23 Day Grand Tour Of Britain & Ireland – CIE

Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland 23 Days / 22 Nights

For single tour rate, please add AU$2,932 single room supplement to featured price.

Day 1: London Arrival & Tour
Tour begins 2:00 PM at your London hotel. Take a panoramic tour of central London, with a visit to St Paul’s Cathedral. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group.

Day 2: Tower of London & City Sights
Enjoy an independent day in London on a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour with a choice of several routes, as well as a walking tour and River Thames cruise. Visit either the Tower of London or Kensington Palace. The rest of the day is free.
(B)

Day 3: Cotswolds Drive & Shakespeare’s Birthplace
Take a drive through the Cotswolds and head to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace. Journey north to the medieval city of York and enjoy dinner at your hotel.
(B, D)

Day 4: York Minster & Scottish Evening in Edinburgh
Take a walking tour of central York and visit York Minster. Cross into Scotland and view ruined Melrose Abbey. In Edinburgh, enjoy a Scottish dinner with a lively show.
(B, D)

Day 5: Edinburgh Castle & Guided City Tour
Discover Edinburgh’s highlights and the medieval Royal Mile. Tour Edinburgh Castle to view the Crown Jewels of Scotland. The August 3 – August 17 departures watch the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade.
(B)

Day 6: St Andrews & Highland Scenery
Travel to St Andrews the “Home of Golf.” Enjoy free time where you may choose to visit St Andrews Cathedral, the British Golf Museum, or the Himalayas Putting Course. Travel through the Highlands and stop in Pitlochry on the way to Inverness.
(B, D)

Day 7: Loch Ness Cruise & Oban Distillery
Enjoy wonderful Highland views on a scenic cruise of Loch Ness. Stop at a woollen mill and take photos at majestic Glencoe. Visit Oban Distillery to see how whiskey is produced and enjoy a sample.
(B, D)

Day 8: Loch Lomond & Rabbie Burns
Drive along scenic Loch Lomond. Stop at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum to learn about the famous poet. In Cairnryan take a short ferry to Belfast for dinner at your hotel.
(B, D)

Day 9: Belfast & Giant’s Causeway
Tour Belfast and travel along the scenic Nine Glens of Antrim coast. Visit the Giant’s Causeway, hexagonal columns formed over 60 million years ago. Pause at Dunluce Castle for photos and head to Derry.
(B, D)

Day 10: Inishowen Peninsula & Derry Sightseeing
In Derry, join a local guide for a walk around the medieval city walls. Drive around the Inishowen Peninsula, and take in the scenic views as you stop by the Amazing Grace viewing point and Malin Head.
(B, D)

Day 11: Donegal & Galway
Travel past the Blue Stack Mountains to Donegal to enjoy free time. Continue to County Mayo to visit Knock Shrine. In Galway, join a local guide for a walking tour before dinner.
(B, D)

Day 12: Connemara & “The Quiet Man”
Drive through the stunning scenery of Connemara. In Cong, take a short walking tour to see locations from “The Quiet Man.” Enjoy lunch at Eddies of Clonbur, then travel to Galway via Maam Cross. The afternoon and evening is free to explore Galway.
(B, L)

Day 13: Cliffs of Moher & Killarney
Drive through the Burren to view the Cliffs of Moher, and ferry across the River Shannon Estuary. Stop at John B. Keane’s Pub in Listowel for a drink before heading to Killarney.
(B, D)

Day 14: Short Ring of Kerry & Sheepdogs
Tour the gracious 19th-century Muckross House beside tranquil Muckross Lake. Journey along part of the scenic Ring of Kerry, stopping at a local farm to watch trained dogs herding sheep. Head to Kenmare for lunch and time to browse. Return to Killarney for a free evening.
(B, L)

Day 15: Blarney Castle & Waterford
Head to Blarney Castle to kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence” or stroll the gardens. Shop at the Blarney Woollen Mills before heading to Cobh to visit the Titanic Experience. Continue to Waterford and after dinner take a walking tour.
(B, D)

Day 16: Waterford Crystal & Taylors Three Rock
Tour the famous House of Waterford Crystal to watch masterpieces being created. Tour the Dunbrody Famine Ship, a replica of one used during the 1840s Famine. In Dublin, enjoy dinner and entertainment at Taylors Three Rock Pub.
(B, D)

Day 17: Dublin & Book of Kells
Tour central Dublin. Take a guided walking tour through Trinity College and view the priceless Book of Kells. Afternoon and evening are free.
(B)

Day 18: Ferry to Wales & Conwy
rry from Dublin to Holyhead and drive to Conwy in North Wales. Take a guided walk around the walled town to Conwy Castle, a huge 13th-century fortification built by King Edward I.
(B, D)

Day 19: Snowdonia & Brecon Beacons
Travel through the Snowdonia National Park to view the highest peaks in Wales. Drive south across the scenic Brecon Beacons National Park. Take a panoramic tour of Cardiff and then visit Cardiff Castle for a tour and a traditional Welsh banquet.
(B, D)

Day 20: Roman Baths & Glastonbury
In Bath, tour the Roman Baths, renowned for its mineral-rich hot springs, popular 2000 years ago. Stop in Glastonbury, associated with King Arthur, and then head to Cornwall.
(B, D)

Day 21: St Michael’s Mount & Mevagissey
View the majestic pilgrimage island of St Michael’s Mount and then to the seaside town of St Ives for a walking tour of the main sights and to admire the beautiful sandy beaches. Browse the charming village of Mevagissey.
(B, D)

Day 22: Stonehenge & Windsor Castle
On Salisbury Plain marvel at the vast monoliths of Stonehenge. Continue to Windsor Castle, residence of the Queen. In the evening, take a brief walking tour around the historic town.
(B, D)

Day 23: Tour Ends In Windsor
Your program ends after breakfast.
(B)

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner