tour of skellig michael

SKELLIG MICHAEL TOURS AND SKELLIG LANDING TOURS

With casey’s skellig islands tours.

On the  Skellig Michael Landing Tour you get off the boat and step on to the island . With the Skellig Michael Boat Tour you stay on the boat as it goes around both the Skellig Islands getting right up close to see the historic sites and wildlife on Skellig Michael and the gannet colony on Little Skelligs. The Skellig Landing Tour season begins mid May and finishes on Sept 30th . The Skellig Boat Tour season runs from April to end September .

SKELLIG MICHAEL ECO TOURS

See the wildlife, historical sites and little Skelligs gannet colony

SKELLIG MICHAEL LANDING TOURS

Climb the 618 steps to the monastery on Great Skellig

STAR WARS FILMING ON SKELLIG MICHAEL

Scenes from the latest Star Wars trilogy were filmed on Skelligs

BIRD LIFE ON THE SKELLIG ISLANDS

Thousands of birds such as puffins, gannets and guillemots nest here.

Two types of Skellig Michael Tour

Skellig Michael Eco Tour around both Islands and Skellig Michael Landing Tour

The Skellig Michael Eco Tours depart regularly throughout the day. On this tour the boat circles around Skellig Michael and Little Skelligs. This allows you get up close to both Skellig Islands. From here you can see both the wildlife and the historical sites. The Skellig Michael Landing Tour departs Portmagee marina only once per day. The departure time changes frequently depending on the sea conditions as well as the available Skellig Michael Landing time slots. The boat arrives back from the Skellig Islands in the afternoon. There is also an option of an  Audio Visual Boat Tour   about Skelligs History and Wildlife. All our Skelligs Michael Tours are dependent on the sea and weather conditions. The tours are popular especially in the busy season so it is advisable to book well in advance.

SKELLIG MICHAEL (Great Skellig Rock)

The Skellig Islands are 12 km (8 miles) off the coast. However, they can be accessed by boat from Portmagee in South West Kerry. Skellig Michael rises from the sea, reaching a height of 218 metres above sea level. On the summit of Skellig Michael there is a well-preserved 6th century monastic settlement. Skellig Michael gets its name from Saint Michael the Archangel.

How much are the Skellig Michael Tours?

SKELLIG MICHAEL ECO TOUR Adults: €45 Students / Seniors: €42 Children: €37  Family: €150 (2 adults + 2 children) Each additional child:  €30 (Plus booking fee)

SKELLIG LANDING TOUR € 125 plus booking fee per person

What options are there to see the wildlife on Skellig Michael and Little Skelligs?

The Skellig Michael Boat Tour around the Skellig Islands (Skellig Michael and Little Skelligs Nature Reserve) has multiple departure times throughout the day. The boat tour lasts approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes and circles both islands getting right up close to Skellig Michael and the Little Skelligs to see both the wildlife and the historical sites.  This tour can get quite busy especially in the peak season so it is advisable to book well in advance.  The season runs from April to the end of September. The tour departs from the marina in Portmagee, Co. Kerry .

ST FIONAN OF SKELLIG MICHAEL

On our Skellig Michael Tours you will see the 6th century monastic settlement on the north peak of the island. Great Skellig was home to the monks of St Fionan. These monks led very simple lives out in the wild Atlantic, living in stone beehive shaped huts. The huts are round-shaped on the outside. In contrast, they are rectangular on the inside. In fact, they were carefully built to prevent a single drop of rain from coming in. The monks spent their days praying in the church, while dedicating some of their time for studying and tending to their gardens. In general, it is thought that the rock was the permanent home to about 12 monks. In the 13th century the climate started to change and life became very harsh out in the Atlantic. For this reason, the monks left the Skelligs and moved to the mainland in Ballinskelligs. Subsequently, the Great Skellig became a place of pilgrimage.

KERRY CLIFFS AND PUFFIN ISLAND

On the Skellig Michael Tours and the Audio Visual Boat Tour you will see the Kerry Cliffs and Puffin Island. Kerry Cliffs were formed more than 400 million years ago. The cliffs are located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. For the most part, they reach 300m in height. For this reason, they are a spectacular sight to look up at from the boat at sea level. Puffin Island is a designated a nature reserve under the conservancy of BirdWatch Ireland. It is separated from the mainland by a narrow sound. Hence, it is isolated from the mainland. As a result, it is home to thousands of pairs of birds such as Puffins, Manx Shearwaters, Storm Petrels and other breeding seabirds.

Where do the Skellig Michael Tours depart from?

All our tours depart from the marina in Portmagee, County Kerry. – Ask for BRENDAN CASEY. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour is due to depart.

How do I change or cancel my Skellig Tour booking?

Login to our customer area to update or cancel your booking. Enter the same email address you used when you made your booking.

It is advisable to stay as near as possible to Portmagee.

You should stay locally the night before the tour because the sea conditions vary a lot and we are often not sure if the tour will go ahead until right before it is due to depart.

AUDIO VISUAL INTERACTIVE BOAT TOUR

The  interactive boat tour  is an Audio Visual experience and is both educational and fun. As an alternative to our Skellig Michael Tours, the boat stays within relatively calm waters. The boat moves from the departure point at Portmagee marina to explore the harbour and the small coastal islands. To begin with, you will learn the history of Skellig Michael and the birdlife living in the area. At the same time, you will experience the joy of wildlife and nature.  Find out about the movies that were filmed in the area including Star Wars and Harry Potter. In summary, the tour is a fun adventure and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The tour takes about 1 hour.

The Audio Visual Tour is not running for the 2023 season .

How To Visit Skellig Michael In 2024 (A Guide To The Skellig Islands)

By Author Keith O'Hara

Posted on Last updated: February 1, 2024

The Skellig Michael tours are some of Ireland’s most sought-after. They’re also some of the most misunderstood .

There are two types of Skellig Islands tours:

• Landing tours : You physically explore Skellig Michael Island
• Eco tours : You sail around the two Skellig Islands but don’t leave the boat

In the guide below, you’ll find info on the different tours of the Skellig Islands, their history and, of course, the Star Wars link . Enjoy!

Table of Contents

Some quick need-to-knows if you want to visit Skellig Michael

Click to enlarge map

So, if you want to visit Skellig Michael Island, there are several  need-to-knows before you start planning your trip.

1. Location

The ancient Skellig Islands jut from the Atlantic Ocean around 13km from Ballinskelligs Bay off the tip of the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry .

2. There are 2 islands

There are two Skellig Islands. The smaller of the two, known as Little Skellig , is closed to the public and cannot be accessed. Skellig Michael (AKA ‘Great Skellig) is over 750 feet tall and is home to a number of historic sites.

3. There are 2 tour types

If you’re wondering how to get to Skellig Michael, you have 2 options – the Skellig Michael landing tour (you physically go onto the island) and the eco tour (you sail around the islands). The majority of Skellig Michael tours leave from Portmagee pier, although one leaves from Derrynane Harbour and another leaves from Valentia Island .

4. Star Wars fame

Yes, Skellig Michael is the Star Wars Island in Ireland. It featured Star Wars Episode VII “The Force Awakens” in 2014 . If you’ve watched the movie, you’ll see Skellig Michael at the end of the movie when Luke Skywalker gets reintroduced to viewers.

5. Warnings

• Book tickets well in advance:  They book out frequently
• Good fitness levels needed:  You’ll need to climb a bit on the landing tour
• Tours don’t run all year: The ‘season’ runs from from April until the beginning of October

6. Where to stay nearby

The best place to base yourself when visiting Skellig Michael, in my opinion, is Portmagee , however, Valentia Island and Waterville are two other great options.

About the Skellig Islands

Photos via Shutterstock

You’ll find Skellig Michael Island and Little Skellig jutting from the Atlantic around 1.5km from Ballinskelligs Bay off the tip of the Iveragh Peninsula.

And it’s from here that the Skellig Islands have been delighting those that have dared to visit long before George Lucas and Hollywood came knocking.

How they were formed

It was during the Armorican/Hercynian Earth Movements that Skellig Michael first peeked above the Atlantic Ocean.

These movements led to the formation of the mountains of County Kerry, which Skellig Michael is connected to.

The mass of rock from which the island was formed dates back over 400 million years and consists of compressed sheets of sandstone mixed with silt and gravel.

Mentioned as far back as 1400 BC

Of the two islands, Skellig Michael boasts the most Religious and historical significance.

The island was first referenced in history in   1400 BC and was called ‘home’ by a group of monks for the first time during the 8th century.

In pursuit of a greater union with God, a group of ascetic monks withdrew from civilisation to the remote island to begin a life of solitude.

A UNESCO World Heritage site

The remote and isolated islands have an almost prehistoric feel about them and the Skelligs are widely regarded as one of Europe’s most perplexing and remote sacred sites.

