Why should we travel with CIE Tours?
We asked CIE Tours why you should travel with them, here's what they said...
When you travel with CIE Tours, you will get the warmest of welcomes and all the benefits of our 87 years of experience. The itineraries are locally crafted - we set our own high standards for delivering excellent holidays with state-of-the-art luxury coaches; the best hotels; carefully chosen authentic experiences and entertainment.
Our outstanding local tour directors are ready to share their knowledge, stories, passion for their home places - they are our greatest assets. Many of our tours spend 2 nights in each location, and our flexible read more itineraries include a great balance of escorted and free time. We include full breakfasts, most dinners and some evening entertainment. No one has to worry about paying for optional extras on the trip. It’s all included, no hidden extras.
We know how much these trips mean to you and we want to ensure that this is a trip you will treasure forever.
CIE snapshot
Total No. Tours
76
Departures
1,725
Average tour length
9 days
Average price per day
$578
Our thoughts...
The low down on CIE from our expert team of advisors at Global Journeys...
CIE Tours are specialists in guided coach tours of Britain and Ireland. With over 80 years of history, the team at CIE certainly have the local ties and experience to deliver you a top-notch touring experience through Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. They have recently dipped their toes into new regions within Europe, including Iceland, Italy and Spain.
CIE are relatively unknown in the Australasian market but are very popular in the rest of the world, so your fellow travellers are more likely to be North American than Antipodean. With itineraries designed to be fully inclusive, putting your hand in your pocket for optional day trips and read more activities is not something you need to worry about.
CIE Tours use, at minimum, 3-star hotels, which offer comfortable rooms and facilities, but many tours feature 4 and 5-star accommodations, which include luxurious amenities like spas, or more unique settings, like castle or manor stays. Breakfasts, along with many lunches and dinners are also included. There's a maximum group size of 44, but look out for selected departures on selected trips that are designed for small groups. Also keep a lookout for CIE's Last Minute Deals, which run year-round and offer savings of up to 15% off the normal retail price.
Who travels with CIE?
Guests are predominantly mature North American travellers, mostly couples, with friends, families and solo travellers also joining.
What's the age range on a CIE tour?
Most travellers are aged around 45 to 70, with most guests generally aged 50+.
How many people will we be travelling with?
Standard guided tours average about 35 guests, with coaches carrying a maximum of 44. Some departures are limited to 26 guests.
I'm a solo-traveller, will your tours suit me?
Yes. Solo travellers can join any guided tour and receive their own room by paying the applicable single supplement.
What percentage of people travel solo with you?
5%
Do you offer single rooms?
Yes. A single supplement applies and single-room pricing and availability is shown for each departure.
Do you offer room-sharing with other solo travellers?
No.
How would you describe the accommodation on your trips?
A mix of well-located hotels and more distinctive regional properties, including historic, manor and castle stays on selected itineraries.
Are there any extras to pay on top of the price shown?
Meals not listed in the itinerary, drinks and tour staff gratuities. There are no optional sightseeing options sold as most sightseeing and attraction entries are included.
Do you have the same guide throughout the trip?
Yes. A CIE Tour Director accompanies the group throughout the guided tour, managing the journey and providing commentary, with additional specialist guides used where appropriate.
Do you use local guides?
Yes. CIE uses local Tour Directors and specialist local guides to provide destination knowledge, history and cultural insights.
How much free time will we have on a CIE trip?
There is some free time built into most itineraries, although sightseeing is included every day. Guests can also skip scheduled touring when staying multiple nights in one location if they want more independent time.
How fit do we need to be?
A moderate level of mobility is generally sufficient for standard coach tours, although walking varies by destination. Ireland and Britain tend to be more leisurely, while Italy, Iceland and Spain can involve uneven surfaces, stairs, slopes and up to three or four hours of walking on some days.
