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Ring of Kerry
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4.6
Read 39 reviews

Regal majesty and scenic splendor

Discover Scotland’s castles, art, and history as you tour its cities and the Highlands. Cross over to Ireland for music, a medieval castle banquet, and the beauty of the Ring of Kerry.

Trip details

Tour start Glasgow

trip-destination

Tour end Bunratty

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Days

12 icon

Nights

21 icon

Meals

Highlights

Exploring Edinburgh

Explore the wide streets of New Town and the medieval houses along the Royal Mile.

Inveraray Castle

Find yourself in the home of the Downton Abbey series as you tour the locale where it was set and filmed.

Blarney Castle

Kiss the famous Stone of Eloquence and see if it gives you the gift of gab.

St Andrews

See the birthplace of golf, and Scotland's oldest university.

Cliffs of Moher

Take a ferry across the River Shannon Estuary and view the Cliffs of Moher, a spectacular wall of sandstone that reaches high above the Atlantic.

Skellig Experience

This prizewinning interpretive center gives visitors a rich and evocative experience of "the islands at the edge of the world."

Ring of Kerry

Take a scenic drive around the peninsula to take in rugged, verdant coastal landscapes and rural seaside villages.

Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle

Walk in the footsteps of soldiers, kings and queens, and even the odd pirate or two, in this medieval-era royal residence, military garrison, prison and fortress, alive with many exciting tales.

Titanic Belfast
Titanic Belfast

Explore the history of the ill-fated ocean liner and its first (and last) voyage, in the city where it was built.

Irish Night in Dublin
Irish Night in Dublin

Stroll St Stephen's Green, raise a pint, and delight in Ireland's thriving, historic-meets-modern capital - and enjoy a night of Irish entertainment in a scenic seaside suburb.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Our July 31st to August 21st departures get to enjoy the precision and performance of pipe and drum corps from around the world.

Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle

Tour the impressive State Apartments at Dublin Castle - once serving as living quarters, they are now the site of state ceremonies and presidential inaugurations.

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Itinerary

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slide Day 1Glasgow City Tour | Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum
Your tour begins at 2:00 PM at your hotel. Set out on a panoramic tour of the highlights of Glasgow, a city built on industry but now known for its stunning Victorian architecture and creative cultural scene. Visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, housing one of Europe’s finest art collections. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group at the hotel, then you are free to explore the city and dine as you wish.
Embark on a short cruise of Loch Lomond with views of Highland peaks. Stroll through Inveraray and have lunch on your own before touring Inveraray Castle, which you may recognize from the “Downton Abbey” series. Drive through Glencoe, one of Scotland’s most beautiful places, and continue on to your hotel. (B, D)
Travel on the scenic “Road to the Isles”, stopping for photos at the Glenfinnan Monument. Ferry to the Isle of Skye to visit the romantic ruins of Armadale Castle. Back on the mainland, travel along the shores of Loch Ness. End the day at your hotel in Nairn, a lovely manor house set on spacious grounds near the North Sea. (B, D)
Visit the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre to learn about the historic battle. Walk around the serene moorland to see monuments commemorating the troops. Immerse yourself in farm life at a local farm as you watch dogs herd sheep. Travel to your gracious manor-style hotel near Pitlochry. (B, D)
Visit Blair Castle, home of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl. Delve into the history of Mary, Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and how Queen Victoria’s famous stay led to the creation of Europe’s only private army, the Atholl Highlanders. Go behind the scenes at Blair Athol Distillery for a tour and sample of the finished product. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring the hotel gardens and museum, or browsing around Pitlochry town. (B, D)
Visit Glamis Castle, the legendary setting of “Macbeth”. Head to St Andrews, the “Home of Golf”. See the famous Royal and Ancient Clubhouse and the Old Course on a panoramic drive. Enjoy a traditional Scottish evening with dinner and entertainment. July 31 – August 21 departures enjoy an evening free to dine independently. ( (B, D*)
Take a panoramic tour of Edinburgh, from the narrow lanes and medieval townhouses of the Royal Mile to the elegant mansions and wide streets of the 200-year-old Georgian “New Town”. Tour the imposing Edinburgh Castle with its splendid views of the city. The rest of the day is free for independent exploring, shopping, and dining. July 31 – August 21 departures attend the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade. (B)
Say farewell to your Scottish guide and embark on a ferry ride to Belfast. Immerse yourself in the history of the Titanic through displays at Titanic Belfast. Drive on to Dublin, where you have a free evening to explore the city’s excellent restaurants and famed pubs. (B)
Explore Dublin independently on a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour, and choose one of four top attractions to visit with your included voucher: GPO Museum, Teelings Distillery, or EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum. At 2:00 PM meet your new Irish guide/driver and tour group in the hotel lobby. Join a local guide for a Dublin City tour, and then take a guided tour of Dublin Castle. Enjoy a traditional Irish dinner and show at Merry Ploughboy Pub. (B, D)
Head for Blarney Castle today, stopping for a photo opportunity at the Rock of Cashel along the way. You might choose to climb the steep winding staircase to kiss the famed Blarney Stone, which legend says will give you the gift of the gab. Drive through Macroom, built around a fine old castle, and into County Kerry where the scenery becomes more mountainous. 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)
Take the Ring of Kerry drive – a winding route with awesome mountain and coastline views. Stop off in the beautiful Gap of Dunloe to visit our CIE Tours preferred shopping partner Moriarty’s. Enjoy lunch before crossing to Valentia Island and the Skellig Experience, which tells the story of nearby islands. Watch a demonstration of highly skilled dogs herding flocks of sheep. Spend a free evening in Killarney. (B, L)
Take a ferry across the River Shannon Estuary and visit the Cliffs of Moher, a spectacular wall of sandstone that reaches high above the Atlantic. Check in to your hotel and enjoy free time before heading out for a memorable medieval-style feast complete with songs and harp music evocative of the Middle Ages. (B, D)
Your tour ends this morning after breakfast. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner * Meal counts vary on Tattoo departures, as the Scottish Evening is replaced with the Tattoo and an independent dinner. >

