Highlights
In Scotland
In Ireland
Experience the best of Scotland and Ireland, on this tour that promises to be an adventure you’ll never forget First, see the great cities of Scotland on guided panoramic tours. Edinburgh is Scotland’s UNESCO-recognized capital, while Glasgow is its largest city.
You will also explore the legendary Highlands, passing Britain’s tallest mountain range and a working sheep dog farm along the way. Keep your eyes peeled for monsters on a cruise across Loch Ness, and learn about Scottish clans on the Isle of Skye. Enjoy battlefields, castles, and distilleries before leaving Scotland on your included flight to Ireland.
Visit all of Ireland’s must-see sights, starting in Dublin. Then travel to ancient Waterford to tour the Waterford Crystal Factory. Sample a wee bit of Irish whiskey on a distillery to help muster the courage to kiss the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle.
You’ll experience Ireland’s most breathtaking natural beauty at three of its most famous sites. Be amazed by the spectacular Ring of Kerry, the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, and the rock formations of the Giant’s Causeway. Your final stop will be Belfast before returning to Dublin, the perfect way to end this remarkable Ireland and Scotland tour.
3 Countries
Sightseeing
Additional Flights
Hotel Accommodations
Meals
Service
Baggage Handling
Edinburgh, Scotland
Dublin, Ireland
Your journey begins on your overnight flight.
If you purchased airline tickets from YMT, a representative will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to spend at your leisure until the included welcome dinner at the hotel. (D)
Hampton by Hilton Westend or similar (Note: Porterage service is not available at this hotel)
Your first full day in Scotland starts with a comprehensive tour of Edinburgh. The beautifully maintained capital city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and tour highlights include the Royal Scottish Academy, The Georgian House, St. Giles Cathedral, The Scottish Parliament, and Greyfriars Bobby. Your final stop this morning is Edinburgh Castle, home to the Scottish Crown Jewels, and Edinburgh’s oldest building, St. Margaret’s Chapel. Admission to the castle is included for you to enjoy a self-guided tour. The guided portion of the day concludes at lunchtime, after which you are free to remain in the city and explore on your own, or to join our afternoon optional tour. (B)
Hampton by Hilton Westend or similar (Note: Porterage service is not available at this hotel)
Add-On: Royal Yacht Britannia Tour with Dinner
Visit one of the most historically significant places in all of Britain—the iconic Scone Palace in Perth. Home of the Earl of Mansfield, it has been the seat of parliaments and the crowning place of the Kings of Scots since the 9th century. Continue to the Highlands to enjoy some free time, including a stop for lunch in the town of Pitlochry. Today also includes a visit to the Leault Working Sheepdog Farm for a 45-minute demonstration of up to eight dogs working as a team to herd sheep and responding to their own personalized commands and whistles. Meet the sheepdogs, see the lambs, and perhaps take part in shearing a sheep. Keep an eye out for the Highlander cows that also roam around! En route to the hotel, see Britain’s tallest mountain range in Cairngorms National Park! Upon arrival at your hotel in Inverness, enjoy an included dinner. (B, D)
Our first stop this morning is the historic battlefield site of the bloody Battle of Culloden Moor. Enjoy an innovative interactive exhibit about the battle, as well as a guided visit of the battlefield. Continue to Cawdor Castle, an ancient medieval fortress with three very different and extraordinary gardens. Explore the grounds and castle on a self-guided audio tour before continuing to a Whisky Distillery for an informative tour and tasting of beautiful Scotch Whisky! (B)
Enjoy stunning views of Inverness as you make your way into the Great Glen, and Loch Ness. Up to 755 feet deep in places, the murky lake has plenty of hiding space for the mythical Loch Ness Monster, or “Nessie.” Take a short scenic cruise across the loch to Urquhart Castle to explore the ruins dating back to the 13th century. After stopping for lunch in Fort Augustus, Continue on to the Commando Memorial, a commemorative statue that pays tribute to soldiers who served in WWII. Next, enjoy a stop at a woolen mill for some souvenir shopping End your day at Fort William in the early evening. (B, D)
