Explore Ireland

Welcome to Dublin! Upon arrival at the Dublin International Airport, you will make your own way to your city centre hotel. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy all that Dublin has to offer. This evening meet your fellow tour participants for a welcome drink.

Overnight in Dublin

Today, after breakfast, you will meet your driver and guide at the hotel’s reception and depart towards Belfast. On route, you will travel through the Boyne Valley and the 5,000- year-old Hill of Tara, the seat of the ancient High Kings of Ireland. Stop at the Glyde Inn for a unique VR experience! You won’t just learn about being a Viking; you will become one. Continue to Hillsborough Castle, the official Royal Palace for Northern Ireland, for a visit. Discover stories of celebration, entertainment, diplomacy, and negotiation as you explore Hillsborough Castle's fascinating history and stunning State Rooms.

Overnight in Belfast

Today, after breakfast, you will meet the tour guide at the hotel’s reception, and head out to explore the highlights of Belfast. Splendidly situated at the head of Belfast Lough, Belfast City is a modern and vibrant city which is proud of its heritage and history. You will enjoy a panoramic tour of the city centre during which your guide will explain how Belfast developed from a small market town to an industrial giant. Pass by landmarks like City Hall and Queen’s University before visiting Titanic Belfast, an iconic landmark building where the story of Titanic is told. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure in Belfast

Overnight in Belfast

Optional: Glenshane Country Farm Sheepdog Demo
A family-owned sheep farm based deep in the beautiful ancient landscape of the Sperrin Mountains. Meet Jamese McCloy, a fourth-generation shepherd who wants to introduce people to sheep farming, particularly his highly trained team of working sheepdogs. Join Moss, Tess & 2 year old Jess, on this immersive experience, ‘Sheepdogs at Work’.

Today, after breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and travel along the spectacular North Antrim Coastline, where you will experience the highlight of any trip to Northern Ireland: The Giant’s Causeway, where about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns result from a volcanic eruption. The site was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. After your visit, you will continue to Derry, Ireland’s only fully intact walled city. The day’s activities concludes with a walk along Derry's walls, which has witnessed centuries of drama.

Dinner and Overnight in Donegal

After a delicious Irish breakfast, you will meet the tour guide at the hotel reception and head out towards Galway. The first stop of today will be at Belleek Pottery which has been in business since 1857. You will see first-hand how this world-renowned pottery is created. Then, you will continue to the Marble Arch Caves and explore a fascinating, natural underworld of rivers, winding passages and lofty chambers. The caves, in the heart of the UNESCO Global Geopark, were formed in limestone rock when water flowing through the rock slowly dissolved it to leave chambers, passages and systems, that you will explore during the guided tour.

Dinner and an overnight in Galway

This morning, after breakfast, you will travel into Co. Clare and the Burren Region, where you will visit the Cliffs of Moher, which offers splendid views over the Atlantic Ocean. Rising to over 200 metres in places, they are among the highest sea cliffs in Western Europe and stretch for about 8km along the Atlantic coast. Then you will return to Galway to enjoy some time at leisure in the city.

Overnight in Galway

After breakfast, you will check out of the hotel, and travel south towards Cork. En route, you will pass Limerick City, which was founded in the 9th century by Vikings. In the afternoon, you will arrive in Blarney where you will visit Blarney Castle. Blarney Castle is set in over 60 acres of stunning parkland, filled with rare and unusual plants and trees and steeped in history. Visitors, too, can possess the gift of the gab by kissing the mythical Blarney Stone (or stone of eloquence).

Overnight in Cork

Today, after breakfast, you will head out to discover the highlights of the Ring of Kerry, where you can appreciate the spectacular scenery of Molls Gap and Ladies’ View. You will finish the day with a relaxing Jaunting Car Ride in Killarney National Park! Step back in time by experiencing Ireland’s most traditional mode of transport with a Jaunting Car Tour/ horse and carriage to view Killarney’s most loved beauty hotspots. You will get to learn all about the area's history from your jarvey, many of whom are second and third-generation jarveys.

Overnight in Cork

After a hearty Irish breakfast, you will meet the tour guide, and start the day by visiting the nearby Midleton Distillery Experience, which was founded by the Murphy Brothers in 1825, which still produces more than 24 million bottles of whiskey yearly. You will finish the visit with a tasting of this famous Irish whiskey. Then, you will continue towards Waterford, where you will visit the House of Waterford in the city’s Viking Triangle. On the tour, you will witness how Waterford Crystal masterpieces are crafted, from initial design to final engraving.

Overnight in Kilkenny

Today, you will visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship, which is a full-scale replica of the original ship built in 1845 for the Graves family of New Ross and which carried thousands of emigrants from Ireland to North America over thirty years. You will have the afternoon at leisure in Kilkenny to discover this picturesque medieval city.

Overnight in Kilkenny

Optional: Entrance & self-guided tour to Kilkenny Castle
Kilkenny Castle has been an important site since the Anglo-Normans built it in the 12th century. Learn about life in the castle over the many centuries of its existence

Today, after breakfast, you will check out of the hotel, and start the journey towards Dublin. In Dublin you will visit the EPIC Museum and find out why over 10 million people emigrated from Ireland. As you uncover the stories of our emigrants, you’ll realise that emigration is not about what people leave behind but what they bring with them. You will get to enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Dublin

Optional: Evening Entertainment at Taylor’s Three Rock (or similar)
Visit this lively pub in Rathfarnham for a night of music and dancing. A group will regale visitors with ballads (both happy and sad) and will (after a few pints) have visitors singing along with them. The music will be interrupted for a short while to enjoy the best of Irish Dancing, guaranteed to get some feet tapping!

Note: Evening transfer from the venue to the hotel is not included and has to be booked separately at the extra cost (alternatively you can walk to your hotel or take a taxi). The final price for the transfer will be advised when the final number of participants is known.