Irish Experience — Self-Launched (Dublin to Dublin, 11 Days)
11 days · Ireland & Northern Ireland
Trafalgar charges £2,630
No-markup version: ~£1,245 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, hostel-and-B&B version of Trafalgar's 11-day "Irish Experience" coach tour — same loop round the island (Dublin → Belfast → Derry → Galway/Connemara → Killarney/Ring of Kerry → Kilkenny → Dublin), but booked yourself using Irish Rail, Expressway/Translink buses, and city walking tours. Expect dorm beds and simple guesthouses instead of Marriott-grade hotels, pub food and supermarket lunches instead of set group dinners, and free walking tours, self-guided castle and abbey tickets and local day-tour minibuses instead of a tour director. All costs are rough per-person estimates in GBP and assume travel in shoulder season; peak summer (Jul–Aug) adds roughly 20–30% on beds. You'll also need to budget flights to/from Dublin separately, and carry both euro (Republic) and pounds sterling (Northern Ireland).
Day-by-day
Arrive Dublin — Georgian squares, Trinity College & a distillery
Dublin
Land at Dublin Airport and take the Airlink 747 or Dublin Express coach into the city centre (~€8/£7). Check into a hostel in Temple Bar / Smithfield / Parnell Square (Barnacles, Generator or Jacobs Inn are reliable solo-traveller picks). Do a free tip-based walking tour (Sandemans/FREE Dublin Tours, 2.5 hrs — tip £5–10) to cover Georgian Squares, Trinity College and Dublin Castle, then buy a self-guided Trinity + Book of Kells ticket (€18.50, book online to skip queues). Finish with a distillery tasting — Teeling in the Liberties (€20) is cheaper and less mobbed than Jameson Bow Street. Pub dinner and a trad session in the evening.
🚌Dublin Express / Airlink 747 airport coach (£6–8); all city sights walkable
🛏Hostel dorm, central Dublin (£20–28)
- →Free tip-based city walking tour
- →Trinity College & Book of Kells self-guided entry
- →Teeling or Jameson distillery tasting
- →Temple Bar / Smithfield trad session
Dublin to Belfast — Black Taxi Tour & Titanic Quarter
Belfast
Take the Dublin Express or Aircoach from Dublin city centre to Belfast Europa Buscentre (approx 2h20, €15–20 / £13–17 booked online in advance). Book a hostel in the Cathedral Quarter (Vagabonds or Global Village, £22–30 dorm). In the afternoon pre-book a self-arranged Black Taxi political mural tour directly with a local taxi firm (Falls/Shankill, ~£35–45 per cab, so ~£12–15 each if you fill it with hostel mates or use a shared-group slot). Alternatively join a GetYourGuide political-history walking tour (~£15). Evening: Cathedral Quarter pubs (The Duke of York, Kelly's Cellars) and a chippy tea.
🚌Dublin Express/Aircoach Dublin–Belfast (£13–17)
🛏Hostel dorm, Belfast Cathedral Quarter (£22–30)
- →Black Taxi political mural tour (falls/shankill)
- →Belfast Cathedral Quarter pub crawl
- →Free walking tour of Belfast city centre
Titanic Belfast, Causeway Coast & into Derry
Belfast / Giant's Causeway / Derry-Londonderry
Do Titanic Belfast first thing (self-booked ticket ~£21 online) — allow 2–3 hours. Then take a full-day Causeway Coast minibus day trip from Belfast (GetYourGuide/Klook, ~£35–45) that runs up the coast road, stops at the Dark Hedges, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and gives 1.5–2 hrs at the Giant's Causeway (visitor centre optional, the stones themselves are free to walk). Some operators drop in Portrush/Coleraine, from which you can take the Translink train or the 234 bus on to Derry (~£7–9, 1h15). Check into a Derry hostel/B&B inside the walls (Derry/Londonderry is compact — the Halo or a city-centre B&B). Pub dinner on Waterloo Street.
