The Original Rail Cruise & Manor House Tour
For 2025 See Exclusive Private Rail Tour (EPX) - Departing June 1st & Sept 7th!
The Emerald Isle Express Tour
In 2025 We Are Running Different Private Tour in June & September - See The Emerald Pullman (EPX)
Railtours Ireland First Class offers an exclusive rail cruise and manor house tour through Ireland on your own exclusive, private heritage train, delivering Pullman style comfort. Overnight in luxury five-star Irish manor houses, as well as city and country hotels. This all-inclusive tour is limited to 50 guests! We don’t sleep on the train – We sleep in Manor Houses, Country Estates and Luxury City Hotels!
Experience Dublin's Fair City before travelling by rail along the stunning East Coast to Waterford, Cork, Cóbh and the Ring of Kerry. Enjoy an Irish night in Killarney before continuing on through the savagely beautiful countryside of Connemara in Co. Galway.
A unique Ireland vacation not to be missed!
For more information on this tour please see our Emerald Isle Express Website.
Stay in luxurious 5 Star Irish Manor Houses, City and Country Hotels:
- 1 Night Merrion Hotel
-
1 Night Mount Juliet Hotel
-
1 Night Fota Island Resort
-
1 Night Europe Hotel and Resort
-
2 Nights Adare Manor
- 1 Night Merrion Hotel
- Personal meet and greet at Dublin Airport or Ferry Port.
- Transfers to and from Dublin Airport or Ferry Port to your fivestar Merrion Hotel.
- Exclusive Dublin city tour.
- All meals included.
- Morning coffee and afternoon tea each day.
- All drinks on the train (Our train is the only train in the world that does draft Guinness!).
- Side tours to Waterford Crystal, Blarney Castle, Cobh Heritage Centre, the Ring of Kerry, Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, the Cliffs of Moher and Galway Bay.
- Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle.
- Renowned Railtours Ireland host throughout.
- All luggage taken care of from start to finish.
- Two 48hour Hop On/Off Dublin City Sightseeing Tour Tickets pp.
- Dinner in Mount Juliet's Michelin Star Restaurant - The Lady Helen Restaurant.
- All taxes and service charges.
8 Days
From
$6,497pps
From price is based on 1 adult sharing.
"Excellent tour"
Jun 2018 by Stuart
Jim and Jonathan,
Thank you for an excellent tour.
I have hundreds of photos to remind me of a fascinating week in Ireland.
Thank you again
Best Wishes
Stuart
"Fondly remember all of you"
Jun 2018 by Walter & Alice
Thank you for making our Ireland trip so exquisitely, wonderful. You can't believe how much all of you and the volunteers meant to us. Ireland truly has a tremendously, fabulous people. We will fondly remember all of you.
"Outstanding tour! "
Jun 2018 by Janice & Don Chadwick
Dear Staff of Railtours
Don and I want to extend our sincere appreciation to you all for your outstanding tour!
Jonathan's indepth knowledge of Ireland was so enlightening.
The entire staff were courteous, professional and personable.
- Personal meet and greet at Dublin Airport or Ferry Port.
- Transfers to and from Dublin Airport or Ferry Port to your fivestar Merrion Hotel.
- Exclusive Dublin city tour.
- All meals included.
- Morning coffee and afternoon tea each day.
- All drinks on the train (Our train is the only train in the world that does draft Guinness!).
- Side tours to Waterford Crystal, Blarney Castle, Cobh Heritage Centre, the Ring of Kerry, Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, the Cliffs of Moher and Galway Bay.
- Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle.
- Renowned Railtours Ireland host throughout.
- All luggage taken care of from start to finish.
- Two 48hour Hop On/Off Dublin City Sightseeing Tour Tickets pp.
- Dinner in Mount Juliet's Michelin Star Restaurant - The Lady Helen Restaurant.
- All taxes and service charges.
For 2025 See Exclusive Private Rail Tour (EPX) - Departing June 1st & Sept 7th!
DAY
1
1
Gathering Day - Dublin
The Merrion Hotel, Dublin City.
Gathering Day in Dublin. Transfers from the airport or Dublin Port to your hotel.
Gathering day in Dublin. Individual transfers from the airport (or ferry port) to your hotel. Welcome reception, dinner and overnight stay in the five-star Merrion Hotel, in the heart of Dublin city.
18:30 Welcome Pre-Dinner Drinks Reception at the Merrion Hotel
19:00 Dinner at The Merrion Hotel
DAY
2
2
Dublin to Waterford
Mount Juliet Estate, Kilkenny.
We enjoy a short tour of Dublin, en route to our champagne reception at Connolly station before boarding our private Emerald Isle Express train. Cruise by rail along Ireland’s scenic east coast through counties Wicklow, Wexford and on to Waterford city. Private visit to Waterford Crystal, dinner and overnight stay in the stunning five-star Mount Juliet Estate, dating back to the mid-1700s, set on 500 acres of parkland, meadow and forest in County Kilkenny. Dine in The Lady Helen Restaurant - Mount Juliet's very own Michelin Star Restaurant.
DAY
3
3
Waterford to Cork
Fota Island Resort, Cork.
Cruise by rail from Waterford through the beautiful Suir Valley in county Tipperary while en route to Cork where we will enjoy a visit to Blarney Castle and Gardens. Dinner and overnight stay in the five-star Fota Island Resort, on Cork Harbour.
DAY
4
4
Cork to Kerry
Europe Hotel and Resort, Killarney, Kerry.
We visit Cóbh, the Titanic’s last port of call, and travel by rail to Killarney while enjoying lunch on the train. Delight in the spectacular beauty of the Ring of Kerry, a photographer’s paradise, before overnighting in the five-star Europe Hotel and Resort, with traditional evening entertainment after dinner in one of Killarney’s famous pubs!
DAY
5
5
Killarney to Limerick
Adare Manor, Limerick.
Once again, enjoy lunch on the train as you travel through counties Kerry, Cork, Tipperary and Limerick, a landscape littered with ruined castles. Overnight stay in the fabulous Adare Manor, dating back to the 1720s. Adare Manor, recently announced as the 2026 Ryder Cup Host, is set on an estate of 840 acres of sweeping parklands, cultivated gardens and formal French gardens, including its championship parkland golf course. Evening transfer to the Medieval Bunratty Castle to sample the famous banquet, and perhaps a pint afterwards at adjacent in Durty Nelly’s pub!
DAY
6
6
Free Day in Adare Manor
Adare Manor, Limerick.
Free day of leisure in Adare Manor with an optional tour to the Cliffs of Moher. Perhaps enjoy a round of golf, or some of the many activities available at this five-star resort, including falconry, whiskey tasting, clay pigeon shooting and horse riding, among others (https://www.adaremanor.com/activities/). Enjoy dinner and a second overnight stay in this stunning five-star luxury hotel.
DAY
7
7
Limerick to Galway, through Connemara, to Dublin
The Merrion Hotel, Dublin City.
From Limerick, we venture on to Galway aboard our Emerald Isle Express train with light lunch on board. Our trip today highlights the savage beauty of Connemara and will include the Quiet Man Bridge and afternoon tea in Ballinahinch Castle. Afterwards, we make our way back to Galway City centre. There, we board the Emerald Isle Express which will bring us back to Dublin. Entertainment and dinner on board. Overnight stay in the Merrion Hotel, Dublin.
DAY
8
8
Scattering Day
Scattering Day. Individual transfers from your hotel to Dublin airport. We strongly advise, however, that for your own relaxation and comfort, you spend another night in Dublin to rest, after the week of touring, and enjoy some free time in Ireland’s bustling capital. We would be delighted to arrange these extra nights for you in our partner 4* or 5* hotels (your hotel-airport transfer will be available on the day of your departure, should you choose this option).
