9 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: Leisure Day in Dublin
Today you
may plan out your day in Dublin as you wish, using your independent Dublin
open-top bus tour pass to get around (valid for 24 hours) and visit to Guinness
or Jameson for a tour and a complimentary drink. In the evening you are free to
choose from the many restaurants near your hotel and in the Temple Bar area.
(B)
Day 9: Depart
Ireland
Today take a taxi transfer to Dublin Airport allowing
plenty of time to reach the airport and for check-in formalities. You will then
have time to shop at the duty free shops before boarding your flight home.
(B)
9 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: Leisure Day in Dublin
Today you
may plan out your day in Dublin as you wish, using your independent Dublin
open-top bus tour pass to get around (valid for 24 hours) and visit to Guinness
or Jameson for a tour and a complimentary drink. In the evening you are free to
choose from the many restaurants near your hotel and in the Temple Bar area.
(B)
Day 9: Depart
Ireland
Today take a taxi transfer to Dublin Airport allowing
plenty of time to reach the airport and for check-in formalities. You will then
have time to shop at the duty free shops before boarding your flight home.
(B)