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| Map of Ireland | Self Drive Vacations | Ireland Golf Tours | Escorted Tours | Ireland Travel Guide |
| Map Vacation Highlights INCLUDED FEATURES Boyne Valley: Guided tour of the Bronze Age passage-grave at Knowth Dublin: Orientation drive, visit Trinity College Kildare: Guided tour of the Irish National Stud Strokestown House: Guided tour of the house and Famine Museum, and visit the gardens Boyle: Take pictures of the Cistercian Abbey ruins Knock: Visit the religious site Kylemore: Visit the Benedictine abbey Connemara: Visit a marble factory Galway: Orientation Aran Islands: Ferry to and from Inishmore, visit the Heritage Centre, take a minibus tour with a driver-guide, visit Dun Aengus and its visitor centre Rathbaun Farm: See the farmer at work, bake your own scones, and enjoy morning coffee in the farmhouse Kilfenora: Visit The Burren Centre Cliffs of Moher: Savor the spectacular views Limerick: Orientation drive, visit King John’s Castle Adare: Admire the thatched cottages Ring of Kerry: Scenic peninsula drive Killarney: Horse-drawn jaunting car ride Blarney: Visit the famous woolen mills Waterford: Guided tour of the Waterford Crystal factory Avoca: Guided tour of the handweaving mill Powerscourt: Visit the house and gardens Note: Due to the adventurous Accommodations MEALS - (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner Full Irish breakfast daily (B); 4 three-course dinners (D) with choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Dublin SUPERIOR HOTELS - (D) Deluxe (SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class Dublin Hilton City (SF), Sligo Clarion (SF), Galway Radisson Blu (SF), Limerick Strand (SF), Killarney Holiday Inn (F), Waterford Granville (F), Dublin Hilton Kilmainham (SF) IRISH TOUR Vacation Highlights |
EMERALD ISLE (GH) 12 days incl. air, or 11 days from Dublin to
Dublin Vacation Overview  Enjoy an incredible vacation through Ireland’s
bustling cities and lush green countryside. Your trip begins in Dublin,
Ireland’s capital. First, see the famous sights of Dublin and take an
excursion to the fascinating passage graves in the Boyne Valley. An orientation
tour of Dublin includes a visit to Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College, famous
for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells. Then visit Strokestown House for a guided
tour of the restored 1740s mansion. Learn about the Great Famine of the 1840s
at the Famine Museum. Experience beautiful Donegal on the Atlantic Coast and
visit Kylemore Abbey, a massive yet graceful castle acquired by Benedictine
nuns as a precious heirloom for Ireland. At Rathbaun Farm, hear all about sheep
shearing and dog whistling. For another unique experience, take a short ferry
ride to the Gaelic-speaking Aran Islands to hear from your Local Guide about
island community life. At the Cliffs of Moher, rising 668 feet above the
Atlantic Ocean, savor breathtaking views of the Clare Coast. In Limerick, enjoy
a city tour and visit King John’s Castle. Then travel to Killarney and
enjoy sparkling seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly colored farmhouses,
winding lanes, and breathtaking views of the Lakes of Killarney on the scenic
Ring of Kerry drive. Travel to Blarney, known for its castle and magical
Kissing Stone, and Waterford, where you visit the Waterford Crystal Factory.
Visit Powerscourt, Ireland’s most famous house and gardens, before
returning to Dublin, where your Ireland vacation ends. Due to the adventurous
style of the Aran Islands excursion, we recommend you bring suitable outdoor
wear and comfortable shoes Itinerary Day 1 (Wed.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight. Day 2Arrival in Dublin Dublin, the capital of Ireland , Ireland (Thu.) Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax in the Irish capital. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D) Day 3 Dublin  . Boyne Valley Excursion
& City Tour (Fri.) Motor north to the lovely Boyne Valley, scene of a
bloody 17th-century battle. Near Drogheda, visit the BOYNE VALLEY VISITOR
CENTRE and KNOWTH, where your Local Guide explains a fascinating passage-grave
dating from the Bronze Age. Return to Dublin through history-steeped
landscapes. Your afternoon orientation tour takes in statue-lined
O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick’s
Cathedral. Visit Oscar Wilde’s TRINITY COLLEGE Enjoy the beautiful campus
of the renowned Trinity College , famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells
and the magnificent Old Library. Tonight your Tour Director will suggest an
