Experience ancient castles, quaint towns, beautiful islands and historic kingdoms on a 7 day tour of western and southern Ireland.
Get ready to fall in love! You'll tour the Ring of Kerry, stay in an Irish castle hotel, cruise around the Skellig Islands and gaze in wonder at the 700ft Cliffs of Moher.
Fully guided by a local Irish culture expert, this 7 day castle tour of Ireland is perfect for kings, queens, jesters or anyone seeking true authenticity in their Ireland vacation.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"Outstanding trip! Fun, relaxed but adventurous, with an amazing guide, Ronan, and a group of people that fast became friends... The people, food, hotels, towns and visits were all wonderful. Hard to pick a favorite!" Guest Review, August 2022
It was our first tip to Ireland and we chose the absolute best touring company and were lucky enough to be blessed with a fantastic tour guide.
I would rate the Vagabond experience a solid 15 stars and our guide Tim 15 plus stars. We appreciated his energy, knowledge of Irish history and even his singing voice.
When asked if he knew the song Seven Drunken Nights he not only knew the song but sang very verse! As a citizen of Ireland by descent he helped me feel that I truly belonged in the land of all my four grandparents. In a way I felt I was "home".
Vagabond is the BEST tour company in Ireland and their guides are also the BEST. My next tour will be with Vagabond. They are the only way to go!
TOM, OCT 2021
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The tour was awesome! It was affordable, inclusive, and took me to some truly amazing parts of Ireland.
Our tour guide Jason was very knowledgeable, organized, and fun. I learned so much from him about the history of Ireland.
I highly recommend this tour company and look forward to returning to Ireland soon.
Cheers!
GWENN, JULY 2022
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Just returned from the Castles & Kingdoms small-group tour. An excellent mix of activity with travel.
Andrew our guide was great . He went out of his way to make sure our expectations were exceeded.
The itinerary was flexible enough so adjustments could be made to expose us to the best Ireland had to offer.
Accommodations were spotless and friendly. The scenery was spectacular. Loved the small group aspect.
Vagabond staff was very responsive to any questions and planning assistance. Would highly recommend. The people of Ireland were wonderful.
JJones2200, JUNE 2022
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Find answers to questions about the 7 Day Driftwood Irish Castles & Kingdoms Tour itinerary.
Travel light.
That's the one travel tip that we hear again and again from guests on our tours.
Read MoreAll of our tours leave from our pick-up/drop-off point at the Grand Canal Hotel in Dublin.
Our pick-up times from the Grand Canal Hotel vary by tour:
Read MoreAll of our tours are fully guided by our team of expert driver guides.
We call them VagaGuides.
Read MoreWe always put guest safety first on Vagabond Cultural Adventures.
For this reason, when engaging in kayaking and horseback-riding activities, the following personal weight limits apply:
🐴 Horseback-Riding
Male weight limit: 238lbs / 17 stone / 108kg
Female weight limit: 225lbs / 16 stone / 102kg
🛶 Kayaking
Per person Double Kayak weight limit: 110kg / 17.5 stone / 245lbs
Total Double Kayak weight limit for 2 guests: 190kg / 30 stone / 420lbs
Per person Single Kayak weight limit: 92kg / 14.5 stone / 200lbs.
Similar Questions
Each day on tour, you will be on the road and checked out of your hotel between 8.45am-9.30am.
That time will vary and depend each day on a number of factors.
Read MoreYes, we do operate a limit on luggage.
Owing to the compact nature of our small-group tour vehicles, your luggage limit is one suitcase per person (no bigger than 30” or 75cm along their longest side).
Read MoreTo help you plan your return flights, here are the days and times that our tours return to Dublin.
The return point for all tours is Dublin's Grand Canal Hotel
Read MoreYes, all hotel rooms on Vagabond and Driftwood Tours of Ireland are ensuite.
Expect your own separate bathroom with toilet, sink and shower and/or bath.
Similar QuestionsThe answer depends on which tour style you have chosen.
Driftwood vehicles have space for luggage onboard. Vagabond vehicles tow a trailer.
Read MoreA hot shower after a woodland stroll. A real fire. A pint. We assure you that wherever you stay with us, you’ll love it.
