2019 SCENIC IRELAND 13 DAY TOUR FROM LIMERICK TO LIMERICK
Breathtaking, lush landscapes combined with vibrant cities and historical attractions await you on this Scenic Ireland guided tour, which includes Northern Ireland. You’ll visit some of the most famous cities as well as some of the smaller towns. Along the way, you’ll learn about the Irish way of life, see breathtaking scenery, hear about Ireland’s tumultuous history, and visit some of its historical sights.
Take in the Irish way of life at a typical Irish farm to see a farmer at work with his dogs and you’ll learn how to make scones to enjoy with coffee. Globus has also arranged an Irish Coffee demonstration in Waterford. Visit the Blasket Islands Centre, which tells the story of life on the remote Blasket Islands evacuated by the last inhabitants in 1953. Learn about life in Northern Ireland on guided tours with Local Guides in Derry and Belfast.
Spectacular scenery also awaits you on your escorted tour of Ireland. See the 668-foot Cliffs of Moher on Ireland’s west coast, offering breathtaking views of rugged cliffs dropping into the ocean. You’ll visit beautiful Garinish Island, home to a lush garden, and you’ll join part of the Ring of Kerry, a 100-mile drive with sparkling seascapes and mountains dotted with brightly colored farmhouses. In Northern Ireland, you’ll visit awe-inspiring Giant’s Causeway, basalt columns formed millions of years ago by volcanic eruptions.
You’ll also hear about Ireland’s history and visit some of its historical and religious sites, including a guided tour of the Bronze Age passage-grave at Knowth, and visit Belfast’s Titanic Experience where you’ll learn about the building of the Titanic and its ill-fated maiden voyage. These are just some of the many highlights offered on this scenic guided tour of Ireland.
DESTINATIONS & SIGHTSEEING
Headsets throughout the tour.
Transportation:
Motorcoach; private boat to Garinish Island. Free Wi-Fi available on your motorcoach and in most hotel lobbies.
MEALS
Full Irish breakfast daily; 5 three-course dinners with wine and choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Limerick
ITINERARY
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
DAY 1 ARRIVE IN SHANNON, IRELAND–LIMERICK
Céad míle fáilte—a hundred-thousand welcomes! After checking into your hotel, free time to relax and perhaps enjoy the hotel’s leisure amenities or explore the city. This evening, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel.
DinnerDAY 2 LIMERICK–CLIFFS OF MOHER–GALWAY–CLIFDEN
Drive to the CLIFFS OF MOHER, rising 668 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, and savor the breathtaking panorama of the Clare coast. Next, a special treat: at RATHBAUN FARM, try your hand at SCONE BAKING and watch the farmer shear a sheep and maneuver a flock with the help of a sheep dog, then enjoy coffee and your scones, fresh from the oven. On to Galway, a popular seaside destination and a buzzing cosmopolitan center with colorful shops and a busy café and bar culture. Call at the Joyce family’s MARBLE WORKSHOP before spending the night at Clifden, a small fishing town in the far west.
BreakfastDinnerDAY 3 CLIFDEN–KYLEMORE–WESTPORT–KNOCK–SLIGO
Visit KYLEMORE ABBEY this morning, the massive castle acquired by Benedictine nuns, and see the restored house, church, and gardens. Pause at Westport before continuing on to Knock, a village that attracts pilgrims from all over the world since townsfolk saw apparitions. Then, travel through rugged landscapes to the coastal seaport and county town of Sligo, known for its literary heritage.
BreakfastDinnerDAY 4 SLIGO–BELLEEK, NORTHERN IRELAND–DERRY–GIANT’S CAUSEWAY–BELFAST
A rich string of Northern Ireland attractions awaits you today. First, visit the BELLEEK POTTERY factory, renowned for its exquisite cream-colored Parian china. In Derry, walk the city walls in the company of a Local Guide, and after lunch, pass Dunluce Castle before visiting awe-inspiring GIANT’S CAUSEWAY. Hear how millions of years ago, the earth cracked open, lava forced its way out, and as it cooled slowly and evenly, more than 40,000 interlocking basalt columns were formed, leading from the cliff foot into the sea. Spend the next two nights in Belfast, Northern Ireland’s seat of government.