optional dinner outing to a fine Dublin restaurant. (B) Day 4Dublin–Kildare–Boyle–Sligo (Sat.) Horse-racing country this morning. Drive across the Curragh to the IRISH NATIONAL STUD at Kildare, whose thoroughbreds command respect on the racecourses of the world. Then north to Longford for a visit to STROKESTOWN HOUSE for a guided tour of the restored 1740s mansion, a stroll through its fine gardens, and at the Famine Museum, an insight into the circumstances of the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s. On the way to Sligo, stop at Boyle for photos of the Cistercian Abbey ruins. (B,D) Day 5Sligo–Knock–Galway (Sun.) South to Knock, a village that attracts pilgrims from all over the world since townsfolk saw apparitions. Via Westport, head for the unspoiled region of Connemara, an area known for its hardy breed of ponies. Visit KYLEMORE ABBEY, a massive yet graceful castle acquired by Benedictine nuns as a precious heirloom for Ireland. At Moycullen, visit a CONNEMARA MARBLE FACTORY before arriving in the port city of Galway. Tonight’s recommendation: join your Tour Director for an optional evening at Dunguaire Castle, where the intimate banquet has an enlightening literary theme. (B) Day 6 Galway. Excursion to the Aran Islands (Mon.) At Rossaveal, board a comfortable,
modern FERRY for the 45-minute crossing to Kilronan on Inishmore, the largest
of the Aran Islands, where Gaelic is the first language of the islanders. Your
fascinating day continues with a visit to the ARAN HERITAGE CENTRE, after a
lunch break, board a minibus to enjoy your local driver-guide’s commentary
on a tour of the island, ending with a visit to clifftop DUN AENGUS, one of the
most spectacular and dramatic prehistoric stone forts in Europe. After a call
into the VISITOR CENTRE, time to shop for unique hand-knitted Aran sweaters
before boarding your ferry back to the mainland. There are plenty of dining
options in Galway center. (B) Day 7Galway–Kilfenora–Cliffs of Moher  Visit the Cliffs of Moher and see some
of Ireland’s most spectacular views –Limerick (Tue.) A real Irish
farm experience at RATHBAUN FARM this morning. Try your hand at scone making,
and learn from the farmer about sheep shearing, and dog whistling. Afterwards,
enjoy your scones fresh from the oven, and coffee. Take the scenic route across
the desolate limestone plateau known as The Burren, and stop for photos of
prehistoric Poulnabrone Dolmen. At Kilfenora, take in THE BURREN CENTRE, where
the audio-visual presentation and displays bring to life this remarkable
region. The newly restored ancient cathedral and mysterious Celtic crosses in
the churchyard form an important center of early Irish Christianity: Kilfenora
is Ireland’s smallest diocese. At the CLIFFS OF MOHER, rising 668 feet
above the Atlantic Ocean, savor the breathtaking panorama of the Clare coast.
Tonight, why not join your Tour Director for a traditional Irish night, a fun
ceili of song and dance in the setting of a village barn at Bunratty. (B) Day 8Limerick–Adare–Killarney Take in the beautiful scenery of the Killarney National Park (Wed.) On this morning’s Limerick city tour, view the Treaty Stone and St. Mary’s Cathedral, and visit KING JOHN’S CASTLE in the medieval heritage precinct. South now via quaint Adare with its thatched cottages to the popular resort of Killarney, your destination for the next two nights. (B,D) Day 9Killarney. Ring of Kerry Enjoy the beautiful views along the Ring of Kerry in Ireland Excursion (Thu.) Join the famed RING OF KERRY for a 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip. Plenty on which to focus your camera here: sparkling seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly colored farmhouses, winding lanes bordered with subtropical vegetation, and the breathtaking panorama of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. Back in Killarney a special treat: a fun-filled horse-drawn JAUNTING CAR RIDE through the national park with glorious vistas of the Lakes of Killarney and ancient Ross Castle Ross Castle, located in Killarney National Park . Tonight, an entertaining optional evening in Tralee with dinner followed by tickets for Siamsa Tire National Folk Theatre. (B) Day 10Killarney–Blarney–Waterford (Fri.)  Across the Kerry Mountains, drive into County Cork
for a visit to Blarney, renowned for its castle and magical Kissing Stone. Time
for lunch, to walk up to the castle, and to shop for traditional Irish
handicrafts at the famous WOOLEN MILLS. In the afternoon proceed via Cork,
Youghal, and Dungarvan to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings
in 853. Here, enjoy a visit to the world-famous WATERFORD CRYSTAL FACTORY.
(B,D) Day 11Waterford–Avoca–Powerscourt–Dublin (Sat.) Today’s agenda: Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; Ireland’s oldest HANDWEAVING MILL at Avoca; and POWERSCOURT HOUSE and GARDENS with stunning views of the Wicklow Mountains. Back in Dublin tonight, your Tour Director will have recommendations for a fitting farewell to Ireland. (B) Day 12 (Sun.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B) BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS WITH US Learn more about booking an air-inclusive vacation - the reasons why include, you'll receive free airport transfer on published dates and your air will be coordinated with your vacation. AIRPORT TRANSFER TIMES Details about airport transfer times, prices and what's included with your vacation. |
Popular Departure - due to itinerary and time of year, this departure
historically sells out quickly. Early booking is encouraged. Single room
supplement: $332 Triple room reduction per person: $46 Extra nights per person
in Dublin: in single room $195, in twin room $122, in triple room $115
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