Ireland is famous for Guinness, the Blarney Stone, good music and craic! Take in many of the famous sights on this fantastic jaunt around the country. Enjoy cosmopolitan Dublin and its many bars, learn about the tragic history of "the troubles" in Belfast and Londonderry, before enjoying the scenery and good times in the South.
| Length: | 9 days |
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| Accommodations: | Hotel, Hostel as per itinerary
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| Meals: | Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast as per itinerary
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| Sightseeing: | Ireland, including Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork, Galway & Londonderry |
| Transportation: | Modern, air-conditioned coach |
Depart for EuropeJet off to the trip of a lifetime awaiting you in Europe!
Arrive DublinCheck-in to your hotel this evening in dynamic, down-to-earth Dublin. Meet up with your Tour Manager and fellow travellers and discover Dublin’s fascinating heritage. Your Tour Manager will show you Trinity college, the 120m high Monument of Light, Parnell Square and St Stephen’s Green, once the site of Dublin’s public floggings and hangings. Afterwards, make the most of the night and head to the cultural hot spot of Temple Bar, where pubs, bars and cafes spill out onto cobbled lanes.
Dublin to KilkennyDiscover Kilkenny’s medieval charm and its signature sites, Kilkenny Castle and St. Canice’s Cathedral.
Kilkenny to CorkEn route for Cork, you’ll visit portside Cobh and its Heritage Centre, and get the background on the Titanic and her last port of call. Also find out about how 2.5 million people left Ireland from this spot during the famine. Then stop by and see the Rock of Cashel. The former seat of power to the region’s kings is now a striking green hill topped with ancient ruins. Later, we pull into colourful Cork, set on the banks of the River Lee. Make the most of your free time and enjoy some shopping. Rummage through the lively markets, bustling with friendly locals. There’s the rowdy Coal Quay street market where you’ll find local produce or the historic English Market, operating since 1785.
Cork to GalwaySee the medieval Blarney Castle, where you can kiss the magical Blarney Stone if you’re keen – your Tour Manager will fill you in on the legend. Continue on through the moors and woodlands past the vertical Cliffs of Moher. Cruise on to the traditional town of Galway. Loaded with Irish soul and packed with lively pubs, Galway gives you a chance to experience the typically Irish. Get a feel for this pretty town’s atmosphere, where street performers, magicians and traditional musicians busk outside colourfully painted buildings. Make the most of your free night, round a group of friends and head to the pub. Listen out for locals speaking Irish as you try out traditional Irish stew or order some of the region’s famous oysters.
GalwayGet out there and discover this quintessential Irish town where Gaelic is still spoken on the streets. You also have the option to jump on a ferry and cruise out to the stunning Aran Islands for a day away from it all. With rugged cliffs, wild flowers and pounding seas, the Aran Islands are all about natural beauty.
Galway to LondonderryNext up: riverside Londonderry. With loads of artistic activity, it’s the central point of Northern Ireland’s cultural renewal. Your Tour Manager will show you the city’s famous 17th century walls. They’ve got a rep for a reason – standing at 8m high and 9m long, no enemy has ever succeeded in getting through them. Explore more of Londonderry with our Local Guide in a fascinating optional tour around the historic city. Learn about epic battles of the past before taking a step back in time with the People’s Gallery in Bogside. Our Local Guide will explain how the colourful murals sum up and commemorate key events from the Troubles.
Londonderry to DublinFrom Londonderry, we slide by Belfast, former hotspot of the Troubles (political conflict in Ireland) and learn about the city’s difficult past. Our Local Guide will introduce Belfast’s iconic political murals and Victorian buildings, while telling you the story behind the city’s history. Later on, you’ll be amazed by the natural wonder and UNESCO World Heritage site, the Giant’s Causeway. With approximately 40 000 rock columns packed together, reaching heights of 12m (36ft),this unbelievable rock formation will give you goose bumps. Back into buzzing Dublin, you’ve got time to explore more of this charismatic capital. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Guinness Storehouse and get the low down on Ireland’s national drink. Find out how the “black stuff” is made and how to pull a pint the Irish way. You’ll even get to satisfy your taste buds with a Guinness at the end. Dublin has it all shopping-wise so get some pointers from your Tour Manager and hit the shops on Grafton Street or poke around Dublin’s many bookstores. For a bite to eat, head to the open air food and fresh produce markets and live a bit of the local lifestyle. Cap off your tour with a night out with the group and opt for authentic Irish experience, complete with a traditional meal and Irish dancing in one of Dublin’s most popular pubs.
Depart DublinThe tour ends after breakfast & it's time to say farewell to your new friends.
All these highlights along with city sightseeing are included in your tour price!