2020 Best of Iceland & Ireland South 10 days/9 nights

2020 Best of Iceland & Ireland South – 10 Days / 9 Nights / 15 Meals

Day 1: Reykjavik City Tour & Welcome Reception
Meet your guide at 2:00 PM in the lobby of your hotel. Take an orientation tour and discover Iceland’s capital city set on the southern shore of Faxa Bay. Discover Reykjavik’s settlement, history, and the natural beauty that surrounds it. You’ll be charmed by its architecture and the beautiful brightly-colored rooftops. Visit the Perlan Observation Deck, which offers magnificent 360° views of Reykjavik and its surroundings – mountain, glacier, and volcano vistas on the horizon will be a taste of what is to come on your journey. Return to your centrally-located hotel and enjoy a welcome drink and canapes with your group, followed by dinner on your own.

Day 2: Golden Circle
Head out on the famed Golden Circle, starting with the spectacular Thingvellir National Park, a meeting place of old Icelandic clans. It is also where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet above ground. Journey to the Secret Lagoon: small and intimate, it’s where savvy travelers go to enjoy the Icelandic spa experience. Don’t forget your swimsuit! Enjoy a tasty lunch in the greenhouse of Fridheimar Tomato Farm. Then it’s on to the Strokkur Geysir, which erupts every 10 minutes. Stop at Gullfoss Waterfall, one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Iceland with two separate drops and the largest falls in all of Europe in terms of water volume. Dinner is on your own in Reykjavik.
(B, L)

Day 3: Reykjavik & The Blue Lagoon
Enjoy a free day independently exploring Reykjavik with an early dinner on your own. In the evening, you’ll be whisked away to the Blue Lagoon, a large man-made lake surrounded by a lava field that is also a geothermal spa. Enjoy one of the 25 wonders of the world as you share in a cocktail reception and lagoon entry with your group.
(B)

Day 4: Included Flight to Dublin & Dublin Tour
Travel to the airport with your group and say farewell to your Iceland tour director. Fly together to Dublin. You’ll meet your Ireland tour director at your Dublin hotel at 2 PM. Set out on an orientation tour of Dublin city center and take a walking tour of Trinity College with a local guide. There you will go to the library to view the Book of Kells, the 9th-century illuminated manuscript that is one of Ireland’s greatest cultural treasures. Next, visit the Little Museum of Dublin; located in a Georgian townhouse, it tell the fascinating story of the city. You’ll enjoy a CIE Tours exclusive there: an after-hours opening and a private tour. In the evening, enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dinner.
(B, D)

Day 5: Blarney Castle & Killarney
Relax and enjoy the farmlands of the picturesque midlands. Get a taste of farm life at a nearby sheep farm. Enjoy scones with tea and watch trained dogs herd sheep. Visit Blarney Castle to kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence” or explore the tranquil gardens. Travel through Macroom and into County Kerry where the scenery becomes more mountainous. Arrive in the charming town of Killarney.
(B, D)

Day 6: Dingle Peninsula & Traditional Irish Dinner
Discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula, made famous in the movies “Ryan's Daughter” and “Far & Away,” which showcased the wonderful scenery found here. Travel to Slea Head at the westernmost tip of the peninsula for awesome views of the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy an evening of traditional Irish entertainment over dinner.
(B, D)

Day 7: Jaunting Car Ride & Limerick Panoramic Tour
Take a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car through the Killarney National Park to tour the scenic Ross Castle and Kenmare Estate. Head to the village of Adare, famous for its main street lined with thatched cottages and colorful gardens. Proceed to Limerick and take a panoramic tour.
(B, D)

Day 8: Cliffs of Moher & Galway
Travel along the coast of County Clare to view the Cliffs of Moher, which soar almost 700 feet above churning Atlantic swells. Walk along the top of the cliffs to O’Brien’s Tower for great views of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. Take a guided walking tour of the old city of Galway. In the evening, head to Bunratty Castle for a medieval-style feast, where lords and ladies will serenade you with music and songs from days of yore.
(B, D)

Day 9: Irish National Stud & Dublin
Enjoy the scenic Irish countryside on your way to Kildare where you’ll visit the home of equine royalty, The Irish National Stud. Here you’ll see impeccably-bred stallions alongside protective mares, frolicking foals, and athletic yearlings. Stroll around the delightful grounds to explore St. Fiachra’s Garden, including its miniature Japanese Gardens. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure and dine at your choice of one of the many restaurants or pubs scattered throughout Dublin.
(B)

Day 11: Tour Ends in Dublin
Your program ends after breakfast.
(B)

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner

All components of this tour (hotels, visits and attractions) for 2020 itineraries are subject to change until finalized in September 2019.

