Irish Odyssey: Self-Launched 12-Day Ireland & Northern Ireland Loop
12 days · Ireland & Northern Ireland
CIE Tours charges £3,749
No-markup version: ~£986 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of CIE Tours' 12-day "Irish Odyssey" coach tour — Dublin to Dublin, taking in Kilmainham Gaol, Cork and Blarney, Killarney and the Dingle Peninsula, the Cliffs of Moher and Galway, Connemara and Kylemore Abbey, Derry, the Giant's Causeway, Belfast and a castle stay near Kingscourt. Instead of a 44-seat coach and 4-star hotels, you'll use Ireland's excellent intercity buses (Bus Éireann, Expressway, Aircoach) and trains (Irish Rail), stay in hostels, guesthouses and family-run B&Bs, and book the same headline sights directly or through GetYourGuide/Klook. Costs are rough budget-traveller estimates in GBP; Ireland is a Western Europe destination so expect £55-90/day all-in.
Day-by-day
Dublin arrival & historic city centre
Dublin
Land in Dublin and settle into a hostel or guesthouse near the city centre (Abbey Court Hostel, Barnacles Temple Bar or a B&B in Drumcondra). Spend the afternoon on a free self-guided walk: Trinity College (book the Book of Kells separately if you want it, ~£18), St Patrick's Cathedral (~£10) and the GPO on O'Connell Street. Pre-book a Kilmainham Gaol tour directly on heritageireland.ie (~£8) — it sells out, so book a week ahead. Eat dinner in a pub off Temple Bar (€15-20 for a main) to avoid tourist prices.
🚌Dublin Airport to city: Dublin Express or Aircoach bus, ~£8; or public bus 16/41 for ~£2.50. Everything else on foot.
🛏Hostel dorm or family-run B&B, Dublin city centre
- →Self-guided walk: Trinity College, St Patrick's Cathedral, GPO
- →Kilmainham Gaol guided tour (pre-book on heritageireland.ie)
- →Evening pub dinner in the city centre
EPIC Emigration Museum & Dublin's northside
Dublin
Morning at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in the Docklands (~£16, buy online for a small discount). Afternoon wander the Docklands, Sean O'Casey Bridge and Smithfield, or join a free (tip-based) walking tour from City Hall. In the evening head out to a traditional music session — the Cobblestone in Smithfield is free and excellent; skip the expensive coach-tour pub show and get the same music for the price of a pint.
🚌Luas tram or on foot, ~£3
🛏Hostel dorm or family-run B&B, Dublin city centre
- →EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum entry
- →Tip-based city walking tour
- →Traditional music session at the Cobblestone or similar
Dublin to Cork via Waterford Crystal
Cork
Take an early Expressway or Dublin Coach bus from Dublin to Waterford (~3h, ~£15-18 booked online). Do a self-guided visit to the House of Waterford Crystal factory floor (~£14) for the artisan glassblowing demonstration. Then continue by Bus Éireann to Cork (~2h, ~£12). Stay in a hostel or guesthouse around MacCurtain Street. For the farmhouse tea-and-scones experience, swap in a visit to a Cork city café or a farm stay if you want the rural flavour.
🚌Expressway/Dublin Coach bus Dublin–Waterford ~£16; Bus Éireann Waterford–Cork ~£12
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Cork city centre
- →House of Waterford Crystal factory tour and glassblowing demo
- →Evening wander along the River Lee
Cork, Blarney Castle & on to Killarney
Killarney
Morning free walking tour of Cork (tip-based, runs daily) covering the English Market — go inside and graze on cheese, spiced beef and soda bread for lunch (~£8). Take local bus 215 to Blarney (~30 min, ~£3) and walk the castle grounds and gardens; kissing the stone is included with castle entry (~£16, book online). Late afternoon take the train or Bus Éireann from Cork to Killarney (~1h20, ~£10-13). Base yourself in a Killarney hostel (Neptune's or similar).
🚌Local bus 215 Cork–Blarney ~£3; Irish Rail or Bus Éireann Cork–Killarney ~£12
🛏Hostel or B&B, Killarney town
- →Cork English Market food grazing
- →Blarney Castle & gardens entry
- →Cork city walking tour
Gap of Dunloe, Ross Castle & Dingle Peninsula
Killarney
Get up early for the classic jaunting car (horse-drawn trap) ride from Kate Kearney's Cottage through the Gap of Dunloe (~£30-35 per person shared, book at the cottage or via GetYourGuide). Alternatively walk the Gap yourself for free and take the boat back across the Lakes of Killarney (~£18). Afternoon: cycle or take the local bus to Ross Castle and Muckross Estate. If you want the Dingle Peninsula, take the Bus Éireann 279 from Killarney to Dingle (~1h15, ~£8) for the afternoon and return — the Slea Head Drive is stunning from the bus window or on a rented bike (~£15). Sheepdog demos run at several farms around Dingle (~£8-10).
🚌Jaunting car or boat in the Gap; Bus Éireann 279 Killarney–Dingle return ~£16; local taxis/bikes
🛏Hostel or B&B, Killarney town
- →Jaunting car ride through Gap of Dunloe or boat trip on Lough Leane
- →Ross Castle & Muckross Estate
- →Day trip to Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head
Shannon Ferry, Cliffs of Moher & Galway
Galway
Take the Bus Éireann/TFI route from Killarney up to Tarbert and cross the Shannon Estuary by ferry (~£20-25 total, ~3h). From the Clare side, catch the local bus 350 to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre (~£8, entry ~£10) — walk the clifftop path to Hag's Head if weather allows. Continue on the 350 to Galway (~1h30, ~£10). Check into a Galway hostel (Snoozles, Barnacles or the Sleepzone) and join the free tip-based walking tour of the Latin Quarter in the late afternoon, then hit a trad session on Shop Street.
