Private Newgrange & Boyne Valley Day Tour

Private Newgrange & Boyne Valley Day Tour

Tour from Dublin

Quote Request

Tours are priced individually according to the route, group size, distances & hours required, date(s) in question, start & end locations, overnight locations (where applicable) and remaining supply at time of booking.

A Short Introduction To Your Journey

A relatively short drive from Dublin will take you to “Royal County Meath” in Ireland’s ancient east. There you’ll discover the archaeological highlights of the Boyne Valley on this private day tour with Kennedy & Carr.

Look forward to the sprawling Trim Castle (Film set of Mel Gibson’s Braveheart) and the Hill of Tara, historic seat of the High Kings of Ireland. For most guests however, the highlight of the experience will be a visit to Ireland’s most iconic ancient site – Newgrange (Bru na Boinne). Visit the passage tomb and learn about the fascinating passage of light, which occurs annually during the Winter Solstice. Finish up the tour with a visit to the town of Drogheda and St. Peter’s church – famous for the relics (severed head) of St. Oliver Plunkett.

At Kennedy & Carr, we promise you authentic local experiences with private driver- guides to show you both the highlights and hidden gems that make our Emerald Isle so magical. Contact us today to schedule your private day tour from Dublin to Newgrange & the Boyne Valley!

Guest feedback:

"Thank you Ms Chloe for making this happen. My guests are really impressed. Yes, these archaeological sites are amongst the most important in Europe, but it is magical to see them with one's own eyes. Many, many thanks," - Prof. Dr. X, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Emilia- Romagna, Italy

  • Enjoy independence, comfort & safety with a private tour vehicle & driver
  • Private collection from your Dublin city accommodation
  • Explore the highlights of Ireland’s Ancient East in Royal County Meath
  • Discover the fascinating passage tomb at Newgrange (5,000+ years old).
  • Visit the historic Trim Castle (largest Norman fortress in Ireland)
  • Visit the Hill of Tara, seat of the ancient High Kings of Ireland
  • Visit historic St. Peter’s church, Drogheda with St. Oliver Plunkett’s severed head.
  • Enjoy time for lunch at the Newgrange (Bru na Boinne) visitor centre.
  • Pleasant rural landscape typified by a patchwork of fields and agricultural land
  • Leisurely private drive back to Dublin city.
  • Drop- off at your hotel, restaurant or other location as advised.
  • Dublin-based expert advice
  • Collection from your hotel
  • Private Mercedes-Benz Tour Vehicle
  • Private Chauffeur Guide
  • Private 4G Wifi Connection in Tour Vehicle
  • Entrance fees (as specified at time of booking)
  • Fuel, Road Tolls and Associated Taxes
  • Dropoff at your hotel
  • Driver's Gratuity
  • Food, Drink or Refreshments
  • Depart Dublin

    Your driver will collect you from your door and head north- west towards County Meath's Boyne Valley. Due to the massive popularity of Newgrange, we recommend that guests depart Dublin at 07:30 so that they can arrive at Newgrange comfortably when the gates open at 09:00.

  • Newgrange (Brú na Bóinne)

    Without a doubt one of Ireland’s most awe-inspiring historical sites, Newgrange is a large circular passage tomb, dating back further than 3,000BC – making it older than both the pyramids at Giza, Egypt and Stonehenge, England. An ancient temple of pagan worship, Newgrange is particularly well-known for its relevance to the Winter Solstice, on which the sun illuminates the burial chamber at dawn each December 21st. Studies into the alignments of the various monuments here suggest advanced knowledge of astronomy and calendars by the ancients.

    You will enjoy ample time to visit this prehistoric wonder and explore the visitor center and exhibition.

    Please see the Guest Advice section at the bottom of this page for important information relating to tickets for this attraction.

  • Hill of Tara

    Leaving Newgrange behind – it’s time to visit one of Ireland’s most ancient treasures – The Hill of Tara. This archaeological site boasts a royal history – once the seat of Ireland’s ancient High King. A rich variety of archaeological monuments await discovery here and you will gain fascinating insight into the rituals of kingship and pagan worship, which were so central in pre- Christian European society.

  • Trim Castle

    This afternoon, your journey takes you to Trim Castle. The drive takes you through agricultural countryside and you’ll enjoy plenty of time to explore the ruins and grounds. The castle is the largest Norman fortification in Ireland and originally served as the administrative center of the ‘Lordship of Co. Meath’ – built over 30 years in the 12th century. The Castle is set in a beautiful location and is a popular Irish wedding destination, owing to its romantic surroundings. You can explore the grounds and surrounds at your leisure for a real flavour of medieval life. Access to the keep is restricted and is possible only by an optional guided tour for safety reasons.

