2020 EMERALD ISLE 10 DAY TOUR FROM DUBLIN TO DUBLIN

DESTINATIONS & SIGHTSEEING

DUBLIN
Orientation drive; welcome dinner
KILDARE
Guided tour of the Irish National Stud
STROKESTOWN HOUSE
Guided tour of the house and Famine Museum, and visit the gardens
KYLEMORE
Visit the Benedictine abbey
CONNEMARA
Visit a marble workshop
GALWAY
Orientation
ARAN ISLANDS
Ferry to and from Inishmore, hear a presentation on life on the island by a local historian,  enjoy lunch at Tí Joe Watty’s pub, take a minibus tour with a driver-guide, visit Dun Aengus
RATHBAUN FARM
See the farmer at work,  bake your own scones, and enjoy morning coffee in the farmhouse
CLIFFS OF MOHER
Savor the spectacular views
FOYNES
Guided tour of the Flying Boat Museum, enjoy an Irish Coffee
DINGLE PENINSULA
Slea Head drive and visit Dingle town, enjoy  dinner at a local pub
RING OF KERRY
Scenic peninsula drive
KILLARNEY
Horse-drawn jaunting car ride
BLARNEY
Visit the famous village
WATERFORD
Guided tour of the House of Waterford Crystal
AVOCA
Guided tour of the handweaving mill
GLENDALOUGH
Guided tour of St. Kevin’s center of Irish Christianity

Headsets throughout the tour.
Free Wi-Fi available on your motorcoach and in most hotel lobbies.

Notes:

  • Due to the adventurous style of the Aran Islands excursion, we recommend you bring suitable outdoor wear and comfortable shoes.

Transportation:

Motorcoach; ferry to/from Inishmore; minibus on the Aran Island; horse-drawn jaunting car in Killarney.

 MEALS

Full Irish breakfast daily; 1 lunch at a local pub; 4 three-course dinners with wine and choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Dublin, plus 1 dinner at a local pub on Dingle Peninsula

 ITINERARY

Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.

DAY 1 ARRIVE IN DUBLIN, IRELAND

Céad míle fáilte—a hundred-thousand welcomes! Check into your hotel. At 3 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for an afternoon orientation drive through statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and past St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel.

DinnerDinner

DAY 2 DUBLIN–KILDARE–STROKESTOWN–BALLINA

Horse-racing country awaits this morning. Drive across the Curragh to the IRISH NATIONAL STUD at Kildare, whose thoroughbreds command respect on the racecourses of the world. Then, head north to Longford for a guided tour of STROKESTOWN HOUSE, the 1740s mansion with its fine gardens. Experience an insight into the circumstances of the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s at the Famine Museum. Overnight in Ballina, famous for its hospitality and internationally renowned for its exceptional salmon fishing in the Moy River.
Today’s Distance: 179 mi / 300 km

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

DAY 3 BALLINA–KYLEMORE–GALWAY

Via Westport, head for the unspoiled region of Connemara, an area known for its hardy breed of ponies. Visit KYLEMORE ABBEY, a massive yet graceful castle acquired by Benedictine nuns as a precious heirloom for Ireland. At Moycullen, visit the Joyce family at their MARBLE WORKSHOP before arriving in the port city of Galway. Tonight’s recommendation: an optional evening at Dunguaire Castle, where the intimate banquet has an enlightening literary theme.
Today’s Distance: 104 mi / 166 km

Breakfast Breakfast

DAY 4 GALWAY. EXCURSION TO THE ARAN ISLANDS

At Rossaveal, board a comfortable, modern FERRY for the 45-minute crossing to Kilronan on Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands and where Gaelic is the first language of the islanders. Your fascinating day continues with a presentation about life on Inishmore by an island historian. After  a light LUNCH at Tí Joe Watty’s pub, board a minibus to enjoy your driver/Local Guide’s commentary on a tour of the island. End with a visit to clifftop DUN AENGUS, one of the most spectacular and dramatic prehistoric stone forts in Europe. Back in Kilronan, board your ferry back to the mainland. There are plenty of dining options in Galway this evening.
Today’s Distance: 45 mi / 72 km

