We take the time to provide a detailed proposal for you to review before you make your decision to pay your deposit. We are not the least expensive tour product, but WE ARE THE BEST! The features and inclusions of our ESCORTED TOURS are numerous. When you make your comparisons with other tour companies take that into consideration. Our TOURS are COMPREHENSIVE, as well as an excellent value....and a very PERSONALIZED style of touring... to provide what our clients tell us are "An Irish Symphony of Perfection!"
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Sunday
WELCOME TO DUBLIN
Welcome to Dublin, Ireland's Capital. You'll be met by your experienced driver-guide and a luxury Mercedes touring vehicle and tour into the city center. This afternoon explore Dublin on your own. You can visit the National Gallery, the museums and maybe view the Book of Kells at Trinity College. You may wish to tour the State Apartments at Dublin Castle. You stay in the heart of Dublin at the Merrion Hotel at Merrion Square, 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
Tour 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. You have the afternoon to shop and enjoy this 1,000 year old city. 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.
Day 3 - Tuesday
CASHEL & CAHIR
Tour from Dublin through County Kildare. Stop at the Curragh and view the horse training in progress and see the ‘gallops.’ On to the National Stud, the center of horse breeding success in Ireland. Tour to the town of Cashel. The impressive Rock of Cashel looms up in front of you as you approach the town. This cathedral-fortress dates to the time of St. Patrick when he used the shamrock as the symbol of the Holy Trinity as he converted the King of Munster to Christianity. Continue to Cahir with a visit to the 12th century Butler castle - Cahir Castle. This has been fully restored to its original state. Continue to Cork City on the River Lee, a city more than 800 years old, the second largest city of the Irish Republic, lively and prosperous with a keen sense of its own cultural identity. Arrive at Hayfield Manor. You’ll want to explore and see all of the facilities and features of this 5 star retreat. Maybe take in a Spa Treatment, a swim in the pool or as you are in Cork City, a walk around the town. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 4 - Wednesday
MIDLETON & WATERFORD
Tour to Waterford for a visit to the Waterford Crystal Visitor Center. You’ll see how the exquisite crystal is made. Time permitting: Continue to New Ross and visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship, a replica of the original that was funded by the Kennedy Foundation. You’ll experience what life was like on the Atlantic crossing. Return to Cork via Youghal, where Sir Walter Raleigh was mayor. Stop at the Midleton Whiskey Distillery to sample the Uisce Beatha (water of life) before arriving at the Hayfield Manor Hotel. Dinner on your own tonight.
Day 5 - Thursday
BLARNEY, KINSALE & COBH
Tour to Blarney where Blarney Castle, a 15th century McCarthy Castle, is legend. You’ll visit the estate and enjoy a stroll through the estate to the castle and then climb to the top and kiss the Blarney Stone. It is said that you’ll obtain the gift of eloquent speech by kissing the stone. Tour to the quaint harbor town of Kinsale. See the star-shaped Charles Fort at Summercove with its own ghost story; explore the town with its boutiques, shops, restaurants and pubs. On to the harbor town of Cobh, a place formerly known as Queenstown and one of the major embarkation points of emigrants during the 19th and 20th centuries. It was also the last port of call for the Titanic and the Lusitania. The Emigration Museum will tell you ‘The Queenstown Story.’ St. Coleman’s Cathedral rises at the top of the town. Return to Cork and Hayfield Manor for a relaxing evening. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 6 - Friday
BANTRY, KENMARE & KILLARNEY
Tour to Bantry with its beautiful Bantry Bay. At Glengarriff we take a boat across Bantry Bay to Garinish Island, where Agatha Christie and George Bernard Shaw used to vacation. Enjoy the Italianate Gardens and the Martello Tower. Cross the spectacular Caha Pass into Kenmare situated on the Kenmare River, a very picturesque town. Tour north through Moll’s Gap and stop at Ladies View for a panoramic view over the Lakes of Killarney and Killarney town. Continue to Killarney where you enjoy a jaunting cart ride through the Killarney National Park. Stay at the Dunloe Castle Hotel. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 7 - Saturday
DINGLE PENINSULA
Tour the spectacular Dingle Peninsula, 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 Island Center, Mulcahy’s Pottery and a lunch stop in Ballyferriter. Stop and visit the Gallorus Oratory, a 7th century stone chapel used by pilgrims going to Mount Brandon.Tour via Tralee and hear the sad romantic story of the Rose of Tralee. Return to Killarney and the Dunloe Castle Hotel. Dinner on your own tonight.
Day 8 - Sunday
CLIFFS OF MOHER & BURREN
Depart Killarney traveling north through picturesque Adare; see the sites of Limerick City before stopping in Bunratty at Durty Nelly’s Pub, where you may wish to enjoy a pint of Guinness! Through Ennis and on to Lahinch, famous for golf, then the Cliffs of Moher. Tour through the Burren, an eerie expanse of land scraped bare by the glaciers during the Ice Age and where exotic plants grow. On to Galway City and stay at the beautiful Glenlo Abbey Hotel. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 9 - Monday
ARAN ISLANDS & GALWAY
We take an air excursion to the largest of the Aran Islands - Inismor. 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. You can take this opportunity to try 9 holes of golf at the Glenlo Abbey Golf Course, do some fishing on Lough Corrib or stroll around the city on the pedestrianized streets lined with pubs, restaurants, boutiques, book stores and more! Return to the Glenlo Abbey Hotel. Dinner on your own tonight.
