Best of Ireland - From £2,182

Europe Ireland
OVERVIEW
Wind your way through the Emerald Isle, where the Cliffs of Moher plunge into the Atlantic and the Ring of Kerry unfolds mile after mile. Wander Dublin, Galway and Adare, uncovering tales of famine, forgotten kings and the true meaning of craic.
EXPERIENCES
Adare: Experience a village walk through the main street lined with thatched cottages.

Blarney: It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. But to do so, you must dangle from the ramparts! Visit Blarney Castle and see the famous Stone of Eloquence. 

Bunratty: Visit the impeccably-preserved Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.

Dublin: A Local Specialist will show you Dublin's elegant Georgian squares, O'Connell Street and the Custom House.

Dublin: Embark on an interactive discovery of the 70 million people who claim Irish ancestry at EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum. Throughout 20 rooms divided per topic, learn about the Irish experience and the timeline of Ireland’s history told through the personal stories of emigrants. The sights and insights range from learning a special Irish dance to reading the letters of past emigrants, to tracing your family name going back generations.

Knock: In the pilgrimage town of Knock, visit the beautiful Marian Shrine, where the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph and John the Evangelist are said to have appeared to the townsfolk in 1879.

Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden: Visit the turreted Neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey. This monastery was founded in 1920 for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I.

Limerick: See Limerick's iconic landmarks during an orientation with your Travel Director.

New Ross: Explore the tragic history of Ireland's famine emigration with a Local Specialist at the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, a replica of one of the original ships used in the 1800s.

Waterford: Learn how crystal is crafted at the House of Waterford Crystal during a workshop tour.
DEPARTURE DATES AND PRICES
Tour
Departs		 Tour
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(price per person)		 Definite Departure
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07/04/2028 16/04/2028 £2,525   Book
14/04/2028 23/04/2028 £2,525   Book
18/04/2028 27/04/2028 £2,525   Book
21/04/2028 30/04/2028 £2,525   Book
25/04/2028 04/05/2028 £2,525   Book
28/04/2028 07/05/2028 £2,525   Book
02/05/2028 11/05/2028 £2,725   Book
05/05/2028 14/05/2028 £2,695   Book
09/05/2028 18/05/2028 £2,725   Book
12/05/2028 21/05/2028 £2,695   Book
16/05/2028 25/05/2028 £2,725   Book
19/05/2028 28/05/2028 £2,695   Book
23/05/2028 01/06/2028 £2,725   Book
26/05/2028 04/06/2028 £2,695   Book
30/05/2028 08/06/2028 £2,750   Book
02/06/2028 11/06/2028 £2,750   Book
06/06/2028 15/06/2028 £2,750   Book
09/06/2028 18/06/2028 £2,750   Book
13/06/2028 22/06/2028 £2,750   Book
16/06/2028 25/06/2028 £2,750   Book
20/06/2028 29/06/2028 £2,750   Book
23/06/2028 02/07/2028 £2,750   Book
27/06/2028 06/07/2028 £2,750   Book
30/06/2028 09/07/2028 £2,750   Book
04/07/2028 13/07/2028 £2,750   Book
07/07/2028 16/07/2028 £2,750   Book
11/07/2028 20/07/2028 £2,750   Book
14/07/2028 23/07/2028 £2,750   Book
18/07/2028 27/07/2028 £2,750   Book
21/07/2028 30/07/2028 £2,750   Book
25/07/2028 03/08/2028 £2,750   Book
28/07/2028 06/08/2028 £2,750   Book
01/08/2028 10/08/2028 £2,750   Book
04/08/2028 13/08/2028 £2,750   Book
08/08/2028 17/08/2028 £2,750   Book
11/08/2028 20/08/2028 £2,750   Book
15/08/2028 24/08/2028 £2,750   Book
18/08/2028 27/08/2028 £2,750   Book
22/08/2028 31/08/2028 £2,750   Book
25/08/2028 03/09/2028 £2,750   Book
29/08/2028 07/09/2028 £2,795   Book
01/09/2028 10/09/2028 £2,825   Book
05/09/2028 14/09/2028 £2,825   Book
08/09/2028 17/09/2028 £2,825   Book
12/09/2028 21/09/2028 £2,825   Book
15/09/2028 24/09/2028 £2,825   Book
19/09/2028 28/09/2028 £2,825   Book
22/09/2028 01/10/2028 £2,825   Book
26/09/2028 05/10/2028 £2,825   Book
29/09/2028 08/10/2028 £2,825   Book
03/10/2028 12/10/2028 £2,825   Book
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ITINERARY

Write your own lively tale of legends and iconic landscapes during this epic encounter with Ireland's treasures. Begin your journey in the capital of Dublin, joining a Local Specialist to see the sights. This evening sees you visiting EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum, for some drinks and canapes.

