Description

Samhain in Ireland Small Group Tour for 2026

Ready to spend Samhain in Ireland?

We’ve planned it all out for you.

Tour Highlights

• Celebrate Samhain in Derry, the world’s biggest Halloween festival

• Exclusive visits to ancient Celtic fire festival sites (Hill of Ward, Hill of Tara, Newgrange)

• Explore hidden gems in Donegal, Glenveagh, and the Sperrin Mountains

• Small group size for authentic connections

What to Expect

We know it can be scary to book a tour on the internet.

So hopefully, we can ease your fears by answering all of your questions!

Group Size & Travel Style

• Small group size (7 people max!)

• Medium activity level (expect some walking, light hiking, stairs, and uneven terrain)

• Balance of structured tours and free time

• This is considered a tour

ACCOMMODATIONS

• We’ll stay in 3-4 star level hotels, as well as local B&Bs and guesthouses

• These locations are centrally located in Dublin and Derry

• Handpicked for charm, comfort, and Irish character

Meals

• Breakfast included daily

• Free evenings to enjoy authentic Irish pubs, fresh seafood, or other great local places (with recommendations provided)

Who This Trip is For

• Travelers who love cultural exchange, learning languages, history, and myths (not just generic tourist highlights)

• People who love beautiful landscapes and being outdoors

• Solo travelers, couples, and friends who want community (since it’s small-group based)

• Anyone interested in another side of Ireland, or for anyone on their second trip to Ireland

Itinerary

We’ll spend the first couple of days acclimating in Dublin, Ireland – which is where you’ll most likely fly in.

This trip has a theme, so we won’t be doing the typical tourist attractions.

Get ready to see a side of Ireland most Americans never see.

Saturday, October 24th, 2026

Arrive in Dublin and hit the ground running!

This will not be your typical trip to Dublin.

Expect all things spooky and surprising.

Sunday, October 25th, 2026

Spend your day active, outdoors, and in natural beauty just a short drive from the heart of Dublin.

Monday, October 26th, 2026

Today is when we start making our way to Derry from Dublin.

On the way to Derry, you can expect to stop at:

• Belfast in Northern Ireland
  You’ll experience a tour hosted by a local who’s lived in this interesting down for decades.
• Dunluce Castle
  Explore a castle in ruins before having lunch at the cutest pub in the nearby down of Doolin.
• Giant’s Causeway
  This beautiful place just can’t be missed. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a National Nature Reserve – and it’s absolutely beautiful.
• Sperrin Mountains
  We’ll take the scenic route into Derry – winding through the beautiful Sperrin Mountains on our way.

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

If you love small towns, natural beauty, and seeing places unspoilt by mass tourism, then you’re in for a treat.

On this long but beautiful day, you’ll explore:

• Beautiful Donegal
  This is one of the last places in Ireland where the native Irish language is still semi-widely spoken.
• Glenveagh National Park
  This is a national park most travelers miss, and understandably so. It’s “out-of-the-way,” and pretty hard to get to and navigate if you don’t have a car. Thankfully, we’ll have a private driver who knows the area well.
• Slieve League Cliffs
  Everyone knows about the Cliffs of Moher, and they’re definitely beautiful. But the Slieve League Cliffs are arguably more dramatic. And you’ll get to see them.

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

This is another beautiful and active day exploring small, coastal towns, as well as beautiful Inishowen.

See Malin Head, get fresh oysters, and just enjoy everything this region has to offer.

Thursday, October 29, 2026

We’ll explore the beautiful Sperrin Mountains.

This is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – equating to a national park here. It’s worth the visit!

This will be our last day exploring the natural beauty and small towns of Ireland before Samhain festivities.

Friday, October 30, 2026

Free day in Derry. Enjoy everything going on in town for Halloween and Samhain.

If you’d like help with restaurant recommendations or arranging day tours, just check in with your trip host and she’ll help you.

Saturday, October 31, 2026

As we make our way back to Dublin from Derry, we get a feel for the Ancient East – and what the origins of Samhain must have really felt like.

We’ll also visit the local Puca festival – which has activities much more closely linked to what we would have experienced during Samhain in ancient times.