The flight between Iceland and Ireland is included in the price of this tour

Authentic Local Experiences

• Dine alongside the vines in the greenhouse at Fridheimar Tomato Farm, a responsible, sustainable family farm.
• Journey to the Secret Lagoon: small and intimate, it’s a place where savvy travelers go to enjoy an authentic Icelandic hot spring experience.
• Stop in Adare – well-known for being one of Ireland’s prettiest villages – and see its charming streets and thatched cottages.
• Discover the rich history of Dublin’s Trinity College to see the Book of Kells

Dining Experiences

• 9 breakfasts (B), 1 lunch (L) at Fridheimar Tomato Farm in Iceland, and 5 dinners (D) ) including a medieval castle banquet and a special CIE Tours Exclusive experience at Muckross Schoolhouse.

Trip Highlights

• Gullfoss Waterfall
• The Blue Lagoon
• Strokkur Geysir
• Reykjavik City Tour
• Blarney Castle
  
  

  Blarney Castle

  Built nearly 600 years ago by one of Ireland’s greatest chieftains, Cormac MacCarthy, this stronghold has been attracting attention ever since. Millions have flocked to Blarney to kiss the legendary Stone of Eloquence, found at the top of the tower, making it one of Ireland’s greatest treasures.

• Trinity College and the Book of Kells
  
  

  Trinity College Book of Kells

  Visitors walk through the city-center campus of Trinity College to view this world-famous 9th century gospel manuscript housed in the magnificent Old Library. See the ’Turning Darkness into Light’ exhibition, the Book of Kells and other related manuscripts in the Treasury and the magnificent 18th century Long Room.

• Jaunting car ride in Killarney
  
  

  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.

• Cliffs of Moher
  
  

  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.

Hotels – 9 Nights

• IS-REY-FHO| Reykjavik (3)
• Talbot Hotel Stillorgan, Dublin (1)
  
  

  Talbot Hotel Stillorgan | Dublin | 4*

  This hotel offers 150 air-conditioned, modern guest rooms with all conveniences for a comfortable stay. Enjoy the award-winning restaurant for breakfasts and dinners while the bar provides a place to relax with a drink or casual meal. Keep up your exercise program in the White Pebble Day Spa and gym. Located on Stillorgan Road on the south side of Dublin city, this hotel is 4 miles from the city center. Served by frequent city bus services and taxis.

• Scotts Hotel | Killarney (2)
  
  

  Scotts Hotel | Killarney | 4*

  The hotel offers 105 spacious guest rooms featuring free Wi-Fi, private bathroom, tea/coffee- making facilities and flat-screen TV. Soft and crisp duvets, snug throws, soft natural daylight and rich furnishings combine to create a sense of relaxation. Dine in the elegant Courtyard Restaurant or enjoy a casual snack in the relaxed, spacious Scotts Bar, where live music is performed at weekends. The family-run hotel is located in the center of Killarney town.

• The Inn at Dromoland | Newmarket-on-Fergus (2)
  
  

  The Inn at Dromoland
  Newmarket-on-Fergus | 3*

  Fully refurbished in 2014, the Inn at Dromoland features well-appointed bedrooms, a landmark Gastro Pub called Shannigan’s, a fully equipped health and fitness club, indoor swimming pool, tennis courts and complimentary WIFI. The hotel is just 10 minutes’ drive from Shannon Airport and situated on the beautiful 450-acre Dromoland Castle Estate, just a short walk to the iconic Dromoland Castle Hotel.

• Grand Canal Hotel | Dublin (1)
  
  

  Grand Canal Hotel | Dublin | 3*

  The Grand Canal hotel offers 142 spacious rooms equipped with plenty of conveniences, including tea/coffee makers. The Epic Restaurant serves international dishes and the Glassworks Bar offers a pleasant atmosphere for a drink with sports programs on plasma TVs. A fitness center and free Wi-Fi add to clients’ enjoyment. It is located to the south of the city center near the Grand Canal. It’s a 15-minute walk to Grafton Street, Trinity College, National Gallery of Art and many other attractions. DART train service nearby. Hotel parking.