Taste of Ireland 7 day Itinerary
Day
1: Day of Leisure with either
Guinness or Jameson Visit
On arrival at
Dublin
Airport go through
immigration formalities and pick up your baggage. Go to the CIE Tours desk in
the Arrivals Hall where staff will arrange a group transfer to your hotel
between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later than noon, you will
transfer to the hotel at your own expense. You are free for the remainder of the
day to relax or explore Dublin on your own using your open-top bus tour
voucher. Visit either Guinness or Jameson for a tour and a complimentary
beverage.
Day 2:
Dublin Tour
& Merry Ploughboy Pub
At 2:00 pm at
your hotel join a local guide who will show you around central Dublin. Drive through the
main streets to see historic buildings such as Trinity College, where the Book
of Kells is housed; the evocative figures of the Famine Memorial; and rows of
Georgian houses with gaily-collared doorways. Stop at Dublin Castle to take a guided tour through the
elegant State Apartments, which are filled with elaborate Waterford Crystal
chandeliers and portraits of prominent Irish leaders. Return to your hotel for a
get-together with your tour group and a welcome drink. In the evening drive to
the Merry Ploughboy Pub for a great dinner of Irish specialties, which is
followed by a show of traditional Irish songs and intricate step-dancing.
(B,D)
Day 3:
Blarney Castle & Killarney
Depart
Dublin and travel through the centre of
Ireland, which has many mixed farms.
Stop to view the stately church ruins atop the Rock of Cashel, which rises high
above the surrounding plain. Continue your drive south and, just a few miles
outside Cork, visit Blarney Castle to kiss the famous "Stone of
Eloquence." Also visit the Blarney Woollen Mills where you can find quality
Irish-made goods of all types, conveniently displayed under one roof. Drive
through Macroom, built around a fine castle, and into County Kerry where the scenery becomes more
mountainous. Arrive in Killarney, picturesquely set beside lakes with
Ireland's highest mountains, the
Macgillycuddy's Reeks, forming a backdrop. Check in to your hotel and relax
before dinner. Afterwards you may like to take a stroll through the compact town
centre and explore one of Killarney's famous singing pubs. (B,
D)
Day 4: Ring
of Kerry & Skellig Experience
Today embark
on Ireland's most popular scenic drive
of 100 miles - the Ring of Kerry. This winding route reveals breathtaking sights
of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks as well as coastal views of beaches and cliffs. As
you travel along, there will be plenty of stops for photos at the best vantage
points. Stop at Kells to meet a local farmer, Brendan Ferris, for a taste of
farm life with a sheepdog demonstration of herding flocks and see different
breeds of sheep. Drive through the village of Cahirciveen and cross to Valencia Island by bridge. Visit the Skellig
Experience to learn about the nearby rocky islands where early Christian monks
lived in austere conditions and today it is a thriving bird sanctuary. Stop to
walk around Sneem, where brightly-painted houses are grouped around a central
green. Stop at Moll's Gap for a view over the Three Lakes of Killarney with the
town in the distance. Visit the charming Muckross Gardens, set on the shores of Muckross Lake and with many mature trees and
plants. Return to Killarney and enjoy a fine dinner in your hotel once again.
(B, D)
Day 5: Cliffs
of Moher &
Bunratty Castle
Leave
Killarney and drive north to Tarbert for a 20-minute ferry ride across the wide
River Shannon Estuary. Your tour continues along the Clare coast to the Cliffs
of Moher, a spectacular wall of limestone that reaches to almost 700 feet above
the Atlantic Ocean. Drive past Lahinch golf
links, one of Ireland's most
famous, and through the marketing town of Ennis to Bunratty. Check in to Bunratty Castle
Hotel, which is located very close to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. In the evening head to Bunratty Castle for a memorable experience in a
wonderful setting with good food and entertainment. Take your place in the Great
Hall for a medieval-style feast of excellent dishes and plenty of wine. 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 6:
Shannon Airport or Dublin Stay
This morning,
take a group transfer to nearby Shannon
Airport where the tour concludes at
10:30 am OR if you wish your tour to finish in Dublin, drive past the outskirts of Limerick and through
the midland region of Ireland to Kildare. Here visit the
Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens to learn about horse breeding and
see some of the valuable animals. Then tour the lovely Japanese Gardens, considered the best in Europe. They were laid out in 1908 in classical Japanese
manner and represent the "Life of Man" through the selection and placement of
trees, shrubs and rocks. Continue to Continue to your overnight
hotel.
You are free
this evening for independent activities and dining (B).
Day 7: Post
Tour day in Dublin
Your hotel
offers a shuttle service to Dublin Airport every two hours starting at 7:20
am. So choose a suitable transfer time to arrive at the airport to check in for
your flight. If you need an earlier transfer, your tour escort will arrange one
for you. Then you'll have an opportunity to shop at the duty-free stores before
boarding your flight for the journey
home. (B)
Breakfast (B)
Dinner (D)