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"I can't imagine doing Skellig Michael in any other boat!"

-- taylor c. tripadvisor review 22nd june 2017.

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Welcome to SkelligWalker Cruises

'An incredible, impossible, mad place, which still tempts devotees to make "stations" of every stair landing, and to creep through "needle's eyes" at impossible altitudes, and kiss "stones of pain" jutting out 700 feet above the Atlantic.... it is part of our dream world.’

-- George Bernard Shaw

A visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Skellig Michael with SkelligWalker Cruises is an experience that will live with you forever. A trip aboard the purpose built SkelligWalker offers safe and comfortable access to the Island, where visitors then undertake a pilgrimage to climb almost 700 steps to the early monastic settlement that offers tranquility and an opportunity to connect with the beauty and wildlife of the Skellig Coast on the Wild Atlantic Way .

We also offer a daily eco tour that circles both Islands, Skellig Michael and the Small Skelligs . This trip allows visitors to experience the unique history and wildlife of the area including the 23,000 pairs of gannets that nest on the Small Skelligs (the second largest colony in the world).

We look forward to welcoming you aboard SkelligWalker.

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-- caitriona f. tripadvisor review 4th october 2017, get in touch.

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How To Visit Skellig Michael In 2024 (A Guide To The Skellig Islands)

By Author Keith O'Hara

Posted on Last updated: February 1, 2024

The Skellig Michael tours are some of Ireland’s most sought-after. They’re also some of the most misunderstood .

There are two types of Skellig Islands tours:

• Landing tours : You physically explore Skellig Michael Island
• Eco tours : You sail around the two Skellig Islands but don’t leave the boat

In the guide below, you’ll find info on the different tours of the Skellig Islands, their history and, of course, the Star Wars link . Enjoy!

Table of Contents

Some quick need-to-knows if you want to visit Skellig Michael

Click to enlarge map

So, if you want to visit Skellig Michael Island, there are several  need-to-knows before you start planning your trip.

1. Location

The ancient Skellig Islands jut from the Atlantic Ocean around 13km from Ballinskelligs Bay off the tip of the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry .

2. There are 2 islands

There are two Skellig Islands. The smaller of the two, known as Little Skellig , is closed to the public and cannot be accessed. Skellig Michael (AKA ‘Great Skellig) is over 750 feet tall and is home to a number of historic sites.

3. There are 2 tour types

If you’re wondering how to get to Skellig Michael, you have 2 options – the Skellig Michael landing tour (you physically go onto the island) and the eco tour (you sail around the islands). The majority of Skellig Michael tours leave from Portmagee pier, although one leaves from Derrynane Harbour and another leaves from Valentia Island .

4. Star Wars fame

Yes, Skellig Michael is the Star Wars Island in Ireland. It featured Star Wars Episode VII “The Force Awakens” in 2014 . If you’ve watched the movie, you’ll see Skellig Michael at the end of the movie when Luke Skywalker gets reintroduced to viewers.

5. Warnings

• Book tickets well in advance:  They book out frequently
• Good fitness levels needed:  You’ll need to climb a bit on the landing tour
• Tours don’t run all year: The ‘season’ runs from from April until the beginning of October

6. Where to stay nearby

The best place to base yourself when visiting Skellig Michael, in my opinion, is Portmagee , however, Valentia Island and Waterville are two other great options.

About the Skellig Islands

Photos via Shutterstock

You’ll find Skellig Michael Island and Little Skellig jutting from the Atlantic around 1.5km from Ballinskelligs Bay off the tip of the Iveragh Peninsula.

And it’s from here that the Skellig Islands have been delighting those that have dared to visit long before George Lucas and Hollywood came knocking.

How they were formed

It was during the Armorican/Hercynian Earth Movements that Skellig Michael first peeked above the Atlantic Ocean.

These movements led to the formation of the mountains of County Kerry, which Skellig Michael is connected to.

The mass of rock from which the island was formed dates back over 400 million years and consists of compressed sheets of sandstone mixed with silt and gravel.

Mentioned as far back as 1400 BC

Of the two islands, Skellig Michael boasts the most Religious and historical significance.

The island was first referenced in history in   1400 BC and was called ‘home’ by a group of monks for the first time during the 8th century.

In pursuit of a greater union with God, a group of ascetic monks withdrew from civilisation to the remote island to begin a life of solitude.

A UNESCO World Heritage site

The remote and isolated islands have an almost prehistoric feel about them and the Skelligs are widely regarded as one of Europe’s most perplexing and remote sacred sites.

In 1996, UNESCO gave recognition to Skellig Michael and its “outstanding universal value” , placing it upon the World Heritage List , where it sits proudly next to the likes of the Giants Causeway and Yellowstone National Park.

“An incredible, impossible, mad place”

Once upon a time, over 20 years before Star Wars creator George Lucas was born, a Nobel Prize and Oscar-winning Irish playwright discovered the wonders of the Skellig Islands.

On September 17th, 1910, George Bernard Shaw left the Kerry coast in an open boat and sailed across the choppy waters that lay between the islands and the mainland.

In a letter penned to a friend, Shaw described the island as  “An incredible, impossible, mad place”  that is  “part of our dream world” . If that doesn’t make you want to visit, nothing will.

How to get to Skellig Michael in 2024

We get emails asking how to get to Skellig Michael constantly . They tend to start mid-summer. But by that time many tours are booked up.

So, there are several different Skellig Michael boat tours on offer. Now, as mentioned above, just 180 people can access the island each day .

So, getting a ticket on one of the boat trips that land on the island can be tricky. Here’s an overview of each of the tours:

1. The Eco Tour around the islands

The first of the two Skellig Michael tours is the Eco Tour. This is the tour that takes you around the islands, but that doesn’t ‘land’ on Skellig Michael.

These Skellig Island tours tend to involve visiting Little Skellig first and seeing some of the wildlife (ganets and seals to name a fiew) before sailing around Skellig Michael.

2. The Skellig Michael Landing Tour

The Skellig Michael Landing Tour involves taking a ferry to the larger of the islands and heading for a wander around it.

The landing tours is more expensive (info below) but it’ll treat you to one of the most unique experiences in Ireland.

Skellig Michael tours compared

Good God. It’s taken me over an hour to collect the info below about the various Skellig Michael tours. Why?!

Well, because some of the websites are an absolute mess and a half!

WARNING : The prices and times listed below may change so  please  double check them in advance!

1. Skellig Michael Cruises

• Run by: Paul Devane & Skellig Michael Cruises
• Location : Portmagee
• Eco tour : Lasts 2.5 hours. €50
• Landing tour : You get 2.5 hours when you visit Skellig Michael. €140
• Learn more here

2. Skellig Boat tours

• Run by: Dan and Donal McCrohan
• Eco tour : It lasts 2.5 hours and it costs €50 per person
• Landing tour : Costs €125 per person

3. Kerry Aqua Terra Boat & Adventure Tours

• Run by: Brendan and Elizabeth
• Location : Knightstown (Valentia)
• Skellig Coast Tour : Takes you around the most scenic sites in the area including the islands and the Kerry Cliffs. 3 hours. €75 p/p.

4. Sea Quest Skellig Tours

• Eco tour : It lasts just under 2.5 hours and it costs €50 for adults with lower priced tickets for kids
• Landing tour : €130 and you get 2.5 hours on the island

5. Casey’s Skellig Island Tours

• Eco tour : €45
• Landing tour : €125  

6. Skellig Walker

• Eco tour : €50 per person
• Landing tour : Tickets cost €125 per person 

Things to see and do on Skellig Michael

Skellig Michael was first referenced in history in   1400BC and was called ‘home’ by a group of monks for the first time during the 8th century.

It’s thanks to these monks that the island is home to a number of historical sites (the views are also out of this world).

1. Enjoy the journey over

If you do get a chance to visit Skellig Michael, your adventure begins from the moment you step on the ferry.

The journey across takes an hour from Portmagee (above) and you’ll be able to start soaking up views soon after your departure.

