A Week in Ireland
We have taken many Tauck tours. We wouldn’t go with any other company! We are contemplating A Week in Ireland for 2026. For those of you who have done this tour, was there a lot of driving between stops? Weatherwise, when is the best time to travel? Other suggestions? Thank you!
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We took the Small Group version of this tour this past April. We had only one day of rain. Otherwise, the weather was just fine Spring weather requiring a jacket or sweater. As far as the drive, I don't think we went more than 2 - 2 1/2 hours without a stop either because we got to our destination or we stoped for a snack/bathroom break or just to enjoy the scenery. Please note that the Small Group and Classic versions of this tour have some differences in itinerary. We also had a great TD, a young Irish fellow maybe 30-ish. Our driver was great too. Bottom line, it was one of the best Tauck tours we experienced and a lot of fun.
Thank you for your helpful feedback.
While not what you asked, I'd choose the longer tour of Ireland. The week version misses quite a bit that you'll get on the longer one.
[Added note: We did do the longer tour some years ago - https://www.mikeandjudytravel.com/2018Ireland-01.htm
Mike I clicked on your link as I'm going to Ireland next August but it said "location not found"
Specifically
You need to remove the last ] from the link then it works. The link below seems to work.
https://mikeandjudytravel.com/2018Ireland-01.htm
Thanks, Smiling Sam. I went back and edited my post to remove that. Just goes to show that you should always check a link,
Hi Mike::
I hear you about taking the longer tour, but as we get older, the long tours have become a real challenge! But we will look into it anyway. Thanks for your response.
@SanJo2929 - I understand. We’re not too young, either. For what it’s worth, the Ireland tour isn’t too hard physically.
Many people do not know that Tauck publishes guidelines about their tours which they hope will help customers choose the right tour for their personal fitness and stamina. The last couple of times we have booked with them, they now seem to be emphasizing what is required of you on the tour, saying things like…this tour includes walking three miles a day, are you able to do this? Etc.
people seem to be reporting on the forum that they are encountering people who maybe should not be on the tour. We have certainly been affected by having people on tours that have slowed us down and meaning we have less time to see sites.
I have pasted what is published for tours.
How active are Tauck journeys?
All Tauck journeys have an "Activity" and a "Pace" rating, ranging from 1 – 4 to give you a better idea of what to expect in terms of stamina needed and physical activities while on tour. The higher the number, the more active the journey is.
Activity:
1 — May include climbing some stairs and walking for up to an hour at a time over primarily level ground, interspersed with periods of standing.
2 — Guests should be able to easily walk one to two miles, which may include climbing one or two flights of stairs and walking over uneven pavement, groomed hiking trails or cobblestones. Standing up to one hour or more may be required.
3 — Active components such as hiking, bicycling and walking longer distances may be included, and hills and/or uneven terrain may be encountered on several days. Guests should be able to walk two to three miles and stand for long periods of time with no difficulty.
4 — Designed for fit, vigorous travelers capable of easily walking three miles or more. Many days might include active pursuits such as hiking, bicycling or sea kayaking for one to three hours at a time. Guests should be capable of walking three or more miles over terrain including hills and rocky or uneven terrain.
Pace:
1 — Generally easy, with occasional free time for relaxation.
2 — Moderately paced, and may include some early morning hotel departures, one or two on-tour flights, and extended motor coach travel.
3 — Often robust – may include long days, active sightseeing, early starts, evening activities, significant travel times.
4 — Consistently robust – very full and active days, extended travel times, use of different modes of local transport, and a possibility of early starts
Is there a way to sort tours based on activity level or pace?
Yes, each tour page, if you scroll down far enough, you will see what it says. I looked at the two Ireland tours and the short one is 2 and 2 and the long one 3 and 2
Ben - Tauck's website does not have a mechanism to sort tours based on activity/pace. However, sometimes the title of the tour and/or introductory description will give you a hint of how fast-paced it is. In the back of some brochures there is a listing of tours based on when available (month). It would be great if Tauck incorporated the activity/pace levels there.
I maintain an Excel database of tours and incorporate pertinent information relevant to me. By using pivot tables I can sort and filter on any parameter or group of parameters I have entered. I understand that not everyone has the necessary resources and wherewithal to do this, but It works for my purposes and helps to keep track of all things related to my travel plans, both past and future.
Usually I can guess the levels based on tour type, and location. Just looking for an easier way to filter tours. Of note, we recently booked the new England and west country tour and was very nicely told several time during the reservation process that this is a very active tour.
Ben, here on the forum, several people have been very disappointed with the New England tour.
The Grand New England tour was the first North American Tauck tour we took, albeit many years ago. We were so impressed with the itinerary and hotels—some very nice, some rustic in bucolic settings—that we took it again several years later. The second time around, Acadia National Park was not included. That was somewhat disappointing but we still enjoyed the tour.
We all have different expectations and perceptions. I hope you have a great time and please consider sharing your experiences after your return.
Postscript - Ha! I just realized you are probably referring to the England tour, not New England. My oversight.