Ireland 7 Ways: How the Emerald Isle Sparkles From Every Angle

A land of rugged coastlines, lush green landscapes, rich history and endless folklore, the Emerald Isle is like that dazzling friend who always has a surprise up their sleeve. Whether you’re a slow-paced explorer content to soak in the stunning scenery and ancient stories, or prefer a faster pace journey packed with lively cities and entertainment, a history buff eager to delve into ancient castles or a nature lover seeking scenic hikes, Ireland has something for everyone, and so do we.

Did you know that through our portfolio of brands at The Travel Corporation, there are even more ways to explore a destination? Alongside Insight Vacations’ signature premium guided tours, we offer Trafalgar tours which have local experiences at their heart, and allow you more flex to your budget with many experiences offered as optional extras. Or maybe you want to dial up the luxury and treat yourself to the finest end-to-end travel experience with one of our Luxury Gold limited-edition journeys.

We’ve hand-picked 7 great tours to the Emerald Isle to get you started. No matter how you choose to explore, Ireland’s warm hospitality and stunning scenery never cease to amaze. In fact you’ll be wanting to visit again and again.

A warm welcome awaits in Dublin’s traditional pubs

 

1. Country Roads of Ireland – Insight Vacations

Best for: Seeing Ireland’s natural side, without compromising on style.

Just because you want to see the best nature has to offer, doesn’t mean you have to compromise on premium travel. There’s no reason why a desire for 4- and 5-star hotels and premium experiences should mean you can’t travel off-the-beaten-path. For the best of both worlds, take a look at Insight Vacations’ 12-Day Country Roads of Ireland premium tour. On all our ‘country roads’ style tours you can explore your destination from the perspective of a local and discover hidden gems, whilst not missing out on any of Insight Vacations’ signature premium features.

Country Roads of Ireland takes you through the heart of Ireland and Northern Ireland, including Dublin, Cork, Ennystmin, Galway and Belfast. Visit Dublin’s Trinity College and view the 8th century Book of Kells. See the castles of Cahir and Blarney. Travel across the majestic Derrynasaggart Mountains to Kilkenn, where you’ll enjoy Irish home cooking in the kitchen of chef John Sheehan. Spend two nights at the stunning Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa. a free day in Galway with an optional experience to the Aran Islands, and see Londonderry brought to life by one of Northern Ireland’s best storytellers. Then the Giant’s causeway beckons along with a stay at the 17th century Ballygally Castle overlooking the golden sands of the bay.

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2. Best of Ireland – Trafalgar

Best for: A traditional flavor of the Emerald Isle.

Delve into Irish history, take High Tea with the Hughes family in their historic Westport home and learn about traditional salmon smoking at the family-run Burren Smokehouse in Lisdoonvarna on Best of Ireland – this 10-day Trafalgar tour is just packed opportunities to connect to the traditions of the Emerald Isle. Plus, you can add on optional experiences to revel in the magic of Irish song and dance.

Starting and finishing in Dublin, you’ll see Kilkenny, Limerick, Killarney and Sligo. In Dublin visit The Irish Emigration Museum for drinks, canapes and an immersive look into the 70 million people who claim Irish ancestry worldwide. In Co. Wexford, gain insights into the plight of the starving Irish emigrants who boarded the Dunbrody Famine Ship to flee the potato famine, then witness talented master crafters at work at the House of Waterford Crystal. The Cliffs of Moher will amaze and at Blarney Castle discover the legend of the Blarney Stone – it is said that those who kiss the stone are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. Then, in Killarney, maybe take an optional experience to see Irish culture spring to life over a tour de force of traditional Irish song, music and dance at a lively Gaelic Roots show.

Blarney Castle in Co. Cork, where kissing the Blarney Stone is said to give the gift of the gab

3. Ultimate Ireland – Luxury Gold

Best for: A truly luxurious break.

Maybe you are celebrating a milestone anniversary or birthday or maybe you just deserve something extra. For many, a trip to the Emerald Isle is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so why not make it even more special? Enjoy the finest end to end travel experience with Luxury Gold’s 12-day Ultimate Ireland small group tour.

Discover the Emerald Isle in luxury style over 12 days, including Dublin, Kilkenny, Galway and Belfast. Each day crafted with exclusive experiences and bookended with exceptional hotels and dining, including in-room breakfasts on relaxed start days. Explore Belfast’s mighty Titanic shipyards and dine farm-to-table at Tracey’s cozy Farmhouse, before taking a private tour of the magnificent Giant’s Causeway with a wildlife ranger. In Dublin, step into the Little Museum for a private after-hours meeting with esteemed author and museum founder Trevor White. Explore the sensational landscapes of Glendalough, the “glen of two lakes” with a Local Expert, and experience Ireland’s famous hospitality with locals at a home hosted dinner with entertainment and dancing in Blarney. For your finale, arrive at Ashford Castle in regal style as you’re escorted over the drawbridge by a lone piper, your home for a two night 5-star stay. Here you can discover the art of falconry and dine like royalty in the King Geroge V dining room.

The grand entrance hall of the 5-star Ashford Castle, a sensational stay on Luxury Gold’s Ultimate Ireland journey.

4. Castles and Manors – Trafalgar

Best for: Stays with stories.