Now, if you’ve ever taken a ferry anywhere in Ireland, you’ll know that the water can be very choppy at times, so keep that in mind.

I’d recommend decent footwear, also. Aside from the fact that you’ll be doing a lot of walking on the island, the area where you step off the ferry can be slippy.

This isn’t helped by the fact that the boat will be rocking. So, decent footwear and a sturdy belly (keep away from the pints the night before!) are both needed. 

2. The Stairway to Heaven

Cast your mind back to a time when monks lived on Skellig Michael (AKA ‘Great Skellig’). They needed to eat, and the water was their main source of food.

The monks needed to conquer a grueling 600+ steps each day as they made their way from the summit, where they lived, to the icy waters below, where they caught fish.

Those that visit the island will need to climb these 600+ steps to reach the top of the island. This will be a challenge for those with poor mobility.

3. Views galore

If you visit Skellig Michael on a clear day, you’ll be treated to outstanding views of Little Skellig and the Kerry coastline. 

And after climbing the 600+ steps to the top, you’ll have earned a bit of kick-back-and-take-it-all-in-time.

When you arrive here, try and switch off, put the phone/camera away and bask in the brilliance that surrounds you. 

4. The beehive huts

Life in the middle of the Atlantic was by no means easy, so the monks got to work and built several structures to make the island suitable to live on.

Over time, they managed to construct a Christian monastery, six beehive huts, two oratories and some terraces.

The cluster of six beehive huts that housed the island’s inhabitants were constructed with slate and stand proud to this day – an immense feat considering the intense storms they’ve been subjected to over many years.

5. The Skellig Michael monastery

Although the Skellig Michael monastery is a ruin, much of the inner and outer enclosure is still visible. The monastery is situated on the east side of the island, as this location gets some good shelter.

The monks built three different staircases that would allow them to access the area, depending on the weather. Only the steps I mentioned earlier are accessible to the public today, for safety reasons.

You’ll be able to see one of the staircases from the monastery. This was one of the paths that was shown in Star Wars: Force Awakes.

FAQs about visiting Skellig Michael

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from whether or not the Skellig boat trips are worth the price they charge and where to stay nearby.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

Is Skellig Michael worth it?

Yes. It’s worth the hassle of planning your trip and dealing with the potential cancellation if the weather is bad. This is one of those experiences you’ll remember forever.

Are there many Skellig Islands boat trips to choose from?

There are a lot of different tour operators, each of which tends to offer both an Eco Tour (where you sail around the islands) and a landing tour (where you visit Skellig Michael).

Was Star Wars filmed on Skellig Michael?

Yes. The Skelligs featured in Star Wars film Episode VII “The Force Awakens” in 2014. If you’ve watched the movie, you’ll see Skellig Michael at the end of the movie when Luke Skywalker gets reintroduced to viewers.

Is Skellig Michael open in 2024?

Yes, tours are running to the Skellig Islands in 2024. The ‘season’ runs from from April until the beginning of October.

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries . Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.

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Tuesday 25th of April 2023

Very useful info for planning our trip. Thanks for taking the time.

Sunday 16th of April 2023

Thank you for this post. Because of it, I was able to find a tour that actually had space on their boat!

Pat Mulcahy

Thursday 16th of February 2023

Very useful information Keith thanks

Tuesday 21st of June 2022

Very useful info. A great website source. Well done

Monday 21st of March 2022

As the world's foremost Star Wars scholar, I feel I must point out that The Force Awakens premiered on December 17, 2015, not 2014. :)

SKELLIG MICHAEL ECO BOAT TOUR BOAT TOURS TO THE SKELLIG ISLANDS

The Skellig Michael Boat Tour around the Skellig Islands (Skellig Michael and Little Skelligs Nature Reserve) has multiple departure times throughout the day. The boat tour lasts approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes and circles both islands getting right up close to Skellig Michael and the Little Skelligs to see both the wildlife and the historical sites. This tour can get quite busy especially in the peak season so it is advisable to book well in advance.  The season runs from April to the end of September. The tour departs from the marina in Portmagee, Co. Kerry . It is very important that we are able to contact you on the phone number and email address you provide when you make a booking. Skellig Michael is 12km out in the Atlantic Ocean so the tours are very dependent on the sea conditions  and we will need to keep you updated if the departure time changes or if a tour is cancelled.

How to book the Skellig Michael Eco Boat Tour?

We take all bookings online on our website. Go directly to the booking page by clicking on the button below. You can add your details to the waitlist if the date you are looking for is full.

ABOUT THE SKELLIG MICHAEL ECO TOUR

How long is the boat trip to skellig michael.

The ferry crossing to Skellig Michael takes about 50 minutes.

How much time does the boat spend around the Skellig Islands ?

The boat stays at Skellig Michael and Little Skelligs Nature Reserve for approximately 45 minutes getting right up close to islands before returning back to the marina in Portmagee.

How many trips per day are there for the Skellig Michael Eco Tour?

There are multiple departures per day for the Skellig Michael Eco Tour. See the booking page for times and to make a booking.

What months of the year can I do the Skellig Michael Eco Tour?

The Skellig Michael Eco Tour normally runs from April to September.

Are children allowed on the Skellig Michael Eco Tour?

We allow children of all ages on the Skellig Michael Eco Tour.

How much is the Skellig Michael Eco Tour?

Adults: €45 Students / Seniors: €42 Children: €37  Family: €150 (2 adults + 2 children) Each additional child:  €30

Plus Booking Fee

What other options are there instead of the Skellig Michael Eco tour?

The Audio Visual Boat Tour is an interactive experience and is both educational and fun. An alternative to our Skellig Michael Tours, the boat does not venture out as far as Skellig Michael, instead staying in the relative calm between the islands and inlets of the Portmagee Channel and Valentia sound. The tour departs from Portmagee Marina in Co. Kerry and takes about 1 hour. The Audio Visual Tour is not available during the 2023 season.

What to bring on the Skellig Michael Eco Tour?

In Ireland, the weather is very unpredictable and we can get all the seasons in one day. Wear warm comfortable clothing and bring rain wear (jacket and trousers). It is also advisable to bring some drinking water with you. This is not a harbour cruise and involves venturing 8 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean where the sea is not always calm. If you suffer from motion sickness consider taking medication before the trip and avoid eating for a couple of hours beforehand. 

Checklist for the Skellig Eco Tour

Wear warm comfortable clothing

Rain wear – jacket and trousers

Drinking water

Sunscreen (we might get lucky)

The most fantastic and impossible rock in the world: Skellig Michael

George Bernard Shaw, the nobel prize winning author and playwright, visited Skellig Michael in 1910. He was so in awe of what he encountered that he wrote to a friend describing the experience. “…the most fantastic and impossible rock in the world: Skellig Michael, or the Great Skellig, where in south west gales the spray knocks stones out of the lighthouse keeper’s house, 160 feet above calm sea level. There is a little Skellig covered with gannets – white with them (and their guano) – covered with screaming crowds of them… both the Skelligs are pinnacled, crocketed, spired, arched, caverned, minaretted; and these gothic extravagances are not curiosities of the islands: they are the islands: there is nothing else. The rest of the cathedral may be under the sea for all I know: there are 90 fathoms by the chart, out of which the Great Skellig rushes up 700 feet so suddenly that you have to go straight up stairs to the top – over 600 steps. And at the top amazing beehives of flat rubble stones, each overlapping the one below until the circle meets in a dome – cells, oratories, churches, and outside them cemeteries, wells, crosses, all clustering like shells on a prodigious rock pinnacle, with precipices sheer down on every hand, and lodged on the projecting stones overhanging the deep huge stone coffins made apparently by giants, and dropped there God knows how. An incredible, impossible, mad place… I tell you the thing does not belong to any world that you and I have lived and worked in: it is part of our dream world…” From Shaw’s letter to Frederick Jackson: Parknasilla Hotel, Sneem, 18th September 1910.

WHAT TIME DO I ARRIVE FOR THE TOUR?

You need to arrive at the marina in Portmagee no later than 15 minutes before your tour is due to depart. Ask for BRENDAN CASEY at the marina. You should allow yourself enough time to find parking and prepare yourself for the tour. Parking is free of charge.

Recent Reviews on Google “Would 100% recommend this on a checklist of “must do” items in Ireland.” “Once in a lifetime experience you will never forget.” “ Amazing boat tour by a very experienced and knowledgeable captain”

WILDLIFE ON SKELLIGS

There is an abundance of marine and bird life that on and around the Skellig Islands. Thousands of gannets, puffins, guillemots and razorbills come here to nest. Humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins and grey seals are never very far away.

Where do the Skellig Michael Tours depart from?

All our tours depart from the marina in Portmagee, County Kerry. – Ask for BRENDAN CASEY. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour is due to depart.

How do I change or cancel my Skellig Tour booking?

Login to our customer area to update or cancel your booking. Enter the same email address you used when you made your booking.

It is advisable to stay as near as possible to Portmagee.

You should stay locally the night before the tour because the sea conditions vary a lot and we are often not sure if the tour will go ahead until right before it is due to depart.

What happens if my Skellig Michael Eco Tour is cancelled due to sea and weather conditions?

We can reschedule you on a Skellig Michael Eco tour later on the same day or on the next day if the sea conditions have improved. Alternatively, we can book you on the next available Audio Visual (AV) Boat Tour and refund the difference in price back to your card. If you do not wish to reschedule your eco tour or go on the AV Boat Tour you will receive a full refund.

CANCELLATION POLICY FOR THE SKELLIG MICHAEL ECO TOUR

Cancellation Policy for Bookings of less than 10 people A cancellation fee of €2 per person applies for cancellations made 2 days or more in advance. No refunds will be given for cancellations made less than 2 days in advance.   Cancellation Policy for Group Bookings of 10 people or more A cancellation fee of €2 per person applies for cancellations made 7 days or more in advance. No refunds will be given for cancellations made less than 7 days in advance. Cancellation Policy if we have to cancel the tour because of the sea/weather conditions You will receive a full refund if we have to cancel the tour for any reason including sea/weather conditions. 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

We may need to change the departure time and we will give you advance notice of this. If your tour is delayed by more than 1 hour you will have the option of a full refund.

We may need to cancel a trip because of adverse sea and weather conditions. If we need to cancel a tour you will have the option of receiving a full refund or being rescheduled on the next available Eco Tour when the weather/sea conditions improve. You can also choose to book on the next available Audio Visual (AV) Boat Tour.

We reserve the right to cancel a trip for any reason including but not limited to adverse sea and weather conditions, engine failure etc. 

It is very important that we can reach you at the contact information you provide us with (ie. Phone Number and Email) because the tours are very dependent on the sea conditions and we will need to keep you updated if the departure time changes or if the tour is cancelled.

Booking Skellig Michael Landing Tours in 2024: The Definitive Guide

Booking a skellig michael landing tour in 2024.

We get it. Booking a landing tour to Skellig Michael is not always easy. Even more so now thanks to its appearance as Ahch-To in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. So, being locals, and knowing this process very well, we’ve put together the Definitive Guide to Booking a Skellig Boat Landing Tour so that you know exactly how to maximise your chances of getting to land on Skellig Michael this year .

So scroll down to learn about:

The Absolute Bare Minimum You Need To Know About Booking A Skellig Michael Landing Tour

The Skellig Michael Landing Tour Season

Skellig Michael Landing Tour Passenger Number Limits

The Influence Of The Weather On Landing

The Full Range Of Skellig Michael Booking Options

How Different Skellig Boats Accept Bookings At Different Times

The Different Departure Points

The Different Boat Types

Skellig Landing Tour Costs and Payment

Tour Cancellations

What If Your Desired Date Is Booked Out

The Need to Book Early

How Booking Later In The Season Helps Your Chances

Why You Should Stay Local

The Absolute Bare Minimum You Need To Know

• Landing Season is generally from mid-May to the end of September. For 2024, the official season is expected to run from May 15th – September 30th. As of the current date, this is subject to confirmation by the OPW, who are in charge of the island. Tours around the island are available outside of this but not landings.
• All bookings are subject to cancellation due to weather .
• Boats land on Skellig Michael , typically, 100 days out of a 130 day season due to adverse weather conditions preventing the boats from landing. Therefore,  landing is not guaranteed .
• A maximum of 180 people per day  can visit, on one of the 15 licensed landing tour boats carrying only 12 passengers each.
• 13 boats leave from the marina at Portmagee. 1 from nearby Ballinskelligs. 1 from Derrynane further down the coast.
• The price is typically 100 euros per person but prices range from 90 euros to 130 euros depending on the operator.
• Each boats handles their own bookings individually. There is no centralised booking system.
• Some boats have online booking systems, some have booking enquiry forms, some only have email and one is only contactable by phone.
• There was unprecedented demand for tickets in 2018 in the wake of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. With only a slight decrease in 2019.
• The earlier you book, the better your chances .
• Boats leave as early as 8:30 am so we strongly advise that you Stay Local and  book accommodation in the local area the night before at the very least.
• If your booking is cancelled because of weather, because of current demand, it’s very unlikely that you’ll be put on a boat later in the week when the weather is fine.
• Cancellations can occur later in the season and free up spaces. Some operators make those dates available on their booking system. Some use waitlists and some fill those spaces with people staying locally or people showing up at the marina in the morning.
• Boats have individual cancellation policies but tend to require at least 3 days notice for a full refund . Check with each individual operator.
• Availability tends to be better later in the season .
• If all the boats appear booked up for your desired date, try contacting a local accommodation provider who may have a long-standing relationship with one of the boat operators.
• Alternatively, there are days when passengers don’t show up at the departure point in time. You can get lucky and get their place. Arrive well before 8 a.m. to maximise your chances.
• If you can’t land on the Skelligs, Eco Tours around the island are available throughout the day from a number of providers .
• There is also the nearby Skellig Experience Interpretive Centre which provides historical context on the islands.
• The Skellig Coast Region is a fantastic destination to visit with plenty to do even if you can’t land on the island itself.

Confident That You Already Know Everything?

Book a Landing Boat Tour To Skellig Michael Book an Eco Boat Tour Around The Skellig Islands

Otherwise, let’s continue…

The Landing Tour Season

The Landing Tour season for 2024 is expected to be from May 15th the 30th of September . This is dictated by the Office of Public Works , the official custodial body for Skellig Michael, who provide guides for landing visitors and oversees conservation and safety on the island. The OPW also decides which boats receive licenses to land.  If you are under the impression that you can land on the island outside of these times, I’m afraid you’re mistaken.

Some operators offer Eco tours from mid-March onwards but these do not land on the island.

The best way to be notified of any season changes is to follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SkelligMichael_ or https://www.instagram.com/SkelligMichael_

Skellig Michael Passenger Number Limits

In order to protect the integrity of this ancient site, only 15 boats are licensed to carry 12 passengers to the island, once daily. That’s 180 people per day . On an average season, that’s between 15,000 to 17,000 people. By contrast, Petra in Jordan, receives between 500,000 and 900,000 visitors annually and Macchu Piccu in Peru receives about 2.1 million visitors a year. If you land on Skellig Michael, you are among a very, very select club.

The Influence Of The Weather on Landing

Ah, Irish weather. As abruptly capricious as a baby goat, the weather is the final arbiter of whether or not you get to the island, even if you have a booking. The island is 8 nautical miles out into the Atlantic and landings are only possible if the sea is on its best behaviour.

The odds of landing in any particular season vary but, typically, boats expect to land on the island about 100 days out of a possible 130 . Last year it was a little lower, in the low to mid-90s. So, while it can be disappointing, it does make getting to the island all the sweeter.

The Full Range of Skellig Booking Options

We’re seeing a lot of this type of misunderstanding this year.

Skellig Michael landing tours went on sale at 7pm tonight. The website was initially down due to volume of traffic, and now they are all sold out. I'l have to swim out instead. — Noel Hayes (@BigCityBanker) February 21, 2018

This is actually due to people confusing one landing tour operator site’s booking system with a centralised booking system for all the boats. It’s an easy enough mistake to make unless you’re familiar with the booking landscape.

The main thing is that you realise that you have lots of options for booking . Just because you see a site or multiple sites with online booking systems all booked up for the date you want, that doesn’t mean that all the boats in the fleet are already booked out .

Of the 15 landing tour operators most now have dedicated websites but only about 2 or 3 will surface on your average Google search within the first 2 pages of results.

Most have full online booking facilities, where you can see availability ahead of time, secure your booking with a credit card etc. like you have on your average hotel site. Most of those were only added this year.

Other sites use booking enquiry forms which ask you for pertinent information about your bookings – Date, Number of Passengers, Email Address etc – and then submit that information to the boat owner so they can check if they have availability. If they do, they will reply to you to confirm the booking, sometimes asking you to secure the booking with your credit card details.

Of course, we here at SkelligMichael.com provide a convenient enquiry interface to a large number of the Skellig boats as well as providing a list of available Skellig landing tour operators .

Not All Boats Take Bookings At The Same Time

Because there are different boats, with different web sites and different booking systems, not all of the seats are available to be booked at the same time .

Some boats have open booking windows. You can enquire from them at any time. Others have online booking systems with specific dates that they make their seats available. Some in Late January. Some in mid February. So, while one site might appear to be booked out for the season, another boat can be completely empty because it hasn’t opened its booking system yet .

There are two main reasons some boats hold off on taking enquiries:

• Waiting for the Office Of Public Works , who are in charge of the site, to officially announce the date of the starting season
• Waiting for confirmation that they have received a landing license for the year in question.

Last year, the OPW awarded licenses for the years 2020 – 2022 so any delay in operators taking bookings tends to be related to a decision on the opening date.

Of the 15 boats:

• 13 left from Portmagee
• 1 from nearby Ballinskelligs
• 1 from Derrynane, which is slightly farther down the coast.

A small number of the boats also collect passengers from the nearby Skellig Experience , just across the bridge in Valentia.

There are arguments in favour of the different locations.

The trip is fastest from Portmagee and Ballinskelligs. The tour offered from Derrynane is a longer time spent on the boat – about 1 and a half hours of a journey compared to Portmagee’s 45 minutes – but also includes some fishing and food along the way, so it could be argued that it’s not simply a standard Skellig Landing Tour.

Portmagee is your best chance if you just want to show up on the day of a sailing without a booking in the hope that one of boats there has had a cancellation or a free space. But Ballinskelligs and Derrynane will, accordingly, have less competition. Perhaps the best approach is to contact the Ballinskelligs and Derrynane operators directly to let them know you’re available the next day, if needs be, and then take your chances in Portmagee.

The different boat types

For years, all Skellig boats typically looked the same. Typically, 30 foot boats where passengers sit out in the elements. Recently, some operators are differentiating themselves through the provision of larger boats which provide inside seats as well as outside seats which is great on the days that the elements are a little too bracing. From what we understand, there may be an extra charge associate with this with prices rising to 150 euros in some cases.

In general, though, boat quality is largely secondary to just getting on a boat. Any boat that gets you onto the Skelligs is a good boat.

Skellig Landing Boat Tour Cost and Payment

Traditionally, an email exchange between you and the boat owner would have been sufficient to secure your place. That still is the case for some of the operators but, increasingly, because of the huge demand, booking systems which accept credit cards are being used to secure your place. This is so that boat owners are covered if passengers who have booked fail to show up and leave them with empty seats. In general, though, it is still advisable to bring enough cash with you on the morning of your trip to cover the cost of the tour in case the operator is simply holding your credit card details rather than charging them. Some operators prefer to be paid in cash. You also need to be aware that there are no ATMs in Portmagee so make a withdrawal in Cahirciveen if you need to. A quick email to your boat operator will clarify this.

The price for most boats is expected to be 120 euros per person this year. But, as mentioned, some boats are charging as high as 150 euros per person.

Landing Tour Cancellations

Plans change and you can generally cancel your landing tour up to 3 days before the trip without penalty . It’s important to let the operator know well in advance so that they can free up the spaces for other people trying to get to the island. Refund policies vary but, in general, factor in at last 3 days ahead but verify this with the Skellig Boat owner you booked with.

As mentioned previously, this works both ways. Skellig boat captains will cancel the landing trip if the conditions are deemed to be too unsafe for landing. You should expect a full refund in this instance .

What If The Landing Date I Want Is Already Booked Out?

This is an unfortunate fact of life, given the extraordinary demand and the small number of places. But don’t despair. Some operators make cancelled dates available on their booking system . Some use waitlists and some fill those spaces with people staying locally or people showing up at the marina in the morning. This last option is a high-risk strategy since you may not be alone in your desire to get a free seat that morning. But it is worth a shot. Again, we advise people to Stay Local in order to maximise their chance of landing.

You also have the option of doing a Skellig Michael Eco Tour or Cruise with one of the many Skellig Michael Eco Tour operators providing the service both before and during the Landing Season.

Here’s a preview of what is a spectacular trip in its own right.

Tip: Book Early

Like any sought after event, the earlier you book, the better . It used to be that you could show up at the marina in the morning and you’d have a pretty good shot at getting on a boat. Those days are behind us. Thanks to Star Wars and, in particular, The Last Jedi, we saw unprecedented demand for landing tour spaces in 2018 with some slightly increased availability in 2019 . You still have the odd cancellation freeing up some spots from time to time but it’s a rarer and rarer occurrence.

Tip: Book Later In The Season

Having analysed the data, certain peak periods attract the most interest – July and August, for example. But September is probably the best time of the year to try to get a booking if you’re a little late to the game. If you can get the time off and aren’t hampered by school schedules, it’s a great time to visit with the light being particularly photogenic and giving incredible sunsets. On the downside, the puffins will have already left at that stage.

Tip: Stay Locally In The Area

Look, we understand that, for most people, you want to come to Ireland get as much done and seen as you possibly can. And you might be tempted to try to squeeze your trip to Skellig into a half-day and then back on the road again so you can tick off the locations on your itinerary. But, this is a bad idea for a number of reasons.

• If you don’t have a car and were planning on using public transport, there are no public transport options to Portmagee that will get you there in time for the landing tour in the morning unless you arrive the day before.
• If you’re staying somewhere outside the local area, like Killarney or Dingle, driving down to Portmagee in the morning is an unnecessary risk . You are talking about getting up at 6 am and risking getting caught behind slow moving Ring Of Kerry traffic on your way here. It’s a bad way to start your day and not how you want to start the trip out to this amazing location. Boat owners are also a lot happier knowing you’re close by.
• Boat operators will do their best to wait for you but if they tell you to be at the quay by a certain time, and you’re not there, rest assured that there are plenty of people lined up at the marina waiting to take your place.

Secondly, and more importantly for those who do not have a booking secured, many of the local accommodation providers have long-standing relationships with the boatmen who may be keeping places for guests staying locally that they are not making available online .

Thirdly, you miss out on spending time with us on the beautiful Skellig Coast. We know that we’re not as famous as some other Irish destinations that you’ve heard of but that’s a great reason to come here. We have some of the most unspoilt natural beauty in Ireland, fantastic hiking and walking all over the local area, and numerous attractions such as the Skellig Experience interpretive centre , Kerry Cliffs , Bray Head Wild Atlantic Way Signature Viewing Point , Skellig Chocolates and, in the Skellig Ring Drive, some of the most naturally charismatic and beautiful coastline, according to The Lonely Planet , who named it one of the top 10 regions in the world to visit in 2017. Check out this video for an overview.

