Discover Northern Ireland

Depart Dublin at 0900 on Nassau Street across from the Kilkenny Shop. Travel north from Dublin. You pass through picturesque countryside as you journey to Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland. Here you take a short city tour which covers the capital’s triumphs, tragedies and soul. You get time to discover the Titanic Quarter, a regenerated hub where the famous liner was built and launched in 1911. Leaving its excellent museums and attractions by the afternoon, we head into the incredible rural landscapes of County Down, where you can discover the world famous gardens and estate at Mount Stewart. After exploring the dignified majesty of the 19th century estate, you’ll be driven a short way to the seaside town of Bangor, your cosy base for the next two nights.

Northern Ireland will stir your emotions!

In Belfast, you’ll the hear the heartache and history of the ‘troubles’. At Giant’s Causeway, you’ll encounter the uplifting natural splendour of the unusual coastal formations. And in the villages of Ballycastle and Glenarm, you’ll feel nostalgic for the lifestyles of a bygone era.

No emotion is left untouched as you travel on this spirit-quenching journey through the tragedy, beauty, and passion of Northern Ireland.

These small group tours are basic and more casual than many of the other escorted tours. They offer you the choice of paying admission locally to the sites you wish to visit or skipping an attraction that isn’t of interest to you. There is the opportunity to have some free time in the evenings to go out for dinner to a cafe or restaurant of your choosing on your own, buy some food at a supermarket or take-out and eat at your accommodation or hang out with other people from your tour. The choice is yours!

Leaving Bangor in the morning, you head north, following the winding and magnificent Causeway Coastal Route. A truly sensational experience, the journey encapsulates the sweeping valleys and eternal beauty of The Emerald Isle. Along the way you make stops in Glenarm and Ballycastle as well as some splendid attractions. In the afternoon, you enter Giant’s Causeway, where geological beauty and myth collide spectacularly. Leaving Giant’s Causeway, we venture through iconic locations from the TV series, Game of Thrones, and discover the rich heritage of coastal Ireland. Then you head back to your accommodation in Bangor, where you can relax with a craft beer in one hand and locally caught seafood in the other.

Beginning a new day of sights and adventures, you leave Bangor and set out along the Ards Peninsula. At Portaferry, we set off on the picturesque ferry across the “Narrows” of Strangford Loch, where you have ample time for photos, whilst taking in the sights, sounds and scents of the loch. Then it’s off to Castle Ward, the location for Winterfell from Game of Thrones. You have the opportunity to discover where the famed and fictional Starks made their dwelling, and what living conditions would have been like for the real residents. From here, you follow in the holy footsteps of St Patrick through his historic, beautiful country. You will have time for lunch here and perhaps a visit to Down Cathedral or the St Patrick’s centre. Then it’s a stunning, winding drive into the Mourne Mountains, where you’ll stand in awe amongst the towering granite peaks. From here we have a final stop at the shores of Carlingford Loch, before arriving in Dublin at approximately 9:00pm.

We can arrange for accommodation in Dublin before and after this tour, to allow you time to explore this lively and historic city. Accommodation ranges from hostels, B&B/guesthouses, all categories of hotels up to castle stays. Please inquire.