8 Day Irish Gold Tour Itinerary
Day 1 : Dublin Tour & Book of Kells
Your tour starts at Dublin Airport with a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon.
If you arrive later than noon, transfer to the hotel at your own expense. At 2:00 pm your tour director will introduce you to Dublin’s River Liffey, wide O’Connell Street, tranquil St. Stephen’s Green, the seat of government at Leinster House and other public buildings. See some of Dublin’s famous Georgian houses and pause at the Famine Memorial, a reminder of the mid-19th century disaster. Visit Trinity College’s campus and the Old Library to view the priceless Book of Kells. Your tour director will host a welcome drink to discuss your tour and he will advise where to dine independently.
Day 2 : Clonmacnoise Monastic Site & Galway City Tour
Leave Dublin and journey across the rolling pastures of Ireland’s heartland to visit Clonmacnoise. This monastic settlement was founded in 545 AD by St. Ciaran and is set on the banks of the mighty River Shannon. See elaborate high crosses as well as many church ruins and round towers. Drive to Galway and view the main sights of the city before checking into your hotel, located within easy reach of lively streets with fun specialty stores, cafés and pubs. Enjoy some free time to browse around on your own before dining in your hotel.
(B, D)
Day 3 : Connemara, Clifden & Catamaran Cruise
Drive through the heart of Connemara, past granite hills and sparkling lakes on the way to Leenane to embark on a short cruise of Killary Harbour, a 9-mile fjord (Mar 24 – Nov 03 departures). Enjoy views of hills where traces of “lazy beds” of potato ridges from the 19th century and earlier can still be seen. Keep an eye out for seabirds as you pass mussel and salmon farms. Rejoin your coach and drive through lovely countryside where sheep graze freely. Stop for photos at the Kylemore Abbey Visitor Centre and in Clifden, the principal town of the region, and return to Galway.
(B, D)
Day 4 : Cliffs of Moher & Killarney's Jaunting Car
Travel south around Galway Bay to see the Cliffs of Moher, which rise almost 700 feet above the pounding Atlantic surf. Then drive through the outskirts of Limerick and stop in the picturesque village of Adare for photos. Drive to Killarney, a little town that is world-famous due to its exquisite location beside lakes and mountains. Check in to your hotel in the center of the town. Head out to view stunning scenery on a horse-drawn jaunting car ride through the grounds of the Killarney National Park to Ross Castle, set on Lough Leane.
(B, D)
Day 5 : Ring of Kerry Tour & Pub Lunch
Take a guided tour around Muckross House to see period furnishings and learn of its prominent guests and owners. Stroll through the mature gardens before embarking on Ireland’s most popular scenic drive - the Ring of Kerry. The road winds between the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks Mountains and the Atlantic coastline. Savor lunch at the Bridge Bar in Portmagee before taking the bridge to Valencia Island. Visit the Skellig Experience to learn about the rocky offshore islands where monks lived in early Christian times. Stop in the attractive village of Sneem and view the Three Lakes of Killarney from Moll’s Gap. Enjoy free time to browse around Killarney and dine on your own.
(B, L)
Day 6 : Titanic Experience, Traditional Music Session & Waterford Walk
Drive through the mountains of Kerry and West Cork into richer farming country on the way to Cobh, last port of call for the RMS Titanic. Here visit the Titanic Experience to learn about the people who embarked for the United States aboard the ill-fated liner. Drive along the coast to the Marine Bar in Dungarvan for a creamy Irish coffee and an informal traditional music session. Continue to Waterford and check into your historic hotel, located on the waterfront of this ancient port city. After dinner, take a fun walking tour around the narrow streets and ancient buildings to discover Waterford’s long history.
(B, D)
Day 7 : House of Waterford Crystal & Taylor's Three Rock Pub
After breakfast tour the House of Waterford Crystal to watch glass blowing and cutting by master craftspeople and see a huge display of elegant tableware and magnificent trophies. Drive along the coast and through the Wicklow Mountains to Blessington. Take a guided tour around the stately Russborough House, a Palladian mansion filled with interesting treasures as well as noted works of art and early photographic collections. Continue to your hotel in Dublin and in the evening drive to Taylor’s Three Rock Pub for dinner and a lively show with traditional Irish music, story-telling and step-dancing.
(B, D)
Day 8 : Depart for Home
Group transfers are provided to Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon.
(B)
B: Breakfast; D: Dinner; L: Lunch