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Ring of Kerry
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4.7
Read 176 reviews

See the very best of the Emerald Isle

This fast-paced, short-and-sweet Ireland tour is the perfect introduction to the Emerald Isle. Taste of Ireland hits all of the "greatest hits" highlights—from Blarney Castle to the Cliffs of Moher—with five-day, six-day or seven-day departures to suit your schedule.

Trip details

Tour start Dublin

trip-destination

Tour end Shannon

5 icon

Days

4 icon

Nights

8 icon

Meals

Highlights

Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle

Get the gift of gab after you kiss the legendary Blarney Stone in Blarney Castle.

Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle

Tour the historic 800-year-old castle, which has served as a fort, an official government residence, and the site of presidential inaugurations.

Cliffs of Moher
Cliffs of Moher

Thrill at the views of the Atlantic from Ireland's famous cliffs, rising 700 feet above the ocean.

Ring of Kerry
Ring of Kerry

See the spectacular coastline, mountain, and forest vistas of Ireland's famous drive.

Sheep herding demonstration
Sheepdog Demonstration

Watch the hardest working dogs in Ireland guard their herd.

Merry Ploughboy Pub
Merry Ploughboy Pub

Enjoy the fancy footwork of Irish step dancers and lively traditional tunes over dinner at this iconic pub.

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Itinerary

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slide Day 1Dublin Panoramic Tour | Dublin Castle | Merry Ploughboy
Meet your guide at 2:00 PM in the hotel lobby, and set out on a panoramic tour of Dublin. Drive through the streets with a local guide, seeing its vibrant blend of ancient and modern: Trinity College, Georgian homes with colorful doors, and the modern buildings rising by the River Liffey. Take a guided tour through parts of Dublin Castle, which was the seat of power and government for many centuries and today is used for official ceremonies. Return to your hotel for a welcome drink with your group. In the evening, head to the Merry Ploughboy Pub for a dinner of Irish specialties and a lively show with popular Irish songs and intricate step-dancing. (D)
Depart Dublin and travel through the agricultural midlands. Stop for photos of the stately ruins of the Rock of Cashel, rising high above the surrounding plain. Continue to Blarney Castle in Cork, where you can climb the winding staircase to kiss the legendary stone that promises the gift of the gab, or wander through the beautiful gardens. Arrive in Killarney, picturesquely set beside lakes with Ireland's highest mountains, Macgillycuddy's Reeks, forming a backdrop. Check in to your hotel and relax before dinner. (B, D)
Visit CIE Tours preferred shopping partner Moriarty's in the beautiful Gap of Dunloe, before embarking on the famed Ring of Kerry scenic drive. The winding 100-mile route reveals breathtaking coastal and mountain views, with plenty of photo stops. Pause for a casual lunch in a cozy restaurant, then continue on to Valentia Island, where you'll visit the Skellig Experience; it tells the story of the neighboring island of Skellig Michael, which you'll see off the coast. Learn how early Christian monks lived there in austere conditions, and how the island was used as a location for the “Star Wars” films. Stop for a stroll around Sneem, with its brightly painted houses, and at Moll's Gap for panoramic views of Ireland's highest mountains. Get a taste of farm life with a demonstration of a sheepdog herding flocks, a shearing demonstration (seasonal), and see different breeds of sheep. Return to Killarney and enjoy a free evening for independent dining or exploring the many pubs in the town. (B, L)
Leave Killarney and drive north to Tarbert for a 20-minute ferry ride across the wide River Shannon Estuary. Your tour continues along the coast of County Clare to the Cliffs of Moher, a spectacular wall of sandstone that reaches almost 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Drive past Lahinch Golf Course, one of Ireland's most famous, to Bunratty. Check into Bunratty Castle Hotel, which is near Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. In the evening, head out for a medieval-style feast of excellent traditional dishes. During and after the meal the lords and ladies will serenade you with songs and harp music evocative of the Middle Ages. (Please note that January departures may offer a different dining experience.) (B, D)
Your tour ends after breakfast today. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner >

Where you’ll stay

The Beautiful 4-Star Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge

Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge Dublin, Ireland

This hotel was once a Masonic School and still retains many striking original features that give...
Killarney Towers Hotel

Killarney Towers Hotel Killarney, Ireland

The Killarney Towers Hotel is the perfect location from which to explore the excitement and...
Bunratty Castle Entrance

Bunratty Castle Hotel Bunratty, Ireland

Nestled in the heart of the historic countryside of Bunratty, this hotel is an ideal base for...
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Inclusive package with no hidden extras

What's included?

  • Full daily breakfast and many meals*
  • An evening of Irish entertainment  
  • Transportation (Buses, shuttles & ferries)
  • Welcome drinks with your group
  • Free Wi-Fi on luxury coaches
  • All entrance fees to attractions
  • Comprehensive travel itinerary

 

*Breakfast is not included on Day 1

Our welcome gift to you

  • A travel backpack
  • Travel adapter
  • Rain poncho
  • Luggage strap and tags
  • Documents wallet

From our travelers

Stunning Cliffs of Moher

We were able to see a lot of beauty in southern Ireland and experience some of the local food, drinks and culture. Would definitely recommend this package for anyone who would like to see some of Ireland's beauty.

Chastity Rachielle Vigil
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See what people are saying about this trip

5
CIE Tours Customer
1 year 4 months ago

The overall experience was 5 stars because all of CIE is lovely. Two recommendations for future guests: Although instructions indicate that CIE will meet Dublin arrivals after baggage and customs "in Terminal 2", our flight arrived at Dublin's Terminal One. There were NO signs telling us we were in the wrong terminal, and plenty of other tour guides were waiting for guests, so we waited a full hour before digging out the paperwork, noticing Terminal 2, then eventually (after completely exiting our terminal) discovering we were in Terminal One. The hike to Terminal 2 with luggage took over 10 minutes hard walk, which might be cumbersome for older travelers. Please consider having someone from CIE accompany or direct guests who arrive at the other terminal.

Second, for our particular package, we had two days of free time to utilize Dublin's "Hop on, Hop off" bus. The problem? We'd never ridden a bus in Dublin, knew nothing about the transport system, and our hotel was very far from the Hop-on experience. We attempted repeatedly to board what we thought was the right bus, only to be ushered off because our vouchers were no good for regular bus fare. We also didn't have exact change to pay our own way. Getting where we needed to go required downloading a taxi app so we could charge to our credit card just to get to the location where the Hop-on bus ran. I strongly recommend that instead of vouchers for the Hop-on, please consider two day unlimited bus passes for visitors to explore Dublin as they wish.

5
CIE Tours Customer
1 year 4 months ago

We loved taking an CIE tour in Ireland. Sending us our itinerary, and the back pack full of stuff was awesome! Bob Reid was our tour guide, and I cant say enough good things about him. He had such a good sense of humor, and his stories were amazing. The history he gave us was really neat.

5
CIE Tours Customer
1 year 6 months ago

Brian was the perfect guide. Saw alot of the country and learned alot

5
Ms. Vanessa Saunders
1 year 6 months ago

Great value for money

5
CIE Tours Customer
1 year 7 months ago

From flights to hotels to meals, etc. was great. Could not have asked for a more pleasant and knowledegable tour director as ours, Nigel O'Connor.

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