Irish Experience 2009
Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to Dublin.
Day 2 - Arrive Dublin Welcome to Dublin and Ireland! After hotel check-in there is time to relax or explore. Later, we enjoy a Welcome Drink with our Tour Director and travelling companions.
Day 3 - Dublin — Belfast This morning our first visit is to Old Jameson Whiskey Distillery to learn about this great tradition and to taste the final result! Then our included guided sightseeing tour includes a visit to Trinity College to see the ancient Book of Kells, views of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Castle, and Phoenix Park. Then we leave Dublin and drive first to the Boyne Valley, site of the famous battle. Later we continue on to Belfast. (Full breakfast / Dinner)
Day 4 - Belfast — Bushmills — Giants Causeway — Londonderry/Derry (2 nights) Our morning sightseeing tour shows us the City Hall, Queen's University and Stormont Castle. We continue our journey to the beautiful Antrim coast road and on past the scenic Glens of Antrim to Ballycastle. Next we stop to visit the Giants Causeway, huge basalt columns rising from the sea before we make our way to our hotel. Tonight we enjoy a Highlight Dinner in a local restaurant. (Full breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Day 5 - Londonderry/Derry sightseeing & at leisure After breakfast this morning our walking tour with a local guide takes us along the city walls, some of the best preserved in Europe. Then we make our way to the 17th century St. Columb's Cathedral with its tower. From here we continue on to the quay where Irish emigrants sailed to the New World. Free time later to perhaps take an excursion to the Inishowen Peninsula. (Full breakfast)
Day 6 - Londonderry/Derry — Castlebar (Co. Mayo) This morning our journey takes us via Strabane and Omagh, stopping to visit the Ulster-American Folk Park en route to Lough Erne in Ireland's Lake District. We will also stop at Belleek in County Fermanagh to visit the famous pottery. Next we will continue our drive through Yeats country to our hotel at Castlebar in County Mayo for dinner and our overnight stay. (Full breakfast / Dinner)
Day 7 - Castlebar (Co. Mayo) — Connemara — Galway Bay Today we travel to Connemara via the pretty town of Westport. Later we'll see Kylemore Abbey renowned for the beauty and tranquility of both the surroundings and gardens, before driving along the shores of Lough Corrib to Galway. Here we will enjoy a tour of the city and beautiful views of Galway Bay before arriving at our hotel. (Full breakfast)
Day 8 - Galway Bay — Killarney (2 nights) Today we travel to Limerick where our orientation shows us St. Mary's Cathedral, King John's Castle and the Treaty Stone. Our Tour Director has a Hidden Treasure to show us today as we continue via Adare, the prettiest Irish village, to our hotel. (Full breakfast / Dinner)
Day 9 - Ring of Kerry Excursion Today spectacular scenery awaits us on our drive around the Ring of Kerry. Plunging cliffs, lush lakeland, granite mountains, and a jagged coastline are all part of this photographers' delight. See Dingle Bay, the South Kerry Mountains and Ladies View before we return to our hotel for the night. (Full breakfast)
Day 10 - Killarney — Blarney — Waterford Today we drive into County Cork stopping to visit Blarney Castle so that we can kiss the stone and acquire the 'gift of the gab'! Then we pass through Cork and continue along the scenic coast to reach the Waterford Crystal Factory for an included visit. (Full breakfast / Dinner)
Day 11 - Waterford — Dublin Our first stop is at medieval Kilkenny, then we continue to the Irish National Stud Farm where we enjoy a walking tour and also visit the Japanese Garden. Then we return to Dublin with time at leisure before this evening enjoying a Farewell Dinner together with our Tour Director and travelling companions. (Full breakfast / Farewell Dinner)
Day 12 - Dublin — USA This morning it is time to bid farewell as our Irish tour comes to an end. (Full breakfast)
Free airport transfers: Transfers on Day 2 at Dublin Airport will operate at 08.00, 11.00 and 13.30. Passengers arriving later should make their own way to the first hotel. Return transferson the last touring day will arrive at Dublin Airport at 07.30, 09.30 and 11.30.
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