Overland Ireland Reviews

A dream trip!! I researched so many travel companies before settling on Overland Ireland for their Ultimate Ten Day Tour for my sister and me. All their reviews were so positive and I’m here to say extremely well deserved! I wanted a small group (there were only a total of 14 of us) in a smaller vehicle (Mercedes Sprint) that stayed in unique, small inns and traveled around the entire country. I very much appreciated the coastal route. I never realized how much our guide, David, could add to the overall experience and he was absolutely wonderful. Not only was he an extremely safe driver, he was very witty snd kind; we felt entertained and informed. I think everyone on the trip felt like he was a very special friend by the end of our 10 days together. Our entire van bonded very closely and we never had a disagreement about a thing! I think my favorite town to visit was Dingle and we loved staying at the 5 star castle, Loch Eske. I’m still processing all the history, sights, food and culture of this ancient island. Truly a dream trip come true. Overland Ireland provides an intimate experience for what I feel is a very affordable price! Please talk to their responsive and thoughtful office team.

An all-encompassing trip of Ireland we won’t soon forget! We did the 10-day trip and it was definitely a trip of a lifetime! Each day was filled with opportunities to view and explore “hands on” Ireland’s stunning landmarks, breathtaking scenery, and warm, welcoming people.Our guide, Pat O’Mara was definitely the key to this fantastic adventure. He was a wealth of knowledge on Irish history and folklore and was tirelessly attentive to everyone’s needs. Pat was prompt and professional, and also equipped with a healthy sense of humor. Thank you, King O’Mara for a fantastic trip!! PS we’re happy your hurling team won the Cup!!

Best of Ireland His Overland trip with Pat O’Mara was outstanding. Well planned and everything taken care of. Pat provided history and points of interest along the way and not to mention humor, both giving and taking as we added to the fun. Sad the trip ended and can’t wait to go back to Ireland. Highly recommend the trip and making a good friend with Pat O’Mara.

Thanks, Overland Ireland! I chose the Great Atlantic Adventure Tour (Zest Tour) on the basis of the excellent online reviews and had high expectations of the trip. I was not disappointed – in fact, my expectations were exceeded!!! Our guide, Mark, was pivotal in making this a trip of a lifetime. The organisation of the 7-day tour was impeccable, with great alternatives offered when the weather was bad, and comfortable accommodation all along the way. The whole experience was a wonderful mix of local history, fun activities, breathtaking Irish countryside and the most charming and funny Irish people, who made me feel quite at home. Under Mark’s empathetic and humorous guidance, our small group quickly became a family. A memorable holiday indeed, disappointing only when it ended. I would highly recommend this company for solo travellers (like myself), couples, friends and families alike. Thank you, Overland Ireland!

Wild Atlantic Way The 5 day wild Atlantic tour was more than I expected, including unexpected stops and informative history lessons by our fabulous and witty driver/guide Jack. Highly recommend a tour, we would have NEVER seen, nor experienced any of it had we tried to take a train/bus. Highly recommend.

Pat was the best I did the overland Ireland’s Ultimate tour of Ireland (Jewel) in August this year, our guide was Pat O Mara and what a great guide he was. Although the weather was not the kindest we had a wonderful time. I can definitely recommend travelling with this company. We have travelled with 4 different companies so far and this one and our one in Iceland are the top of my list.

10 Day Ultimate Small Group Tour of Ireland I just returned from the 10 Day tour of Ireland with Overland Ireland with my Aunt. It was an absolutely lovely trip. Our tour guide/driver Dave A. was the best. He took excellent care of us as a group, and was attentive to individual needs as well. While the destinations were incredible, he made the journey a real treat. Dave is a great story teller, has pretty good Dad jokes, and we could all tell he truly loves what he does. Those destinations come alive with the history as told by Dave. Couldn't recommend him more. The small group tour is the best way to see the country - we began as strangers on a bus, and became friends. Overland booked us into some really lovely hotels and inns, took care of the details so we could sit back, relax and enjoy the trip. Highlights for me were kayaking in Kerry, the Aran Islands tour, the Galway tasting tour . . . guides on each were lovely, engaging and informative.If I could review weather (10 of 10) . . . check out the picture for a look at the weather late September/early October I would love to come back again and spend more time.Cathy Bailey

