Emerald Isle
It may come as a surprise that the beloved Irish tune “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” was written by a trio of American songwriters. That’s the moving influence of this enchanting and captivating land. So when are Irish eyes smiling? At every moment on this undiscovered tour of Ireland – as you stroll down the lively streets of Dublin, sip Guinness in a boisterous pub on the Dingle Peninsula, take a horse-drawn jaunting-car ride through the Killarney countryside, and even bake scones on a quaint Irish sheep farm in the medieval town of Galway. By way of the most dramatic coastal and pastoral scenery, this tour of Ireland leads you to the lesser-known gems of the Emerald Isle as well as the cliffs, castles, and famous crystal you’ve long heard of. As you hum along the winding Ring of Kerry and the rocky Aran Islands, this tour of Ireland “will steal your heart away.”
Pricing
Standard group tour starting at $3,559* CAD per person, based on double occupancy
10 Days – Dublin to Dublin
Meals
- Full Irish breakfast daily
- 1 lunch
- 4 three-course dinners
Day
Day 1
Location(s)
Dublin
Meals
Dinner
Description
Céad mile fáilte—a hundred-thousand welcomes! At 3pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for an afternoon orientation drive, including O’Connell Street, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College.
Accommodation: The Gibson (or similar)
Day 2
Dublin – Kildare – Strokestown – Ballina
Breakfast, Dinner
KILDARE Visit the Irish National Stud.
STROKESTOWN Guided tour of the 1740s mansion and gardens at Strokestown House and the Famine Museum.
Accommodation: Ballina Manor Hotel (or similar)
Day 3
Ballina – Kylemore – Galway
Breakfast
Via Westport, head for the Connemara region.
CONNEMARA Visit Kylemore Abbey. Visit the Joyce family at their marble workshop at Moycullen.
GALWAY Free time.
Accommodation: Galmont Hotel and Spa (or similar, 2 nights)
Day 4
Galway – Excursion to Aran Islands
Breakfast, Lunch
Ferry crossing to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands.
INISHMORE At Ti Joe Watty’s pub hear from a local about life on Inishmore over a light lunch. A minibus tour of the island with a local guide-driver includes a visit to the prehistoric clifftop fort of Dun Aengus.
Day 5
Galway – Cliffs of Moher – Limerick
Breakfast
RATHBAUN Try your hand at scone baking, learn about sheep herding, and enjoy coffee and your scones at an Irish farm.
CLARE COAST See The Burren and stop for photos of prehistoric Poulnabrone Dolmen.
CLIFFS OF MOHER Visit the 668-foot-high rocky cliffs above the Atlantic Ocean.
Accommodation: Limerick Strand Hotel (or similar)
Day 6
Limerick Foynes – Dingle Peninsular – Killarney
Breakfast
FOYNES Guided tour of the Flying Boat Museum followed by Irish coffee demonstration and tasting.
DINGLE PENINSULA Scenic drive on Slea Head promontory.
Accommodation: Killarney Towers Hotel (or similar, 2 nights)
Day 7
Killarney – Excursion to Ring of Kerry
Breakfast, Dinner
RING OF KERRY Panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip.
KILLARNEY Horse-drawn jaunting-car ride through the national park with vistas of the Lakes of Killarney and Ross Castle.
Day 8
Killarney – Blarney – Waterford
Breakfast, Dinner
Cross the Kerry Mountains into County Cork.
BLARNEY Visit the village renowned for its magical Kissing Stone with free time to explore.
WATERFORD Guided tour of the House of Waterford Crystal.
Accommodation: Granville Hotel (or similar)
Day 9
Waterford – Avoca – Dublin
Breakfast
AVOCA Watch the weavers at work in Ireland’s oldest handweaving mill.
DUBLIN Free time this afternoon.
Accommodation: The Gibson (or similar)
Day 10
Dublin
Breakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
*Hotel rooms are subject to availability and are confirmed by the supplier at time of booking; they may be replaced by other hotel rooms of similar category at the sole discretion of the supplier.
Interested in the itinerary above? Click on the “START PLANNING” button below and reference “Emerald Isle” in the form, or give us a call at 587.997.5969 to book.
An adventure designed specifically for you
Let us work with you to tailor a journey based on your travel style and interests. We can use the existing itinerary above as a foundation, or build one from scratch to create your ideal vacation. Connect with us to start the conversation.
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*Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to change and availability.