Skellig Islands Eco Boat Tours

Boat Tour around Skellig Michael and Little Skellig

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Boat Tours to the Skellig Islands

Skellig Michael Eco Tour

The Skellig Michael Eco Tour around the Skellig Islands has multiple departure times throughout the day. The boat tour to Skellig Michael takes about 45 minutes, circling Skellig Michael and Little Skelligs Nature Reserve for about another 45 minutes to an hour before returning to the marina in Portmagee. The boat tour goes around both islands getting right up close to Skellig Michael and the Little Skelligs to see both the wildlife and the historical sites.

This tour does not land on the island. It can get quite busy especially in the peak season so it is advisable to book well in advance.

Plan your visit

Departure Times

The tour lasts about 2.5 hours with daily departures at 10:00am, 12:30pm, 3:00pm and extra sailings between 1:00pm and 5:00pm

Season

The season runs from the 29th of April to the 4th of October

Price

Adults: €60 / Seniors: €55
Students: €55
Children: €50
Family (2 Adults + 2 Children): €190 - Each additional child: €35
(All excl booking fee)

Meeting point

The tour departs from the marina in Portmagee, Co. Kerry.

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The Eco Tour

What to bring on the Skellig Michael Eco Tour?

In Ireland, the weather is very unpredictable and we can get all the seasons in one day. Wear warm comfortable clothing and bring rain wear (jacket and trousers). It is also advisable to bring some drinking water with you.

This is not a harbour cruise and involves venturing 8 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean where the sea is not always calm. If you suffer from motion sickness consider taking medication before the trip and avoid eating for a couple of hours beforehand.

Crossing Time

The crossing to Skellig Michael takes about 45 minutes.

Time at the Skellig Islands

The boat spends approximately 45 minutes circling Skellig Michael and Little Skelligs

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Important Info

What To Expect

Cancellation Policy

Clothing

Bring Rain Jackets

The weather on the Atlantic can change quickly regardless of the forecast onshore. Bring a waterproof jacket and trousers, warm layers, and comfortable footwear.

Be Contactable

In Case of Changes

Keep an eye on your phone and email that you provided when booking. We will notify you of any changes to your departure time or cancellation as early as possible. Tours are dependent on sea conditions and can change at short notice.

Weather

Be Prepared

Departure times may be delayed due to tides and sea conditions. Allow flexibility in your plans on the day of your tour and avoid booking onward travel too close to the estimated return time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the boat trip to Skellig Michael?

The boat trip takes about 45 minutes to reach Skellig Michael and Little Skelligs Nature Reserve.

How much time does the boat spend around the Skellig Islands?

The boat stays at Skellig Michael and Little Skelligs Nature Reserve for approximately 45 minutes getting right up close to islands before returning back to the marina in Portmagee.

How many trips per day are there for the Skellig Michael Eco Tour?

There are multiple departures per day for the Skellig Michael Eco Tour. See the booking page for times and to make a booking.

What months of the year can I do the Skellig Michael Eco Tour?

The Skellig Michael Eco Tour normally runs from April to September.

Are children allowed on the Skellig Michael Eco Tour?

Yes, children of all ages are permitted on the Skellig Michael Eco Tour.

Are dogs allowed on the Skellig Michael Eco Tour?

Yes, we allow dogs on the Skellig Michael eco tour provided they are well behaved and kept on a leash for the duration of the tour.

What is the cancellation policy for the Skellig Eco Tour?

If you cancel more than 3 days in advance you will receive a full refund minus the booking fee.

Do I get a refund if the tour is cancelled because of the weather?

If the tour is cancelled because of bad weather or sea conditions you will receive a full refund including booking fee. Or if you prefer, we will try to reschedule you on the next available eco tour when the weather/sea conditions improve.

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Make A Reservation

Book the Skellig Michael Eco Boat Tour

The eco tour runs from late April to early October with multiple daily departures. Booking in advance is recommended, particularly between May and September.

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The Way Out

The Boat Tour to the Skellig Islands

The boat departs Portmagee Marina and crosses 12 kilometres of open Atlantic to reach the Skellig Islands. The crossing takes approximately 45 minutes each way.

As you leave the harbour you pass along the southern shore of Valentia Island with Bray Head visible to the west. The Kerry Cliffs come into view to the south. Puffin Island lies just offshore, a designated nature reserve and one of Ireland’s most significant puffin colonies, with thousands of birds nesting there between April and August.

Once in open water the Skellig Islands appear on the horizon. Little Skellig comes into view first, white with gannet guano from a distance. The boat passes close to the island before continuing on to circle Skellig Michael.

On the return journey the same landmarks pass in reverse. Dolphins are sometimes seen alongside the boat in these waters and the crew will slow down if conditions allow.

The crossing is open Atlantic and sea conditions vary. The trip can be rough depending on the day and swell direction. If you are prone to seasickness take medication before departure and avoid eating for a couple of hours beforehand.

