Jewels of Ireland

Your tour begins at 2:00 PM at your Dublin hotel. Experience a panoramic tour of the city, then visit Dublin Castle for a guided tour. Learn how the castle was the seat of power in Ireland for many centuries, and see the State Apartments, used today for official ceremonies and Presidential inaugurations. Enjoy a Welcome drink with your group before enjoying an evening free to dine as you wish.

Tour Dublin independently, on a Hop On Hop Off bus tour. Plus choose a visit to one of Dublin's top attractions - Guinness Storehouse, Teeling Distillery, GPO Museum or EPIC the Irish Emigration Museum. Join your group in the evening for a dinner of Irish specialties and a lively show at Taylors Three Rock. (B, D)

Travel to Blarney Castle; climb the winding staircase to kiss its famous stone or enjoy the gardens. On to Kinsale, a picturesque old fishing town now known for art galleries and gourmet food. Join a local Guide for a fascinating walk around its historic streets, once besieged by the Spanish Armada, before dinner in your hotel (B, D)

Savor your morning in Kinsale; stroll along the scenic harbor or relax at your hotel before heading west. Stop in the bustling and friendly town of Killarney, where you will have free time to explore. Next visit Moriartys in the Gap of Dunloe, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner. Continue on to Dingle, where you will dine in your hotel (B, D)

Set out on the Slea Head Loop, one of Ireland's most beautiful drives, through scenic ocean and mountain vistas. Visit the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the Blasket Islands, visible off the coast. Abandoned in 1954, they were once a lively outpost of traditional culture and language. Return to Dingle and visit Murphy's Ice Cream; taste their distinctive flavors like Orange Marmalade, Brown Bread or Dingle Gin. The rest of the day is free to wander and dine as you wish in this quaint harbor village. (B)

Visit the Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, which recalls air travel in the 1930s and 1940s. Drive to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. In the evening, head to a castle for a medieval-style banquet with traditional songs and stories. (B, D)

Travel through the rounded limestone hills of the Burren to Caherconnell and watch skilled dogs round up sheep. Stop in a charming Burren village to explore independently. Head to Galway for a guided walking tour around the central attractions - the narrow streets, the medieval city walls, and Lynch's Castle. Enjoy free time to explore before dinner. (B, D)

Drive through Connemara to Leenane for a catamaran cruise (seasonal only) of Killary Harbour, Ireland's only fjord. Travel on to see Kylemore Abbey, a beautiful castle in a lakeside setting. Enjoy an evening free to explore vibrant, artistic Galway. (B)

Travel north through County Mayo. Stop in County Fermanagh and visit Belleek Pottery to see craftspeople create their renowned fine china. Visit Donegal Castle, built by the O'Donnell chieftains in the 15th century and restored in the 1990s after falling into ruin for centuries.. Enjoy free time in Donegal town before dinner in your hotel this evening. (B, D)

Enjoy a coastal drive to view Slieve League, Europe's highest sea cliffs. Continue on to visit a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, Triona Design in Ardara; see demonstrations of spinning, weaving, and knitting. Enjoy some free time to explore before returning to the hotel for dinner. (B, D)

Meet with a local guide for a walking tour to see Derry's medieval walls, the Diamond, and St. Columb's Cathedral. Explore the Giant's Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns formed over 60 million years ago. Travel along the scenic Nine Glens of Antrim before heading to Belfast. (B, D)

Tour Belfast and see a city filled with grand Victorian buildings. Visit Titanic Belfast and discover the city's rich maritime history including the shipyards where the RMS Titanic was built in 1912. Visit Hillsborough Castle, the residence of the Secretary of State of Northern Ireland. Drive to Kingscourt to Cabra Castle Hotel, built in 1760, and enjoy free time there. After dinner, experience a lively step-dancing display. (B, D)

Spend some free time this morning exploring your hotel, the neo-Gothic Cabra Castle, and its 100 acres of parkland and gardens. Take in a farewell lunch at Cross Guns Gastropub before heading to Brú na Bóinne. Learn about the 5,000-year-old burial tombs of Newgrange and Knowth, and visit one of the tombs. Enjoy a free evening in Dublin. (B, L)

Your tour ends after breakfast. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner >