Authentic Europe · Partly guided tour

Dublin, Belfast & County Donegal

Partly guided small-group rail trip from Dublin to Donegal's Slieve League Cliffs

Dublin, Belfast & County Donegal, a rail journey with Authentic Europe

Authentic Europe's Dublin, Belfast & County Donegal is a 5-day, 4-night partly guided small group trip that starts and ends in Dublin. Day 2 is a train journey north with reserved seats and a tour escort onboard, stopping in Belfast for a hop-on hop-off ticket and a visit to Titanic Belfast, then continuing through Derry and County Donegal to Harvey's Point Hotel by Lough Eske, where travelers stay two nights with dinner included both evenings. Day 4 is a guided coach day tour to the Slieve League Cliffs, described in the evidence as Ireland's highest cliffs, continuing to Sligo before returning to Dublin. The Dublin arrival day and the leisure day at Harvey's Point have no guide included, so the trip mixes escorted travel with unstructured time. This suits travelers who want a short, small group introduction to Ireland's north and northwest, particularly those interested in coastal scenery and history, and who prefer reserved seats and an onboard escort to planning the route themselves.

What to know before you look closer

  • Most of this trip's touring after day 2 is by coach rather than train: the Slieve League Cliffs and Sligo day tour on day 4 is by coach, not train.
  • The evidence names a hotel only for the two Lough Eske nights, Harvey's Point Hotel; no hotel is specified for the Dublin nights.
  • Day 1 (Dublin arrival) and day 3 (leisure at Harvey's Point) have no guide included; only the train journey and the Slieve League Cliffs and Sligo coach day tour are guided or escorted.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Dublin

    Arrival in Dublin, the capital of Ireland

  2. Day 2railovernight: Lough Eske (Harvey's Point Hotel)

    Train to Belfast, Derry & County Donegal

    Meals: Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: Lough Eske (Harvey's Point Hotel)

    Day at leisure at Harvey's Point Hotel

    Meals: Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Dublin

    Slieve League Cliffs, Ireland's highest cliffs

  5. Day 5

    Departure from Dublin

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A stop in Belfast during the train journey north includes a hop-on hop-off ticket and admission to Titanic Belfast.
  • Day 2The train continues from Belfast through Derry and County Donegal along the North Atlantic coastline, arriving at Harvey's Point Hotel by Lough Eske for a two-night stay.
  • Day 4A guided coach day tour visits the Slieve League Cliffs, described in the evidence as Ireland's highest cliffs, and continues to Sligo before returning to Dublin.

Included

  • 4 nights hotel accommodation in a standard room with private shower or bath/WC, breakfast included
  • 2 dinners at Harvey's Point Hotel
  • Hop on Hop off Sightseeing ticket in Belfast
  • Admission to Titanic Belfast
  • Train tickets as per the itinerary (reserved seats and tour escort onboard)
  • Escorted transfer to Harvey's Point Hotel
  • Guided day tour by coach to Slieve League Cliffs and Sligo
  • Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers
  • 24/7 emergency phone service while travelling

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes, for the northbound leg. Authentic Europe includes train tickets from Dublin to Belfast, Derry, and County Donegal with reserved seats and a tour escort onboard; the day 4 excursion to the Slieve League Cliffs and Sligo is by coach, not train.
Is this trip guided or independent?
It is partly guided. Guided elements are the train journey (reserved seats, tour escort) and a guided coach day tour to the Slieve League Cliffs and Sligo; the Dublin arrival day and the leisure day at Harvey's Point Hotel have no guide included.
What is included in Belfast?
A 24-hour hop-on hop-off sightseeing ticket and admission to Titanic Belfast.
What hotel will I stay in?
The evidence names Harvey's Point Hotel by Lough Eske for two nights; no hotel is specified for the Dublin nights.
What meals are included?
Breakfast each morning, plus two dinners at Harvey's Point Hotel.
Can I add extra nights?
Yes, in Dublin, from 179 euros per person per night.

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