About CIE
CIE Tours (Córas Iompair Éireann or Irish Transport System) was founded in 1932 as a division of Ireland’s National Transport Company. With a goal to provide travelers with the highest quality escorted vacations in Ireland and Britain and more than 85 years of travel experience, the award-winning tour operator has built a reputation of expertise, security and reliability among its customers. Today, CIE Tours is widely recognized as having the largest selection of itineraries in Ireland, as well as being specialists in travel to Scotland, England and Wales. In recent years, CIE Tours has expanded its trips to include guided journeys in Eastern Europe and Italy.
Escorted Tours
CIE’s fully escorted tours of the British Isles include accommodations, daily guided sightseeing, premium motorcoach transportation, admission fees and most meals. CIE guests are accompanied by tour directors and guides who share the history, culture and folklore of each destination.
No optional “extras” are sold on CIE’s British Isles tours -- everything is included, such as dinner shows, medieval banquets, walking tours, scenic cruises, open-top bus tours and more. Since CIE has taken care of all the details, all you’ll have to do on your trip is relax, enjoy and explore.
CIE’s guided vacations in Eastern Europe and Italy are operated by Kompas Tours, a partner tour company renowned for excellent vacations. These trips include daily sightseeing, superb hotels, full breakfasts and most dinners in the price. They also offer optional sightseeing or special dining experiences that are sold separately for maximum flexibility while touring.
Here are a few of the vacation-enhancing features that are included in the price of your CIE tour in the British Isles.
Tour Director
Your tour director will be there to welcome you on arrival in Ireland or Britain and will accompany you throughout the rest of your journey. Tour directors are responsible for driving you from one destination to the next and handling all luggage, but they also provide daily commentary that will make the destination’s history and culture come alive. Because all of CIE’s tour directors are locally employed, they are able to offer unique personal insights and experiences.
Hotels
CIE chooses comfortable first-class and deluxe hotels in each destination for their amenities, central locations and scenic settings. On some tours, you might even find yourself spending the night in a historic castle. Whatever your accommodation, your luggage will be delivered directly to your room on arrival and collected again before departure.
Included Meals
Start each day of your British Isles trip with a full breakfast at your hotel. A table d’hôte dinner is served most nights in your hotel; this delicious four-course meal usually boasts several choices of appetizers, entrees and desserts followed by tea or coffee. On some evenings, you’ll have the opportunity to try the local cuisine on your own – maybe a gourmet meal at a full-service restaurant or a more casual experience at a local pub. Depending on your tour, you may even attend a banquet in a historic location or enjoy a musical dinner and show.
History & Geography
Many visitors flock to Britain and Ireland each year to discover centuries of history and culture. Whether you’re exploring ancient cities and modern metropolises, discovering historic churches and castles, marveling at natural wonders or visiting famous attractions, your expert local guide will be there to enrich your experience with insider insight and information.
Luxury Touring Coaches
CIE’s luxury coaches are the picture of comfort, boasting reclining seats and individual climate control. Panoramic windows and a state-of-the-art public address system mean exploration continues even on travel days. Free Wi-Fi is available on most coaches.
Small-Group Departures
Experience the best of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales on select small-group departures with an average of 24 travelers. You can expect a more intimate experience on these smaller group trips that allow extra access to knowledgeable guides and local experts. Itineraries are planned with the perfect balance of guided sightseeing and free time to explore on your own.
To get a feel for the CIE experience, check out the video below.