Cheapest way to Skellig Islands?

FeckBum

HI folks, I know a lot of this touristy stuff is geared towards Americans with big wallets. I don't want to be ripped off - any recommendations on a good value trip to Skellig? There are a load of boat companies, some of them have prices advertised, some don't.

Thanks.

traprunner

It's more or less a cartel. They are all more or less the same price. The only difference is that you get an exhibition from the Skellig Experience trip. The exhibition is poor though.

HeidiHeidi

FeckBum wrote: »

HI folks, I know a lot of this touristy stuff is geared towards Americans with big wallets. I don't want to be ripped off - any recommendations on a good value trip to Skellig? There are a load of boat companies, some of them have prices advertised, some don't.

Thanks.

As far as I know there are only 15 boats licenced to land people on Skellig Michael. Two are "slow" boats, the rest are "fast". (There might be less actual boats than this, but the licences are limited). I only found out afterwards that I'd wound up on one of the "slow" boats, took about 90 minutes to get out if I recall correctly.

Given it's such a small market I doubt there's much variation in the prices.

whisky_galore

Swimming is the cheapest way.

They're all local operators, would very much doubt they'd try undercutting each other, might be a premium for a 'fast' boat.

colrow

The price to land on the Skelligs is €50 I think, there is a boat that does a trip around the Skelligs, but does not land, for €25.

delahuntv

FeckBum wrote: »

HI folks, I know a lot of this touristy stuff is geared towards Americans with big wallets. I don't want to be ripped off - any recommendations on a good value trip to Skellig? There are a load of boat companies, some of them have prices advertised, some don't.

Thanks.

You'll find most prices are about the same for same service. Faster boats will charge €60-70, slower boats €50-€60.

traprunner wrote: »

It's more or less a cartel. They are all more or less the same price. The only difference is that you get an exhibition from the Skellig Experience trip. The exhibition is poor though.

Its a licence scheme with strict rules and strict cap on numbers.

If its something that interests you, you'll find the skellig exhibition enthralling - if you don't have a interest in the history, you'll find it poor. Just like anything.


Remember the season is short, (mid May to end of september) the number of journeys is capped (one per boat per day) and it is always weather permitting. You also get a full refund if the weather cancels the journey.

I'll put it another way - there are no well-off boat owners down there. They make a living off it in the summer and go back to fishing or whatever else they do in the winter.

W1ll1s

Great trip, would recommend it to anyone

Only thing i really did not like was not nearly enough time on the island

gandroid

W1ll1s wrote: »

Great trip, would recommend it to anyone

Only thing i really did not like was not nearly enough time on the island

What operator did you go with and where did you go from?

delahuntv

delahuntv wrote: »

If its something that interests you, you'll find the skellig exhibition enthralling - if you don't have a interest in the history, you'll find it poor. Just like anything.

I agree, I thought the exhibition was great really interesting but I'm one of the few people in the country who liked Peig:o

JonathonS

Deleted User wrote: »

I agree, I thought the exhibition was great really interesting but I'm one of the few people in the country who liked Peig:o

Wrong islands?

JonathonS

JonathonS wrote: »

Wrong islands?

Lol completely wrong island please ignore comments, but blaskets exhibition was good

W1ll1s

gandroid wrote: »

What operator did you go with and where did you go from?

Went from Portmagee.

OPW has "Decreed" as they do... that you only have 180 minutes on the rock and each Ferryboat can only do 1 trip per day...
Means they have the whole place more or less to themselves and their merry gang!
See; 'Isles of the West-Ian Mitchell' for the same carry on up in Scotland.

NOT nearly enough time for a place like that...

beertons

If you're going, go soon. Star wars are heading back, and they'll have use of it for a while.

delahuntv

W1ll1s wrote: »

Went from Portmagee.

OPW has "Decreed" as they do... that you only have 180 minutes on the rock and each Ferryboat can only do 1 trip per day...
Means they have the whole place more or less to themselves and their merry gang!
See; 'Isles of the West-Ian Mitchell' for the same carry on up in Scotland.

NOT nearly enough time for a place like that...

The limits are there to protect the area. It is utterly amazing.

For most, 3 hours is plenty - there are no public toilet facilities on the island and they don't want people having picnics.

If you want to study / photograph the island, you can ask for a special permit to stay longer / overnight.

Boom__Boom

W1ll1s wrote: »

Went from Portmagee.

OPW has "Decreed" as they do... that you only have 180 minutes on the rock and each Ferryboat can only do 1 trip per day...
Means they have the whole place more or less to themselves and their merry gang!
See; 'Isles of the West-Ian Mitchell' for the same carry on up in Scotland.

NOT nearly enough time for a place like that...

Shure you can't move in Portmagee with all the Ferraris and Lamborghinis those minted boat owners have around the place :rolleyes:

stop animal cruelty

can someone tell me if they are doing trips to the island this time of year? hoping to go back within the next week or two....

siblers

No, think they finish up around September, start back up then around April.