ITINERARY
Day 1 - Sunday
ARRIVE AT THE HERITAGE
You'll be met by your experienced driver-guide and a luxury Mercedes touring vehicle and tour from Dublin Airport or City 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. Across the road are the Japanese Gardens, an exquisite gardens. Arrive at the Heritage Resort. 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 a walk on the marked trails around the golf course. This evening enjoy a Welcome Dinner followed by an Irish Coffee. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 2 - Monday
KILKENNY,THOMASTOWN & WATERFORD
Tour to the medieval town of Kilkenny, visiting 12th century Kilkenny Castle and tour the State Apartments which have been fully restored. You'll visit the Kilkenny Design Center with its craft shops. On to Kells and a view of the 13th century Kells Priory. Continue south to Waterford for a visit to the Waterford Crystal Visitor Center. Time permitting: Visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship Museum at New Ross. Return to The Heritage for a relaxing evening. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 3 - Tuesday
CAHIR & CASHEL
Tour to County Tipperary and 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. No visit to Cork would be complete without a tour to the town of Blarney. Northwest of Cork City this 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. 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
KINSALE, MIDLETON & COBH
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. Tour to Midleton and a visit to the Midleton Irish Whiskey Distillery. You'll enjoy a wonderful tour of the facility and a sample of the 'water of life.' 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 5 - Thursday
BANTRY & KENMARE
On to Bantry with its lovely bay. Visit Bantry House. On to Glengariff and take a boat ride across Bantry Bay to Garinish Island, a favorite vacation spot for Agatha Christie and George Bernard Shaw. Walk around the island and experience the beauty of the Italianate Gardens, the foreboding of the Martello Tower built by the British during the Napoleanic Wars. Continue across the spectacular Caha Pass to the town of Kenmare, a quaint town on the Kenmare River. Tour into the mountains and stop and admire the panoramic view of the Lakes of Killarney and Killarney Town below. Killarney is set beside the Lakes of Killarney at the foot of the mountains, "Heaven's Reflex" as it is called for its beauty. 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. Stay at the beautiful Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa Hotel overlooking the Lakes of Killarney. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 6 - Friday
DINGLE PENINSULA
Tour the spectacular Dingle Peninsula to Dingle, one of Ireland's most picturesque spots. 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 at the 7th century stone chapel - Gallorus Oratory. On to Anascaul where you'll see the South Pole Pub with photos of Tom Crean, the Antarctic explorer. Return to Killarney via Tralee and hear the sad romantic story of the Rose of Tralee. Return to the Aghadoe Heights Hotel. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 7 - Saturday
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 where you stay at the Glenlo Abbey Hotel in this vibrant city. Christopher Columbus stopped here on his way to the New World. Stay at Glenlo Abbey Hotel, a beautiful resort with its own golf course. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 8 - Sunday
GALWAY CITY
Enjoy a relaxing day in 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! In the afternoon enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour of the city. See the sites of Eyre Square, visit the Claddagh district and view the Spanish Arch. Stay at 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 - 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 Glenlo Abbey Hotel. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
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 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
BOYLE & FAMINE MUSEUM
Travel to Boyle and visit 13th century Boyle Abbey founded by the Cistercians. Continue to Strokestown 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 Radisson SAS 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
• Dinner included on every evening in the hotel dining room. (NOT included in BASIC tour price)
• Irish Coffee Reception on first evening
• Irish Jaunting Cart Ride in Killarney
• Aran Island Air Excursion and island tour
• Visits and admissions to Kilkenny Castle, Jerpoint Abbey, Kells Priory, Waterford Crystal Visitor Center, Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle, Emigration Museum, Blarney Castle, Blarney Woolen Mills, 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, Boyle Abbey, Strokestown House & Famine Museum
• 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 Luxury Hotels & Manor Houses:
Killenard: The Heritage Resort Hotel & Spa - 2 nights
Cork: Hayfield Manor Hotel & Spa - 2 nights
Killarney: Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa - 2 nights
Galway: Glenlo Abbey Hotel - 4 nights
Donegal (Rossnowlagh): Sandhouse Hotel - 3 nights
Dublin Airport: Radisson SAS Hotel - 1 night
15 Day Private Escorted
Motorcoach Tour
Only 12 Tour Members
FULL TOUR PRICE: $5,399
BASIC TOUR PRICE: $4,399 - (See noted NOT INCLUDED items above)
price is per person sharing double/twin room
Single room Supplement: $1099
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! |
|
2010 Tour Dates |
|
Start Dublin |
Finish Dublin |
Full Tour Price |
BASIC Tour Price |
Status Places Remaining |
Tour # |
|
May 23 |
June 6 |
$5,399 |
$4,399 |
Closed |
19224 |
|
June 27 |
July 11 |
$5,399 |
$4,399 |
Available |
19225 |
|
July 25 |
August 8 |
$5,399 |
$4,399 |
Available |
19226 |
|
August 22 |
Sept. 5 |
$5,399 |
$4,399 |
Available |
19227 |
|
September 26 |
October 10 |
$5,399 |
$4,399 |
Available |
19228 |