Ben Nevis Hotel or Similar
Your tour takes you to the Isle of Skye, one of the Inner Hebrides islands. On route, enjoy a photo stop at Eilean Donan Castle before crossing the bridge onto the Isle of Skye. Your tour of Skye will include several photo stops to take in the stunning scenery and picturesque mountains. Stop for lunch in Portree, the largest town and the capital of the Isle of Skye. End your day with a short ferry crossing to take you back to the mainland, and enjoy an included dinner upon arrival at your hotel in Fort William. (B, D)
Ben Nevis Hotel or Similar
Travel along the rugged shoreline into Argyll. Visit Inveraray Castle, built in 1743 in the Gothic Revival style, and see the extensive collection of pikes, muskets and other weaponry. Enjoy a short break on the banks of Loch Lomond, the largest lake in the country, and continue into Glasgow, the biggest city in Scotland. (B)
ibis Syles Glasgow Central or similar (Note: Porterage service is not available at this hotel)
Add-On: ‘Meet the Piper’ & Dinner at The Pipers Tryst Restaurant
During a panoramic morning city tour, see the remnants of the monastery at Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis, an ancient cemetery in the middle of the city. Visit Glasgow Green, The Kelvingrove Art Gallery, and George Square, named after King George III and the de facto center of Glasgow. The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy. Join us for dinner, before making your way to Ireland the following day. (B, D)
ibis Syles Glasgow Central or similar (Note: Porterage service is not available at this hotel)
Fly to Dublin for the next stage of your tour. A YMT representative will welcome you at Dublin Airport and transfer you to the hotel while the rest of the day is at your leisure. This vibrant, colorful city offers a compelling mix of history, culture, traditional pubs, elegant architecture, great shopping and dining. The great thing about Dublin is that the city is compact, so the shops and restaurants, the River Liffey and many of the highlights are all within walking distance of each other and easy to explore on foot. This evening, learn about the days ahead over dinner. (B, D)
Clayton Hotel Leopardstown or similar
This morning, enjoy a tour of the highlights of this richly historical city. See the Bank of Ireland, built in the 18th century to house the Parliament; and Leinster House, where the government convenes today. Visit the famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral, originally built in 450 AD and rebuilt in 1191. The afternoon is at leisure, giving you plenty of time to visit Trinity College, Henrietta Street’s Georgian mansions, or to take a stroll down Grafton Street in the center of Dublin. (B)
Clayton Hotel Leopardstown or similar
Add-On: Irish Evening at Taylors Three Rock
Today we visit the Rock of Cashel—a cluster of historic ruins towering on a hilltop 200 feet above the surrounding plains. We continue to Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city and home to the famous crystal. Enjoy an illuminating tour of the factory and learn about the manufacturing process and Waterford’s history. There will be time to browse the gift shop, and marvel at the largest Waterford Crystal collection in the world. (B)
Fitzwilton Hotel or similar
Add-On: Walking Tour of Waterford and Dinner
This morning, continue to Cork for a guided tour of Jameson Midleton Distillery. Learn about history, heritage, and whiskey production before enjoying a comparative tasting of Scotch, American and Jameson whiskey. Also included in today’s visit is a complimentary drink at the bar! Next, we visit Blarney Castle, one of Ireland’s oldest and most historic. Our tour ends today in Killarney, our home for the next two nights. (B, D)
Killarney Oaks Hotel or similar
This morning take one of Europe’s most famous drives, the Ring of Kerry. This long loop takes us through spectacular scenery—lakes, rivers, historical landmarks, and charming villages on the Iveragh Peninsula. Back in Killarney this evening, you’re free to relax at the hotel or explore the quaint town at your leisure. (B)
Killarney Oaks Hotel or similar
Today we visit Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, where we’ll see one of the most complete and authentic medieval fortresses in the country. It now houses an exquisitely-detailed living history museum that gives you a taste of what country life was really like in turn-of-the-century Ireland. Next, drive through the scenic Burren area, stopping to view the picturesque Cliffs of Moher, sheer sea cliffs with incredible views of the north Atlantic. Arrive in the Galway area by late afternoon. (B, D)
