Day 1: Dublin City Tour | Pearse Lyons Distillery
Your tour departs at 2:00 PM from your Dublin hotel. Take a panoramic tour of Dublin, seeing such sights as elegant Georgian townhouses, St. Stephen’s Green and the River Liffey. Visit the Pearse Lyons Distillery, Dublin’s only independent, family-owned distillery, in the former St James’s Church in the Liberties. Taste the whiskey and hear tales dating back to the 12th century as you tour this lovingly restored church. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dining independently.
Day 2:Down Cathedral | The St Patrick Centre | Crumlin Road Gaol | Belfast
Visit Down Cathedral where St Patrick’s historical burial site is marked by a huge boulder. Immerse yourself in his work, life, and times in the nearby St Patrick Centre. Explore Crumlin Road Gaol and see what prison life was like through the ages. Continue on to central Belfast for time to relax before dinner at your hotel.
(B, D)
Day 3: Titanic Belfast | Belfast Walking Tour
Tour central Belfast to see Victorian buildings, the imposing City Hall in Donegall Square, and the shipyards where RMS Titanic was built in 1912. Visit Titanic Belfast to learn about the ill-fated liner, which was built in the city. In the afternoon, join a local guide for a walking tour of Belfast before spending time on your own.
(B)
Day 4: Giant's Causeway | Derry Walking Tour | Walled City Brewery
Drive north along the Nine Glens of Antrim for views of mountains, valleys, and coastline. This scenic region is one of the locations for “Game of Thrones.” Stop for photos at the ruins of Dunluce Castle. Explore the Giant’s Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity 60 million years ago. In Derry, join a local guide for a walking tour around the defensive walls that encircle the compact old city. Then visit the Walled City Brewery, an award-winning CIE Tours Exclusive venue, for dinner and a flight of their craft beers.
(B, D)
Day 5:Westport | Westport Walking Tour
Travel through the rugged countryside of Donegal, renowned for heathery hills, sheep and the many tweeds made from their wool. Visit Triona Design in Ardara, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, and enjoy a demonstration of handweaving. In County Mayo, take a walking tour of historic Westport and visit a pub with a local guide. Dine at your hotel this evening.
(B, D)
Day 6: Sheepdog Demonstration | Westport House
Enjoy views of the pilgrimage mountain of Croagh Patrick and stop in the beautiful town of Leenane. Watch skilled dogs herd sheep at a local farm. View Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord. Back in Westport, take a guided tour of Westport House, an 18th-century home complete with its original contents including portraits, furniture, silver, and porcelain. Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening enjoying the lively town of Westport at your leisure.
(B)
Day 7: Galway | Cliffs of Moher | Medieval Castle Banquet
Enjoy free time to explore Galway, then travel on to the majestic Cliffs of Moher, which soar 700 feet above the Atlantic. Enjoy an evening at a medieval-style banquet in an authentic Irish castle.
(B, D)
Day 8: John B. Keane's Pub | Dingle Peninsula
Travel along the River Shannon into County Kerry. In Listowel, sample tea and scones in the family pub of the late, famed playwright John B. Keane. Journey along the Dingle Peninsula to Slea Head for glorious scenic views of hills and coastline. After spending free time in Dingle, travel on to Killarney.
(B,D)
Day 9: Ring of Kerry Highlights | Kenmare | Jaunting Car Ride | Killarney
Travel along part of the Ring of Kerry to see spectacular mountain scenery at Moll’s Gap and Ladies’ View on your way to Kenmare, where you’ll have lunch and free time to explore. Visit CIE Tours preferred shopping partner Moriarty’s in the Gap of Dunloe. Take a scenic, traditional horse-drawn jaunting car to Ross Castle and the Kenmare Estate. Return to Killarney where your evening is free for independent dining and perhaps a visit to a local pub with live music.
(B,L)
Day 10: Blarney Castle | Marine Bar | Waterford Walking Tour
Visit Blarney Castle to climb the winding staircase and kiss the famed “Stone of Eloquence”, or relax in the lovely gardens. Travel on to Dungarvan to enjoy an Irish coffee and traditional music at the Marine Bar, a CIE Tours Exclusive venue. Continue to Waterford where a local guide will lead a stroll around the historic old port city.
(B,D)
Day 11: House of Waterford Crystal | Dunbrody Famine Ship | Taylors Three Rock
Witness the creation of crystal masterpieces at the House of Waterford Crystal, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner. In New Ross explore the Dunbrody Famine Ship, which transported people to North America during the 1840’s famine. This evening enjoy dinner and a show at Taylors Three Rock.
(B, D)
Day 12: Tour Ends in Dublin
Your tour ends after breakfast today.
(B)
B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner
Authentic Local Experiences:
- Sip locally-brewed craft beer with your dinner at the family-owned Walled City Brewery, housed in a former army barracks in the heart of Derry.
- Listen to lively Irish traditional music over an Irish coffee at Dungarvan’s 300-year-old Marine Bar. Liam Clancy of the legendary Clancy Brothers once lived nearby and often came in to sing.
- Blarney Castle
- Cliffs of Moher
- Medieval Castle Banquet
- Crumlin Road Gaol
- Down Cathedral
- Dunbrody Famine Ship
- Giant’s Causeway
- Marine Bar – CIE Tours Exclusive
- Titanic Belfast
- Walled City Brewery – CIE Tours Exclusive
- Westport House
- Irish Night in Dublin
- 11 Breakfasts (B), 1 Lunch (L) and 7 Dinners (D)
- Hyatt Centric The Liberties | Dublin (1)
- Hilton Belfast Hotel | Belfast (2)
- Ebrington Hotel | Derry (1)
- The Wyatt Hotel | Westport (2)
- Limerick Strand Hotell | Limerick (1)
- Killarney Plaza Hotel | Killarney (2)
- Granville Hotel | Waterford (1)
- The Aloft Hotel | Dublin (1)