Overview
Our program brings you the best of both worlds: the consistency you rely on and the flexibility your group needs.
Bring your students to discover Celtic culture on tours through Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, and Dublin. Students can look forward to discovering the Royal Mile, taking a walk on the spooky side with a ghost tour, and exploring Edinburgh Castle. You’ll also enjoy the scenery of Scotland’s Highlands and visit world-famous Loch Ness. In Ireland, students will visit the Titanic Belfast Museum, tour Trinity College, and learn about Irish history at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum.
Itinerary
Day 1
Overnight flight to Scotland (Edinburgh)
Day 2
Arrive in Edinburgh
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Edinburgh city walk
The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is a city of steep streets, stone buildings, and dramatic views, all watched over by the imposing Edinburgh Castle. Follow your Tour Director along the Royal Mile, which runs from Holyrood Palace to the castle, passing St. Giles’ Cathedral, long a center of learning and civic life in the city’s Old Town.
Day 3
Edinburgh guided sightseeing tour
Explore Edinburgh, the historic and cultural heart of Scotland. Led by a licensed guide, walk the Royal Mile through the city’s Old Town, from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Admire the elegant Georgian New Town, known for its neoclassical design, and gaze up at the 200-foot Sir Walter Scott Monument in East Princes Street Gardens, a tribute to one of Scotland’s greatest literary figures—and his loyal dog, Maida, immortalized below.
Edinburgh Castle visit
Perched atop an ancient volcanic rock, Edinburgh Castle commands the skyline with its imposing presence. Explore this medieval fortress, uncover its role in Scottish history, and take in sweeping views of the city below.
Edinburgh guided ghost tour
Stunning Edinburgh hides a horrific past. Witch burnings. Plague. Murder. Ghosts. Everyone in Scotland has a ghost story to tell. Hear a handful on this guided tour through some of Edinburgh's most infamous spots. Be prepared to be spooked by tales of the ghouls and apparitions that are said to haunt this old city still.
Day 4
Travel to Highlands via the Trossachs
Dramatic peaks. Small lochs. Peaceful glens. Sheep. Pass through the heart of the Scottish countryside. Renowned for its natural beauty, the area was a favorite spot of poet William Wordsworth. Stirling Castle. The site of the battles in Braveheart, this huge gray stone castle towers over the countryside from its position up high on a cliff, enabling its inhabitants to survey the main north-south and east-west routes across Scotland. The castle has been strategically important to Scotland for centuries and has passed back and forth between Scottish and English control innumerable times. Mary, Queen of Scots was crowned in the castle, but she's not among the many ghosts said to make their homes here. The castle is architecturally and artistically beautiful, with Renaissance and medieval elements and breathtaking views.
Stirling Castle visit
Tour Stirling Castle, a grand medieval fortress and former seat of Kings James IV and James V. Explore the Museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, featuring regimental colors, pipe banners, and silver. From the castle walls, take in sweeping views of the Wallace Monument.
Day 5
Glencoe and Loch Ness excursion
Explore the breathtaking Highlands of Glencoe, surrounded by misty peaks and rich history. Visit the legendary Loch Ness, where a boat cruise offers views of the deep waters said to hide the elusive Nessie, and see Culloden Moor, site of the final Jacobite battle in 1746.
Day 6
Travel to Glasgow via Loch Lomond
Head for Glasgow. On the way, you'll pass the largest expanse of fresh water in Britain. Loch Lomond is five miles wide at its broadest point and has more than 30 islands in the middle of it, three of which are inhabited. It's a favorite recreational spot for the Scots and is full of native wildlife.
Glasgow city walk
Strathclyde University, City Chambers, George Square
Day 7
Ferry to Belfast
Travel along the Antrim Coast
Giant's Causeway excursion
For centuries countless visitors have marveled at the majesty and mystery of the Giants Causeway. At the heart of one of Europe's most magnificent coastlines its unique rock formations have, for millions of years, stood as a natural rampart against the unbridled ferocity of Atlantic storms. The rugged symmetry of the columns never fails to intrigue and inspire our visitors. The result of an ancient volcanic eruption, to stroll on the Giants Causeway is to voyage back in time.
Day 8
Belfast guided sightseeing tour
A professional licensed guide will lead you through Belfast, the historic capital of Northern Ireland. Explore the city’s shipbuilding heritage and its connection to the RMS Titanic, built here before its fateful 1912 voyage. Visit the Titanic Quarter, where the striking Titanic Belfast museum, Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices, and the Titanic Slipways now stand. Continue through the city’s storied neighborhoods, including the Lower Falls and Shankill Road, where powerful murals reflect Belfast’s complex political and cultural history.
Titanic Belfast Museum visit
Rediscover the story of the legendary RMS Titanic through the interactive Titanic Experience. Built on the original construction site of the Titanic, the Titanic Belfast recreates the shipyard, historic launch day, ship docks and untimely demise through nine interactive galleries.
Travel to Dublin
Dublin city walk
Get a friendly introduction to Dublin with your Tour Director. Cross the Ha’Penny Bridge, stroll through the lively Temple Bar district, and stop at the Molly Malone statue. Along the way, see Georgian squares, castles, and cathedrals that showcase the character of Ireland’s capital.
Day 9
Dublin guided sightseeing tour
Join a licensed guide to explore Dublin’s finest sights. Walk through Phoenix Park, Europe’s largest walled city park, home to red deer and the Phoenix Column. Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where Ireland’s patron saint once baptized converts, and see O’Connell Street and Parnell Square. At Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest university, enter the Old Library’s Long Room to view the Book of Kells, an illuminated 9th-century manuscript of the four Gospels, famed for its intricate Celtic designs.
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum visit
Explore EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin’s Docklands, the original departure point for countless Irish emigrants. This interactive museum guides you through their reasons for leaving, the impact they made worldwide, and the enduring connections among Irish communities across the globe.
LEAP
LEAP Out of Ireland
Walk a mile in the shoes of an Irish emigrant. Uncover personal accounts of the circumstances that forced these inhabitants out of the country. Reflect on the feelings you would have felt in their shoes and discover how their departure shaped the history of Ireland.
Optional
Irish folklore evening (optional)
Watch as dancers leap, skip, and slide their way through lively Irish jigs. Hear musicians on fiddles, flutes, and pipes bring traditional Gaelic music to life. Experience the best of Irish culture and heritage during this unforgettable Irish folklore evening.
Traditional public house dinner
Day 10
Return home
Optional Extension
Add 5 Days to the Ring of Kerry
Begin in Galway with a guided city walk to landmarks like the Spanish Arch and Eyre Square. Experience the wild beauty of Connemara and the serenity of Kylemore Abbey. Travel to Killarney via the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, stopping to explore Limerick’s medieval charm. Take in the breathtaking Ring of Kerry and visit a traditional sheep farm (March–October). Conclude with a visit to Blarney Castle before heading to Dublin for your flight home.
TourFlex: Your Experience, Your Way
Explore Your Way
- Add experiences like theater tickets or unique excursions
- Swap activities for ones that better serve your group
- Extend the learning through go-aheads or stay-behinds
Go Your Way
- Choose the most accessible departure airport for your group
- Opt for 2-, 3-, or 4-star hotels that are centrally located or a convenient ride to major itinerary attractions
Dine Your Way
- Opt for pre-selected meals or encourage exploration by dining on your own
- Enjoy 2-3 course, culturally representative meals or opt for 3-course, authentic dinners at local restaurants
Already Included
WorldStrides Tour Director: A dynamic destination expert who makes learning come to life by leading your group's activities and discussions
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
Tips for local guides and drivers
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Professional development credits (CEUs) for educators
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.