The Connacht Hotel or similar
Today, we travel through the rugged landscape of the Connemara region. We’ll visit the palatial Kylemore Abbey, nestled at the base of Druchruach Mountain. Our drive continues through Westport into the Sligo area by late afternoon. (B, D)
Sligo Park Hotel or similar
This morning, enjoy a short visit to Belleek Pottery, a porcelain company founded in 1884, for a lesson on its history—with time to buy souvenirs in their store. Next, visit the Ulster American Folk Park, a living history settlement, and learn about 300 years of Irish emigration to America. Continue to Belfast, your home for the next two nights. (B)
Europa Hotel Belfast or similar
Today, we’ll enjoy an excursion along coastal roads, and take in the seaside cliffs and Atlantic Ocean. We’ll visit the Glenarm Walled Gardens, one of the oldest walled gardens in Ireland. Enjoy free time for lunch on your own at the Glenarm Gardens and Estate. After Glenarm Walled Gardens, you will spend time exploring the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage site with rock formations that tower up to 40 feet in the air. The stacks are said to be 50 million years old, and according to myth, were part of a road built by the giant Finn MacCool. (B)
Europa Hotel Belfast or similar
Add-On: Musical Tour of Belfast and Dinner
This morning we visit Titanic Belfast, the $150 million Titanic visitor experience in the city where the unsinkable ship was built. You will see fullscale reconstructions and learn about the Titanic’s conception through to her infamous maiden voyage and tragic end in 1912. The journey continues to the discovery of the wreck, and into the present day with a live undersea exploration center. We will then enjoy a panoramic motor coach tour of Belfast, taking in the impressive Parliament buildings at Stormont, Belfast City Hall, and the murals of the Falls Road. In the afternoon, we drive south to Dublin for our final evening in Ireland, and a farewell dinner at the hotel. (B, D)
Clayton Hotel Leopardstown or similar
Note: This tour is not suitable for those who have difficulty walking. The included sightseeing and optional tours will involve walking and standing, steps, stairs and uneven ground at ancient sites and other locations. Accommodations used throughout this tour are commonly situated in rural, scenic areas and local amenities may be limited.
Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Hotels may differ depending on date. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tour vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights. Please ask your Travel Consultant for more information.
YMT Vacations itineraries may contain suggestions for activities for your leisure time; these suggestions do not constitute a recommendation nor an endorsement of any specific service provider and the decision to participate in any such activities should be made independently.
Per person, double occupancy, excludes roundtrip airfare. Passport required.
See Dates & Prices
Make your vacation extra special by adding optional excursions to your tour. It’s a great opportunity to enhance your trip, these experiences slot seamlessly into your package, and we’ll take care of all the logistics for you. Remember that adding an optional experience might increase the overall activity level of the tour, so always keep that in mind when planning your trip.
Join us on a magnificent musical journey through the center of Belfast! With a dancer and two professional musicians as guides, walk through the cobbled alleyways of Belfast’s historical Cathedral Quarter. Enjoy the lively atmosphere of one of Belfast’s friendliest neighborhoods and stop at a few traditional pubs in historic buildings. At the last venue on this memorable tour, enjoy a delicious 3-course dinner at the 18th century McHugh’s Bar.
Inclusions
Duration: Approx. 3 hours (evening)
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $109 USD
No trip to Ireland is complete without experiencing a spectacular Irish music and dance performance! Enjoy Taylors Irish Cabaret at Taylors Three Rock, a traditional venue dating back to the 16th century with the largest thatched roof in Ireland. The Taylors Irish Cabaret, the oldest running and most popular Irish show, features Ireland’s legendary comedian Noel V Ginnity, Irish Pipers, Irish Sopranos and a full troupe of Irish dancers.