• Newgrange
  Newgrange is a Stone Age (Neolithic) monument. Older than both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza. Built around 3200 BC, this massive passage tomb in County Meath is part of the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the outside, it looks like a huge grassy mound ringed with white quartz and large kerbstones carved with spirals. Inside, a narrow passage leads to a central chamber that lights up with the rising sun every year on the Winter Solstice -a breathtaking alignment that shows the incredible skill of its builders. Visiting Newgrange is like stepping back into Ireland’s prehistoric past.
• Hill of Tara
  The Hill of Tara in County Meath was once the seat of Ireland’s High Kings and remains one of the island’s most legendary sites. Scattered with ancient earthworks and ring forts, Tara was a place of ceremony, inauguration, and myth -closely tied to the goddess sovereignty and Ireland’s ancient past. Standing at the summit, you’ll see sweeping views across the countryside, said to stretch to a quarter of Ireland on a clear day. Walking here feels less like visiting a monument and more like entering the heart of Ireland’s story.
• Hill of Ward
  The Hill of Ward (Tlachtga) in County Meath is steeped in myth and magic. It was here that the great Celtic fire festivals were once lit, including Samhain – the ancient festival that gave rise to Halloween. From its grassy summit, you can imagine the blaze of ritual bonfires signaling the turning of the seasons, watched by communities gathered across the Boyne Valley. Though it looks like a quiet hill today, the Hill of Ward is one of Ireland’s most powerful links to its pagan past and seasonal traditions.

Sunday, November 1, 2026

We’ll exchange contact info and part ways after having breakfast and coffee together.

You’ll surely want to connect with some of these people again after making amazing memories with them!

For travelers with later departures, you’ll have the option to join us for a cliff walk in beautiful Howth – just outside of Dublin.

 

Traveler Requirements

You must have a passport that’s valid for at least six months after the last day of your travels.

You’ll also need full authorization to enter the Republic of Ireland (for where we start in Dublin), and the United Kingdom (for Derry, Belfast, and the rest of Northern Ireland).

What’s Included

✔️ 8 nights accommodation in handpicked hotels (prices listed are for double occupancy; single supplement available)
✔️ Daily breakfast from Sunday, October 25th through Sunday, November 1st
✔️ Private transportation throughout the tour, including scenic drives, transfers, and day trips
✔️ All guided tours and entrance fees listed in the main itinerary
✔️ Expert local guides in select destinations (such as Belfast and heritage sites)
✔️ Trip host from Heather & Stone to assist with logistics, recommendations, and help you make the most of your experience
✔️ Samhain & Halloween festivities in Derry, including access to events and parades
✔️ Visit to the Púca Festival in Ireland’s Ancient East
✔️ Group welcome meet-up in Dublin and farewell breakfast in Dublin
✔️ Community connection – a small group experience designed to foster lasting friendships

What’s Not Included

✖ International airfare to/from/within Ireland
✖ Lunches and dinners (except where noted)
✖ Alcoholic beverages and personal extras
✖ Travel insurance (required for travelers participating in this tour)
✖ Passport and visa requirements (however, we offer this as an additional, optional service – see options at checkout)

Optional Extensions

• Want someone to meet you at the airport?
  Figuring out how to get to City Center can be a lot – especially when you’re tired and you’ve been traveling for 18 hours! We’ll send someone to meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel if you’d like.
• Departing later?
  We’d love to have you join us on our excursion to Howth! We’ll explore this cute seaside town together, then we’ll go on a cliff walk.
• Need help finding a great deal on a flight?
  Our travel experts would love to help. Just select the “Flight Research” extension at checkout.
• Traveling Ireland (or elsewhere in Europe!) before or after this tour?
  Hire us to help you plan the rest of your trip.

Pricing & Payment Plans

You have the option of paying in full here on this page.

At checkout, you’ll also see the option to setup a payment plan through PayPal, Affirm, Klarna, or AfterPay.

Meet Your Host

Heeey! I’m Brittany – the traveler behind Heather and Stone, and your host for this Samhain in Ireland tour.

Before the trip, I’ll be the main one you’re planning and coordinating with.

Then when we meet in-person, we’ll be traveling together as friends.

I’ve been to Ireland more times than I can count, and every visit reminds me why I fell in love with this country in the first place.

Over the years, I’ve taken friends and travelers to hidden spots they’d never have found in a guidebook, and I realized that’s what makes Ireland truly magical: the little villages, coastal walks, and ancient sites that most visitors miss.

I’m not just here to take you from place to place.

I’m here to help you experience Ireland the way I’ve come to know it.

Ireland has completely stolen my heart, and I can’t wait to share it with you.