15+ years guiding these routes · Licensed drivers, fully insured vehicles
Private guided tours of Ireland
Your group, your own driver-guide, and a day that runs on your clock. Day tours and 5 to 14-day trips in a private Mercedes, priced per vehicle from €700 to €1,200 a day. The person who plans your route is the person who guides it.
What a private guided tour of Ireland includes
A private guided tour of Ireland gives your group its own driver-guide, its own vehicle and a route planned around you. Nobody else joins. We handle the routing, the timing and the practical details before you land, so you never have to drive on the left or watch the clock.
You decide how long to stay anywhere. If the weather turns or a village on the way catches your eye, the day changes with you. Nothing runs on a coach timetable.
15+ yearsguiding these routesA driver-guide, not just a driver
Some private tours in Ireland are a driver with a nice car. A driver-guide drives and guides: the history of Bunratty Castle, why the Burren looks like the moon, which pub in Dingle has music that night. On a long drive, a good guide also knows when to talk and when to let you rest.
Every driver holds a full driving licence and every vehicle is fully insured.
15+ yearsguiding these routes
Private day tours
Our private day tours suit guests staying in one place or arriving by cruise ship. Each one is your group only, with your own driver-guide.
| Day tour | What you see |
|---|---|
| Blarney Castle, Cobh and Kinsale | Blarney Castle, the harbor town of Cobh, Kinsale |
| Ring of Kerry | The Ring of Kerry loop |
| Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head | Dingle town and the Slea Head Drive |
| Cliffs of Moher and Bunratty | Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park |
| Killarney and Kenmare | Killarney and Kenmare |
| West Cork | A West Cork route planned around your group |
Multi-day private tours of Ireland
Our multi-day private tours run from 2 to 14 days, and 5, 7 and 10 days are the most popular starting points. Each route below is a starting outline that we change to fit your group.
5-day tour
A well-paced introduction to Ireland: the highlights of the south and west in five unhurried days.
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7-day Wild Atlantic Way tour
More ground, more depth. A week from the south west along the Atlantic coastline.
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10-day tour
A near-complete picture of Ireland: coastlines, old history and landscapes that stay with you.
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14-day Grand Tour
The full circle of Ireland. Two weeks at a pace that lets every part of the island breathe.
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How we plan your private tour
One person looks after your trip from the first email to the last mile. There are no booking agents, call centers or handoffs.
1. We talk first
Tell us your dates, your group size and what you want to see.
2. Your itinerary is built
We plan the route, the timing and the stops around your pace.
3. Everything is arranged
The routing, the timing and the practical details are handled before you land.
4. We're there on the day
The person who planned your trip is the person guiding it.
Private guided tours vs coach tours vs driving yourself
A private guided tour costs more than a coach seat, but your group gets the whole vehicle, sets its own pace, and nobody has to learn Irish back roads from behind the wheel.
| Private guided tour | Coach tour | Driving yourself | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who's on board | Your group only | Other travelers too | Your group |
| Who drives | Your driver-guide | Coach driver | You, on the left |
| Commentary | Your guide, all day | Tour director on a microphone | None |
| Stops and timing | You decide, even on the day | Fixed schedule | You decide |
| How it's priced | Per vehicle, split by your group | Per person | Car hire, fuel and parking |
| Pickup | Your hotel, airport or cruise terminal | Set meeting points | Rental desk |
What a private guided tour of Ireland costs
A private guided tour costs €700 to €1,200 per day for the vehicle and driver-guide. The figure depends on the route, your group size and the vehicle. Because the price is per vehicle and not per person, each guest pays less as the group grows.
| Group | Price per day, whole vehicle | Price per day, each guest |
|---|---|---|
| 2 guests | €700 to €1,200 | €350 to €600 |
| 4 guests | €700 to €1,200 | €175 to €300 |
| 6 guests | €700 to €1,200 | about €117 to €200 |
Your quote gives the exact figure for your route and vehicle. Tipping is not required. If you'd like to tip your guide, about 10% of the tour cost is usual.
What's included and what isn't
Included:
- Your own driver-guide for the full day
- A private Mercedes for your group only
- A planned itinerary, with stops added or dropped on the day
- Pickup from your hotel, airport or cruise terminal
Not included:
- Meals and drinks. You eat where you like, and your guide can suggest places and book ahead.
- Entry fees, unless your quote says otherwise
- Flights and tips
Vehicles and group sizes
We match the vehicle to your group size, from a Mercedes E-Class for up to 3 guests to a Mercedes Sprinter for up to 12.
| Vehicle | Guests | Inside |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes E-Class | 1 to 3 | Leather seats, climate control, heated armrests |
| Mercedes V-Class | 6 to 8 | Leather seats, extra luggage space |
| Mercedes Sprinter | Up to 12 | Reclining seats, air conditioning, luggage space |
A day on the road with your guide
Your driver-guide collects you at your hotel, and most full days run 6 to 12 hours, depending on the route. Stops can be added or dropped as the day goes. Lunch is wherever you choose. If the weather turns, your guide reorders the day around it.
Who a private guided tour suits
A private guided tour suits first-time visitors who don't want to drive in Ireland. It also suits families with parents in their 60s and 70s, groups of friends sharing one vehicle price, cruise guests with a single day ashore, and travelers looking for a family townland or graveyard that no coach would detour for.
It suits fewer people when you are traveling alone on a tight budget, because a per-vehicle price isn't split. A coach or small group tour costs less per person, and suits travelers who want to meet other people on the road.
Private guided tours of Ireland: questions people ask
What is a private guided tour of Ireland?
It is a tour where your group has its own driver-guide and vehicle, on a route planned around you. No other travelers join.
How much does a private guided tour of Ireland cost?
It costs €700 to €1,200 per day for the vehicle and driver-guide, depending on route, group size and vehicle. For 4 guests, that is €175 to €300 each per day.
Is the price per person or per vehicle?
Per vehicle. Your group shares one price, so the cost per guest falls as the group gets bigger.
How many days do we need?
Anything from one day to 14 days works. Most guests start from a 5, 7 or 10-day plan and adjust it.
Can we change the plan on the day?
Yes. Weather, energy levels and interests change, and your itinerary can change with them.
Are meals included?
No. You eat where you like, and your guide can recommend places and book ahead.
Will other travelers join our group?
No. The vehicle and the guide are for your group only.
How far ahead should we book?
We take only a small number of dates each year. For summer travel, book several months ahead.
Should we tip our driver-guide?
Tipping is not required. If you'd like to, about 10% of the tour cost is usual.
Start planning your private tour of Ireland
Tell us when you're traveling, how many people are in your group and what you most want to see. We'll reply with a first route and a price per vehicle.