Recent CIE reviews
Irish Adventure 0
Deana and Bruno, NSW, Australia, Jul 2026
The Irish Adventure was the second part of our holiday- the first being a trip around Italy with Insight Vacations. CIE was a wonderful tour company also. A much bigger group, 40 people. So when we first saw how large the group was I must say I was a little concerned how it would all work, but the driver/tour guide was excellent and it all went very read more smoothly.
We loved Ireland, the Irish humour and stories/myths and it was a lot of fun. Again we were the only Australians. Although it was a large group, many travelled together and were in groups of say 6 or 7, so they pretty much kept to themselves which was fine. It then made the group of people “mingling” together to be around 24, so again it was lovely sharing that time. Everyone got on very well and the activities etc catered to the majority of the people. The accommodation was also excellent, each one better than the previous. And on our last day in Dublin, we happened to arrive for the grand final of a big Irish football league and the team that won had not won for 75 years, so you can imagine the party celebrations in Dublin that night. And our hotel was right opposite the stadium where the game was played, so the atmosphere was fabulous!! And naturally, we all joined in on the celebrations even if we did not understand or watch the game……..the sheer jubilation, stories and celebration was enough to want to be a part of. So I would recommend CIE also, although I got the impression that most tours around Ireland are around to 35-40 people mark. Again, thank you Grace for all your assistance with our overseas trip. 😊
Dublin pub tour 0
Deidre, AB, Canada, Jul 2025
We cannot say enough good things about our tour. PJ the coach driver was amazing. Highly recommended this tour. Dublin pub tour. Thanks ever so much for a wonderful trip, from the Canadian Gals, Dee and Denise.
Dublin Pub Tour 0
Denise, AB, Canada, Jul 2025
I cannot say enough good things about the CIE Ireland Pub Tour July 16-22, 2025. The tour was well organized and executed, the accommodations and food were great in all the locations and the excursions were fun. The amount of bus travel time, planned excursion time and free time was well balanced. We weren't too rushed or overscheduled. But what read more stood out the most was our fabulous tour guide and driver, PJ. He really made the tour enjoyable and fun. PJ is entertaining, funny and very knowledgeable about all things Irish. He incorporated a uniquely Irish tradition of the National Hurling Finals which really immersed us in the Irish culture. PJ went above and beyond to ensure that our tour was flawless and that we all enjoyed ourselves. Hats off to CIE and PJ for a great vacation that will go down in the memory books for me. I highly recommend this tour.
Would highly recommend 0
Beverly and Graeme, NSW, Australia, Oct 2024
If you’re looking for a great experience look no further than Global Journeys. Could not fault our experience. From the time of booking till we landed on Australian shores again,fabulous! Rachael McSorley our Travel Advisor looked after us so well. We were kept up to date evert step of the way. And CIE Classic Irish tour was all we hoped and more!
Irish Odyssey 2
David and Tracey, NSW, Australia, Mar 2024
CIE are a great tourist organisation. All costs were in the price quoted , no added extras like some tourist organisations. The tour covered big and small venues, cities and towns whilst the places used for accommodation were of great value. I would recommend CIE.
CIE's most popular trips this month...
Why should we travel with Trafalgar?
We asked Trafalgar why you should travel with them, here's what they said...
We are one of the world’ smost-loved and trusted travel companies and the world's leading and most awarded travel brand, spanning all seven continents. Our brand spans four travel categories - tours, small groups, river cruises and rail journeys, organised across three value tiers - Saver, Classic and Premium. With more than 600 itineraries across 75 countries, we make it easy for travellers to find the right experience at the right price.
From the iconic to the unexpected, our guests connect to the real depth of the places we go. You'll break read more bread with locals at our exclusive Be My Guest experiences and unlock local secrets with our Travel Directors and Local Specialists. Whether by land, river or rail, we create memorable journeys filled with authentic local experiences and expert guidance. We handle the details, so your are free to discover the heart of every destination and enjoy those unexpected travel moments.
