Celtic Explorer | June 2026

9-Day Tour from Dublin to Edinburgh

Éire and Caledonia are calling! This 9-day tour will take you on an unforgettable adventure across Ireland and Scotland. The tour kicks off with four days in Ireland, where you will visit the dual capitals of Dublin and Belfast and take in the legendary green of Ireland’s countryside along the way. Bake scones and learn the Irish way of sheepherding at a typical Irish farm and visit the Titanic Experience in Belfast to immerse yourself in the story of the iconic ship. Sail across the North Channel for five days in Scotland, visiting castles, lochs, and of course, a whisky distillery! Your visit concludes in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, where you will explore Old Town, New Town and Edinburgh Castle. 

Call 800-579-6178 to Learn More!

Our hours of operation are Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. ET.

Tour Snapshot

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Stay

9 Days
8 Nights

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Meals

8 Breakfasts
6 Dinners

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Activity Level

Three
Learn More

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Travel Style

Motorcoach and Ferry
Crossing to Scotland

Trip Highlights
  • Taylors Irish Cabaret dinner and show
  • Irish sheep-farm experience with scone-baking
  • Pick Your Experience opportunity in Belfast
  • Belfast Titanic Experience
  • Inveraray Castle, featured on Downton Abbey as Duneagle Castle
  • Scottish pub evening with live music and drinks
  • Stirling Castle tour
  • Whiskey distillery tour and tasting
  • Traditional Scottish dinner with bagpipes and haggis ceremony 
Tour Inclusions
  • 4-star hotel accommodations in Dublin, Castlebar, Belfast, Glasgow, Oban, and Edinburgh 
  • Breakfast daily and some dinners 
  • Balanced guided sightseeing and free time to explore  
  • Admission into included attractions 
  • Arrival and departure transfers 
  • HGV host
  • Tour director and local guides
  • Prepaid gratuities  
  • Ferry crossing to Scotland
  • On-tour motor coach transportation with Wi-Fi 
  • Headsets throughout the tour  

Daily Itinerary

Fáilte to Ireland! This evening, meet your HGV host, tour director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. 

Accommodations: The Gibson or similar  Dinner Included

Take a morning orientation drive to see the shops, pubs and monuments of O’Connell Street, Dublin’s main thoroughfare and explore the diverse array of architecture displayed in Dublin’s famed landmarks.  See the Gothic spires of the 12th-century St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the blended neoclassical and Victorian grandeur of Trinity College and the trim propriety of the Georgian squares. In the afternoon, explore on your own time and don’t forget lunch at one of Dublin’s many cozy pubs. This evening head to Taylors Irish Cabaret for an unforgettable evening of dinner, drinks, Irish music and dance.  

Accommodations: The Gibson or similar  Breakfast and Dinner Included

As you journey from Dublin to Castlebar, you’ll first visit picturesque Athlone on the River Shannon. The town is rich in history, with a skyline dominated by Athlone Castle and the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. In Rathbaun, experience the traditions of Irish farm life, learning about sheep herding and baking your own scratch-made scones to enjoy with fresh preserves, whipped cream and coffee. This afternoon enjoy free time to explore the harbor town of Galway before stopping overnight in Castlebar.  

Distance: 206 mi/331 km Accommodations: Breaffy House Hotel and Spa or similar   Breakfast, Dinner, Scones and Coffee Included

Enjoy free time in the seaside resort town of Bundoran in County Donegal, known for its focus on fun and tourism. In Belfast, explore the capital of Northern Ireland with a Pick Your Experience.  Choose between:

Option 1: Modern history buffs will love this fascinating city-center walking tour of Belfast, where you will learn the story of the Troubles and the path to peace and reconciliation.

Option 2: See the highlights of Belfast, accompanied by an expert local guide. Explore the city’s architecture and street art and learn about its heritage through the stories of its citizens. 

