2019 Irish Adventure - 9 Days/8 Nights

2019 Irish Adventure - 9 Days / 8 Nights / 14 Meals

Day 1: Dublin Tour & Book of Kells
Tour begins 2:00 PM at your Dublin hotel. Set out a private guided city tour. Highlights include 18th century Georgian houses with brightly-painted doors, tranquil parks and the wide O'Connell Street. Take a guided walking tour through the campus of Trinity College to view the illuminated manuscript of the Book of Kells. In the evening, enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dining independently in one of Dublin’s many restaurants or lively pubs.

Day 2: 6th Century Glendalough & Waterford Crystal
Enjoy the delightful scenery of the Wicklow Mountains on the way to Glendalough, one of Ireland’s most beautiful destinations. Explore the remains of one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland, founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. Walk through the deep valley to view the picturesque ruins of a round tower, churches, and Celtic crosses. Relax as you continue to Waterford. Witness the creation of crystal masterpieces during your visit to the House of Waterford Crystal. Before dinner, take a gentle stroll around the narrow streets of the historic city with a local guide.
(B, D)

Day 3: Cobh & Blarney Castle
Travel to Cobh, the last port of call of the Titanic. A walking tour will reveal many of the places that still remain over a century since travelers embarked on that fateful voyage. Visit Blarney Castle to kiss the famous ”Stone of Eloquence“ or explore the tranquil gardens. Treat yourself to quality Irish made goods at Blarney Woollen Mills. Journey west through rugged countryside and settle in to your centrally located hotel in Killarney.
(B, D)

Day 4: Ring of Kerry Drive & Skellig Experience
Discover the natural beauty of the Emerald Isle on Ireland's most popular scenic drive, the Ring of Kerry, with plenty of photo stops along the way. Cross the bridge to Valentia Island to visit the Skellig Experience, which explains the life of early Christian hermits on Skellig Michael, a rocky offshore island that was featured in the film "Star Wars VII." After lunch, stroll around Sneem and stop at Moll’s Gap for its panoramic views. Enjoy the evening in Killarney for dinner on your own and perhaps a visit to one of the town's many lively pubs.
(B, L)

Day 5: Cliffs of Moher & Galway
Embark on a memorable ferry ride across the River Shannon Estuary. Travel along the coast of County Clare. View the Cliffs of Moher, which soar almost 700 feet above the churning Atlantic swells. Walk along the top of the cliffs to O'Brien's Tower for great views of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. Head to Galway to join a local guide for a brief stroll through the twisting streets of the old city before spending some time on your own.
(B, D)

Day 6: Sheepdogs & Derry's Medieval Walls
Stop in the pilgrimage town of Knock, one of the world's leading Catholic shrines. Visit the church where villagers saw a vision of the Virgin Mary in 1879. Immerse yourself in Irish farm life during a visit to an authentic working farm and watch trained sheepdogs round up mountain sheep. Head to Donegal for some free time in this charming town. On arrival in Derry meet a local guide to discover the history of this ancient city which retains its fortified medieval walls dating from 1613.
(B, D)

Day 7: Giant's Causeway & Titanic Belfast
Explore the northern coastline and the Giant's Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. Visit Titanic Belfast and learn about the ill-fated ship through state-of-the-art displays. See the docks where this famous liner was built just over a century ago. Stop at the Glyde Inn for a farewell dinner with Irish specialties and entertaining traditional Irish songs and music.
(B, D)

Day 8: Dublin Sightseeing
Enjoy an independent Dublin open-top bus tour and a visit to one of Dublin’s top attractions -- Guinness Storehouse, Teeling Distillery, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, or the General Post Office Museum.
(B)

Day 9: Tour Ends in Dublin
Your tour ends after breakfast.
(B)

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner

Authentic Local Experiences

• Visit the picturesque monastic site of Glendalough – wander among these romantic ruins and imagine how monks fl ourished here for 600 years.
• Discover the true story of the world’s most famous ship at Titanic Belfast ‐ in the city where it all began

Dining Experiences

• 8 breakfasts (B), 1 Lunch (L), and 5 dinners (D) including a traditional Irish dinner and show at the Glyde Inn

Trip Highlights

• Waterford Crystal Factory Tour
  
  

  Waterford Crystal Factory Tour

  Located on the Mall in the heart of the Viking Triangle in Waterford City, the House of Waterford Crystal opens the door to more than 200 years of crystal manufacturing. Be a part of the story as you witness craftsmen making crystal stemware, giftware and masterpieces before your very eyes. You will see red-hot molten crystal take shape, in a miracle of light, heat and skill. The craftsmen are meticulous and you can watch as they transform glowing balls of molten crystal into elegant shapes with skills that have made two hundred years of perfection clearly visible in every piece.

