
Dublin city
Accommodation
(3* 4* & 5* Hotel pricing Categories):
Day 1: Dublin
Day 2: Dublin
Day 3: Kilkenny
Day 4: Blarney
Day 5: Kerry
Day 6: Kerry
Day 7: Galway
Day 8: Galway
Day 9: Clare
Visits and admissions:
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College, Guinness Storehouse, Irish Shindig Night at OJD, Powerscourt Gardens & House, Glendalough, National Stud & Japanese Gardens, Jerpoint Abbey, Kilkenny Castle, Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre, Blarney Stone & Castle, Ferry from Tarbert to Killimer, Cliffs of Moher, Burren Visitor Centre
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Service of fully qualified driver/ guide throughout tour
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First Class Coaching throughout and all transfers, arrival and departure
Day 1:
Welcome to Dublin, the capital, Dublin steeped in history and buzzing with youthful energy. Medieval, Georgian and modern architecture provide a backdrop to a friendly bustling port where cosmopolitan and charming converge in delightful diversity. Dublin’s attractions are many – fine museums and galleries chronicle its long and colourful past while the pubs and cafes buzz with traditional entertainment.
Group shall be greeted by driver/ guide at airport and transferred to hotel. In the afternoon, once all group members have checked-in you shall take part in a mini tour of Dublin city, visiting St Patrick’s Cathedral & Trinity College. Later this evening group shall partake in the Irish Shindig at the Old Jameson Distillery (Tour of Distillery, Dinner & Entertainment)
Overnight/ Breakfast in Dublin
Day 2:
Today, tour shall depart hotel and tour the Panoramic East coast, better known as the Garden of Ireland. The tour shall start by visiting the Guinness Storehouse. A fermentation plant at St. James’ Gate Brewery has been transformed into a place where you can experience one of the world’s best known brands in a totally unexpected way. It’s the Home, Heart & Soul of Guinness.
Then group shall visit such fantastic sites as Powerscourt House & Gardens, Glendalough and return to Dublin via Brittas Bay. Powerscourt House today reflects centuries of history as the site dates back to the castle of c.1300. It contains some of the finest 18th century interiors in Ireland. Powerscourt Garden is a 45 acres blend of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, statuary and ornamental lakes together with secret hollows, rambling walks, walled gardens and over 200 variations of trees and shrubs.
Glendalough is a monastic site that was founded by St. Kevin in the sixth century. The Gateway arches (below, center) lead you into the cashel where you will find the often-photographed Round Tower, remains of several churches and cathedrals, and old gravestones.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Dublin
Day 3:
Today, you shall depart Dublin heading southwest for the Marble City – “Kilkenny”, en-route you shall visit the National Stud & Japanese Gardens, Kildare. The Japanese Gardens at Tully were created between the years 1906-1910. Devised by Colonel William Hall-Walker (later Lord Wavertree), a wealthy Scotsman of a famous brewery family and laid out by the Japanese Eida and his son Minoru. The Irish National Stud is home to some of Ireland’s finest thoroughbreds. Visitors can view stallions, mares, foals, and yearlings. The Horse Museum houses the skeleton of the legendary steeplechaser Arkle, and also presents a history of the stud farm’s successes. Kilkenny was named after a 6th century monk St Canice. His memory lives on in the beautifully restored. St Canices Cathedral, built overlooking the city in the thirteenth century. Kilkenny is a medieval city acclaimed internationally as a centre for craft and design. No visit to Kilkenny would be complete without visiting Kilkenny Castle.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Kilkenny
Day 4:
Group shall head towards Jerpoint Abbey. Jerpoint Abbey.An outstanding Cistercian abbey founded in the second half of the 12th century. In the transept chapels the visitor can see 13th & 16th century tomb sculpture.
Then we set off to the “Crystal City” of Waterford, where group shall enjoy a tour of the beautiful Waterford Crystal Factory. The Waterford Crystal Visitors Centre Tour gives you an opportunity to witness how crystal is produced, from molten crystal through to finished masterpieces. In front of your eyes, you will see red-hot molten crystal take shape, in a miracle of light, heat and skill. From here group shall travel along the coast road to Cork, where they shall overnight.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Blarney, Co. Cork
Day 5:
Today group shall head to Blarney Castle & Stone, where you shall have a chance to kiss the famed Blarney Stone, said to bestow the “gift of the gab” on all who dare. This is not suitable for the elderly /more mature participant as it involves a rather steep climb. Optional shopping for tweeds, knitwear, linen and china at the Blarney Woolen Mills. Then the tour shall travel over the scenic Cork and Kerry mountains to Cloghane.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Kerry
Day 6:
Today the group shall embark on a tour around the famous”Dingle Peninsula”. The Dingle Peninsula has the most rugged Atlantic coastline in Kerry and is scattered with forts and pre-historic huts. Here you will find one of the finest examples of an early Christian Church – Gallarus Oratory. Considered by many to have some of Europe’s most spectacular scenery, the peninsula also supports both a rare and unique assortment of flora and fauna.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Kerry
Day 7:
Group shall travel north to Tarbert, where group shall travel via ferry to Co Clare. Tour continues north through Ennis to Galway the “City of the Tribes”. This day is rather long due to the long journey and for this reason it has been suggested to take the most direct route. This shall allow group to have some free time to explore Galway on their own in the evening.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Galway
Day 8:
Panoramic ½ day tour of Connemara/ Clifden areas, follwed by tour of Kylemore Abbey & Gardens. Set in the heart of the Connemara mountains is the Kylemore Abbey Estate, home of the Irish Benedictine Nuns.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Galway
Day 9:
Today group shall depart Galway and head south along the coast visiting such famed sites as The Burren Region & The Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs of Moher are a line of sheer cliffs some 8km in length, extending from Luogh Point in the north to Cancregga in the south. The cliffs attain their maximum height of 200m at Knockardakin just northeast of O’Briens’s Tower. Knockardin is the highest point of a range of hills that the cliffs cut obliquely across The Burrenis a limestone plateau occupying an area of over one hundred square miles in North Clare. It is an area of scenic attractions where the clear light, reflected from the stone-grey hills, seems to radiate an air of timelessness, which is made more realistic by the presence of the many prehistoric remains that dot the fields and the valleys beneath.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Co. Clare
Day 10:
Transfer to the airport.
Prices from
- 3* €1250 ($1707) pp Twin Sharing
- 4* €1325 ($1810) pp Twin Sharing
- 5* €1450 ($1981) pp Twin Sharing
Single Supplement €150 – €200 ($205 – $273)
All prices are quoted in Euro & payments will be received in Euro currency. Above USD $ prices were calculated at an exchange rate of 1 EUR = 1.366 USD on 29.01.2014