How much does it cost?

From £2,885 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,897 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is the train travel included?

Yes, rail travel from your home station to Chester is included, along with several rail legs during the tour, including the Dublin Bay coastal line, the Waterford & Suir Valley Railway, the Waterford to Killarney line, the Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway, and the Coleraine to Belfast line.

Is it escorted or independent?

Escorted, with an experienced Railtrail Tour Manager throughout.

What hotels are included?

Seven hotels across the route: the Queen Hotel in Chester, the Aspect Hotel in Dublin, Treacys Hotel in Waterford, the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney, the Westport Woods Hotel, the Ibis Riverside in Coleraine, and the Stormont Hotel in Belfast.

The only listed departure is in September 2026.

What is not included?

The evidence lists a £695 single traveler supplement as an optional extra.

Railtrail Tours · Classic Plus Tour

Emerald Isle Discovery 2026

Twelve-day escorted rail, coach, and ferry tour around Ireland

Railtrail Tours operates this twelve-day, eleven-night Classic Plus tour circling Ireland, starting and ending in Chester with a ferry crossing to and from Dublin. A Tour Manager accompanies the group by rail, coach, and ferry through Dublin, Waterford, Killarney, Galway, Westport, Coleraine, and Belfast. The days combine short rail journeys, the scenic Dublin Bay coastal line on day 3, the narrow-gauge Waterford & Suir Valley Railway on day 4, and the Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway on day 9, with coach touring of the Ring of Kerry and the Wild Atlantic Way. Highlights include the House of Waterford Crystal factory, a Jaunting Car ride and lake cruise in Killarney, the Giant's Causeway World Heritage Site, and the Titanic Experience in Belfast. Activity level is listed as Active, and most hotel stops last one or two nights, so the trip suits travellers who want a full circuit of Ireland's coast and history rather than a slow-paced stay in one region.

