Skellig Michael Sea Tour
A 2.5 hour boat trip around the Skelligs
Skellig Michael Tours runs the Skellig Sea Tour from Portmagee marina. It is a 2.5 hour boat trip that goes around both Skellig Michael and Little Skellig without landing on either island.
You see both islands from the water, including the gannet colony on Little Skellig, which cannot be landed on, and the rock formations of Skellig Michael with the monastery high above.
Sea Tours run from May to September, with three scheduled sailings a day. Private and bespoke trips can be arranged on request.
What the Tour Includes
- Departure from Portmagee marina
- Approximately 2.5 hours on the water
- Full circuit of both Skellig Michael and Little Skellig
- Commentary from the skipper on history, wildlife, and geology
- Views of the monastery, rock formations, and gannet colony
- Wildlife spotting throughout the trip
What You See from the Boat
The Sea Tour goes around both Skellig Michael and Little Skellig. This is what you can expect to see on a typical tour.
Little Skellig
Little Skellig is home to one of the largest gannet colonies in Europe, with around 70,000 birds covering the rock face from sea level to summit. Visitors cannot land on Little Skellig, so the Sea Tour is the only way to see the colony up close. The boat goes around the island close in, so you can see and hear the birds clearly.
Gannets are present from early in the season through to the autumn. In the busiest months you can watch them diving into the sea for fish.
The Monastery and Beehive Huts
The sixth century monastery sits on a ledge near the summit of Skellig Michael, at around 180 metres (600 feet) above sea level. From the boat you can clearly see the ledge and the dry stone beehive huts along it. They look much as they did when the monks left the island in the 12th century.
You can also follow the line of the 600 stone steps from the harbour up to the monastery. From below you get a sense of the full scale of what the monks built, which is hard to see from the island itself.
The Rock Formations
Skellig Michael is the exposed tip of a submerged mountain, 218 metres (714 feet) tall at its highest point, and made of the same Old Red Sandstone as the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks on the mainland. From the water you can see the full height of the rock, which is hard to judge from the island itself.
The boat passes close to the base of the rock face, where the sea has worn caves and arches into the rock and you can see the layers in the sandstone.
Puffins
Puffins arrive on Skellig Michael from late April and stay until early August. From the boat they are often visible on the ledges and in the water around the island, particularly in the early part of the tour as the boat approaches the landing point.
Other Sights Along the Tour
Seals
Grey seals are seen frequently on the rocks around both Skellig Michael and Little Skellig, lying on the lower ledges or in the water close to the boat.
Dolphins
Dolphins are seen less regularly than seals but there is always a chance on a Sea Tour. Common dolphins travel in large pods and occasionally approach the boat on the crossing to and from the islands.
Whales
Whales are seen most years, but sightings are rare. Minke whales are the most commonly encountered, with occasional sightings of fin whales and humpbacks later in the season.
The Lighthouses
Skellig Michael has two lighthouses, both built in the 1820s. The upper lighthouse was decommissioned in the 1870s but remains intact. The lower lighthouse is still operational, now automated, and clearly visible from the boat.
Christ’s Saddle
Christ’s Saddle is the deep valley that separates the two peaks of Skellig Michael. From certain angles on the Sea Tour, you can see through the saddle and across to the far side of the island, a view you do not get on the climb.
Star Wars Sites
Skellig Michael featured in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi as the planet Ahch-To. Several of the filming locations, including sections of the monastery steps and the approach to the island, are visible from the water. Read about Skellig Michael and Star Wars.
Puffin Island
Puffin Island lies off the mainland near Portmagee and comes into view on the way out to the Skelligs. It is a bird reserve with its own seabird colonies.
Basking Sharks
Basking sharks, the second largest fish species in the world, are seen some seasons feeding at the surface around the Skelligs. Sightings are unpredictable but when they happen the boat can often approach slowly for a close view.
How long is the Skellig Sea Tour?
The Skellig Sea Tour is approximately 2.5 hours long. The boat departs from Portmagee marina three times daily at 10am, 12.30pm and 3pm, from May to September. The tour circles both Skellig Michael and Little Skellig without landing. Departures are subject to sea conditions.
Who the Sea Tour Suits
The Sea Tour is suitable for almost all visitors. There is no physical climb involved. Children, older visitors, and those with mobility concerns can all take part without difficulty. Because the tour does not require landing at the small harbour on Skellig Michael, it operates more reliably across the season than the Skellig Michael Landing Tour.
The shorter duration also suits visitors with limited time in the area, or those combining the tour with other activities along the Skellig Coast. For a side by side breakdown of both tour options, see the Sea Tour vs Landing Tour comparison.
Check Availability
The Skellig Michael boat trip runs from May to September. The boat departs Portmagee marina three times daily at 10am, 12.30pm and 3pm, subject to sea conditions. Peak summer dates often fill several weeks in advance. Send an enquiry below with your preferred date and group size, and we will confirm availability.
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