Brendan Vacations Expands Small Group Tours and Custom Celtic Trips for 2027

Celtic vacations specialist Brendan Vacations has announced an expanded 2027 product collection, including two new Small Group Tours and four new sample itineraries to inspire Custom Vacations across various travel styles. 

The expanded lineup also introduces new properties and experiences across Ireland and Scotland, from thermal wellness in Dublin to ancestry exploration in Edinburgh.

“Nearly 60 years in Ireland and Scotland have given us an incredible depth of experience, from the people and places we know to the relationships we’ve built,” said Whitney Ramirez, SVP Sales, Brendan Vacations North America. 

“In 2027, we’re putting that expertise to work for travel advisors through more intimate Small Group Tours and new itinerary inspiration for Private Driver and Rail Vacations, giving them even more ways to create meaningful, personalized Celtic vacations for their clients.”

New Small Group Tours: These feature a maximum of 18 guests and definite departure status across all dates. 

Extraordinary Ireland: This 12-day tour combines Ireland’s iconic landscapes with local connections, from the Cliffs of Moher and Ring of Kerry to Galway’s cobbled lanes. Highlights include walking the Giant’s Causeway with expert local Mark Rodgers, exploring Derry/Londonderry’s 17th-century walls, and a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® food walk in Westport.

Scotland at Leisure: Beginning and ending in Edinburgh, this eight-day tour journeys through the island history of Iona, Highland landscapes in Glencoe and along the Caledonian Canal in Fort Augustus. Along the way, guests will visit Edinburgh Castle, explore Skye’s dramatic rock formations, learn about the events of 1746 at Culloden and create their own Harris Tweed handbag.

The new tours join Brendan Vacations’ existing Small Group Tour collection, which includes Timeless Ireland & Ashford Castle, Ireland at Leisure and Wild Scotland & Isle of Skye. 

Select tours offer back-to-back departures, allowing travellers to combine Ireland and Scotland into a longer Celtic vacation, with departures available primarily from April through October and select options during winter.

Custom Vacations: Four new sample itineraries are available across the Private Driver and Rail Vacation travel styles, each of which can be tailored to clients’ interests, schedules and preferred pace including: 

Private Driver:

Ireland Wellness Adventure: This eight-day roundtrip Dublin vacation combines relaxing yoga sessions with the Stairway to Heaven hike in Co. Fermanagh, and access to the Bask Thermal Spa for a rejuvenating trip to Ireland. 

Scotland’s Lochs & Whiskey: The 10-day roundtrip Edinburgh journey explores Scotland’s whiskey heritage through the Johnny Walker Journey of Flavour tour, visits to Talisker and Glengoyne distilleries and an Isle of Rona Cruise. 

Rail Vacations: 

Ireland’s Cities, Coasts & Legends: Travelling roundtrip from Dublin over 10 days, guests will experience a Howth coastal hike, visit Giant’s Causeway and take a day tour around the Ring of Kerry. 

Scotland’s Castles, Coastlines & Cities: The nine-day journey from Edinburgh to Glasgow features Royal Deeside and Dunnottar Castle, a Loch Ness and Outlander day tour and guided walk along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. 

New Celtic Experiences: New bookable activities are available across Custom and Guided Vacations, centred on local wellness, craftsmanship, history, and heritage across Ireland and Scotland.

New accommodation options for 2027 include W Edinburgh, a five-star hotel in the city’s St James Quarter with a rooftop deck overlooking Arthur’s Seat and Edinburgh Castle. Scotland travellers can also stay at Glencruitten House, an 1897 estate in Oban, Scotland, enhanced by architect Sir Robert Lorimer, or Glenapp Castle in Ayrshire, Scotland, a five-star hotel recognized with a Michelin Key.

In Ireland, new options include The Grace, a five-star hotel on the Westport Estate, offering travellers a peaceful base after a day of exploring, and The Hawthorn in Galway, set along Galway Bay with sea-view dining, spa experiences and access to nearby golf courses.

Brendan says the new offerings build on early Canadian demand for longer, more flexible Celtic vacations in 2027. The company says Canadian guests are planning trips averaging 11 days, with May, August and September emerging as popular departure months.

Brendan Vacations’ new 2027 brochure is available to order by mail or download online here.