8 Day Itinerary Including Airfare from
USA
Day 1: Overnight Flight to
Dublin
Depart your North American gateway city and travel
through the night to Dublin. Land only tour starts on day
2.
Day 2: Dublin Tour & Dublinia
Arrive
at Dublin Airport, proceed through immigration and pick up your baggage. Go to
the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall where personnel will arrange a group
transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If you arrive later than
noon, you will need to transfer to the hotel at your own expense. Your hotel is
located on the north side of Dublin. 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 with imposing townhouses and pause at the evocative figures at the
Famine Memorial. Explore Dublinia to learn about the history of the busy
medieval city from the 12th to the 16th centuries through interactive
exhibitions. Back at your hotel meet with your guide and fellow travelers for a
welcome drink and discuss your itinerary.
Day 3: Rock of
Cashel & Blarney Woollen Mills
Depart Dublin to travel
through the Irish countryside where you can see the "Forty Shades of Green" as
you pass many farms. Visit the Rock of Cashel, where Brian Boru was crowned King
of Munster in 977. See the 12th century highly-decorated Cormac's Chapel, the
large cruciform cathedral and a round tower. Just outside Cork shop at the
Blarney Woollen Mills, renowned for their quality Irish merchandise, or take a
walk around the charming village green. While it is not included in the tour,
you will have time to climb to the ramparts of Blarney Castle to kiss the famous
stone. Continue your drive to your hotel in the center of Killarney. (B,
D)
Day 4: Dingle Peninsula
Tour
Today discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula, made famous
by two movies that showcased the scenery - "Ryan's Daughter" and "Far &
Away." Drive along the south shore to admire views of heathery mountains, sandy
stretches of beach and rocky headlands. Stop for a while in Dingle before
continuing to the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the offshore Blasket
Islands, inhabited until 1953 by hardy families who eked out a living by farming
and fishing. Return to Killarney and enjoy free time to use the hotel's leisure
facilities or walk around town. After dinner you may like to visit the cozy pubs
featuring live music. (B, D)
Day 5: Flying Boat Museum &
Cliffs of Moher
Drive north through Listowel and along by the
River Shannon to Foynes to visit the Flying Boat Museum, which recalls the early
days of air travel, during the 1930's and early 1940's, when Pan Am Clippers
from the United States and Europe landed here. Travel through the outskirts of
Limerick and have a look around Bunratty Village before heading to the coast of
County Clare to view the Cliffs of Moher rising to heights of almost 700 feet
above the churning Atlantic swells. Walk along the top of the cliffs to
O'Brien's Tower for great views. Drive through the Burren and around the shores
of Galway Bay. Take a short orientation tour of central Galway before checking
into your hotel. (B, D)
Day 6: Connemara & Catamaran
Cruise
Today explore another of Ireland's famous scenic regions,
Connemara. Here the constantly-changing cloud formations give granite hills,
sparkling lakes and peat bogs an added dimension. Travel alongside Galway Bay to
Spiddal, where most locals speak the Irish language, and on to Leenane and
Killary Harbour, Ireland's only fjord. Take a short catamaran cruise to see
unspoilt mountain areas (Apr 1 - Oct 23 departures). You can see traces of
pre-Famine fields on the hilly slopes and also thriving salmon and mussel
farming. Drive to Clifden and stop for a while to explore the attractive town.
At Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory watch skilled craftsmen cut the crystal and
learn about the symbolism of the motifs before returning to Galway for some
leisure time before dinner. (B, D)
Day 7: 6th Century Clonmacnoise & Abbey
Tavern
Drive to the center of the country to visit Clonmacnoise.
This early Christian monastic site was founded by St. Ciaran in 545 AD, when
Christianity flourished throughout Ireland. See round towers, church ruins and
Celtic crosses with elaborate carvings, all in a picturesque setting on the
banks of the River Shannon. Continue to the greater metropolitan area of Dublin
once more and check in to a different hotel, near the River Liffey and close to
the lively Temple Bar area. In the evening head to the Abbey Tavern for a hearty
dinner followed by a lively show of traditional music, songs and step-dancing.
(B, D)
Day 8: Depart for Home
For those of
you booked on our 8-day tour, complimentary group transfers are provided to
Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon.
