13 epic days

Travel Style

In-Depth Explorer

Learn about our travel styles.

Duration

13 days
Places

17 places
Meals

12 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners
Transport Style

Coach
Group Size

Average 35 people
Team

Experienced Trip Manager & Driver Team and Local Guides

Edinburgh, Scottish Highlands, West Highlands, Glasgow, Dublin, Cork, Galway, Londonderry, Belfast, St. Andrews, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Stirling, Larne, Kilkenny, Blarney, Cliffs of Moher, Giant's Causeway

How Contiki works

STEP 1

Pick your destination & book

Picking where to go out of 150 countries worldwide is the hardest part. Booking is easy with complete flexibility, & confidence that your money is secure.
STEP 2

~~Book 7 hotels, try figuring out public transport in a foreign language, get into an argument with your taxi driver, lose your passp…~~
STEP 2

Turn up to your dream trip

Everything has been sorted for you. Cool, convenient accom, smooth transport from place to place - plus a bunch of meals and travel experiences all locked in.
STEP 3

Have the time of your life

Your Trip Host has designed every trip to be packed with incredible, local experiences, made even more amazing as you share it with other incredible 18-35 year old travelers.

About this trip

Welcome to the ultimate Scottish and Irish adventure, where you'll find warm locals, trendy cities and breathtaking scenery everywhere you turn. On this trip you'll see highlands bagpipes & whisky go head to head with Irish folk songs & Guinness: it's impossible to choose a favourite, which is why you need to do them both. And with heaps of eye-widening travel inclusions like Blarney Castle and a cruise around Loch Ness, there's no better way than this 13-day journey, starting in Edinburgh and finishing off in Dublin.

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Only $200 deposit to book
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10 included & 12 free time add-ons available to add later

Sip Scottish Whisky in an old Edinburgh pub while locals tell you folkloric tales

GBP 23.00

Edinburgh
Try and spot 'Nessie' on a cruise along the spectacular Loch Ness

Included

Scottish Highlands
See Ben Nevis Britains highest mountain

Included

West Highlands
Visit Blarney Castle and get the gift of the gab as you kiss the Blarney Stone

Included

Blarney
Entry to the magical Cliffs of Moher

Included

Cliffs of Moher
Visit the famous Guinness Storehouse and learn how to pour a pint of the black stuff

GBP 17.50

Dublin

Map & Itinerary

Start location
End location
Trip day
Via location
River route
Plane route

DAY 1 - Arrive Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Royal mile, old Castle, home of the brave, Edinburgh is going to turn it on from start to end. With days of good time ahead, go out in search of haggis, a whisky bar and join the jolly locals before meeting up with the crew tonight, in anticipation of the good times that are yet to come.

DAY 2 - Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Today is yours to roam free - but if you want to get the low down on the history of this city why not join our local guide for an optional tour of Edinburgh Castle (which is resting on an extinct volcano!!) to kickstart your love affair with this city. Or maybe you'll do a spot of tartan shopping on Princes Street. Strictly for the purpose of being cultural, you should probably make time for a traditional deep fried chocolate bar during your day. The things we do for cultural immersion...

DAY 3 - Edinburgh to Scottish Highlands via St Andrews

Edinburgh

Wake from your fried chocolate food coma crazy travellers, it's time to blaze a trail out of Edinburgh & head for the Scottish Highlands.

St. Andrews

On the way to the main affair of the day we'll stop by St. Andrews, the birthplace of golf, would you believe? As well as Scotland’s oldest university town.

Scottish Highlands

Already blown away by the beauty of the rugged mountain scenery en route, we'll arrive in the Scottish Highlands amped up for mystical tales and a lake cruise on Loch Ness.

DAY 4 - Scottish Highlands to West Highlands via Glenfinnan Viaduct

Scottish Highlands

We might be coming down from a high (geographically speaking) this morning, but as we seek out the stunning Glenfinnan Viaduct, the mood will only be rising. Feast your eyes on the railway viaduct – once a calling stop for the magical Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films and the breathtaking waters of Loch Shiel,
which seems to stretch on endlessly.

Glenfinnan Viaduct

West Highlands

Before the day's out we'll set our eyes on Britain's highest mountain. Whether capped by snow or overflowing with green, it's sure to take your breath away & leave you more than content with your day's discoveries.

DAY 5 - West Highlands to Glasgow via Stirling

West Highlands

After a few days of remote and rugged goodness, a change of pace in Scotland's biggest city is sure to fire things up a notch.

Stirling

We make a stop in Stirling, known for it's famous Castle nestled right on a hill, and the town where William Wallace took on the English and yelled "Freeeedom!"

Glasgow

Get involved with everything great about Glasgow. Live music on every corner, a gothic cathedral & plenty of quirky characters make this city unique.

DAY 6 - Glasgow to Dublin via Larne

Glasgow

Scotland, you've been unreal. If Ireland puts on half the show you did, we have many happy days ahead of us.

Larne

We arrive in the port town of Larne, your first steps on Northern Irish soil, but not for long...

Dublin

So much more than the capital city, Dublin is a place of heritage, character, and more cute pubs than you could crawl in a week. End the day with a lively night of festivities at the cobbled lanes of Temple Bar.

DAY 7 - Dublin to Cork via Kilkenny

Dublin

That's us done with Dublin…for now. But fear not Dub-lovers, we'll get another taste of this fine place before our trip comes to an end.

Kilkenny

Break up your coach hangs with some bicycle time in a village sure to leave you wanting Irish in your blood. It's a castle, a cathedral & mountains of medieval charm before we hit the road again for Cork.

Cork

Welcome to vibrant Cork! But not before the chance to sample some of Ireland's famous whiskey at the Jameson's Distillery in Middleton. Yum! Even when the skies are grey, Cork is covered in colour and good vibes. Stroll the River Lee or grab your first Guinness in the comfort of a pub, if you didn't get your hands on one in Dublin.

DAY 8 - Cork to Galway via Blarney and Cliffs of Moher

Cork

Hopefully you exhausted all of your cork puns yesterday, as today we are moving on, sightseeing our way to 2-nights in Galway.

Blarney

Irish folklore tells us there's a chunk of limestone built into a castle that grants its kissers the gift of the gab. Pucker up kids, we're paying her a visit!

Cliffs of Moher

If heights aren't your cup of English Breakfast, you best sit this one out. Spine tingling, nail biting cliff faces are there to tremble at for those without fear.

Galway

From the moment we arrive in Galway, you'll understand why 2-nights were needed here. Everything you've dreamed Ireland to be is tucked into this small, atmospheric city. Step into a local pub and down Irish stew over live music and chats with locals. Outside will be just as lively, with buskers & colourful buildings lining the streets.

DAY 9 - Galway

Galway

Try your tongue at some Gaelic and carry on exploring gorgeous Galway. Or, if you hear the call of the wild, you can sign yourself up to a ferry ride to Aran Islands (summer departures only) where you can dance around with horses and take a bike ride around the picturesque farms, or head up to Dún Aonghasa (the ruins of a prehistoric fortress) - make sure you take photos, this area is not for the faint-hearted! Irish life, you so sweet.

DAY 10 - Galway to Londonderry

Galway

Goodbye Galway, hello more Irish eye-candy. Today we continue on towards to Londonderry.

Londonderry

Here in Londonderry, 17th century walls stand at 8 metres high speaking of times gone by when this area was in battle. Times may have changed, but we're still keen to soak up the history and learn a thing or two from our wise Local Guide.

DAY 11 - Londonderry to Belfast via Giants Causeway

Londonderry

Laters Londonderry, we've got a one way ticket to Belfast and a whole lot more exploration to do.

Giant's Causeway

UNESCO World Heritage site of the Giant’s Causeway - also known as those giant rock columns you've probably drooled over on Pinterest needs to be seen to be believed. Get those hashtags ready, a snap with the group is essential on the mind-blowing natural formation.

Belfast

Next up - we'll arrive in Belfast. Concluding the day will be a driving tour and a trip to the Titanic museum where parts of the world's most famous ship can be seen.

DAY 12 - Belfast to Dublin

Belfast

With one night left in Ireland and on tour, we're on the fast track to Dublin where our Irish fairytale first began.

Dublin

A promise is a promise. Here we are back in the city that started our Ireland infatuations. Use this second stint to do your missed critical activities such as visiting the Guinness Storehouse where you can learn how to pull a pint the Irish way.

DAY 13 - Depart Dublin

Dublin

We leave Ireland today with leprechauns in our hearts and memories in our souls. Say goodbye at breakfast as it will be the last bite our crew has together.

