13 Day Scenic Ireland

Tour Description

Leave no stone unturned or unkissed on this ultimate journey through Ireland. Start your holiday in the ‘Fair City’ of Dublin, with an orientation drive including Trinity College and the Book of Kells. The next day, enjoy an entertaining baking demonstration at Ballyknocken House on the way to Kilkenny to visit its castle. Via Blarney, Garinish Island and the Dingle Peninsula, head for the Cliffs of Moher. Drive into Connemara and visit the small fishing town of Clifden, and Kylemore Abbey, then experience the rugged Atlantic Coast of Donegal before learning about Northern Irish life from your Local Guide in Derry. Visit the Giant’s Causeway, then travel south via Belfast and the Boyne Valley to end our most comprehensive Irish holiday back in Dublin.

Your Hotels

Stay at the following (or similar):

• Hilton Kilmainham , Dublin (SF)
• Ormonde Hotel , Kilkenny(SF)
• Clarion Hotel , Dublin(SF)
• Holiday Inn , Kilkenny(F)
• Scotts Hotel , Killarney(F)
• Clarion , Dublin (SF)
• Strand (SF)
• Station House (F)
• Great Northern (F)
• Hilton (SF) at Templepatrick
• Hilton City , Dublin (SF)

Hotel Classifications: Deluxe (D), Superior First Class (SF), First Class (F)

Tour Includes

• DUBLIN: Welcome dinner; orientation drive, visit Trinity College.
• BALLYKNOCKEN HOUSE: Cooking demonstration and morning coffee and scones.
• KILKENNY: Tour of the castle with a Local Guide.
• WATERFORD: Guided walking tour.
• BLARNEY: Visit the famous village.
• GLENGARRIFF: Private boat to Garinish Island.
• RING OF KERRY: Take pictures of the Lakes of Killarney.
• DINGLE PENINSULA: Visit the Blasket Islands Centre and the town of Dingle.
• ADARE: Admire the thatched cottages.
• CLIFFS OF MOHER: Savour the spectacular views.
• RATHBAUN FARM: See the farmer at work and enjoy morning coffee in the farmhouse.
• GALWAY: Orientation.
• CONNEMARA: Visit a marble workshop.
• KYLEMORE: Visit the Benedictine abbey.
• WESTPORT: Visit this heritage town.
• KNOCK: Visit the religious site.
• DRUMCLIFF: Visit W.B. Yeats’ grave.
• BELLEEK: Guided tour of the pottery.
• DONEGAL
• DERRY: Guided walking tour.
• COUNTY ANTRIM: Take pictures of Dunluce Castle, visit the Giant’s Causeway.
• BELFAST: Orientation tour.
• BOYNE VALLEY: Guided tour of the Bronze Age passage-grave at Knowth.

13 Day Itinerary

Day 1: Dublin, Ireland.

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 travelling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

Day 2: Dublin.

An orientation drive in the “Fair City” includes statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Then, a highlight visit to Oscar Wilde’s TRINITY COLLEGE, famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells and the magnificent Old Library. Afternoon at leisure. Tonight, maybe take in an optional outing to the Guinness Storehouse. (B)

Day 3: Dublin – Kilkenny.

Vistas of the Wicklow Mountains unfold as you head for a special visit to BALLYKNOCKEN HOUSE, a typical Irish family-run farm guesthouse. Your host will present an entertaining BAKING DEMONSTRATION. Afterwards, enjoy coffee and scones fresh from the oven. Then, visit KILKENNY CASTLE, which was occupied by the Dukes of Ormonde for over 500 years. Take your Tour Director’s dining recommendations for this evening. (B)

Day 4: Kilkenny – Waterford – Blarney – Cork.

The first of the day’s highlights is an entertaining walk through Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city, in the company of a Local Guide. Then, journey to Blarney, renowned for its magical Kissing Stone. Overnight in Cork, Ireland’s second-largest city. An optional suggestion before dinner would be a visit to Cobh’s Queenstown Story, which tells of the transatlantic liner route between Liverpool and North America and last port of call for the Titanic. (B/D)

Day 5: Cork – Garinish Island – Killarney.

