Itinerary
- Day 1
Edinburgh
You'll arrive in Edinburgh and spend the evening meeting your fellow travelers at local bars. After settling in, you'll walk the iconic Royal Mile and check out the historic castle to get your bearings in this vibrant Scottish city.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Visit local bars and socialize with Contiki group
Landmarks Royal Mile Edinburgh Castle 
- Day 2
Edinburgh
This is a free day to explore Edinburgh on your own schedule. If you want structure, there's an optional guided tour of Edinburgh Castle, which sits on an extinct volcano. Princes Street has tartan shops if you're interested in picking up some Scottish souvenirs, or you can just wander around and find your own spots in the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge (or similar)), Hotel (Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Edinburgh Castle
- Tartan shopping on Princes Street
Landmarks Edinburgh Castle Princes Street - Day 3
Edinburgh to Scottish Highlands
You'll leave Edinburgh and head toward the Scottish Highlands with a stop in St. Andrews, where golf started and Scotland's oldest university is located. The drive takes you through mountain scenery, and once you arrive in the Highlands, there's a chance to compete in optional traditional Highland games if you're up for it.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Loch Ness Lodge Hotel Drumnadrochit (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Traditional Highland games
Landmarks St. Andrews Swilcan Bridge - Day 4
Scottish Highlands to Glasgow
After leaving the Highlands, you'll cruise on Loch Ness, the UK's most voluminous lake. There's a visit to a rewilding center to learn about Scotland's native wildlife reintroduction efforts. You can also canoe across the southern end of the lake if you want. Later, you'll arrive in Glasgow for dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Budget Glasgow (or similar))
Included Activities
- Cruise on Loch Ness
- Visit to Scottish Highlands rewilding center
Optional Activities
- Canoe across Loch Ness
Landmarks Loch Ness 
- Day 5
Glasgow
An early start takes you to Stirling to see William Wallace's monument and the hilltop castle. Then you'll visit The Kelpies in Helix Park, which features two massive 100-foot-tall horse sculptures. Back in Glasgow, explore live music venues, the gothic cathedral, and quirky neighborhoods. There's an optional traditional music celebration with a local meal if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Budget Glasgow (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit to The Kelpies in Helix Park
Optional Activities
- Stop in Stirling for William Wallace monument and Stirling Castle
- Final night celebration with local meal and live traditional music in Glasgow
Landmarks Stirling Castle The Kelpies Glasgow Cathedral - Day 6
Glasgow to Larne to Dublin
You'll leave Scotland behind and take a ferry crossing the Irish Sea to Larne in Northern Ireland. From there, you'll continue to Dublin for an included group dinner, then head to Temple Bar's cobbled lanes for a lively evening to celebrate your arrival in Ireland.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Group dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Travelodge Plus Dublin City Centre (or similar))
Included Activities
- Ferry crossing of the Irish Sea
- Group dinner in Dublin
Landmarks Temple Bar - Day 7
Dublin to Kilkenny to Midleton to Clonmel
Leaving Dublin, you can optionally cycle through the Irish countryside. You'll explore Kilkenny's castle, cathedral, and medieval character. There's a stop at Jameson's Distillery in Midleton for optional whiskey tasting. Later you'll arrive in Clonmel for an included dinner and time to explore the town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Talbot Hotel Clonmel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Group dinner in Clonmel
Optional Activities
- Bicycle ride through the Irish countryside
- Explore Kilkenny Castle
- Explore Kilkenny Cathedral
- Whiskey tasting at Jameson's Distillery in Midleton
Landmarks Kilkenny Castle Jameson's Distillery 
- Day 8
Clonmel to Galway
You'll travel from Clonmel to Galway, the Irish city Ed Sheeran famously referenced. Along the way, visit Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone if you want the gift of the gab, and see the Cliffs of Moher. Once in Galway, you'll find a small atmospheric city packed with pubs, buskers, colorful buildings, and genuine Irish charm.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Travelodge Galway City Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit to Blarney Castle and Blarney Stone
- Visit to Cliffs of Moher
Landmarks Blarney Castle Cliffs of Moher Lynch's Castle Eyre Square 
- Day 9
Galway
Spend more time in Galway and try learning some Gaelic. There's an optional ferry to the Aran Islands (summer departures only) where you can try horseback riding, bike rides around farms, and visit Dún Aonghasa, a prehistoric fortress with great views over the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Travelodge Galway City Hotel (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Ferry to Aran Islands
- Horseback riding on Aran Islands
- Bicycle ride around Aran Islands farms
- Visit to Dún Aonghasa
Landmarks Aran Islands Dún Aonghasa - Day 10
Galway to Derry/Londonderry
You'll drive to Derry/Londonderry, Ireland's only walled city from the 17th century. An optional experience lets you see authentic rural Irish life with sheepdogs and a local shepherd who'll prepare homemade lunch. There's also an optional guided tour of the Bogside neighborhood, a historic area with unique underwater heritage.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Derry (or similar)), Hotel (Waterfoot Hotel Londonderry (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Authentic rural Irish experience with sheepdogs and local shepherd
- Homemade lunch with local family
- Guided tour of the Bogside
Landmarks Derry/Londonderry Walled City Bogside - Day 11
Derry/Londonderry to Giant's Causeway to Belfast
You'll visit the UNESCO World Heritage Giant's Causeway to see the famous giant rock columns and get some great photos. After that, head to Belfast for a driving tour and an optional visit to the Titanic Museum, where the world's most famous ship was built.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ramada by Wyndham Belfast City Centre (or similar)), Hotel (ibis budget Belfast City Centre (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit to Giant's Causeway
Optional Activities
- Titanic Museum in Belfast
Landmarks Giant's Causeway Titanic Museum - Day 12
Belfast to Dublin
You'll travel back to Dublin to complete your Irish adventure full circle. Use this second visit to do any activities you missed, like visiting the Guinness Storehouse to learn how to pull a pint the Irish way. There's an optional farewell dinner to end your tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Travelodge Plus Dublin City Centre (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Guinness Storehouse and learn to pull a pint
- Free Time Add-On farewell dinner
Landmarks Guinness Storehouse - Day 13
Departure from Dublin
It's time to depart Ireland with memories from your trip. You'll have a final breakfast with your Contiki crew before saying goodbye and heading home with new stories and experiences from Scotland and Ireland.
- Meals
- Breakfast