Distance: 186 mi/300 km Accommodations: Europa or similar Breakfast Included

Immerse yourself in the history of the Titanic in the city of its construction, visiting the Titanic Experience to learn about this famed vessel, built in Belfast Harbour. Then, sail by ferry across the North Channel to Cairnryan to begin the Scottish portion of your adventure. Your crossing will carry you over the waters of the North Channel — also called the Irish Channel — to Cairnryan on the shores of Loch Ryan. The town has a proud maritime history, including building parts of the Mulberry harbours used in the D-Day invasion of Normandy in World War II.   

Distance: 84 mi/135 km Accommodations: AC Hotel Glasgow or similar  Breakfast Included

As you depart Glasgow, you will first stop to take photos along “the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.” Next, visit Inveraray Castle, which is the ancestral seat of the Duke of Argyll, chief of the influential Clan Campbell. Marvel at the fairytale turrets of the castle on Loch Fyne and its stunning interior. Fans of Downton Abbey will recognize the location that played the part of Duneagle Castle on the popular series. As your journey to the northeast continues, visit the remote, former slate-mining village of Ellenabeich on the isle of Seil and then travel to Oban, known as the Gateway to the Isles and the Seafood Capital of Scotland. Later, enjoy the warmth of Scottish hospitality on an evening outing to a local pub with the ambience of live music.

Distance: 130 mi/209 km Accommodations: Oban Bay Hotel or similar Breakfast and Dinner Included

See the Scottish Highlands at their most breathtaking on a scenic drive through Glen Coe and the Trossachs National Park before visiting Stirling Castle, a historic home of the Stuart monarchs and the coronation site of Mary, Queen of Scots.  Before you leave Stirling, raise a glass at a local highland whisky distillery. Your quintessential Scottish day culminates in the capital of Edinburgh with a traditional Scottish dinner, including the Ceremony of the Haggis, singers, dancers and the soul-stirring music of bagpipes.  

Distance: 126 mi/203 km Accommodations: Courtyard Edinburgh or similar  Breakfast & Dinner Included

See the highlights of Edinburgh with a local guide, including the medieval atmosphere of Old Town, the Georgian architecture of Newtown and a visit to Edinburgh Castle. This towering, hilltop fortress is home to Scotland’s Crown Jewels as well as centuries of Scottish history. This afternoon enjoy free time to explore Edinburgh on your own. You might enjoy a visit to the Royal Mile for some final souvenir shopping. In the evening, join your fellow felllow Members and host for a special farewell dinner.  

Accommodations: Courtyard Edinburgh or similar Breakfast and Dinner Included

Your vacation ends with breakfast as you prepare to say farewell to Scotland and journey homeward.

Breakfast Included
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Points for Travel

All Members have the option of paying for any hosted trip with annual, biennial, borrowed and rented points, a credit card or any combination of these. Click here to learn more.

Trip Cost

From $6,199/£4,575 per person, based on double occupancy

Book by January 2, 2026, to secure your spot.

Limited single accommodation upon request; call for special pricing.

Call 800-579-6178 to Book Your Trip!

Our hours of operation are Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. ET.

Terms and Conditions

HOSTED TRIPS POINTS FOR TRAVEL: Reservations must be booked by January 2, 2026. Nonrefundable, non-transferable deposit of $500/£375 per person is due at the time of booking. Final payment due by February 13, 2026. Any combination of annual, biennial, borrowed or rented points and/or a cash/credit card are applicable forms of payment towards a hosted trip vacation. Point values applied under this benefit are subject to change and may vary based on tier level. All trips are subject to availability and will be conducted in English. All participants are required to sign the General Activity Release and Indemnification Agreement acknowledgement and to complete the Globus Guest Acknowledgement online process. Price is per person based on double occupancy, land tour only, for tour dates outlined above. Fares shown are in U.S. Dollars and British Pounds for new reservations only and are subject to availability. Prices, additional fees, itineraries and availability are subject to change without notice. Certain terms, conditions, and restrictions may apply. Please call us at 800-579-6178 or +44 1524-386423 for additional information.

