Castles & Classics - The luxury tour of Ireland

Cong, Killarney, Dingle

EI
54 reviews
Duration: 7 days
Group size: 1 - 16
Castles & Classics - The luxury tour of Ireland
Cong, Killarney, Dingle

54 reviews

Duration: 7 days
Group size: 1 - 16

About this trip

THE DELUXE SMALL-GROUP TOUR OF IRELAND 

You’ll never forget checking into a world famous Irish Castle hotel, a 12th century fortress, and enjoy sleeping in its luxurious bedrooms. 

This tour features all the fantastic activities and experiences Essential Ireland Tours are famous for, but the extra magic is the luxury accommodation and the small group size (8 - 16 tour guests only).

You’ll have the travel experience of a lifetime.


Great memories, fun experiences, a luxury Castle stay in Ashford Castle, the most famous of all Irish Castles and one of the worlds finest hotels..

This is an epic VIP tour of Ireland.


note: This tour itinerary may occasionally need to operate in reverse direction or certain days may be swopped if logistically required. In this eventuality, the activities, sights or locations visited on the tour will not be affected. 

What’s included

  • Hotel
    5 Star Castles, Classic hotels and luxury Guesthouses
  • All activities
    no hidden extras or "optional" activities
  • All breakfasts
    Hearty breakfasts each morning (including breakfast in the magical King George V dining room experience at Ashford Castle)
  • Prosecco toast
    A prosecco toast at an epic beauty spot on the Dingle peninsula
  • 1 Group dinner
    Group meal in Dingle with a glass of wine included

What’s not included

  • Lunches and dinners
    You are free each evening to enjoy
  • Tips
    Tips are not expected but always appreciated, tour-guests often like to give a gratuity to their Guide, the amount is entirely at your own discretion

Available Packages

Per person sharing double/twin bedroom
Deposit: €500
Available until 2 days before departure
€3,299
Deposit: €500
solo-traveller / single-supplement
Deposit: €500
Available until 2 days before departure

solo/single traveller with a big bedroom all to your self

€3,799
Deposit: €500


Itinerary

Day 1
Dublin to Ashford Castle

[9am] Depart central Dublin. Pick up in one central location City’s south-side (The Harding Hotel, just in front of Christchurch Cathedral). We’ll enjoy some fun and informative commentary on Dublin’s attractions to the beautiful Irish countryside.

[10.30] Stop outside Dublin for a welcome-coffee! You’ll have an itinerary Q&A session with Stephen McPhilemy, our Co-Founder and Chief Tour-Guide.
Then onward to the idyllic village of Cong, one of Ireland's most beautiful spots and scene of the Hollywood classic 'The Quiet Man'

Late Afternoon:  Enjoy free time  in charming Cong.. 

[3pm approx]  Checkin to Ashford Castle, the worlds most beautiful and luxurious Castle Hotel. The warm welcome from the staff is an experience in itself.

Explore the exquisite gardens, perhaps ride some of the Castle's horses through the woods, fish on Lough Corrib for salmon or pike or relax in the award-winning spa.

[6pm] Gather in the Prince of Wales Bar where everyone can enjoy each others company and have a good chat with other tour-guests

You're free for dinner in the George V dinging room (dinner jackets compulsory for Gentlemen), the Castle Dungeon ( no dress code) or the charming cottage restaurant...
Browse the dining options at this link, Stephen's tip: be sure to pre-book directly with the Castle

Your Organizer


EI
Essential Ireland Tours & Travel Ltd.
54 reviews
Famous for our small-group, VIP-style, Ireland Tours (8-16 guests) 🇮🇪 Created by award-winning Irish Tour-guide Steve McPhilemy (Rick Steves' right-hand man in Ireland for over 20 years) & Irish-American travel-enthusiast Patrick Wade to provide wonderful, fun & value-for-money Irish experiences for our friends, family and international guests.

Reviews

We highly recommend the Wild Atlantic Way tour. Our guide Chris did a fantastic job of showing us the beauty of Ireland at both the major tourist sites but also many small unique local experiences. His knowledge of Irish history is unmatched. The tour provided the perfect mix of scheduled versus free time. Our stay at Milltown House which included an amazing falconry lesson truly felt like we were locals on holiday at our own Irish country house. Meeting the resident Irish Wolfhound Oisin was a bonus! Do not hesitate to book with Essential Ireland Tours.
By Gina A for Wild Atlantic Way 7 days (Galway, Killarney & Dingle) on Jun 12, 2025
This trip was fun, exciting, and full of adventure! The guides were amazing!! This was our favorite trip to Ireland!
By DEE T for Wild Atlantic Way 7 days (Galway, Killarney & Dingle) on May 25, 2025
We covered a lot of beautiful ground with delightful stories along the way by our guide Sam. The accommodations were first class and very conveniently located. Breakfast was always delicious. There were 12 of us on our van and everyone took turns sitting near the front but really all the seats were good. Very comfortable. With our free day, 5 of us went in the Sea Safari in Dingle. I'd highly recommend that too. We used the company that was on the Main Street and booked it when we were there. The go out every 3 hours and provide all the gear for warmth. A few people ate at Doyle's but reservations were required. So plan ahead for that. I guess it's well worth it. All the beef is grass fed I think and the fish is as fresh as it gets. We never had a bad meal. We got back to Dublin in time for the Celtic Nights dinner and show. $55 for a 3 course meal, music and a dancing show. FYI: The Free Now app works best for all Uber/Taxi service.
By Lisa M for Wild Atlantic Way 7 days (Galway, Killarney & Dingle) on May 20, 2025
Wonderful, interesting and loads of fun! Milltown House in Dingle and the falconry event were great. Our tour guide & driver Sam was very knowledgeable about all the areas we passed through. He had some great stories about the history of Ireland. Enjoyed the quick tour that Chris gave us in Galway and Dingle. Suggest some music on the bus when tour guide not talking. Our small group became good friends and we will have many fun times to remember on this trip. Thanks for ordering the great weather!!
By susan h for Wild Atlantic Way 7 days (Galway, Killarney & Dingle) on May 19, 2025
Our trip was an amazing experience! Stephen and Chris were wonderful hosts, the sites were breathtaking, and the people, pubs and food were incredible. Milltown House was beautiful, and we were truly treated like family. This is the best way to experience Ireland.
By Stephen T for Wild Atlantic Way 7 days (Galway, Killarney & Dingle) on May 19, 2025
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