In 1996, UNESCO gave recognition to Skellig Michael and its “outstanding universal value” , placing it upon the World Heritage List , where it sits proudly next to the likes of the Giants Causeway and Yellowstone National Park.

“An incredible, impossible, mad place”

Once upon a time, over 20 years before Star Wars creator George Lucas was born, a Nobel Prize and Oscar-winning Irish playwright discovered the wonders of the Skellig Islands.

On September 17th, 1910, George Bernard Shaw left the Kerry coast in an open boat and sailed across the choppy waters that lay between the islands and the mainland.

In a letter penned to a friend, Shaw described the island as  “An incredible, impossible, mad place”  that is  “part of our dream world” . If that doesn’t make you want to visit, nothing will.

How to get to Skellig Michael in 2024

We get emails asking how to get to Skellig Michael constantly . They tend to start mid-summer. But by that time many tours are booked up.

So, there are several different Skellig Michael boat tours on offer. Now, as mentioned above, just 180 people can access the island each day .

So, getting a ticket on one of the boat trips that land on the island can be tricky. Here’s an overview of each of the tours:

1. The Eco Tour around the islands

The first of the two Skellig Michael tours is the Eco Tour. This is the tour that takes you around the islands, but that doesn’t ‘land’ on Skellig Michael.

These Skellig Island tours tend to involve visiting Little Skellig first and seeing some of the wildlife (ganets and seals to name a fiew) before sailing around Skellig Michael.

2. The Skellig Michael Landing Tour

The Skellig Michael Landing Tour involves taking a ferry to the larger of the islands and heading for a wander around it.

The landing tours is more expensive (info below) but it’ll treat you to one of the most unique experiences in Ireland.

Skellig Michael tours compared

Good God. It’s taken me over an hour to collect the info below about the various Skellig Michael tours. Why?!

Well, because some of the websites are an absolute mess and a half!

WARNING : The prices and times listed below may change so  please  double check them in advance!

1. Skellig Michael Cruises

• Run by: Paul Devane & Skellig Michael Cruises
• Location : Portmagee
• Eco tour : Lasts 2.5 hours. €50
• Landing tour : You get 2.5 hours when you visit Skellig Michael. €140
• Learn more here

2. Skellig Boat tours

• Run by: Dan and Donal McCrohan
• Eco tour : It lasts 2.5 hours and it costs €50 per person
• Landing tour : Costs €125 per person

3. Kerry Aqua Terra Boat & Adventure Tours

• Run by: Brendan and Elizabeth
• Location : Knightstown (Valentia)
• Skellig Coast Tour : Takes you around the most scenic sites in the area including the islands and the Kerry Cliffs. 3 hours. €75 p/p.

4. Sea Quest Skellig Tours

• Eco tour : It lasts just under 2.5 hours and it costs €50 for adults with lower priced tickets for kids
• Landing tour : €130 and you get 2.5 hours on the island

5. Casey’s Skellig Island Tours

• Eco tour : €45
• Landing tour : €125  

6. Skellig Walker

• Eco tour : €50 per person
• Landing tour : Tickets cost €125 per person 

Things to see and do on Skellig Michael

Skellig Michael was first referenced in history in   1400BC and was called ‘home’ by a group of monks for the first time during the 8th century.

It’s thanks to these monks that the island is home to a number of historical sites (the views are also out of this world).

1. Enjoy the journey over

If you do get a chance to visit Skellig Michael, your adventure begins from the moment you step on the ferry.

The journey across takes an hour from Portmagee (above) and you’ll be able to start soaking up views soon after your departure.

Now, if you’ve ever taken a ferry anywhere in Ireland, you’ll know that the water can be very choppy at times, so keep that in mind.

I’d recommend decent footwear, also. Aside from the fact that you’ll be doing a lot of walking on the island, the area where you step off the ferry can be slippy.

This isn’t helped by the fact that the boat will be rocking. So, decent footwear and a sturdy belly (keep away from the pints the night before!) are both needed. 

2. The Stairway to Heaven

Cast your mind back to a time when monks lived on Skellig Michael (AKA ‘Great Skellig’). They needed to eat, and the water was their main source of food.

The monks needed to conquer a grueling 600+ steps each day as they made their way from the summit, where they lived, to the icy waters below, where they caught fish.

Those that visit the island will need to climb these 600+ steps to reach the top of the island. This will be a challenge for those with poor mobility.

3. Views galore

If you visit Skellig Michael on a clear day, you’ll be treated to outstanding views of Little Skellig and the Kerry coastline. 

And after climbing the 600+ steps to the top, you’ll have earned a bit of kick-back-and-take-it-all-in-time.

When you arrive here, try and switch off, put the phone/camera away and bask in the brilliance that surrounds you. 

4. The beehive huts

Life in the middle of the Atlantic was by no means easy, so the monks got to work and built several structures to make the island suitable to live on.

Over time, they managed to construct a Christian monastery, six beehive huts, two oratories and some terraces.

The cluster of six beehive huts that housed the island’s inhabitants were constructed with slate and stand proud to this day – an immense feat considering the intense storms they’ve been subjected to over many years.

5. The Skellig Michael monastery

Although the Skellig Michael monastery is a ruin, much of the inner and outer enclosure is still visible. The monastery is situated on the east side of the island, as this location gets some good shelter.

The monks built three different staircases that would allow them to access the area, depending on the weather. Only the steps I mentioned earlier are accessible to the public today, for safety reasons.

You’ll be able to see one of the staircases from the monastery. This was one of the paths that was shown in Star Wars: Force Awakes.

FAQs about visiting Skellig Michael

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from whether or not the Skellig boat trips are worth the price they charge and where to stay nearby.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

Is Skellig Michael worth it?

Yes. It’s worth the hassle of planning your trip and dealing with the potential cancellation if the weather is bad. This is one of those experiences you’ll remember forever.

Are there many Skellig Islands boat trips to choose from?

There are a lot of different tour operators, each of which tends to offer both an Eco Tour (where you sail around the islands) and a landing tour (where you visit Skellig Michael).

Was Star Wars filmed on Skellig Michael?

Yes. The Skelligs featured in Star Wars film Episode VII “The Force Awakens” in 2014. If you’ve watched the movie, you’ll see Skellig Michael at the end of the movie when Luke Skywalker gets reintroduced to viewers.

Is Skellig Michael open in 2024?

Yes, tours are running to the Skellig Islands in 2024. The ‘season’ runs from from April until the beginning of October.

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries . Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Tuesday 25th of April 2023

Very useful info for planning our trip. Thanks for taking the time.

Sunday 16th of April 2023

Thank you for this post. Because of it, I was able to find a tour that actually had space on their boat!

Pat Mulcahy

Thursday 16th of February 2023

Very useful information Keith thanks

Tuesday 21st of June 2022

Very useful info. A great website source. Well done

Monday 21st of March 2022

As the world's foremost Star Wars scholar, I feel I must point out that The Force Awakens premiered on December 17, 2015, not 2014. :)

Explore The Best Of The West With Skellig Michael Tours

Visit one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites from the comfort of a well-equipped passenger boat and take back home a treasure trove of memories of an unforgettable trip.

A Confluence Of Natural & Cultural Heritage

Experience a different world altogether, far away from the mainland, encompassing natural rock formations, monastery, hermitage, and lighthouses, of historic and cultural relevance.

Enjoy A Leisurely Sail Around Skellig Islands Onboard The Skellig Star

Let our Skellig Michael boat trips offer you a spectacular view of the mesmerizing islands, rich in biodiversity and home to sites of cultural importance.

Skellig Michael Tours

About Skellig Island

The twin crags of Skellig Michael Islands appears in the horizon, shortly after the Skellig Michael Boat Trips start off from Portmagee Village.

The natural formation of the islands could date back to at least 300 million years ago in the prehistoric period. The islands can be divided into two portions— The Great Skellig Michael & Little Skellig.

The Skellig Michael landing tour is not permitted on the Little Skellig island, while the Great Skellig Michael, with its easily noticeable twin peaks, is among Europe’s most ancient and sacred places. It used to be home to a group of Gaelic monks in the 6th century. The monks had built the Skellig Monastery to mark as the finishing line of an ancient pilgrimage going through France, Italy, Greece and Palestine — The St. Michael Axis. The monastic settlement is also highly regarded for its architectural genius, exemplified by the beehive huts and the 3 steps and pathways, with over 600 stairs leading up to the monastery— all still in brilliant condition to this day.

Apart from the historical importance of the site, the island also has a rich biodiversity and is home to one of the world’s largest colonies of Northern Gannets. Other fauna includes seabird species like puffins and razorbills and marine animals including a thriving population of grey seals. Earlier known as just Skellig, which in Gaelic means “splinter of stone” the site, especially the twin crags was later named after the Archangel Michael, as a dedication. It got the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. It was recently the filming location for the movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015.

