Custom Private Tours

About This Tour

Your interests. Your pace. Your perfect Northern Ireland experience. While our set tours showcase the highlights that make Northern Ireland special, sometimes you want something completely different – perhaps following your family's Irish roots, exploring specific historical periods, pursuing special interests like photography or architecture, or simply creating the exact balance of sightseeing and relaxation that suits your travel style. Custom Private Tours put you in control. You tell us what interests you, what you hope to experience, how you like to travel, and we design a completely personalized itinerary that brings your vision to life. This is Northern Ireland on your terms – no compromise, no settling, no "I wish we'd had more time for that" regrets. **HOW IT WORKS** The custom tour process begins with conversation. What brings you to Northern Ireland? What have you always wanted to see? Are there specific family connections, research interests, or photography goals? Do you prefer structured itineraries or spontaneous exploration? Morning person or prefer a later start? Adventure activities or gentle touring? Crowds or solitude? Based on this conversation, we create a proposed itinerary – a framework that can include major attractions, hidden gems, specific stops related to your interests, meal recommendations, and realistic timing. This proposal isn't final; it's a starting point for refinement. You might say "more time here, skip that, add this," and we'll adjust accordingly. On the day of your tour, your guide arrives with the plan but remains flexible. If something captures your interest and you want to spend more time, we can. If weather changes or energy levels shift, we adapt. The goal is always your satisfaction, not rigidly following a script. **POPULAR CUSTOM TOUR THEMES** **Genealogy & Family Heritage Tours**: Many visitors come to Northern Ireland seeking connections to ancestral homes, graveyards, churches where ancestors married, or villages their families left generations ago. We can research locations in advance, coordinate with local historical societies, visit specific sites, take photographs, and help you connect emotionally with your family's Irish story. **Photography Tours**: Serious photographers often need something different from standard tours – specific light conditions, extra time for composition, access to viewpoints at particular times, guidance about locations that photograph well. We can design itineraries around golden hour at the Giant's Causeway, blue hour at Dunluce Castle, fog over the Dark Hedges, or urban street photography in Belfast. **Literary & Film Location Tours**: Beyond Game of Thrones, Northern Ireland has hosted countless productions – Dracula Untold, The Fall, Derry Girls, Line of Duty, and more. Literary sites connect to C.S. Lewis, Seamus Heaney, and other writers. We can create tours entirely around these themes, including locations not normally visited. **Historical Deep Dives**: Perhaps you're fascinated by the Plantation of Ulster, the Great Famine, the industrial revolution, World War II's impact on Belfast, or the Troubles. We can design tours that explore specific historical periods in depth, visiting relevant museums, monuments, and locations while providing comprehensive historical context. **Active & Adventure Tours**: Combine sightseeing with hiking, cycling, surfing, kayaking, or other activities. We can arrange gear hire, coordinate with activity providers, and create itineraries that balance adventure with cultural exploration. **Relaxed Touring**: Not every traveler wants to pack every minute. Some prefer a slower pace – perhaps just three or four well-chosen locations with ample time at each, leisurely lunches, stops for coffee, time to simply sit and absorb the atmosphere. We can design gentle tours that prioritize quality over quantity. **Special Occasions**: Proposals, anniversaries, milestone birthdays, or honeymoons deserve special treatment. We can incorporate surprise elements, book special venues, coordinate with restaurants, and create memorable moments. **HOW PRICING WORKS** Custom tours are charged hourly (£60-80 per hour depending on vehicle size and complexity), with a typical minimum of four hours. Half-day tours (4-5 hours) suit Belfast-focused explorations or nearby destinations. Full-day tours (8-10 hours) allow comprehensive coastal routes or multi-stop itineraries. Multi-day custom tours are also possible. You pay only for guiding time – your guide's expertise, vehicle, fuel, and planning. Attraction entry fees, meals, and any special arrangements (genealogy research fees, activity bookings) are additional and paid directly or reimbursed. **WHAT MAKES CUSTOM TOURS SPECIAL** The beauty of custom touring is complete flexibility paired with local expertise. You're not trying to navigate unfamiliar roads, worry about parking, or wonder if you're missing something better around the next corner. Your guide handles logistics while sharing knowledge gained from years of showing people Northern Ireland. You set the pace. Want to spend two hours at the Giant's Causeway while your guide waits? That's fine. Prefer quick stops at many locations? We can do that. Want to detour to a pub your great-grandfather frequented? We'll find it. Curious about a castle visible from the road? We'll investigate. Custom tours suit solo travelers, couples, families, and small groups equally well. They're perfect for travelers who've visited before and want to explore deeper, travelers with specific interests that don't fit standard tours, or travelers who simply value personalization over packaged experiences. **BOOKING & PLANNING** Contact us at least a week in advance (longer for complex requests or busy seasons) so we can properly research and plan. We'll discuss your interests, suggest options, propose an itinerary, refine it based on your feedback, and confirm details. By tour day, everything is organized, but flexibility remains built into the experience. Whether you're tracing family history in County Antrim, photographing dawn at the Giant's Causeway, exploring Belfast's music scene, or creating a completely unique Northern Ireland experience, Custom Private Tours make it possible. This is traveling on your own terms, with expert support ensuring every moment is exactly what you hoped it would be.

Tour Highlights

Itinerary

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