Great Britain & Ireland | Summer | 2024
Great Britain & Ireland | Summer | 2024
Great Britain & Ireland | Summer | 2024
16 Days Starting and ending in London, UK
Visiting: London, Liverpool, York, Hadrian's Wall, Lake District National Park, Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glasgow, Stirling, Larne, Dublin, Kilkenny, Clonmel, Blarney, Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Derry/Londonderry, Giant's Causeway, Belfast, Wales
Tour operator:
Tour code:
BBUKMA19
Specialist Group:
18-30 Somethings
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 35
Age range:
18-35
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Cross the Irish sea, explore historic cities shrouded in folklore and mystery, gawp at Ireland's breathtaking landscapes and appreciate a culture of cool from as far back as the Beatles. Through London, York, Glasgow, Liverpool, Dublin and more, this 16-day tour of Britain and Ireland includes entrance into awe-inspiring attractions aplenty, including puckering up for the Blarney stone, cruising across Loch Ness and enjoying your very own Magical Mystery tour. It'll be love at first London site.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : London To Liverpool
Location: London, Liverpool
Accommodation Name: Hallmark Inn Liverpool (or similar)
Meals Included: Dinner
Good morning dear Londonites! And welcome to your 16-day deep dive into all things Great Britain & Ireland. Big things are just around the corner. So big we've nicknamed one of them Big Ben.
Chat all things Beatlemania & football in your best Scouse accent – this is the call of the day as we pull up in lively Liverpool.
Day 2 : Liverpool To York
Location: Liverpool, York
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Leeds Garforth (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Lap up your last dose of Liverpool before we go back to the time of the Vikings... in the traditional walled city of York.
2,000 years of history will unfold upon us as we amble down narrow lanes of York, exploring the Minster, the Shambles and Clifford’s Tower. For fans of folklore, sign up to a night of ghostly horrors and dark alleyways & prepare to be spooked.
Day 3 : York To Lake District Via Hadrian's Wall
Location: York, Hadrian's Wall, Lake District National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Ibis Carlisle City Center (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Even if the ghosts of York kept you awake all night, you're going to need to rise and shine and wave goodbye to the Harry Potter like setting of this ancient city.
We'll take a spectacular drive this morning to the Roman Empire’s impressive Hadrian’s Wall as well as English country charm in abundance.
Whatever you do, don't Google this place before we arrive. It will spoil the surprise of its unfathomable beauty. Endless green hills, 16 serene lakes & streets of stone homes will have you pining for the country life.
Day 4 : Lake District To Edinburgh
Location: Lake District National Park, Edinburgh
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City West (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we are in for some border hopping along the English/Scottish border to see the sights on our way to Edinburgh!
Back in the 21st Century we'll find ourselves in Edinburgh, a city that, although still simmering in ancient history, comes alive with music festivals, a rousing creative scene & fun bars. Top the day off with a Scottish meal, complete with haggis and a traditional bagpiper.
Day 5 : Edinburgh
Location: Edinburgh
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City West (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is yours to roam free - but if you want to get the low down on the history of this city why not join our local guide for an optional tour of Edinburgh Castle (which is resting on an extinct volcano!!) to kickstart your love affair with this city. Or maybe you'll do a spot of tartan shopping on Princes Street or indulge in some whisky tasting.
Day 6 : Edinburgh To Scottish Highlands
Location: Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Scottish Highlands
Accommodation: Hotel, Lodge
Accommodation Name: Loch Ness Lodge Drumnadrochit (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
It's time to blaze a trail out of Edinburgh & head for the Scottish Highlands.
On the way to the main affair of the day we'll stop by St. Andrews, the birthplace of golf, would you believe? As well as Scotland’s oldest university town.
Already blown away by the beauty of the rugged mountain scenery en route, we'll arrive in the Scottish Highlands amped up for mystical tales.
Day 7 : Scottish Highlands To Glasgow
Location: Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glasgow
Accommodation Name: Ibis Budget Glasgow (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
We might be coming down from a high (geographically speaking) this morning, but as we seek out the stunning Loch Ness and Glenfinnan Viaduct, the mood will only be rising.
We'll stop to see lovely Loch Ness, the most voluminous lake in the UK - containing more water than all the lakes of England and Wales combined! It's also rumoured to contain something else, something far more legendary which you're sure to have heard of...
Feast your eyes on the railway viaduct – once a calling stop for the magical Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films and the breathtaking waters of Loch Shiel, which seems to stretch on endlessly.
We'll arrive into Glasgow tonight, grab a bite to eat and then hit the hay ready for some more exploration in the am!
Day 8 : Glasgow
Location: Glasgow, Stirling, Glasgow
Accommodation Name: Ibis Budget Glasgow (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Wakey wakey everyone. We're up bright and early this morning. Next stop, Stirling!
We make a stop in Stirling, known for its famous Castle nestled right on a hill, and the town where William Wallace took on the English and yelled "Freeeedom!"
Get involved with everything great about Glasgow. Live music on every corner, a gothic cathedral & plenty of quirky characters make this city unique.