(B)
8 Day Itinerary Including Airfare from
USA
Day 1: Overnight Flight to
Dublin
Depart your North American gateway city and travel
through the night to Dublin. Land only tour starts on day
2.
Day 2: Dublin Tour & Dublinia
Arrive
at Dublin Airport, proceed through immigration and pick up your baggage. Go to
the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall where personnel will arrange a group
transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If you arrive later than
noon, you will need to transfer to the hotel at your own expense. Your hotel is
located on the north side of Dublin. 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 with imposing townhouses and pause at the evocative figures at the
Famine Memorial. Explore Dublinia to learn about the history of the busy
medieval city from the 12th to the 16th centuries through interactive
exhibitions. Back at your hotel meet with your guide and fellow travelers for a
welcome drink and discuss your itinerary.
Day 3: Rock of
Cashel & Blarney Woollen Mills
Depart Dublin to travel
through the Irish countryside where you can see the "Forty Shades of Green" as
you pass many farms. Visit the Rock of Cashel, where Brian Boru was crowned King
of Munster in 977. See the 12th century highly-decorated Cormac's Chapel, the
large cruciform cathedral and a round tower. Just outside Cork shop at the
Blarney Woollen Mills, renowned for their quality Irish merchandise, or take a
walk around the charming village green. While it is not included in the tour,
you will have time to climb to the ramparts of Blarney Castle to kiss the famous
stone. Continue your drive to your hotel in the center of Killarney. (B,
D)
Day 4: Dingle Peninsula
Tour
Today discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula, made famous
by two movies that showcased the scenery - "Ryan's Daughter" and "Far &
Away." Drive along the south shore to admire views of heathery mountains, sandy
stretches of beach and rocky headlands. Stop for a while in Dingle before
continuing to the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the offshore Blasket
Islands, inhabited until 1953 by hardy families who eked out a living by farming
and fishing. Return to Killarney and enjoy free time to use the hotel's leisure
facilities or walk around town. After dinner you may like to visit the cozy pubs
featuring live music. (B, D)
Day 5: Flying Boat Museum &
Cliffs of Moher
Drive north through Listowel and along by the
River Shannon to Foynes to visit the Flying Boat Museum, which recalls the early
days of air travel, during the 1930's and early 1940's, when Pan Am Clippers
from the United States and Europe landed here. Travel through the outskirts of
Limerick and have a look around Bunratty Village before heading to the coast of
County Clare to view the Cliffs of Moher rising to heights of almost 700 feet
above the churning Atlantic swells. Walk along the top of the cliffs to
O'Brien's Tower for great views. Drive through the Burren and around the shores
of Galway Bay. Take a short orientation tour of central Galway before checking
into your hotel. (B, D)
Day 6: Connemara & Catamaran
Cruise
Today explore another of Ireland's famous scenic regions,
Connemara. Here the constantly-changing cloud formations give granite hills,
sparkling lakes and peat bogs an added dimension. Travel alongside Galway Bay to
Spiddal, where most locals speak the Irish language, and on to Leenane and
Killary Harbour, Ireland's only fjord. Take a short catamaran cruise to see
unspoilt mountain areas (Apr 1 - Oct 23 departures). You can see traces of
pre-Famine fields on the hilly slopes and also thriving salmon and mussel
farming. Drive to Clifden and stop for a while to explore the attractive town.
At Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory watch skilled craftsmen cut the crystal and
learn about the symbolism of the motifs before returning to Galway for some
leisure time before dinner. (B, D)
Day 7: 6th Century Clonmacnoise & Abbey
Tavern
Drive to the center of the country to visit Clonmacnoise.
This early Christian monastic site was founded by St. Ciaran in 545 AD, when
Christianity flourished throughout Ireland. See round towers, church ruins and
Celtic crosses with elaborate carvings, all in a picturesque setting on the
banks of the River Shannon. Continue to the greater metropolitan area of Dublin
once more and check in to a different hotel, near the River Liffey and close to
the lively Temple Bar area. In the evening head to the Abbey Tavern for a hearty
dinner followed by a lively show of traditional music, songs and step-dancing.
(B, D)
Day 8: Depart for Home
For those of
you booked on our 8-day tour, complimentary group transfers are provided to
Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon.
(B)