12 Day Itinerary Including Airfare from
USA
Day 1: Overnight Flight to Glasgow
Depart your North American gateway city and travel through the
night to Glasgow. Land only tour starts on day 2.
Day 2: Glasgow Highlights
Land in
Glasgow Airport and take a group transfer to your hotel, departing at 8:00 am,
10:00 am or 12:00 noon. If you arrive later than noon, you must transfer to the
hotel at your own expense. At 3:00 pm set out on a coach tour to discover the
main attractions of Glasgow, a city that flourished in Victorian times due to
shipbuilding on the River Clyde. Drive around George Square with its ornate City
Chambers and nearby Glasgow Cathedral. Visit extensive collections in
Kelvinqrove Art Gallery and Museum, originally opened in 1901 and recently
refurbished. Join your fellow travelers for a welcome drink before dinner. (D)
Day 3: Loch Lomond & Urquhart
Castle
Depart Glasgow and travel alongside the famous Loch
Lomond, renowned in song for its unsurpassed beauty. Travel across the haunting
Rannoch Moor and through the deep valley of Glencoe, notorious for the Campbell
massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692. Continue through Fort William and stop
in Fort Augustus before driving beside Loch Ness to enjoy delightful scenery and
keep an eye out for "Nessie". Visit Urquhart Castle to see the ruins of what was
once the largest castle in Scotland and enjoy scenic views over the loch.
Continue to Nairn where your hotel was a favorite summer residence of Charlie
Chaplin. Experience Scottish culture in your hotel this evening when a Scottish
piper and a step-dancer perform. (B, D)
Day 4: Culloden Battlefield & Edinburgh Ghost
Tour
Visit the Culloden Visitor Centre to learn about the Battle
of Culloden where Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated by the British army in
1746, changing the traditional way of Highland clan life forever. Drive south
through the Grampian Mountains to visit Edradour Distillery, Scotland's
smallest, to see how whisky is distilled and sample some. Continue south to
Edinburgh and check in to your hotel, located on a golf course a few miles from
the city center. In the evening head to the cozy Beehive Inn for an informal pub
dinner and then join a local guide for a fun walking tour to discover the haunts
of Edinburgh's many colorful characters. (B, D)
Day 5:
Edinburgh Castle & City Tour
This morning an Edinburgh city
guide will point out the principal sights of this interesting capital city.
Drive along the bustling Princes Street and through the gracious, wide streets
of the 200-year-old Georgian New Town. See the compact medieval section along
the Royal Mile where some houses reach 11 stories tall. Visit Edinburgh Castle,
which dominates the city center and contains the Scottish Crown Jewels and the
Stone of Scone. The balance of the day is free for further sightseeing, shopping
and dining. On August 02, 07, 14, 16 and 21 departures enjoy the Military Tattoo
at Edinburgh Castle. (B)
Day 6: Larne Ferry & Drive to
Dublin
Depart Edinburgh early this morning and drive south
through part of the Southern Uplands and along the coastline. At Cairnryan take
a ferry ride across the narrow channel between Scotland and Ireland to Larne,
just outside Belfast. Drive south to Dublin and check in to your hotel, located
in the Georgian section of the city, where the evening is at leisure for
independent dining. (B)
Day 7: Viking Dublin & Taylor's
Three Rock Pub
This morning tour central Dublin in the company
of a local guide. Pass Trinity College, where the Book of Kells is housed; Dail
Eireann, where the government meets; and rows of Georgian houses with
gaily-colored doorways. Stop at Dublin Castle for a guided tour through the
elegant State Apartments, which are filled with elaborate Waterford Crystal
chandeliers and furnishings. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure or use your
independent open-top bus tour voucher and visit Guinness or Jameson. In the
evening drive to Taylor's Three Rock Pub for a great dinner of Irish
specialties, which is followed by a lively show of Irish songs and step-dancing.
(B, D)
Day 8: Blarney Castle &
Killarney
Depart Dublin and travel through the center of
Ireland, stopping to view the stately Rock of Cashel. Continue your drive south
to visit Blarney Castle and kiss the famous "Stone of Eloquence." Also visit the
Blarney Woollen Mills where you can find quality Irish-made goods. Drive into
County Kerry where the scenery becomes more mountainous to Killarney,
picturesquely set beside lakes and mountains. Check in to your downtown hotel
and relax before dinner. Afterwards you may like to head to a "singing pub." (B,
D)
Day 9: Ring of Kerry &
Skellig Experience
Today embark on the Ring of Kerry drive - a
winding route with breathtaking sights of mountains and coastal views. Stop near
the Gap of Dunloe to see Essence of Kerry, an audio-visual presentation. Meet a
local farmer for a taste of farm life with a sheepdog demonstration of herding
flocks. Cross to Valencia Island by bridge to visit the Skellig Experience which
describes the austere lives of early monks on the nearby islands. Drive through
Waterville and stop in Sneem to admire brightly-painted houses. Pause at Moll's
Gap for stunning views and take a guided walk around Muckross Gardens before
returning to Killarney in time to relax before dinner. (B,
D)
Day 10: Cliffs of Moher &
Bunratty Castle
Drive to Tarbert for a ferry ride across the
River Shannon Estuary. Continue to the Cliffs of Moher, a spectacular wall of
limestone that reaches 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Drive to Bunratty to
check into Bunratty Castle Hotel, located very close to Bunratty Castle and Folk
Park. If you wish, you may visit the Folk Park, have a drink in the 200-year-old
Durty Nelly's Pub or shop at the Bunratty Mills. In the evening head to Bunratty
Castle for a memorable medieval-style feast. During and after the meal the lords
and ladies will serenade you with song and harp music, evocative of the Middle
Ages. (B, D)
Day 11: National Stud &
Dublin
Travel through the outskirts of Limerick and through the
midland region of Ireland to Kildare. Here visit the Irish National Stud and
Japanese Gardens. You can learn about horse breeding and see some of the
valuable animals before touring the lovely Japanese Gardens, considered the best
in Europe. Drive to your hotel in the center of Dublin and you are free this
evening for independent activities and dining. (B)
Day 12:
Depart from Dublin Airport
Use your complimentary taxi transfer
to arrive in Dublin Airport in ample time to check in for your flight. After
check-in, you'll have time to shop at the duty-free stores before boarding the
aircraft for the journey home. (B)