UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
Panoramic Boat Trips to Skellig Michael
Great Skellig, also known as Skellig Michael, an ancient monastic island off the coast of County Kerry, Ireland, is a must-visit destination for history lovers, nature enthusiasts, and adventure seekers alike.
Why book the Skellig Michael tour?
Our Skellig Michael boat tour takes you right around Skellig Michael and Little Skellig, two of the best known islands in Ireland.
Family friendly tour with no age restrictions
Tour around both Skellig Michael and Little Skelligs
Multiple departures throughout the day
Around both islands
Set sail on an unforgettable Skellig Michael and Little Skellig boat tour, where history, nature, and dramatic landscapes collide in the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way. Towering 12 kilometres (8 miles) off the South-West coast of Ireland, Skellig Michael is a rugged island, home to a well-preserved 6th-century monastery, breathtaking views, and an extraordinary array of wildlife.
On this boat tour you see Skellig Michael and its sister island, Little Skellig, from the water, without going ashore. You get a close look at the monastery, the lighthouses, the rock formations and the wildlife, and the guide tells you about them as you go.
Great Skellig Wildlife: Puffins, Gannets and Seals
Great Skellig is home to a puffin colony, with thousands of these colourful seabirds nesting from April to August. You can also spot gannets, razorbills and fulmars over the cliffs, while grey seals bask on the rocks below. Dolphins and basking sharks are seen in the surrounding waters.
What to expect on the boat tour
Perfect for all ages
You see Skellig Michael and Little Skellig without any climbing. The views from the water are very good, so it suits families, older visitors and anyone who would rather not take on the steps.
Friendly guides
Our guides know the history, wildlife and stories of the Skellig Islands well. They’ll tell you about the 6th century monastery, the monks who built it, and the lighthouses that have guided boats along this coast since the 1800s.
Small groups
We keep groups small, so everyone gets a good view and a chance to ask questions. You’ll see the Kerry cliffs, the Skellig Islands and plenty of open Atlantic on the way.
Good for photos
There’s plenty to photograph, from the monastery and the rock formations on Skellig Michael to the wildlife. Little Skellig has Ireland’s largest gannet colony, and in summer there are puffins flying past the boat. The light changes all the time out there, so every trip looks a bit different.
Marine Life
On the trip you’ll hear about the seabirds, the marine life and the old stories about the islands. Keep an eye out for dolphins, porpoises and sometimes basking sharks in the summer. You’ll often see seals lying on the rocks too.
Star Wars
Skellig Michael is well known as Luke Skywalker’s island retreat in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. From the boat you’ll see the steps, the stone beehive huts and the peaks that were used for the Jedi temple. If you’re a Star Wars fan, it’s well worth seeing in real life.
Myths, legends and Star Wars
There are plenty of Irish myths and legends about Skellig Michael. Some old stories say it was a place where warriors hid, and it has long been linked to Saint Michael the Archangel.
More recently, Skellig Michael became famous as Luke Skywalker’s hideaway in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. The cliffs and the old stone huts were used for the Jedi temple, and a lot of people now come to see the island because of the films.
A great day out
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Take a trip around the Skellig Islands
A Skellig Michael boat tour covers the history, the wildlife and the islands themselves. Places go quickly in the busy months of June to August, so it’s best to book ahead.
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The old monastery
The early Christian monastery is the main reason Skellig Michael is a World Heritage Site. Monks built it to get away from everyone. Visitors who land climb about 600 stone steps to reach the beehive huts (clocháns), which have lasted over 1,000 years of Atlantic weather. There’s also an oratory, stone crosses and terraced paths, and from the boat you can see the huts and steps high up on the island.