Fuel Your Travel Dreams: Travel Advice Blog

This Ireland and Scotland vacation hits the highlights in both countries. Begin your tour in vibrant Dublin, enjoy an insider’s view of Guinness, and have a blast with a musical pub crawl filled with storytelling and good humor. Pick up your rental car, and head to medieval Kilkenny.  Then enjoy County Kerry and Ireland’s lush forests and scenic lake country.

Explore Scotland’s ancient capital, Edinburgh, her mysterious castle, and the Royal Mile.  Journey deep into the heart of the Scottish Highlands, stop at Cairngorns National Park and keep an eye out for majestic red deer, and fall in love with the Victorian town of Pitlochry.  Inverness is the cultural heart of the Highlands, and Stirling has been its historic soul for 2,000 years.  This Scotland and Ireland dream trip is the stuff memories are made of. 

PLAN AND BOOK

Included Unique Activities

  • Meet & Greet Private Transfer on Arrival in Dublin
  • Enjoy a Tour & Pint at the Guinness Storehouse
  • Irish Dinner & Dance Show
  • Entrance to Kilkenny Castle
  • Entrance to Stirling Castle
  • Secrets of the Royal Mile & Edinburgh Castle Tour
Meet & Greet Private Airport Transfer - Dublin

Meet & Greet Private Airport Transfer - Dublin

Guinness Storehouse Tour

Guinness Storehouse Tour

Kilkenny Castle Admission

Kilkenny Castle Admission

Merry Ploughboy Show

Merry Ploughboy Show

Secrets of the Royal Mile & Edinburgh Castle

Secrets of the Royal Mile & Edinburgh Castle

Meet & Greet Private Airport Transfer - Edinburgh

Meet & Greet Private Airport Transfer - Edinburgh

Stirling Castle Admission

Stirling Castle Admission

Accommodations

2 Nights

Fashionable 4-Star Hotel

1 Night

4-Star Classic Hotel

2 Nights

Preferred Luxury Hotel

1 Night

Elegant Castle Hotel

2 Nights

Exclusive Peaceful Hotel

2 Nights

4-Star Landmark Luxury

2 Nights

Preferred Warm Luxury B & B

Transportation and Guides

  • Rental Cars in both Ireland & Scotland
  • Meet & Greet Airport Transfers

Meals Included

  • 12 Full Irish & Scottish Breakfasts 
  • Merry Ploughboy Dinner Show

Points of Interest

  • Marvel at 6th Century Glendalough & Medieval Kilkenny
  • Explore Stunning Scenery in County Kerry
  • The Rock of Cashel & Bunratty Castle
  • Explore The Breathtaking Scottish Highlands
  • Visit Scenic Loch Lomond & Mysterious Loch Ness
  • Learn about Centuries of War, Turmoil & Intrigue in Stirling
     

Saint Patrick's Cathedral, County Dublin

Christ Church Cathedral, County Dublin

Trinity College, County Dublin

Guinness Storehouse, County Dublin

Temple Bar, County Dublin

Dublin Museums, County Dublin

Old Jameson Distillery, County Dublin

Guinness Open Gate Brewery, Dublin, County Dublin

2025 LOW SEASON

Available Dates

Nov, Dec

From $4,298 per person

2025 MID SEASON

Available Dates

Sep, Oct

From $5,290 per person

2025 HIGH SEASON

Available Dates

Jul, Aug

From $5,621 per person

2026 LOW SEASON

Available Dates

Jan, Feb, Mar

From $4,606 per person

2026 MID SEASON

Available Dates

Apr, May, Nov, Dec

From $4,728 per person

2026 HIGH SEASON

Available Dates

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

From $5,819 per person

Your Price Includes

ACCOMMODATION

  • 9 Nights 4 and 5 Star Hotels
  • 2 Nights Luxury Guesthouse
  • 1 Night Castle Stay

TRANSPORTATION

  • Automatic Rental Car in Ireland & Scotland
  • Meet & Greet Private Airport Transfers

DINING OPTIONS INCLUDED

  • 12 Full Irish & Scottish Breakfasts 
  • Merry Ploughboy Dinner & Dance Show

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

  • Enjoy a Tour & Pint at the Guinness Storehouse
  • Irish Dinner & Dance Show
  • Entrance to Kilkenny Castle
  • Entrance to Stirling Castle
  • Secrets of the Royal Mile & Edinburgh Castle

POINTS OF INTEREST

  • Marvel at 6th Century Glendalough & Medieval Kilkenny
  • Explore Stunning Scenery in County Kerry
  • The Rock of Cashel & Bunratty Castle
  • Explore The Breathtaking Scottish Highlands
  • Visit Scenic Loch Lomond & Mysterious Loch Ness
  • Learn about Centuries of War, Turmoil & Intrigue in Stirling
Prices Based On
  • All Taxes & Fees Included
  • Prices are Per Person based on 2 people traveling together and sharing a room.
  • Traveling Alone? No Problem. Just Ask Us for a Single Supplement Price.

"My clients were thrilled!"

Selma W.

Ireland

Lauren handled the booking for my clients. And they were thrilled ! Custom itinerary with the client's wishes and their budget.

"The trip was outstanding in every possible way"

Penny R.

