2019 Ireland by Road & Rail - 8 Days / 7 Nights / 13 Meals
Day 1: Dublin & Guinness Storehouse
Your tour begins at 3:00 PM at your Dublin hotel. Take in Ireland’s capital city on a panoramic tour, seeing its Georgian buildings, lively streetscapes, and the Liffey flowing through the center. Arrive at the Little Museum of Dublin for an after-hours CIE Tours Exclusive visit and welcome drink. In the evening, you are free to dine at one of Dublin’s many restaurants and pubs.
Day 2: Waterford & House of Waterford Crystal
This morning, head to historic Heuston Station, built in 1846 of granite and designed to look like an Italian palazzo. Board the train to head south for historic Waterford. Take a guided walking tour of the fascinating core of this port city – one of Ireland’s oldest, founded by Vikings in 914 AD. Enjoy lunch on your own before proceeding on to the House of Waterford Crystal to see master craftsmen create sparkling cut crystal. Later, travel on to Cork, where you will dine in your hotel.
(B, D)
Day 3: Titanic Walking Tour & Irish Night
Set out on one of Ireland’s most scenic and historic rail journeys to Cobh, a port town that was the last sight of Ireland for millions of Irish emigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries. Your train journey will follow the same route as many of those emigrants. It was also the last port of call for the Titanic; take a guided walking tour to explore the story of the ill-fated ocean liner and its connection with the town. Enjoy lunch independently in this colorful town. Later, travel on to Killarney and enjoy an evening of Irish entertainment over dinner.
(B, D)
Day 4: Dingle Peninsula & Sheepdog Demonstration
Discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula, made famous in the movies “Ryan’s Daughter” and “Far & Away,” which showcased the rugged beauty of its mountainous coast. Stop in to Murphy’s Ice Cream for a private visit with a talk and tasting – you might want to try the delicious brown bread or caramelized honeycomb flavors. Travel to Slea Head at the westernmost tip of the peninsula for awesome views of the Atlantic Ocean, and visit Inch Beach for 3 miles of spectacular views of sand and blue-flag water. Visit a farm for a demonstration of highly-skilled sheepdogs herding sheep. You’ll have some free time to explore Dingle on your own before returning to your hotel in Tralee for dinner.
(B, D)
Day 5: Cliffs of Moher & Hazel Mountain Chocolate Factory
Set sail on a ferry across the River Shannon, enjoying beautiful views on your way to Clare and travel on to visit the magnificent Cliffs of Moher, soaring almost 700 feet above the churning Atlantic swells. Travel through the starkly beautiful limestone landscape of the Burren, stopping at Hazel Mountain Chocolate Factory, one of the smallest and most remote chocolate factories in the world. You’ll have a special tour and tasting where you’ll learn from the local Irish owners what makes this bean-to-bar chocolate so special. In the evening, proceed to your hotel in Salthill, a seaside suburb of Galway city.
(B, D)
Day 6: Killary Cruise & Kylemore Abbey
Cruise along Killary Harbor, a fjord located in the west of Ireland, for views of its stunning bay and rugged coastline. Proceed on to Kylemore Abbey, a beautiful lakeside castle built in 1867 that became a Benedictine abbey in 1920. Tour the Abbey to learn its history and then delight in the large, walled Victorian Garden. Have lunch in this elegant setting before returning to your hotel. There will be free time to either dine independently at your leisure in the hotel or take our free transfer into Galway and soak in the buzzing atmosphere of this lively, artistic town.
(B, L)
Day 7: Book of Kells & Vintage Tea Tour
Admire the changing scenery as you travel by rail across the country from the small farms and stone walls of the West across the lush middle of the country and on to urban Dublin. On your arrival you’ll board a vintage double-decker bus for a stylish tour of the city as you enjoy tea or coffee with lunch. Visit Trinity College for a tour and a visit to the Old Library and the beautifully illustrated Book of Kells – crafted by monks in the 9th century, it’s perhaps Ireland’s greatest cultural treasure. Enjoy time for exploring and dining in Dublin as you wish.
(B, L)
Day 8: Tour Ends in Dublin
Your program ends after breakfast.
(B)
B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner
Authentic Local Experiences
- Learn how the bean is roasted, cracked, winnowed, stoneground and tempered into a chocolate bar on a visit to one of the smallest and most remote chocolate factories in the world: Hazel Mountain Chocolate Factory in the Burren.
- Board a vintage double-decker bus in Dublin and stylishly tour the city from a unique perspective as you enjoy a tasty lunch.
Dining Experiences
7 breakfasts (B), 2 lunches (L), and 4 dinners (D), plus tea and scones at a sheep farm, a bespoke chocolate tasting experience, and a lunch onboard a vintage double-decker bus.
Trip Highlights
- Cliffs of Moher
- House of Waterford Crystal
- Vintage Bus Tea Tour
- Trinity College and Book of Kells
- Kylemore Abbey
- Dingle Peninsula
- Titanic Cobh Walking Tour
Hotels - 7 Nights
IE-DUB-ASH | Dublin (1 night)IE-COR-KIN | Cork (1 night)IE-KER-BAH | Tralee (2 nights)IE-GAL-GBA | Salthill, Galway (2 nights)IE-DUB-ASH | Dublin (1 night)