Self Guided Tours of Ireland

See below for our guide on various travel links within the United Kingdom, Europe, North America and Australia/New Zealand:

Travel to Ireland

See below for advice on what you should wear for various activities depending on the self guided trip you choose.

Walking/Hiking

What to Wear when Hiking

Footwear: Boot vs Shoe

Biking/Cycling

What to Pack on a Cycling Trip

Ireland is well-known for its ever-changing weather conditions – we often get all four seasons in a single day!

Especially in summer, expect to experience everything from rain to sunshine to winds and clouds and rainbows. When the sun comes out, it generally stays out for a good long time, and yes, sun burns are even a possibility.

Summer days are exceptionally long, with as much as 18 hours of daylight, whereas winter hosts some of the most amazing sunrises and sunsets, as well as the possibility of both snow and even in some places, the Northern Lights.

Do keep in mind that due to Ireland’s northernly position, the Gaelic seasonal calendar is a little bit different than the regular one, with each season roughly starting one month earlier than most traditional calendars.

So, our best advice is to pack both your raincoat and some suntan lotion.

Learn more about Ireland’s climate and weather

Or, browse by season:

• Spring
• Summer
• Autumn
• Winter

While solo travellers are very welcome on our small group trips, unfortunately for self guided and self drive trips, our minimum number is 2 people. This is for safety reasons.

Read more FAQs on both guided and self guided trips.

From spending nights in elegant castles, to relaxing by a cosy fireplace in a beautiful 4-star country guesthouses and B&Bs, you can be sure to have a memorable time in whichever self guided holiday you choose.

No matter where you stay, look forward to tasting some locally-sourced food from on Ireland’s up-and-coming culinary world. Looking for luxury? Many Self Guided and  Private Departure trips offer an option to upgrade from Classic accommodation to Deluxe or Luxury standard accommodation.

Find Ireland’s Best Castle Hotels

Our Self Guided trips are open to people with various levels of fitness, and perfect for a group of varied levels, or who simply want the opportunity to set their own pace each day.

Our small group trips are graded by difficulty: green trips are the easiest, while blue trips offer an intermediate challenge and red graded activities are the most challenging. Click the link below to view our guides and videos on grading for each activity holiday that we offer.

Our Trip Grading Explained

When it comes to most Self Guided and Self Drive trips, you are free to travel at your own pace – whether this means challenging yourself by zooming up the hills, taking things at a relaxing pace, or anything in between. Of course, distance, terrain and elevation also must be taken into account.

To make your trip more enjoyable, it is good to get your body prepared before heading on your adventure. While our grading system caters for a range of fitness levels, it’s important to choose the trip that’s right for you and your group.

If you’re not sure which trip is right for you, contact our expert trip designers who will help match your fitness levels, interests and preferences to the perfect trip.