Where you’ll stay

Hilton Glasgow Glasgow, Scotland

One of Glasgow’s most stylish hotels, Hilton Glasgow offers 319 contemporary bedrooms providing...
Ballachulish Hotel on Loch Linnhe

Ballachulish Hotel Ballachulish, Scotland

Situated in a breathtaking lochside setting at the foot of dramatic Glencoe, this historic hotel...
Muthu Newton Hotel

Muthu Newton Hotel Nairn, Scotland

Muthu Newton Hotel is close to the Nairn golfing links and the Moray Firth offering unrivalled...
Atholl Palace Hotel

Atholl Palace Hotel Pitlochry, Scotland

Originally opened in Victorian times, the Atholl Palace Hotel retains many features of a...
Norton House Hotel

Norton House Hotel & Spa near Edinburgh, Scotland

Set in a Victorian mansion in 55 acres of grounds, Norton House features a luxury spa, award-...
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*
  • Scottish & 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
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See what people are saying about this trip

5
Randi Coyle Hodges
6 months 2 weeks ago
All went well...except for the night we were to stay in a castle. It wasok.

Everything about it felt as a bonus. Great stops. great food. great cultural experience. Loved the history lessons.

5
CIE Tours Customer
6 months 3 weeks ago

Great trip and tour guides were excellent.

4
CIE Tours Customer
6 months 3 weeks ago
Very good tour.

I think that this tour achieved everything that it set out to achieve. Loved Onya, and Colm was great.

5
Coquitos
6 months 4 weeks ago
Wonderful trip!

We really loved the Scotland tour! We decided to add it on to our original destination of Ireland and we are so glad we did! The tour guide, Di and our bus driver, John were amazing! We saw so much and Di went out of her way to make it extra special for everyone. We enjoyed all the places we visited and the hotels were awesome! Ireland was great too! Lots of beautiful places to see. Our bus driver, Bob was also our tour guide. He was very knowledgeable about Ireland and its history and locations. Our only recommendation would be to be to reorganize the Dublin portion of the tour. There was a lot of time in Dublin, but it was too broken up to be able to enjoy it as we would have liked. The time in Galway wasn’t worth it. Overall, we loved our trip!

4
Christine Kay Stevenson
2 years 5 months ago
We enjoyed the trip.

The tour was good. The hotels were very nice. We enjoyed the Scotland tour and tour guides the most.
Dublin, except for the dinner theater and castle was most disappointing. The hotel was too far away from the activities and we only had time to do one of the 3 daytime activities offered. (Hop on hop off bus, the Guinness Brewery and one other). The Dublin Castle and dinner at the Merry Ploughboy were outstanding.
The itinerary for the next day was always posted in the hotels in Scotland, but was not posted 2 days in Ireland. We checked with the front desk at the hotels about where it would be posted. The hotels called the tour guide but he did not return the calls.

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