Celtic travel specialist Brendan Vacations has announced new guided and FIT itineraries for 2025, including new rail vacations, private chauffeur itineraries and small group guided tours.
“As new types of travellers emerge, Brendan Vacations is evolving alongside their needs,” says Catherine Reilly, Managing Director of Brendan Vacations.
Brendan Vacations says family groups love Ireland. (Photo Credit: Brendan Vacations)
“Recognizing the busy schedules of our guests, we thoughtfully created these new trips to give travellers an authentic Celtic experience with a combination of iconic attractions and local favourites. Our variety of travel styles ensures that they’ll experience the true essence of the region in ways that cater to their personal needs without sacrificing quality time.”
As part of the new season, advisors can take advantage of an exclusive bonus commission offer on scheduled Brendan Vacations group bookings of 10 or more travellers.
Now through December 31, 2024, travel advisors participating in TTC Tour Brands’ Travel Advisor Discount Program (TADP) can also earn up to an additional CAD$1,500 in bonus commission with $0 deposit when booking groups with a minimum of 10 travellers on new scheduled guided tour group bookings. For the full list of eligible itineraries, travel advisors can check the TTC Tour Brands Travel Advisor Portal.
“We’re passionate about crafting experiences that bring families together across generations, all while exploring Ireland and Scotland’s rich landscapes and traditions. Whether it’s a multi-gen trip, a reunion or a group of friends, it’s about making time for togetherness in a world that often pulls us in different directions,” said Reilly.
Are your clients ready for a Guinness moustache? (Photo Credit: Brendan Vacations)
Here are some highlights of Brendan Vacations’ 2025 offering:
Rail Vacations: Guests can customize their Rail Vacations with new features such as flexible departure dates and adjustable nights in sample itineraries. Select locations without a rail connection are now accessible to travellers on rail vacations via a private driver including the curated properties and activities in Catherine’s Collection. Travellers on Rail Vacations benefit from the support of Local Hosts in most cities who offer insights and recommendations during the visit.
Two new rail itineraries are available to book:
Ireland’s Local Charm & Ancient Culture: A six-day journey that explores Ireland’s lively capital city of Dublin, Killarney National Park, a day tour on the Ring of Kerry, and a whiskey tasting at the small-batch Teeling Distillery.
Ireland’s South East Discovery: Kicking off in the historic capital of Dublin, this eight-day trip is packed with energetic activities ideal for the adventurous traveller. Activities include cycling the Waterford Greenway, a walking tour of Kilkenny and a visit to EPIC – The Irish Emigration Museum.
Guided Vacations: Brendan Vacations is launching 13 new elevated itineraries designed for more intimate group experiences with enhanced comfort and exclusivity. Both Classic and Small-Group departures are available and include upgraded accommodations, transportation and exceptional dining experiences. Brendan Choice is incorporated into each journey, allowing guests to choose different ways to experience select locations, like a scenic jaunting car ride or hike through Killarney.
Looking down on Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo Credit: Brendan Vacations)
Highlights of the new itineraries include:
Scenic Scotland, a Women-Only Tour: Designed exclusively for women, this eight-day small group tour begins in Edinburgh and features visits to historic sites, stunning castles, and beautiful lochs – all while fostering a supportive environment for women travellers.
Enchanting Ireland: Starting in Dublin, this eight-day journey highlights a scenic walk in the Wicklow Mountains, a tour of the Blarney Caste estate gardens led by a gardener on property and a foraging walk with a seaweed advocate and educator at Ring of Kerry to learn about how the plant works to protect the local ecosystem.
Best of Ireland & Scotland: Spanning two weeks, this journey begins in Dublin and ends in Edinburgh, providing a deep dive into the region’s iconic Gaelic and Celtic history.
Private Chauffeur: Brendan Vacations is offering a new active private chauffeur itinerary, Ireland Active Adventure, which travels from Dublin to Shannon in 10 days, featuring exhilarating outdoor experiences such as biking Killarney National Park and the Gap of Dunloe, hiking in the Early Medieval monastic settlement of Glendalough Valley, the Dingle and Berea Peninsulas, sailing on an open boat in Killarney and a walking tour of the Burren.
Learn more about Brendan Vacations’ 2025 and 2026 offerings here.