Travel your way

This trip can be booked in smaller or bigger sections, so you can pick your dream adventure, tailored for you

3 Countries, 13 Days

Active Scotland & Ireland

Visiting 16 places

2 Countries, 8 Days

Ireland

4.7

Visiting 9 places

1 Country, 6 Days

Scotland

4.5

Visiting 7 places

4 Countries, 16 Days

Great Britain & Ireland

4.7

Visiting 23 places

2 Countries, 9 Days

England & Scotland

4.6

Visiting 13 places

Where You'll Stay

Learn more about the accommodation available on this trip

12 nights

All accommodation is included on this trip

12 nights in Hotel

As we journey through picturesque countryside and quaint cobbled cities, you'll be resting your head for 12 nights in twin-share hotel rooms.

115 Reviews

4.6

115 independent reviews

Star rating

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Anonymous

Travelled Feb 2020

This trip was fantastic. I had an absolute blast. My trip manager, Francesca, was incredible in her knowledge of the places we went, and I learnt a lot from her. The inclusions were great and so were the add-ons, and I made friends for life. I have travelled with friends before however going solo with contiki is my favourite way to travel and I will definitely be back on another contiki soon!

Eloise Waldren

Travelled Feb 2020

It was exactly what I thought i was booking and it was fantastic. The optional addons were also wonderful and it gave a an overall rounded experience of both Scotland and Ireland. I liked that the trip also catered for all types of people meaning there would usually be a pub every night but also the option to go out partying; also the trip itself was interesting historically and factually while also being a fun enjoyable trip and wasn't too heavy.

Anonymous

Travelled Nov 2019

Anna was our trip manager and was absolutely AMAZING. She was incredibly friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and really helped make the trip memorable. Szabi was the driver, also incredibly friendly and a STELLAR driver. Not once did I feel uncomfortable or unsafe. The accommodations were better than expected, for the most part, and the included dinners were pretty stellar. Breakfast was very much hit or miss. Most of the hotels were close to the downtown area, except for Dublin. I completely understand that it's expensive in Dublin, however, being a 30+ min cab ride definitely sucked. Ireland and Scotland were beautiful and the trip was well organized. I do wish we had spent more time in a few places (Isle of Skye, Glen Coe, Kilkenny) and less in others (ex. Middleton, so boring if you're not doing the Whiskey tour add on). Would have also been nice to stop and take pictures with Scotland's iconic cows/coos. The trip was very fast paced, which I guess is expected. Some of the add-ons were great, like the ‘Farewell Evening at The Merry Ploughboy Pub’. The food and entertainment were stellar. ‘Eat with Glasgow’ was a good experience, however, the food lacked. Understanding it’s traditional food, haggis isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and there should have been other options. The ‘Titanic Experience’ was boring, would not recommend. You need a lot of time to read the never-ending information that is located all over the place, not to mention finding a way to read around all of the people. Would recommend exploring Belfast instead of doing this tour. Did not do any of the whiskey tours, however, did hear the whiskey itself is much better in Ireland than Scotland. If you were to choose one, choose Jameson because there is literally nothing else to do in Middleton. They should consider doing a gin tour in Scotland instead! Is it necessary to have two whiskey tours? Probably not. Also didn’t do the bike tour in Kilkenny but heard it was amazing. We were lucky to be there at the same time as a food festival, so we just walked around while the others did the bike tour. ‘Edinburgh Castle Experience’ was okay, nothing too exciting. Too many people and super windy/cold weather made it harder to explore. The age group of this trip was awesome, literally 18 to 35 year olds. Being in my 30s, I certainly appreciated it. This was one of the best trips that I have been on. Would 100% recommend this trip. Oh, if you’re looking for shortbread in Scotland…check out Starbucks. Sadly, they had the best shortbread that we tasted the entire trip.

Questions group

What health and hygiene protocols are in place on trip?

The health and wellbeing of everyone who travels with Contiki has been, and always will be, our top priority. That’s why we’ve rigorously evaluated our experiences, training and protocols to make sure we not only meet our travellers wellbeing expectations, but exceed them in every single way. We sought guidance from the World Health Organisation and government agencies, and, as members of the World Travel and Tourism Council, we’ve been involved in defining global protocols. Due to our diligent work during this time, we’ve been awarded the WTTC safe travels stamp - meaning we’re a business which has adopted global, standardised health and hygiene protocols. You can find details about how we’re prioritising your wellbeing when you travel with us here.

