North of Ireland Escape — Self-Launched
7 days · Ireland & Northern Ireland
Globus charges £790
No-markup version: ~£690 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 7-day loop from Dublin through the heart of Ireland and Northern Ireland — Athlone and Galway, the Wild Atlantic Way up to Westport, Donegal and Letterkenny, then Derry's walls, the Giant's Causeway and Belfast, finishing back in Dublin via Carlingford. Built for solo travellers using intercity buses (Bus Éireann, Expressway, Translink Goldline) and the Dublin–Belfast train, with hostels and budget guesthouses instead of tour hotels. You replicate the original Globus itinerary's stops and headline experiences — Rathbaun Farm scones and sheepdog demo, the Derry walking tour, Titanic Belfast, the Antrim coast — but book everything yourself. All costs are approximate per person in GBP.
Day-by-day
Dublin — arrival, Georgian squares & the Liberties
Dublin, Ireland
Land at Dublin Airport and take the Dublin Express or Aircoach bus into the city centre (€8/£7, ~30 min) — far cheaper than a taxi. Check into a city-centre hostel or budget guesthouse around Temple Bar, Smithfield or Stoneybatter. Spend the afternoon on a self-guided loop of the stops the group tour covers by coach: O'Connell Street and the GPO, a wander through the Georgian squares (Merrion and Fitzwilliam), then St Patrick's Cathedral and the exterior of Trinity College. Finish with an evening in a traditional pub in the Liberties — try a pub with live trad music rather than a tourist-strip bar, and get your first Irish stew or coddle.
🚌Aircoach/Dublin Express airport bus €8 (~£7)
🛏Hostel dorm in central Dublin (e.g. Generator Dublin, Jacobs Inn) ~£28/night
- →Self-guided Georgian Dublin walk (free)
- →St Patrick's Cathedral grounds & Trinity College exterior
- →Live trad music pub session
Dublin to Galway via Athlone & Rathbaun Farm
Galway, Ireland
Take the morning Expressway/Bus Éireann coach from Dublin Busáras westward. Break the journey at Athlone to see the town and the River Shannon (lockers at the bus station or carry light). Near Ardrahan, book the Rathbaun Farm experience directly — the sheepdog herding demonstration with coffee and homemade scones that's included on the group tour is bookable to independent visitors by arrangement. Continue to Galway and check into a hostel near Eyre Square. In the evening join a pay-what-you-like Galway walking tour (Eyre Square, Lynch's Castle, St Nicholas's Collegiate Church) or head straight to a pub for an Irish coffee and a trad session in the Latin Quarter.
🚌Bus Éireann/Expressway Dublin–Galway coach ~£13, plus stop-off legs
🛏Hostel dorm in Galway city centre (e.g. Snoozles, Kinlay Hostel) ~£26/night
- →Rathbaun Farm sheepdog demo & scones ~£12-15 (book direct)
- →Athlone & River Shannon stop (free)
- →Galway walking tour ~£15 (or free tip-based)
Galway to Letterkenny via Westport & the Wild Atlantic Way
Letterkenny, Ireland
This is the long driving day of the original tour — on public transport it's two coaches (Galway–Westport, then Westport–Donegal/Letterkenny via Sligo). Set off early. Enjoy free time in Westport, a handsome planned town with the Carrowbeg river walk, then continue north through Sligo and Donegal town for a wander by the River Eske and a look at Donegal Castle. Arrive in Letterkenny in the evening and check into a budget B&B or hostel. Have dinner in town — Donegal is a strong spot for seafood chowder and a pint.
