Irish Private Tours – Boyne Valley
The Boyne Valley, located just north of Dublin, is one of Ireland’s most important and atmospheric destinations for a private day tour. This remarkable landscape was once the heart of ancient Ireland and remains deeply associated with kingship, ritual and mythology.
A day tour of the Boyne Valley offers the opportunity to explore the world renowned prehistoric monuments of Newgrange and Knowth, set within the UNESCO World Heritage landscape of Brú na Bóinne. Built over five thousand years ago, these Stone Age passage tombs represent some of the finest surviving monuments from prehistoric Europe.
The tour also takes in later chapters of Ireland’s story. From the Hill of Tara, the ceremonial seat of the High Kings of Ireland, you can look out across a landscape shaped by power, belief and tradition. At Monasterboice, the beautifully carved tenth century high crosses and round tower offer a glimpse into early Christian Ireland at its artistic peak.
Pricing
Total tour price is 675 euro plus booking fees for up to 6 guests, the price is per vehicle, not per person. Admission fees and meals are not included in the tour price. The standard tour duration is 8 hours, with additional time available at an hourly rate.
Boyne Valley Day Tour
- Collection from your accommodation or cruise ship.
- Visit to the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Experience, providing context and background to the five thousand year old passage tombs of the Boyne Valley.
- Guided visit to the megalithic passage tombs at Newgrange and Knowth with official on site guides. As these are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, visits are conducted as part of the official programme.
- Hill of Slane , where St Patrick is said to have lit the Paschal Fire in 433 AD.
- Hill of Tara , ceremonial seat of the High Kings of Ireland.
Tours can be customised. Other sites of interest in the Boyne Valley include:
- Dowth, a lesser known passage tomb that has not been restored and allows time for quiet reflection away from crowds.
- Fourknocks, an off the beaten track megalithic tomb offering insight into prehistoric burial practices.
- Monasterboice, an early Christian monastery with a round tower and some of Ireland’s finest high crosses.
- Mellifont Abbey, founded in 1142 and regarded as the birthplace of the Cistercian order in Ireland.
- Bective Abbey , a later Cistercian foundation set beside the River Boyne.
- Kells , known for its high crosses, round tower and association with the Book of Kells.
As this is a private day tour, the itinerary can be adapted to suit your interests. Some guests prefer to focus more deeply on prehistoric sites such as Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, while others enjoy a broader overview that includes early Christian and medieval Ireland.
Christian heritage is deeply rooted in the Boyne Valley. Saint Patrick is traditionally associated with the Hill of Slane, while Monasterboice and Kells are outstanding examples of early monastic settlements marked by high crosses and round towers. Mellifont Abbey, founded in 1142, introduced the Cistercian way of life to Ireland, with Bective Abbey established shortly afterwards as one of its daughter houses.
Many visitors choose to spend additional time at the Hill of Tara. From the early Celtic period until the Norman invasion of the twelfth century, Tara functioned as Ireland’s political and symbolic centre. The kingship traditions associated with Tara combined authority, ritual and mythology, and many of the Kings of Tara also held the title of High King of Ireland.