Aerial view of Portmagee coastline with a boat heading out for Skellig Michael tours. Bridge connects to Valentia Island. Landscape.

On The WATER

What You Will See on the Eco Tour

The boat circles both islands, spending approximately 45 minutes at close range before returning to Portmagee.

Little Skellig and the Gannet Colony

Little Skellig is home to approximately 30,000 pairs of northern gannets, making it one of the largest gannet colonies in the world. Visitors cannot land on Little Skellig under any circumstances, so the eco boat tour is the only way to see the colony at close range. The boat passes within metres of the island. The noise and scale of the colony is striking from the water. Gannets can often be seen diving from height into the sea as the boat passes.

Puffins on Skellig Michael

Between late March and early August, Atlantic puffins are visible on the water and on the lower cliffs of Skellig Michael. Over 3,000 pairs nest on the island each year. Puffins leave for the open Atlantic in early August so the window to see them coincides closely with the main tourism season.

The Monastery and Historical Sites

From the boat you can see the dry stone beehive huts and monastery walls near the summit of Skellig Michael, along with the lower lighthouse and the route of the stone steps climbing the island’s eastern face. The eco tour does not land on the island but gives clear views of the monastic settlement from the water.

Other Wildlife

Guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, Manx shearwaters and fulmars are all present on and around the islands during the season. Grey seals are often visible at the base of the rocks. Dolphins are sometimes seen on the crossing and whales are occasionally spotted in the waters around the islands.

Tourist takes picture of Skellig Michael from a boat during a Skellig Michael boat tours. Rugged island rises from ocean.

Tourists on a boat taking Skellig Michael Tours, viewing the island's rugged cliffs and seabirds. Skellig Islands visible.

Passengers on a Skellig Michael boat tour, viewing the island's iconic silhouette against a partly cloudy sky. Sea spray visible.

Skellig Tours Interactive Map

Click the markers on this map to view points of interest featured on the SKELLIG MICHAEL ECO TOUR.

Tourist photographs rugged cliffs during a Skellig Michael boat tour. Dark water reflects the dramatic coastal landscape.

Christ's Saddle

The grassy plateau between the two peaks of Skellig Michael, visible from the boat as the highest accessible point before the monastery. From the water you can see the saddle shape of the terrain clearly, with the monastery terrace just visible above it on the northern peak. On the landing tour this is the natural resting point on the climb, roughly two thirds of the way up.

Man pointing towards the ancient monastery atop the dramatic, rocky slopes of Skellig Michael. Book your Skellig Michael Tours online now.

Monastic Settlement

The early Christian monastery near the summit of Skellig Michael, occupied from around the 6th century until the 13th century. From the boat the dry stone beehive huts and terrace walls are visible on the cliff face below the summit. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best preserved early medieval monastic settlements in Europe.

Tourists on a Skellig Michael boat tour, viewing the island's rugged cliffs and historic lighthouse. Wildlife observation.

Lighthouses

Two lighthouses were built on Skellig Michael in the 1820s as part of a major engineering project to protect Atlantic shipping. The lower lighthouse, visible from the boat on the eastern face of the island, was automated in the 1980s and is still operational. The upper lighthouse was abandoned shortly after construction as persistent fog at that elevation made it ineffective.

Passengers on a Skellig Michael boat tours admire the dramatic cliffs of the Skellig Islands from the sea. Experience the magic.

Little Skellig

The smaller of the two Skellig Islands, approximately 1.5 kilometres from Skellig Michael. Home to one of the largest northern gannet colonies in the world with approximately 27,000 breeding pairs. Landing on Little Skellig is not permitted. The eco tour passes within metres of the island giving a close view of the colony.

View of Little Skellig from the sea, near Portmagee, Ireland. Offers insight into Skellig Michael boat tours. Rocky foreground. Calm waters.

Puffin Island

Located just south of Portmagee, this small island is a designated nature reserve managed by BirdWatch Ireland. You can see Puffin Island on the way to Skellig Michael. Thousands of Atlantic puffins, Manx shearwaters and storm petrels nest here each summer.

Kerry Cliffs

Standing over 300 metres above the Atlantic, the Kerry Cliffs are among the highest sea cliffs in Ireland. Visible from the boat on the crossing, they give a clear sense of the scale of the coastline before the Skellig Islands come into view.

Bray Head

Located on the western tip of Valentia Island, Bray Head is one of the last landmarks passed before entering open Atlantic water on the crossing. The historic Signal Tower at its summit has stood watch over the Skellig passage for centuries.

Skellig Michael

The larger of the two Skellig Islands, rising 218 metres above the Atlantic approximately 12 kilometres off the Kerry coast. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, the island is home to a 6th-century monastic settlement and one of Ireland's most important seabird colonies. The eco tour circles the island at close range. Landing is restricted to licensed operators during the season and is not included on the eco tour.