Why Choose Skellig Michael Tours

• Gives You A Memorable Experience With An Up & Close View Of The Islands From The Comfort Of Spacious And Cozy Passenger Boats
• Offers Two Different Options Of Skellig Islands Boat Trips & Skellig Michael Eco Tours
• Wheelchair Accessible Boats Allow Tourists Of Different Physical Conditions To Gain Access
• Takes You On A Fully Insured And Licenced Passenger Vessel
• Competitively Priced For A Wider Range Of Tourists

The Most Important Sites Include

• The Skellig Michael Monastery
• The Stairs & Pathways leading up to the Monastery’s main complex
• The Christ’s Saddle Valley between the two mountains
• The Tower House, or Wailing Woman — a megalithic rock formation, from where you get breathtaking sites of the Little Skellig in the distance

About Skellig Star (The Boat)

Skellig Star is an accommodating boat of ours. It is definitely a true charmer! Built to take you around the Skellig Islands, it’s a 40ft Lochin running on twin engines, promising a smooth and safe sail, all the way to the Skellig Michael and Little Skellig islands. Its specialty lies in accessibility, presenting you breathtaking sights you wouldn’t have had access to by land. Rest assured by taking the Skellig Michael landing tour the Skellig Star is well capable of bringing you as close as possible to the island and landing you safely.

Our Skellig Star is well-equipped with life jackets and waterproof gear for our passengers. While safety is mandatory for every passenger as we value lives more than anything, the latter is optional and intended to keep you dry even during the heaviest downpour. Accommodating a maximum of 12 passengers at once, our boat is spacious, with cabin seating offering marvelous views of the Skellig Islands. Purposely designed with the seating arrangement inside the cabin, it ensures shelter from harsh weather conditions without compromising on passenger comfort.

Among its other state of the art facilities, there’s a toilet on-board. All in all, it’s a true star, completely insured and licensed, encompassing advanced facilities so that you enjoy a leisurely Skellig Michael boat trip.

Bookings Are Now Open For  2024 Skellig Michael Tours

Book Your Skellig Michael Tour Early In Advance. You Can Book Online, Or Give Us A Call at 00353 87 617 8114 for guidance.

Skellig Michael Eco Tour Departure Timings:

10:00 am, 12:30 pm, 3.00pm, 5:30pm

From where does Skellig Michael Tours depart?

Portmagee situated in County Kerry is the exact location from where our boats depart. For further information, kindly refer to our Contact Us page.

Is it necessary for an enthusiastic passenger to book in advance for Skellig tours?

We don’t want to disappoint you. Therefore, our advice would be to book in advance to avoid the rush during the peak season.

Can I cancel my bookings during adverse weather/sea conditions?

Skellig Island tours are entirely weather-dependent. We will cancel the tour if the sea conditions are not suitable to travel and refund your money. To get a better insight, kindly refer to our Cancellation Policy.

How can I identify the Skellig Star?

Please make a call to our booking office once you reach the vicinity. One of our staff members will assist you to Skellig Star.

How would advise on clothing & shoes for a boat ride to the Skellig Islands?

Our advice to you would be to put on warm comfortable clothes. We have waterproof gears ready on-board.

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Murphys Sea Cruises To Skellig Michael

Contact: e: [email protected] t: +353 876762983

Explore the wonderful Skellig Michael with Pat Joe Murphy Operating boat tours to Skellig for over 30 years! LANDING TOURS & ECO (around the islands) TRIPS availabe - Book in advance to secure your spot as tours are limited to 12 passengers per day!  

Skellig Michael Tours

The Skellig Islands, Skellig Michael and Small Skellig, stand aloof in the Atlantic Ocean some 13km southwest of Portmagee & Valentia Island, County Kerry. From any angle, or from any vantage point on the nearby Ring of Kerry, they are spectacular pinnacles, which have magnetised viewers for gene rations. 

MURPHYS SEA CRUISES

M urphys offer boat tours to Skellig Michael daily from Portmagee durin g the summer months. There are many imitators but only a few are the original boatmen to the islands. Patrick Murphy is the Skipper of the wonderful "Shelluna". Patrick was born & raised in the beautiful village of Portmagee and lives in the village. With over 30 years of captaining boats on the atlantic, you know you are in safe hands.

Murphys Sea Cruises was established in the 1980's, at the time there were only a few boatmen "licensed" to go to the Great Skellig. Patrick & crew have brought thousands of people to and from the islands and promises them a trip of a life time .

Now taking reservations  for 2023 - book in advance to secure your spot!

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

"A lovely boat trip going around the smaller Skellig to view the birds on the way to Skellig Michael. The boat drivers were really helpful, friendly and informative with a lovely enthusiasm about nature, we were fortunate to see jumping dolphins and a baby seal. A reall fantgastic experience."

"There are a dozen purveyors of trips to the Skelligs, but you'll feel confident about your boating safety if you choose Pat Joe Murphy, Captain of the beautiful Shelluna. Pat Joe has a yellow cottage office down the road and across the street from the Portmagee docks (picture included), but everyone in the area knows him to call for you to arrange your passage. On the trip back, Pat Joe stopped alongside LIttle Skellig, a bird and sea lion colony, so that we could take photos of the tremendous wildlife. The smooth ride, both there and back, was in large part enjoyed because of Pat Joe's skill at the helm. I would recommend this adventure for preteens and older. I had quite a memorable day!"

"Very enjoyable experience. We set off on time and the journey was very comfortable. It was a beautiful day and the crossing wasn't difficult. Skellig Michael was amazing. Murphy Cruises were professional and I have no problem recommending them for the trip."

ABOUT THE SKELLIGS

The Skelligs are world famous, each in its own right. Skellig Michael is known throughout the world of archaeology as the site of a well preserved monastic outpost of the early Christian period, now designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Small Skellig is equally renowned in matters of ornithology as the home of some 27,000 pairs of gannets, the second largest colony of such sea birds in the world.   

The monastic site on Skellig Micheal is reached by climbing over five hundred steps on up a 1000 year old stone stairway. Stone beehive huts where monks lived and prayed centuries ago cling to cliff edges alongside oratories, a cemetery, stone crosses, holy wells and the Church of St Michael. These isolated archaeological remains show the dramatically spartan conditions in which this early Christian community lived. Enduring several Viking raids, the monks eventually left the island in the thirteenth century and it subsequently became a place of pilgrimage.  A boat trip to The Skelligs allows one to experience these magnificent natural monuments first hand, book with Murphys today and experience the trip of a lifetime tomorrow.

DISCOVER THE SKELLIGS.

Welcome to skelligs rock cruises.

Experience the best that the Wild Atlantic Way has to offer and join us on a boat tour to the Skellig Islands. A World Heritage site, and so listed with Mount Everest and the Great Barrier Reef for its significance to humankind, you’ll be glad you made the trip.

The Skellig Islands float on the Atlantic Ocean, twelve kilometres off the coast of county Kerry. When you first reach the Islands you will be struck by their rugged beauty – as they scale some 700ft above you. An internationally renowned bird sanctuary, you’ll encounter a wonderful array of birdlife as you climb the six hundred steps to the peak. Here you’ll find  one of the oldest and best-preserved monasteries in Europe . At the summit allow your imagination to take you back to the time of the Monks or to transport you to a ‘Galaxy far far away’.

The makers of Star Wars were so taken by the Skellig Michael that they used it as a location for 2 Star War movies The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. Find out more about  how the Skelligs were used in the Star Wars movies here .

How can you describe the Skellig Michael to someone who has never visited this place of peace, serenity and absolute beauty, yet with ruggedness all around you?

No one has ever painted a picture of the Skellig Michael with words, better then the famous Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw when he wrote to Frederick Jackson: “Parknasilla Hotel, Sneem, 18th September 1910.”

“The most fantastic and impossible rock in the world: Skellig Michael… where in the south west gales spray knocks stones out of the lighthouse keeper’s house… the Skelligs are pinnacled, crocheted, spired, arched, caverned, minareted; and these gothic extravagances are not curiosities of the islands:they are the islands: there is nothing else.The rest of the cathedral may be under the sea for all I know …An incredible, impossible, mad place…I tell you the thing does not belong to any world that you and I have lived and worked in: it is part of our dream world.”

“This was a brilliant experience and nothing will ever compare to the sight of Skellig Michael appearing above the mist as we headed into the fresh Atlantic from the calm waters of Portmagee harbour.”

-Farranboy62, Dublin

“We travelled to the Skelligs with Sea Quest and they could not have been more helpful. From the well-run and friendly first approach on the quayside to leaving them 4 hours later nothing could have been improved. The Captain was extremely personable and told us things of interest throughout the trip.”

