Our Skellig Islands boat trips leave from The Marina in Portmagee, Co. Kerry. This guide takes you through a trip from check-in to getting back to the pier. It covers what to bring, what you will see and what happens if the weather is bad.
Getting to Portmagee
All our tours leave from Portmagee, where there is free parking a short walk from the pier. Portmagee is about 1 hour 20 minutes by car from Killarney, 2.5 hours from Cork, 3 hours from Shannon Airport and 4.5 hours from Dublin.
Check-in
Arrive at least 30 minutes before your departure, which gives you time to park and check in.
If you need us on the day, call +353 66 948 8022. Our office is open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 3pm.
What to bring
Every tour has life jackets, the boats have covered seating, and wet weather gear is available.
- Warm layers and a waterproof jacket. It can be cool and windy on the open sea, even on a sunny day.
- Sunscreen and a hat. The weather can change quickly, so be ready for sun as well as rain.
- A dry bag. There is often spray on the boat, and a dry bag keeps your phone or camera safe.
- Seasickness tablets, if you need them. This is open Atlantic water and the crossing can be choppy, so take them before you leave.
Crossing to the islands
The Skelligs are two steep sandstone islands in the open Atlantic, about 12 kilometres off the Iveragh Peninsula. They are Skellig Michael (Sceilg Mhichíl in Irish) and Little Skellig (Sceilg Bheag).
Little Skellig and the gannets
The boat circles Little Skellig, which has one of the biggest gannet colonies in the world. Nobody is allowed to land there, so the island is left to the seabirds.
From a distance the island looks white, but closer in you can see that the white is gannets on the cliffs.
Around Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael rises 218 metres from the sea, and monks founded a monastery near the top around the 6th century. The island has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
The boat tour does not land, but it circles the island. From the water you can see parts of the monastic site and the lower lighthouse.
Birds and seals
Puffins are on the islands from about late April to early August, and most are there in May, June and July.
You may also see storm petrels, Manx shearwaters, razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes, fulmars and grey seals. The islands are a Special Protection Area for birds under the EU Birds Directive. Our guide to the birds of the Skellig Islands explains what to look out for.
Back to the pier
The boat tour takes about 2.5 to 3 hours in all, and after circling both islands we head back to the pier in Portmagee.
If you are on the landing tour
The Skellig Michael landing tour takes about 5 to 6 hours in total, with about 2.5 hours on the island. It is for ages 14 and over and runs from mid-May to the end of September, weather permitting.
From the landing, 618 stone steps lead up to the monastery. The steps are steep and uneven, with no handrails or barriers, and in places the path runs beside big drops.
- Fitness. You need good fitness and good balance.
- Footwear. Wear boots with good grip, as the steps can be slippery when wet.
- Heights. If you suffer from vertigo, think carefully before you book.
- Food and rubbish. There are no toilets, shelter, bins or shops on the island, so bring a packed lunch and take all your rubbish back to Portmagee.
- Walls and birds. Do not touch or climb on the old stone walls, and keep your distance from nesting birds.
Landing numbers are limited each day by the OPW, so book early, but landing is never guaranteed because it depends on the sea.
Our guide to the Skellig Michael steps explains how to prepare for the climb.
If the weather is bad
All our tours depend on safe sea conditions, and if we cancel for weather, we offer you another date or a full refund.
If you cancel more than 48 hours before departure, you get a full refund. Within 48 hours, there is no refund unless we can fill your place.
Prices and booking
The Skellig Islands boat tour suits all ages and runs from April to October, weather permitting. For current prices, call us on +353 66 948 8022 or email info@skelligmichael.ie.
For more answers, see our Skellig tour FAQ.