🚌Bus Éireann/Expressway Galway–Westport–Letterkenny ~£22 total
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Letterkenny ~£30/night
- →Westport town & river walk (free)
- →Donegal town, Donegal Castle & River Eske (free / castle €5)
- →Wild Atlantic Way coastal scenery from the bus
Letterkenny to Belfast via Derry & the Giant's Causeway
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Take a local bus or shared route into Derry (Londonderry), then join a small-group Derry walking tour along the 17th-century city walls and the Bogside murals — the same Old Town experience the group tour includes, but bookable on GetYourGuide for around £12-15. Continue on the Causeway Coast: either take the public Ulsterbus 402/172 along the coast and walk to the Giant's Causeway (free to visit the stones; the visitor centre is optional) or book a half-day Causeway Coast tour that picks up in Derry/Portrush. Finish by taking the Translink train or Goldline coach into Belfast for two nights, staying in the Cathedral Quarter or Queen's Quarter.
🚌Letterkenny–Derry bus ~£6; Derry–Causeway–Belfast bus/train ~£15
🛏Hostel dorm in Belfast (e.g. Belfast International Youth Hostel, Vagabonds) ~£30/night
- →Derry city walls & Bogside walking tour ~£14
- →Giant's Causeway (free / visitor centre £13 optional)
- →Dunluce Castle viewpoint (free)
Belfast — Titanic, City Hall & a proper Irish night
Belfast, Northern Ireland
A full day in Belfast. Start with a self-guided orientation drive on foot: City Hall, the Albert Memorial Clock Tower and Queen's University. Then spend two to three hours at Titanic Belfast, the headline museum on the original itinerary — book online in advance for £21-24. In the afternoon walk the Cathedral Quarter or take the free (tip-based) Black Cab or walking tour of the political murals. In the evening, book Taylors Irish Night at the Belfast Titanic Hotel (3-course dinner with drinks and live traditional music and dance, around £50-60) to replace the group tour's optional evening.
🚌Local Metro buses / walkable city centre ~£3
🛏Hostel dorm in Belfast ~£30/night
- →Titanic Belfast museum £21-24 (book online)
- →Black Cab / political murals tour ~£15
- →Taylors Irish Night dinner show ~£55
Belfast to Dublin via Carlingford & the Cooley Peninsula
Dublin, Ireland
Take the Enterprise train or Goldline coach from Belfast to Newry/Dundalk, then a local bus to Carlingford on the Cooley Peninsula. Spend the middle of the day exploring the medieval village and King John's Castle on the lough shore — quiet, atmospheric and free to wander. Continue south by bus and train to Dublin for your final night, checking back into a hostel. End the trip in a classic Dublin pub or a trad session in Temple Bar or Ranelagh.
🚌Belfast–Newry/Dundalk train ~£12; local bus to Carlingford ~£4; back to Dublin ~£10
🛏Hostel dorm in central Dublin ~£28/night
- →Carlingford village & King John's Castle (free / small entry)
- →Cooley Peninsula lough walk (free)
- →Final Dublin trad session
Dublin — departure
Dublin, Ireland
Breakfast, then a last optional morning — the Book of Kells at Trinity College (£16-19, book online), the Guinness Storehouse (£25-30) or a walk along the Grand Canal. Take the Aircoach/Dublin Express back to the airport with time to spare. If you're a non-EU national with a long onward trip, note that Ireland and the UK are separate immigration areas, so if your route re-enters the UK check your visa situation before booking. Total spent over 7 days should land well under the original Globus coach-tour price, with a lot more freedom.
🚌Aircoach/Dublin Express to airport €8 (~£7)
🛏—
- →Book of Kells & Trinity Library optional £16-19
- →Guinness Storehouse optional £25-30
- →Grand Canal walk (free)
Self-launched vs. Globus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Globus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£690 | £790 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £100 per person (13%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Globus-style trips? Check them out here.~£690
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does North of Ireland Escape — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £690 per person for 7 days in Ireland & Northern Ireland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Globus?+
Yes — Globus charges around £790 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £690 — a saving of roughly £100 (13%) per person.
How long is the Ireland & Northern Ireland trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Ireland & Northern Ireland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, road-trip trip through Ireland & Northern Ireland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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