Ireland is a beautiful island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, divided by the North Channel, St. George’s Channel, and the Irish Sea from Great Britain. An interesting fact to note is that it is the second-largest British Isle, third-largest in Europe, and the 20th-largest on the planet. Besides its beauty, its rich culture and cuisine make Ireland a must-visit place for people in their golden years.
There are plenty of Ireland tours for seniors to discover this delightful country that is a mix of the old world and new. From the Cliffs of Moher to Dublin’s Grafton Street; from the Ring of Kerry to Glendalough; and from the Rock of Cashel to Cork, everything here spells charm and magic. In 2010, Dublin was also designated a UNESCO’s City of Literature, so if you are a literature buff, this destination should certainly be on your list.
With very little advance planning, you can turn your Ireland tour into a dream holiday. Below is a list of tours and types of tours that offer packages for seniors. When browsing, you should look for special-interest tours and walking distances. On the other hand, some tours even allow you to design your own self-guided tour. Tours that are named “on-the-go” occur between shorter periods of time. However, tours marked “leisurely” usually last longer.
Here are some of the popular tours you can consider booking.
Road Scholar Tours
Most of the travelers who utilize this tour are aged 55 years or above. However, there is no minimum age to travel with Road Scholar Tours. You can choose from seven different and varying itineraries to explore Ireland; each with its own points of interest and tourist attractions. Moreover, there are an additional five tours that include trips to Scotland, Wales, and even England. So, this is a great option for seniors who wish to tour Great Britain in its entirety as well.
There are varying levels of tours that seniors can choose from. Educational tours are meant for those seniors who can easily walk at least two miles a day without trouble. There is also a moderately more challenging tour, which comprises of a 10-day bicycle trip that covers anything between 25 and 30 miles a day. If you select an international tour, then you can also bring along your loved ones. This is a great choice if you wish to travel with family, as it is advised for seniors to travel with a group of people instead of solo. Some of the tours also offer adventures at sea.
Themed Group Tours
There are many activities to do in Ireland in just a single trip. However, senior travelers find that traveling through the beautiful island country is more than manageable if they choose a tour that is related to a particular interest or theme. For instance, if you wish to have a cultural experience, then you can opt for a tour that provides you with a taste of the Irish culture at various venues, shows, and exhibitions. On the other hand, if you are an avid golfer, then you can opt for a tour that includes some tee time at the Emerald Isle, which is a vast expanse of green lands.
More examples of Ireland-based theme tours being offered are:
- Eire Golf Tours
- A Rural Experience
- Excursions Ireland
- Ireland Escorted
- Fabulous Food Trails
- Signpost Tours
- Lynchpin Tours
Globus® Irish Tours
Globus® Tours offers a wide variety of tours that help you explore Ireland and many other places that take you through the rest of the British Isles. A tour offered by them that lasts for 10 days and is for on-the-go seniors is the Essential Britain and Ireland Tour, which takes travelers to Northern Ireland, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and England. For a more religious experience, you can choose the Legacy of St. Patrick tour, which explores the historically significant and religious sites of Catholics over the course of 10 days.
However, if this is too short a time period and you wish to travel at a more relaxed and steady pace, then you can opt for the Scenic Ireland Tour. It lasts for 13 days and takes you through the beautiful Emerald Isle.
Self-guided tours
If you wish to explore the country on a budgeted self-guided tour with your own itinerary, you can create one for yourself. Many of the stations and trains are handicap-accessible, so if you use a wheelchair, you can rest assured travel without much of a hassle. With advance notice of 24 hours, you can avail the services of the staff at the station or train for assistance in boarding and disembarking. The nationwide rail network connects commuter routes in Cork, Dublin, Limerick, and Galway. The maximum age for renting a car in Ireland is 75, and you may incur a surcharge fee if you are over 70 years of age.