We consider how we can positively impact the communities we engage with. Through our JoinTrafalgar initiatives powered by TreadRight, our guests don't just leave footprints on the ground but leave a lasting legacy for the betterment of locals and the future of their communities. Backed by nearly 80 years of trusted experience, feedback from over 5 million happy guests and more than 150,000 five-star reviews, we continue to innovate and deliver memorable holidays with responsible travel practices at their heart.
Trafalgar snapshot
Total No. Tours
488
Departures
11,961
Average tour length
11 days
Average price per day
$535
Our thoughts...
The low down on Trafalgar from our expert team of advisors at Global Journeys...
Over 250 coach tours around the world, and one of our clients most popular touring companies, Trafalgar is part of the Travel Corporation, which includes under its umbrella the sister brands of Insight Vacations, AAT Kings, Uniworld, Luxury Gold, Contiki & Costsaver. With a worldwide presence, Trafalgar welcomes guests from around the world so you'll enjoy the company of many nationalities aboard your coach. Sitting between Insight and Costsaver, Trafalgar pride themselves in touring innovation, introducing 'Insider Experiences' (where you get to know and dine with the locals) and travel styles to suit those that prefer smaller groups or those read more that prefer a more leisurely itineraries. Look out for Trafalgar's 'Early Payment Savings' where you can enjoy significant savings on your trip if you book and pay early, as well as further savings if you're a past passenger on any of their aforementioned sister brands.
Who travels with Trafalgar?
A broad international mix of couples, friends, families and solo travellers. Trafalgar welcomes guests from around the world
What's the age range on a Trafalgar tour?
Trafalgar attracts a broad mix of ages, with tours particularly well suited to mature and senior travellers.
How many people will we be travelling with?
Group sizes vary considerably by destination. Europe averages around 40 to 45 guests with a maximum of 53; North America has up to 52, Australia and New Zealand up to 50, Asia generally up to 32, Africa up to 36 and Latin America around 40 to 45.
I'm a solo-traveller, will your tours suit me?
Yes. Trafalgar is well suited to solo travellers, with guided sightseeing, shared experiences and options to either share a room or book single accommodation.
What percentage of people travel solo with you?
-
Do you offer single rooms?
Yes. A single supplement applies and single-room pricing and availability is shown for each departure.
Do you offer room-sharing with other solo travellers?
Yes. On many itineraries solo travellers can pay the twin-share rate and be matched with another solo traveller of the same gender.
How would you describe the accommodation on your trips?
Quality 3 and 4-star hotels together with distinctive Stays with Stories and other destination-specific accommodation.
Are there any extras to pay on top of the price shown?
Optional experiences, some meals and drinks, additional transfers and gratuities.
Do you have the same guide throughout the trip?
Yes. A dedicated Trafalgar Travel Director accompanies the group throughout the tour and manages sightseeing, logistics and day-to-day arrangements.
Do you use local guides?
Yes. Local Specialists are used in many destinations to provide more detailed expert sightseeing alongside the Travel Director.
How much free time will we have on a Trafalgar trip?
Tours combine organised sightseeing with independent time. Some itineraries include several hours or full days to relax and explore independently, with optional experiences available during some free periods.
How fit do we need to be?
Travellers should be medically and physically fit enough to participate independently. Requirements vary by itinerary and can include significant walking, steps and uneven surfaces; Trafalgar's Travel Directors and Drivers cannot provide individual physical assistance.
Recent Trafalgar reviews
Disappointed with Travel Director 0
Susan, VIC, Australia, Oct 2026
The Best of Portugal tour with Trafalgar had 52 people on it, way too many for my liking. It was a nice tour but had too many optional extras and were very expensive for what they were, especially the dinners. The tour director Tiago was not accommodating, I witnessed him being dismissive of travellers requests and concerns. He did the bare minimum read more and talked about himself too much and how if we didn’t rate him a high score he won’t get much work. Of all my trips with Trafalgar this is my least favourite.
