|
 . 9 days/7 nights Tour of Ireland - Ireland Escorted Travel Vacation - Guided Tour -Romantic Ireland - all inclusive Ireland vacation Visit the land of Legends, Poets, Musicians, and Celtic Heritage Click here for map Day 1: Depart U.S. for Dublin Welcome aboard your overnight flight to Dublin. Relax with inflight entertainment and meal service. .jpg) Day 2: Dublin Arrival & Book of Kells Arrive at Dublin Airport and proceed through immigration and pick up your baggage. Transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If you arrive later than noon, you will need to transfer to the hotel at your own expense. At 2:00 pm take a sightseeing tour of central Dublin to see the prominent public buildings, elegant Georgian townhouses and peaceful gardens. Note the contrasts between centuries-old historic places and modern streets, which pulse with activity. Visit Trinity College's Old Library to view the early illuminated manuscript of the Book of Kells and learn about its creation. Then tour the Old Jameson Distillery, where you can see the many steps needed to create Irish whiskey and sample some. Join your fellow travelers for a welcome drink and your guide will advise you on restaurants to dine independently. .jpg){kind=small} Day 3: Clonmacnoise & Galway Leave Dublin and
journey across the rolling pastures of Ireland's heartland to visit
Clonmacnoise. This monastic settlement was founded in 545 AD by St. Ciaran and
was a an important center of learning. See highly decorated high crosses, round
towers and ruins of many churches, all set on the banks of the tranquil River
Shannon. Drive to Galway and drive around the main sights of the city before
checking into your hotel, located in the city center. Enjoy some free time to
browse around the city center on your own. Galway has many pedestrianized
streets and lots of fun specialty stores and pubs. Savor dinner in the elegant
dining room of your hotel. (B, D) Day 4: Clifden & Kylemore Abbey Today tour Connemara and admire sweeping views of misty mountains and shimmering lakes. You will see sheep grazing freely and tracts of bogland where people hand-cut peat for home heating. Stop in Spiddal where you may hear locals chatting in the Irish language. Continue to Clifden for another stop in this delightful market town set between the Twelve Bens and sandy bays. Visit Kylemore Abbey, a 19th century neo-Gothic mansion, which is now a prestigious girls' school. Tour the exquisite chapel and reception rooms and stroll by the peaceful lake shore. Drive via Maam Cross, in the heart of Connemara and back to your hotel in Galway in ample time for dinner. (B, D) .jpg) Day 5: Cliffs of Moher
& Killarney Drive south around Galway Bay to see the Cliffs of Moher,
which rise almost 700 feet above the pounding Atlantic surf. Then cross the
wide River Shannon Estuary on a short ferry ride to Tarbert and travel through
Listowel and Castleisland to Killarney. This little town is world-famous due to
its exquisite location beside lakes and mountains. After checking into your
hotel, head out to view some of the scenery. Take a horse-drawn jaunting car
ride through the grounds of Killarney National Park to Muckross House &
Gardens. Tour the house with a local guide to learn about its history and
lifestyle of previous owners and perhaps stroll through the gardens that are
laid out on the shores of Muckross Lake. (B, D) Day 6: Ring of Kerry & Killeen House Embark on Ireland's most popular scenic drive - the Ring of Kerry. This circular tour will reveal constantly-changing vistas of mountains, open Atlantic Ocean, beaches and cliffs. Drive through the remote towns of Cahirciveen and Waterville and return through the colorful village of Sneem. Enjoy plenty of breaks to admire the natural beauty all along the way. At Moll's Gap, stop to view the three lakes with the mountains and town in the background. Return to Killarney and enjoy some free time to look around the town before dinner, which will be served in the friendly and award-winning Killeen House Restaurant. (B, D) Day 7: Blarney Castle & Cobh Heritage Centre Depart Killarney and drive through Macroom to Blarney. Walk through the grounds and climb the steps of fabled Blarney Castle to kiss the famous "Stone of Eloquence." Also visit the Blarney Woollen Mills for quality Irish-made goods. Bypass Cork city as you drive to the port town of Cobh. Visit the Cobh Heritage Centre, which traces the history of emigration from Ireland to the United States. Learn about travel conditions for the many Irish emigrants on the early sailing ships and steam vessels. Follow the coastal route to Waterford for dinner and overnight stay. This evening a local historian will give you a talk on the history of Waterford. (B, D) .jpg) Day 8: Waterford Crystal & Traditional Show Visit the
Waterford Crystal Factory to see the cutting and polishing of this fine product
and also the excellent display of trophies and stemware in the showrooms. Head
north to Kilkenny with its intriguing medieval streets and buildings and stop
to stroll through the narrow streets or view the massive castle from its rose
gardens. Drive to Dublin and check into the same hotel. Take some time to
admire the views or even stroll along the pier, a favorite haunt of Dubliners.
In the evening drive to a popular venue for a dinner with Irish specialties and
a lively traditional Irish show. (B, D) Day 9: Depart for Home or Extra Day in Dublin For those booked on our 9-day tour, complimentary group transfers are provided to Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon. After check-in, you'll have time to shop at the duty-free stores before U.S. Immigration pre-clearance and boarding your flight for the journey home. (B) Includes: • Group transfers on arrival and departure • Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout • Services of a professional Irish tour director • Voucher for open-top bus tour (10-day tour) • Deluxe & superior first class hotels with private bath/shower for 7 or 8 nights • Full Irish breakfast daily (B) • 6 dinners (D) including - Killeen House Restaurant in Killarney - Dinner and traditional Irish entertainment at the Merry Ploughboy Pub - 4 table d’hote dinners • Welcome get-together drink • Whiskey tasting and tour of Old Jameson Distillery • Ferry ride across the River Shannon • Horse-drawn jaunting car ride in Killarney • Talk on Waterford by a local historian • Visits and admissions to Book of Kells at Trinity College, Clonmacnoise, Kylemore Abbey, Cliffs of Moher, Muckross House & Gardens, Blarney Castle, Blarney Woollen Mills, Cobh Heritage Centre and Waterford Crystal Factory • Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap • All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person Your Hotels Stay at the following (or similar): • Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin (1 night) • Hotel Meyrick (formerly Great Southern), Galway (2 nights) • The Malton (formerly Great Southern) Hotel, Killarney (2 nights) • Faithlegg House Hotel,Waterford (1 night) • Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin (1 or 2 nights) Price per person sharing a twin or triple room |
>
>
