8 Day 2012 Irish Elegance

Tour Description

A stylish outing which stays at the distinguished and luxurious Ashford Castle, all the while showcasing the very best sightseeing and scenery Ireland has to offer. Irelands compact landscape means driving distances are not very long. Therefore, the tour pace is relatively easy going. This is complemented by the two-night stays in Killarney, Cong and Dublin.

Tour Highlights

• Take a guided tour of the Rock of Cashel, former seat of Irish kings
• Tour the scenic ‘The Ring of Kerry,’ with its dramitic mountains, valleys, lakes and sea vistas
• Join a qualified guide for a two and a half hour hike over wooded paths and lakeshore trails
• Look out to the Atlantic Ocean from the majestic Cliffs of Moher
• Enjoy the scenic views as you cruise the serene waters of Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord

Your Hotels

Stay at the following (or similar):

• Burlington Hotel, Dublin
• Scott’s Hotel, Killarney
• Connemara Coast, Connemarra
• Ashford Castle, Kong

Personal Insights

• The Connolly family have farmed in rural southwest Ireland for 200 years. Join them for afternoon tea and glimpse the daily workings of a traditional sheep-farm

Additional Excursions & Sights

• Visit St Patrick’s Cathedral and tour some of Dublin’s elegant squares
• Visit the old library of Trinity College to see the 8th century Book of Kells
• Climb Blarney Castle and dangle from the ramparts to kiss the famous ‘Blarney Stone’
• Cross the Shannon Estuary by ferry
• Drive through the mysterious rocky limestone landscape of the Burren
• See Galway’s Roman Catholic Cathedral
• Visit the turreted neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey
• Scenic drives – Wicklow Mountains, Ring of Kerry, the ‘Burren’, Connemara

First Class Services

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room & on-board restroom
• Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack
• Airport Shuttle arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 and Day 8

Quality Dining

• Enjoy a delicious four-course dinner at Ashford Castle (HD)
• 7 full Breakfasts (B) and 4 three-course Evening Meals with choice, plus tea or coffee (D)

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Dublin

Welcome to Dublin! On arrival at Dublin Airport, your airport shuttle service leaves for the tour hotel at 07:00, 09:30 & 12:00. Later, join your Tour Director for a city tour that brings to life Dublin’s architectural treasures and history stretching back more than 1,000 years. Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral, founded in 1190, tour Dublin’s beautiful Georgian squares, walk the cobbled courtyards of Trinity College to its famed library and see its truly unique world treasure – the 8th century Book of Kells. Back at your hotel, join your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Dinner and a tour briefing. Stay: Burlington. (D)

Day 2: Dublin – Killarney

Depart Dublin, and pass the green meadows where many of the finest Irish racehorses are bred, as well as the famous Curragh Racecourse. Stop at the Rock of Cashel, an impressive pre-Christian settlement. The dramatic limestone rock, crowned with secular and religious buildings, dominates the flat countryside for miles around. A local guide will point out some of the cathedrals and historic sites on an orientation tour. Then continue on to the village of Blarney. Climb to the ramparts of Blarney Castle and kiss its magical stone to ensure a lifetime of eloquence. There is also time to browse through Blarney Woollen Mills to shop for Irish knitwear and crafts. Afterwards, head to bustling Killarney. If you fancy a ‘pint of porter’, this town on the lakes is famous for its lively pubs, so why not join in the ‘craic’ tonight. Stay: Scott’s Hotel. (B/D)

Day 3: Ring Of Kerry Excursion

Travel the road that winds around the beautiful Iveragh Peninsula, better known as the Ring of Kerry. It is undoubtedly one of the most magical places in all Ireland. Here mountains, valleys, lakes and sea blend into a landscape that is often breathtaking beyond words. Stopping at Torc Waterfall for photos, there is a chance to join a hike with a qualified guide along the lakeshore and past the farmlands of the Muckross Estate, admiring the spectacular scenery. Walk by West Meadow Bay and visit Muckross Abbey. For those who do not want to join the hike, the motorcoach will return you to Killarney, where the balance of the day is free. (B)

Day 4: Killarney – Connemara

This morning cross the Shannon estuary by ferry and enter County Clare. Stop for a walk along the Cliffs of Moher, rising approximately 700 feet above the pounding Atlantic waves. Then travel north across the Burren, a suddenly stark and barren landscape. Drop in for afternoon tea at Rathbaun Farm and meet a Galway farming family as they carry out their everyday chores. Watch as the farmer shears a sheep and maneuvers his flock with the help of his dog. Next, on to tour Galway, “City of the Tribes,” including lovely Galway Cathedral. Tonight your hotel is spectacularly set on the shores of Galway Bay. Stay: Connemara Coast. (B/D)

Day 5: Killary Fjord Excursion

Head to Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord, boasting some of the finest scenery in the land. Board a boat for a cruise through the calm waters; relax on board, enjoy the spectacular, uninterrupted views of the fjord and mountains beyond. Later, on the way back to your hotel, stop at lakeside Kylemore Abbey, a castellated neo-Gothic mansion, occupied today by a Benedictine community of nuns who came from Ypres after World War I. (B/D)

Day 6: Connemara – Cong (Ashford Castle)

Today experience Connemara, a land of rocky mountains, sparkling brooks and rushing rivers. Your Tour Director will also reveal a hidden treasure. Then, drive on to Cong, a village with a deliberate old-world feel, and the setting for The Quiet Man. Cong is also where you enter into the grounds of majestic Ashford Castle. Ashford Castle provides a romantic backdrop in superior surroundings, offering guests both relaxation and comfort. There are many opportunities to explore the vast estate with fishing on Lough Corrib, equestrian pursuits, golf, falconry and trail walking. Or simply relax in the castle’s luxurious interiors and enjoy your favourite novel or pamper yourself at the spa. Dining at Ashford Castle ranks among the finest culinary experiences in the world. Creative cooking, an inspired use of seasonal ingredients and an innovative menu await you at dinner tonight. Stay: Ashford Castle. (B/HD)

Day 7: Dublin

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning and perhaps a stroll on the estate. Then cross the midlands to Dublin where the balance of the day is free for independent activities and maybe some last minute shopping. Stay: Burlington. (B)

Day 8: Dublin

Departure transfers arrive at Dublin Airport at 07:00, 09:00 & 11:00. (B)

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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