2026 Southern Gems - 7 Days/6 Nights
Day 1: Dublin City Tour & Pearse Lyons Distillery
Depart from your hotel at 2:00 PM for a panoramic tour of Dublin. Visit Pearse Lyons Distillery, the city’s only independent, family-owned distillery, in the former St James’s Church in the historic Liberties district. 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 enjoying an evening free to dine as you wish.
Day 2: Powerscourt Estate and Whiskey Distillery & Taylors Three Rock
Visit the breathtaking Powerscourt Estate in County Wicklow, to explore the stunning gardens and discover the art of traditional whiskey-making at the Powerscourt Distillery, famous for its award-winning Fercullen Irish whiskeys. Enjoy a traditional Irish dinner with a lively show at Taylors Three Rock pub.
(B, D)
Day 3: Blarney Castle & Kinsale Walking Tour
Travel to Blarney Castle; climb the winding staircase to kiss its famous stone or enjoy the gardens. Go to Kinsale, a picturesque old fishing town known for art galleries and gourmet food. Join a local guide for a fascinating walk around its historic streets, once besieged by the Spanish Armada, before dinner at your hotel.
(B, D)
Day 4: Killarney, Jaunting Car & Dingle
Head west to the bustling, friendly town of Killarney, where you’ll take a horse-drawn jaunting car to Ross Castle. Enjoy free time to explore the town and have an independent lunch. Depart for Dingle; along the way stop in Moriarty’s in the Gap of Dunloe, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner. Dine in your hotel this evening.
(B, D)
Day 5: Slea Head Loop, Blasket Centre, Murphy’s Ice Cream & 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. These islands were a lively outpost of the Irish language before being abandoned in 1954, and their legacy lives on. Return to Dingle and visit Murphy’s Ice Cream; taste their distinctive flavors like Irish Orange Marmalade, Brown Bread, and Dingle Gin. Take the rest of the day to wander and dine as you wish in this quaint seaside town.
(B)
Day 6: Cliffs of Moher & Medieval Castle Banquet
Visit the Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, which recalls how a small village became one of the world’s greatest hubs for air travel in the 1930s and 1940s. Drive to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. In the evening, visit a castle for a medieval-style banquet with traditional songs and stories.
(B, D)
Day 7: Tour Ends in Shannon
Your tour ends after breakfast.
(B)
B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner
Authentic Local Experiences:
- Hear the colorful story of the picturesque port town of Kinsale – and the role it played in Irish, English and Spanish history in the 1600s. A local guide will lead you through the medieval streets.
- Savor the distinctive, handmade flavors of Murphy’s Ice Cream, made with milk from local Kerry cows, in the charming town of Dingle.
Dining Experiences:
- 6 hot breakfasts (B) and 4 dinners (D)
Trip Highlights:
- Blarney Castle
- Blasket Centre
- Cliffs of Moher
- Dingle Peninsula Drive/Slea Head Loop
- Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum
- Irish Night in Dublin
- Kinsale
- Medieval Castle Banquet
- Pearse Lyons Distillery
Hotels:
- The Gibson Hotel, Dublin (2)
- Kinsale Hotel & Spa, Kinsale (1)
- Dingle Skellig Hotel, Dingle (2)
- Oakwood Hotel, Shannon (1)