Yes. Skellig Michael, a rocky UNESCO World Heritage island off County Kerry, Ireland, appears as the planet Ahch-To in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017). Filming took place in 2014 and 2015, using the island's 6th-century monastery and cliffs.
Skellig Michael played Ahch-To, the remote refuge where Rey finds Luke Skywalker at the end of The Force Awakens. The Last Jedi returned to the island for extended sequences, making the monastery steps and cliff edges some of the most recognisable landscapes in recent Star Wars films.
Filming happened in 2014 and 2015, before both films reached cinemas. The production used the island's actual terrain rather than building sets, so the views visitors see from the water or the summit are the same ones on screen.
Little Skellig, the neighbouring island, is not part of the films, but boat tours pass close enough to view its gannet colony and sea caves.
All tours depart from Portmagee Marina in County Kerry, with crossings of roughly 45 to 90 minutes depending on conditions and operator. Two formats exist: eco tours that circle the islands without landing, lasting about 2.5 hours, and landing tours that give visitors around 2.5 hours on Skellig Michael itself, about 5 hours in total.
Landing access is tightly restricted. The Office of Public Works caps visitation at about 180 people per day, with a maximum of 12 passengers per licensed boat, and all visitors must be at least 14 years old. Those limits, plus frequent weather cancellations, mean landing tours sell out months in advance.
Once ashore, the climb to the monastery involves 618 stone steps with no handrails or modern facilities. The reward is the 6th-century monastic settlement itself, along with Atlantic puffins in season and views back across the cliffs used in the films.
For the 2026 season, eco tours start at about €65 per adult and landing tours at €130 or more. Boat operations run seasonally: eco tours roughly April to October, and landing tours from mid-May to early October, all weather dependent. The island itself is closed from October to April.
Travellers should book early, especially for landing permits in peak summer months, and build flexibility into itineraries since crossings are cancelled when Atlantic conditions deteriorate. The roads into Portmagee are narrow, so allowing extra travel time is wise.
Portmagee: Skellig Michael Premier Tour with Personal Guide
Departs Portmagee with a dedicated personal guide, priced around $90 per person and rated 4.4 from 27 reviews, a middle option between eco cruise and full landing.
Yes, but only with a licensed operator holding an OPW permit, on a landing tour running roughly mid-May to early October. Around 180 visitors per day are allowed, the minimum age is 14, and weather cancellations are common.
The crossing takes 45 to 90 minutes each way depending on sea conditions and the operator. Eco tours last about 2.5 hours in total; landing tours run about 5 hours including 2.5 hours on the island.
Eco tours circle both Skellig Michael and Little Skellig, giving clear views of the monastery, cliffs and filming locations from the water, plus puffins, seals, sea caves and the gannet colony. At about €65 they cost roughly half a landing tour and suit visitors who cannot manage the 618 steps.
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