Planning travel to your Celtic roots; a reunion or a trip with a group of friends to Ireland or Scotland? Brendan Vacations, a leading expert in Celtic travel, has unveiled new guided and independent itineraries. New tour highlights include new, guided Women’s Only, Rail Vacation, Private Chauffeur, and multi-generational group tours.
New tours are now bookable for 2025 and 2026.
Ask us to help you plan your Celtic journey!
Brendan Vacations’ new itineraries recognize busy schedules and are created to give travelers an authentic Celtic experience with a combination of iconic attractions and local favorites. The tour company’s variety of travel styles ensures that you’ll experience the true essence of the region in ways that cater to your personal needs without sacrificing quality time.
Rail Vacations:
Guests can customize their Rail Vacations with new features such as flexible departure dates and adjustable nights in sample itineraries. Select locations without a rail connection are now accessible to travellers on rail vacations via a private driver including the curated properties and activities in Catherine’s Collection.
Travelers on Rail Vacations benefit from the support of Local Hosts in most cities who offer insights and recommendations during the visit.
Two new itineraries are available to book:
Ireland’s Local Charm & Ancient Culture: A six-day journey that explores Ireland’s lively capital city of Dublin, including a jaunting car ride in Killarney National Park, home to McGillycuddy’s Reeks, the highest mountain range in Ireland, a day tour on the Ring of Kerry, and a delightful whiskey tasting at the small-batch Teeling Distillery as a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience, a responsible travel activity working to revive the tradition of whiskey stilling in Ireland.
Ireland’s South East Discovery: Kicking off in the historic capital of Dublin, this eight-day trip is packed with energetic activities ideal for the adventurous traveller. Activities include cycling the Waterford Greenway, a walking tour of Kilkenny, a visit to EPIC – The Irish Emigration Museum and a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER guided city boat tour of Kilkenny where travellers will discover the biodiversity of the river and experience Kilkenny Castle with a local skipper.
Guided Vacations:
Brendan Vacations launches 13 new elevated itineraries designed for more intimate group experiences with enhanced comfort and exclusivity. Both Classic and Small-Group departures are available and include upgraded accommodations, transportation and exceptional dining experiences. Select trips will feature “relaxed-start” days, providing extra time for travellers to explore destinations at their leisure.
A dedicated Travel Director leads each journey with visits to both must-see attractions and unique off-the-beaten-path experiences plus authentic dining experiences from Ashford Castle’s elegant George V dining room to a sustainable farm-to-table experience at 19th Green Guest House in Killarney.
Brendan Choice is incorporated into each journey, allowing guests to choose different ways to experience select locations, like a scenic jaunting car ride or hike through Killarney.
Highlights of the new itineraries include:
Scenic Scotland, a Women-Only Tour: Designed exclusively for women, this eight-day small group tour begins in Edinburgh and features visits to historic sites, stunning castles, and beautiful lochs – all while fostering a supportive environment for women travellers. Highlights include a scenic ferry from Oban to Craignure, an Islander Harris Tweed® handbag workshop and a private afternoon tour with a traditional Scottish tea service with local Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart on his family’s 10,000-acre coastal castle estate as a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience.
Enchanting Ireland: This eight-day journey immerses travellers in the wonder of Ireland. Starting in Dublin, highlights a scenic walk in the Wicklow Mountains, a tour of the Blarney Caste estate gardens led by a gardener on property and a foraging walk with a seaweed advocate and educator at Ring of Kerry to learn about how the plant works to protect the local ecosystem as part of a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience.
Best of Ireland & Scotland: Spanning two weeks, this journey begins in Dublin and ends in Edinburgh, providing a deep dive into the region's iconic Gaelic and Celtic history. Highlights include visits to must-see landmarks such as Cliffs of Moher, and Killarney National Park, whisky tasting in Inverness, and a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience at Giant’s Causeway, where travellers will discover the biodiversity and ecosystem that surrounds the geological masterwork and how local organizations are working to preserve it.
Private Chauffeur:
Brendan Vacations is offering a new active private chauffeur itinerary:
Ireland Active Adventure, which travels from Dublin to Shannon in 10 days, featuring exhilarating outdoor experiences such as biking Killarney National Park and the Gap of Dunloe, hiking in the Early Medieval monastic settlement of Glendalough Valley, the Dingle and Berea Peninsulas, sailing on an open boat in Killarney and a walking tour of the Burren.
ABOUT BRENDAN VACATIONS
Brendan Vacations Celtic travel experts, and a member of the TTC (The Travel Corporation) family of tour brands that includes Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, and more. Ireland and Scotland are all that Brendan Vacations does; they are your personal connection to our Celtic homelands.
Offering travel for every style and every occasion. Guests who choose to travel with Brendan Vacations can choose from Guided Vacations, Private Chauffeur, Self-Drive, Rail Vacations, or Luxury Self Drive trips, which means guests can travel any way they want to. Whatever way guests choose to travel, guests will experience a uniquely tailored trip that is planned, managed, and personally delivered by our passionate team in Dublin, Ireland.
With more than 50 years of experience creating deep friendships in the Celtic travel community, no one knows Ireland and Scotland quite like Brendan Vacations.
*** Images courtesy of Brendan Vacations
*** Terms & Conditions apply; ask us for full itinerary, date and pricing information.