BreakfastDAY 5 BELFAST
This morning’s “Living History” tour in the company of a Local Guide will take you past all the city’s attractions, including City Hall, the Albert Memorial Clock Tower, Queens University, and the Parliament Buildings at Stormont. Next, visit the fascinating TITANIC EXPERIENCE and learn all about the building of the largest passenger steam ship, its maiden voyage, and the tragic night of April 14, 1912. At MOUNT STEWART HOUSE, on the shores of Strangford Lough, discover the newly restored home of the Vane-Tempest-Stewart family, once the Marquesses of Londonderry, and the important role they played in local and international history. There will also be time to explore the celebrated gardens or take a stroll to the lake. Later, why not join an optional excursion?
BreakfastDAY 6 BELFAST–KNOWTH, IRELAND–DUBLIN
Drive in the lee of the Mountains of Mourne back into the Irish Republic, and at Bru na Boinne (Palace of the Boyne), one of the world’s most important archaeological landscapes, visit KNOWTH, where your guide explains the fascinating passage-grave dating from the Bronze Age. For a first taste of the Irish capital, join an optional cabaret evening with dinner and entertainment.
BreakfastDAY 7 DUBLIN
An orientation drive in the “Fair City” includes statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College. The afternoon is at leisure for you to enjoy this vibrant city. Tonight, maybe take in an optional dinner outing to the Guinness Storehouse.
BreakfastDAY 8 DUBLIN–KILKENNY–WATERFORD
Kilkenny, one of Ireland’s prettiest towns with medieval cobblestone streets and Old-World charm, is your first destination today. Visit magnificent KILKENNY CASTLE, which overlooks the Nore River and has guarded this important river crossing for more than 900 years. The gardens, with extensive woodland paths, rose garden, and ornamental lake, create the setting for a beautiful stroll. Then, to Waterford for a guided tour of the HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL. You may also want to join an optional excursion to a local pub. After dinner at your hotel, enjoy an IRISH COFFEE DEMONSTRATION.
BreakfastDinnerDAY 9 WATERFORD–BLARNEY–CORK
The first of the day’s highlights is an entertaining walk through Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city, in the company of a Local Guide. Then, visit BLARNEY CASTLE, renowned for its magical KISSING STONE. Overnight in Cork, Ireland’s second-largest city. An optional suggestion would be a visit to Cobh’s Queenstown Story, which tells of the transatlantic liner route between Liverpool and North America and last port of call for the Titanic.
BreakfastDAY 10 CORK–GARINISH ISLAND–KILLARNEY
This morning, board a private boat for the short crossing to GARINISH ISLAND in Bantry Bay, whose warm waters attract colonies of seals. Follow the winding paths between the strong-scented flowering trees and shrubs of this lush tropical island garden. Then, head over the mountains into County Kerry. At Kenmare, join part of the RING OF KERRY and stop for spectacular photos of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View before arriving in the popular resort of Killarney. Tonight, an entertaining optional evening in Tralee with dinner and tickets for Siamsa Tire National Folk Theatre.
BreakfastDAY 11 KILLARNEY. DINGLE EXCURSION
Enjoy panoramic views on Dingle Peninsula on the way to the BLASKET ISLANDS CENTRE. Learn about the way of life and unique literary achievements on the string of remote offshore islands evacuated by the last inhabitants in 1953. Visit Dingle, then return to Killarney.
BreakfastDinnerDAY 12 KILLARNEY–ADARE–LIMERICK
A final morning at leisure in Killarney with time for an optional excursion by horse-drawn jaunting car. In the afternoon, drive via quaint Adare, renowned for its pretty thatched cottages, to Limerick. A suggestion for a very special night out: attend an optional medieval banquet at an historic castle.
BreakfastDAY 13 LIMERICK
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
BreakfastACCOMMODATIONS
LIMERICK
CLAYTON HOTEL LIMERICK
CLIFDEN
STATION HOUSE HOTEL
SLIGO
RADISSON BLU SLIGO
BELFAST
THE CLAYTON HOTEL BELFAST
DUBLIN
HILTON DUBLIN KILMAINHAM
WATERFORD
GRANVILLE HOTEL
CORK
CLAYTON HOTEL CORK CITY
KILLARNEY
KILLARNEY TOWERS HOTEL