What documents do I need to travel?

Dependent on where you’re travelling and your nationality, you'll need a valid passport and may also need visas to enter into certain countries - please check this well in advance of your trip departure date. The majority of our Europe trips travel in countries that are covered by the Schengen Agreement which relates to visas. Citizens of many countries - e.g. Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada - can travel in the Schengen area without a visa. If you require a visa to enter the Schengen area you only need to obtain one visa which will allow you to travel in all Schengen countries. For non-Schengen countries, you may be able to obtain a visa upon arrival, depending on your nationality. Some countries also require passports to have 3-6 months left on them before the given expiry date, so be sure to double check this before booking your travels.

IMPORTANT
1. Visas can take up to six weeks & a fee is normally charged.
2. Failure to obtain all necessary visas could cause you to miss part or all of your trip & will result in you incurring considerable expense & inconvenience.
3. It is better to apply for all visas through your travel agent or local consular services before you leave home.
4. Contiki will provide you with visa contacts from our London base at the Royal National Hotel, if necessary.

What are the luggage restrictions?

On our European trips, you can bring one bag or suitcase of 73cm x 50cm x 25cm (29” x 20” x 10”), with a max weight of 20kg (44lbs) to be stored in the hold & one small day bag to take on board. Your day bag should be a backpack, duffel bag or satchel only (no small luggage cases or suitcases with wheels on board the coach).

What do the Contiki team do?

People are at the heart of everything we do, and our team is what makes our trips the best. Our worldwide On-Road Team, locally based staff & network of Local Guides are all extensively trained & widely travelled, & are the best in the business. But we know it’s not just about training, it’s about passion & our team have it in their blood.
Your Trip Manager is like your walking, talking guidebook – just for you. They plan your itinerary every day, organise your food and accomodation and book your Free Time Add ons, and because they know everything about where you’re going, you will too. Your Drivers are the experts on getting you from A to B efficiently and safely in Europe. They know their way around better than google maps & they’ll drop you at your door & unload your bags for you. Local Guides provide specialist knowledge when you need it and will always help you avoid the tourist traps.

What's not included that I should budget for?

Aside from essentials like flights, how much spending money you’ll need will depend on the duration of the trip and how much you anticipate spending on personal expenses like alcohol or shopping. Before you travel, it’s also a good idea to read up on and get an idea of the Free Time Add-Ons you think you’ll want to do on trip, as these will form part of your overall budget. We’d advise doing some research on your chosen European destinations beforehand, looking at things like:

- Cost of a local lunch

- Cost of a local dinner

- Cost of a local taxi

- Cost of entry to a sightseeing spot

In all areas of the service industry in Europe, from restaurants, bars, hotels & taxis, it is common practice to tip if you feel that the service received has been excellent.
The same goes for your Contiki Team. If you feel that your Trip Manager & Driver’s service has been exceptional, then feel free to tip them if you feel they’ve done a great job. If you choose to tip, we recommend around 2 Euros per day, however whether or not you choose to tip (& how much) is completely up to you.

Will I be able to access WiFi on my trip?

Yes! Our fleet of modern, sleek coaches are kitted out with WiFi in all places except Greece, as are most hotels & hostels across the continent, so you’ll always be able to effortlessly get online and update everyone back home about your incredible adventure.

What are Contiki’s sustainability credentials?

We believe that travelling sustainably and consciously, matters. Contiki Cares is our commitment to protecting the communities we visit, the wildlife we interact with, and the planet we all share. Our founding partner, the TreadRight Foundation was established 10 years ago as a not-for-profit organisation focused on promoting sustainable tourism within The Travel Corporation’s family of brands. From street tours that support local residents, refugees and the vulnerably housed, to dining experiences that support local farmers, our consciouc travel experiences let you see things from a different perspective. Find out more at https://www.contiki.com/uk/en/about/contiki-cares.

Our Brochures

We believe that travelling solo, shouldn't mean having to pay more. On many of our hand-crafted itineraries, you can enjoy up to 100%* off our standard single supplement free.

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Scotland & Ireland

The one that goes from the Scottish Highlands to The Emerald Isles in 13 epic days

Travel Style

Duration

Places

Meals

Transport Style

Group Size

Team

How Contiki works

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 2

STEP 3

About this trip

Book With Confidence

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