Day 10 - Tuesday
CONNEMARA TOUR
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. Tour on to Clifden, the capital of Connemara with its Clifden Castle. On through Ballyconneeley to Roundstone and visit Malachy's Bodhran factory and see how the goatskin drums are made and hand painted. The bodhran is used in Traditional Irish Music. Return to Galway City with a stop at Celtic Crystal factory in Moycullen, for a leisure evening. Dinner in the dining room this evening. How about a visit to a pub this evening to hear some Irish music?
Day 11 - Wednesday
CONG & SLIGO
Tour north from Galway and visit the village of Cong which was used in the John Wayne movie - The Quiet Man. On to Ashford Castle, once the home of the Arthur Guinness Family and now a deluxe 5 star resort. On to Sligo, a county of gentle mountains, lakes and coastline. This area is associated with the great writer, W. B. Yeats. Tour north from Sligo, stopping at Drumcliff and the Yeats Center. Yeats is buried here in Drumcliff Churchyard. On to County Donegal and the sea front Sandhouse Hotel. Enjoy the spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean from your bedroom! Dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 12 - Thursday
BELLEEK & DONEGAL TOWN
On to Ballyshannon where you cross into County Fermanagh to the town of Belleek, home of the famous Belleek China factory. We tour into Donegal Town and visit Magee's of Donegal for tweeds and woolens. Visit 15th century Donegal Castle, with its fully restored Jacobean wing. Enjoy a chance to explore the town before returning to the Sandhouse Hotel to stroll along the beach. Stay at the Sandhouse Hotel. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 13 - Friday
GLENCOLUMCILLE & SLIEVE LEAGUE
Tour to Killybegs, Ireland's largest commercial fishing port. On to Glencolumcille, a village of thatched roof cottages and links to St. Columcille of the 6th century who founded the city of Derry. On to Slieve League and the Cliffs of Bunglass which are higher and more magnificent than the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare. Return to Rossnowlagh via Ardara, the center of the woolen industry in County Donegal. Enjoy a relaxing evening at the Sandhouse Hotel this evening. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 14 - Saturday
ENNISKILLEN & TRIM CASTLE
Cross into Northern Ireland to Enniskillen and view the Maguire Castle. Return to the Irish Republic and into County Cavan with its many lakes. Stop at Trim and visit Trim Castle, the best preserved Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. Arrive at Radisson BLU Hotel near Dublin Airport in the late afternoon. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
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.
• Luxury Manor and Hotel accommodation with private bath for 14 nights.
• Professional driver/guide throughout the tour - from day 1 to day 14
• Full Irish breakfast daily
• Irish Coffee Reception in Dublin
• Welcome Dinner with Irish Coffee in the Cellar Restaurant
• Dinner & Irish Entertainment Evening at the Merry Ploughboy Pub in Dublin
• Dinner included on NINE additional evenings in the hotel dining rooms.
• Dinner on your own on the other evenings
• Tour of the Midleton Whiskey Distillery
• Jaunting Cart Ride through the Killarney National Park
• Aran Island Air Excursion and island tour
• Visits and admissions to The Boyne Valley Center, Cahir Castle, Waterford Crystal Visitor Center, Blarney Castle, Emigration Museum, Charles Fort, Blarney Woolen Mills, Garinish Island, Muckross House, Blasket Island Center, Gallorus Oratory, Cliffs of Moher, Dun Aengus, Kylemore Abbey, Cong Village Museum,
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, Donegal Castle, Belleek China Factory, Glencolumcille Folk Museum, Slieve League, Trim Castle
• Hotel service charges, tips for
baggage handling and local taxes.
• Journey Through Ireland Souvenir Gift
• Maximum 12 Tour Members
• All tours personally driven and escorted
by experienced driver-guide.
HOTELS:
You will be staying at the following Luxury Hotels & Manor Houses:
Dublin: The Merrion Hotel - 2 nights
Cork: Hayfield Manor Hotel & Spa - 3 nights
Killarney: Hotel Dunloe Castle & Spa - 2 nights
Galway: Glenlo Abbey Hotel - 3 nights
Donegal (Rossnowlagh): Sandhouse Hotel - 3 nights
Dublin Airport: Radisson BLU Hotel - 1 night
15 Day Private Escorted
Motorcoach Tour
Only 12 Tour Members
FULL TOUR PRICE: $5,499
price is per person sharing double/twin room
Single room Supplement: $1299
PAY BY CHECK DISCOUNT:
If you wish to pay the land tour price BY PERSONAL CHECK you can deduct 5% from the Land Tour Price shown in RED. Tour Deposit may be made by credit card but remaining tour balance must be paid by personal check to receive discount. You may, of course, pay for the tour by credit card at the price shown. Call us at 1-800-828-0826 to take advantage of this SPECIAL OFFER!
Discounts UP TO 10% available. Ask us! |
| 2011 Tour Dates |
| Start Dublin |
Finish Dublin |
Full Tour Price |
Status Places Remaining |
Tour # |
| April 24 |
May 8 |
$5,499 |
CLOSED |
20224 |
| May 15 |
May 29 |
$5,499 |
CLOSED |
20225 |
| June 12 |
June 26 |
$5,499 |
CLOSED |
20226 |
| July 10 |
July 24 |
$5,499 |
CLOSED |
20227 |
| August 14 |
August 28 |
$5,499 |
Available |
20228 |
| Sept. 11 |
Sept. 25 |
$5,499 |
Available |
20229 |
2012 COME BACK TO ERIN ESCORTED TOURS
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