Trafalgar Splendours of Japan 0
Jill, WA , Australia, Oct 2026
A fantastic tour with so many interesting and new experiences, including Hiroshima. It was very busy every day from early morning to evening. Our tour leader was excellent with so much knowledge to share and interesting facts to tell us. Japan is a very clean country and the people very friendly. Every day had something special to experience. The read more accommodation was excellent. Highly recommend this tour.
Awesome adventure 0
Nancie, CA, United States, Oct 2026
I booked this trip last year with the hope of seeing the Northern Lights, and it turned out to be an amazing adventure! One thing I think people should understand before booking is that while you can see the Northern Lights with the naked eye, they are not always visible or as vibrant as the photos you see online. We were fortunate enough to see faint read more green colors, and our smartphones captured much more than our eyes could see. Even without a spectacular display, experiencing the Northern Lights was still special.
There were plenty of optional excursions, and we chose to do all of them. They were 100% worth it! The reindeer farm was a great experience, and the husky sledding adventure was so much fun, even though there was no snow. We also visited the Icehotel, and what an amazing and fun experience that was! Seeing the incredible ice sculptures and the creativity that goes into creating the hotel was fascinating. We learned that the outdoor ice hotel is being built later and later in the year. I can only wonder if climate change and warming temperatures are contributing to that. The permanent Icehotel was awesome and well worth seeing!
We also toured the Vasa Museum and the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm. The Vasa Museum literally took my breath away! Seeing the Vasa ship in person was incredible and definitely a highlight of the trip. I highly recommend allowing extra time in Stockholm to explore these attractions and enjoy the city.
A little advice for future travelers: Consider arriving a day or two early to adjust to the time difference. The 10-hour time change (from California) was much harder to adjust to than I expected! I would also recommend staying an extra day or two after the tour to give yourself enough time to truly explore Stockholm.
Another important tip: Pack for the Arctic weather! We traveled in October, and it was COLD. If you're traveling to Finnish and Swedish Lapland, make sure you bring proper cold-weather clothing, including a warm winter jacket, insulated pants, gloves, a hat, and appropriate footwear. Some people in our group had to purchase additional clothing because they weren't adequately prepared. You don't want to spend your time being cold when you should be enjoying the experience!
Our tour guide, Mike, was awesome! He was personable, funny, knowledgeable, and made everyone feel comfortable throughout the trip. He also did a great job managing a group of 27 people, which is no easy task. Our driver, Kristoff, got us everywhere safely, and our two local experts, Lucas (Northern lights hunting) and Adi Nobel and Vasa Museum** (I hope I spelled their names correctly!), were great as well. I really enjoyed Adi's tours he was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. You could just tell how passionate he was.
Our group of 27 people was the perfect size. Everyone got along really well and, best of all, everyone was ready on time, which helped keep everything running smoothly. The first couple of days involve quite a bit of travel, but once you settle into the pace, the trip is fantastic.
If you're looking for an unforgettable adventure with great guides, beautiful scenery, fun excursions, and a wonderful group experience, I highly recommend this trip! The Northern Lights are a bonus, but there is so much more to see and experience along the way. I would absolutely consider traveling with Trafalgar again!
Spanish Experience 0
Chris and Sandra, NSW, Australia, Oct 2026
We had a fabulous trip, very well organised, participating in all options easy to do, tour director and bus driver very experienced and knowledgeable. Our travel consultant Grace has been excellent organising and answering our queries in a very timely manner we have many more trips on the go!
Canadian Maritimes 0
Lorraine and Helen, NSW, Australia, Sep 2026
Excellent time to travel for changing leaf colours- beautiful kaleidoscope everywhere. Insight coaches very comfortable & spacious, but seat rotation somewhat inconsistent!! Accommodation hotels very comfortable with large rooms though Digby Pines Resort had smaller rooms & needs upgrading. Itinerary good & local guides very knowledgeable & entertaining read more even in very adverse weather conditions at times. Found some “lessons” on local products too detailed. Included meals good.
Trafalgar's most popular trips this month...
+ Global Journeys