Did you know it is estimated that there are around 30,000 castles and castle ruins in Ireland? Some of which you can stay in and soak up all that history and folklore. If you just love embracing the romance of a country through its fortresses, stately homes and manors then Trafalgar’s 8-day Castles & Manors is your perfect tour to explore the Emerald Isle. Over 8-Days, see cathedrals, abbeys and castles, on this trip packed with Trafalgar’s signature Stays With Stories  – overnights  in accommodations with stories as rich as the destinations you’re exploring.

Both off the beaten track and fit for royalty, your trip takes in Dublin, Galway, the Cliffs of Moher and the stunning Ring of Kerry, and includes stays in the homes of Irish nobility. In Galway, immerse yourself in Ireland’s history and hospitality at the 13th Century Ashford Castle on the shores of Lough Corrib, sleeping in the elegant country quarters of its historic Lodge. Don’t just visit in Westport, Be My Guest in historic Westport House as you join the Hughes family in for High Tea. Listening to stories of Grace O’Malley, the Pirate Queen as the house was built on the site of her 16th-century castle. The next two nights are spent at Abbeyglen Castle hotel dating back to 1832 as you explore the best of rugged Connemara, including a visit to Kylemore Abbey and to a working oyster farm. Spend a day in the magnificent Ring of Kerry then in Kildare visit the imposing Rock of Cashel and view its ecclesiastical ruins with a Local Specialist.

5. Treasures of Ireland – Trafalgar

Best for: Brevity and budget.

Have you only got a week to spare? Or are you adding Ireland onto another trip? For those short on time but still keen to get the best of the Emerald Isle, Trafalgar’s 6-day Treasures of Ireland is not only compact, it is economical too. From Dublin to Dublin over 6-Days, with all the highlights in between, you can tick off the big-ticket items as well as enjoy some of the Emerald’s Isles most spectacular scenery. Plus, as with all Trafalgar tours, there’s a great menu of optional extras if you want to pack even more in.

Your quick jaunt of the Emerald Isle starts in Ireland’s iconic capital with a Dublin city tour. Then take in the Viking ruins at Glendalough and tour the House of Waterford Crystal Workshop in Waterford, with options to add on an evening of traditional Irish entertainment and tasty pub supper. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® at a special cafe in Killarney Park providing training and employment opportunities to adults with Down Syndrome, and visit the working farms of Muckross, learn how to churn butter and dine in the Quilles Farmhouse. You’ll spend a day on the beautiful Dingle Peninsula, with the option to spend your evening enjoying Celtic song and dance, then head to the mighty Cliffs of Moher and on to Limerick, before your return to Dublin.

6. Best of Ireland & Scotland – Insight Vacations

Best for: Authentic Celtic connections.

Ireland and Scotland are deeply intertwined through a shared Celtic heritage, which is reflected in their languages, cultural traditions and rich histories. Both nations trace their origins back to the ancient Celts, a tribal people who once settled across much of Europe. This common ancestry continues to influence their modern cultures, with the Gaelic language serving as a central symbol of this enduring connection.

For history and culture enthusiasts eager to explore this profound Celtic bond firsthand, Insight Vacations’ 14-day Best of Ireland & Scotland offers an authentic and immersive experience – the perfect journey to deeply connect with the heritage that unites these two countries.

Over 14 days, compare and contrast, starting with all the highlights of Ireland, including Dublin, Cork, Killarney, the Cliffs of Moher and Londonderry. At the Giant’s Causeway, discover the legend of the fighting giants, the Irish giant Finn McCool and his Scottish rival, Benandonner, by whom this natural phenomenon is said to have been created, before crossing the sea by ferry over to bonny Scotland.

Experience traditional Scottish hospitality as Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart welcomes you to his family’s castle in Ardgowan for high tea, then take in Glasgow, the breathtaking Glencoe and Loch Ness. In Inverness, indulge in a ‘wee dram’ at Uile-bheist, a pioneering distillery that blends age-old whisky traditions with cutting-edge sustainability—a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Enjoy a stroll through St. Andrews, renowned for its historic golf courses and charming streets before finishing up in the Scottish capital,  Edinburgh. If visiting in August, you have the opportunity to witness the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

7. Amazing Ireland – Trafalgar

Best for: Seeing it all.

If you’re eager to take your time exploring everything Ireland has to offer, Trafalgar’s 14-day Amazing Ireland guided tour is perfect. Covering 16 cities across both Northern Ireland and Ireland, beginning and ending in Dublin, it offers a wealth of unforgettable included experiences. As always with Trafalgar, you also have numerous optional extras to tailor the journey to your interests.

Discover the full story of the Titanic during your visit to Belfast and marvel at the stunning Giant’s Causeway. In beautiful County Donegall, watch traditional craftsmen at work at the Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre, one of the oldest working potteries in the world. For a night of local music and folklore, consider an optional visit to Biddy O’Barnes pub, a charming 150-year-old pub nestled within the region’s Bluestack Mountains.

You’ll then journey through Galway and Connemara, some of Ireland’s most beautiful countryside with the option to join guided tours along the way. Enjoy an included guided walk along the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher and consider an Irish ceilidh evening for lively music and dance. Circle the spectacular Ring of Kerry, one of Ireland’s most iconic landscapes, and don’t miss the chance to kiss the famous Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle. End your journey with the warm hospitality of the Fulvio family at Glenealy House in New Ross, where you’ll enjoy traditional Irish fare with an Italian twist, before returning to Dublin.