ITINERARY
Day 1 - Sunday
WELCOME TO DUBLIN
Welcome to Dublin, Ireland's Capital. This afternoon explore Dublin on your own.
You stay in the heart of Dublin at Clontarf Castle Hotel, just a short stroll from St. Stephen's Green and also Temple Bar. A welcome reception of Irish Coffee - followed by a welcome dinner at the
hotel and chat about our forthcoming Ireland adventure.
Day 2 - Monday
BOYNE VALLEY CENTER & DUBLIN'S FAIR CITY
to Bru na Boinne Visitor Center (Boyne Valley Center) which presents one of Europe's great archaeological mysteries, along the Boyne Valley, and Newgrange and Knowth burial tomb. These monuments predate the pyramids of Egypt. Return to Dublin and enjoy a panoramic tour of Dublin City. View the Georgian Squares of Merrion, Fitzwilliam and St. Stephen's Green with their brightly decorated doors. Tour the State Apartments at Dublin Castle. You have the afternoon to shop and enjoy this 1,000 year old city. You can visit the National Gallery, the museums and maybe view the Book of Kells at Trinity College. Tonight, you'll laugh and sing the night away to the music of the harp and fiddle, flute and bodhran (goatskin tambourine). Join in the songs, marvel at the intricacy of the Irish step dancing, but most of all enjoy the wit and humor of an Irish dinner and cabaret. Note: On the May departure you will enjoy an evening of Ballads with dinner at the Abbey Tavern.
Day 3 - Tuesday
WICKLOW, GLENDALOUGH & WATERFORD
Leave Dublin heading south to visit Mount Usher Gardens, one of the best gardens in Ireland! We travel south through the Wicklow Mountains and the region known as "The Garden of Ireland". A scenic drive along the sea coast to Avoca Woolen Mills, then on to Glendalough where we take a guided tour of the 6th century monastic settlement, with its round tower and Celtic cross at Glendalough. Continue through Enniscorthy and to Waterford on the River Suir. Enjoy a guided tour of the famous Waterford Crystal factory. You'll have time to browse through the showrooms and maybe purchase some of the beautiful cut crystal. Stay in Waterford at the beautiful Arlington Lodge, the former Bishop's Palace. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 4 - Wednesday
KILKENNY & KELLS
Tour to the medieval city of Kilkenny, once the capital of Ireland. We visit Kilkenny Castle and St. Canicešs Cathedral. You have time to explore Kilkenny Town. On to Thomastown and a visit to Jerpoint Abbey, dating back to the 13th century. Enjoy tea and scones at Abbey House B&B. Stop for a view of the 13th century Kells Priory. Return to Waterford for a leisure evening. Dinner on your own tonight.
Day 5 - Thursday
CASHEL, CAHIR & COBH
On to Cashel with a visit to the famous cathedral-fortress Rock of Cashel. St. Patrick used the shamrock as the symbol of the Trinity when he converted the King of Munster. Stop by Cahir Castle - a 12th century Butler castle. This site has been completely restored and is a marvel to see. Continue to Cobh, home of the Emigration Museum and last port of call for the Titanic! Stay in Cobh at the Watersedge Hotel overlooking the yacht club. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 6 - Friday
BLARNEY, BANTRY & KENMARE
Tour to Blarney. Stop at Blarney Castle to climb to the battlements of the castle to kiss the famous "stone of eloquence.˛ You'll have time to visit the Blarney Woolen Mills for traditional Irish handcrafts, fashions and crystal. Tour via Glengariff where you boat over to Garinish Island. On to Bantry with its lovely bay, to Kenmare and Killarney which is set beside the Lakes of Killarney at the foot of the mountains, "Heaven's Reflex" as it is called for its beauty. Stay at the beautiful Killarney Royal Hotel, in the heart of Killarney Town. Enjoy dinner in the dining room this evening. Dinner in the dining room this evening. How about an evening of Irish traditional music after dinner?
Day 7 - Saturday
DINGLE PENINSULA
Tour the spectacular Dingle Peninsula to Dingle, one of Ireland's most picturesque spots. We visit the town of Dingle, then drive around Slea Head and admire its rugged beauty. Visit the Blasket IslandCenter, Mulcahy's Pottery and a lunch stop in Ballyferriter. Return to Killarney via Tralee and hear the sad romantic story of the Rose of Tralee. Stop at the spectacular viewpoint of Aghadoe Heights. Dinner on your own tonight.
Day 8 - Sunday
KILLARNEY TOWN
Irish Jaunting Cart ride through the Killarney National Park, to Muckross House where we visit this wonderful museum of Irish life in the 18th century.
The balance of the day is at leisure to explore the Killarney National Park's 24,000 acres or do some shopping or just relax. Dinner on your own tonight.
Day 9 - Monday
CLIFFS OF MOHER & BURREN
Depart Killarney and tour north to Tarbert and cross the Shannon River by ferry to County Clare. On to Lahinch, famous for golf, then the Cliffs of Moher. On through the Burren, an eerie expanse of land
scraped bare by the glaciers during the Ice Age and where exotic plants grow. Tour through the picturesque village of Kinvara on our way to Galway wher you stay at the Park House Hotel, just off Eyre Square, in the heart of this vibrant city. Return to Galway City where you can explore this afternoon. Eyre Square, Claddagh and Spanish Arch. Christopher Columbus stopped here on his way to the New World. Stay at he Park House Hotel. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 10 - Tuesday
ARAN ISLANDS & GALWAY
We take an air excursion to the largest of the Aran islands - Inishmor. Enjoy a two hour tour of the island including a visit to the ancient fort - Dun Angeus. You'll have time to shop for woolen sweaters. After returning from the island we'll return to Galway City where you'll have time to explore the pedestrianized streets with shops, pubs and restaurants. Return to the Park House Hotel. Dinner on your own tonight.
