INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR:
Accommodation (3* 4* & 5* Hotel pricing Categories):
Day 1 Limerick
Day 2 Killarney
Day 3 Killarney
Day 4 Killarney
Day 5 Dublin
Day 6 Dublin
Day 7 Dublin
Day 8 Galway
Day 9 Galway
Day 10 Limerick
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Visits and admissions – Gallarus Oratory, Muckross House and Gardens, Rock of Cashel, St. Canice’s Catherdral, Kilkenny Castle, Jerpoint Abbey, National Stud Farm and Japanese Gardens, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College, Glendalough, Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre & Tomb, Cliffs of Moher (Parking Only), medieval banquet in Bunratty Castle.
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First class coaching throughout and all transfers, arrival and departure
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Services of a professional Irish driver/ guide
ITINERARY:
Day 1:
Arrival at Shannon Airport. Meeting with the tour guide at the Limerick Travel desk in the arrivals hall and transfer to Limerick. Limerick is the fourth largest town in Ireland and was founded by the Vikings in 922.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Limerick
Day 2:
Drive to Dingle via Adare, one of Irelands most beautiful villages. The Dingle Peninsula is situated approx 30 km west of the Kerry mountains. You are now in one of Irelands Gaeltacht regions where Irish is still spoken. On your way to Dingle you will go via Inch, one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Dingle is a small fishing village and the most western town Europe’s. From Dingle you go on to visit the Gallarus Oratory, a very well preserved early Christian prayer house. Afterwards you will have the chance to see the roman Church of Kilmalkedar, which dates back to the 12th century. Here you can find the alphabet stone with etchings of Latin letters. There are Ogham stones and a sun dial on the small graveyard. You will have the chance to stop for lunch in Dingle where you can eat in one of the excellent seafood restaurants. After lunch you will go back to Killarney.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Killarney
Day 3:
In the morning you are going to visit Muckross House and Gardens. You will have lunch at the Gap of Dunloe, where you will have the chance for a stroll through the gap or a ride in one of the horse drawn wagons. The afternoon has been kept free for your own personal arrangement.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Killarney
Day 4:
Today you will a tour of the ´Ring of Kerry ´which is Ireland’s most famous tour it stretching out into the Atlantic Ocean, the Iveragh Peninsula has a backbone of mighty mountains. Every environment is here, from the snow-capped Corrán Tuathail, Ireland’s loftiest peak, through woodland and blanket bog, to the sandy beaches of the coast. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream ensure a mild climate all the year round. Sub-tropical plants grow quite happily here – adding marvellous splashes of colour to the countryside. The 110-mile circuit takes in the towns and villages of Killorglin, Glenbeigh, Caherciveen, Waterville, Sneen, Kenmare & Killarney. During the tour you will see the Skellig Rock, which is one of many scenic attractions in the Kerry region. Close to Bolus Head, it is famous for the puffins and gannets (40,000 of the latter), which inhabit it.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Killarney
Day 5:
You will be leaving Killarney today to visit the Rock of Cashel in Co Tipperary. The famous Rock of Cashel is a rock of limestone, which towers over the town. The rock, also referred to as the Irish Acropolis, had been the seat of Irish High Kings of Munster in the 4th century but fell into the hands of the Church in the year 1101. After you visit to the Rock of Cashel you go on to Kilkenny. There you will see St. Canice’s Catherdral and Kilkenny Castle with its amazing gardens. Time allowing a visit to the Kilkenny Design Centre.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Kilkenny
Day 6:
Drive to Jerpoint Abbey, a monastery, via Thomastown. The abbey was founded initially as a house for the sisterhood of the abbeys of Mellifont and Clairvaux (France) in 1158. You go on to Naas and on your way to Dublin you will visit the National Stud Farm and Japanese Gardens.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Dublin
Day 7:
Sightseeing Tour of Dublin, capital of Ireland, which was founded also by the Vikings in 841. Visit of St. Patricks Cathedral and Trinity College, where you can see the famous Book Of Kells.The afternoon has been kept free for you own personal arrangements. Recommended shopping trip in Grafton Street.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Dublin
Day 8:
Day trip to Wicklow. You will drive through the picturesque Wicklow mountains down to the monastery of Glendalough. Glendalough, the valley with two lakes, lies in the very heart of the Wicklow Mountains. Throughout the 9th and 10th century, Vikings robbed the monastery on an almost regular basis. The monastery has not been in use since the 16th century. There is also a possibility to visit Powerscourt House and Gardens but the admission fee is not included in the price.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Dublin
Day 9:
Today you will be leaving Dublin to go on to Galway right through the Island. On the way you will visit the Boyne Valley. The river and the valley through which it runs are closely connected to the dramatic history of the country. Along by the river you will find a lot of evidence of many different stages in the Irish history. One of the most impressive ones by far is Newgrange (Visitor Centre 10.00 and Knowth 11.00), a Neolithic tomb of 80 m in diameter. It is one of the most interesting and biggest tombs Ireland’s and older than the pyramids in Egypt.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Galway
Day 10:
Aran Islands-Innismore (Optitional). Inismore is the largest island of the three with approx. 900 inhabitants. You will find a lot of places of archaeological interest around that area and evidence of prehistoric and early Christian life. The most famous places of interest are: Dun Aenghus a fort that dates back some 3000 years and towers on the top of cilffs that are some 91 m high. Teallach Eanna – the grave of the 120 saints OR Sightseeing in Galway City. Visit the lively university town by the sea with its buskers and small shops. Have a look at the Salmon Weir Bridge and the Spanish Arch.
Dinner/ Overnight/ Breakfast in Galway
Day 11
Drive through the Burren, an amazing landscape of limestone and rare flowers and plant, unique in Europe. Here you can find ruins of very old settlement dating far back in time (dolmen, tombs and ringforts) On to the Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs of Moher stretch almost 5 miles from Hag Head in the south to O Briens Tower and are over 200m high. Medieval banquet in Bunratty Castle
Overnight/ Breakfast in Galway
Day 12: Transfer to the airport/ Return flight from Shannon airport.
