Ireland Vacation Package | Ireland Coach Tours | Ireland Driving Tours

Three amazing ways to experience Ireland

Private Guided Tours

Sit back and enjoy the ride as your personal guide shows you all the very best of Ireland

Super knowledgeable guides
Hear the story and the history
Your guide does the driving

See Private Guided Tours

Self Drive Tours

Explore Ireland at your pace with our flexible driving and accommodation options.

Freedom to travel at your pace
See the secret parts of Ireland
All accommodation pre-booked

See Self Drive Tours

Coach Tours

Enjoy Ireland's most famous sites as you travel with other explorers on a luxury coach

See Ireland's famous sites
Meet people and make friends
Expert drivers. Luxury Coaches

See Coach Tours

Want something tailor made? No problem. Begin your journey here... Build a Custom Tour

Most travellers that visit Ireland
never see the real Ireland

"In the beginning: My brother, me, and our trusty camper"

Exploring Ireland is on a mission to change that...

15 years ago my brother and I started a small business tailor-making tours for travellers that wanted an authentic experience of Ireland.

The tours we created encapsulated the heartbeat of Ireland, completely different to the tourist-trail package tours most travellers are forced to settle for.

We took our guests off the tourist-trail to experience the genuine warmth of Irish people, to drink in pubs Irish people

"We now have 20 staff and have created custom tours for over 101,000 visitors to Ireland"

really go to, to share in the craic of spontaneous Irish music, and discover just how amazing genuine Irish food is. If we could find it, we even took our guests right back to their roots in their ancestral village.

Our customers loved it - and the simple fact that seemed to make the difference was this...

Because we've grown up in Ireland, we know it from top to bottom, which means we can show people hidden beauty that other visitors rarely see. US based travel agents that have never been to Ireland just can't do that, no matter how hard they try.

Our formula has been so well received, at last count we've organized tours for over 101,000 visitors, who have traveled 12 million miles under our care and paid nearly 2 million visits to sites that few other travel companies include on their itineraries.

Why booking your travel with us is safer, and often less expensive...

Important travel tip: Before you book your travel through a US based travel agent, consider these two important facts:

1) Local travel agents aren't necessarily less expensive. Travel agents based in the US often use us or a company like ours to organize your accommodation, and then put a commission on top. That means you get an inferior planning service and itinerary (because they typically don't have a deep personal knowledge of Ireland), for a needlessly inflated price.

But more important than that is...

2) Will you get help when you need it, where you need it? In the event you need some help while you're in Ireland, you'll have to wait for your US travel agent to open, which, due to the timezone difference, might take a while. When you do get through, the help you'll get is still limited by the fact that they are several thousand miles away.

On the other hand, if you booked through us, wherever you are in Ireland we are here to assist you.

As Irish tour operators it's not compulsory for us to be members of the American Society of Travel Agents, but we volunteered because we care about your peace of mind. In 14 years, we haven't had a single complaint registered. Of course we aren't perfect, but we certainly strive to be, and we are proud we can boast an unblemished ASTA record.

You can rest assured that whatever happens, your money and your bookings are insured. We are bonded by the Irish Tour Operators Association (ITOA) which means that whatever the circumstance and wherever your traveling from in the world, your bookings will be honoured.

Praise for Exploring Ireland

“Great job with the itinerary”

Dear Robin and the team at Exploring Ireland,

I have been meaning to send a quick note to let you know how much we enjoyed the trip. Naturally, it wasn't enough time to do everything that we wanted but that's often the case when we travel. Great job with the itinerary.

Ireland was all we expected. The weather did not always cooperate on some of our scenic rides but oddly the most fun we had was a very wet buggy ride at the Muckross House with a driver named Garrett(?).

All accomodations were good although Nellie Dee's in Doolin was a bit cramped for a triple. The proprieters were all very gracious and helpful and in every case directed us to very good meals.

Love the Galway coast, Doolin and Connemara - exceptionally beautiful areas of Ireland. We have some friends who plan to visit Ireland new year, so we'll put them in touch with you.

Smithwick's is our new favorite brew!

Thank you for all your help,
Bruce and Pam
“Shades of green, the beautiful landscape, the pastures with blooming hedges...”

Dear Exploring Ireland,

Marilou and I had a wonderful time. The Irish are the friendliest and most helpful people ever. Outside of Dublin, the roads are better marked and easier to drive. Driving on the left did not take long to adjust to nor did the roundabouts.

The accommodations were wonderful. The owners were friendly and helpful with suggestions for sightseeing and dining. The Irish breakfasts are also very filling and great.

We saw many of Ireland's main attractions such as Kilkenny Castle, Blarney Castle, the Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, and Connemara. My favorite attraction was Kylemore Abbey. As I entered the small Gothic cathedral on the property there was a choir from Hamburg (Neils-Stensen choir) practicing for a concert to be held that evening. They were only practicing a few bars of each song. Their voices reverberating off the marble walls was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard. It brought tears to my eyes and that's what made it so memorable.

The first half of the trip we got the expected weather -- cool, gray and sometimes drizzly. However, the last half of the trip we had unexpected hot and sunny weather. In Galway it was the first hot weekend of the year and everyone was at the beach and by the time we drove into Salthill most were no longer fair but very, very red!

What made Ireland so special for me? Certainly all the shades of green, the beautiful landscape, the pastures with blooming hedges with cows and sheep contribute. But to me it was the people, so friendly and willing to help, their laughter, and the culture.

I want to thank you Ciara and Exploring Ireland for helping me plan a memorable trip. If I could change one thing it would have been having more time to spend.

PS The first picture is me in the St. Patrick's Cathedral garden & park and the second is with my last Guiness in the Brazen Head pub in Dublin.
Melodie Ballew
“Thank you and Exploring Ireland for the fantastic tour”

To all at Exploring Ireland,

I want to thank you and Exploring Ireland for the fantastic tour we've recently finished! All of us were so impressed with the accommodations and service. No one can beat the Irish for hospitality! The food was fabulous.... love that Irish brown bread.

Our bus was spacious and comfortable and our driver/tour director, Hal Craven, really made the trip for us. We could not have wanted for anyone better. He was so knowledgeable, full of wit and fun and a master at managing to keep 11 independent middle aged women happily on time (a real feat) despite those hasty shopping excursions!

We had the joy of finding two 4th cousins at Mass in Killaloe, Kilkenny, the townland of the ancestor of five of us. Considering that Daniel Meagher had left there in 1818, that was really special!

Thank you for suggesting Doolin. We enjoyed great company and music there in Fitzgerald's.
The various venues were very interesting... and I even had my first half pint of Guinness and enjoyed it!

We all hated to leave! If there is any customer survey or testimonial I could contribute to assist your promotions, just let me know. I'm sorry that our tour didn't go by your offices in order to thank you in person.

Regards and God Bless

P.S. Sending along a picture of some of us on a wet, windy day near Doolin ( I think). I'm on the far left.
Kay Ann Meagher, Halifax, NS, Canada
See more Exploring Ireland Testimonials