10 Day Best of Ireland – Trafalgar

Trafalgar Guided Tour starting in Dublin and finishing in Dublin

Our in-depth focus on Eire, this round-trip reveals how Ireland’s landscapes determine its lifestyle, uniting popular essentials like kissing the Blarney Stone with unique meetings with local characters.

Day By Day

Day 1 Arrive Dublin – Afternoon Sightseeing

Spend the morning relaxing and enjoying the sights of Dublin. Later meet your fellow travellers and Travel Director for a sightseeing tour of this wonderful city with a Local Specialist. This evening visit Glasnevin Trust for an informative and poignant tour with a Local Specialist. 2016 will be the 100 year anniversary of the Easter Uprising and you will hear stories about some of the brave characters from recent Irish history. Enjoy a Welcome Reception and get to know your fellow travellers. (WR) Stay: Ballsbridge

Day 2 Dublin – Co. Wicklow – New Ross – Waterford

Head through scenic Co. Wicklow known as The Garden of Ireland and on to New Ross – the ancestral home town of John F. Kennedy. Visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship to gain a Cultural Insight into the plight of Irish Emigrants. Later arrive in Waterford and see how the famous crystal is crafted during your guided tour of the visitor centre to gain a Cultural Insight. (FB/D) Stay: Dooley’s

Day 3 Waterford – Youghal – Blarney – Killarney (2 Nights)

Travel via the historic seaport town of Youghal, once home to Sir Walter Raleigh. At Blarney, gain the ‘gift of the gab’ as you have a chance to kiss the famous stone. Arrive later in Killarney, your home for the next two nights. (FB/D) Stay: Dromhall

Day 4 Ring Of Kerry Excursion

Today we experience Ireland’s most scenic coastal drive around the Iveragh Peninsula, better known as the Ring of Kerry. It is undoubtedly one of the most magical and varied places in the whole of Ireland and is truly a photographer’s delight. We will also see Daniel O’Connell’s Cahirciveen, the fishing village of Waterville, the Black Valley and Moll’s Gap. Here mountains, valleys, lakes and sea blend into a landscape that is often breathtaking beyond words. (FB)

Day 5 Killarney – Dingle Peninsula – Adare – Limerick

Explore the beauty of the Dingle Peninsula with its small fishing towns and rugged landscape. Visit Adare, one of the prettiest villages in Ireland. Your orientation of Limerick includes views of St. Mary’s Cathedral, King John’s Castle and the Treaty Stone. (FB) Stay: Greenhills

Day 6 Limerick – Bunratty – Cliffs Of Moher – Galway (2 Nights)

Explore Bunratty Castle and Folk Park dedicated to life in Ireland during the 18th and 19th century. Later arrive on the dramatic and rugged coast for a unique Be My Guest lunch experience which includes foraging for local wild plants before sitting down for a hearty lunch with spectacular views. Visit the magnificent Cliffs of Moher and see the history of the cliffs brought to life with a visit to the ‘Atlantic Edge’ exhibition. Later arrive in Galway. (FB/BMGL/D) Stay: Connacht

Day 7 Connemara Excursion

This unspoilt region of Western Ireland is captured in the film ‘The Quiet Man’ featuring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. Today see the untouched landscape of the Connemara with its Twelve Bens mountain range and golden beaches that stretch out into the Atlantic. During your scenic drive, stop at Kylemore Abbey for an included visit to the country’s most romantic castle and walk through the Victorian Walled Garden. Arrive later in Galway where you have free time to view the cathedral or stroll through Eyre Square. (FB)

Day 8 Galway – Knock – Sligo

Heading north we stop in the town of Knock to view the Marian Shrine. See the grave of Irish poet W.B. Yeats in the churchyard of Drumcliff. Later arrive in Sligo. (FB) Stay: Clarion

Day 9 Sligo – Co. Donegal Excursion – Donegal – Dublin

This morning explore the region of Donegal where old traditions still play a part in everyday life. In the town of Donegal, see the castle which was once the stronghold of the O’Donnell clan. Travel back to Dublin where you will have to explore this lively city. Walk down Grafton Street and see the street performers and musicians or walk the banks of the River Liffey and cross the Ha’penny Bridge. Tonight join your fellow travellers for a Farewell Dinner. (FB/FD) Stay: Ballsbridge

Day 10 Depart Dublin

After a hearty Irish breakfast, say farewell to your Travel Director and fellow travellers as your Irish holiday comes to an end. Transfers are available. Conditions apply. (FB)