We put great effort into selecting accommodation on Driftwood tours. Your tour will overnight in locally-owned establishments (in some cases for generations). Receive a heartfelt welcome, often from the hoteliers themselves. No hotel chains here!
Get ready for a beautiful sunset and a memorable stay.
The Armada Hotel is beautifully located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.
Dine in full view of Spanish Point beach. The menu at Aileen's Restauarnt features local food, artisan food producers and dishes with herbs and vegetables from the Armada Farm.
After dinner, kick back in front of a roaring fire at Johnny Burke's, the traditionally-themed pub.
Enjoy the high life at Ballyseede Castle Hotel.
With a history dating back centuries, Kerry's only castle hotel will make you feel like royalty.
Step into a realm of elegance and heritage, with delicious dining, well-appointed rooms and an oak-lined bar area to relax and recharge your batteries.
You may even bump into Molly the wolfhound, a friendly giant often found standing guard at the ornate entrance hall.
You just can’t beat Irish hospitality!
The Jones family have been welcoming guests to The Coachmans Townhouse since 1969.
The Coachmans is located at the heart of the small town of Kenmare. When you stay here with Vagabond & Driftwood Tours, speciality shops, music venues and great restaurants are only a few footsteps away.
Music-lovers, take note that the pub in the Coachmans frequently hosts live performances by traditional musicians. Not to be missed!
Gougane Barra Hotel is a family-run establishment, spectacularly located in Cork, on the edge of a lake.
Rob discovered this magical place on the very first Vagabond tour, way back in 2002!
Neil and Katy Lucey's hotel has been delighting our tour guests ever since.
Many of our Vagabond and Driftwood Tours visit Gougane Barra when passing through the southwest.
Expect a warm Irish welcome at the Castle Hotel in Cork.
This comfortable hotel has been managed by the Buckley family for 3 generations.
It's a great place to unwind after a full day of adventures on Vagabond & Driftwood tours.
Over the years, Actons Hotel has established a reputation for personalised guest care.
This matches our own high standards at Vagabond & Driftwood Tours.
Allied with breathtaking maritime views over Kinsale Harbour, Actons Hotel offers the perfect base to explore the famous county of Cork.
Savour the luxurious spa, relax in your modern, comfortable room or grab a bite to eat in the outdoor garden dining area.
All Driftwood tours are flexible. Your 7 Day Irish Castles & Kingdoms Tour is no different.
Unmissable activities and full days on tour are included. Where there are great options, we’ve left the final decision up to you. Feel free to choose your evening meals and lunches. All additional tour options are marked clearly below.
All details of prices and suppliers listed here are correct at time of publication. Our suppliers occasionally increase prices for optional tour activities during the touring season. This is a rare occurence. In the unlikely event of a major price increase, we will do our utmost to update you.
** Cash is required for this activity. No card payment available.
View Itinerary
Your historical journey of discovery through Ireland kicks off from Dublin. We head for Clare via Galway, at the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Accommodation tonight is at The Armada Hotel.
The average driving time today is 4 hours 30 minutes.
Today we're headed south along the Wild Atlantic Way, exploring Clare and Kerry.
Accommodation tonight is at The Ballyseede Castle Hotel.
The average driving time today is 2 hours 30 minutes.
Today we're touring the scenic Ring of Kerry route, circuiting the Iveragh peninsula from Tralee to Kenmare.
Accommodation tonight is at The Coachman's Townhouse.
The average driving time today is 3 hours.
Wandering scenic highways and byways, we'll sojourn from Kenmare to West Cork.
Accommodation tonight is at The Gougane Barra Hotel or The Castle Hotel Macroom.
The average driving time today is 3 hours.
A relaxing day exploring West Cork, finishing in Kinsale.
Accommodation tonight is at Actons Hotel.
The average driving time today is 1 hours 30 minutes.
Unwind in Ireland’s gourmet capital with free time to soak up the crafts and culture of Kinsale.
Accommodation tonight is at Actons Hotel.
Time to say slán with some amazing sights on your final day exploring from Kinsale to Dublin.
The average driving time today is 4 hours 30 minutes.
