Irish Craic & Culture - Dublin & Belfast - JG Explorer

Day 1

We catch the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin where our tour manager joins us. We continue onwards to our overnight hotel in the Dublin area.

Day 2 – Guided city tour of Dublin

We start the morning with a city tour of Dublin led by a local guide. This pint-sized city is crammed full of character and personality, and we discover layers of history within the streets; a patchwork of medieval castles and cathedrals. Highlights of our tour include St Stephen's Green, Trinity College and many iconic landmarks in between. Cameras at the ready for the Molly Malone statue, before we enjoy some time at leisure – while humming cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh – as we explore the city at our own pace.

This afternoon we leave Dublin and make our way to the Ramada by Wyndham Hotel in Belfast city centre, our base for the next three nights.

Day 3 – Guided city tour of Belfast & Titanic Belfast

This morning provides the chance to explore the lively city of Belfast during a tour led by a local guide. Northern Ireland’s best-known city has undergone a striking transformation, and we learn all about its fascinating history as an industrial dynamo with fingers in all sorts of pies; from tobacco, linen and, of course, ship building.

A day out in Belfast would not be complete without a visit to Titanic Belfast, this state-of-the-art multimedia exhibition is easily the city’s most visited attraction. Located at the original shipyard, we walk in the footsteps of the men who built RMS Titanic; the world’s most famous ship.

Day 4 – Giant's Causeway & Coleraine-Derry~Londonderry Train

Today we head to the incredible Giant’s Causeway; the grand rock formation on everyone’s bucket list. Like a huge game of Jenga that got out of hand, these hexagonal volcanic columns are guarded by the foaming ocean and dramatic cliffs.  

From here we head to catch the Coleraine to Derry~Londonderry train, described by Michael Palin as ‘one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world’. We sit back, relax and soak up the stunning views of lush green countryside, golden sands, rolling waves and striking cliffs before we disembark in Derry~Londonderry. With some free time to explore the compact streets within the only completely walled city on the island of Ireland, the striking Peace Bridge arching over the River Foyle is well worth a photo-stop. 

Day 5 – Dublin & Guinness Storehouse Brewery

Checking out of our hotel, we travel to Dublin where we enjoy a self-guided tour of the Guinness Storehouse Brewery. Every great afternoon in Dublin starts with a pint of the ‘black stuff’ and today is no different as we explore seven fascinating floors all dedicated to the tale of Ireland's most iconic beer. We make our way through a series of audio-visual experiences exploring the history, brewing process and advertising successes of the beverage, before we enjoy a picture-perfect pint in the rooftop Gravity Bar.

After our tour, we enjoy some free time at leisure. Temple Bar, the cobbled district where merriment meets live music is a must-see before we head off to our overnight hotel in the Dublin area.

Day 6

We check out of our hotel very early to catch the ferry back to Holyhead; therefore a voucher will be provided to enjoy breakfast on board. On arrival in Holyhead, we continue our journey home.

JG Explorer coaches
We are pleased to introduce JG Explorer – a brand-new deluxe coach, thoughtfully designed to provide an elevated coach experience and ensure your journey is special and memorable.

Exclusive to the JG Travel Group, the design of these coaches has been meticulously thought through with your comfort in mind – with only 44 seats meaning more room on board and padded seats. There’s improved legroom and a footrest, making certain that wherever you sit, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your journey. We know it’s the small things that make a big difference in terms of ease and added convenience, so our JG Explorer coaches feature a floor-level, rear-mounted toilet, accessible to all customers.

On-board entertainment throughout your journey is easy to find on the JG Explorer, with access to Azimut, our wireless media system, providing films and quizzes. Simply bring along your smartphone or iPad and enjoy this entertainment interruption-free, with the use of our extra reliable Wi-Fi, free to all passengers and a handy USB port at each seat.

The layout of the JG Explorer includes a floor-level, rear-mounted kitchen with a sink, an espresso machine to purchase delicious Nespresso coffee, dispensed by your driver during comfort breaks, and a fridge stocked with cold drinks and milk. Customers are welcome to help themselves to complimentary JG bottles, that can be used for refill at the built-in cold-water filter, cutting down on the need for disposable plastic bottles and doing our part for the environment.