DAY 1

Arrive Dublin and Afternoon Sightseeing
Embrace your playful side and discover the allure of the lively Irish capital – a small city with a lot of heart and yours to explore before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travellers this afternoon for a sightseeing tour with your Local Specialist. View St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the stately Georgian Squares and Trinity College. We enjoy a Welcome Reception of canapés and drinks this evening, joining a Local Specialist at the Glasnevin Trust to hear about the brave characters from Ireland’s recent history and hear how our visit ‘Makes A Difference’ to the Trust’s efforts to preserve Irish history.
Hotel: Mespil
Meal: Welcome Reception

DAY 2

Dublin – Belfast
Leaving the cosmopolitan streets of Dublin behind, we travel to Northern Ireland and the bustling city of Belfast, where you will have some free time to enjoy a spud for lunch or perhaps an Irish stew. Later, we meet our Local Specialist ‘Cabbie’ for an insider view of the city’s living history during a journey through its vibrant streets in a real Black Cab. We spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure, or perhaps join an Optional Experience.
Hotel: Park Inn
Meal: Full Breakfast

DAY 3

Belfast – Giant’s Causeway – Londonderry/Derry (2 Nights)
‘Dive Into Culture’ during a visit to the award-winning Titanic Belfast Visitor Centre and gain insights into the tragic story of the Titanic and its passengers who lost their lives in the icy Atlantic. We leave the city behind us, travelling along the beautiful Antrim coast road to the Giant’s Causeway and walk in the footsteps of Finn MacCool. ‘Make A Difference’ by helping to conserve this iconic natural landmark. Take some time to admire the natural spectacle of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns before continuing to Londonderry, our home for the next two nights.
Hotel: Everglades
Meal: Full Breakfast

DAY 4

Londonderry/Derry Sightseeing and Free Time
Join your Local Specialist for a walk along the 17th-century city walls and see the formerly turbulent Bogside neighbourhood, with its street murals depicting the history of the ‘Troubles’. Spend a free afternoon walking along the pretty Foyle River or consider joining an Optional Experience to Inishowen Peninsula, with its rich history. This evening we dine at our hotel.
Meal: Full Breakfast,Dinner

DAY 5

Londonderry/Derry – Belleek – County Galway (2 Nights)
We journey through the lush countryside to Belleek, where we’ll ‘Dive Into Culture’ and witness talented pottery craftsmen create the exquisite collectables that have graced homes since the mid-19th century. Arrive in Galway later, where we will stay for the next two nights.
Hotel: Maldron
Meal: Full Breakfast

DAY 6

Connemara Excursion
The rugged beauty of Connemara was captured in the film ‘The Quiet Man’ with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. Its loughs and mountains are yours to explore today during a scenic drive. We arrive at Kylemore Abbey later to visit the country’s most romantic castle and ramble through the hidden nooks of its Victorian walled garden. Returning to Galway, we enjoy some free time to explore its imposing stone Cathedral or stroll through Eyre Square, which John F. Kennedy visited in 1963.
Meal: Full Breakfast,Dinner

DAY 7

County Galway – Cliffs of Moher – Shannon Estuary Ferry – Killarney (2 Nights)
See the imposing sheer Cliffs of Moher rising over 200 metres above the pounding sea below and learn about the history of these natural phenomena during a visit to the ‘Atlantic Edge’ exhibition. We ‘Connect With Locals’ and join Oonagh to forage for ingredients that will be used to create our Be My Guest lunch at the Barrtra Seafood restaurant along the world famous Wild Atlantic Way. Enjoy spectacular views of the dramatic coastline before boarding a ferry across the tranquil Shannon River estuary. Then, continue through County Kerry to your hotel in Killarney, where we’ll have an evening at leisure or join in the craic at an optional Irish ceilidh.
Hotel: Killarney Towers/Hotel Killarney
Meal: Full Breakfast,Lunch

DAY 8

Ring of Kerry Excursion
The soul-stirring landscapes of Iveragh Peninsula provide a mesmerising backdrop for our scenic coastal drive around the Ring of Kerry – an unimaginably beautiful natural setting. En route we will see Killorglin, famous for its annual ‘Puck Fair’, as well as Daniel O’Connell’s Cahirciveen, the fishing village of Waterville, the Black Valley and Moll’s Gap.
Meal: Full Breakfast,Dinner

DAY 9

Killarney – Blarney – Waterford – Kilkenny
Today we acquire the ‘gift of the gab’, bending over backwards to kiss the Blarney Stone before we travel to Waterford via Youghal. Admire the delicate creations of fine crystal during a visit to the House of Waterford Crystal where we will ‘Dive Into Culture’ and witness a demonstration by master craftsmen. This evening, we arrive in Kilkenny with its imposing 12th-century castle, once the seat of the Butlers of Ormonde.
Hotel: Hotel Kilkenny
Meal: Full Breakfast

DAY 10

Kilkenny – New Ross – Co. Wicklow – Dublin
Our first stop today is in New Ross, where we’ll see the monument to John F. Kennedy, who visited his ancestral family hometown in 1963. ‘Dive Into Culture’ and gain insights into the tragic plight of Irish emigrants during the potato famine of the 1800s on our visit to the nearby three-masted Famine Ship Dunbrody. Journey through the lush Irish countryside of County Wicklow, the Garden of Ireland, and back to Dublin where you’ll spend your final evening with travel companions sharing stories of your memorable journey through Ireland at a Farewell Dinner.
Hotel: Roganstown
Meal: Full Breakfast,Farewell Dinner

DAY 11

Depart Dublin
It’s time to say a fond farewell to Ireland and newfound friends as you prepare to end your wonderful Irish experience. Transfers are available. Conditions apply.
Meal: Full Breakfast

Sightseeing Highlights

• CITY TOUR in Dublin, Belfast and Londonderry
• ORIENTATION of Galway and Waterford
• VISIT the Glasnevin Trust in Dublin, the Titanic Museum, the UNESCO World Heritage site at the Giant’s Causeway, Belleek to see how the famous pottery is made, Kylemore Abbey, the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney to kiss the stone and gain the ‘gift of the gab’, the Crystal Showroom at Waterford and the Famine Ship in New Ross
• VIEW St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Queens University in Belfast, the City Walls and Murals of Londonderry, Connemara and the Cathedral of Galway
• SCENIC DRIVE along the Ring of Kerry

Dining Highlights

• 10 full breakfasts
• 1 lunch (Be My Guest)
• 5 dinners

First class travel Highlights

• Audio Headsets for flexible sightseeing
• Daily breakfast and an average of 50% of evening meals
• Luxury air-conditioned coach with WiFi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
• Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
• Hand-picked Trip Highlights
• Optional Experiences and free time
• All porterage and restaurant gratuities
• Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
• An expert Travel Director and a professional Driver
• All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
• VIP entry to many sights