So, we thoroughly recommend staying the night before your trip , at the very least, in the local area. This would include:

• Ballinskelligs
• Cahirciveen

And, if you’re taking the boat from Derrynane:

• Caherdaniel

That’s It

That covers pretty much everything you need to know. We’ll be adding to this guide over time if anything relevant arises.

If you want, you can make a Booking Enquiry about a Skellig Michael Landing Tour or check out a List of Licensed Skellig Landing Tour Operators . Or, alternatively, enquire about a Skellig Michael Eco Tour .

Be sure to follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/SkelligMichael_ to stay up-to-date with any Skellig-related news or new content from us.

SKELLIG MICHAEL TOURS

Boat tours to skellig michael and little skelligs.

Boat tours to land on Skellig Michael and tours around the islands of Skellig Michael and Small Skelligs.

At Skelligmichael.ie, we offer two types of tours, the Skellig Michael Eco Tour which is a boat tour that goes right up close to both Skellig Michael and the small Skelligs which is one of the largest gannet colonies in the world, home to some seventy thousands of them during the spring/summer season.

Skellig Michael.

Little Skelligs

Valentia Harbour

Kerry Cliffs

Murphys Sea Cruises To Skellig Michael

Contact: e: [email protected] t: +353 876762983

Explore the wonderful Skellig Michael with Pat Joe Murphy Operating boat tours to Skellig for over 30 years! LANDING TOURS & ECO (around the islands) TRIPS availabe - Book in advance to secure your spot as tours are limited to 12 passengers per day!  

Skellig Michael Tours

The Skellig Islands, Skellig Michael and Small Skellig, stand aloof in the Atlantic Ocean some 13km southwest of Portmagee & Valentia Island, County Kerry. From any angle, or from any vantage point on the nearby Ring of Kerry, they are spectacular pinnacles, which have magnetised viewers for gene rations. 

MURPHYS SEA CRUISES

M urphys offer boat tours to Skellig Michael daily from Portmagee durin g the summer months. There are many imitators but only a few are the original boatmen to the islands. Patrick Murphy is the Skipper of the wonderful "Shelluna". Patrick was born & raised in the beautiful village of Portmagee and lives in the village. With over 30 years of captaining boats on the atlantic, you know you are in safe hands.

Murphys Sea Cruises was established in the 1980's, at the time there were only a few boatmen "licensed" to go to the Great Skellig. Patrick & crew have brought thousands of people to and from the islands and promises them a trip of a life time .

Now taking reservations  for 2023 - book in advance to secure your spot!

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

"A lovely boat trip going around the smaller Skellig to view the birds on the way to Skellig Michael. The boat drivers were really helpful, friendly and informative with a lovely enthusiasm about nature, we were fortunate to see jumping dolphins and a baby seal. A reall fantgastic experience."

"There are a dozen purveyors of trips to the Skelligs, but you'll feel confident about your boating safety if you choose Pat Joe Murphy, Captain of the beautiful Shelluna. Pat Joe has a yellow cottage office down the road and across the street from the Portmagee docks (picture included), but everyone in the area knows him to call for you to arrange your passage. On the trip back, Pat Joe stopped alongside LIttle Skellig, a bird and sea lion colony, so that we could take photos of the tremendous wildlife. The smooth ride, both there and back, was in large part enjoyed because of Pat Joe's skill at the helm. I would recommend this adventure for preteens and older. I had quite a memorable day!"

"Very enjoyable experience. We set off on time and the journey was very comfortable. It was a beautiful day and the crossing wasn't difficult. Skellig Michael was amazing. Murphy Cruises were professional and I have no problem recommending them for the trip."

ABOUT THE SKELLIGS

The Skelligs are world famous, each in its own right. Skellig Michael is known throughout the world of archaeology as the site of a well preserved monastic outpost of the early Christian period, now designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Small Skellig is equally renowned in matters of ornithology as the home of some 27,000 pairs of gannets, the second largest colony of such sea birds in the world.   

The monastic site on Skellig Micheal is reached by climbing over five hundred steps on up a 1000 year old stone stairway. Stone beehive huts where monks lived and prayed centuries ago cling to cliff edges alongside oratories, a cemetery, stone crosses, holy wells and the Church of St Michael. These isolated archaeological remains show the dramatically spartan conditions in which this early Christian community lived. Enduring several Viking raids, the monks eventually left the island in the thirteenth century and it subsequently became a place of pilgrimage.  A boat trip to The Skelligs allows one to experience these magnificent natural monuments first hand, book with Murphys today and experience the trip of a lifetime tomorrow.

Skellig Michael Boat Tours and Skellig Islands Cruises depart from the beautiful fishing village of Portmagee.

About Skellig Michael  Boat Tours & The Skellig Islands.

Skellig Michael tours are where you land at Skellig Michael, get off the boat and climb to the top, the Skellig Islands Eco Tours  go around both islands.

Trips to the Skellig Islands can be called many things ie. ferry to Skellig Michael, skellig Michael tours, Skellig Michael trips, boat to Skellig Michael, Skellig Island tours, Skellig Michael landing tours, Landing tours etc etc.

The list is endless and not that important, but getting out to the Skelligs / Skellig Michael, and must be on the bucket list of many people.

People choose to visit the Skelligs for many different reasons – Star Wars fans, religeous reasons, the birdlife.

So if it is your intention to take a Skellig Michael tour or take in a Skellig Islands eco cruise, then plan ahead, book early which is especially reccomended for landing on Skellig Michael, and look forward to an experience that is out of this world.

Skellig Michael cruises offer two different options to see these awe inspiring and magnificent islands, details are listed below.

Booking for Skellig Michael boat tours (landing) is limited and in high demand so booking well in advance of your visit is well advised – although you may get lucky with an on the day cancellation.

Booking for the Skellig Islands Eco tours is simpler as we have more boats available and every departure time.

with our Skellig boats fleet we  have 60 seats available (x 8 departure times), the boats get close and personal with the Beehive huts and the Monastery, you will still see them and many more things than you will see from a Skellig Michael tour.

This makes the Skellig Islands Eco tour a worthwhile alternative to the Skellig Michael tours, especially for the infirm, people who dont like heights etc.

Skellig Islands Eco Tours

Our Skellig Islands Eco Tours depart daily from Portmagee marina .

Departure times are 9:30 – 10:00 – 12:00 – 1:00 – 2:30 – 3:30 – 4:30 – (5:30pm by request).

You get up close to Small Skellig where you will see the second largest Gannett colony in the world, the light house at the back of Skellig Michael, hidden coves, the old steps the monks carved into the rock, the pufins and other birdlife on the island (puffins April till mid july) and more.

You might even see some dolphins and whales on your journey.

This trip is 2.5 hours in duration and is suitable for all ages and abilities.

The Skellig Islands Eco tour season runs from March 15 th to November 10 th .

All trips are weather permitting..

Skellig Michael  Boat Tours

Skellig Michael  Boat Tours   departs daily from Portmagee marina between 8:30 and 9:30 this is due to we are now allocated landing time slots at Skellig Michael.

It takes approximately 1 hour to reach Skellig Michael .

You are allowed 2.5 hours on the island to climb the 600 steps to the top and explore the island.

On the island there is a tour guide to tell you all there is to know about the island, especially the history of Skellig Michael .

The tour guides also provide lots of information on the birds   and wildlife that lives / visits there.

They will be happy to answer any questions you might have..

You will arrive back in Portmagee at approximately 2pm.

Skellig Michael  Boat Tours run from the 15th of May to October 2nd.

We have 5 boats in operation taking passengers on an eco tour daily to Skellig Michael.

As you can see from the picture our boat has an outside canopy for shelter from wind,rain etc… and provides extra comfort for passengers.

This canopy can be rolled up for a very fine summers day.

Some of our boats have a door at the back which allows easy access for passengers to walk on-board.

They are spacious with plenty of room to  take photos and view the wildlife and historical sites of Skellig Michael and the small skelligs .

