Discover, Plan & Go!

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart U.S for Dublin

Board your aircraft for an overnight trip across the Atlantic. Enjoy inflight entertainment and meals.

Day 2: Dublin & Whiskey Tasting

Land at Dublin Airport early this morning. After customs formalities and luggage reclamation, head to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall to arrange a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. Passengers arriving later will transfer to the hotel at their own expense. In the afternoon get together with a Dublin guide to take a tour around the city center. See Georgian houses with colorful doors, public buildings and tranquil parks. Stop at the Old Jameson Distillery where you will be learn about whiskey production and have a sample. Return to your hotel for some leisure time. You may like to explore the lively bar and restaurant scene in Temple Bar. Discover some of Dublin's older traditional pubs such as the Brazen Head, Doheny & Nesbitts or the Bailey!

Day 3: Guinness Brewery & Abbey Tavern

Tour Dublin Castle's State Apartments to learn about Ireland's history and see the magnificent chambers where many state events are held. Drive around the spacious Phoenix Park, home to Ireland's President and the U.S. Ambassador. In the Liberties pass St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Marsh Library. Visit the Guinness Storehouse to see how this famous brewery was established and how the popular black brew is created. Finish your tour with a creamy pint at the rooftop bar, Ireland's highest drinking spot. The afternoon is at leisure for independent activities. In the evening drive to Howth, a fishing village where the 200-year-old Abbey Tavern is located. After a dinner of Irish specialties, sit back and enjoy the lively singing while you sip an Irish coffee. (B, D)

Day 4: Rock of Cashel & Kinsale Ghost Tour

Depart Dublin to travel through the Irish countryside where you will see many different types of farms. Visit the Rock of Cashel, a magnificent limestone outcrop high above the surrounding lands. See the many imposing church ruins, some of which date back to the 12th century. Drive to Kinsale and check into your hotel. After dinner take a Ghost Tour - a lighthearted look at Kinsale's old streets, monuments and alleyways . To recover from your tour, you might like to check out The Spaniard, Hole-in-the-Wall or Mad Monk, Kinsale's popular pubs. (B, D)

Day 5: Historic Kinsale & Blarney

This morning join a local historian to visit Charles Fort and learn about the history and development of the town of Kinsale on a brief walk. Drive north to visit Blarney Castle, just a few miles outside Cork city. Climb to the ramparts to kiss the well-known "Stone of Eloquence." Head to the Blarney Woollen Mills for some shopping - there's even a pub hiding in the shopping complex! Travel through County Cork to Macroom and stop for a brief look around at the imposing castle, which was the boyhood home of William Penn. Continue your drive to Killarney and check into your hotel. Take a walk around the town before dinner and afterwards you may visit the popular Buckley's Pub, conveniently situated right in your hotel! (B, D)

Day 6: Ring of Kerry Tour

Explore one of Ireland's most popular scenic areas with Ireland's highest mountains on one side and a varied Atlantic coastline on the other. Stop at the Gap of Dunloe Industries to see the "Essence of Kerry" an audio visual presentation, which will tell you all about the region. As you drive, every turn will reveal new vistas of mountains, cliffs and beaches and there will be plenty of photo stops. Travel through the remote villages of Cahirciveen and Waterville at the western end of the peninsula. Stop in the colorful village of Sneem and pause for a look at the Lakes of Killarney at Moll's Gap. In the evening you may like to explore some of Killarney's many pubs that feature live music. (B, D)

Day 7: Cliffs of Moher & Connemara

Head north through the town of Listowel to take a 20-minute ferry ride across the wide Shannon River Estuary. Continue along the coast of County Clare to visit the Cliffs of Moher, an impressive wall of limestone stretching along the coastline. Drive through part of the Burren Country, eroded limestone hills where the weathered rocks create interesting shapes. Drive through Galway city to take a short drive through part of Connemara, a region of hills and bogs. While the land is unfit for farming, the scenery is lovely. Stop at the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory, where intricate designs are incised in crystal. Continue to your hotel, located on Galway Bay where you may like to check out the old-world traditional pub with live music. (B, D)

Day 8: Depart for Home

Passengers on the 8-day program will take a group transfer to Shannon Airport where your tour ends at 10:00 am. (B)