6-Day All Ireland & Northern Ireland Rail Tour

We booked this tour directly with Railtours Ireland and were able to communicate with them as our initial travel plans changed several times. Fiona was responsive and helpful in ensuring our changes had minimal impact on arrival and joining the group. The train service on the restored 1960's era pullman cars was wonderful and the experience a unique way to travel and enjoy the countryside as we moved from one wonderful location to the next. Along the way, several meals are included - both on trains and at one or more of the hotels included - all were delicious and well-prepared. The hotels selected for the various locations were uniformly excellent - 4-star and iconic: from a "castle" in Clifden to an historic property in the heart of Belfast. The tour includes several days of bus touring - using the various hotels as home base, giving us a deeper ability to enjoy the various attractions and beauty of the area. Essentially, we alternated with day-trips on these busses with transit from area to area by train. This model struck a nice balance between seeing a large area and not having to move every day. Our bus driver - Dave - was great and certainly a better driver on many narrow roads than we'd have been! Along the way, we were treated to commentary about the surrounds and iconic locations and history. Both of our guides (Jim and Dave) - who accompanied us throughout the tour - were knowledgeable, friendly and personable. We particularly liked the local color and flavor as both are residents and grew up in some of the areas we travelled. Our tour only had about 30 people and we were able to get to know most of them in the 8 days we spent together. This tour skews older but there were a few younger folks and they seemed to enjoy it as did we all. There are optional levels of activity at stops that cater to any level of ability and desire - from watching the scenery to climbing the giants causeway and hiking the grounds of a castle... Overall, this trip was well worth it and provided a unique experience we treasure.

Our guides, Paul, Anthony, Gerry, John, Andrew, Patrick and Norman were wonderful and knowledgeable. They cared for us very well.

We were on the Emerald Pullman Train Tour for 8 days! We were on & off the train thru that time! Our stay at the Abbey Glen Castle was a wonderful surprise!! I would recommend this tour to family members and my friends!! This trip would be a great gift or anniversary present!!! It was a well organized and fun experience!!!!

We had a unforgettable 6 day All Ireland Tour with a knowledgeable tour guide (Paul ONeill) . Paul went beyond facts to create engaging, memorable experiences. He was a, problem solver when needed, always available to chat individually if we had questions and overall a great host! He built community among the group through fun facts and humor while always ensuring safety, seamless logistics, and personalized touches that allowed us to relax and immerse in the beauty of Ireland. It was a 5 ⭐️ Experience!

We actually did the 7 day/overnight tour that included Belfast. The hotel accommodations were fantastic! The tours themselves were great and had enough time at each stop. It was a nice experience with different guides that knew the areas well and shared their knowledge. Norm was great with recommendations in Killarney!! Anthony in Galway really went above the call of duty when I accidentally left a backpack at the hotel. He ran to the hotel and brought it to me on the train before it departed. Couldn’t have thanked him enough!!