Exclusive and enchanting, this handcrafted tour explores the finest highlights of two Celtic nations. Private and flexible, it mixes urban and rural highlights, starting with several nights in an Irish castle. Discover Dublin, explore Edinburgh, then bask in the beauty of rural Scotland. Think fjords, abbeys, coastlines, royal legacies, famous distilleries, taking a stroll past karsts and glens. This is a relaxed tour tailored for senior travelers. Visit the Ireland...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
County Mayo – The Cliffs of Moher Welcome You to Ireland
Land in Shannon and the journey to County Mayo is sublime, passing through two of Ireland’s most famous landscapes. Yes, you’re probably tired from the flight, but the Cliffs of Moher and Burren are en route to the castle. So you can take it slow and be energized by such remarkable lands. Cliffs rise hundreds of feet above Atlantic Ocean waves, a place of haunting beauty and natural power. A rocky karst landscape stretches out towards the horizon, forts, and tombs punctuating the work of ancient volcanoes. The guide will take it easy, and the pace is really up to you; choose for some fresh sea air and a walk along the cliffs or just park at the viewpoint before continuing the journey to your first night in an Irish Castle.
What's Included:
Day 2
County Mayo – Full Day in Connemara National Park
Day 3
County Mayo – Leisurely Day Around the Castle
Day 4
Dublin – Megalithic Tombs and Irish Storytellers
Day 5
Dublin – Literary History of Dublin Private Tour
Day 6
Dublin – Discovering County Wicklow Including Powerscourt
Day 7
Edinburgh – Relaxing Around the Royal Mile
Day 8
Edinburgh – Exploring the Best of the Scottish Capital
Day 9
Edinburgh – Flexible Day of Private Touring
Day 10
Perthshire – Immersed in Rural Scotland
Day 11
Perthshire – Lochs, Distilleries, and National Parks
Day 12
Perthshire – Relaxed Day Around the Luxury Resort
Day 13
Edinburgh – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Settle into an Irish castle for several nights in rural Ireland, where you’re immersed in culture, cuisine, and coastlines
- Multiple nights in Dublin allows for time to discover the legendary literary history, along with all post-medieval highlights in and around the city
- Relax into the experience in Scotland’s stunning capital, Edinburgh full of royal pleasures and day-trip options
- Escape into rural Scotland away from the world yet next door to lochs, glens, golf courses, distilleries and national parks
- Ireland and Scotland are famous for the landscapes: compare the Cliffs of Moher and Ireland’s Atlantic coastline with a journey across the Scottish Highlands
- Castles stud the scenery in both countries; you’ll discover the best of the old and new 19th-century styles that exist, including Stirling and Ashford castles
- The history goes back many millennia, as symbolized by a trip to the megalithic tombs of Newgrange
- Culture is part of the everyday, found through Irish storytellers, local dancing, traditional music and more
- These are countries that invite you to be outdoors, and there are many ways to explore based on your interests, starting with leisurely walks in destinations like Connemara
Detailed Description
It would take many months to see all of Ireland and Scotland. These aren’t countries to rush around, nor nations for ticking off sights. With so much culture and natural beauty, Ireland and Scotland are best discovered at a relaxed pace. This handcrafted tour for seniors combines four iconic destinations for the classic experience. You piece together the slices of a quadrant, gaining an inspiring and immersive impression of two Celtic countries. All accommodation is in five-star properties, including an Irish Castle and a world-famous golf resort. Every tour is private, and the itinerary has been designed for flexibility; you can do more or see more, but you can also do very little at all.
Ireland’s rugged landscapes dominate county Clare. Mountains, moors and bogs surround your castle accommodation with many green hues stretching out. But you only need to walk over a ridge and the coastline appears, limestone cliffs hanging above crashing Atlantic waves, such as at the Cliffs of Moher and eerie Burren. Connemara National Park is another expressive piece of nature you’ll discover around County Clare. These first days in rural Ireland will also connect you to local culture and cuisine found best in small traditional villages along the coast.
