Skellig Michael is a rocky island about 12 kilometres off the Kerry coast, with a monastery and stone beehive huts that are around 1,400 years old. It’s also where the last scene of The Force Awakens was filmed. Getting out to it takes a bit more planning than most day trips, so here’s what you need to know before you book.
Your two options
There are two main ways to see the Skellig Islands, and they’re quite different.
A landing tour takes you onto Skellig Michael. You get about 2.5 hours on the island to see the monastery, and you climb the 618 stone steps to get there. You need to be fairly fit, and children under 12 aren’t allowed.
An eco tour keeps you on the boat while you go around both Skellig Michael and Little Skellig. You get good views of the islands and the wildlife, plenty of chances for photos, and no climb. It costs roughly half the price of a landing tour and takes about 2.5 hours in total. It suits anyone who wants to see the islands without the physical side of it.
When to go
Landing tours only run from mid May to the end of September. If you miss that, you’ll have to wait until the next year.
Eco tours run for longer, usually from April to October, so you have more choice of dates. Whichever you pick, the weather decides everything out here.
Trips get cancelled quite often because of wind and swell, sometimes at short notice. If you can, give yourself two or three days in the area so you have a backup if your first day is called off. Our post on landing on Skellig Michael explains the restrictions in more detail.
What to expect on the water
The boat trip is part of the day. You’re crossing open Atlantic, so it can be bumpy, and even on a calm day you’ll feel the swell.
Bring a rain jacket even if the forecast looks good, as conditions change quickly on the water. Bring layers too, because it’s usually colder at sea than on land.
Skellig Michael is 218 metres high and comes straight up out of the sea. Little Skellig is close by, and it’s covered in gannets. It has one of the biggest gannet colonies in the world, and it’s well worth seeing.
The climb on a landing tour
The 618 steps are steep and uneven. The monks built them over 1,000 years ago and there are no handrails for most of the way up.
If you have trouble getting around, get dizzy or don’t like heights, a landing tour probably isn’t for you. The eco tour gives you the views without the climb.
Wildlife
You’ll see plenty of wildlife on either tour. From May to August, puffins nest on the cliffs of Skellig Michael. They’re one of the main reasons people come, and they often let you get quite close, although it’s best to give them some space. Our puffin post has more about them.
You’ll also see razorbills, guillemots and storm petrels, and if you’re lucky some seals on the rocks. You can’t miss the gannets on Little Skellig. There are tens of thousands of them, and they’re very noisy.
Prices and practical details
Our boat tour costs €70 for adults and €60 for children, which is about half the price of a landing tour. You can book on our booking page.
A few other things to know.
- Dogs are welcome on eco tours but not on landing tours
- Bring a camera with a good zoom for the wildlife
- Take something for seasickness before you go if you need it
Booking your trip
Book your Skellig Michael tour well ahead, leave some room in your plans, bring clothes for any weather, and be ready for the sea to change your plans. If your first trip is cancelled, the islands will still be there the next day.
Whether you land or stay on the boat, it’s a great day out, and Skellig Michael is well worth seeing.