Hosted trip package includes all Globus inclusions plus these additional inclusions: some meals; one ticket per paying passenger for included excursions as noted in itinerary which may require an extra waiver to participate and have other restrictions/qualifications based on height, age, and weight; on-tour motor coach transportation; gratuities for Globus tour director, tour guides and drivers; taxes; and airport transfers. Dublin arrival transfers are included on the tour start date of June 13, 2026, and Edinburgh departure transfers are included on the tour end date of June 21, 2026, provided that guest arrival and departure flight or alternative travel details are received at least 90 days for domestic travelers and 120 days prior for international travelers before tour commencement. Not included: airfare; airline baggage fees; airport or departure taxes; travel insurance; car rental; gratuities for hotel housekeepers; alcohol, beverages and food outside the contracted Globus menu as presented at a dining venue; optional excursions; and all other items of a personal nature.

Tour itinerary activities in this region may be subject to favorable weather conditions. This tour requires some uphill walking on rough terrain at Edinburgh Castle which may pose a challenge to guests with physical limitations or reliance on mobility devices such as wheelchairs. Headsets available on tour except for London. Alcoholic beverages are only available to travelers who are 18 years or older. Hotels may differ from those listed by the tour provider, but the accommodations selected are of equivalent standard. Your hotels will be available in your final documents approximately 2-3 weeks prior to departure. No compensation is provided for alternative hotel stays not listed in the tour provider’s documentation.

A passport valid for six months past the ending date of this adventure is required for all guests. Starting in 2026, US citizens transiting through or traveling to the United Kingdom for 6 months or less will require an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) prior to travel. US citizens please refer to travel.state.gov for additional information and Non-US citizens please refer to your country authority. Entry requirements may vary for passport holders from other countries. Entry Visas are not required for U.S. residents. Entry U.S. residents for other nationalities may be required. Visa requirements are subject to change at any time. International visitor entry requirements are subject to change at any time. In addition to passport and visa requirements, some countries may have additional requirements. It is the responsibility of the traveler to obtain and pay for all required entry documents prior to travel. Any requirements imposed by countries visited or travelled through are the responsibility of each traveler and Great Vacation Destinations, Inc. cannot be held responsible for failure to comply or qualify for entry.

PICK YOUR EXPERIENCE: One excursion per person unless otherwise noted. No refunds on unused excursion(s). At least one excursion choice will be included at no additional cost, some excursion choices will be available with a surcharge beginning at $50. Excursion choices will vary based on tour and specific excursion details will be available 60-90 days prior to tour departure date. Tour providers may require an extra waiver to participate and have other restrictions/qualifications (“Qualifications”) based on height, age, and weight. Failure to meet applicable Qualifications may result in ineligibility for this offer with no credit or refund issued. Excursions must be confirmed at or before the final payment date and will be confirmed with the tour provider 30-90 days prior to the tour departure date. Visiting and participating in excursions in this region may be subject to favorable weather conditions. Inclement weather and/or other factors beyond the control of the tour operator may result in excursion cancellation such that this benefit will be lost and not substituted or replaced and no credit or refund will be issued.

GLOBUS: This is a Globus (Group Voyagers, Inc.) provided tour being sold by Great Vacation Destinations, Inc. Please visit Globus’ website for full terms and conditions.

GREAT VACATION DESTINATIONS, INC.: Great Vacation Destinations, Inc. is a full-service travel agency that is a seller of travel providing vacations to Hilton Grand Vacation Members and Guests. Great Vacation Destinations, Inc. is the seller of these vacation trips and is located at 4960 Conference Way North, Suite 100, Boca Raton, FL 33431. Great Vacation Destinations is a Washington Seller of Travel No. 602-283-711; Florida Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) registration No. 15-72225-4, California Seller of Travel registration No. 2068362 (Registration as a Seller of Travel does not constitute approval by the State of California). Void where prohibited or restricted by law and/or where state registration and/or licensing requirements have not been met.