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Luxury Ireland tour 7 day (including Ashford Castle)
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From €2999 per person
This is Ireland done at the right pace, with the right company, staying in places that actually live up to their reputation. Over seven days you’ll cover the classic Irish experiences - great landscapes, great food and wine, and accommodation that ranges from luxury hotels to genuine stately homes.
The centrepiece is Ashford Castle in County Mayo, a 12th-century castle on the shores of Lough Corrib that has been welcoming guests for well over a century. You’ll spend a night there, in rooms that feel as special as you’d hope. Essential Ireland Tours keeps the group deliberately small - between 8 and 16 guests - so your guide can give you proper attention and the whole thing retains a certain warmth that larger tours lose. Every tip is covered throughout, for your guide, your driver, and restaurant staff, so you’re not doing maths at the end of every meal.
All tours depart at 9:30 AM from the front of the Leonardo Hotel, directly opposite Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin.
Maximum group size is 16 travellers. The tour is available in German, Portuguese, English, and French. Suitable for all fitness levels, and public transport options are available nearby.
Please note: this tour has no free cancellation, so check the cancellation policy carefully before booking.
Ashford Castle earns its reputation. The castle sits on about 350 acres on the shores of Lough Corrib in County Mayo, and the grounds alone are worth an early morning walk. Guests can do falconry, clay pigeon shooting, or just sit by the lake. The 1-hotel restaurant, The George V Dining Room, is formal in the best way - it’s worth dressing for dinner if you’ve packed something suitable.
The small group size is the real selling point. At 8 to 16 people, your guide can actually have a conversation with you, take detours if something catches your interest, and adjust the pace. That’s genuinely different from a coach tour, and it shows over seven days. The tour has a 5-star rating across 18 reviews, which for a multi-day trip is a strong signal.
Departures are from Christchurch. The Leonardo Hotel is directly opposite Christchurch Cathedral, which is easy to find. If you’re arriving into Dublin the night before, staying somewhere in the city centre puts you a short walk or taxi from the departure point. The 9:30 AM start gives you time for a proper breakfast first.
Tips being included removes a recurring awkwardness. On a seven-day trip with multiple guides, drivers and restaurants, tipping decisions can pile up. Having it all covered means you never have to wonder whether you’re getting the good service or the “they haven’t tipped yet” service. It’s a small thing that makes the whole trip feel smoother.
This tour runs in multiple languages. If you’re travelling with French, German or Portuguese speakers, or planning it as a group trip with friends from different countries, the multilingual delivery means everyone gets the full experience rather than a translation summary.