Emerald Explorer Tour, Sep 17-23, 2024 Reviewed by Karen & Joe Our relaxed Emerald Explorer tour Sep 17-23/24 with Hugh O’Reilly was absolutely wonderful. I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ !! The beautiful Mercedes bus was extremely clean and comfortable with a USB port available in each half row, comfortably seating fifteen but since our group consisted of just ten plus our driver, lovely people all, there was a ton of room to spread out and enjoy the ride. The rooms at each stay were clean and comfortable, and breakfasts - both buffet style and made to order - were plentiful, varied and delicious. The showers and bathrooms were also clean and comfortable. At each night’s stay, there were many good dining options and opportunities to hear Irish music or other entertainment. Overland Ireland schedules each day with many interesting and varied activities, whether full tours or quick stops for photo opportunities. The itinerary describes each day’s activities, and it did not disappoint. From tours of ancient sites such as Clonmacnoise, Kylemore Abbey and the Rock of Cashel, to sheepherding demonstrations and farm tours, to visits and drives to the breathtaking scenery of Connemara, the Dingle Peninsula, and the Cliffs of Moher, to city tours of Galway and Kinsale, our group had so much to experience and enjoy. There was a lunch break every day at a scenic spot, often paired with a bit of free time for sightseeing or “retail therapy”as Hugh liked to call it. The pace was brisk but relaxed and we were kept on schedule by our good Captain Hugh, but it wasn’t hurried or rushed. Often we were given choices if more time was needed and Hugh was always responsive to the group’s needs. And if necessary, to an individual need, such as one that I had which didn’t affect the tour or group, but required a bit of TLC. So I send out a very personal thank you to Hugh and my new friends for taking good care of me 🙏❤️. Now on to our Captain Hugh. We haven’t taken group tours in many years, but I doubt any tour guide could exceed Hugh’s professionalism and command. This is a man who genuinely enjoys his job. Friendly, authentic and caring, a safe and experienced driver, Hugh took us on an unforgettable journey through the unique beauty that is Ireland. Throughout the week, Hugh provided us with valuable information about Ireland’s history, its government, its culture, its agriculture and the present Ireland. A true introduction to what it means to be Irish today. My husband and I found that to be a great part of this wonderful tour. We also had a brief tour of Slea Head, Dingle, with another Overland Ireland guide, Barry, who necessarily filled in for Hugh, and he was professional and fun, too. Throughout the week, Hugh played music, told stories, real and folkloric, and had a sweet surprise on the last day of our journey that requested all of our input. I won’t reveal but if you want an affordable, small-group and delightful Ireland Explorer experience, this is the tour to take! Karen and Joe, Upstate NY, USA

A Special Tour in Beautiful Ireland Our trip was all we thought it could be under the guidance and knowledge of our fabulous tour guide/driver, Dave. He was not only our base, but became our friend. We saw all the beauty of Ireland, heard about each stop’s history, and experienced first hand unique adventures from kissing the Blarney Stone, climbing a spiral staircase in a castle, sleeping in a castle, watching sheepdogs working, and so much more! Best of all, our group of 14 bonded into our own family, caring for each other and of course, Dave was our reassuring leader. I would highly recommend this trip to experience the beauty and history of Ireland.You probably will want to return!

Incredible Ireland Adventure with Mark! My wife and I had the most amazing time on this tour! The key of course was our fantastic guide, Mark. He took the best care of our group of older folks (that would be us!), families, single travelers, and children, ensuring he tailored our itinerary as needed to include all of us. When Blarney Castle was closed due to weather issues, Mark was able to quickly pivot and get us a tour of the old Cork Gaol, which was very fascinating. There were too many highlights to really single out anything specific, basically everything you see in the itinerary is a highlight!, but we did want to pay a special nod to our Sheep Herding demo in West Kerry with Bridget and Seamus (Google West Kerry Sheepdog Demonstrations). The demo itself was amazing but then there was lamb bottle feeding, small goat holding, drumming, and one little dancing man - you should not miss the incredible things they're doing on the family farm. All in all, an amazing group/tour . . . . we highly recommend Overland Ireland and this tour specifically. One final note about Mark: we had to leave the tour a bit earlier than expected and Mark took care of us to ensure we had the right travel arrangements and even checked on us after the tour to make sure we were OK. I've been on many expeditions/tours and Mark, by far, has been the best guide I've had. If you're flexible on your travel dates for this tour, you should check with Overland and see if you can schedule to ensure Mark is your guide!!

