Wonders of Scotland & Ireland

On a small guided group tour with Nordic Visitor, you can sit back and enjoy an immersive itinerary alongside a group of like-minded travellers. There will be no more than 15 in a group, so your guide can get to know you all personally.

You’ll have one guide to take you around both Scotland and Ireland. They will be an expert in Scottish and Irish history and culture. They’ll share their local knowledge and stories with you, and take you to hidden gems across each country.

Your guide will also act as the logistical organisers for the group. They’ll ensure everything is running smoothly and that you’re having a good time while in each country. They’ll also accompany you on the ferry crossing between both countries for a seamless transition.

You’ll also enjoy the service of experienced drivers, one in each country. They know the roads well and will make sure you’re comfortable in the vehicles.

Due to the nature of this tour and activities included, it’s not recommended for families with young children. That said, it is suitable for well-travelled, active children of 13 years or older. If in doubt, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Please note that the local legal drinking age is 18. It means that those aged 17 and under will not take part in distillery tours.

To make sure you and your fellow travellers have a comfortable journey, we need to limit the size and amount of luggage in the bus.

Each guest can bring one suitcase or large bag that can be stored in the back of the minibus. The guidance size for the larger luggage is that it should not exceed 158 cm (62 in) when adding the length, width and height. It should not weigh more than 20 kg.

You can also bring one smaller item (like a small backpack) inside the van for daily essentials like camera, wallet, medications and so forth. Unfortunately carry-on suitcases (cabin bags) are too large to store in the van’s overhead racks.

If you have more luggage, we ask that you please make arrangements to store it during the guided portion of the tour.

Please note that you should be able to carry your own suitcase at accommodation and between transport.

If you have any questions about luggage your Nordic Visitor travel consultant will be able to assist you.

During your Scotland and Ireland tour, you’ll stay in accommodation hand-picked by our local travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience.

You can view the detailed list of hotels for this trip under the accommodation tab.

For both countries, you can choose from single or double rooms. Twin, triple and family rooms are not commonly available. Please contact your travel consultant if your group contains 3 or more people.

Please also note that in Scotland and Ireland room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America. For example, a double room often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.

Due to the historic nature of the properties we usually select, most of the rooms are only accessible by stairs. Lifts are not common in Scottish or Irish hotels. Please let us know as soon as possible if you are not able to walk up stairs.

This tour includes a few guided walks along the itinerary. This means you must be prepared and able to walk between 1-3 kilometres (0.6–2 miles) daily. You also need to be able to carry your own luggage when boarding the vehicle and at each accommodation.

To travel between Scotland and Ireland, you'll take a ferry from Cairnryan on the coast of Scotland to Belfast in Northern Ireland.

Your driver in Scotland will drop you off at the port in time for your ferry departure. The crossing will take around 2 hours and 30 minutes. Your guide will travel with you on the ferry, and your driver in Ireland will be waiting for you on the other side.

During your tour, you’ll spend some time in Northern Ireland. This is a separate region from Ireland, and in fact is one of the 4 nations that make up the United Kingdom. This means that UK law applies here, and their currency is the British Pound.

Just like their Celtic neighbours, the official language of Northern Ireland is English, though you may hear Irish Gaelic or other dialects spoken here. The capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast, a port city with plenty of its own history and culture.

Summer in Scotland and Ireland might be warmer than you expect! While temperatures are unlikely to reach higher than 20°C (68 °F), heatwaves can be humid. This means it can feel hotter than it is, especially in cities like Dublin and Edinburgh.

That said, the weather is also very changeable, so you’ll want to come prepared for anything. Rain is always a possibility, and when the sun sets a warm jumper or jacket is a must. We’ve prepared a useful packing guide for Scotland and Ireland to help you decide what to bring with you.

Please note that sightseeing is dependent on weather and road conditions. This means that your itinerary might need to be altered if these conditions are not favourable during your visit. If something unexpected occurs, you can call our 24/7 helpline to speak directly with a Nordic Visitor staff member.

Whatever time of year you’re in Ireland and Scotland, you’re likely to see lots of different types of weather. As you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors it’s a good idea to come prepared for a combination of weather conditions.

Here is a recommended packing list for a summer trip:

• A warm jumper or fleece
• A waterproof jacket
• Good walking shoes or boots (especially if you intend to hike and go on nature walks)
• Light scarf or thin sweater
• Reusable water bottle
• Sunglasses, sunscreen and a sunhat

In some areas of Scotland, such as the Highlands and islands, you might notice small, pesky insects called midges. They’re most active on summer evenings and tend to swarm near still water. You can avoid bites by wearing long-sleeves and trousers and by packing an insect repellent.