What to know before you look closer

The optional single traveler supplement is £695, about a quarter of the £2,885 per-person price.
Only one departure is listed, for September 2026.
Several days rely on coach rather than train: the Ring of Kerry tour, the Galway to Westport leg, the Wild Atlantic Way drive to Coleraine, and the return transfer from the ferry to Chester are all coach journeys.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Queen Hotel, Chester
Home Station to Chester
Journey from your home station to Chester and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Queen Hotel for our overnight stay. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.
Day 2railovernight: Aspect Hotel, Dublin
Ferry to Dublin
After breakfast this morning, we travel by train to Holyhead where we board our Stena Line ferry to Dublin. Here, we transfer to the Aspect Hotel and check-in for our overnight stay before enjoying our evening meal together.
Day 3railovernight: Treacys Hotel, Waterford
Dublin & the East Coast to Waterford
This morning, we are free to explore Dublin at leisure with our hop-on, hop-off bus ticket taking us around the main sites of Ireland's capital independently. In the afternoon, we enjoy the most scenic rail journey in the Republic as we travel around Dublin Bay following the beautiful coastline through Bray and Greystones to Wicklow and onwards to Wexford. We transfer by road to the Treacy's Hotel in Waterford for our two-night stay and enjoy our evening meal together.
Day 4railovernight: Treacys Hotel, Waterford
Waterford Crystal & Suir Valley Railway
Today, we visit the House of Waterford Crystal for a factory tour showcasing the different skills that go into creating their world-famous product including glass blowing, cutting, sculpting, moulding, and engraving. Afterwards, we journey on the delightful narrow-gauge Waterford Suir Valley Railway travelling through the beautiful Suir Valley before returning to the hotel in time for our evening meal together.
Day 5railovernight: Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney
Rail to Killarney
After breakfast, we rejoin the Irish rail system and depart Waterford to journey across Ireland's beautiful green landscapes to Killarney where we transfer to the Gleneagle Hotel for our two-night stay. Afterwards, we experience all the beauty and history that Killarney has to offer with a ride onboard a traditional Jaunting Car plus a scenic Lake Cruise and, on return to the hotel, we enjoy our evening meal together.
Day 6overnight: Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney
Ring of Kerry
Today, we enjoy a guided tour of the Ring of Kerry taking us through 10,000 years of history from deep forests to crashing waters as we journey through an untouched landscape of rolling hills, fishing villages, and tranquil lakes on the dramatically picturesque Kerry coastline. Our tour concludes at the hotel where we enjoy our evening meal together.
Day 7overnight: Westport Woods Hotel, Westport
Galway to Westport
Today, we journey by road to Westport making stops along the way including the historical city of Galway where we have time for lunch before continuing to the Westport Woods Hotel for our overnight stay. The rest of the day is spent at leisure exploring our new surroundings or enjoying the fantastic leisure facilities of the hotel ahead of our evening meal.
Day 8overnight: Ibis Riverside, Coleraine
Wild Atlantic Way to Coleraine
After breakfast this morning, we travel by coach to Coleraine journeying along part of the stunning Wild Atlantic Way route, one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world. We journey through picturesque countryside, past enchanting villages, towering cliffs, and beautiful beaches before arriving in Coleraine for our two-night stay at the Ibis Riverside where we enjoy our evening meal together.
Day 9railovernight: Ibis Riverside, Coleraine
Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway
Today, we board the Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway and journey on the beautiful narrow-gauge coastal stretch along the track of the former Giant's Causeway Tram to the iconic World Heritage Site. Here, we explore the interactive exhibition at the Visitor Centre and walk the short distance to the famous stone formations. Afterwards, we return to Bushmills and visit the picturesque Dunluce Castle before returning to the hotel in time for our evening meal together.
Day 10railovernight: Stormont Hotel, Belfast
Belfast & Titanic Experience
This morning, we return to the rails as we take our train from Coleraine to Belfast and enjoy time to explore the city centre before our visit to the fantastic Titanic Experience. Located at the very place the Titanic was designed, built, and launched, we learn the story of her construction, launch, and voyage through to her subsequent place in history. Afterwards, our coach transfers us to the Stormont Hotel for our overnight stay and evening meal.
Day 11overnight: Queen Hotel, Chester
Ferry to Holyhead & Chester
After a leisurely breakfast, we transfer to Dublin Port for our ferry crossing to Holyhead and, on arrival, our private coach takes us back to the Queen Hotel in Chester for enjoy our final evening meal together.
Day 12
Homeward Journey
After breakfast, we bid farewell to Chester and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3The tour rides what the operator calls 'the most scenic rail journey in the Republic,' following Dublin Bay's coastline through Bray and Greystones to Wicklow.
Day 4The narrow-gauge Waterford & Suir Valley Railway carries the group through the Suir Valley after a tour of the House of Waterford Crystal factory.
Day 6A guided tour of the Ring of Kerry passes rolling hills, fishing villages, and tranquil lakes along the Kerry coastline.
Day 9The Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway, a narrow-gauge coastal line, brings the group to the Giant's Causeway World Heritage Site.
Day 10The group visits the Titanic Experience in Belfast, at the site where the ship was designed, built, and launched.

Included

11 nights bed, breakfast & evening meal
Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)
Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described
All excursions & admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,885 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,897 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?: Yes, rail travel from your home station to Chester is included, along with several rail legs during the tour, including the Dublin Bay coastal line, the Waterford & Suir Valley Railway, the Waterford to Killarney line, the Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway, and the Coleraine to Belfast line.
Is it escorted or independent?: Escorted, with an experienced Railtrail Tour Manager throughout.
What hotels are included?: Seven hotels across the route: the Queen Hotel in Chester, the Aspect Hotel in Dublin, Treacys Hotel in Waterford, the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney, the Westport Woods Hotel, the Ibis Riverside in Coleraine, and the Stormont Hotel in Belfast.
When does it run?: The only listed departure is in September 2026.
What is not included?: The evidence lists a £695 single traveler supplement as an optional extra.