  • Return to Dublin

    Following your visit to Trim castle, it’s time to enjoy the leisurely drive back to Dublin city -where you will arrive with plenty of time for refreshments and evening plans.

    Hours of 07:30 - 16:30 / 17:00 (or consecutive equivalent) are required for this tour.

Private Tours typically range from EUR 695.00 – EUR 1,895.00+ per vehicle per day including a driver- guide (& his overnight expenses), fuel, road tolls and associated taxes. Guest accommodation & entrance fees are not included in the above guideline to facilitate guest flexibility.

Tours are priced individually according to the route, group size, distances & hours required, date(s) in question, start & end locations, overnight locations (where applicable) and remaining supply at time of booking.
Update: 9th October 2024

Ireland is currently at full employment. Many drivers exited the hospitality industry during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (as hospitality was shut for two years) and there is currently a relative shortage of the very best talent.

With pandemic restrictions now in the rear view mirror, and with the United States Dollar at its strongest level vs the Euro in 20 years, we are currently experiencing a sharp increase in demand from our principal markets in the US, UK, EU and Arabian Gulf. As our availability sells out for the period ahead, rates will rise as demand outstrips remaining supply.

Accordingly, we encourage guests to secure preferred dates for the coming season as early as possible.

October 2024 (Shoulder Season)
Fair availability for most dates. Rates quoted now will rise by approximately 15% as demand meets supply approaching departure. Rates can be fixed by deposit.

November 2024 (Low Season)
Thanksgiving week starting to fill. Rates quoted now will rise by approximately 20% as the fleet sells out. Rates can be fixed by deposit.

December 2024 (Shoulder Season)
25th December extremely limited availability. Traditionally there is a pronounced shortage of suitable drivers between 23rd December and 4th January. Rates quoted now will rise by approximately 25% as the fleet sells out. Rates can be fixed by deposit.

January 2025 (Low Season)
Good availability for all dates. Reservation at least 72 hours before travel recommended to guarantee service. Rates quoted now will rise by approximately 25% as the fleet sells out. Rates can be fixed by deposit.

February 2025 (Low Season)
Good availability for all dates. Advance booking required for weekends during Six Nations Rugby Championship. Reservation at least 72 hours before travel recommended to guarantee service. Rates quoted now will rise by approximately 25% as the fleet sells out. Rates can be fixed by deposit.

March 2025 (Peak Season)
Fair availability for most dates. Advance booking required for weekends during Six Nations Rugby Championship and St. Patrick's Week 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th. Early bird rates can be secured by deposit. We are now starting to see multiple quotation requests for St. Patrick's Festival. Rates quoted now will rise by approximately 25-30% as the fleet sells out. Rates can be fixed by deposit.

April 2025 (Shoulder Season)
Rates quoted now will rise by approximately 25% as demand surpasses supply approaching departure. Rates can be fixed by deposit.

May 2025 (Peak Season)
Rates quoted now will rise by approximately 25% as demand surpasses supply approaching departure. Rates can be fixed by deposit.

June 2025 (Peak Season)
Rates quoted now will rise by approximately 30% as demand surpasses supply approaching departure. Rates can be fixed by deposit.

July 2025 (High- Peak Season)
Rates quoted now will rise by approximately 30% as demand surpasses supply approaching departure. Rates can be fixed by deposit.

August 2025 (High- Peak Season)
Rates quoted now will rise by approximately 30% as demand surpasses supply approaching departure. Rates can be fixed by deposit.

Ticket

You will receive your ticket (featuring your booking number) via email immediately at time of booking. There is no need to print the ticket. If you wish, you can simply show it on your phone or tablet.

Access to Newgrange is via the Bru na Boinne visitor centre only. Due to the historic importance and fragile nature of this site, guests are accompanied by government tour guides. The guided tours last approximately three hours from entrance to exit.

Tickets for guided tours are only made available for pre purchase online 30 days from any given date and are sold on a first come first served basis. This is a massively popular attraction in peak-season with demand for tickets higher than supply.

You are welcome to book these tickets yourself or we can do so on a best efforts basis for you upon settltment of your deposit. As tickets are only released at midnight Dublin time and will likely be sold out by the following morning there will be a EUR 50.00 out of hours service charge should you wish for our office staff to secure tickets on your behalf.

We recommend departing Dublin at 07:30 and arriving for the first available slot of the day, typically 09:00 or 09:30. The guided tours last approximately three hours from entrance to exit. This allows you to remove time pressure from the day and enjoy a little flexibility in the afternoon. Booking significantly later slots may make other parts of the suggested itinerary impractical or impossible in one day.

All guests are welcome to visit the visitor centre exhibition but access to the chambers is limited to ticketholders.