Welcome to Carpe Diem Tours

Carpe Diem Tours is a unique tour company specialising in cultural tours and pilgrimages since 2007. We cater for the tourist who wants to get behind the scenes when they visit a destination, meet local people, and experience the local culture. Some of our local tours visit Irish speaking or Gaeltacht areas. Beidh seans agat Gaeilge a chlos is a labhairt más mian leat.

'Tell me what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?'
- Mary Oliver

Booking is now open for our trip of a lifetime to the Holy Land which will take place 29th August to 8th September, 2023. See our pilgrimage page for details.

It was not possible to organise a satisfactory tour to the Balkans this year. Instead we are heading to the southern Mediterranean and two islands near the Toe of Italy, MALTA and SICILY. This tour takes place 12 - 22 October 2023, and booking is now open.

We also look forward to returning to our annual pilgrimage to Skelling Michael, Co. Kerry in late May 2023, weather and the OPW, who oversee this UNESCO Heritage site, permitting.

Our weekend tour to the majestic Dingle Peninsula including a trip to visit An Blascaod Mór will also take place in July 2023. We hope to announce the scheduled tour dates as soon as possible to this magnificent Irish-speaking part of Ireland.

We at Carpe Diem Tours look forward to the months ahead, when we can once again gather and enjoy diverse cultural experiences together; laughing, praying, singing and reflecting on the strange and unprecedented times we have all experienced over the past few years.

Beir bua is beannacht,

Mícheál De Barra
Tour Director

Tá Carpe Diem Tours lonnaithe i mBaile an Fheirtéaraigh, sráidbhaile gleoite i gceartlár na gaeltachta in iarthar Chiarraí. Tugaimíd cuairteanna mórthimpeall na háite seo gach bliain. ‘Sé buachphointe an turais do ghach einne ná cuairt a thabhairt ar an mBlascaod Mór. Mar an gcéanna an turas to dtí Sceilig Mhichíl. Is breá linn Gaeltachtaí na h-Eireann a thaispeáint d’ár turasóirí, go mór mór turasóirí ó thíortha thar lear.

Bespoke Cultural Tours of Ireland

As well as booking one of our scheduled tours, Carpe Diem Tours would be delighted to design with you your bespoke cultural tour of Ireland which may extend to a week or ten days and which will begin as soon as you arrive at your Irish airport. We have had several groups from Canada who availed of this facility.

Contact Mícheál for further details.

What our Pilgrims Say...

Mícheál, you are amazing. Words cannot express our gratitude for all you have done to make this trip a trip of a lifetime for everyone. We've had a fantastic learning experience. Thank you for your insights and guidance. I hope we have many more opportunities to meet and it has been so wonderful sharing your culture with you. Tiniki come to Saskatoon and we will introduce you to our Cree Culture and hospitality and laughter. Jennifer, Bill, Vicky & Wanda 2017

Thank you so very much for all your courtesy, generosity, helpfulness and attention to detail. It was one of the best organised events I have ever attended. Very special thanks for organising Tom as our 'chauffeur/tour guide' on the return journey to Killarney. He went way beyond the call of duty and provided ‘Icing’ on the whole pilgrimage 'cake'. Love, Joy and Blessings, Mari Anne

Read more Pilgrim's Stories