• 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.

• Blarney Castle
• 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.

• Knock Shrine
  
  

  Knock Shrine

  Knock Shrine is a Roman Catholic pilgrimage site and National Shrine in the village of Knock, County Mayo, Ireland, where observers stated that there was an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

• Skellig Experience
  
  

  Skellig Experience

  You can experience many aspects of those offshore Skellig islands while remaining on the dry land, in a custom built, stone clad, grass roofed, prize winning building located right on the waterfront beside the Valentia Island bridge at Valentia, County Kerry!

• Titanic Belfast
  
  

  Titanic Belfast

  Opened in April 2012 to commemorate the centenary of the sinking of this iconic ship, this new visitor experience tells the story of the Titanic from conception and construction right through the maiden voyage and tragic ending.

Hotels - 8 Nights

• Clayton Hotel, Cardiff Lane | Dublin (1 night)
  
  

  Clayton Hotel | Dublin | 4*

  This hotel was once a Masonic School and still retains many striking original features to give it a unique charm. Standard rooms are tastefully decorated and boast a fresh and warm feeling. The Brasserie Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with fresh, seasonal and sustainable produce. Tom’s Bar is a great place to relax with a drink or a snack.

• Dooley’s Hotel | Waterford (1 night)
  
  

  Dooley’s Hotel | Waterford | 3*

  This charming family-run hotel offers a warm welcome to all guests. It blends its traditional façade and many other cozy attributes with updated guest rooms and facilities. Enjoy delicious and wholesome food in the Ship Restaurant or the Dry Dock Bar, which offers live music on weekends. Set on the waterfront in the heart of Waterford city. Within easy walking distance of shopping, Reginald’s Tower and the House of Waterford Crystal.

• International Hotel | Killarney (2 nights)
  
  

  International Hotel | Killarney 4*

  One of Killarney's long-established and traditional hotels, it blends the charm of times past with the warmest of welcomes to guests. 90 bedrooms provide everything for a comfortable stay. Hannigan’s award-winning restaurant offers great food and the cozy bar often features live music. Located right in the center of Killarney town within easy walking distance of shops, restaurants and pubs. Also close to the jaunting car stand and Killarney National Park.

• Ardilaun Hotel | Galway (1 night)
  
  

  Ardilaun Hotel | Galway | 4*

  This traditional and elegant hotel with beautifully landscaped gardens offers luxurious accommodation in a tranquil setting. The award-winning Camilaun Restaurant is noted for its excellent cuisine and fine wines. Blazers Bar offers a relaxing atmosphere with food served all day. Unwind in the leisure club with excellent facilities and swimming pool. Set in the prestigious Taylors Hill suburb and one mile from Galway city center. Easy access to city attractions by bus or taxi.

• Everglades Hotel | Derry (1 night)
  
  

  Everglades Hotel | Derry | 4*

  This hotel has a host of features to make any stay comfortable and inviting. Experience bistro dining at its best in the Grill or step into the Library Bar for snacks, cocktails and full bar service. In the 64 guest rooms be pampered with extra-thick mattresses, the plumpest of pillows and soothing color schemes. Located on Prehen Road, 2 miles south of Derry city center. Easy access to city attractions by bus or taxi and convenient for touring County Donegal.

• Croke Park Hotel | Dublin (2 nights)
  
  

  Croke Park Hotel | Dublin | 4*

  This modern hotel offers 232 spacious and comfortable guestrooms, and all of them offer a tranquil environment in which you can unwind and relax. Dine in the Sideline Bistro and Bar where guests can enjoy stylish surroundings and a tempting choice of unique cuisine. The hotel also offers a fully equipped gymnasium where guests can maintain their usual fitness regime. You can walk to local shops and pubs. Located right beside Croke Park Stadium and close to city bus service to central Dublin. Only a 20-minute drive to Dublin Airport.