🚌Bus Killarney–Tarbert + Shannon ferry ~£22; bus 350 to Cliffs and Galway ~£18
🛏Hostel dorm or guesthouse, Galway city
- →Shannon Estuary ferry crossing
- →Cliffs of Moher visitor centre and clifftop walk
- →Galway Latin Quarter walking tour and trad session
Connemara & Kylemore Abbey
Galway
Take the CityLink or Bus Éireann 419/923 route west into Connemara (or a GetYourGuide Connemara day tour, ~£35-45, which includes Kylemore). Visit Kylemore Abbey and its Victorian walled garden (~£16). The Lough Corrib cruise with Irish coffee is seasonal — if it's running, book direct via Corrib Cruises (~£22); otherwise walk the shores at Cong. Back in Galway for the evening: fish and chips at McDonagh's (~£12).
🚌Bus to Connemara/Kylemore ~£12-15 return; or a small-group day tour ~£40
🛏Hostel dorm or guesthouse, Galway city
- →Kylemore Abbey and walled garden
- →Connemara scenic drive
- →Optional Lough Corrib cruise
Galway to Derry via Sligo & Donegal
Derry (Londonderry)
Long travel day north. Take Bus Éireann/Expressway from Galway to Sligo (~2h30, ~£14), then the local bus or a shared taxi on to Donegal Town (~1h15, ~£10) where you can browse the Donegal tweed shops (Triona Design is a good stop). Continue on the Bus Éireann 64/Expressway to Derry (~2h, ~£14) — crossing into Northern Ireland means pounds sterling from here on. Check into a hostel or guesthouse inside the walls (the Derry Hostel or a B&B on Bishop Street).
🚌Bus Galway–Sligo ~£14; Sligo–Donegal ~£10; Donegal–Derry ~£14
🛏Hostel or B&B, Derry city walls
- →Donegal town and tweed shops
- →Evening walk on Derry's walls
Giant's Causeway & Derry walls
Derry (Londonderry)
Morning: take the Causeway Coast bus or a local day tour from Derry to the Giant's Causeway (~£15-20 return on the 402/Enterprise buses, or ~£30 on a small-group tour; visitor centre ~£14). Afternoon: free tip-based walking tour of Derry's medieval walls and Bogside murals (runs daily, tip ~£10) and walk across the Peace Bridge. Evening: dinner and a craft beer flight at the Walled City Brewery (~£22).
🚌Bus/tour to Giant's Causeway ~£18; local walking
🛏Hostel or B&B, Derry city walls
- →Giant's Causeway and visitor centre
- →Derry walls and Bogside murals walking tour
- →Peace Bridge walk
- →Walled City Brewery dinner and beer flight
Belfast: Titanic, murals & peace wall
Belfast
Take the train or the 212 Goldliner bus from Derry to Belfast (~2h, ~£13-15). Check into a Belfast hostel (Vagabonds or Global Village). Afternoon: walk the Titanic Quarter, see the Titanic Belfast exhibition (~£22) and the dockyard, then take a Black Taxi Tour of the Falls/Shankill and peace walls (~£15-20 per person shared, book at the taxi rank or online). Evening in the Cathedral Quarter — the Duke of York and traditional music pubs.
🚌Bus or train Derry–Belfast ~£14
🛏Hostel dorm or guesthouse, Belfast city centre
- →Titanic Belfast exhibition
- →Titanic Quarter and dockyard walk
- →Black Taxi Tour of the peace walls and murals
Belfast to Kingscourt: cider & castle
Kingscourt, Co. Cavan
Bus from Belfast to Dublin (Aircoach/Goldliner ~£12, 2h15) then a Bus Éireann/ TFI Local Link service to Kingscourt (~1h30, ~£8). En route or nearby, tour and taste at a craft cider producer — Long Meadow Cider near Portadown is reachable by bus from Belfast if you do the tasting first (~£12 tour, book direct); otherwise swap in a Cavan/Monaghan food trail stop. For the castle night, book a room at Cabra Castle Hotel directly (~£110-140 B&B double, so ~£60-70 pp sharing) or a nearby B&B for ~£35-40 — then walk the castle grounds and have a farewell dinner in the castle bar.
🚌Belfast–Dublin bus ~£12; Dublin–Kingscourt ~£8; local taxis
🛏Cabra Castle Hotel room (book direct) or a nearby B&B
- →Craft cider tour and tasting
- →Cabra Castle grounds walk
- →Farewell dinner
Kingscourt to Dublin and home
Dublin / Departure
Slow morning at the castle, then the local bus or a shared taxi to Kells or Navan and onward to Dublin (Bus Éireann ~£10-12 total). If your flight is late, drop bags at a Dublin hostel or the airport bus stop and do one last walk along the Liffey. Depart.
🚌Local bus/taxi Kingscourt–Navan plus bus to Dublin ~£12; Dublin Express to airport ~£8
🛏None (departure day)
- →Morning at Cabra Castle
- →Optional final city stroll
Self-launched vs. CIE Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | CIE Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£986 | £3,749 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,763 per person (74%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more CIE Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£986
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Irish Odyssey: Self-Launched 12-Day Ireland & Northern Ireland Loop cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £986 per person for 12 days in Ireland & Northern Ireland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with CIE Tours?+
Yes — CIE Tours charges around £3,749 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £986 — a saving of roughly £2,763 (74%) per person.
How long is the Ireland & Northern Ireland trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Ireland & Northern Ireland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, slow-travel trip through Ireland & Northern Ireland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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