


Explore history, culture and active adventure in stunning natural scenery on a fast-paced, full circuit of the island of Ireland.
This 12-day round trip is a comprehensive Ireland and Northern Ireland tour, including: The Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coast.
Journey over mountain passes and horse-ride along deserted beaches. Take a deep breath and get ready - this is the ultimate Irish adventure tour!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"We had a great time seeing fantastic sites and historical places in the company of really great people, and under the care of a really diligent and caring guide." JEAN, TripAdvisor, April 2023
⚡ BOOK 2024 IRELAND TOURS EARLY, SAVE 10% — RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW
Going to Ireland has been a dream of mine since I was young. Doing a group tour held little interest for me as I didn't want to sit on a large bus merely moving from point A to B, only to disembark to walk 50 feet to take some quick pictures. I wanted my days spent exploring the beautiful country outside - hiking, picnicking, and bare feet in the sand type of trip...
I was thrilled to find Vagabond Tours! The 12 Day tour exceeded my expectations. The lodgings ranged from quaint historic hotels to a grand castle. Hikes, sea side walks, castles, abbeys, estates (with a side trip to Muckross Abbey on my request to see the Yew tree!!).
I highly recommend Vagabond to anyone wanting "more" from their trip. They will not disappoint you.
TREDHART, JULY 2022
Don’t miss this trip. Since you are going to be seeing Ireland; why not the 12 day?
I was a sIngle, retired lady looking to see Ireland and be active and not sit on a bus with 50 people. This trip exceeded my expectations.
Our Tour guide Dave challenged us every day with a hike but also listened to our ideas and would change plans if we all wanted to do something different. He was so accommodating.
The 11 people who joined me in the van for the tour ranged from 17-71. All of us had an amazing time. Dave is #1!
DIANA, JUNE 2022
My sister and I originally planned to go on the Rick Steves tour but when we found Vagabond we quickly changed our minds. Good thing too, because this 12-day adventure was perfect!
We couldn't have asked for a better tour group or a more experienced tour guide. Sean made a point to get to know everyone and kept us all entertained throughout our trip with his stories.
What my sister and I loved most about this tour was that it was off the beaten path. Yes, we went to touristy spots, but for the most part, we went to areas that not even the locals had been to. For instance, on the second to last day, we went to this castle ruin where were had a picnic. Sean made us hot chocolate and Irish coffee and brought a cake to celebrate all the June birthdays. It was the craic, as they like to say...
I would definitely do another tour with Vagabond and highly recommend anyone interested in having an adventure of a lifetime to go.
GALINA, JUNE 2022
Find answers to questions about the 12 Day Vagabond Giant Irish Adventure 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 mountain hike. 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 Vagabond 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!
A warm welcome awaits you at the Londonderry Arms Hotel, once owned by none other than Winston Churchill.
Ideally situated midway between Belfast and the Giant’s Causeway, the Londonderry Arms is an ideal base for exploring this beautiful region.
Sit back and relax in front of an open log fire, bask in breathtaking scenery and a unique atmosphere of warmth and comfort.
Set amid the gorgeous surroundings of the Roe Valley Country Park, this modern and comfortable hotel is the perfect setting to unwind after a busy day exploring.
In keeping with the elegance of a traditional Irish country house estate, all rooms and suites have been beautifully decorated to complement the original building.
Guests on our 12 Day Vagabond Giant Irish Adventure Tour relish their stay here.
Enjoy the charms of Donegal town at the comfortable Abbey Hotel.
Relax in superbly appointed bedrooms before savouring delicious food and lively traditional Irish music performances.
You're guaranteed a warm Irish welcome at the Abbey!
Enjoy spectacular views of 5km of golden sandy beaches laid out in front of you at Waterfront House.
This independent hotel has been a popular stop on our northwest tours for many years.
Situated on the water’s edge overlooking Killala Bay, you can often hear the waves crashing on the shore as you drop off to sleep.
