8 Night Irish Castles and Manors Gold Tour

Meet with your experienced Irish driver/guide who will whisk your group to a nearby hotel or restaurant for a welcome breakfast (for arrivals prior to 9.00am). Feeling suitably refreshed, commence your tour of Ireland and travel to the Boyne Valley and visit the 5000 year old passage tomb at Newgrange or Knowth before continuing to Belfast. This evening enjoy dinner at your hotel. Overnight in Belfast, dinner and breakfast included. 

After breakfast enjoy a Black Cab tour of Belfast that will include the famous political murals and Titanic Museum. Then travel through the nine Glens of Antrim to the World Heritage site at Giant’s Causeway. Finally continue to the only walled city in Ireland, Derry. After checking into your hotel, meet with a local guide for a walking tour of the city. Overnight in Derry, breakfast included.

This morning after breakfast your group will travel to Glenveigh National Park in County Donegal and enjoy the morning in this wonderful setting. Here a Scottish style castle is surrounded by 6,540 hectares (40,873 acres) of mountains, lakes, woods and glens. Then travel through County Donegal to the port of Killybegs which is situated at the head of a scenic harbour and at the base of a vast mountainous tract. Return to Derry in the late afternoon, where the remainder of the evening is at your leisure. Overnight in Derry, breakfast included.

This morning after breakfast your group will travel to Glenveigh National Park in County Donegal and enjoy the morning in this wonderful setting. Here a Scottish style castle is surrounded by 6,540 hectares (40,873 acres) of mountains, lakes, woods and glens. Then travel through County Donegal to the port of Killybegs which is situated at the head of a scenic harbour and at the base of a vast mountainous tract. Return to Derry in the late afternoon, where the remainder of the evening is at your leisure. Overnight in Derry, breakfast included.

Check out of your hotel and travel with your group through some wonderful countryside to the town of Westport which hosts a remarkable natural and built environment and a friendly resident population. After some free time tour through the scenic Connemara area and visit the home of Ireland’s Benedictine Nuns, Kylemore Abbey. Here you can visit their magnificent home, Gothic Church and Walled Garden before continuing to the Connemara History and Heritage Centre and the vibrant city of Galway. Overnight in Galway, dinner and breakfast included.

Today take a rest from touring and enjoy the sights and shops of Galway. For the more energetic, why not hire a bike or take a walking tour of the city. Overnight in Galway, breakfast included.

This morning after an early breakfast check out of the hotel and travel to one of Ireland’s natural wonders, the Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs offer up amazing views and have been one of Ireland’s top visitor attractions. After the group has had some time to admire the views, we board the coach again and continue through the lime stone landscape of the Burren to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. After lunch (not included) travel the short distance to the beautiful little town of Adare, before relaxing as you travel to Dingle. Overnight in Dingle, dinner and breakfast included.

Following breakfast depart the hotel and tour the Dingle Peninsula. Probably less travelled than the Iveragh Peninsula where the Ring of Kerry is located, the Dingle Peninsula is becoming famous for its traditional music, amazing seafood and frequent festivals including the annual food festival in October and Dingle Trad Fest in September. Whether you arrive during a festival or not, you will find plenty to entertain you in Dingle - the town is home to an abundance of pubs, cafes and restaurants and also to Ireland’s most famous Dolphin, Fungie!  To the west of the town the scenery is predominantly rugged with amazing views from Slea Head out to the formerly inhabited Blasket Islands. Visit the Blasket Centre which celebrates the story of the Blasket Islanders, the unique literary accomplishments of the many writers the island has produced as well as their native language, culture and traditions. Overnight in Dingle, breakfast included.

Check out of your hotel and travel to the popular town of Killarney. On arrival enjoy a jaunting car (horse & carriage) ride through the National Park with its varied wildlife and flora and fauna. After some free time in Killarney, head with your group to Blarney Castle where the famous Stone of Eloquence awaits your kiss, if you are daring enough to climb to the top! Nearby you will find Blarney Woollen Mills which stocks the finest Irish made goods to remind you of your time here in the Emerald Isle. After lunch at a local pub travel to the picturesque resort of Kinsale and, after checking into your hotel, meet with a local guide for a walking tour of this historic town. Overnight in Kinsale, breakfast included.

This morning after breakfast travel to the port of Cobh where many thousands of emigrants left Ireland during the famine years and which was the final port of call on Titanic’s fatal voyage. Then visit Jameson’s Old Midleton Distillery where Irish whiskey has been distilled since 1780 and whose method hasn’t changed since then. Finally for today enjoy the scenery as you travel to the Viking city of Waterford. After checking into your hotel, visit the House of Waterford Crystal where you will see their master craftsmen at work and the largest display of this iconic glassware in the world. Overnight in Waterford, dinner and breakfast included.

After breakfast meet with your group in the lobby of the hotel to set off on a walking tour of the Viking Triangle, the area where the Viking’s first settled in 914. Visit the Bishop’s Palace Museum and Reginald’s Tower before setting off for the iconic Rock of Cashel and Kilkenny Castle.  Overnight in Kilkenny, breakfast included.

Leave Kilkenny and travel through the Wicklow Mountains to the 6th century monastic site founded by St. Kevin at Glendalough. Set in a glaciated valley with two lakes, the monastic remains include a superb round tower, stone churches and decorated crosses. Continue then to Powerscourt House & Gardens, recently voted as one of the top ten gardens in Europe. Finally travel into Ireland’s capital city where the remainder of the day will be free for independent sightseeing, shopping and dining. Overnight in Dublin, breakfast included.

After breakfast meet with your local guide for a panoramic tour of the city that will include visits to Trinity College Library, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Guinness Storehouse. This evening enjoy a farewell Irish Night at one of Dublin’s famous pubs that includes dinner and a show of traditional Irish music, song and dance.  Overnight in Dublin, breakfast included.

After your final Irish breakfast transfer to Dublin Airport for your return flight.