“The islands are even more remarkable up close and in person than they are in pictures and movies. We took a boat ride around them, and it was the most rewarding investment of time we have had here in Ireland.”

-Charles M, UK

“If there is a chance still to go by boat to Skellig, this should definitely be used. Even the rocks from the ship is incredibly impressive, the monastery huts and the stairs are clearly visible. Cost: €35 per person. Highly recommended!!”

-Uetliberg, Switzerland

BOOK A SKELLIGS TRIP: ECO/LANDING

DISCOVER HISTORY

EXPLORE WILDLIFE

RE-ENACT STAR WARS

• [email protected]

skellig michael landing tour

The Skellig Michael landing tour is a truly unique, once in a lifetime experience. Skellig Michael is a UNESCO World Heritage site and renowned tourist attraction that is steeped in history both past and present. The monastery and hermitage built by the monks of St. Finian inspire solitude and contemplation; the wildlife that inhabits the islands and the waters that surround them instil a strong connection to this unique place and its importance in the natural world.

As part of the landing tour, visitors will get the chance to disembark the vessel and climb the famous steps of Skellig Michael. When you step foot on the island you will be met by the O.P.W (Office of Public Works) From there you will be expertly guided to the top. Our fleet consists of 4 vessels, The Skellig Walker, Ursula Mary, Celtic Victor and The Deva. We have an expert tour guide who will bring the trip to life for you. You will be told the history and stories of the Skellig Coast while learning all about the wildlife that call the Skellig Coast home.

Our vessels will depart Portmagee Marina between 8.30 a.m and 9.30 a.m. All excursions are weather dependent, and we advise that you check in half an hour prior to departure. We will keep you up to date with departure times and weather information to ensure all customers are aware of the sea conditions.

The Skellig Michael landing tour requires a reasonable level of fitness and we advise customers to wear appropriate clothes and footwear. Skellig Michael is situated 11.6 km (7.2 miles) west of Valentia Island and transit time is approx. 1 hour.

The cost of the landing tour is €120 p.p plus a non refundable booking fee of €5.00 p.p.

We provide shelter from the weather, inside seating and life jackets which must be worn on board at all times. For safety reasons, passengers under the age of 10 are not permitted on this cruise.

Tour Details:

• Arrive at Portmagee Marina half an hour before departure.
• Depart Portmagee Marina between 8.00 am and 10.0 am. (Departure times depend on landing slot)
• Land at Skellig Michael where visitors are met by the Office of Public Work. (OPW)
• Visitors climb the 640 steps to the top, and a guide will provide information on the history of the island and the monastic settlements. Visitors are allowed 2.5 hours on the island.
• Return to Skellig Michael pier and board your vessel.
• Tour around Little Skellig and observe the magnificent wildlife creatures that are home to the Skellig Coast.
• The total trip time is approximately 5 hours.
• Depart your vessel and enjoy the rest of your day.

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Skellig Michael Tours - Important information

Skellig michael tours for 2024 are now open, bookings are open for   skellig michael landing tours and non- landing eco tour around both skellig islands for 2024., bookings for our skellig michael tours around both islands are currently open. this tours brings you up close to see all the spectacular areas of both skellig michael and small skelligs. the boat stops at the island , you can take pictures in front of skellig michael ,view the wildlife , the lighthouse at the back and the steps carved into the rock by the monks but you do not get off the boat. .

People who do this tour are never disappointed and often comment that it is as good as climbing the island. This tour is more accessible and affordable for families.

Skellig Michael Landing Tours

Bookings for the skellig michael landing tours  2024 are now open – season start 11th may.

We are currently taking bookings for the Skellig Michael Landing tours for the 2024 Season.

You can book the landing tour now on our booking page. If the tours are cancelled due to weather then we will issue a refund or you will have the option of rescheduling your booking for later date.

All our tours are weather permitting and customers will be updated in advance by email of any changes to the tours. Please ensure you provide your phone number  also with country code so we can contact you if there are last minute changes.

Tour Cancellation

Should we need to cancel the  skellig michael tour due to weather or any other reason you will be contacted by email and we will give you a full refund..

The only way to see Skellig Michael and Little Skelligs outside of the dates set by the OPW is to undertake our  tour around both Skellig islands where you get up close to see the island, the monastery and steps carved by the monks in the 5th century. The Skellig Michael Eco tour  operate from St Patricks Day through to the end of October (weather permitting). All tours can be booked online using the button below.

A Guide to using our online booking system.

Click on the blue button for booking, that takes you to our secure booking page, then follow the information below. First look at the options section you need to enter the number of passengers, then select  the day and date you wish to take the tour. Our tour departs at various times during the day so you need to select your preferred time and follow the instructions to complete your booking. Should you have any problems contact us using our contact form

Cancellation Policy

As all our tours are weather dependant we reserve the right to cancel the tour due to adverse sea and weather conditions.

We also reserve the right to cancel any tour bookings resulting from multiple bookings, bookings made with the intention of being resold individually or part of an organised activity or tour package, any booking activity that we feel is not right or inapproriate.

Should we need to cancel the tour due to weather or any other reason we will give you a full refund.

Departure times may also change for a number of reasons such as weather, demand etc. We will contact you by email if there are any changes.

Landing Tours can be delayed up until 1pm or may have to depart as early as 7:30am depending on the weather conditions at the Skellig Michael Landing pier. Short notice of time change are often given therefore we advise people to stay locally the night before the tour.

• If you cancel your reservation more than 14 days in advance of the departure time,  you will receive a full refund.
• No refunds will be given for cancellations made less than 14 days in advance of the departure time, or in the case of a no-show.
• Booking fees are non-refundable.

If we have to cancel any tour due to adverse weather conditions  a refund will be issued.

Skellig Michael Eco tours around both Skellig Islands can be cancelled up to 7 days before departure date and a refund will be issued. Cancellation less than 7 days before departure date – no refund will be issued.

There are certain times during the season when the tour around Skellig Michael is possible but the  Skellig Michael Pier may not be suitable  to land. In this case you will only be charged for the tour around the island and a refund  of the balance will be issued

Please note: booking fees are non-refundable

Skellig Michael Safety Information and Video

Should you require further information regarding safety on Skellig Michael visit the opw website .

Frequently asked questions

How do I book the tours?

All bookings are done online through our website. Click the following link to check availability and book your tour with Skellig Michael Cruises.

Where do the tours depart from?

All our boats depart from the marina in Portmagee, Co. Kerry. See our Contact us page for details of how to find us.

How do I know which boat to get on?

What should I do if Landing Spaces are full?

Option 1: Add contact details to our wait list and if there is a cancellation we will email you

Option 2: Stay Local and come to our booking office in Portmagee Marina early in the morning around 8:30am and you might be lucky to get a last minute cancellation. People often cancel last minute for various reasons.

Option 3 : Take our non-landing eco tour around both islands

Departure times for the Skellig Michael Eco Tour around both Islands.

The Eco tour departs at 10am, 12:30pm, 3:00pm and 5pm and takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. Boat journey to Skellig Michael takes approx. 50 minutes each way, the rest of the time is spent at the island.

Does the eco tour allow you to land (get off the boat) at Skellig Michael?

No, The boat tour circles both Islands and you get right up close to Skellig Michael and the small Skelligs to see both the wildlife and the historical sights. Plenty of time is given to take photos etc…

Departure times for the Skellig Michael Landing Tour

The landing tour departs daily at 8:30am and 10am. There is one only trip per day for this tour. Boat journey to Skellig Michael takes approx… 50minutes. You are allowed 2.5hours on the island before returning to Portmagee marina.

Is there toilet facilities on Skellig Michael?

Yes, there are toilets on Skellig Michael and we also have a toilet on all our boats.

What do I need to wear: for the Skellig Michael Eco Tour?

Wear warm comfortable clothing and shoes. We have shelter for all passengers on board and we also have rain gear available if passengers want to remain seated outside.

What do I need to wear: for the Skellig Michael Landing Tour?

Wear warm comfortable clothing and suitable walking shoes for climbing the steps to the monastery. We have shelter for all passengers on board. It is advisable to bring rain gear for climbing and something to eat and drink. Sunscreen should also be worn.

What is the minimum age for a child going on the landing tour?

We recommend that children are at least 10 years old to go on this tour. As there are 600 steps to the monastery you require a reasonable level of fitness to take this tour.

When does the season start?

The eco tours begin on March 17 th and end on November 5 th .

The landing tours begin on May 15 th and end on September  30th. There are no landing tours outside these dates.

All tours are weather dependant.

Is it necessary to book in advance?

Spaces on the landing tour are limited and booking well in advance is necessary, however space sometimes become available due to cancellations. Ring Paul on 087 6178114 for availability. For the Eco Tours it is advisable to book at least a few days in advance to get your preferred departure time as they get quite busy especially in the peak season.