All our boats are wheelchair accessible , have life jackets on board, a toilet , seating and shelter for all passengers on their journey to Skellig Michael and the Skellig Islands .

If you have any questions during your trip please feel free to ask one of our crew members.

Latest News

We have started operating tours around Skellig Michael. You can book your preferred time of departure here : https://www-1557q.bookeo.com/bookeo/b_skelligmichaelcruises_start.html?ctlsrc2=zaAhcC0M4JEyr0TK1uBj53X%2Bc7r47vR8YdGbX7HXvYY%3D&src=02r           Read Full Story here https://www.facebook.com/260491857303744/posts/3274902352529331/?d=n

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Skellig Michael Tours

Unesco world heritage skellig islands and puffin island cruise.

Cruise the Wild Atlantic Way to The Skellig Islands ; location for the recent filming of The Epic Star Wars series and location of the world renowned Skellig Michael.

The first reference to the Skelligs occurs in legend when it is given as the burial place of Ir, son of Milesius, who was drowned during the landing of the Milesians. A text from the eighth or ninth century refers to an episode of strife between the Kings of West Munster and the Kings of Cashel. Duagh, King of West Munster is said to have ‘fled to Scellecc’. This event is attributed to the fifth century but we have no means of knowing if a settlement existed on the island at that time.

Monks on Skellig Michael

A monastery may have been founded as early as the sixth century, reputedly by Saint Fionán, but the first definite reference to monks on the Skelligs dates to the eighth century when the death of ‘Suibhni of Scelig’ is recorded. Skellig is referred to in the annals of the ninth and tenth centuries and its dedication to Saint Michael the Archangel appears to have happened some time before 1044 when the death of ‘Aedh of Scelic-MhichÁl’ is recorded. It is probable that this dedication to Saint Michael was celebrated by the building of Saint Michael’s church in the monastery. The church of Saint Michael was mentioned by Giraldus Cambrensis in the late twelfth century. His account of the miraculous supply of communal wine for daily Mass in St. Michael’s Church implies that the monastery was in constant occupation at that time.

Puffin Island

Puffin Island is an Irish Wildbird Conservancy reserve on a small island to the south of Valentia Island near Portmagee, County Kerry and separated from the mainland by a narrow sound. It holds some thousands of pairs of Manx Shearwaters, Storm Petrels and Puffins and smaller numbers of other breeding seabirds.

Tour 1 Boarding at Portmagee Marina 9 am

Tour 2 Boarding at Portmagee Marina 12:30 pm

Tour 3 Boarding at Portmagee Marina 16:00 pm

• Sailing out to Skellig Islands and proceeding to Puffin Island

TOUR 1 Docking back into Portmagee at 11.30 am

TOUR 2 Docking back into Portmagee at 15:00pm

TOUR 3 Docking back into Portmagee at 18.30pm

• Trips are weather dependent and subject to availability
• Trips are weather dependent and  to avoid disappointment; we advise you pre-book your trip with us on Book Now subject to availability.

Skellig Michael Tours provide up close and personal tours to and around the Skellig Islands , consisting of the Unesco world heritage island of Skellig Michael , the  home of the Skellig Monks and more recently the island that appeared in the Star Wars movie , The Force Awakens and Little Skellig home to many thousands of breeding pairs of Gannets.

Our tours also take in other locatations on the way to the Skellig Islands . We are a local owned multi boat fully insured and licenced irish company based in the picturesque village of Portmagee ,the gateway to the Skelligs .

Our knowledgeable skippers add to the experience of your tour around two majestic and important islands just off the west coast of Ireland.

Opportunities for taking photographs are plenty , our tours can be booked here on our website using our secure booking system provided by Bookeo, or in person at our booking office in the Marina in Portmagee , which is also where the tours depart from.

We have several departure times throughout the day , 7 days a week .

Please note our service is weather dependent and we will not operate tours if we feel the weather ans sea conditions are not safe to do so , customer safety is priority. It may look calm in the harbour but conditions at sea can be very different .

Book our 2024 Skellig Michael & Little Skellig Islands Tour here

All our tours are Non Landing Tours – You remain on the boat for the duration of the trip.

More information and facts about the Skellig Islands can be found here on the OPW’s website

Private Charter Ultimate Skellig Islands Cruise

Want to get the most from a tour around the Skellig Islands , why not charter one of our boats for friends and family or corporate trips around the Skellig Islands. Passenger limits are 12 persons per boat. Contact us using any of the details on our contact page to discuss your requirements.

Get the most from your Skellig Michael and Little Skellig Tours with Portmagee’s biggest multi boat operator.

Get up close to the skellig islands, lots of photographic opprtunities, wildlife : birds,whale and dolphin sightings, clean modern boats, dept of marine tested and certified, fully insured, life jackets provided, most of our fleet have cabin areas, navigation & radio equipment for extra safety.

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Welcome to The Skellig Experience Visitors Centre

Situated in the beautiful South West Coast of Ireland The Skellig Experience Visitor Centre is located on Valentia Island just off the famous Ring of Kerry. The Visitor Centre has been a famous landmark in Valentia for over 25 years and with spectacular scenery on our side we want to give you an experience like no other.

Dedicated to the UNESCO World Heritage site Skellig Michael our visitor centre brings the magic and mystery of these famous rocks to you through graphics, film presentation, models, exhibition items, reconstruction and the sound of sea birds and lighthouse keeper ship to shore communication.

Skellig Michael Sea Cruise

Our Skellig Michael Sea Cruise is the perfect way to enjoy the spectacular views of the famous Skellig Islands while remaining seated.

Skellig Michael Landing Tour

The Skellig Michael Landing Tour offers you the chance to climb the 618 steps to the very top of Skellig Michael.

The Ultimate Skellig Coast Tour

This tour is the Ultimate experience when seeking the up close and interactive option for exploring the Skellig Islands and Skellig Coast story stretching back to the 6th century.

THE SKELLIG EXPERIENCE

Experience the different aspects of the offshore Skellig islands while remaining on dry land, in a custom built, prize winning building located right on the waterfront in Valentia, County Kerry!

Upcoming Events

Our exhibitions.

Take a sneak peak inside our Exhibition to see some of what The Skellig Experience has to offer.

What clients say

Informative Tour

This is a very interesting visitor centre with fantastic information about the Skelligs. There are also great models and a short film to give an insight into life on the islands.

Fantastic!!!!

I visited the skellig experience on the 29th of July. Wow, was I pleasantly surprised the moment I walked in then door we were greeted by the friendly staff.

Family Trip

We had a wonderful trip out to the Skellig Islands with the Skellig Experience. Everyone working in the venue were so nice and professional. Nothing was a problem and very friendly towards our young kids.

A day in Heaven!

We had a magical day. Everything was perfect, the team on the land and on the boat, the gorgeous Skellig Islands and the weather! Ihighly recommand that experience it is really worth it!

laurenceestival123

Fantasy Island

The whole family really enjoyed the boat trip, despite not being able to land on the island. It was great to see the visitor centre before and get all the background.

Skellig history

Lovely centre giving the history of the islands and how life was lived there. Audio film goes into details of life and how they survived isolated on this island.

Geraldine O

Amazing journey to Skellig

An amazing ride out across the swelling Atlantic to visit Skellig Michael. It's not for the faint at heart, or those who get easily sea sick. But expertly captained and truly an amazing sight to behold. A very unique experience.

bryanwS1731QS

Wonderful experience

Got it for my parents and they absolutely loved it Well worth the money Will definitely be going myself soon

Visit these offshore Skellig Islands and climb to the monastic site some 200 metres above the sea

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CALL US +353 6694 77108

Skellig Michael

Landing tour.

Land on Skellig Michael, explore the monastic ruins and experience other-worldly vistas. See the spot where Luke Skywalker stood, and feel the power of this incredible place.

ECO CRUISE TOUR

Enjoy a two and a half hour cruise around the Skellig Islands, taking in the amazing Skellig Coast, local bird and sealife including dolphins and whales.