Day 11 - Wednesday
GALWAY CITY
Complete day at lesiure to explore this vibrant city. Explore the shops, boutiques, museums and pubs and more! How about a visit to a pub this evening to hear some Irish music? Stay at the Park House Hotel. Dinner on your own tonight.
Day 12 - Thursday
CONNEMARA & WESTPORT
Travel through the Connemara region which is known for its mountains, the Twelve Bens and the beauty of the landscape with its changing colors. Enjoy a scenic drive up the Lough Inagh Valley to Letterfrack and visit Kylemore Abbey,
a former Benedictine Abbey, now a private school for girls. Through the village of Leenaun and along scenic Killary Harbor, Ireland's only fjord! On to the town of Westport, a bustling market town. On through Castlebar and on to
County Sligo. Sligo is a county of gentle mountains, lakes and coastline. This area is associated with the great writer, W. B. Yeats. We stay in Sligo near Rosses Point at the Radisson hotel overlooking Ben Bulben. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 13 - Friday
BELLEEK & DONEGAL TOWN
Tour north from Sligo stopping at Drumcliff and the Yeats Center. Yeats is buried here in Drumclif Churchyard. On to Ballyshannon where you visit the Donegal Parian China showrooms.
Nearby is the town of Belleek home of the famous Belleek China factory. We tour into Donegal Town and visit Magees of Donegal for tweeds and woolens. Visit 15th century Donegal Castle, with its fully restored Jacobean wing. Return to Sligo and the Radisson Hotel. Dinner on your own tonight.
Day 14 -Saturday
BOYLE & FAMINE MUSEUM
Travel to Boyle and visit 13th century Boyle Abbey founded by the Cistercians, Continue to Stroketown in County Roscommon to visit the Famine Museum & Strokestown House. You'll learn what life was like on a tenant farm during the Great Famine. Continue our scenic drive across the midlands, arriving at Crowne Plaza Hotel near Dublin Airport in the late afternoon. Dinner on your own tonight.
Day 15 - Sunday
DEPART FOR HOME
Transfer to Dublin Airport. Depart for home.
Slan Leat!
TOUR INCLUDES:
• Arrival and Departure Transfers
• Sightseeing by Private luxury motorcoach.
• Elegant Manor and Hotel accommodation with private bath for 14 nights.
• Professional driver/guide throughout the tour - from day 2 to day 15
• Full Irish breakfast daily
• Dinner included on 7 selected evenings
• Dinner on your own on other evenings
• Irish Coffee Reception in Dublin
• Welcome dinner in Dublin on first evening
• Dinner and Cabaret evening in Dublin
• Tea and Scones at Abbey House
• Boat crossing to Garinish Island
• Irish Jaunting Car Ride in Killarney
• Aran Island Air Excursion and island tour
• Visits and admissions to Dublin Castle State Apartments, Glendalough, Avoca Woolen Mills, Kilkenny Castle, Jerpoint Abbey, Kells Priory, Waterford Crystal Factory & Showrooms, Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle, Emigration Museum, Blarney Castle, Blarney Woolen Mills, Garinish Island, Muckross House, Blasket Island Center, Gallorus Oratory, Cliffs of Moher, Dun Aengus, Kylemore Abbey,
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, Donegal Castle, Donegal Parian China, Belleek China Factory, Bru na Boinne (BoyneValley Center)
• Hotel service charges, tips for
baggage handling and local taxes.
• Journey Through Ireland Souvenir Shirt
• Maximum 12 Tour Members
• All tours personally driven and escorted
by experienced driver-guide.
HOTELS:
You will be staying at the following Small Elegant Hotels & Manor Houses:
Dublin: Clontarf Castle Hotel - 2 nights
Waterford: Arlington Lodge - 2 nights
Cobh: Watersedge Hotel - 1 night
Killarney: Killarney Royal - 3 nights
Galway: Park House Hotel - 3 nights
Sligo: Radisson Hotel - 2 nights
Dublin Airport: Crowne Plaza Hotel -1 night
15 Day Private Escorted
Motorcoach Tour
Only 12 Tour Members
Tour Price:$4,999
price is per person sharing double/twin room
Single room Supplement: $989
Special Discount:
Call us at 1-800-828-0826 and we'll go over the details and answer your questions and advise Today's Discount |
|
2008 Tour Dates |
|
Start Dublin |
Finish Dublin |
Land Tour Price |
Status Places Remaining |
Tour # |
|
July 20 |
August 3 |
$4,999 |
6 |
17202 |
|
August 24 |
Sept. 7 |
$4,999 |
10 |
17203 |
|
Sept. 14 |
Sept. 28 |
$4,999 |
CLOSED |
17235 |
|
Sept. 14 |
Sept. 28 |
$4,999 |
6 |
17204 |
|
2009 Tour Dates |
|
Start Dublin |
Finish Dublin |
Land Tour Price |
Status Places Remaining |
Tour # |
|
May 3 |
May 17 |
$4,999 |
12 |
18200 |
|
June 7 |
June 21 |
$4,999 |
12 |
18201 |
|
July 5 |
July 19 |
$4,999 |
12 |
18202 |
|
August 30 |
Sept. 13 |
$4,999 |
12 |
18203 |
|
Sept. 27 |
Oct 11 |
$4,999 |
12 |
18204 |