Cancellation/Waiting List

All our bookings are taken online and if there is a cancellation the spots automatically become available again on our website. However we often get last minute cancellations so it is advisable to call to our booking office in the morning at 8:00am and a member of staff will do his best to accommodate you.

If you need to cancel a tour?

If you need to cancel for any reason  please  let us know as soon as possible to allow someone else to book the places. If you cannot call or text please send an email.

Weather Conditions

All our tours are dependent on both the sea conditions and weather conditions. If we need to cancel the tour you will be contacted by email and  you will be given a full refund. Refunds are transferred back on to the credit/debit card you used to make the booking.

Latest News

We have started operating tours around Skellig Michael. You can book your preferred time of departure here : https://www-1557q.bookeo.com/bookeo/b_skelligmichaelcruises_start.html?ctlsrc2=zaAhcC0M4JEyr0TK1uBj53X%2Bc7r47vR8YdGbX7HXvYY%3D&src=02r           Read Full Story here https://www.facebook.com/260491857303744/posts/3274902352529331/?d=n

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Explore the fascinating Skellig islands with our Skellig Michael landing tour

• 45 minute trip to Skellig Michael Island.
• Two and a half hours to explore the island’s incredible scenery, monastic settlement and iconic wildlife.
• Climb the 618 steps to the ancient 6th Century monastery and hear the history of this incredible place.
• See the Wailing Woman, Christ’s Saddle and other iconic locations from Star Wars: The Last Jedi and The Force Awakens .

Online Booking

Family Friendly

Landing tours to the island are not available before the middle of May. We strongly advise you to consider booking a Skellig Michael Eco Tour as your next best option. This tour goes right up close to the island allowing you to see and hear about the history of this amazing place as well as the beautiful Skellig Coast and its abundant sea and bird life.

We also recommend you book soon as these tours are also beginning to fill up. Seats on the Eco Tour are also available to book in the booking engine below or you can read more details about the Skellig Michael Eco Tour here >>

Skellig Michael Boat Trips, Portmagee, County Kerry, Ireland Email: [email protected]   •  Tel: +353 66 947 7108

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Skellig Michael Boat Trips, Portmagee, County Kerry, Ireland Email: [email protected] Tel: +353 66 947 7108

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Skellig Michael Boat Trips, Portmagee, County Kerry, Ireland E: [email protected] T: +353 66 947 7108

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SkelligWalker | Luxury Cruises

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"I can't imagine doing Skellig Michael in any other boat!"

-- taylor c. tripadvisor review 22nd june 2017.

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Welcome to SkelligWalker Cruises

'An incredible, impossible, mad place, which still tempts devotees to make "stations" of every stair landing, and to creep through "needle's eyes" at impossible altitudes, and kiss "stones of pain" jutting out 700 feet above the Atlantic.... it is part of our dream world.’

-- George Bernard Shaw

A visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Skellig Michael with SkelligWalker Cruises is an experience that will live with you forever. A trip aboard the purpose built SkelligWalker offers safe and comfortable access to the Island, where visitors then undertake a pilgrimage to climb almost 700 steps to the early monastic settlement that offers tranquility and an opportunity to connect with the beauty and wildlife of the Skellig Coast on the Wild Atlantic Way .

We also offer a daily eco tour that circles both Islands, Skellig Michael and the Small Skelligs . This trip allows visitors to experience the unique history and wildlife of the area including the 23,000 pairs of gannets that nest on the Small Skelligs (the second largest colony in the world).

We look forward to welcoming you aboard SkelligWalker.

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"Excellent service from Skellig Walker from initial enquiry to follow up after the trip. Fast, comfortable boat with informative on board team."

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Skellig Michael

Skellig Michael ( Sceilg Mhichíl ) is an island 8 nautical miles off the South West Coast of Ireland and forms part of the Skellig Islands along with Small Skellig ( Sceilig Bheag ). It is home to one of the world’s best-preserved examples of the early Christian monastic tradition . The island and monastery are a UNESCO World Heritage site . Boat tours to the island are possible during the Summer landing tour season . The island is an important wildlife sanctuary for species such as the Manx Shearwater, fulmars and its famous colony of puffins. The island was used as a filming location for the planet Ahch-To in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi .

Contents Overview

Visitor Number Limits

Landing tour season, weather conditions, landing tour booking, skellig michael viewing tours / eco tours, skellig michael location, where does the name skellig michael come from.

• Small Skellig (Sceilig Bheag)

Length and Height

Geological composition, historical timeline, pre-monastic history.

• Monastic History (6th – 12th Century)

The Monastery and Hermitage

Monastery buildings and grounds, beehive hut construction, the hermitage on the south peak, life in the monastery, how did the monks survive, post-monastic period, history of lighthouses on skellig michael, conservation and archaeological works, unesco world heritage status, storm petrels, dolphins, seals and whales, the force awakens, the last jedi, impact on tourism, skellig michael tours.

Tours to the island are generally of two types: Skellig Michael Landing Tours – where visitors land on the island and spend up to 2 hours exploring the island and ancient monastery. These tours have become extremely popular in recent years. Skellig Michael Viewing Tours – where boats circumnavigate Skellig Michael and Small Skellig ( Sceilig Bheag ) and give a commentary on the island but passengers remain on the boat.

Skellig Michael Landing Tours

Access to the island is only via one of the 15 licensed Skellig Michael Landing Tour boats that are granted a landing tour license by the OPW. These boats carry 12 passengers each, meaning only 180 people are allowed to land on the island daily .

The 2019 Skellig Michael Landing Tour season is from May 24th – September 30th 2019 as defined by the Office of Public Works , who are in charge of the island.

The season start date can change from year to year but generally begins in mid-May and ends at the end of September.

Landing Tours to the island only occur in the Summer months when sea conditions are favourable to safe landing.

If conditions are not favourable, all landings will be cancelled for the day .

In a standard 130 day landing season, landings will occur between 65% – 75% of the time so, for visitors, it is important to have a backup plan in the event that their landing tour is cancelled.

Booking a landing tour is not an entirely straightforward process as the boats all accept bookings independently of one another. We strongly recommend reading  Booking a Skellig Michael Landing Tours in 2019: The Definitive Guide .

The other option for visitors is to take a tour around both Skellig Islands . These tours do not allow you to land on the island but you do go right up close to the island and can see a lot of the features of Skellig Michael including the steps, the lighthouses and, on a good day, the beehive huts at the top of the island. These tours are particularly suited to families or visitors with children, as many operators are no longer willing to take children under 12 years of age on the landing tour .

Skellig Michael is located 8 nautical miles off the South West Coast of County Kerry in Ireland. The traditional departure point for boat tours to Skellig Michael is the nearby fishing village of Portmagee.

GPS Coordinates : 51°46′16″N 10°32′26″W

The word Skellig comes from the old Irish word “ sceillec   “, which means sharp, steep or jagged rock.

The island was originally known as Glascarraig , which means “Green Rock”. Some time after the establishment of the monastery, Skellig was dedicated to Saint Michael. Thus, the island came to be known as “Skellig Michael” or “ Sceilig Mhichíl ” in Gaelic.

Skellig Islands

Skellig Michael is the larger of the two Skellig Islands . The other being Small Skellig or Little Skellig or Sceilig Bheag , in Gaelic.

Small Skellig ( Sceilig Bheag)

Small Skellig or Little Skellig, is a smaller, uninhabited rock that supports the second-largest gannet colony in Europe, after The Hebrides with up to 20,000 breeding pairs during the summer months, giving the island its characteristic white-topped look and, indeed, smell. The island is inaccessible to the public and only accessible via special permission and climbing equipment.

Skellig Michael Island Geography

The surface area of Skellig Michael is approximately 3.8 hectares .

The majority of the surface area is on the island’s steep slopes which are inaccessible to the public.

Skellig Michael is approximately half a mile (0.8km) long . At its highest point, the South-Western Peak, the island rises to a height of 218 metres (715 feet) .

Skellig Michael is composed of red sandstone, formed in the Devonian period approximately 350 million years ago and would have originally been part of the same mountain chain as the Mcgillicuddy Reeks, overlooking Killarney, which are home to Ireland’s highest peak, Carrauntouhill.

Two peaks, one on the north-eastern side of the island, where the monastery was founded, and another on the south-western, where the smaller hermitage is located. These are linked by a curved central valley called Christ’s Saddle.

Interestingly, from the perspective of the coastline of Ballinskelligs, Portmagee and Valentia Island, these peaks line up so that the island looks like a large floating pyramid on the horizon.

Skellig Michael History

6th Century – 8th Century – Foundation of the monastery on the island. For contextual purposes, this would have been around the same time as the birth of the Islamic religion and considered to be the beginnings of the Middle Ages.

823 – First extant recorded mention of the monastery in the Annals of Tallaght. Also, a Viking attack took place that year in which the abbot of the island was kidnapped and eventually starved to death by his captors.

12th Century – Abandonment of the monastery due, it’s believed, to changes in prevailing weather conditions making life on the monastery even more difficult.

12th Century onwards – Establishment of Skellig Michael as a noted place of pilgrimage.

1578 – The powerful Butler Family assumes ownership of the island as part of the dissolution of monasteries under English rule.

Early 1800s – Ownership transferred to the predecessors of the Commission for Irish Lights , for the purposes of building two lighthouses on the island. The price paid to the Butler family was in the region of 350 pounds, at the time.

1880 – The Office of Public Works assumes guardianship of the monastic ruins.

1826 – Construction of upper and lower lighthouses begins along with jetty and pathway circling the southern part of the island. South-eastern part of the island is dynamited and southern approach steps are lost forever, in the process.

1978 – Beginning of current phase of archaeological survey and conservation works

1989 – The island passes into State ownership.

1996 – Awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status

2014 – 2015 – Filming of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi

One of the first mention of “Skellic” was in legend as the burial place of one of the sons of Milesius, or Míl Espáine , a purported Iberian invader whose army defeated the Tuatha Dé Danann, a race of otherworldly gods who ruled Ireland. There are also earlier stories of the island being the dwelling place of Daire Domhaine , the King of the World.

Though we tend to think of the island’s history as beginning with the monks establishing the monastery, a recent discovery that suggests that the island may have already been inhabited before then, as a place of refuge or self-imposed exile.

Monastic History (6th – 12th Century)

The monastic settlement on Skellig actually took place relatively soon after the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. St. Patrick’s missionary work was primarily carried out in the 5th century. The establishment of the monastery is attributed to Saint Fionán. And our current best estimate as to the beginnings of a Christian settlement on the island date back to between the 6th and 8th Century.

At that time in Europe, the monastic tradition would have been heavily influenced by the ascetic tradition that sprung from the seat of Christianity in Judea with many monks and mystics taking to the desert to sequester themselves away from the world to better contemplate the mystery of God. In the absence of a suitable desert, the forbidding isolation of Skellig, at the edge of the known world, fulfilled many of the same functions.

The monastery on Skellig Michael would have been one of a number of monasteries dotted along the Irish coastline, with a significant cluster on the South West coast, encompassing the Iveragh and Dingle peninsulas.

The monks chose to establish the monastery about  167m (550 feet) above sea level on the slopes of the north-eastern peak of the island as it was sheltered from the fiercest of the prevailing winds and, in some senses, has its own micro-climate distinct from the rest of the island.

The population on the island would haven no more than a dozen monks at any one time.

The monastery is comprised of a number of structures, including:

• A large and small oratory built in the shape of an upturned boats.
• A number of beehive huts which served as the monks’ dwellings.
• An altar – for the celebration of mass and other religious ceremonies
• St Michael’s Church – a small church that was built early on in the monastery’s existence that was expanded and rebuilt around the middle of the 11th century, when the island was dedicated to St. Michael.
• A cemetery where a number of monks are buried.

The location of the monastery, allowed the establishment  a terraced garden area for the purposes of growing vegetables with both an upper and lower Monks’ Garden.

The monastery overlooks a terraced garden built to allow for the growing of crops, which was easy given the nutrient-rich soil which was largely composed of bird guano.

The Beehive huts  or clocháns , to give them their Gaelic name, are constructed using flat stones, without the use of mortar. The huts are curved on the outside and square on the inside. The fact that the majority of the structures survived nearly 1400 years of Atlantic storms is a testament to the spectacular robustness of their construction method.

In addition to the monastery on the Eastern side of the island, a smaller, more isolated hermitage site was created on the higher second peak that would serve as a place of isolation and contemplation for a single monk who would spend weeks at a time there. In later years, when pilgrimages to the island became popular, tradition demanded that pilgrims climb to this location, risking death to kiss a cross at the end of a rock ledge. The rock ledge was lost in the last century.

While the island is famous for its 618 steps up to the monastery , these are only one set of stairs – and possibly the most modern – that allowed the monks to climb the island’s steep slopes in relative safety. There are actually up to 4 different routes.

The most famous section of the steps is the steep staircase to the monastery, as seen at the end of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.

Life would have been difficult, obviously, given the challenging environment, the constant need to source food and supplies, and the unforgiving weather.

Days would have been spent observing the traditional rhythms of monastic life: dawn prayers, mass, vespers etc. Monks would break for prayers up to 7 times a day, as per the traditional monastic horarium . Fasting would also have been intrinsic to their ascetic existence.

The first problem to solve in a location like Skelligs is securing a water source. The monks were resourceful and created a system that channeled rainwater into two large cisterns holding up to a hundred gallons. No doubt the plentiful Irish rain would have kept it replenished.

While there’s a certain romance to the idea of the monks solely on diet of fish and bird life, they also had access to vegetables from their garden, would have also raised domestic animals such as goats on the island and would have been regularly receiving supplies from the mainland. But this supply chain would have been subject to the vagaries of the weather, as it still is today.

The monastery was abandoned sometime around the 12th Century due, in part, to changing weather conditions which made living on the island even more challenging than it had been and also due to changes in the formal religious structures in effect in the monks’ religious orders. By this time, the monastery had fallen under the charge of the Augustinian order who were responsible for building St. Michael’s Church on the island and who also had an Abbey on the mainland in Ballinskelligs.

Following the abandonment of the monastery, the island became a relatively famous place of pilgrimage.

The story of Skellig’s lighthouses is relatively short but no less fascinating as a result. Due to the increase in maritime traffic during the early 1800s and the consequent increase in ship wrecks along the west coast, the predecessor to the Irish Lights, who were responsible for the building of lighthouses on the mainland, decided to build two lighthouses on the island in 1821.

Construction took approximately 5 years and incorporated two lighthouses, one on the South-Western end and one on the North-Western as well as dwellings for the light house keepers and an approach road from a jetty in Blind Man’s Cove. The lighthouses commenced operation on the 4th of December 1826.

Lighthouse keepers and their families would live on the island for weeks at a time and would use semaphores to signal to Dursey lighthouse in Cork who would then communicate with the mainland.

Tragically, a number of lighthouse keepers died while on the island and one lighthouse keeper, W. Callaghan, lost two sons to illness in 1868 and 1869, who are buried in the island  the grounds of the monastery beside the bodies of the monks from centuries previously. Horrifically, his request to be transferred from the island on compassionate grounds was denied.

The upper lighthouse remained in operation until 1870 when a new lighthouse was built on Inis Tearaght near Dingle. There is an apocryphal story that it was washed out by a wave during a particularly bad storm.

The lower lighthouse remained in operation with various upgrades to its illumination and buildings with lighthouse keepers serving more humane stints on the island and having their families located on purpose-built homes in Knightstown on Valentia Island. The building of a helicopter pad on the island in 1969 eventually allowed for the keepers to be transported to and from the island by helicopter.

Eventually, the decision was made to automate the lighthouse and this came on line on the 22nd April 1987, leaving no reason for the lighthouse keepers to remain stationed on the island. Their stories, however, have been captured in the spectacular RTE series, Great Irish Lighthouses, which interviews a number of Skellig lightkeepers.

Apart from the obvious alterations made to the island during period of the construction of the lighthouses, the main structures on the island remained untouched until 1978 when repairs needed to be made to one of the main walls in the monastery.  This kicked off an intense period of conservation and restoration, beginning in the main monastery and graduating to the hermitage on the South Peak, which had been more exposed to the elements and, therefore, significantly more compromised over the centuries.

The current restoration work is focused on the path constructed between the two lighthouses on the island, which may lead to these being opened to public viewing in future years.

Skellig Michael was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 for its “exceptional universal value” in demonstrating, “ as no other site can, the extremes of a Christian monasticism  characterising much of North Africa, the Near East and Europe.” 

Skellig Wildlife

As well as being a historically significant island, Skellig has Special Protected Status for a number of species of birdlife who nest on the island. In particular, the Manx Shearwater and the Storm Petrel who have some of the world’s largest breeding populations on the island.

Skellig’s most famous inhabitants are its most photogenic: Atlantic Puffins ( Fratercula arctica ). These surprisingly small birds, with their colourful beaks and comic waddle are resident on the island from April until late July / early August. Their characteristic stomach-groan croaking pulsates from every green corner of the island or from underneath the ledges and steps.

There are approximately 4,000  breeding pairs each year who raise one chick – a puffling – in a deep burrow about a metre from the surface.

Puffins leave the island after raising their offspring and fly westward to the Labrador Coast and, after that, spend many months in the middle of the Atlantic.