What are the safety precautions? How long are the tours? What times do the tours depart, Where do the boats depart from? All your questions are answered here.

to Skellig Michael, Irelands UNESCO World Heritage site

Skellig Michael is an island 12 km off the South West coast of Ireland. It houses the incredibly well-preserved remains of an early Christian monastery and that was founded in the 6th century and a place of monastic retreat until the 12th century.

Due to its universal cultural value, Skellig Michael was awarded World Heritage Site status in 1996, one of only two sites in the Republic of Ireland. Most recently, it has achieved worldwide fame thanks to its appearance as the planet Ahch-To, in both Star Wars : The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi .

Skellig Michael Boat Trips, Portmagee, County Kerry, Ireland Email: [email protected]   •  Tel: +353 66 947 7108

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Skellig Michael Boat Trips, Portmagee, County Kerry, Ireland Email: [email protected] Tel: +353 66 947 7108

© Skellig Michael Boat Trips • All Rights Reserved • Privacy Policy • Make a Payment Site by Bright Idea

Skellig Michael Boat Trips, Portmagee, County Kerry, Ireland E: [email protected] T: +353 66 947 7108

© Skellig Michael Boat Trips All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy • Make a Payment

Privacy Overview

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skellig michael landing tour

The Skellig Michael landing tour is a truly unique, once in a lifetime experience. Skellig Michael is a UNESCO World Heritage site and renowned tourist attraction that is steeped in history both past and present. The monastery and hermitage built by the monks of St. Finian inspire solitude and contemplation; the wildlife that inhabits the islands and the waters that surround them instil a strong connection to this unique place and its importance in the natural world.

As part of the landing tour, visitors will get the chance to disembark the vessel and climb the famous steps of Skellig Michael. When you step foot on the island you will be met by the O.P.W (Office of Public Works) From there you will be expertly guided to the top. Our fleet consists of 4 vessels, The Skellig Walker, Ursula Mary, Celtic Victor and The Deva. We have an expert tour guide who will bring the trip to life for you. You will be told the history and stories of the Skellig Coast while learning all about the wildlife that call the Skellig Coast home.

Our vessels will depart Portmagee Marina between 8.30 a.m and 9.30 a.m. All excursions are weather dependent, and we advise that you check in half an hour prior to departure. We will keep you up to date with departure times and weather information to ensure all customers are aware of the sea conditions.

The Skellig Michael landing tour requires a reasonable level of fitness and we advise customers to wear appropriate clothes and footwear. Skellig Michael is situated 11.6 km (7.2 miles) west of Valentia Island and transit time is approx. 1 hour.

The cost of the landing tour is €120 p.p plus a non refundable booking fee of €5.00 p.p.

We provide shelter from the weather, inside seating and life jackets which must be worn on board at all times. For safety reasons, passengers under the age of 10 are not permitted on this cruise.

Tour Details:

• Arrive at Portmagee Marina half an hour before departure.
• Depart Portmagee Marina between 8.00 am and 10.0 am. (Departure times depend on landing slot)
• Land at Skellig Michael where visitors are met by the Office of Public Work. (OPW)
• Visitors climb the 640 steps to the top, and a guide will provide information on the history of the island and the monastic settlements. Visitors are allowed 2.5 hours on the island.
• Return to Skellig Michael pier and board your vessel.
• Tour around Little Skellig and observe the magnificent wildlife creatures that are home to the Skellig Coast.
• The total trip time is approximately 5 hours.
• Depart your vessel and enjoy the rest of your day.

Here Is What Our customers say

Book your skellig michael landing tour today.

• +353 (0)87 901 7338
• Portmagee Marina, Portmagee, Co. Kerry
• @skelligcoastadventures
• Skellig Landing
• Skellig Coast Eco
• Celtic Victor
• Skellig Walker
• Ursula Mary

skellig coast

Travel: I climbed the ‘stairway to heaven’ next to a Star Wars film set in Ireland

N o blarney, the Force was with me. Or at least with Watson, a black Lab mix and crack dolphin spotter who, upon detecting dorsal fins, relentlessly barked while racing throughout our small fishing boat jouncing in the Atlantic off Ireland’s rugged coast. Almost magically, pods of playful cetaceans suddenly swam alongside and under the vessel, as our ancient destination — isolated Skellig Michael island — vaulted up like a jagged, supernatural pyramid on the sea’s distant horizon.

The 1,400-year-old monastic settlement atop Skellig Michael island is considered a sacred Christian site. It’s also where Luke Skywalker lived in two Star Wars’ movies. (Photo by Norma Meyer)

A magnificent otherworld awaited. Fantastically flanked by oodles of adorable, clownish puffins lining my path, I’d soon climb Skellig Michael’s perilous 618-step “stairway to heaven” to explore 1,400-year-old stone beehive huts of long-departed hermit monks. Those austere, solitude-obsessed Celtic Christians must’ve spun in their nearby graves when Luke Skywalker squatted in their divine refuge and a sizable Star Wars’ film crew clambered up the sacred UNESCO site. Skellig Michael became planet Ahch-To in “Episode VII: The Force Awakens” and “Episode VIII: The Last Jedi.”

Skellig Michael, named for the archangel saint, soars up in the remote Atlantic Ocean off Ireland’s coast. (Photo by Norma Meyer)

Just getting to this wind-flogged, storm-lashed outpost is extremely difficult. Each year, for only a seasonal few months, a limited number of 12-seat boats can sail the eight miles to Skellig Michael, but excursions are often canceled because of nasty gusts and choppy swells that make landings too dangerous. Call it luck of the Irish: On an unusually clear May day, after passengers received explicit instructions about how to puke overboard (thankfully not needed), skipper John O’ Shea shuttled us across on a one-hour journey, his sharp-eyed Watson and border collie Luna hilariously going dolphin bonkers almost the whole way.

Jagged rock pinnacles and seaside cliffs loom for guests walking down Skellig Michael’s 618 steps. It’s not for those with vertigo. (Photo by Norma Meyer)

When I laid foot on Skellig Michael, a safety officer scarily warned visitors that tourists have plunged to their deaths and been injured on the steep, cliffside, monk-hewn rough steps that have no handrailing; she suggested if you freak out, turn back and slide down on your rear. I very, very carefully trudged 600 feet up to the goosebump-eliciting monastery, its six conical dwellings, church, two oratories, cemetery and rainwater cisterns all spectacularly trapped in the medieval past. About 12 monks and an abbot lived in the religious sanctuary at any given period over six centuries; atop this precipice they felt closer to God. However, despite their chanting psalms, praying and singing hymns, demons lurked. Axe-wielding Vikings occasionally pillaged the settlement, once kidnapping an abbot for ransom; he died of starvation.

The lakes of Killarney are seen from Ladies View on the scenic Ring of Kerry route. Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting visited the spot in 1861. (Photo by Norma Meyer)

I got here thanks to being on an exceptional weeklong trip, “Hiking & Island Hopping: Cork & Kerry,” with adventure operator Wilderness Ireland ( wildernessireland.com ). Five years ago, I did a colorful trekking tour with sister company Wilderness Scotland, and fancied a similar one frolicking among Ireland’s four-leaf clovers. We hiked through staggeringly gorgeous Emerald Isle landscapes several hours a day but there was much more — a visit with a beloved blind goat farmer, a haunted abbey, toe-tapping pubs, a “Sleeping Giant,” and an evacuated island of storytellers, to name a few highlights.

The Blasket island of Inishtooskert has been dubbed the “Sleeping Giant.” It’s also been called, “The Dead Man.” (Photo by Norma Meyer)

Let me give a major shout-out to our great-humored, knowledgable Irish guide (and Elvis fan), 52-year-old Declan Faulkner. He drove us eight Americans a total of 550 miles in a mini-van on the twisting, iconic Wild Atlantic Way and enthusiastically led us into the glistening green, wildflower-sprouting, sheep-replete, wave-crashing coastal yonder. The camaraderie among fellow travelers, all initially strangers to me, was “craic” (good fun) even before we lifted pints of Guinness in Crayola-bright, Irish-speaking villages.

