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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted tour

The Emerald Explorer - May 2026

Nine-day escorted rail tour through Ireland from Dublin to Wexford

Illustration of The Emerald Explorer - May 2026

The Railway Touring Company's Emerald Explorer is a 9-day escorted tour of Ireland that departs from London Euston in First Class on an Avanti Service, crosses to Dublin by ferry, and concludes with the same return journey. The itinerary follows the east, west, and south coasts, anchored by five hotel stays: two in Dublin, two in Athlone, two in Bunratty, one in Wexford, and a final night back in Dublin. Days blend guided coach tours through cities and countryside with rail journeys on Irish services and heritage railways. Day 2 combines a guided Dublin tour and the Guinness Storehouse; Day 3 features a private River Shannon cruise to Clonmacnoise Monastery; Day 5 includes the Lartigue Monorail Museum and a Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle; Day 7 showcases a private charter on the narrow-gauge Waterford Suir Valley Railway. The tour concludes with a Celtic dinner and traditional music evening in Dublin. A Tour Manager escorts the group throughout, and all accommodation, dinners, and transport are included. This suits travelers who value organized itineraries, Irish history and heritage, and the combination of rail, coach, and ferry travel.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure listed: May 2026. Confirm availability and book well in advance.
  • The from-price of GBP 2,395 covers the ground package only; First Class rail from London Euston is the higher Full Package price.
  • A Ground Only tier (GBP 2,195) is available for those booking their own transport from Holyhead to Holyhead.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Dublin

    First Class Avanti service to Holyhead and ferry crossing to Dublin

    Meet your Tour Manager this morning in the First Class Lounge at London Euston, before you travel First Class on an Avanti Service to Holyhead. On arrival, you transfer to Holyhead Ferry Terminal for a ferry crossing over the Irish Sea to Dublin, then to your hotel for the next two nights. A welcome dinner is served at the hotel this evening.

  2. Day 2overnight: Dublin

    Guided tour of Dublin and Guinness Storehouse visit

    A guided coach tour of Dublin with a refreshment break in Phoenix Park, followed by lunch and a visit to the Guinness Storehouse. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore the city at leisure. Dinner is served at your hotel this evening.

  3. Day 3overnight: Athlone

    Guided tour of Athlone Castle, River Shannon cruise and visit to Clonmacnoise Monastery

    You transfer from Dublin to Athlone for a guided tour of Athlone Castle, then a private charter cruise along the River Shannon, followed by a visit to Clonmacnoise Monastery, founded on the banks of the Shannon in the 6th Century. You transfer to a hotel, your base for the next two nights.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Athlone

    Visit to Connemara Celtic Crystal and visit to Galway

    You travel by train westward to Westport for a visit to Kylemore Abbey and Gardens and Connemara Celtic Crystal, one of the last surviving Irish crystal factories, then depart by coach to Galway to explore ancient sites including St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, before returning by train to Athlone for dinner.

  5. Day 5overnight: Bunratty

    Cliffs of Moher and Lartigue Monorail and Museum

    A scenic coach tour of the Cliffs of Moher with photo stops, pausing at Kinvara for refreshments, then on to Listowel to visit the Lartigue Monorail and Museum, a steam powered monorail that ran between Listowel and Ballybunion from 1888 to 1924. You travel to Bunratty, where you'll stay for the next two nights, with a Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle this evening.

  6. Day 6overnight: Bunratty

    Visit to Cobh Titanic Experience and Blarney Castle

    A visit to the Cobh Titanic Experience, Cobh being the last port of call for the Titanic in 1912, then on to Blarney Village and historic Blarney Castle & Gardens, built in 1446, with time to kiss the Blarney Stone. You return to your hotel for dinner.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Wexford

    Waterford Crystal and Private Charter on the Waterford Suir Valley Railway

    You travel by coach to Limerick Station for a train trip to Waterford and a guided tour of The House of Waterford Crystal, then enjoy a private charter on the Waterford Suir Valley Railway, Ireland's longest narrow-gauge railway, with panoramic views of the River Suir. You transfer to Wexford Town for dinner and overnight accommodation.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Dublin

    Explore Wexford, Celtic dinner and music evening at the Arlington Hotel

    Leisure time to explore Wexford, then you depart by train to Dublin and transfer to your hotel. In the evening you enjoy a Celtic Night with dinner, traditional Irish music, and dancing at the famous Arlington Hotel.

  9. Day 9

    Ferry crossing to Holyhead and First Class Avanti service to London Euston

    After breakfast you meet the rest of your group with your cases for a coach transfer to the ferry terminal and depart Dublin by ferry to Holyhead, then a First Class Avanti Service to London Euston.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1First Class Avanti Service from London Euston to Holyhead, then ferry crossing to Dublin over the Irish Sea.
  • Day 3Private charter cruise along the River Shannon to visit Clonmacnoise Monastery, founded in the 6th century on the Shannon's banks.
  • Day 5Visit to the Lartigue Monorail and Museum in Listowel, a historic steam-powered monorail that operated between Listowel and Ballybunion from 1888 to 1924, followed by a Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle.
  • Day 7Private charter on the Waterford Suir Valley Railway, Ireland's longest narrow-gauge railway, with panoramic views of the River Suir.
  • Day 8Celtic Night with dinner, traditional Irish music, and dancing at the Arlington Hotel in Dublin.

Included

  • 8 Nights accommodation with breakfast
  • 8 Dinners
  • First Class rail travel from London Euston to Holyhead and return
  • All visits, train, coach and ferry travel as detailed in the itinerary
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
The Full Package (from GBP 2,395) includes First Class Avanti Service from London Euston to Holyhead and return, Irish rail services on the tour, a private narrow-gauge charter on the Waterford Suir Valley Railway, and a heritage monorail museum visit. A Ground Only tier excludes the London rail journey.
Is this an escorted tour or independent travel?
The Railway Touring Company runs this as an escorted tour with a dedicated Tour Manager who accompanies the group throughout.
What is included in the price?
Included are 8 nights accommodation with breakfast, 8 dinners, First Class rail travel from London, and all coach, train, ferry, and visit transport and entries as detailed in the itinerary.
When does it depart?
The Emerald Explorer departs in May 2026.
How much time is spent on trains?
Rail legs include the First Class journey to and from Holyhead, trains from Dublin to Athlone and Westport, Limerick to Waterford, and Wexford back to Dublin, plus a private charter on the narrow-gauge Waterford Suir Valley Railway. Much of the tour also uses coach transport.
What is the physical level of this tour?
Expect guided coach tours, walking tours of cities and monuments, and ferry crossings. No strenuous hiking is mentioned.

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