Landing Tours Restart in May 2025
Non-Landing Tours Operate from March 18th 2025
Booking for the 2024 season is now closed – Booking systems will re-open in January 2025.
Skellig Michael non-landing eco tour Around The Skellig Islands
This tour operates form March 18th 2025 to 1st November 2025 and departs daily at 10am, 12:30pm, 3pm and 5:15pm. It takes approximately 2.5 hours in total. This tour takes you up close to Skellig Michael, you see all the island has to offer, wild life( puffins, gannets etc), light house, the monastery, old path taken by the monks etc… but you do not get off the boat.
We depart from Portmagee Marina. Eircode V23 TN30
Please ensure that the phone number and email address provided is correct so we can contact you if departure times change or if tour needs to be cancelled.
About the Non-landing tour
It takes approximately 1 hour to get to Skellig Micahel
The boat circles the small Skelligs and Skellig Michael itself for approximately 40minutes – you get up close to the island to see historical sites before returning to Portmagee.
Tour tour is suited for all ages and abilities.
We have a toilet on the boat.
Cost of Non-landing Tour: Adult €50, Student €45, child €40, family (2adults & 2 children) €170
What time do I arrive for the tour?
You need to arrive at Portmagee Marina 15minutes ahead of your tour to check in.
Skellig Michael Landing Tour – Available from May 2025 – Book from January 2025
Landing Boat Operator Dermot Walsh.
This tour departs daily between 8:30am and 9:30am. It takes approximately 1 hour to get to Skellig Michael, you are allowed off the boat and onto Skellig Michael for approximately 2.5 hours before returning to Portmagee.
We recommend that children are at least 12 years old to do this tour.
About the landing Tour
This tour is approx. 5 hours in total. We depart daily from Portmagee Marina between 8:30am and 9:30am. When you arrive at Skellig Michael you can get off the boat onto the island. There are approx. 618steps to climb to the Monastery. You are allowed 2.5hours to explore the island. There are guides on the island to give you the full history.
This is a very popular tour and is usually booked well in advance.
Cost of Landing Tour: €140 per person
Departure times can change due to weather conditions as we are in contact with the guides on Skellig Michael while we monitor the landing conditions at Skellig Michael. Times can be delayed up to 12:30/13:00 depending on sea conditions.
Please be aware of this when booking and planning activities for later in the day.
Please ensure that the phone number and email address provided is correct so we can contact you if departure times change or if tour needs to be cancelled.
On the day
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before departure time to check in
What to bring:
Wear comfortable footwear suitable for walking
Warm clothes and rain gear
A packed lunch, Water
About The Skellig Islands
Skellig Michael is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of the only two in the republic of Ireland.
On the summit of this magnificent island off the South Kerry coast is St Fionan’s monastery. It is one of the earliest foundations in the country.
The monks lived there in the 6th century. They prayed and slept in beehive-shaped huts made of stone, many of which can be seen on the island today.
The monks left the island in the thirteenth century. It became a place of pilgrimage and, during the time of the Penal Laws, a haven for Catholics.
There are 618 steep steps to the Monastery at the top of Skellig Michael. This is a challenge but well worth the effort.
There are guides on the Island who will give the full history of Skellig Michael.
There are many types of birds on and around the island with the most popular being the Puffin. Skellig rock puffins come here to breed at the beginning of April and leave by the beginning of August, back towards the east coast of Canada (across the pond) and the mid-Atlantic ridge where they forage for the winter months on shoals of Capelin. The Skelligs have one of the largest Puffin populations which is of international importance.
Little Skellig is the second-largest gannet colony in the world. The rock looks white as it is occupied with so many gannets.
There is limited availability for the landing tours to Skellig Michael which are very popular so booking well in advance is advisable.
We also operate the non-landing eco tour around Skellig Michael where you get up close to the island but you do not get off the boat. This is also a popular tour for families and people who are unable to do the climb.
F.A.Q’s
When do the tours operate?
We operate the non-landing tours from March 18th until 1st November.
We operate the landing tours from May 11th – September 30th
Where do the tours depart from?
All our tours depart from the Portmagee Marina, Co. Kerry, Ireland
Do I need to book in advance?
It is advisable to book well in advance to reserve your preferred departure date and time.
Weather Conditions and Cancellations
All our tours are weather dependent. If we need to cancel you will be given the option of rescheduling your tour for another time or a full refund.
Can I reschedule my Tour if it is cancelled due to adverse sea/weather conditions?
Yes, if your Tour is cancelled we will try our best to get you on the next available Tour when the weather/sea conditions improve. The landing tours are usually booked well in advance so therefore are difficult to reschedule.
How do I book the tours?
We take all our bookings online via our website using a safe well known payment processing service – if you have any difficulty please email skelligmichaelboats@gmail.com
Do you take group bookings?
Yes we can accomodate large groups for the non-landing tours.
Contact us
Get in touch
Location.
Address:
Portmagee Marina,
Portmagee,
Co. Kerry
Eircode: V23 XD93
Email: skelligmichaelboats@gmail.com
Phone: +353 (0)87 901 0994
