Ireland's Icons - Premium

Meet your Travel Director and fellow guests before setting out with your Local Expert for a city tour that reveals the layers of Dublins past. Trace the capitals transformation from Viking settlement to Georgian grandeur, stopping at St. Patricks Cathedralestablished in 1191 on a site long associated with Irelands patron saint. Here, youll learn how the cathedral became a national religious symbol and the former seat of Jonathan Swift. This evening, gather for dinner to toast the start of your journey and sample Dublins celebrated hospitality.

This morning, visit the estate of Powerscourt, where you'll take part in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience that supports the restoration of Irelands natural heritage. With its formal terraces, Japanese gardens and a backdrop of the Great Sugar Loaf Mountain, Powerscourt has been voted one of the worlds top ten gardens by National Geographic. Learn how ongoing conservation efforts are helping to preserve its biodiversity and historic landscape for future generations. Return to Dublin with the afternoon free to explore. You might choose to visit the National Museum, browse the galleries of the Hugh Lane or enjoy a pint at the Guinness Storehouse. Or, join an Optional Experience of food and fun at a Dublin Dinner and Cabaret.

Visit the Irish National Stud to discover Irelands celebrated role in thoroughbred breeding and see retired champions grazing the paddocks. In Cork, your Travel Director introduces the citys independent spirit, from the 18th-century English Market brimming with local produce to Georgian avenues and the colorful quays of the River Lee. With your evening at leisure, opt for an Optional Experience of traditional Irish entertainment, featuring local musicians and a hearty pub dinner, an authentic taste of Corks vibrant music scene.

Today's Brendan Choice gets you up close and personal to one of the icons of Ireland, Blarney Castle, the Witch's Kitchen and Wishing Steps gardens and, of course, the famous stonesaid to bestow the 'gift of the gab' upon whoever kisses it. Or, go beyond the castle and dont miss the chance to amble the 1,500-acre grounds. After your visit to the stone or stroll through the grounds, head west to Killarney. Tonights Dine-Around evening invites you to enjoy your pick of Irish specialties. Then finish your day with an Optional Experience of traditional Irish song, music and dance.

Famous for its 'forty shades of green,' the Ring of Kerry has inspired writers and poets for centuries. Drink in the beauty of the coastal drive lined with beaches, colorful seaside villages and views of the Atlantic Ocean. Youll be astounded by even more icons of Ireland as you venture inland to a mountainous region dotted with lakes and green woodlands. Enhance your discovery over an Optional Experience Jaunting Cart Ride through Bourn Vincent National Park. Upon arrival back in Killarney, end your day with a decadent three-course dinner infused with Irish flavors.

Begin the day with a ferry crossing of the Shannon Estuary before arriving at the towering Cliffs of Moher. Perched at 700 feet, take in views of the Clare Coast and the pounding Atlantic, where colonies of puffins make their homes. The area is home to Guillemot and Razorbills, Peregrine Falcon, Kittiwake and Fulmar as well as endangered bird species including Choughs. Full of fascinating insights, make your way through the rocky landscape of the Burren to Galway Bay.

Irelands cultural center and festival capital, Galway hosts 122 festivals per year. One might say the citys artistic side is reflected in actor Peter OToole, who had a strong connection with Galway. OToole claimed that he was born in Galway before being taken to England as a baby and built a house outside Clifden in the county. Youll feel Galways fun, bohemian vibe come to life over an orientation tour. Your Travel Director introduces you to the sights including Eyre Square, dedicated to the late US President John F. Kennedy. With the rest of the day at leisure, continue to explore this bustling port city on your own or join an optional trip across to Aran Islands.

Leave Galway behind and journey into the wild beauty of Connemara, where mountain passes and stone-walled fields lead to the Atlantic coast. Embark on a scenic cruise along Killary Fjord, Irelands only fjord, stretching 16 kilometers between the peaks of Connemara and Mayo. Learn how glacial forces shaped this dramatic inlet and keep an eye out for seals and sea birds. Continue to Kylemore Abbey, a Neo-Gothic estate set against a tranquil lake. Walk through its Victorian walled garden and learn the story of the Benedictine nuns who still reside here. Traverse the remote valleys and boglands of Connemara en route to Clifden, where youll enjoy a traditional dinner and overnight stay at Abbeyglen Castle, a 19th-century manor offering views over the bay.

Journey east to Athlone, a strategic crossing on the River Shannon since medieval times. Enjoy time at leisure to explore the townperhaps step inside Athlone Castle, which dates to the 13th century, or visit Seans Bar, reputedly Irelands oldest pub with origins as early as AD 900. Alternatively, join an Optional Experience and cruise the Shannon in a Viking-style boat, learning about the towns riverfront history. Later, return to Dublin for your final evening. Youll have time for some last-minute shopping on Grafton Street or one final Guinness in a traditional pub, before gathering with your fellow travelers for a memorable dinner to reflect on your journey through Ireland.

As the curtain falls on a memorable journey with new friends, say a fondsln go fill to Dublin and the 'Emerald Isle'.