For more information, check this packing list suggestion.

There are limited laundry facilities in Ireland and Scotland’s countryside. You will find some laundrettes in the cities like Dublin and Edinburgh. Some hotels do offer dry cleaning for an additional cost.

On your tour of Scotland and Ireland, breakfast at your accommodation is included each day. You will also enjoy some group dinners, included in your package. These meals will usually either be a set dinner menu or a dinner buffet with a good variety of local fresh ingredients (drinks not included).

Please notify your travel consultant at the time of booking of any dietary restrictions or allergies.

Other meals are not included and are at your own expense. Your driver and guide will make sure to stop along the way for you to pick up snacks, drinks and lunch.

The amount of spending money you’ll need will depend on the standard of restaurants you decide to go to.

In Scotland, we recommend budgeting between £15–£20 per person for each day’s lunch.You can expect to pay a similar range in Euros for Ireland. Dinners at casual restaurants here might cost between £30–£40. In Ireland, this will be around €20–€25. 

Meanwhile at upscale restaurants, you can expect to pay £50–£80 (€50–€100) or more. This does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages.

By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.

For support and advice during the day, you can ask your guide or call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline.

The Edinburgh-based travel expert on call will handle any unforeseen situations for you, such as unusual weather or events.

Whether or not you need a visa to visit Scotland and Ireland depends on your nationality.

You need either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK. This also applies to citizens from countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia and the EU.

This does not apply to Ireland, but if you’re staying in Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK) or tranferring via a UK airport, you’ll also need an ETA.

You can find the complete list of countries whose nationals require a visa to enter each country on the website of the UK government and the website of Ireland’s Citizens Information Board.

Your passport must also be valid for at least 6 months after the date of your departure (the end of your tour). It’s a good idea to check your passport expiry date early in case you need to renew it.

If you feel you have received an outstanding tour experience, tips are very welcomed and appreciated.

As you’ll be travelling as part of a guided group tour, your itinerary for this portion of your trip is set. But you can still customise other parts of your package.

For instance, you could add extra nights in Dublin before the guided portion of your trip or after in Edinburgh. This will give you more time to explore the capital cities at your own pace. You can add these additional days while booking your package online.

It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the guaranteed departure calendar to see the availability. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking.

Nordic Visitor offers 10–20% deposits to reserve your tour. The remaining balance is due 30 days before you travel.

Many tours are also open for the following year if you like to plan well in advance. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us.

After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip. 

At that time, they’ll confirm the availability of your tour. Then the booking process starts, which may take a few weeks. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. You will also receive more information about what to expect during your trip.

No need! Nordic Visitor is already working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours.

Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund. 

You can get in touch with our Scotland and Ireland travel experts ahead of your trip if you have any questions. The live chat option is useful for getting a quick reply as someone answers live every day during office opening hours.

Once you’ve booked, we’ll provide you with travel guides packed full of local tips and top attractions for your visit. You can also check out our online Scotland Travel Guide and Ireland Travel Guide where we’ve compiled useful information about topics, including:

• Which credit cards are widely accepted in Ireland and and card payment in Scotland
• What kind of electric adapters or converters you’ll need
• The native languages of Ireland and Scotland that you might hear alongside English
• As well as tipping, local news sources and other useful information

After you have booked your tour, it will only take a few days to confirm its availability. But it may take a few weeks to create your itinerary and book everything. Once your trip details are finalised, we’ll send you e-copies of your travel documents.

Upon your arrival in Ireland, you’ll receive a welcome bag with hard copies of your itinerary, attraction and tour vouchers, the Nordic Visitor Scotland and Ireland Travel Guides and more.

So when do you check in? And what can you expect upon landing in Scotland?

After picking up your luggage, make your way to your accommodation in the Edinburgh city centre. If you’ve come from another airport, such as Glasgow, you can take the train or book a private transfer.

Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts between 2–4 PM.

You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel if you have to wait. Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your arrival if you’d like an early check-in.

When you depart may depend on the time of your return flight. Check out early if you’re heading to the airport for a morning flight. On the other hand, if you’re flying home later in the day, you might like to enjoy a leisurely day or visit one more attraction.

You will need to check out from your room, but will be able to store your luggage at the hotel reception. Simply return later to collect your bags before catching public transport or a taxi to the airport.

All packages starting in Scotland are billed in British Pounds (GBP), the local currency.

Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. This means conversions from GBP to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.