Skellig Michael is the most important habitat in the world for the European Storm Petrel. Storm Petrels are tiny birds of the [family] which nest primarily in the stone walls and beehive cells of the island. They are nocturnal birds and so are not generally visible during normal visiting hours on the island.

Fulmars are a member of the longnose family. They’re very similar to gulls, with white under-plumage and grey upper feathers. The easiest way to identify them is by their distinctive bill, which is hooked and has nostrils for excreting salt. Their most impressive characteristic is their use of projectile vomiting as a defense mechanism.

Pods of Common Dolphins regularly accompany the boats out to Skellig. Minke Whales also appear frequently during the Summer months. In recent years, the islands have seen the presence of magnificent humpback whales, which are a truly awe-inspiring sight when seen up-close. The island is also host to a colony of Grey Seals who are often found lounging around on the rocks of Seal Cove on the Western end of the island as well as on the shoreline of Small Skellig.

Skellig Michael was chosen as the location of the planet Ahch-To in both Star Wars: The Force Awakens, co-written and directed by JJ Abrams and Star Wars: The Last Jedi, written and directed by Rian Johnson.

The island was chosen by Rick Carter, the production designer, who immediately saw its otherworldly beauty as a possible home for the island retreat of Luke Skywalker, 30 years after the end of Return of the Jedi. He sent the details to JJ Abrams who is reported to have said, “Oh my God. I love it.” In a video on-set he described the island as a “kind of a miracle”.

Pre-production started in early 2014, with a location scouting visit in February. The crew then set up their production office in the lounge room of the Moorings Guesthouse and set about sorting out the huge logistical challenges associated with filming on an island almost 10 miles out in the Atlantic.

Full cast and crew arrived over August Bank Holiday 2014 an spent three days filming on the island. Transport to the island was primarily via the local Skellig Michael landing tour boat fleet, as helicopter flights were restricted.

The Star Wars team returned in September 2015 to shoot the opening scenes of Star Wars: The Last Jedi led, this time, by writer-director Rian Johnson. Although delayed on their first day by weather, shooting again went off relatively painlessly which was slightly miraculous given that, even during the Summer Landing Tour season, boats only land on the island about 65% – 70% of the season.

Ahch-to featured extensively in The Last Jedi, as the island home of Luke Skywalker and home to an indigenous population of fish-like nuns, the Caretakers, and the now-famous Porgs, a type of cross between a seal and a penguin that Johnson said was inspired by the puffins on Skellig Michael. Though there is a story that the Porgs were designed to account for the presence of puffins in frame during shooting, the puffins had actually left the island by the time the crew arrived on the island in September.

Due to the difficulties of shooting on the island, a number of backup locations around Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way were used as backup locations, including: Ceann Sibeal in Dingle (The beehive hut village), Malin Head in Donegal (The landing Point of the Millennium Falcon), Brow Head in Cork (The Dark Hole)

The net effect of Skellig’s presence in the movies was to massively elevate Skellig Michael’s worldwide fame and popularity. In the weeks following the movie’s release, interest in Skellig Michael rose to 10,000 searches per week. Skellig Michael is now firmly on the world tourist map and is one of the world’s great movie set-jetting locations with thousands of Star Wars fans arriving at the island each year, many in costume to recreate some of the movies’ iconic scenes.

SKELLIG MICHAEL TOURS

Boat tours to skellig michael and little skelligs.

Boat tours to land on Skellig Michael and tours around the islands of Skellig Michael and Small Skelligs.

At Skelligmichael.ie, we offer two types of tours, the Skellig Michael Eco Tour which is a boat tour that goes right up close to both Skellig Michael and the small Skelligs which is one of the largest gannet colonies in the world, home to some seventy thousands of them during the spring/summer season.

Skellig Michael.

Little Skelligs

Valentia Harbour

Kerry Cliffs

How to Visit Skellig Michael – A Tour of Ireland’s Beehive Monasteries

Written By: The Planet D

Updated On: December 19, 2022

Skelling Michael is a remote island sitting 12 km off the coast of Ireland in the middle of the rugged seas of the Atlantic Ocean. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was one of the most fascinating things we visited in the entire country. ( And that is saying a lot! )

Table of Contents

How to Visit Skellig Michael

We took a tour of Skellig Michael in April and had the most amazing weather. But that isn’t always the case. It is often very difficult to visit Skellig Michael due to inclement weather and a short boating season. More often than not, trips to Skellig Michael are canceled due to weather.

Getting to Skellig Michael is half the fun. Sometimes if you do manage to get to the island, the surging seas put a stop to any chance of making a landing. We met three women on our boat who had waited for three days trying to get out to the islands. If they didn’t have the luxury to wait, they would have missed their window.

The ride out to the Skellig Islands is by a small fishing boat facing rough seas. It offers quite the thrill ride as you take in the amazing views of the peninsula. So a visit to Skellig Michael is something special and worth savoring.

How to Book Tickets to Skellig Michael

Boat Trips to Skellig Michael are booked at the Visitor’s Centre on Valentia Island.

Each year the Irish government grants only 13 boat licenses to tour operators who run trips to Skellig Michael from the mainland. Space is limited and you must book in advance. Since Star Wars has put The Skelligs on the map, the islands now take 180 people per day.

• Tours to Skellig Michael run from the end of May to the End of August.
• They leave daily from the Skellig Michael Experience Centre at 9:30 am and last until about 2pm. Y ou can book tickets to Skellig Michael here.

Since the Skelligs have become so popular, we highly recommend booking several months in advance. They begin to take bookings at the end of March.

Tours to Skellig Michael run weather permitting. If the seas are rough (which they often are) trips will be canceled and you’ll have to wait for another day.

Skellig Experience Visitors Centre

This trip was part of our Wild Atlantic Way road trip itinerary, so once we finished up driving around the famous Ring of Kerry, we made our way to Port Magee to explore these amazingly preserved monastic beehives.

Our trip began at The Skellig Experience Visitors Centre on Valentia Island just off the Peninsula of County Kerry. The visitor’s centre has exhibits about the history of Skellig Michael and it offers an excellent video introduction before visiting the Skellig Islands.

After getting an understanding of what to expect, we set sail to the high seas of Ireland for one of our greatest ancient ruins experiences ever.

The Boat Trip to the Skellig Islands

The boat trip took about an hour to get out to Skellig Michael. You can pick up snacks at the visitor’s centre for the ride which was a nice touch. It was also a blessing having full bellies to ease the sea sickness.

If you are prone to seasickness, I suggest taking medication. The water can be choppy and the swells can cause nausea for the uninitiated.

There are two Skellig Islands to visit

Skellig Michael is the largest of the two islands and houses the 6th-century Monasteries. I is the only island where you have the opportunity to land. Read about another remote island Easter Island – Mysterious Statues on the Pacific Island

Little Skellig is an island that is viewed from the boat. It is home to thousands of birds migrating through the area and it is an impressive view from the top of Skellig Michael.

Landing on Skellig Michael

There are boat tours that take you out to the Skellig Islands and simply let you see them from the water, but we recommend landing on Skellig Michael and taking some time to explore the beehive monasteries. They are what makes this destination so special.

We were lucky enough to have blue skies on the day of our tour to Skellig Michael but even with clear skies, the seas can be rough. But we all made it out today but once we reached the dock, it was a hair-raising experience just getting off the boat.

The water was surging with sea swells tossing our boat. It was a rocky landing. For a moment, I thought the captain might not let us go ashore. But with everyone helping each other out, we all managed to get off in one piece.

Climbing the 600 Steps to the Skellig Monasteries

It was a thrilling experience to step off the boat and look up at the narrow steps leading to the monastery. When landing on the island, there are signs warning people to climb at their own risk and we can understand why. It is daunting when you look up at the steep grade along a narrow path. The trek looks steeper and tougher than we thought.

The climb takes you up an ancient and uneven stone path of 600 steps that reach the beehive monasteries standing 200 meters (600 feet) above sea level.

The stone steps were built by the monks over three centuries and as you make your way up, their skilled craftsmanship shines through. They are in extraordinary condition. Even after more than a thousand years of facing the wind and rains of the Atlantic Ocean, they are standing strong.

The Climb up Skellig Michael is Short but Steep

The climb to the beehive huts of Skellig Michael took us about half an hour. You can go faster if you don’t stop for so many pictures, or you can take your time. The boat gives you about two hours to explore. We recommend going directly up to the monastery and then taking your time on the way down. It is outstanding from above.

The beehive stone cells are fascinating to explore, but the views and setting of the island are even more breathtaking. It is extraordinary to see just how well the ancient monastic huts held up over the centuries facing the wild weather of Ireland’s Atlantic Coast.

