Emerald Ireland Experience

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1: Dublin City

On Arrival you will enjoy a Private Car transfer to your downtown Dublin hotel. Relax after your journey. Perhaps enjoy a Horse and Carriage ride through some of Dublin's historic Georgian Squares to gain a leisurely overview of the city. There are many wonderful pubs and restaurants within easy walking distance of your hotel as well as world class shopping. (Trinity Capital, 3-Nights)

Day 2: Dublin City Sightseeing

Today explore Dublin City. Highlights include Trinity College, Dublin Castle and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Stroll down Grafton Street, Dublin's premier shopping area. The thoroughfares leading off Grafton St. bustle with fashionable restaurants and traditional pubs where you may sample cuisine from around the world. Visit St. Stephen's Green, Europe's oldest and most beautiful Georgian Square. Maybe fit in a visit to the Guinness Brewery at St. James’ Gate. Visit Speakers' Square in Temple Bar.

Day 3: Wicklow

You may enjoy an optional day tour to Wicklow, the "Garden of Ireland". Explore one of the most famous and enchanting places in Ireland, Glendalough (the valley of the two lakes), home to some of Ireland's oldest and most interesting monastic ruins. The spectacular hidden mountains and barren bog lands at Sally Gap will leave you breathless. Or, you may prefer to explore Dublin's galleries, museums and gardens. Enjoy a lunch of oysters and Guinness at Davy Byrne's, mentioned in Joyce's Ulysses.

Day 4: Dublin/ Kilkenny-Waterford

Depart Dublin this morning. Head south to visit Kilkenny, Ireland's best example of a medieval town. It is beautifully situated on the river Nore, which forms the moat of its magnificently restored castle. You may take a guided historical walking tour to include St. Canices and Black Friary. Enjoy lunch at Kytlers Inn.

Drive to Waterford and visit the famous Crystal Factory to see how the renowned pieces of glass are created. Each piece is hand blown and carefully sculpted. (Kilkenny Hibernian, 1-Night)

Days 5, 6 & 7: Cork / Kinsale / Killarney / Ring of Kerry

Tour Cork City and include a visit to the Shandon Bells, the gothic style University College, St Finbarr's Cathedral, City Market and the Crawford Art Gallery. Perhaps head to Blarney to see the castle and kiss the famous stone of eloquence. Shop at the Blarney Woolen Mills. Visit the Titanic Exhibition at Cobh.

Continue to Kinsale, one of Ireland's most picturesque sailing and fishing towns with a reputation for fine food. Continue west to Killarney for a 3-night stay. (Earls Court House, 3-Nights)

Today tour the world famous Ring of Kerry. For centuries artists and writers have celebrated this kingdom of Kerry, where the contrasting mountain, lake and coastal scenery is at its most spectacular. This trip promises some of the most celebrated scenic attractions in Ireland with rugged landscapes, antiquities and attractive villages. From Waterville you can see the Skellig Islands, once raided by the Vikings in 810 A. This former monastery is now home to one of the biggest gannet colonies in the world.

Continue along the ring to the lovely market town of Kenmare. Continue back to Killarney on one of the most scenic drives you will ever experience. Enjoy some traditional Irish music tonight at a local pub.

Drive to the Gap of Dunloe, see Kate Kearney's Cottage. Then visit the magnificent gardens and Killarney lakes at Muckross House and Gardens. Take a cruise on the lakes which are located in the Killarney National Park. Lough Leane, the largest of the lakes has approximately 30 islands nestled in its waters. The best general view of the lake may be had from Aghadoe.

Day 8: Adare / Limerick / Bunratty

Depart Killarney and drive to the picturesque village of Adare. Enjoy a walk among the scenic ruins and visit Adare Manor. Continue to Limerick and see King John's Castle. Then drive west to Bunratty Castle. The castle was built in 1425 and carefully restored in recent years with authentic furniture, stained glass and tapestries. Bunratty Folk Park is a recreation of a typical 19th century Irish Village including thatched cottages. (Old Ground Hotel, 2-Nights)

Day 9: Burren / Cliffs of Moher

Enjoy a great day of touring in County Clare where you will visit the magnificent Cliffs of Moher which stretch dramatically 700 feet above the Atlantic for miles of coastline. We recommend a stop at Ailwee Cave to see the underground river and waterfall. Explore the lunar-like Burren region, famous for its unique flora and fauna, geology, and archaeology. Visit Ennis, once or Ireland's leading traditional music towns and a fine example of a heritage town. Perhaps enjoy a medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle tonight.

Day 10: Shannon

Transfer to Shannon Airport for your flight back to the U.S., or continue your tour of Ireland.

Optional Add-on Tour

Day 10: Galway / Connemara

Drive north to Galway, city of the tribes and now a bustling university town with a reputation for arts, crafts, music and the Irish language. Continue west into Connemara, the western region of County Galway, and one of Ireland's gaeltacht (Irish speaking) regions. The area around Leenane and Cong is where the movie 'The Quiet Man' was made with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. There are a number of charming fishing villages dotted along the coast where you may wish to stop for lunch. Visit Kylemore Abbey. (2-Nights, Ballynahinch Castle)

Day 11: Connemara / Aran Islands

This morning, visit the Aran Islands. Take a ferry to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands. The island is dissected by winding, hilly lanes that meander between mazes of stone walls, enclosing fields of pasture or potatoes. The island houses the ruins of four prehistoric forts, and its north side is liberally dotted with the ruins of monastic sites and old churches.

Day 12: Shannon

After Breakfast, transfer to Shannon Airport for your flight back to the U.S.