2026 Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way - 9 Days/8 Nights

2026 Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way - 9 Days/8 Nights

Day 1: Dublin City Tour & EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
Your tour departs at 2:00 PM from the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, a charming seaside suburb. Begin with a panoramic tour of Dublin with a local guide, viewing elegant Georgian squares, public buildings, and monuments. Visit EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum for a high-tech exploration of the amazing stories of those who left Ireland and their impact on the world. Return to your hotel for a welcome drink with your group, then the evening is yours to explore and dine as you wish. 

Day 2: Strokestown Park, The Shed Distillery & Donegal
At Strokestown Park, hear compelling stories of the Great Irish Famine, brought to life in state-of-the-art exhibits at the National Famine Museum, then tour the grand Strokestown House to understand the human impact of this darkest chapter in Ireland’s past. Next, visit The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, where tradition and creativity blend as traditional copper pot stills meet exotic botanicals. Your guided tour includes two expert tastings – a whiskey sampling in the atmospheric Whiskey Maturation Hall and a gin tasting at the Honey Badger Bar, set in a stunning botanical glasshouse. Continue your travels north to Donegal. With its windswept hills where only sheep can thrive, Donegal is renowned for woolen production and tweeds.
(B, D) 

Day 3: Slieve League Cliffs, Triona Design & Nancy’s Bar
Head to Teelin to reach the best viewing point of the Slieve League sea cliffs, the highest in Europe. Enjoy a CIE Tours exclusive experience: sip an Irish coffee as you take in the view from these impressive cliffs. Travel up through beautiful views of Donegal to reach Triona Design in Ardara, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, where spinners and weavers will demonstrate their crafts. Soak in the atmosphere and enjoy dinner at Nancy’s Bar in Ardara before returning to your hotel in Donegal town, a busy little town that was once a Viking port.
(B, D) 

Day 4: Museum of Country Life & Westport Walking Tour
Discover the rich traditions of Ireland’s folklife with a guided tour of the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life at Turlough Park. In County Mayo, take a walking tour of historic Westport and visit a pub with a local guide.  Later, enjoy the lively town of Westport at your leisure and dine as you please.
(B) 

Day 5: Sheepdog Demo & Cliffs of Moher
Visit Glengowla Sheep Farm to see highly skilled sheepdogs show off their talents at minding their herd. Then visit the Cliffs of Moher to take in the magnificent Atlantic views. Dine at your hotel in charming Adare this evening.  
(B, D) 

Day 6: Scenic Drive to Dingle
Cross the River Shannon by ferry and take a scenic drive to the rugged mountain landscapes of the Dingle Peninsula. Enjoy free time to explore the friendly town of Dingle and visit Murphy’s Ice cream, tasting their distinctive flavors, like Irish Orange Marmalade and Dingle Gin, made with local ingredients. Dine at your hotel this evening.
(B, D) 

Day 7: Ring of Kerry, Atlantic Irish Seaweed & Killarney
Embark on a tour of the Ring of Kerry, Ireland’s most famous and popular scenic drive. Stop at Moriarty’s in the beautiful Gap of Dunloe, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner. Continuing on the scenic drive, pause for panoramic mountain views at Moll’s Gap. Stop at Derrynane along the Skellig coast for a guided walk along the shoreline and enjoy a few seaweed nibbles. Visit Killarney for free time to explore before returning to Tralee, where you may dine as you wish.
(B) 

Day 8: Blarney Castle & Abbey Tavern
Visit Blarney Castle to kiss the famous stone or take a walk through the lovely parklands and colorful gardens. At the Abbey Tavern, enjoy an evening of traditional Irish cuisine and entertainment.
(B, D) 

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

Authentic Local Experiences:

• Explore the everyday lives of rural people in the 19th and 20th century at the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life near Castlebar, County Mayo. Its National Folklife Collection has displays on home life, farming, crafts, and community traditions. 
• See Donegal’s spectacular Slieve League Cliffs – and enjoy a CIE Tours exclusive experience as you sip Irish coffee while taking in the view from the clifftop. 

Dining Experiences:

• 8 hot breakfasts (B) and 5 dinners (D) 

Trip Highlights:

• Atlantic Irish Seaweed
• Blarney Castle 
• Cliffs of Moher
• EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum   
• Irish Night in Dublin
• National Museum of Ireland – Country Life
• Sheepdog Demonstration
• Slieve League Cliffs (CIE Tours Exclusive)
• Strokestown Park
• The Shed Distillery
   

Hotels:

• Royal Marine Hotel, Dún Laoghaire (1)
• Mill Park Hotel, Donegal (2)
• Knockranny House Hotel, Westport (1)
• Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel, Adare (1)
• The Ashe Hotel, Tralee (2)
• Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin (1)