Stop at the megalithic tombs of Newgrange on route to Dublin, a city that you may know from the works of James Joyce or Oscar Wilde. If that’s the Dublin you know, then the city tour can follow in literary footsteps. If not, then there are many other ways the guide can tailor your city experience, taking in icons like Trinity College and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, famous stories like the Old Jameson Distillery and Guinness Storehouse, plus some of the storytelling and lesser-known sides to the Irish capital. You’ll get a great sense of urban Ireland but also have time for a day trip to County Wicklow, where Powerscourt and Glendalough are located.
Fly to Edinburgh and spend time in the Scottish capital. Like every stop on this vacation, location makes all the difference when it comes to your hotel. In Edinburgh, it’s a mostly pedestrianized area, so you can walk to restaurants and attractions that are in a very close proximity. Spend a few days in the city and explore what is nearby, such as the art scene of Glasgow, The Da Vinci Code in Rosslyn Chapel, and whisky distilleries.
You take a private journey onto the hills and into rural Scotland visiting Stirling Castle on route to Perthshire, where you settle into one of the country’s most recognizable country estates. From here, you can explore different lochs, the term for lakes, and national parks, visit old-world towns and villages, satisfy yourself with activities around the resort, and head further north to enjoy the fabulous Highland scenery. Like all of the four stops, the guide will customize each day. This could be a short trip to a monument you’re desperate to see, then a transfer to a particular restaurant or village; there are always options on a relaxed private tour, especially with such well-located accommodation.
Zicasso works closely with the top Ireland and Scotland travel companies to ensure that you have a fully customized trip of a lifetime.
Starting Price
$7,400 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.87 stars based on 708 reviews.
There was great planning by Zicasso's travel company, with just the right amount of activity, without exhausting us. And great accommodations.
Reviewed By Kenneth (.
Zicasso's travel agency was easy to work with and helped customize our plans to meet the needs of our family.
Reviewed By Kevin M.
My wife and I had a great experience with Zicasso's travel specialist (who coordinated the initial logistics) and especially with our tour guide (who was an 11/10 and exceeded our expectations on our tour). They customized our trip before we arrived and then our guide was responsive to "on-the-fly" changes once we were in-country. I hope I can refer more people to them.
Reviewed By Patrick M.
Zicasso's travel company was professional, thorough, and very attentive to my needs and interests. It was also clear the guides and drivers partnering with the agency in the UK had great respect for the travel company.
Reviewed By Shelly P.
Zicasso's trip planner worked with my family for the better part of a year planning our big family trip. She provided exceptional service and planned every detail of our trip. We have a large family, with lots of moving parts. There were many changes in the itinerary along the way and she rolled with all the many changes. She was always polite, courteous, and graceful in her many interactions with our family.
She listened carefully during our initial conversations to help us plan the best trip possible. Being a large family, with multiple generations, she really created the best possible experience, taking in everyone's wishes. Working with her was very relieving, knowing she was taking care of all the details.
Our family's trip took us from the States to Ireland, Scotland, and England. We traveled on planes, trains, ferry, and drove a car. Our trip planner arranged every detail meticulously. We stayed in lovely, quaint, boutique hotels, ate the most wonderful foods, saw the amazing sights, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites across all three countries. From the Cliffs of Moher to the Culloden Moor Memorial to Stonehenge to castles grand and desolate; from beautiful cathedrals to old abbey ruins; from little country pubs to Michelin-starred restaurants; and even spending a couple days in an actual 17th-century castle, every minute was amazing! Truly amazing!
Reviewed By Leah S.
We really loved our trip to Ireland! Our Zicasso travel agent was there to meet us right at the airport and really took care of us the whole trip. We could not have asked for a better driver/travel guide. We loved the incredible scenery, the wonderful people throughout our trip, the history, and the music in the pubs at night! Ireland is really a magical place and we had a great time on our visit. Thank you!
Reviewed By Kristen K.