Day 9 : Glasgow To Dublin
Location: Glasgow, Larne, Dublin
Accommodation Name: Travelodge Plus Dublin City Center (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Scotland, you've been unreal. If Ireland puts on half the show you did, we have many happy days ahead of us.
We arrive in the port town of Larne, your first steps on Northern Irish soil, but not for long...
So much more than the capital city, Dublin is a place of heritage, character, and more cute pubs than you could crawl in a week. Â End the day with a lively night of festivities at the cobbled lanes of Temple Bar.
Day 10 : Dublin To Clonmel
Location: Dublin, Kilkenny, Clonmel
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Talbot Clonmel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
That's us done with Dublin…for now. But fear not Dub-lovers, we'll get another taste of this fine place before our trip comes to an end.
Break up your coach hangs with some bicycle time in a city sure to leave you wanting Irish in your blood. Explore the castle, a cathedral and take in all of the medieval charm that Kilkenny has to offer before we hit the road again.
Steeped in gorgeous greenery and hidden history, you won't find many towns cuter than Clonmel. After we arrive in the evening, we'll tuck into an included dinner and then head off into town together to explore. Ancient castles and quirky pubs incoming!
Day 11 : Clonmel To Galway
Location: Clonmel, Blarney, Cliffs of Moher, Galway
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Travelodge Galway City (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Clonmel, it's been fun, but we have to leave you now. Next up, we're off to an Irish city that was propelled into the pop culture stratosphere by none other than Ed Sheeran. Anyone wanna guess where?
Irish folklore tells us there's a chunk of limestone built into a castle that grants its kissers the gift of the gab. Pucker up kids, we're paying her a visit!
Whether heights are your cup of Irish Breakfast or not, these impressive cliff faces are not to be missed!
From the moment we arrive in Galway, you'll understand why 2 nights were needed here. Everything you've dreamed Ireland to be is tucked into this small, atmospheric city. Step into a local pub and down Irish stew over live music and chats with locals. Outside will be just as lively, with buskers & colorful buildings lining the streets.
Day 12 : Galway
Location: Galway
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Travelodge Galway City (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Try your tongue at some Gaelic and carry on exploring gorgeous Galway. Head up to Dún Aonghasa (the ruins of a prehistoric fortress) - make sure you take photos, this area is not for the faint-hearted! Irish life, you so sweet.
Day 13 : Galway To Derry/Londonderry
Location: Galway, Derry/Londonderry
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Express Derry (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Goodbye Galway, hello more Irish eye-candy.
Here the 17th century walls stand at 8 meters high speaking of times gone by when this area was in battle. Times may have changed, but we're still keen to soak up the history and learn a thing or two from our wise Local Guide.
Day 14 : Derry/Londonderry To Belfast
Location: Derry/Londonderry, Giant's Causeway, Belfast
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Express Belfast City (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we've got a one way ticket to Belfast and a whole lot more exploration to do.
UNESCO World Heritage site of the Giant’s Causeway - also known as those giant rock columns you've probably drooled over on Pinterest, needs to be seen to be believed. Get those hashtags ready, a snap with the group is essential on the mind-blowing natural formation.
Next up - we'll arrive in Belfast. Concluding the day will be a driving tour and a trip to the Titanic museum where the world's most famous ship was built.
Day 15 : Belfast To Dublin
Location: Belfast, Dublin
Accommodation Name: Travelodge Plus Dublin City Center (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
With one night left in Ireland and on tour, we're on the fast track to Dublin where our Irish fairytale first began.
A promise is a promise. Here we are back in the city that started our Ireland infatuations. Use this second stint to do your missed critical activities such as visiting the Guinness Storehouse where you can learn how to pull a pint the Irish way.
Day 16 : Dublin To London
Location: Dublin, Wales, London
Meals Included: Breakfast
We leave Ireland today with leprechauns in our hearts and memories in our souls. Enjoy the roll back to London town as it will be the last bout our crew has together.
We've crossed the Irish Sea, motored through Wales, passed the town of try-to-say-it-out-loud Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, and now we are back in London. That's all folks! Pass the tissues, say your goodbyes, and make plans for your next adventure. Unless, of course, there's talk of a reunion tour. Greek Islands, anyone?
What's Included
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Meals
As detailed in the itinerary
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Fully Guided
What's Not Included
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Insurance
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International Travel
Check out our Q&As
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes
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Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?
Yes
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
No, minimum age is 18.
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
In 1961, a guy called John Anderson founded Contiki in New Zealand. Whilst later bought by The Travel Corporation, the tour company had already been using the name ‘Contiki’ since its inception.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Contiki trips are designed & operated exclusively for those aged 18-35 years. Your travelling companions will be like-minded adventurers within that age range. The age range is adhered to strictly.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® is our commitment to protect people, wildlife and the incredible planet we all share. Powered by The TreadRight Foundation, a non-profit organisation and Contiki’s guiding hand when it comes to making travel matter.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
All documentation will be sent via email around 21 days prior to your trip departure. You can also access information on your trip by signing up to My Contiki via the top right icon of the homepage.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Contiki allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform contiki, 60 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Contiki requires a minimum deposit of 200 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of contiki charges.
Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 25% of booking price.
At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions