2019 Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland - 23 Days/22 Nights

2019 Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland 23 Days / 22 Nights / 39 Meals

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 – 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 of majestic Glencoe. Visit Oban Distillery to see how whisky 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, D)

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 guided 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
Ferry 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. After dinner, take a brief walking tour around the historic town.
(B)

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

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner

Authentic Local Experiences:

• Enjoy reserved seats for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on August 3 – 17 departures.
• Have a drink at the iconic John B. Keane’s Pub in the heart of Listowel
• Visit a local farm to see a farmer work with highly-skilled dogs to herd sheep

Dining Experiences:

• 22 breakfasts(B), 2 lunches(L) and 15 dinners(D) including a Scottish evening in Edinburgh, Taylors Three Rock Pub dinner and show in dublin and a traditional Cardiff Castle Welsh Banquet

Trip Highlights:

• Cardiff Castle

  Cardiff Castle

  Cardiff Castle is one of Wales’ leading heritage attractions and a site of international significance. Located within beautiful parklands at the heart of the capital, Cardiff Castle’s walls and fairytale towers conceal 2,000 years of history.
• Cliffs of Moher
  
  

  Cliffs of Moher

  One of Ireland’s top visitor attractions, the cliffs are 700 feet high and extend for 5 miles over the Atlantic Ocean on the western seaboard of County Clare. O’Brien’s Tower stands proudly on a headland and one can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay and Connemara. The cliffs are home to major colonies of cliff nesting seabirds.

• Edinburgh Castle

  Edinburgh Castle

  The rock on which today’s castle stands has been a stronghold for over 3000 years and Edinburgh Castle has dominated its surroundings for centuries. See the 12th century St. Margaret’s Chapel, the monumental great hall of James IV, opened in 1511, the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny.
• Giant's Causeway

  Giant's Causeway

  The Giant's Causeway, renowned for its hexagonal basalt columns, was created from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago. It is Northern Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Ireland's most popular visitor attractions. It is steeped in myth and legend, especially about the mighty giant, Finn McCool.
• Roman Baths

  Roman Baths

  Around Britain’s only hot springs, the Romans built the finest religious spa in northern Europe. This great temple and bathing complex still flows with natural hot water. See extensive remains and a Roman museum of international significance as well as the 18th century Regency influence
• Shakespeare’s Birthplace

  Shakespeare’s Birthplace

  This carefully restored 16th century half-timbered house in Stratford-upon-Avon is where William Shakespeare was born in 1564 and spent his childhood years. See an exhibition on Shakespeare and his times before walking through the house, now restored to look at it would have been in his day.
• Stonehenge

  Stonehenge

  Stonehenge is probably the most important prehistoric monument in Britain. The circle of vast monoliths date from about 3,100 B.C. and are built from bluestone, sarson and Welsh sandstone. It is aligned with the summer solstice and is believed to have been built for lunar and solar worship.
• Windsor Castle

  Windsor Castle

  Windsor Castle is an official residence of The Queen and the largest occupied castle in the world. A Royal home and fortress for over 900 years, the Castle remains a working palace today. Walk through the many courtyards to visit the magnificent staterooms and St. George’s Chapel.

Hotels:

• GB-LON-HIT | London (2 nights)
• GB-EDI-DOU | York (1 night)
• GB-EDI-MEQ | Edinburgh (2 nights)
• GB-INV-COLl | Inverness (1 night)
• GB-INV-COL | Oban (1 night)
• NI-BEL-EUR | Belfast (1 night)
• NI-DER-EVE | Derry (2 nights)
• IE-GAL-GBA | Galway (2 nights)
• IE-KER-KPL | Killarney (2 nights)
• IE-WAT-DOO | Waterford (1 night)
• IE-DUB-RSH | Dublin (2 nights)
• GB-CWY-QUA | Conwy (1 night)
• GB-CDI-PCA | Cardiff (1 night)
• GB-SAU-COR | St Austell (2 nights)
• GB-BKS-MAC | Windsor (1 night)