Views from Skellig Michael

While walking through the grounds one can understand why the Christian Monks chose this spot as their place of refuge. The isolation from the mainland and sheer beauty of the landscape makes you feel that you are just a little bit closer to heaven

There are seven beehive huts to peruse offering various viewpoints from the island. We went above and below to see them from all angles.

What is there to see at Skellig Michael?

Besides the beehive huts, there is a church, a cemetery complete with stone crosses, terraces and gardens to explore on Skellig Michael.

Getting to the top is where you want to be to have time to see it all. And here you can live out your fantasies of training to be a Jedi Knight.

Star Wars Was Filmed at Skellig Michael

Skellig Michael not only attracts history buffs and travelers, but it has also now become a popular spot for film buffs and fanboys. In recent years, Skellig Michael has become one of the most popular things to do in Ireland thanks to Star Wars: The Force Awakens , The Rise of Skywalker and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

But the Skellig Islands have drawn explorers for centuries to its mysterious shores. Still, very few people make the journey to see Skellig Michael and even fewer manage to step foot on the island.

Download your copy of Star Wars: Skellig Michael was featured in the Force Awakens and The Last Jedi

About Skellig Michael Ireland

Skellig Michael  is located in County Kerry just off the coast of Portmagee on the West Coast of Ireland. When you visit here, you will feel as if you have stepped back in time. Skellig Michael is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back 1400 years.

The Skellig Rocks were home to a group of Christian monks who built a monastery atop Skellig Michael between the 6th and 9th centuries. The monks lived in beehive huts that they built by hand while surviving the elements and Viking invasions until the 12th century.

These hearty monks lived on a diet of rainwater, sea birds, and the odd sea lion for food. Life was difficult during this early Christian period, but it gave them the seclusion they were looking for.

Where to Stay Near the Skellig Islands

Port Magee is the gateway to Skellig Michael and it is a good spot to make a base for your trip out to the island or even when driving the Ring of Kerry.

A great place to stay when visiting the Skellig Michael is The Moorings in Portmagee. Owner Gerard and his wife Patricia own the hotel and the adjoining pub and restaurant. There’s local traditional music in the Bridge Bar and in the summertime across the street, they have storytelling about the history of this fishing village and the Skellig Islands.

The Moorings can set up a Skellig Michael Island Tour for you, they’re located just a few minutes from the Skellig Visitors Centre and they offer plenty of advice on what to see and do in the are.

Portmagee is on the Wild Atlantic Way Coastal Route . If you drive up the West Coast of Ireland, be sure to add Portmaggee and the Skellig Islands into your itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions about Skellig Michael

Skellig Michael reaches 200 metres (600 feet) above sea level. There are steep drops and  the climb can be a bit harrowing . Don’t go too close to the edge and take your time when climbing the uneven rocky path up that dates back to the 6th century.

If tickets are booked out for landings on Skellig Michael, you can  book sightseeing tours  that take you out and around the two Skellig Islands.

Skellig Michael is possible to see from land, but it is located 12 km (7.5 miles) offshore. It is best seen from the Kerry Cliffs at  Port Magee  just off the Ring of Kerry

Skellig Michael is difficult to visit because there are only 13 boats that operate during a short season. Plus weather is always a factor and high winds may stop landings.

And this is everything you need to know to visit Skellig Michael, if you are heading to Ireland, make sure to visit this amazing attraction. It is truly a fascinating place and it was our favorite thing to see in Ireland. (and that’s saying a lot!)

Read More about Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Way:

• Tips for Driving the Wild Atlantic Way
• Where to Stay on the Wild Atlantic Way
• Unique Things to Do on the Wild Atlantic Way of Ireland
• 10 Best Scenic Views on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
• Cliffs of Moher – Visiting the Pinnacle of Ireland’s Scenery
• Poulnadrone Dolmen
• A Tour of Skellig Michael – How to Visit the Beehive Monasteries of Ireland
• Mizen Head, Ireland – The Extreme Edge of Ireland
• The Best Things to do in Cork, Ireland

You May Also Like These Ireland Travel Tips

• 23 of The Very Best Things to do in Ireland
• 34 of the Best Things to do in Dublin
• 27 Best Things to Do in Northern Ireland
• Kiss the Blarney Stone for the Gift of the Gab
• Newgrange – Visit Ireland’s Ancient Passage Tomb

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Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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About The Planet D

Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine , the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

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19 thoughts on “How to Visit Skellig Michael – A Tour of Ireland’s Beehive Monasteries”

Possibly one of my favourite places to travel to in Ireland, I just love the sheer remoteness of it. Even the fact that Skellig is hard to get to makes it all the more appealing. Will definitely be revisiting soon again once travel restrictions are eased here in Ireland

Thanks for visiting Skellig Michael and share your wonderful experience. Though we never had a chance to visit the place but now after reading your blog I could feel the place and the beauty of it. Thank you once again for sharing

I’ve been collecting information for my journal about Skellig. Thanks for sharing this amazing post. It’ll help me out get a clear view .

Did you find Luke Skywalker there?

I was looking for him, but the Force was with him. He could hide and keep his privacy 😀

Thanks for the great post!

Looks like such an intriguing place. Really like the video you guys have done as well. The parts where Deb is just commenting from within the room give it an extra documentary touch I think.

Thanks Sophie, that means a lot to us. We’ve been working on our videos like mad this summer trying to make them more interesting. So we really appreciate that you took the time to watch and comment.

I would LOVE to visit this place someday. It was originally on the itinerary of the post-TBEX press trip I did last year, but it was taken off. And the weather was terrible when we were down that way anyway. It looks incredible, though! Definitely on the bucket list.

Hi Amanda, that’s common. Most of the time you can’t get on the island. A Group of women kept trying for three days before our trip and finally got to Skellig the day before they had to head back to the city to fly home. Luckily there is a lot to do around the area and it’s near the ring of Kerry so while you wait for good weather, you can do a lot of sightseeing if you have the tme.

Sounds like getting to the island is tricky, to say the least! You were fortunate to have a bluebird day :-). We haven’t visited Ireland yet, but we hear the hiking and walking there is great… (and we’d love to do that).

Yes indeed, we were very fortunate. We knew it was difficult conditions, but we didn’t realize that more often than not people either don’t land or don’t even get to go out on the water. WE feel very lucky. Yes indeed, the hiking is great, they have long distance and short trails all over Ireland.

I can only imagine how vast and peaceful the scenery there must be. Must be a great place to disappear and really introspect…

That’s a great way of putting it Rashad. There’s only so many people allowed on the island and only so many boats that go out, and they stagger their times, so it never felt crowded at all. We had about a half an hour up there when we were completely alone as everyone started down earlier than us to catch the boat.

That looks truly amazing. I visited Ireland with my family and as the boss 13 year old, I planned most of the itinerary. I did well in England as I knew the history so well, but I didn’t even know what Lonely Planet was then, so we missed quite a bit in Ireland including this. It looks like such a brilliant place. I definitely want to see it when I get back to Ireland.

Now that’s impressive! You planned the itinerary at 13? I have a hard enough time doing that today. It’s true though, without some guidance it’s difficult to see everything. There is so much to see and do on the Wild Atlantic Way that it’s easy to miss a lot. We had a lot of help planning and we still missed a lot ourselves. I think Ireland needs to be seen on two or three separate occasions.

Wow! What an amazing place. Very unique and isolated. Would love to visit.

It truly is one of the most unique places we’ve visited. Usually Dave and I aren’t the best audience’s when it comes to seeing ruins. We lose interest quickly and don’t see the point of all the fuss. Skellig Michael is one of the exceptions

Boat Trips to the Skellig Isles

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Skellig landing tours – We are now taking bookings for landing tours for Skellig Michael.  You will have roughly two and a half hours to explore this dramatic island following in the footsteps of the ancient monks of Skellig Michael.

Skellig non-landing eco tours – if you don’t fancy ascending the 618 steps to the Skellig Michael monastery, you might prefer our Skellig islands non-landing tour taking in both Skellig Michael and the awe-inspiring gannet colony on Little Skellig. We encounter numerous other seabirds too such as shags, cormorants, razorbills, guillemots, puffins and storm petrels as well as fulmars and shearwaters.

Bull Rock trips – we are also offering scenic wildlife tours to the historic Bull Rock. Our trip takes you across the mouth of Kenmare Bay past to the Beara peninsula and Dursey Island, home of Ireland’s only cable car, and weather permitting through the dramatic natural tunnel carved into Bull Rock. This trip usually encounters dolphins and whales.

Dolphin watching trips – This roughly two hour trip cruises past wild Atlantic headlands on the lookout for common dolphins, humpbacks and Minke whales, and sometimes Risso’s dolphins and occasionally other large whales. On our travels we encounter an array of seabirds such as the graceful shearwaters. 

Please book below.

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