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

DAY 5 GALWAY–CLIFFS OF MOHER–LIMERICK

Enjoy a real Irish farm experience at RATHBAUN FARM this morning. Try your hand at  SCONE BAKING, and learn from the farmer about sheep shearing and herding. Afterwards, enjoy coffee and your scones, fresh from the oven. Take the scenic route across the desolate limestone plateau known as The Burren, and stop for photos of prehistoric Poulnabrone Dolmen. At the CLIFFS OF MOHER, rising 668 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, savor the breathtaking panorama of the Clare coast. This evening, why not take part in a unique optional dinner excursion to Bunratty Folk Park?
Today’s Distance: 129 mi / 207 km

Breakfast Breakfast

DAY 6 LIMERICK–FOYNES–DINGLE PENINSULA–TRALEE

This morning, make your way to Foynes for a guided tour of the FLYING BOAT MUSEUM. Board and explore the world’s only full-size replica of a Boeing B314 “Clipper.” In the flight simulator, re-enact the thrilling experience of crossing the Atlantic in a 1930s long-range flying boat. You will also be treated to an IRISH COFFEE DEMONSTRATION, complete with a sample of the classic drink. Then, enjoy the wonderful views during the Slea Head drive on Dingle Peninsula, stroll through quaint Dingle, and maybe catch a glimpse of Fungi, the resident dolphin. Dinner will be at a  LOCAL PUB on the peninsula.
Today’s Distance: 145 mi / 238 km

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

DAY 7 TRALEE. RING OF KERRY EXCURSION

At Killorglin, join the famous RING OF KERRY for a 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip. Plenty to focus your camera on here: sparkling seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly colored farmhouses, winding lanes bordered with subtropical vegetation, and the breathtaking panorama of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. Stop in the popular resort town of Killarney and enjoy a special treat: a fun-filled horse-drawn JAUNTING-CAR RIDE through the national park with glorious vistas of the Lakes of Killarney and ancient Ross Castle.
Today’s Distance: 104 mi / 166 km

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

DAY 8 TRALEE–BLARNEY–WATERFORD

Across the Kerry Mountains, drive into County Cork for a visit to Blarney, renowned for its castle and magical Kissing Stone. Time for lunch, to walk up to the castle, and to shop for traditional Irish handicrafts. In the afternoon, proceed via Cork, Youghal, and Dungarvan to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings in 853. Here, enjoy a visit to the HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL.
Today’s Distance: 150 mi / 236 km

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

DAY 9 WATERFORD–AVOCA–GLENDALOUGH–DUBLIN

Today’s agenda: Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; Ireland’s oldest HANDWEAVING MILL at Avoca; and GLENDALOUGH, the early Christian monastic site founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. See the engaging audiovisual Ireland of the Monasteries, then your Local Guide will show you the remains of this ecclesiastical settlement. Back in Dublin tonight, join your traveling companions for a fitting farewell to Ireland: an optional cabaret evening with dinner, followed by dance, song, and laughter.
Today’s Distance: 120 mi / 192 km

Breakfast Breakfast

DAY 10 DUBLIN

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Breakfast Breakfast
April 2020

Sunday 03 May 20

$3,439

May 2020

June 2020

Sunday 21 Jun 20

$3,479

Friday 19 Jun 20

Sunday 28 Jun 20

$3,479

Sunday 26 Jul 20

$3,479

Sunday 09 Aug 20

$3,131

August 2020

Sunday 30 Aug 20

$3,131

Friday 28 Aug 20

Sunday 06 Sep 20

$3,131

September 2020

Sunday 20 Sep 20

$3,131

Sunday 04 Oct 20

$3,131

October 2020

Friday 02 Oct 20

Sunday 11 Oct 20

$3,095

Friday 09 Oct 20

Sunday 18 Oct 20

$3,059

Prices are per person, based on double room occupancy

Single room supplement:
$660

Triple room reduction per person:
$40

Additional accommodations before or after may be available.

6 guests in a party: $2,475*
18 guests in a party: $601*

Dates & Prices do not include international air travel.