Belfast, Derry and Donegal
Your guided group holiday to Belfast, Derry & Donegal
Let’s see more of Ulster and rediscover our love for the island of Ireland. Before reaching Belfast, we’ll stop in the world-renowned Mount Stewart House and Gardens in County Down. On our coach tour of Belfast, we’ll see the city centre’s top sights, including the Albert Memorial Clock Tower, Opera House, City Hall and The Crown Bar. On our Antrim Coast day trip we’ll see Northern Ireland’s most iconic natural landmark, the Giants Causeway. Enroute to Donegal, we’ll visit the city known as Derry-Londonderry, walk along its famous city wall and learn more about its history. From our base in Letterkenny, we’ll see the best of Donegal, such as the Rathmullan and Sheephaven Bay on the Wild Atlantic Way. We’ll also enjoy a guided tour of Glenveagh Castle and explore its gardens and national park. So join us on this guided Irish holiday and discover the highlights of Ulster.
Trip Itinerary
Activity Level: Moderate
Day
Travel to Belfast
Visit Mount Stewart House and Gardens
Let’s see more of this beautiful island and discover Northern Ireland and Donegal! Travel to Dublin independently. This morning, meet with our expert guide in Dublin city centre, for our four-night holiday to Belfast, Derry and Donegal.
Details of pick up point in Dublin and final timing will be advised closer to departure date. Estimated start time is 09:30am.
Travelling to Belfast by coach, we will stop in Newtownards and visit the magnificent Mount Stewart House and Gardens! Let’s take in in the beauty of this majestic site which dates back to the 18th century, viewing many rare and unusual plants within its splendid gardens before continuing to Belfast.
Experience a Belfast Panoramic tour
On arrival, we take in the highlights of Belfast on a panoramic tour passing the city’s famous sites. We drive past the Albert Memorial Clock Tower, one of Belfast’s best-known landmarks and Ireland’s answer to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, plus the Grand Opera House, City Hall, The Crown Bar and the Botanic Gardens.
At Leisure & Dinner
Check-in at your hotel and take the rest of the afternoon to relax and become familiar with your surroundings. Your guide will be happy to tell you of places of interest nearby.
Tonight, join us for a welcome dinner at your hotel.
Antrim Coast
Guided Excursion to Antrim Coast and Giants Causeway
After breakfast, we depart for a full-day guided excursion to the beautiful and rugged Antrim Coast.
Our first stop is at our favourite giant Finn McCool’s Giants Causeway! We explore the new visitor centre, with various interactive exhibits and a short video presentation before visiting the site.
Good sturdy shoes are recommended for the walk down the hill to the Giants Causeway.
Experience Dunluce Castle and Dark Hedges
We uncover more of Northern Ireland’s beauty by making a stop at a viewpoint (weather permitting) to see the famous Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge that was first erected by salmon fishermen in the 1700s, crossing the Atlantic Ocean to a fisherman’s cottage!
Next, we stop at Dunluce Castle. Featured in the HBO television series "Game of Thrones", this picturesque and scenic ruin of a castle is set on sheer cliffs, with the ocean rushing below. Even when the weather is not clear and the sea fog rolls in, the imposing castle creates a charming and mysterious atmosphere.
Next, we visit another location from the Game of Thrones - the Dark Hedges! We take a stroll down the enchanting avenue of beech trees between Armoy and Stranocum in County Antrim, now one of Northern Ireland’s most iconic and must-have, hot Instagram shots! A lovely finish to the day before heading back to our hotel.
At Leisure
The rest of the evening is at leisure to enjoy our surroundings. Take a stroll up to the Cathedral quarter, admire the colourful buildings along the way to St Eunan's Cathedral, or spend some time shopping. Our guide will be happy to make some suggestions for local entertainment options.
Derry & Letterkenny
Guided Walking Tour of Derry
This morning, we enjoy a leisurely breakfast at our hotel and some free time to explore Belfast, before departing for Letterkenny in County Donegal. En-route, we’ll visit Derry and enjoy a walking tour of the city walls while taking in some of the highlights, with some free time for lunch before continuing to our hotel.
At Leisure
After checking in at your hotel in the Letterkenny area, take time to enjoy some moments at leisure. The rest of your evening is free to explore independently.
Donegal
Guided Excursion to Rathmullen and Sheephaven Bay
This morning we depart on our guided excursion through one of the most beautiful parts of Ireland’s northwest region. Our journey will take us along narrow country roads allowing us to take in the awe-inspiring beauty of northern County Donegal, stopping in the small seaside village of Rathmullan, then continuing on to Sheephaven Bay for a photo opportunity.
Visit Glenveagh Castle, Gardens and National Park
We’ll uncover more beautiful scenery during a guided visit to Glenveagh Castle, Gardens and National Park. This spectacular location boasts a Scottish-style castle within the estate, surrounded by one of the finest gardens in Ireland! We learn more about this fascinating place at the visitor centre with its exhibitions and an audio-visual show. A shuttle minibus will take us to the castle area and gardens. We depart back to our hotel for some well-deserved relaxation time.
Farewell Dinner
Join your fellow travellers tonight for a farewell dinner at your hotel, with the rest of the evening free to relax and reflect on your beautiful and scenic journey over the past four days.
Return to Dublin
After breakfast and check out from our hotel, it is time to say "Slán Abhaile" to County Donegal as we depart for Dublin. We'll arrive back into Dublin in the afternoon (estimated around 2pm, depending on traffic) and say goodbye to your new friends, with fond memories of your visit to Belfast, Derry and Donegal.
* We aim to operate your tour itinerary according to the format shown. Occasionally, local conditions and unexpected events may result in adjustments to the planned schedule. We kindly ask for your understanding and flexibility in the event of any changes.
Customer Reviews
Know before you go
What if there is an emergency?
We have local representatives in all of our destinations who are available 24/7 as well as an emergency contact number for our offices in Ireland should you ever need it.
Do I need a Visa?
Please visit our visa page for information on requirements for each country's entry requirements
Will I be met at the airport?
You will be met on arrival at your destination airport and transferred to your accommodation. You will be accompanied on all included excursions by your Travel Department guide. Your expert local guide is also available to give you tips and advice on any aspect of your holiday.