Journey through the scenic countryside of County Wicklow, 'The Garden of Ireland', and on to New Ross – the ancestral home town of John F. Kennedy. Dive Into Culture and gain insights into the plight of the starving Irish emigrants who boarded the Dunbrody Famine Ship to flee the potato famine. Continue to Waterford. This afternoon, celebrate the centuries-old craft of flint glass creations, as you Dive Into Culture at the House of Waterford Crystal and witness talented master crafters at work. Arrive in Kilkenny where you will stay for the night.

Today, pursue the 'gift of the gab' at Blarney Castle, where you'll have a chance to kiss the famous stone. Consider joining an Optional Experience for a traditional pony and trap ride through the beautiful Bourn-Vincent National Park. During your journey, your Local Specialist will share fascinating anecdotes about the area and Ireland. Arrive in Killarney for a two-night stay. In the evening perhaps join an optional Gaelic Roots show. Using traditional instruments, Irish dance and time-honoured folk songs, this energetic show will have you tapping your feet and singing along in no time.

Ireland's soul-stirring Ring of Kerry takes centre stage today as you embark on a scenic drive past its mountains, lakes and lush green countryside – unquestionably one of the most scenic routes in Ireland. See Daniel O'Connell's Cahirciveen, the fishing village of Waterville, Moll's Gap and the Black Valley, whose remoteness saw it become the last area in Ireland to receive electricity.

Continue through the windswept countryside, arriving in Adare, one of the prettiest villages in Ireland. On arrival in Limerick, you will enjoy views of St. Mary's Cathedral, the Treaty Stone and the 13th-century King John's Castle during an orientation tour. Delve into an Ireland of old, as you discover the day-to-day life of the Irish during the 18th and 19th centuries on your included visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park this afternoon.

The Cliffs of Moher are a must-see along the Wild Atlantic Way. The towering cliffs plunge into the Atlantic, offering endless ocean views and perfect spots for taking photos. Explore the interactive visitor centre, where you can see the cliffs through the eyes of the wildlife that call this UNESCO site home, bringing the whole experience to life. Later, you’ll head to an Irish smokehouse for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Discover the secrets of their organic salmon, learn how the kiln and smokebox work, and savour the distinctive flavours of their award-winning smoked salmon. Arriving in Galway, enjoy time at leisure to admire its beautiful stone Cathedral or wander through vibrant Eyre Square–it’s yours to explore at your own pace.

Connemara's 'savage beauty' is yours to explore today as you tread in the footsteps of Oscar Wilde who described its 'wild and mountainous splendor' as magnificent. Admire the views on the scenic drive to Kylemore Abbey, now a Benedictine monastery, where you will embark on an included visit to the country's most romantic castle and walk through its exquisite Victorian Walled Garden.

Enjoy a Be My Guest experience at Glen Keen Farm, where Catherine and Jim share stories of their centuries-old land and demonstrate life on their working sheep farm. Meet their skilled border collies during a live herding demonstration and indulge in a farmhouse lunch and homemade cake with a traditional cup of tea. Later, stop at Knock’s Marian Shrine, one of Ireland’s most significant pilgrimage sites, where an apparition of the Virgin Mary was reported in 1879. You’ll stop in Sligo for the night, where you could choose to join an Optional Experience that takes you off the beaten track, with a countryside drive and a relaxed dinner at a local restaurant.

Continue south to Dublin. Here you’ll enjoy some free time to take a walk down Grafton Street or stroll along the Liffey. This evening, close the chapter on an epic journey through Ireland, joining your fellow travellers for a memorable dinner.

After a hearty Irish breakfast, bid your Travel Director and fellow travellers a fond farewell as your Irish holiday comes to an end.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
  • All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • All porterage and restaurant gratuities
  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
  • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • Must-see sightseeing
  • On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised
  • Optional Experiences and free time
ACCOMMODATION
DAY 1: Clayton Ballsbridge, Sandymount - Meals:
DAY 2: Kilkenny - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 3: Killarney, Killarney Towers - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 4: Killarney, Killarney Towers - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5: Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa, Limerick, The Rine Newmarket on Fergus - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6: The Connacht - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7: The Connacht - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 8: Clayton - Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 9: Clayton Dublin Airport - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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