APT Luxury Travel has launched a 12-day guided tour of Ireland for 2027, and it doubles as a birthday party of sorts — the Australian-owned operator turns 100 that year, so it has distilled nearly a century of touring know-how into one itinerary. Departures run June to September 2027, prices start at AUD$14,795 per person with savings of up to $1,600 per couple, and groups are capped at 24 guests.

The route is a loop that starts and ends in Dublin, circling the island to hit both the postcard classics and quieter corners. You get the heavy hitters — the Giant's Causeway, the Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry — but also the Slieve League Cliffs in Donegal, which are taller and far less crowded than their County Clare cousins.

What sets the tour apart are the included APT Signature Experiences. There's a private visit to the Irish National Stud and Gardens in County Kildare, the only stud farm in Ireland open to the public, plus an evening of Celtic music and Irish dancing at the Killarney School of Music in County Kerry. Food and drink get a look in too: traditional fare at the Tí Linn Cafe in Donegal, gin tasting at The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, and a scenic cruise on the River Shannon.

History is threaded through the itinerary rather than bolted on. Travellers visit Titanic Belfast, the National Famine Museum in Ballyfarnon and the Legends Hurling Museum in Kilkenny — three very different windows into the Irish story, from emigration to famine to sport. Accommodation is part of the appeal as well, with a stay at Lough Eske Castle, a five-star hotel on a lakeside estate in Donegal.

The one-price logic will suit travellers who hate tallying extras: 19 meals, transfers, porterage and gratuities are all bundled in, and a Tour Director rides along with local knowledge and, presumably, a story for every stop.

For Australians in particular, Ireland punches above its weight — family heritage, a shared language and a culture built on storytelling make it an easy place to feel at home. This tour is aimed squarely at that traveller: someone who wants the guided-tour convenience, a small group rather than a coach of 50, and access to places a rental car itinerary rarely unlocks, like a private stud farm tour or a school of music after hours. Booking early makes sense for 2027 departures, since the small group size and limited seasonal window (June to September) mean popular dates will fill first. Details are at aptouring.com or through a travel advisor.

First published by Karryon.