2021 Southern Gems Self-Drive - 7 Days/6 Nights

Day 1: Dublin Independent Sightseeing
Begin your trip with a day of sightseeing in Dublin. Take a Hop On Hop Off bus tour, and see all the city's highlights with the freedom to stop off and explore further as you please. Your Hop On Hop Off bus ticket also gives you admission to the Little Museum of Dublin, an old Georgian townhouse with a fantastic collection of 5,000 objects telling the story of the city. Plus, you will have a voucher to admit you to one of Dublin's top attractions: Choose from the Guinness Storehouse, a seven storey attraction telling the story of Dublin's iconic brew, complete with a pint at the Gravity Bar on the top floor, Teeling Whiskey, the first new whiskey distillery to open in Dublin in 125 years, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, telling the story of the people who left Ireland and how they shaped the world (winner of Europe's Leading Tourist Attraction in 2019), or the GPO Museum, innovatively detailing the fascinating story of the 1916 Rising, the pivotal event that led to Ireland's independence. Dine independently this evening.

Day 2: Dublin Independent Sightseeing Taylors Three Rock
Continue your adventure on a Hop On Hop Off bus tour - or you might decide to take a train or bus out of the city to see some of Dublin's charming coastal villages and seaside suburbs, like Howth and Dalkey. Splendid ocean views, excellent seafood and lovely streetscapes await you. This evening head out for an evening to dine on Irish specialities and take in a lively show at Taylors Three Rock Pub.
(B, D)

Day 3: Blarney Castle | Kinsale
Pick up your Hertz rental car and travel to Blarney Castle, climb the winding staircase to kiss the famous stone and see if the legend is true - will it give you the gift of eloquence? Stroll the acres of gardens and parklands. Drive on to Kinsale, a picturesque old fishing town now known for art galleries and gourmet food. Explore its historic streets, once besieged by the Spanish Armada, before dinner in your hotel.
(B, D)

Day 4: Killarney | Dingle
Savor your morning in Kinsale, strolling along the scenic harbor or shopping in the bookshops and art galleries. Drive on to Killarney, perhaps you will choose to travel via scenic West Cork route and experience the beautiful Healy Pass. Arrive in the bustling and friendly town of Killarney to enjoy and explore. You might choose to visit Moriarty's in the Gap of Dunloe, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner. Continue on to the charming town of Dingle, where you will dine at your hotel.
(B, D)

Day 5: Slea Head | Blasket Centre| Dingle
Set out on the Slea Head Loop one of Ireland's most beautiful drives, through scenic ocean and mountain vistas. Visit the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the Blasket Islands, visible off the coast. Abandoned in 1954, they were once a lively outpost of traditional culture and language. Return to Dingle and take the rest of the day to wander and dine as you wish in this quant harbor village. You might visit Murphy's Ice Cream, known for their distinctive flavors like Orange Marmalade, Brown Bread and Dingle Gin.
(B)

Day 6: Foynes Flying Museum | Cliffs of Moher | Medieval Castle Banquet
Visit the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum, which reveals the pivotal role a small Irish village played in the early days of transatlantic air travel. Drive to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Walk along the cliff path for wonderous views of the ocean and the miles of cliffs. Enjoy an evening at a medieval-style banquet in an authentic Irish castle.
(B, D)

Day 7: Tour Ends in Shannon
Your tour ends after breakfast. Drive to Shannon Airport and return your rental car.
(B)

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner

Authentic Local Experiences:

• Stroll the streets of historic Kinsale.  This picturesque harbor town is a haven for foodies and art lovers.

Dining Experiences:

• 6 breakfasts (B), and 4 dinners (D) 

Trip Highlights:

• Irish Night in Dublin

  Blasket Centre

  The Blasket Centre on the mainland in Dún Chaoin on the tip of the Dingle Peninsula is a fascinating heritage centre/museum honouring the unique community who lived on the remote Blasket Islands until their evacuation in 1953. The Blasket Centre tells the story of island life, subsistence fishing and farming,
• Blarney Castle
  
  

  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.

• Blasket Centre
  
  

  Dingle Peninsula & Cruise

  The Dingle Peninsula stretches 30 miles into the Atlantic Ocean from Ireland's south-west coast and is dominated by the Slieve Mish Mountains and Mount Brandon, Ireland's second highest peak. The steep sea-cliffs and sandy beaches provide spectacular views.

• Foynes Flying Boat Museum
• Cliffs of Moher
• Kylemore Abbey
• Kinsale
• Dingle Peninsula/Slea Head Loop Drive
• Medieval Castle Banquet
  
  

  Jaunting car ride in Killarney

  Drive through part of the extensive Killarney National Park at a leisurely pace to enjoy wonderful lake and mountain views and stop for photos. All the while your driver entertains you with local folklore and history of the area.

Hotels - 6 Nights:

• The Gibson Hotel   | Dublin (2 nights)
• Actons Hotel    | Kinsale (1 night)
• Dingle Skellig Hotel    |   Dingle  (2 nights)
• Oakwood Hotel    | Shannon (1 night)