12 Day Irish Odyssey Tour Itinerary
Day 1 : Dublin City Tour & Kilmainham Gaol
Start your tour at Dublin Airport with a group transfer to your
hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later, transfer to
the hotel at your own expense. At 2:00 pm join a local guide on a tour of
Dublin's highlights to view Trinity College, General Post Office, St. Patrick's
Cathedral and the Famine Memorial. Visit Kilmainham Gaol where many of
Ireland's leaders, including Robert Emmett, Eamon DeValera and Padraig Pearse,
were imprisoned during the 19th and early 20th centuries. In the evening meet
your tour director and travel companions over a welcome drink.
Day 2 : Megalithic Tombs & Abbey Tavern
This
morning visit the Boyne Valley Visitor Centre to learn about the passage burial
tombs of Newgrange and Knowth, both over 5,000 years old. Tour one of the tombs
to see how primitive people managed to align huge boulders precisely with the
sun or the moon. Return to Dublin for a free afternoon for shopping or
sightseeing on your own. Drive to the Abbey Tavern for dinner with Irish
specialties and an Irish coffee followed by a lively show of music, songs and
step-dancing. (B, D)
Day 3 : Dunbrody Famine Ship & Waterford Crystal
Drive to New Ross to visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship. This is a
replica of a sailing vessel built in 1845 to transport emigrants away from
Ireland to a better life. The visit will give you an insight as to what life on
board ship was like as well as filling you in on the history of the 1840's
Famine. In nearby Waterford tour the House of Waterford Crystal for a
demonstration of glass blowing and cutting and see some magnificent trophies on
display. Continue along the south coast for your next overnight stay in Cork.
(B, D)
Day 4 : Blarney Castle & West
Cork
A few miles outside Cork, visit Blarney Castle and
climb to the battlements 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 displayed under one roof. Drive along the lovely coast of
Cork via Skibbereen to the attractive town of Kenmare. Stop at Moll's Gap for
great views and continue along part of the Ring of Kerry route into Killarney.
Check in to your hotel and relax before dinner. (B, D)
Day 5 : Dingle Peninsula Tour &
Killarney
Explore the scenic Dingle Peninsula, made
famous by two movies - “Ryan's Daughter” and “Far & Away.” Admire views of
heathery mountains, sandy beaches and rocky headlands. Pause in Dingle before
continuing to the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the offshore Blasket
Islands, inhabited until 1953 by hardy farming and fishing families. Return to
Killarney and have time to relax or shop. After dinner you may like to visit
local pubs featuring live music. (B, D)
Day 6 : Flying Boat Museum & Cliffs of Moher
Travel north to Foynes Flying Boat Museum to learn about the
early days of flight, during the 1930's and early 1940's, when aircraft landed
on the River Shannon Estuary. Drive to the village of Bunratty and look around
Durty Nelly's Pub or the Bunratty Folk Park. Head to the coast to view the
Cliffs of Moher, an impressive wall of rock that rises 700 feet above the
Atlantic Ocean. Continue to Galway for a panoramic city tour before checking in
to your hotel, which overlooks Galway Bay. (B, D)
Day 7 : “Quiet Man” Walking Tour & Connemara
Drive to Cong where “The Quiet Man” movie was made in 1952. A
guided walk will show you places featured in the production. Travel through
Connemara for sweeping views of misty mountains and shimmering lakes. Stop
briefly at Kylemore Abbey Visitor Center before continuing to Clifden, a
delightful market town set between the Twelve Pins Mountains and sandy bays.
Return to your hotel to relax before dining in your hotel once again. (B, D)
Day 8 : Country Life Museum & Belleek
Travel
north to Castlebar to the Museum of Country Life which displays articles used
in everyday life during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Continue to County
Sligo and pause in Drumcliffe Churchyard at the grave of the writer, W. B.
Yeats. Follow the shoreline of Donegal Bay to visit the Belleek Pottery Factory
where craftspeople shape and decorate clay, creating the world-famous fine
china. Continue your drive through the majestic Barnesmore Gap to Derry. Enjoy
free time to relax or take a walk before dinner. (B, D)
Day 9 : Derry Walk & Giant's Causeway
Join a
local guide for a walking tour around the ancient city of Derry to see the
Guildhall, St. Columb's Cathedral, the Diamond and the 16th century walls.
Visit the award-winning Tower Museum. Drive along the north coast, stopping for
photos at the ruined Dunluce Castle and explore the Giant's Causeway, huge
hexagonal basalt columns formed over 60 million years ago. The oversized rocks
have given rise to many legends. Return to Derry for leisure time. (B, D)
Day 10 : Titanic Belfast & Cabra Castle
Drive to Belfast for a panoramic city tour followed by a visit
to the newly-opened Titanic Belfast to learn about this famous liner through
state-of-the-art displays. Travel to Kingscourt and your castle hotel, built in
1760. Arrive mid-afternoon so that you can enjoy the atmosphere and facilities
of this lovely property and maybe play the 9-hole golf course. After dinner in
the Court Restaurant, youthful dancers display intricate Irish step-dancing.
(B, D)
Day 11 : Dublin Open-Top Bus Tour
After a
leisurely breakfast, drive to Dublin and check in around midday to a different
Dublin hotel. The afternoon is free and you may use your vouchers for an
open-top bus tour and Guinness or Jameson visit if you did not use them at the
start of your trip. Dine independently at one of Dublin's great restaurants or
create your own pub crawl through the nearby Temple Bar area.(B)
Day 12 : Tour Ends Dublin Airport
Take a group
transfer to Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon to check
in for your flight. (B)
B: Breakfast; D: Dinner