Relax with delicious food and drink in the restaurant with Enniscrone’s famous sunsets happening right in front of the hotel.
Fan of champagne and history?
You’re about to experience both!
Get ready for a generous serving of real Irish hospitality at the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel.
Enjoy complimentary bubbles as well as storytelling in the piano bar before an atmospheric dining experience.
In your well-appointed and castle-themed room, you'll relax and recuperate before another fun day of activities in the stunning Connemara region.
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.
Imagine waking up to a traditional Irish breakfast with spectacular views over Dingle Bay.
Now make that dream a reality at the Dingle Skellig Hotel.
Just a short stroll from the centre of Dingle town, this is the perfect base for enjoying the charms of Dingle and its wild and beautiful surrounding countryside.
The only dilemma facing you at the Dingle Skellig is whether to unwind in the bar first or soak in the rooftop hot tub!
Literally 30 seconds walk from the pier, The Moorings Guesthouse is well-named!
The Moorings lies at the heart of this tiny but characterful village in remote West Kerry.
Gerard and Patricia Kennedy’s warm welcome and delicious home-cooked food is a great way to end a day’s adventuring.
There’s simply nowhere better to base yourself when you are exploring the Ring of Kerry with Vagabond & Driftwood Small-Group Tours.
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.
All Vagabond tours are flexible. Your 12 Day Vagabond Great Irish Adventure is no different.
Unmissable activities 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. Please read the Activities & Fitness FAQs for further information.
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.
Fasten your seatbelt! Your Vagabond Cultural Adventure starts from Dublin and heads for Northern Ireland.
It's Day 1, so let's hike! Slieve Gullion mountain features Ireland's highest passage tomb at the summit.
In Belfast, choose from the following activities:
TOUR OPTIONS (Choose A, B or C)
Accommodation tonight is at The Londonderry Arms.
The average driving time today is 4 hours.
Accommodation tonight is at The Roe Park Resort.
The average driving time today is 3 hours.
Crossing from Northern Ireland into Donegal, we'll head truly off the beaten track.
Accommodation tonight is at The Abbey Hotel.
The average driving time today is 3 hours.
Wandering southwest, your tour will explore Donegal further and complete the day in Sligo.
Accommodation tonight is at The Waterfront House Enniscrone.
The average driving time today is 4 hours.
Today brings incredible scenery and fascinating culture from Sligo to Connemara via Mayo.
Accommodation tonight is at The Abbeyglen Castle Hotel.
The average driving time today is 4 hours.
Journey through the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way, from Connemara to Clare via Galway.
Accommodation tonight is at The Armada Hotel.
The average driving time today is 4 hours.
Start your day off in Clare, reaching Kerry and the Dingle peninsula by the afternoon.
Accommodation tonight is at Dingle Skellig Hotel.
The average driving time today is 3 hours 30 minutes.
Get set for jaw-dropping natural scenery this morning on the Slea Head Drive.
The afternoon is yours to design. Relax and soak up Dingle’s charms with quality downtime or the following optional activities.
TOUR OPTIONS (Choose A, B, C, D, E or F):
This evening, don’t miss a traditional Irish music session in one of Dingle's many pubs.
Accommodation tonight is at Dingle Skellig Hotel.
The average driving time today is 1 hours 30 minutes.
Accommodation tonight is at The Moorings Portmagee.
The average driving time today is 3 hours 30 minutes.
You have incredible options today on and around the Ring of Kerry.
Accommodation tonight is at The Coachman's Townhouse.
The average driving time today is 2 hours.
This morning, we head out onto the Beara, a wild peninsula split between the counties of Cork and Kerry.
Accommodation tonight is at The Gougane Barra Hotel or The Castle Hotel Macroom.
The average driving time today is 3 hours 30 minutes.
Turning homeward, your tour will visit Cork and Tipperary before returning to Dublin.
The average driving time today is 4 hours 30 minutes.