Ireland: the land of Guinness, castles, sheep, and friendly people. When in Ireland, the best way to see it all is by car or bus and since I didn’t want to attempt all those winding roads on the left side of the road, I took a tour with Shamrocker Adventures who did the driving for me! If you are a budget traveler, solo traveler, or enjoy meeting new people then this is the tour to do. Everything is planned for you and all for a reasonable price! I did the 7-day All Ireland Rocker tour, but there are shorter or longer tours if that suits you better. It is definitely a stress free way to see this beautiful country.
Accommodation:
When booking there are different options when it comes to accommodation. Since I was on a budget, I chose the hostel route. But if you have more to spend and prefer privacy you can opt for the private room option.
Activities included in price:
Your guide, all transport (you travel via coach bus), 6 nights of accommodation, 6 breakfasts, Inis Mór ferry and transfer, Cliffs of Moher entry, and The Giant’s Causeway entry
Optional activities:
Blarney Castle, Black Cab Tour, Derry City Walking Tour (I highly recommend including all of these activities)
Day 1: Dublin to Ballintoy
Your day starts off early as you check in and leave from Dublin. The first stop is in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland. I honestly never knew the troubled history of Belfast until we took the famous Black Cab Tour. I highly recommend taking this tour as you get to see Belfast’s famous political murals and the wall that still separates parts of the city. You then get some free time to eat lunch and explore Belfast which is a beautiful city. After your free time you hop back on the bus and head to one of the cutest (and smallest) towns I’ve ever seen.. Ballintoy! You can literally look down the street and see the whole town. When you arrive go explore the harbour as you may recognize it as a Game of Thrones filming location! There is also a bar that has a replica throne and 1 of 10 Game of Thrones themed doors.
Ballintoy Harbour
Day 2: Ballintoy to Derry
In the morning make your way to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. This bridge is suspended almost 100 feet above sea level. The bridge was first built by salmon fishermen 350 years ago. If you are brave and want to face your fears you can pay to walk across the swaying bridge. After your morning in Ballintoy, you head to the eighth natural wonder of the world, The Giant’s Causeway! You get to hear the tales about the giant Finn MacCool and see his footsteps yourself. Mother Nature is truly awesome as you marvel at tons of unique rock columns. I’ve never seen anything like it before! Be sure to have your camera with you! After The Giant’s Causeway you make your way to the town of Derry where you have the option to do a walking tour. The guide was great and we learned so much! I once again never knew the troubled yet promising history of this city or Northern Ireland as a whole for that matter. After the walking tour be sure to go to Peadar O’Donnells to grab a beer with the locals. The live music and dancing gives you a real Irish experience.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
The Giant’s Causeway
Derry
Day 3: Derry to Galway
After you leave Derry you head to the resting place of the famous Irish poet, W.B. Yeats. You then head to Westport for a lunch break. I highly recommend walking around this quaint city. It has a lot of charm and character. After lunch you drive to Galway. Where are my Ed Sheeran fans at? Be sure to walk around Galway’s lively streets. There are tons of bars, restaurants, and shops. And if you enjoy drinking, you also have the option to do a pub crawl with your tour group. It is a great way to get to know your tour group better and down a few pints!
Day 4: Inis Mór
This was one of my favorite days! You take a ferry across to the island of Inis Mór which is the largest of the Aran Islands. You have the option to explore the island on foot, bike, or a horse carriage. I recommend taking the bike as you get to travel faster and see more of the island. If you decide to bike, take the coastal route as you get to pass gorgeous coastal views and farmland with cows, horses, and donkeys. A must-visit on Inis Mór is Dun Aonghasa which is a 3,000 year old ring fort on top of the edge of a 300-foot high cliff. The views are breathtaking! But be prepared, it gets windy up there!
Day 5: Galway to Ennis
After leaving Galway you make your way to Lahinch which is known as Ireland’s surf capital for lunch. Sadly you don’t get time to explore this city, but what comes after lunch was the highlight of my trip. You get to go to the Cliffs of Moher! I’ve always seen pictures, but to be there in person was jaw dropping and surreal. The views are amazing, but if you don’t like heights, don’t look down! Fun fact: these stunning cliffs were used in Harry Potter and The Princess Bride. After the cliffs you make your way to Ennis where you will spend the night.
Cliffs of Moher
Day 6: Ennis to Killarney
After leaving Ennis, you travel to the Dingle Peninsula where you get a bus tour along the Irish Coastline. The views are beautiful and I wish we were able to make more stops along the coast during the bus ride (that would be the one thing I would change about this tour). After your Irish Coastline drive you head to Killarney for the night. Our tour guide was amazing and booked us a Celtic Steps show in Killarney (this was an additional cost, but completely worth it). The show was full of traditional Irish dancing and music. I’m still unsure how the dancers move their feet so fast.
Day 7: Killarney to Dublin
In the morning you make you way to Blarney Castle and Gardens. I highly suggest heading straight to the castle to get in line to kiss the Blarney Stone (the line gets long fast!). Legend has it that if you kiss the stone you get the gift of eloquence. And I kissed the stone so apparently I’m great at talking now 🙂 If you have time after kissing the stone be sure to check out the rest of the gardens. They are beautiful! After Blarney Castle and Gardens you make a stop at Rock of Cashel. Rock of Cashel is also known as St. Patrick’s Rock. You then head back to Dublin where you have to sadly say goodbye to your new friends.
Rock of Cashel
Blarney Castle
I highly recommend this company and tour (and no, I was not paid to say that). I met some amazing people who I now consider friends and I have so many new memories that will last me a lifetime.
