GUIDED TOURS

Exclusive small-group experiences

POETS & POITÍN
A Journey Through Ireland’s
Landscape, Literature, & Terroir

Co-hosted by poet & sommelier Amanda Smeltz

April 28 to May 5, 2025

The Irish landscape has inspired the country’s literary greats for centuries. Beyond the backdrop for some of our favorite poems and stories, Ireland’s cities and seascapes have been depicted as central characters in some of the island's most successful novels. Ireland’s terroir has played an equally important role in the history of distilling and producing artisanal beverages like cider on the island, as well as peat-smoked whiskey, illegal homemade póitín, and the more recent proliferation of local gins. Join us for a week-long journey on Ireland’s west coast with American poet and sommelier Amanda Smeltz, focused on the Irish landscape as muse for writers, craft beverage producers, and culinary adventurers alike.

THE NEW NORTH

May 15-23, 2025

Most people who travel to Ireland never venture to the north of Ireland, and yet its dynamic political history, the rugged beauty of the Causeway Coast (Game of Thrones, anyone?), and the creativity of the growing culinary scene make it one of the most exciting parts of the country. In the time since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, Northern Ireland has seen decades of peace and prosperity that has given rise to innovation and ingenuity on the part of chefs and food producers. Belfast now has three Michelin-starred restaurants, adding a distinctive culinary reputation to an area long known for its poets and writers. 

Together we’ll visit with world-class cheesemakers, regenerative farmers, and craft distillers. We’ll learn about fishing culture by heading out onto the open ocean and catching and cooking our own breakfast right there on the boat - and we’ll learn about the north’s recent political history with guided tours led by people who lived through the conflict’s most intense years. We’ll share the story of why the North of Ireland is one of the most delicious and unique food destinations out there.

with Zingerman’s Food Tours

WRITING THE NEXT WORLD

a writing retreat with adrienne maree brown & Autumn Brown

August 18-23, 2025

Join us for our third annual writing retreat in collaboration with writer/podcasters adrienne maree brown and Autumn Brown! Next summer, we’ll gather on Ireland’s west coast for a writing workshop unlike any other. Come ideate, experiment with genre, and find a writing voice that creates more possibilities for our collective future, all while exploring the stunning, wild beauty of Ireland and eating outstanding food. This event will be rooted in the lineages of visionary and speculative fiction and Black Feminist Praxis. We will have a beautiful balance of private writing retreat time, collective world-building with fellow artists, practical skill development, and local adventure.

SALMON RUN:

FOLKLORE | FISH | FEAST


in collaboration with Sally Barnes of Woodcock Smokery

Coming up in 2025

A once in a lifetime opportunity to experience a curated wild salmon-themed foraging and feasting tour of the West Cork coast! Join us for an extra special experience curated in collaboration with Woodcock Smokery’s Sally Barnes. This tour focuses on wild Irish salmon and maritime culture; guests will spend time on the water, learn how to care for and prepare wild fish, and be immersed in hyperlocal Irish culture. Sadly, wild Irish salmon populations are dwindling, so guests on this tour will have an incredible opportunity to handle and taste this majestic fish alongside those who are working to sustain wild salmon around the world.

ARTISAN IRELAND

September 16 - 25, 2025

Irish farmers have been growing and producing using traditional methods for thousands of years. Today, a new generation of makers, chefs, and artisans are taking these traditions and renewing them for the 21st century. Together we’ll cruise through historic food markets, harvest seaweed by hand, and even craft cocktails using foraged botanicals. And with almost 2,000 miles of coastline, Ireland also has some of the most delicious seafood you’ll find anywhere. 

We promise that you’ve never truly had a pint of Guinness until you’ve had one poured in an Irish pub. Come see for yourself why everyone is saying Ireland is the next big foodie destination.

with Zingerman’s Food Tours