🚌Coast day-tour minibus; Translink bus/train Coleraine–Derry (£7–9)
🛏Hostel/guesthouse, Derry city centre (£25–33)
- →Titanic Belfast self-guided entry
- →Causeway Coast day tour incl. Giant's Causeway
- →Carrick-a-Rede & Dark Hedges photo stops
Derry walls, Bogside murals & the Inishowen Peninsula
Derry-Londonderry
A full day on foot: walk the intact 17th-century city walls (free, 1.5 km circuit), then the Bogside murals and the Free Derry Museum (museum ~£6, donation-based walking tours from the Bogside Artists or a local guide ~£10). In the afternoon, either rent a bike or book a local Inishowen taxi tour up to Grianan of Aileach hillfort (free to visit, spectacular views over Lough Swilly and Foyle — a shared taxi/minibus is ~£20–25 each). Evening: cheap pints and live music on Waterloo Street, Derry's best-value night out.
🚌On foot; optional shared taxi/bike to Inishowen (£20–25)
🛏Hostel/guesthouse, Derry city centre (£25–33)
- →Self-guided city walls walk
- →Bogside murals & Free Derry Museum
- →Grianan of Aileach hillfort
- →Waterloo Street live music
Derry to Galway via Sligo & Yeats Country
Derry → Galway
Give yourself a full travel day. Take the Translink/Expressway connection via Sligo or Letterkenny (Derry–Sligo bus ~£10; Sligo–Galway Expressway 64 bus or Irish Rail ~£12–15; total ~5.5–6.5 hrs). If you break the journey, Belleek Pottery (Northern Ireland side) is a short detour off the Enniskillen road — or simply stop for an hour in Sligo town for Yeats sights and a cheap lunch. Arrive Galway in the evening; stay in a Latin Quarter hostel (Snoozles, Galway City Hostel, £25–32 dorm). Dinner: a bowl of chowder or a €12 pub carvery in the West End.
🚌Translink Derry–Sligo bus (~£10) + Expressway/Irish Rail Sligo–Galway (~£13)
🛏Hostel dorm, Galway Latin Quarter (£25–32)
- →Sligo town stop (Yeats statue, cheap lunch)
- →Evening wander of Galway Latin Quarter & Claddagh
Connemara & Kylemore Abbey day trip
Galway / Connemara
Book a Connemara day tour from Galway (GetYourGuide, ~£40–50) covering the Inagh Valley, Leenane, Killary Fjord and 2 hrs at Kylemore Abbey and its Victorian walled garden (entry included in most tours, or ~€16.50 if self-driving). Budget alternative: the public Bus Éireann 419 to Clifden plus a local taxi/hop-on hop-off loop. Return to Galway for the evening — skip the €72 castle banquet and instead catch 'Trad on the Prom' only if you fancy it (~€35, book direct) or take in a free trad session in Taaffes or The Crane Bar.
🚌Coach day tour from Galway (~£42 incl. transport)
🛏Hostel dorm, Galway Latin Quarter (£25–32)
- →Connemara & Killary Fjord scenic drive
- →Kylemore Abbey & walled garden
- →Free trad session in Taaffes Bar
Galway to Killarney via the Cliffs of Moher
Galway → Cliffs of Moher → Killarney
Take the morning Expressway 51 bus Galway–Ennis/Galway–Doolin, or (easier) join a Galway–Cliffs–Killarney one-way day tour (~£45–55) that stops at the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre (entry ~€10 self-booked) and includes the Shannon Estuary ferry at Killimer–Tarbert — a genuinely scenic crossing. Arrive Killarney and stay in a hostel (Killarney International or Neptune's, £25–33 dorm). Evening: skip the €67 ceilidh and instead find a free or €10 trad session in a High Street pub — Courtneys and The Danny Mann are dependable.