7 Day Trip to Ireland with Overland Ireland My daughter and I went on a small group, 7 day Emerald Tour to Ireland in September with Overland Ireland. It was a wonderful trip! We really enjoyed all the beautiful and amazing sights of Ireland. Our tour guide/driver Seamus was excellent! He told us a lot about the history of many of the places we visited and was a very good story teller. He could really captivate his audience! He was also very patient and considerate of the groups needs. We were kept informed of every aspect of the trip from coffee/bathroom breaks, time and distance each stop would take, to hotel and dinner reservation and anything we needed to know about each place we visited. Seamus was also a very careful and safe driver. He made us feel very comfortable, even with the narrow roads and having to pull over to allow others to pass. We had a great group of people on our bus (15)and we all got along well and enjoyed each other’s company when we spent time together. It was s great trip and I would do it again! I’d highly recommend it to anyone thinking about visiting Ireland!! We are so happy we joined a small group tour!

Great experience in Ireland with Overland and tour guide Dave My wife and I did an Overland 7-Day Small-Group Tour of Ireland from Dublin in July 2024. We saw numerous famous sites in Ireland, such as Cliffs of Moher and Dingle Bay, but we also visited visited some places that were off the beaten path, such as a couple of farms where we were able to pet sheep, goats, an alpaca, and shepherd dogs. Our tour guide Dave was excellent. He was very familiar with the attractions in Ireland and knew a lot of history as well. My wife has mobility issues, and Dave was very patient with her, helping keep her entertained when she could not join the group for some activities. I had the misfortune of falling ill at the end of our tour and winding up in the hospital. Dave was extremely caring, checking in several times to make sure we returned safely to our home country.For us, we were deciding between renting a car and driving ourselves around Ireland versus taking a tour. I am glad we took the tour for three main reasons. First, driving is done on the left side of the road in Ireland, which can be very confusing with all the traffic circles. I have been driving cars since I was 13, but I would not have been comfortable driving in Ireland. The lanes were very narrow as well. Second, I don't think we could have seen as many great places if we had traveled on our own. Third, Dave was there to give us background on what we were seeing, which made the experience much richer.In summary, I highly recommend taking a tour of Ireland in general, and using Overland tours with tour guide Dave in particular.

Amazing Tour with Seamus and Overland Ireland We just returned from the 7 day/6 night Emerald Isle tour and it exceeded all of our expectations! Overland Ireland did a wonderful job organizing the tour and its itinerary. For instance: the pickup/drop off points were centrally located and easily accessible; the Mercedes Sprinter van was well maintained, clean and nicely appointed; the itinerary was well thought out with appropriate stops at points of interest all along the way and drive time being broken into reasonable segments; and the accommodations were all very comfortable. Overland was very responsive to any and all questions we had prior to and during the trip.However, the best part of the trip was having the luxury of spending seven days with our narrator/driver, Seamus. Seamus is the ideal tour guide - he is incredibly well versed in all things Ireland - history, architecture, geography, sports, and current news being just a few of the subjects he discussed at great length. Seamus went out of his way to connect with each of the guests on our tour, to personalize our experience and make our visits enjoyable. His driving was excellent and he was able to maintain a tight schedule without ever making us feel rushed. Seamus is a great communicator explaining the nuts and bolts of where to meet up after visiting a site, the best places to eat in the towns we stayed, or what pubs had music and dancing. In one word Seamus was "BRILLIANT!".

