Thank you in advance for your help. Questions/answers on this forum are so helpful! Do you have any recommendations for/against any particular private tour companies/individuals/drivers for Ireland? While we could rent a car, it seems that we would both enjoy the trip more if we didn't have to concentrate on driving on the left while trying to enjoy ourselves. We realize there is public transportation but thought we'd look at the feasibility of hiring someone to drive us, hook up with some organized tours, etc. We are not interested in joining large tour bus operations, but rather are interested in smaller vehicles (like 16 person bus/van or smaller.) Changes in other travel plans find us planning a trip for two (both retired, not big hikers) for this May. We have 9 days available in Ireland. Saw Little Gems highly recommended but they are booked. We are currently planning to fly into Dublin where we will use public transportation. We plan to see the Book of Kells. the National Museum of Archeology, and the Jeannie Johnston Famine Ship in Dublin. (Thought 2 days for all that) The Old Military Road through Sally Gap sounds interesting and we'd like to see the Dingle Peninsula. We thought the National Irish Famine Museum sounds interesting as well. Then we'd like to see The Derry Walls, the Giant's Causeway and the Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge area (picnic?) in Northern Ireland. Then we'd like to see the HMS Caroline in Belfast and the Somme Museum in Bangor in Northern Ireland and then fly out of Belfast for Scotland. We're thinking 9 days could be too much for this but are not sure. We dropped other things out of our plan (Ring of Kerry, Waterford crystal tour, Ulster American Folk Park) thinking there is not enough time. Your help is greatly appreciated!
We did daytours with Kerry Experience Tours from Sneem. Private Tours They also offer Multi Day Tours
It always was great Experience Check their website link above
I would say Dingle peninsula is quite far from the rest of what you plan to do- if you cut that you'd have more time around Dublin/Wicklow and in the beautiful north of the country. If you start in Dublin and visit the Wicklow mountains (where Sally Gap is, and Glendalough which is spectacular) you can then head north and once you cross the border you're in the wonderful Mourne Mountains. After that you could keep heading up to Belfast, and then up around Bangor/the Causeway Coast (which includes Carrick-a-rede) and on to Derry. You can fly directly from Derry to Scotland (on LoganAir- last I checked) but the flights are much less frequent and more expensive than from Belfast so might want to go back to Belfast (it's only about 90 mins). Just my personal suggestion- good luck with the planning!
Did you look at Rabbies? They use 16 person vans and all of us on this forum who have been on one(or more) of their tours love them.
Rabbies also offer private tours & bespoke itineraries.