🚌One-way guided minibus Galway–Cliffs–Killarney via ferry (~£50)
🛏Hostel dorm, Killarney town centre (£25–33)
- →Cliffs of Moher visitor centre & Atlantic Edge exhibition
- →Shannon Estuary ferry crossing
- →Killarney pub trad session
Ring of Kerry by public/local transport
Killarney / Ring of Kerry
Do the Ring of Kerry without a coach: the cheapest route is a Killarney–Ring of Kerry hop-on-hop-off day bus (~£25–30 return, book locally), which hits Killorglin, Cahersiveen, Waterville and Sneem with photo stops. Add a jaunting cart (pony & trap) ride through Killarney National Park (~£19) or a bike hire (~£15) if the weather is good. Alternatively buy a self-guided Muckross House & gardens ticket (~£18) and walk the Muckross/Dinis loop. Lunch from a Spar or SuperValu — €5 sandwich beats a €20 tour-group set lunch.
🚌Local Ring of Kerry day bus (~£27)
🛏Hostel dorm, Killarney town centre (£25–33)
- →Ring of Kerry hop-on-hop-off day bus
- →Muckross House & Gardens self-guided
- →Jaunting cart ride through Killarney National Park
- →Torc Waterfall walk
Killarney to Kilkenny via Blarney & Waterford
Killarney → Blarney → Waterford → Kilkenny
Break the long transfer with two cheap stops: bus Killarney–Cork (~£12, 1h40) then the 226 bus to Blarney Castle (£12.50 to kiss the stone, gardens included). Continue Cork–Waterford by Expressway (~£11) for the free House of Waterford Crystal workshop floor (book a free slot, the paid guided tour is optional) or a short walk of the Viking Triangle. Then Waterford–Kilkenny by Expressway/JJ Kavanagh (~£8–10, 50 mins). Stay in a Kilkenny hostel/B&B (£28–35). It's a long day — book buses on expressway.ie in advance for cheap fares.
🚌Expressway/bus Killarney–Cork–Blarney–Waterford–Kilkenny (~£32 total)
🛏Hostel/guesthouse, Kilkenny (£28–35)
- →Blarney Castle & gardens
- →House of Waterford Crystal master-crafter floor
- →Waterford Viking Triangle walk
- →Kilkenny medieval city wander
Dunbrody Famine Ship, Wicklow Mountains & back to Dublin
Kilkenny → New Ross → Wicklow → Dublin
Bus Kilkenny–New Ross (~£7) for the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience (self-booked ~£12, 1.5 hrs). Then take the bus or a short train hop to Enniscorthy/Gorey and on to Dublin (~£12). Sidestep a private coach with the St. Kevin's Bus / Bus Éireann Glendalough run: from Dublin you can instead do Glendalough as a Wicklow day trip if you'd rather see the lakes and monastic ruins (~£15 return from Dublin). Overnight in Dublin — swap the Roganstown golf resort for a city-centre hostel or a cheap airport-adjacent B&B if you have an early flight (£22–30).
🚌Regional buses Kilkenny–New Ross–Dublin (~£20)
🛏Hostel dorm, central Dublin (£22–30)
- →Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience
- →Glendalough monastic ruins & Wicklow mountains (optional detour)
- →Last-night Dublin pub dinner
Dublin — Book of Kells mop-up & departure
Dublin
Morning free for anything missed on day 1: Guinness Storehouse (€27, pre-book online, solo-friendly), the Little Museum of Dublin (€10), or a walk out to the Iveagh Gardens and St Stephen's Green. Grab a final breakfast roll and take the Airlink 747/Dublin Express back to the airport (£6–8). Allow 3 hours before an international flight.
🚌Airlink 747 / Dublin Express to airport (£6–8)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Guinness Storehouse self-guided visit
- →Little Museum of Dublin
- →St Stephen's Green walk
Self-launched vs. Trafalgar
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Trafalgar | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,245 | £2,630 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,385 per person (53%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Trafalgar-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,245
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 Irish Experience — Self-Launched (Dublin to Dublin, 11 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,245 per person for 11 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 Trafalgar?+
Yes — Trafalgar charges around £2,630 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,245 — a saving of roughly £1,385 (53%) per person.
How long is the Ireland & Northern Ireland trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 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, budget, backpacker 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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