Hotels on a Wilderness Ireland trip include one in the vibrant, historical town of Kenmare. (Photo by Norma Meyer)

History ran rampant. On day one, Declan made an impromptu stop at a cemetery in Skibbereen where 9,000 local victims of the mid-1800s Irish potato famine are buried in a mass grave. All week, we’d see countless dry-stone “famine walls” that were work projects created to give the unemployed income during the hunger catastrophe that killed one million souls.

The sun sets over Skibbereen, one of the worst affected areas in Ireland during the mid-1800s potato famine. (Photo by Norma Meyer)

Another morning, we walked around the charming, harbor hamlet of Baltimore, a still-standing 13th-century castle witness to the horrific “Sack of Baltimore.” A sign memorialized the night In June 1631 when 230 armed North African Barbary pirates attacked the sleeping town, torching homes and snatching terrified residents from their beds. An estimated 154 men, women and children were captured, chained, and loaded onto ships to become Algerian slaves.

The quaint Irish town of Baltimore was once raided by pirates who took residents captive and shipped them out to become Algerian slaves. (Photo by Norma Meyer)

From Baltimore, our smooth-cruising ferry — briefly surrounded by giant open-mouthed basking sharks — delivered us to tiny Cape Clear, Ireland’s most southerly inhabited island (pop.110). Inside a cement shed, cheery 75-year-old Ed Harper held a blue pail and milked black-and-white goat Morag, who wanted to eat my iPhone. Ed, a former sociology teacher in England, has been blind since early childhood. He founded his Cleire Goat Farm 45 years ago and currently has 26 cud-chewers roaming 27 verdant acres. His favorite, big-bodied Captain Nibbles, appears to be the boss.

Ed Harper, seen milking one of his herd, has been a goat farmer on Cape Clear island for 45 years. He’s been blind since early childhood. (Photo by Norma Meyer)

“Goats want everything that people want: food, sex and status,” Ed told me with a hearty laugh and a tug on his snowy beard.

The farm sells six flavors of goat ice cream, including lavender (“I think it tastes like soap,” Ed chuckled), along with actual goat soap, burgers and sausages. I met personable Nibbles and curious herd members perched atop a rocky outcrop in the grassy fields; a young goat gnawed the red laces of my hiking boots.

A Napoleonic War-era signal tower and an abandoned lighthouse greet hikers on Ireland’s Cape Clear island. (Photo by Norma Meyer)

Done milking, Ed sat outside on a bench and rambunctiously sang folk tunes (“there was Brown, upside down, mopping up the whisky on the floor…”). He was pure joy. And then off we hiked into Cape Clear’s fairytale hinterlands, pausing to devour our backpack-carried sandwiches atop a breathtaking, sheer bluff teetering over the expansive Atlantic. Behind us rose a crumbling Napoleonic War-era signal tower along with a lighthouse abandoned in 1854 after it was obscured in the fog, causing a ship disaster that killed 92 passengers.

Muckross Abbey, founded in 1448 and inside Killarney National Park, is said to be haunted. (Photo by Norma Meyer)

On other jaunts, we’d trek on tranquil, aptly-named Sheep’s Head peninsula, stroll the enormous, palatial Killarney National Park estate of Muckross House that Queen Victoria stayed in, and amble to the eerie, 15th-century Muckross Abbey, where a man’s ghost has supposedly been seen chewing a corpse’s flesh in the tangled graveyard. Real-life “Dracula” author Bram Stoker used to hang around the grounds too.

Like a Disney cartoon, hundreds of puffins are incredibly close and unafraid of visitors on Skellig Michael island. (Photo by Norma Meyer)

This entire trip was also a bird bonanza. Some 8,000 puffins each spring inundate Skellig Michael to breed and nest, and scads of them stared at us unfazed with silly orange-beaked faces. In 2015, when “The Last Jedi” filmed on the island, there were so many puffins in the background that CGI artists had to turn them into intergalactic “porgs.” The monks would navigate the treacherous staircase every day to fish, but they also ate the eggs and meat of seabirds, including those cute puffins. Before we arrived at Skelling Michael, our boat floated around smaller, human-uninhabitable Little Skellig island, a colony of 70,000 gannets crowding every ledge.

Skellig Michael’s church window frames Little Skellig island, inaccessible to humans but a seabird preserve for 70,000 breeding gannets. (Photo by Norma Meyer)

Another hike brought us to a second “Last Jedi” location, the stunning Dunmore Head promontory on the Dingle Peninsula. This is where Luke Skywalker kept his X-Wing fighter, milked a gigantic sea cow and drank its green milk. Across from Dunmore Head, you can see the deserted, mythical Blasket Islands; one is dubbed the “Sleeping Giant” and appears to be an immense body in repose. We had planned to trek about Great Blasket island, but bad weather scrapped our boat ride.

The stunning promontory of Dunmore Head — another filming location for “The Last Jedi” — looks across at once-populated Great Blasket island. (Photo by Norma Meyer)

Instead, we visited the intriguing Blasket Centre museum, which recounts how Great Blasket had to be permanently evacuated in 1953 because violent seas often thwarted medical care and other services for the 22 remaining and mostly aging residents. At one time, up to 175 people lived in the enclave that had no store, no doctor, no priest, no running water or electricity and a Morse code radio so unreliable that islanders set bonfires to alert the mainland they were in distress. Displayed artifacts, such as girls’ smocks, pipes, a domino set, and letters told of a tight, hardscrabble community that loved to fiddle and dance the four-hand reel. Great Blasket was also home to several Irish authors, including superb storyteller Peig Sayers who wrote her stirring memoirs about surviving on the island for 40 years.

A portrait of premier Irish storyteller Peig Sayers hangs in the Blasket Centre museum. Sayers wrote about her hard life on Great Blasket island. (Photo by Norma Meyer)

From the Centre, I hiked along the tip of Dingle Peninsula until I ran into a dilapidated stone schoolhouse affixed with a plaque stating it was the 19th-century Kirrary National School. Hollywood again. The faux school was part of a set built for the 1970 Oscar-winning romantic epic, “Ryan’s Daughter.”

A schoolhouse, solely built for the 1970 epic movie, “Ryan’s Daughter,” still stands on Dingle Peninsula. (Photo by Norma Meyer)

For sure, I hit a pot of gold on this adventure in counties Cork and Kerry. “It’s the people, the friendliness, the scenery, the ruggedness of the coastline and the mountains — and the peacefulness of it all,” Declan said. (That peace was temporarily interrupted when Declan played Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds” in the van and we all loudly crooned along.) And even though I didn’t glimpse sought-after leprechauns, I did see a yellow road sign designating their “crossing” at the panoramic Ladies View lookout.

Ireland’s bearded sprites apparently like to go back and forth to a lookout at Ladies View. (Photo by Norma Meyer)

We spent our final two nights in the lively town of Dingle, known for quirky and music-permeating pubs. Our group toasted in legendary Dick Mack’s, an 1899-founded pub-haberdashery where a craftsman now fashions leather belts at the booze-serving bar counter. (The motto is “Step Up and Get Waisted.”) Along Main Street, inside vintage pub-hardware shop Foxy John’s, patrons can sip a smooth whisky and buy DIY items, such as tools, vehicle anti-freeze and rat bait. (I guess their slogan could be “Step Up and Get Hammered.”)

Our trip ended way too soon when Declan dropped us off at the Limerick train station. On my locomotive-powered voyage back to Dublin, I sat next to Kevin Clancy, an elderly gent from Limerick who enjoyed how awed I was by his country. “You know what’s so special about Ireland?” he asked in his thick brogue. “You don’t have to go anywhere to see the beautiful scenery. In fact, you can always reach out and touch it.”

I knowingly smiled — and touched the shamrock in my pocket.

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