This morning, a private boat for the short crossing to GARINISH ISLAND, whose warm waters attract colonies of seals. Follow the winding paths between the strong-scented flowering trees and shrubs of this lush tropical island garden. Then, head over the mountains into County Kerry. At Kenmare, join part of the RING OF KERRY and stop for spectacular photos of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View before arriving in the popular resort of Killarney. Tonight, an entertaining optional evening in Tralee with dinner and tickets for Siamsa Tire National Folk Theatre. (B)

Day 6: Killarney. Dingle Excursion.

Panoramic views on Dingle Peninsula on the way to the BLASKET ISLANDS CENTRE. Learn about the way of life and unique literary achievements on the string of remote offshore islands evacuated by the last inhabitants in 1953. Visit Dingle, then return to Killarney. (B/D)

Day 7: Killarney – Adare – Limerick.

A morning at leisure in Killarney with time for an optional excursion by horse-drawn jaunting car. In the afternoon, drive via quaint Adare, renowned for its pretty thatched cottages, to Limerick. A suggestion for a very special night out: attend an optional banquet at Bunratty Castle. (B)

Day 8: Limerick – Cliffs Of Moher – Galway – Clifden.

Motor to the CLIFFS OF MOHER, rising 204 metres (668 feet) above the Atlantic Ocean and savour the breathtaking panorama of the Clare coast. Next, a special treat: at RATHBAUN FARM, watch the farmer shear a sheep and manoeuvre a flock with the help of a sheep dog, then, enjoy your morning coffee and home-baked scones. In Galway, hear about in infamous Lynch Stone, commemorating the day Mayor James Lynch Fitzstephen hanged his son for murder. Call at the Joyce family’s MARBLE WORKSHOP before spending the night at Clifden, a small fishing town in the far west. (B/D)

Day 9: Clifden – Knock – Drumcliff – Bundoran.

A fascinating start to the day – visit KYLEMORE ABBEY, the massive castle acquired by the Benedictine nuns, for a visit to the restored house, church, and gardens. Pause at Westport before continuing on to Knock, a village that attracts pilgrims from all over the world. On the way to the resort of Bundoran, stop at Drumcliff on Sligo Bay to visit the grave of native son and poet W.B. Yeats. (B/D)

Day 10: Bundoran. Donegal Excursion.

A day dedicated to wild and beautiful Donegal. Follow the scenic Atlantic coast around Donegal Bay with its small fishing ports, hidden beaches. Visit the ancient town of the same name, founded by the Danish Vikings and home of the O’Donnell Clan. Later, call on the BELLEEK POTTERY, renowned for its exquisite cream-coloured Parian china. (B/D)

Day 11: Bundoran – Derry – Giant’s Causeway – Belfast.

A rich string of Northern Ireland attractions awaits you today. In Derry, walk the city walls in the company of a Local Guide. After lunch, pass Dunluce Castle before visiting the awe-inspiring GIANT’S CAUSEWAY. Stay near Belfast tonight, Northern Ireland’s seat of government. (B/D)

Day 12: Belfast – Knowth, Ireland – Dublin.

On this morning’s orientation tour, learn more about this fascinating city where the Titanic was built, then drive in the lee of the Mountains of Mourne back into the Republic. At Bru na Boinne (Palace of the Boyne), one of the world’s most important archaeological landscapes, visit KNOWTH, where your guide explains the fascinating passage-grave dating from the Bronze Age. Back in Dublin tonight, your Tour Director will have recommendations for a fitting farewell to Ireland. (B)

Day 13: Dublin.

Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Full Irish breakfast (B); 7 three-course dinners (D) with choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Dublin

Dates and Prices for 2012

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Accommodation rating Represents the standard of hotel used most frequently throughout this tour

Extras Represents the individual operators suggested budget to pay for additional activities on tour (dinners,entertainment,excursions etc) NOT included in base tour price

Hotel legend:
D deluxe | SF superior first | F first | MF moderate first | ST superior tourist | T Tourist