Ireland in 7 days! Mark and the whole trip was amazing! So great not to have to navigate the narrow roads and figure out where to stay and what to see/do! Noel and Irish Adventures kayaking in Dingle Bay along with Bridget with West Kerry Sheepdogs were our favorites!

7 Day Overland Seamoose , made this trip a true delight, very knowledgeable, made sure we knew what was going on, it was super smooth. Thanks again Seamoose

left Dublin and were transported to the beautiful countryside, stone circles, and cliffs This trip exceeded all my expectations. I travelled w my husband and my daughter along w 5 other guests and our guide Pat O'Mara. Travelling as a small group cannot be beat; we could all sit at the same table for a Guinness or split up and meet up w/o anyone wasting time in lines. The itinerary on our Ireland to Island tour was excellent. We left Dublin and were transported to the beautiful countryside, stone circles, and cliffs. No worries, wonderful companionship, and conversation. Pat was a great guide, witty, and very kind. Offered me his jacket after I took a pretty humorous but cold spill into the Lough Leane while kayaking. As vegetarians, my daughter and I were well taken care of as well. Pat helped fulfill a couple special requests, like directing us to a local bar, the Roaring Donkey, and coordinating a falconry experience for my husband. Precious memories w my family and new friends.

Put this tour on your Bucket List! This was a fun-filled trip all around the perimeter of the country. Hugh O’Reilly was the perfect tour guide, driver and leader, filled with knowledge of the history, customs and culture of Ireland. Hugh was kind, helpful, and tactful while having a great sense of humor and plenty of stories to share. He knew when to talk and when to be quiet. He kept the van in impeccable condition, made us feel safe, and greased the skids along the way so we didn’t have to worry about tickets, lines or directions. Just show up at the van on time, ride along and enjoy the beautiful scenery. (How can a place with so many rocks have so many flowers!) We learned that there is a national competition called “Tidy Town,” which explains why everything was so pristine and arrayed with planters, hanging baskets and flowering bushes. We met for breakfast each morning at our lodgings; otherwise we were given options of good places to try for lunches and dinner, and there was flexibility about free time. If you were tired in the evening and wanted to crash occasionally instead of going pub-hopping, fine! If you wanted to take a local tour van instead of biking around Inishmore, fine! If you wanted to get to the top of the Cliffs of Moher via golf cart instead of hiking up, fine! Our group of friendly fellow travelers got along great. We mixed it up and sat in different places on the van (encouraged by Hugh) and the quality Bose sound system made it easy to hear whatever enjoyable music was playing or the driver’s narratives. It was easy to see and enjoy the Irish countryside. We were blessed with good weather the first part of September, but the winds can be strong at times so it’s advisable to have a hoodie to pull up on occasion or when a brief drizzle sets in. Our accommodations were very good to excellent. The laundry was collected from us at the place we stayed for two consecutive nights and returned dried and folded at the end of the day, so no worries about doing it ourselves. The only thing I’d change is to have known a bit more in advance that our tour would be proceeding counterclockwise from Dublin rather than clockwise. In the end, no biggie, and the company is very good to answer any inquiries, so ask if you’re curious about anything. Otherwise, it was a great experience and one I’d recommend highly to anyone wanting to see Ireland with everything arranged for you, yet with flexibility, and no worries about doing-it-yourself. Forewarning—there’s no “lyin’ abed” in the mornings, so get in shape and change your sleep patterns ahead of time if need be. You’ll be on the go, for sure, and it’s worth every minute of the busy itinerary filled with the sights of this enchanting country!

Amazed The trip was very nicely organized. The locations were absolutely breathtaking. Our guide Mark was super. He was very helpful, responsive, shared interestimg information. The weather was also in our favour. The hotels were picked exceptionally. The trip to Aran islands was one of the top points for me. I loved everything.

Beautiful Ireland Fantastic trip with Ciaron O’Meara as guide/driver. We saw so much of beautiful Ireland and had a good time along the way. I especially loved the kayaking in Dingle Bay and cycling on the Aran Islands.

5 Day Southwest Tour Our tour guide Mark was great! He was very knowledgeable and helpful throughout every step of the tour. I would highly recommend the 5 day Southwest Tour Package and Mark any day.