Touring Ireland and Northern Ireland With Contiki

As I sprinted into the visitors center at the Cliffs of Moher, thoroughly drenched  from the monsoon-like rains and gale-force winds of Hurricane Lorenzo, my physical 
discomfort was overridden by my giddiness at having had an “authentic Irish experience” (and the hilarious photos it produced). 

In fact, this feeling — of nonstop, pure, unbridled joy — was pervasive during my eight-day tour with Contiki, which spanned highlights of both Ireland and Northern Ireland. 

It started on the first night, when jet lag was quickly overcome by the positivity of my fellow travelers, all of whom were between 18 and 35 years old and feeling eager to begin their journeys. 

Following dinner at our hotel, we headed to the popular (albeit very touristy) Temple Bar for a few pints and live music. And even on just 30 minutes of sleep, I was brought to life by the energy from locals and fellow travelers

screaming the lyrics to The Cranberries’ “Zombie” into the night.

Each experience on Contiki’s itinerary was unique, but one thing was consistent across the board: All planned activities were authentically Irish. Our journey brought us to the medieval town of Kilkenny, where local guides took us on a historical bike tour. We then headed into Cork, where we had the pleasure of viewing Jameson Distillery (and where I discovered my affinity for whiskey ginger cocktails with lime) before setting off for Blarney Castle to share a kiss with the famous Blarney Stone. Before arriving in Northern Ireland’s capital of Belfast — home of the shipyard where the original Titanic was built — we made stops at the Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Londonderry and the Giant’s Causeway. 

I also found the people we encountered in each city to be especially welcoming. They often invited us to share in their culture: A hotel bartender showed us how to pour a perfect pint of Guinness; a local guide gushed about his hometown; and musicians at one dinner encouraged us to storm the dance floor.

But perhaps one of the happiest days I’ve ever had while traveling happened in Galway, when our group took a short ferry ride to the Aran Islands. We rented bikes and began cycling to the cliffs on the other end of one of the islands. Along the way, we saw wild horses, cows and stunning coastal views. We then began the hike up to the cliffs, which had views that rivaled — if not exceeded — the vistas at the Cliffs of Moher. This was followed by a delicious lunch at an adorable mom-and-pop-style cafe and a leisurely bike ride back to the ferry (with a quick stop for well-deserved cold beers on the way). 

Another particularly emotional experience occurred in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. 

The country’s tumultuous political past is displayed in street art and propaganda sprinkled throughout its cities. We also took a walking tour with local guide Ronan, who was half-Chinese and half-Irish Buddhist (or “Chirish,” as he called it). 

His mix of ethnicities and religions gave him a unique perspective on the tension between Northern Ireland’s Catholic and Protestant residents, and his powerful ideas on the past, present and future of his country brought some of us to tears by the end of the tour. 

I’d always heard that Ireland was special, and my experience with Contiki proved that to be undeniably true.

The Details
Contiki
www.contiki.com