Delaware

This was our first trip to Ireland to celebrate a milestone in our family. We had our sons (age 18 and 21) with us. The trip was outstanding in every possible way. It was the best mix of the big tourist attractions and off-the-beaten-path stops. It was the best mix of the cities and the remote country-sides. And I attribute so much of this perfect balance to the expertise of our tour guide, Joan. She was warm, funny, talented, and so knowledgeable. She was responsive to our interests and connected with each member of our tour group in individual ways. This trip was everything that we could have hoped for from beautiful hotels to fantastic memories throughout Ireland. I highly recommend that 8-night Enchanted Ireland tour - especially if Joan is your guide.

"Our Enchanted Ireland Guided Tour was fantastic!"

Peter G.

WI

My wife and I went on the "Enchanted Ireland" tour in June 2025. It was absolutely fantastic in every way! The hotels were first rate - each unique, most of them historic, with great rooms and bathrooms (including showers Americans will appreciate), and truly excellent, exceptional food. Tremendous value for the money compared to other small group tours we have taken. Itinerary was wonderful -- most days were just the right amount of included activities. Went to the iconic places (e.g., Blarney castle, Ring of Kerry) but also stopped at lesser known but really interesting sites along the way.


Most of all we had a truly awesome tour guide, Joan. She's the best! The entire tour group decided she needed a better biography than listed on the website. Here's a quote from what we wrote: "Storyteller, muse, hostess, chanteuse, chef, traveler, believer in magic, gentle shepherd, and connector of people, Joan embodies Ireland’s soul. She knows every inch of the isle and seemingly half its inhabitants. Joan will break into haunting and beautiful Irish songs, introduce you to the fairy world, give you ample (clean) bathroom breaks, and book you tickets to the best local shows. She’ll show you the iconic sights while sprinkling in enchanting places where the locals marvel to see a tour bus. With a ready laugh and good humor, Joan weaves together myth, history, and captivating tales of an Irish upbringing. With Joan as your guide, you won’t just see the sights but feel connected to Ireland’s culture. Being on her tour is like finding a four-leaf clover: a rare bit of exceptional good fortune."


Book this tour! We had a GREAT time. Authentic Vacations does it right and if you can get Joan as your guide it puts the whole experience at another level of excellence, fun, and fellowship.

"Father & daughter Private driver trip to Ireland"

Patricia L.

California

My client said there was absolutely nothing he would have changed on the trip. Seamus was their driver and he became family. They all had tears in their eyes when the tour was over. He stopped at unique off-the-beaten-path places that they would have never known about on their own. The hotels were all perfect in great locations and was especially wowed by their Dromoland Castle stay. He was so overjoyed and thankful and said it would be a vacation with his daughter that he would never forget.


Thank you to Jennifer, at Authentic Vacations, who collaborated with me to bring this incredible trip to my clients and they will never forget the experience.

"The experience was fantastic from start to finish"

Theresa D.

Maryland

I recently worked with Authentic Vacations to plan a trip to Italy for my clients, and the experience was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. My clients had an amazing time—the itinerary was thoughtfully crafted, the accommodations were wonderful, and everything went smoothly during their travels.


From a travel advisor’s perspective, I would absolutely use Authentic Vacations again in a heartbeat. They were incredibly responsive to all of my questions and emails, and I received my clients’ itinerary and travel documents quickly and efficiently. Having a partner like this makes such a difference in the planning process—reliable, organized, and easy to work with.


If you’re looking for a partner who can deliver a seamless, memorable experience for your clients, I highly recommend Authentic Vacations.

"Authentic Vacations is a pleasure to work with!"

Amber W.

Texas

Amber is always a pleasure to work with! She is knowledgeable, responsive, and always willing to go the extra mile!

"Exceptional Client Experiences in UK"

Niki P.

Dallas

Authentic Vacations has been a trusted partner with my client's vacations in Scotland, England, and Ireland with seamless experiences of a lifetime at a good value. Lauren is truly a pleasure to work with and able to make it exceptional with every client and every budget, looking forward to many more trips ahead together!

"Belated Honeymoon & Graduation Trip"

Kimberlyn G.

TX

Our recent trip to Ireland and Scotland was truly unforgettable. We were incredibly impressed with the exceptional service provided by our travel agent, Joleen. She took the time to carefully understand our interests—balancing iconic tourist attractions with more immersive experiences in the Irish and Scottish countryside—and curated a customized itinerary that perfectly matched both our preferences and budget.

When a minor issue arose during the trip, the UK-based support team responded promptly and resolved it efficiently, ensuring our travel experience remained smooth and enjoyable. We fell in love with Ireland and look forward to someday returning with our children to share the experience.

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5. Print Your Travel Documents & Go!

Once your vacation has been paid in full, you will be able to print your travel documents directly from your online account. You’re ready to embark on your ideal, authentic vacation!!

Questions?

If you would prefer to discuss your perfect vacation on the phone, we would be delighted to hear from you! Our Destination Experts are standing-by and looking forward to speaking with you at any time during our business hours listed below. We also operate a very responsive and efficient Live Chat service on our website…instant gratification awaits!

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With offices in Scottsdale, San Francisco, London, Dublin, Copenhagen and Edinburgh, we can offer you unrivaled support while you are abroad. We truly believe all our clients deserve an extraordinary, authentic experience!