Discover, Plan & Go!

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Dublin

Take an evening flight from your U.S. gateway city and travel overnight across the Atlantic to Ireland. Sit back and relax with meals and entertainment.

Day 2: Dublin Tour & Doyle's Cabaret

On arrival at Dublin Airport go through immigration formalities and pick up your baggage. Go to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall where staff will arrange a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later than noon, you will transfer to the hotel at your own expense. (As this is a short tour, you may like to consider spending an additional night in Dublin on your own to relax before starting your sightseeing tour - refer to 7-day tour in price panel below.) At 2:00 pm join a local guide who will show you the most important and interesting places throughout central Dublin. Drive through the main streets to see historic buildings such as Trinity College, where the Book of Kells is housed; Dail Eireann, where the government meets; and the rows of Georgian houses with gaily-colored doorways. Stop at Dublin Castle to take a guided tour through the elegant State Apartments, which are filled with elaborate Waterford Crystal chandeliers, furnishings and portraits of important people in Irish history. Learn about Irish history right up to present times. Return to your hotel and in the evening attend Doyle's Irish Cabaret, which takes place right in your hotel. Start with a 4-course dinner which is followed by a lighthearted show with lively dancing, popular songs and plenty of laughter. (D)

Day 3: Blarney Castle & Killarney

Depart Dublin and view the green countryside as you travel through the center of Ireland, which has many mixed farms. Stop to view the stately church ruins atop the Rock of Cashel, which rises high above the surrounding plain. Nearby visit a farmhouse to sample some freshly-baked scones with tea and learn about farm life from the owners. Continue your drive south and just a few miles outside Cork, visit Blarney Castle. Climb the winding stairs to the ramparts in order to kiss the famous "Stone of Eloquence." Also visit the Blarney Woollen Mills where you can find quality Irish-made goods of all types conveniently under one roof. Drive through Macroom, built around a fine castle, and into County Kerry where the scenery becomes more mountainous to Killarney, picturesquely set beside lakes with Ireland's highest mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, forming a backdrop. Check into your hotel and relax before dinner. Afterwards you may like to take a stroll through the compact town center and explore one of Killarney's famous singing pubs. (B, D)

Day 4: Ring of Kerry & Skellig Experience

Today embark on Ireland's most popular scenic drive of 100 miles - the Ring of Kerry. This winding route reveals breathtaking sights of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks as well as coastal views of beaches and cliffs. Just outside Killarney stop near the Gap of Dunloe to see "Essence of Kerry," an audio-visual presentation about the region. As you travel along, there will be plenty of stops for photos at the best vistas. Near the western tip of the peninsula cross to Valencia Island by bridge and visit the Skellig Experience. Here learn about the life of early Christian monks who inhabited the rocky offshore islands, living in round stone huts. Also learn about the abundant bird life that thrives on the rocky ledges of the islands. Drive through the villages of Cahirciveen and Waterville at the end of the peninsula and stop to walk around Sneem, where brightly-painted houses are grouped around the central green. Stop at Moll's Gap for a view over the three lakes of Killarney with the town in the distance. Return to Killarney where the evening is free for independent dining in one of the many restaurants in the town. (B)

Day 5: Cliffs of Moher & Bunratty Castle

Leave Killarney and drive north to Tarbert for a 20-minute ferry ride across the wide River Shannon Estuary. Your tour continues along the Clare coast to the Cliffs of Moher, a spectacular wall of limestone that reaches to almost 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. You can watch the sea birds as they nest in crevices and, on a clear day, you can see the Aran Islands. Drive past Lahinch golf links, one of Ireland's most famous, and through the marketing town of Ennis to Bunratty. Check into Bunratty Castle Hotel, which is located very close to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. If you wish, you may visit the Folk Park, have a drink in the 200-year-old Durty Nelly's Pub or shop at the Bunratty Mills. In the evening head to Bunratty Castle for a memorable finish to your tour, in a wonderful setting with good food and entertainment. Climb the stairs to the upper hall where the mood is set by the lords and ladies of the castle. Then take your place in the Great Hall of the castle for a medieval-style feast of excellent dishes and plenty of wine. During and after the meal the lords and ladies will serenade you with song and harp music, evocative of the Middle Ages. (B, D)

Day 6: Shannon Airport & Dublin

This morning take a group transfer to nearby Shannon Airport where your tour concludes at 10:30 am. If you wish to end your tour in Dublin, you may drive through pleasant scenery of the midland region to arrive at Dublin Airport at approximately 4:30 pm or in the city center at 5:00 pm. (B)