Perillo Tours Unveils Ireland and Portugal Tours for 2026
Perillo Tours will expand beyond its Italy mainstay next year with two new 10-day escorted options. The Heart of Ireland itinerary features Dublin, Galway, Killarney, and a finale at the 13th-century Barberstown Castle Hotel, with rates from $5,495. Portugal Dreams pairs Porto and Lisbon with a coastal stay near Praia D'El Rey, starting at $3,595. Both programs run April to October 2026. Company president Steve Perillo says heightened guest interest in Ireland and strong satisfaction in Iberia underpin the additions.
Key Points
- Why it matters: A leading Italy specialist broadens its map with fresh Ireland and Portugal product.
- Travel impact: Set departure windows April to October 2026, with land-only lead-in fares from $3,595.
- What's next: Bookings are open; expect early demand around summer and shoulder-season dates.
- Castle stay in County Kildare and Douro rabelo river sailing headline experiential inclusions.
- Multi-night city bases reduce packing and transit fatigue for first-timers.
Snapshot, Perillo Tours Ireland and Portugal
Heart of Ireland devotes two nights to Dublin at the start, three nights in Galway for the west-coast highlights, two nights in Killarney for the Ring of Kerry, then a capstone night at Barberstown Castle Hotel near Dublin. Signature calls include Inis Mór, Connemara, the Cliffs of Moher, and Foynes Flying Boat Museum. Portugal Dreams begins with three nights in Porto, moves to two nights at a seaside resort by Praia D'El Rey with visits to Óbidos and Batalha, then finishes with three nights in Lisbon plus a Fado farewell. A Douro day features a traditional rabelo boat cruise and winery visit.
Background, Perillo Tours Ireland expansion
Founded in 1945, Perillo Tours has built an 80-year reputation on escorted Italy programs, then added Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Hawaii. The 2026 slate formalizes Ireland and marks Portugal's first standalone, following positive guest response to Spain-and-Portugal combinations in 2025. The brand's model favors centrally located four- and five-star hotels, guided sightseeing balanced with free time, and simple land-rate pricing to layer air as needed. For history-minded travelers, the Barberstown Castle stay underscores Perillo's emphasis on sense-of-place lodging, while Douro Valley components highlight culinary and wine immersion. More on Perillo's heritage and approach appears on its company page. See Perillo's overview page (https://www.perillotours.com/about-perillo?utm_source=adept.travel).
Latest Developments
Perillo Tours Ireland, Heart of Ireland itinerary details
The Heart of Ireland runs 10 days with a 2-3-2-1 overnight cadence, minimizing hotel hops while covering Dublin, Galway, Killarney, and Barberstown. Highlights include St. Patrick's Cathedral and Guinness Storehouse, a ferry to Inis Mór with Dún Aonghasa, Connemara and Kylemore Abbey, the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher, a stop at Foynes Flying Boat Museum with Irish coffee, Ring of Kerry scenery, and a jaunting-car ride. Lead-in pricing is $5,495 land only, with departures listed from April through October 2026. Full inclusions and date grids are posted on Perillo's site. View Heart of Ireland 2026 (https://www.perillotours.com/ireland/escorted-tours/10-day-heart-ireland-2026?utm_source=adept.travel).
Portugal Dreams, Porto to Lisbon with coastal interlude
Portugal Dreams opens in Porto with a Douro River cruise and Port wine tasting, then shifts to the Atlantic for two nights at Praia D'El Rey Marriott near Óbidos, before finishing with three nights in Lisbon. Day trips reach Aveiro, Coimbra, Sintra's Quinta da Regaleira, Cabo da Roca, Cascais, and Évora with a cork-factory visit, capped by a Fado dinner. The itinerary lists rabelo boat cruising in the Douro and multiple culinary tastings. Rates start at $3,595 land only, with departures April to October 2026. See Portugal Dreams 2026 (https://www.perillotours.com/portugal/escorted-tours/10-day-portugal-dreams-porto-lisbon-2026?utm_source=adept.travel).
Analysis
Perillo is extending a familiar formula to two high-demand destinations, balancing bucket-list sights with immersive touches. In Ireland, the 2-3-2-1 rhythm reduces transit fatigue and preserves time for Connemara, Inis Mór, and the Ring of Kerry, culminating in a castle stay that adds narrative heft to the finale. Positioning Galway as a three-night base smartly fronts west-coast icons while avoiding constant repacking. In Portugal, the mid-trip coastal interlude at Praia D'El Rey splits urban days with restorative seaside downtime, which should resonate with first-timers and repeat Iberia guests. Experiential details such as a Douro rabelo sail, cork-industry visit, and Fado show build cultural depth without complicating logistics. Pricing is land-only and competitive for four- and five-star bases in peak months, with shoulder seasons likely offering value. Overall, the additions give advisors clear, easy-to-explain pathways into two classic European circuits.
Final Thoughts
Perillo's 2026 entries hew to its guided-ease playbook, prioritizing multi-night hubs, curated inclusions, and hotels with character. Heart of Ireland leans into heritage, music, and sweeping Atlantic scenery, while Portugal Dreams layers wine country, medieval towns, and Lisbon's neighborhoods with a coastal pause. With April to October date ranges and straightforward land rates, both itineraries should appeal to first-timers and brand loyalists seeking new ground under a familiar banner. Expect strong summer interest, and watch early for fall dates tied to festivals and milder weather in Perillo Tours Ireland.