Inclusions
Duration: Approx. 4 hours (evening)
Activity Level: Easy
Price: $109 USD
Enjoy a guided walking tour of the historic Waterford city center, known as the Viking Triangle, followed by a traditional meal at a local pub. Waterford is home to the country’s oldest civic building, Reginald’s Tower, which has been used as a mint, prison and military store since it was built at the beginning of the 13th century. Your guide will explain the medieval history of the city while walking you by National Monuments and Cathedrals. Your tour will end at a centrally located Irish pub, known for its history and traditional Irish food.
Inclusions
Duration: Approx. 2.5-3 hours (evening)
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $59 USD
Discover what life was like on board The Queen’s floating Royal residence, The Royal Yacht Britannia. Explore this famous ship that was home to The Queen and the Royal Family for over 40 years and that sailed 1 million miles around the world. Named UK’s no. 1 attraction in the 2014 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards, the ship has consistently been judged Scotland’s best visitor attraction by the National Tourism Agency, Visit Scotland. See the fabulous state apartments and royal bedrooms, the Sun Lounge, and much more, and learn how the ship’s crew of over 200 sailors operated behind the scenes. After your self-guided audio tour, transfer to The Doric, Edinburgh’s oldest gastro pub, for a traditional Scottish dinner.
Inclusions
Note: Admission not available for some departures
Duration: Approx. 8 Hours
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $109 USD
Learn all about bagpipes, Scotland’s most legendary musical instrument! You’ll be welcomed to the National Piping Centre by a master piper clad in a traditional tartan kilt, and given a tour of the fascinating museum. Learn about the long history of bagpipes, how they spread throughout Europe and reached the British Isles before the 14th century, when they were first mentioned by Geoffrey Chaucer in the Canterbury Tales. The bagpipes served many purposes; as instruments of war inspiring historic Highlanders into battle, and in the Scottish Lowlands as part of weddings and celebrations. Your tour includes a full bagpipe demonstration, and you can even try your hand at playing one! Next, head next door to the adjoining Piper’s Tryst Restaurant for a delicious 3-course meal made with beautiful local ingredients. They call their food “true Scottish fayre with a twist.” We just call it delicious!
Inclusions
Note: Admission not available for some departures
Duration: Approx. 3.5 Hours (Afternoon)
Activity Level: Easy/Moderate
Price: $79 USD
Take a guided tour of the Scottish Kiltmaker Visitor Centre and enjoy a fascinating insight into the history, tradition and culture of the kilt. Set within a family-run kiltmaking workshop, the Centre creates a colorful, authentic and memorable experience, brought to life with audio-visual, costume, and tartan displays in all their brilliance. During your visit, you’ll also stop at the gift shop, where you can browse the collection of high quality Kilts, Highland Dress accessories, Tartans, Tweeds, Textiles, Clan items, jewelry and much more, all made in the workshop. Then, continue to a local, independently owned restaurant in the heart of Inverness for a traditional Scottish meal.
Inclusions
Note: The Centre is not wheelchair accessible and requires walking about 20 stairs to reach the exhibition floor.
Duration: Approx. 3.5 Hours (Evening)
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $79 USD
Per person, double occupancy, excludes roundtrip airfare
Experience the real Ireland—where myths, history, and the sea collide. The Best of Ireland tour takes you around the entire “Emerald Isle,” providing local travel experiences and the best sights in Ireland.
Per person, double occupancy, excludes roundtrip airfare
Get your kicks on a tour of the Mother Road, historic Route 66. America’s most famous road connected the country using miles of concrete, unique attractions, and an identity built on the ideals of freedom.
Per person, double occupancy, excludes roundtrip airfare
Experience a wild, otherworldly country filled with history, mystery, and magic—where craggy mountains stand sentry over misty moors, and grand castles overlook murky lochs.
