7 Day Southern Gems Tour Itinerary
Day 1 : Dublin Castle & City Tour
Arrive in Dublin Airport and take a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon.
If your flight arrives later than 12:00 noon, transfer to the hotel at your own expense.
At 2:00 pm join your group and a local guide for an introductory look around central Dublin.
See fashionable shopping areas around Grafton and Nassau Streets, view Dublin’s famous
elegant Georgian squares and pause at the evocative figures at the Famine Memorial.
Take a guided tour through parts of Dublin Castle, which was the seat of power and government
for many centuries and today plays a leading role in European Union activities. In the evening meet
your tour director over a welcome drink to discuss your trip and he will help you choose a restaurant
to dine independently.
Day 2 : National Stud & Taylor’s Three Rock Pub
Head out of Dublin to Kildare for a tour of the Irish National Stud. Horseracing is a passion for the Irish
and you will see some of the finest stallions and learn about breeding. Walk through the charming
Japanese Gardens, created to portray life from birth to death. Spend your afternoon on an independent
open-top bus tour around Dublin’s main attractions. You may stay on the bus or get on and off wherever you wish.
Visit Guinness Storehouse or Old Jameson Distillery and relax with a drink at the end of the tour.
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 3 : Waterford Crystal & Kinsale Walk
Travel south to the ancient port of Waterford. At the House of Waterford Crystal watch glass blowing and
cutting by master craftspeople and see a huge display of elegant tableware and magnificent trophies.
Drive along the south coast through Cork to Kinsale, a delightful old fishing town on a deep inlet, which is ideal for sailing.
The town is also famous for old Georgian houses and charming restaurants serving gourmet food.
Join a local guide for a short walk around Kinsale and learn about its importance in trading and history in medieval times.
Drive across the hilly countryside to your elegant resort hotel where you will have time to relax before dinner.
(B, D)
Day 4 : Jaunting Car & Killarney
Drive via Macroom and the mountainous scenery of County Kerry to the pretty town of Kenmare with its brightly-painted houses. Head up to Moll’s Gap and drive along part of the Ring of Kerry route for splendid views of the mountains and Killarney’s famous three lakes. Just outside Killarney tour the elegant 19th century mansion of Muckross House with a guide to tell you about influential owners and visitors before driving by jaunting car through the peaceful Killarney National Park and into Killarney. Continue by coach along the Dingle Peninsula and stop at the South Pole Inn in Annascaul for an Irish coffee and learn about the former owner, Tom Crean, who took part in three Antarctic expeditions and the walls are lined with his memorabilia.
(B, D)
Day 5 : Dingle Peninsula & Brewery
Today discover more gems of the glorious Dingle Peninsula, made famous by two movies, “Ryan’s Daughter” and “Far & Away”, which showed a lot of the wonderful scenery. Drive to Slea Head at the westernmost tip for awesome views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Blasket Islands, which were inhabited until 1953. Also see early Christian monastic beehive huts. Back in Dingle watch brewing processes at the Dingle Brewing Company and sample some of the local brew. Spend some free time back at your hotel or you may like to take a walk around and explore some of the many shops and pubs in this lively and attractive town.
(B, D)
Day 6 : Cliffs of Moher & Knappogue Banquet
Visit the Foynes Flying Boat Museum, which recalls early days of flying during the 1930’s and early 1940’s. See displays of memorabilia from that era and walk through a reconstructed Pan Am Clipper. Travel through Limerick on the way to the town of Ennis. Check in to your hotel located within easy walking distance of the shops, pubs and historic buildings. At 2:30 pm depart for the Cliffs of Moher, a dramatic wall of rock that plunges to the Atlantic Ocean. In the evening drive a few miles to 15th century Knappogue Castle for a fun medieval-style banquet with entertainment by the lords and ladies of the castle – a great way to end your tour.
(B, D)
Day 7 : Tour Ends Shannon Airport
Group transfers are provided to nearby Shannon Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon.
(B)
B: Breakfast; D: Dinner