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Authentic Europe · Partly guided

The All Ireland Rail Tour

8-day escorted rail, coach, and ferry tour across Ireland to Belfast

Illustration of The All Ireland Rail Tour

Authentic Europe runs this 8-day escorted tour that crosses Ireland from Dublin to Belfast. Tour escorts accompany the group at stations and on trains, with English-speaking guides and drivers, though the evidence notes the escort or guide may change during the trip. Day two travels by train to Cork and Cóbh before settling into two nights in Killarney, with day three given over to a full day touring the Ring of Kerry. From there the route runs by coach to Limerick, the Cliffs of Moher, and two nights in Galway, including a ferry crossing to the Aran Islands on day five. The tour then heads through Connemara and Kylemore Abbey back toward Dublin before a final push north to Belfast. Hotels are 3 to 4 star throughout. This suits travelers who want a full circuit of Ireland's coast and countryside in just over a week, with one confirmed train journey bookended by coach touring and a ferry crossing.

What to know before you look closer

  • The evidence marks this as a '2027 offer' but gives no specific departure dates; confirm the calendar and price with Authentic Europe before booking.
  • Day 8 is listed as 'Departure from Dublin' even though day 7 overnights in Belfast; the evidence does not detail the return transfer back to Dublin.
  • The tour escort or guide may change during the trip; the itinerary does not promise the same guide throughout.
  • Despite the tour's name, the itinerary explicitly names a train only for the day-2 journey to Cork and Killarney; the other travel days use coach touring or the Aran Islands ferry, so confirm with Authentic Europe how much of the week is by rail versus road.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Dublin

    Arrival in Dublin, the capital of Ireland

  2. Day 2railovernight: Killarney

    Travel by train to Cork, Cóbh and Killarney

  3. Day 3overnight: Killarney

    Day touring the Ring of Kerry

  4. Day 4overnight: Galway

    Visit Limerick, Cliffs of Moher and Galway

  5. Day 5overnight: Galway

    Ferry and visit of the Aran Islands

  6. Day 6overnight: Dublin

    Tour of Connemara, Kylemore Abbey & return to Dublin

  7. Day 7overnight: Belfast

    Travel to Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland

  8. Day 8

    Departure from Dublin

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Travel by train to Cork, visiting Cóbh, before continuing to Killarney.
  • Day 3A full day touring the Ring of Kerry.
  • Day 5A ferry crossing to visit the Aran Islands.
  • Day 6A tour of Connemara and Kylemore Abbey on the way back to Dublin.

Included

  • 7 nights hotel accommodation (3-4-star hotels) in a standard room with private shower/WC, including breakfast
  • Rail tickets and reserved seats on the train
  • Tour escorts at the stations and on the trains
  • Touring by coach as per the itinerary
  • English-speaking guides and drivers (tour escort/guide may change throughout the tour)
  • Ferry to and from the Aran Islands
  • Admission to: Blarney Castle and Gardens, Cóbh Heritage Centre, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Cliffs of Moher visitor experience and Kylemore Abbey & Gardens
  • Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers
  • 24/7 emergency phone service while travelling

Questions travellers ask

Is this tour guided or independent?
It is partly guided. Tour escorts accompany the group at stations and on trains, with English-speaking guides and drivers, though the escort or guide may change during the trip.
Is train travel included?
Yes, though the itinerary itemizes a train specifically only for day 2, the trip from Dublin to Cork, Cóbh, and Killarney; other days use coach touring or the Aran Islands ferry.
What is included in the price?
7 nights in 3-4-star hotels with breakfast, rail tickets and reserved seats on the train, coach touring, tour escorts and guides, the Aran Islands ferry, and admission to Blarney Castle and Gardens, the Cóbh Heritage Centre, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, the Cliffs of Moher visitor experience, and Kylemore Abbey and Gardens.
Where does the tour start and end?
It starts in Dublin and ends in Belfast, though the evidence lists the final departure as being from Dublin.
Can I add extra nights?
Yes, extra nights in Dublin on day 1 or day 7 are available for 179 EUR per person per night.

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