Leaving Belfast behind, travel north on a scenic journey to the spectacular Antrim Coast road. You will pass through the villages of Ballygalley, Glenarm, Cushendall, and Ballycastle.

View the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge connection the coast to a small island. The bridge is slung across a deep chasm and hangs 80 feet above the sea. Fishermen use the bridge to reach a fishery. Continue to the Giant’s Causeway, renowned for its polygonal columns of layered basalt, is the only World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland. Resulting from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago, this is the focal point of a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has attracted visitors for centuries. It harbors a wealth of local and natural history.

The formation of the Giant’s Causeway was due to intense volcanic activity. Lava welling up through fissures in the chalk bed formed a “lava plateau”. Three periods of volcanic activity gave rise to the Lower, Middle and Upper Basalts, and it’s the Middle Basalt rock which forms the famous amphitheaters of hexagonal columns in the Causeway.

Weathered formations have created circular structures around a core of basalt which are known locally as “giant’s eyes”. Some other formations with popular names are the Chimney Stacks, The Harp, The Organ, and the Camel’s Hump.

Sea birds can be seen off the coast around the Causeway, with species such as fulmar, petrel, cormorant, shag, redshank guillemot, and razorbill being frequently observed. Rare and unusual plant species including sea spleenwort, hare’s foot trefoil, vernal squill, sea fescue, and frog orchid can be found on the cliffs and nearby rock formations.

Following lunch (cost of lunch not included in tour price), travel to the nearby village of Bushmills. The Old Bushmills Distillery is the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery having received its license to distill in 1608 when Sir Thomas Phillips was granted a license to distill whiskey by James I of England. Enjoy a tour and whiskey tasting experience before returning to Belfast.