Irish Spirit Tour 8 Day
Itinerary
Day 1:
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
travellers for a welcome drink and discuss your itinerary.
Day 2: 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 centre of Killarney. (B,
D)
Day 3:
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 cosy pubs featuring live
music. (B, D)
Day 4: 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 5:
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 2 - Oct
24 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 6:
6th Century Clonmacnoise & Abbey
Tavern
Drive to the
centre 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 7: Extra
Day in Dublin
Spend an
additional day in Dublin with an independent
Dublin open-top
bus tour pass (valid for 24 hours), a visit to Guinness or
Jameson.
Day 8: Depart
for Home
Take a taxi
transfer to Dublin
Airport, allowing plenty of
time to reach the airport and for check in formalities.
(B)
Breakfast (B)
Dinner (D)