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These Great Tour Features Are Included
Included Premium Highlights
* Tour the Ring of Kerry, a scenic symphony with stunning views over mountains and sea
* Enjoy a highlight ride with the locals on one of the famous Killarney jaunting cars
* Ireland's rural heritage comes to life on your visit to Bunratty Folk Park
* Admire the breathtaking views of the Clare Coast and the 700-foot Cliffs of Moher
* Visit the spectacular Giant's Causeway
Included Personal Insights
* An equine professional will join you for a behind the scenes look at Ireland's National Stud and its famous Japanese Gardens
* Meet the descendants of the last 12th century High Kings of Ireland at their ancestral home, Clonalis House
Included Additional Excursions & Sights
* See the Customs House, Dublin Castle and O'Connell Street in Dublin
* Stop in medieval Kilkenny and visit Kilkenny Design Centre
* See the remains of the old city walls and Reginald's Tower in Waterford
* Visit the Waterford Crystal showrooms
* Climb Blarney Castle and dangle from the ramparts to kiss the famous 'Blarney Stone'
* Scenic tour of Dingle Peninsula to Slea Head
* Visit the town of Adare
* See King John's Castle and St Mary's Cathedral in Limerick
* See St. Nicholas Cathedral, Spanish Arch and Eyre Square in Galway
* Connemara excursion including a visit to the Connemara Marble factory
* Visit the turreted neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey
* Visit Belleek Pottery Centre
* See 'Derry's Walls' and Gothic guildhall
* See Carrickfergus Castle
* View the City Hall and Queen's University in Belfast
* Scenic drives - the 'Burren', Antrim coast, Boyne Valley
Included First Class Services
* Escorted by a professional Tour Director
* Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
* Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
* Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack
* Airport Shuttle arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 and Day 12
Included Quality Dining
* Dine-Around evening at your own choice of restaurant from our selection in Kilarney (DA)
* 11 full Breakfasts (B) and 5 three-course Evening Meals with choice, or buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
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ITINERARY
Tour Pace
This is a well paced tour with two night stays in Tralee and Galway, as well as in Dublin. The driving days are of a reasonable length with frequent stops often with splendid photo opportunities.
DAY 1 – MON – DUBLIN SIGHTSEEING
Welcome to the land of legends, of misty mountains and a warm greeting wherever you go! On arrival there are complimentary transfers to your tour hotel from Dublin Airport. Our sightseeing tour of Dublin includes the elegant squares of Ireland's 'fair city' and a visit to the impressive castle (when open). We also see famous O'Connell Street and the Customs House. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Drink and a highlight dinner in a traditional venue. Hotel: Burlington. (Full breakfast, Speciality Highlight Dinner)
DAY 2 – TUE – DUBLIN – WATERFORD
This morning we drive to Kildare, where we visit Ireland's National Stud, one of Ireland's main racehorse breeding centres. We visit the Japanese Gardens, laid out by Eida, a Japanese landscape artist invited to Ireland at the turn of last century. Then to the architectural gem of Kilkenny, where we visit the 13th century Kilkenny Castle. We tour the castle with its splendid picture gallery and also see the Kilkenny Design Centre, before continuing on to our hotel in ancient Waterford. Hotel: Dooleys. (Full breakfast)
DAY 3 – WED – WATERFORD – CORK
We see history unfold before our eyes this morning in Waterford as we view Reginald's Tower and the remains of the old city walls. We also tour the Waterford Crystal Factory, before driving to Blarney to kiss the famous stone at 15th Century Blarney Castle. Next we admire displays of Waterford Crystal at Blarney Mill, before continuing on to historic Cork. While here, you might like to visit Cobh, from where so many settlers left for the New World? Hotel: Country Club. (Full Breakfast, Three or four course table d’hote or buffet style dinner)
DAY 4 – THU – CORK – TRALEE
Today we see St Finbar's Cathedral in Cork before driving up the valley of the River Lee into the majestic Derrynasaggart Mountains. Then we experience wonderful Irish scenery as we make our way onto the Dingle Peninsula, spectacular setting for the film 'Ryan's Daughter'. From dramatic Slea Head at the peninsula's far end, we now make our way to Tralee with its 18th century architecture and majestic houses. Hotel: Abbey Gate. (Full Breakfast, Three or four course table d’hote or buffet style dinner)
DAY 5 – FRI – RING OF KERRY EXCURSION
Our excursion today takes us around the Ring of Kerry on one of the greatest scenic tours – into a world of towering cliffs, lush lakelands, remote villages and above all, Ireland's highest mountain range. A sense of unhurried Irish pace surrounds us as we view the three peaceful Lakes of Killarney. Before returning to Tralee, we take a highlight ride with the locals on one of Killarney's famous jaunting cars. (Full breakfast)
DAY 6 – SAT – TRALEE – GALWAY
Leaving Tralee this morning we drive via picturesque Adare to ancient Limerick, where we see 12th century StMary's Cathedral and medieval King John's Castle. We then visit Bunratty Folk Park, a living museum.We continue to the awesome Cliffs of Moher, rising 700 feet out of the Atlantic Ocean. Then a delightful drive takes us through the Burren, a strange, rocky landscape rich in wild orchids, to Galway. Hotel: Corrib Great Southern. (Full Breakfast, Three or four course table d’hote or buffet style dinner)
DAY 7 – SUN – CONNEMARA EXCURSION
In Galway today we see St Nicholas Cathedral, the Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the late US president John F. Kennedy. Then into the beautiful rugged landscape of Connemara, a wonderland of rivers, lakes and silent hills. Our first stop is the famous marble factory, where we tour the workshop. We visit palatial Kylemore Abbey before returning to our hotel. (Full breakfast)
DAY 8 – MON – GALWAY – LONDONDERRY
Bidding farewell to Galway and Connemara we drive past Tuam, en route to Clonalis House. This estate is the home of the O'Connor family, descendants of the last High Kings of Ireland. Here we meet the resident family and tour their home before driving through County Sligo, to visit the Belleek Pottery Centre. We continue to Donegal town, with its stronghold of the great O'Donnells, then we head north through the Blue Stack Mountains into Northern Ireland and on to the ancient city of 'Derry'. Hotel: Everglades. (Full Breakfast, Three or four course table d’hote or buffet style dinner)
DAY 9 – TUE – LONDONDERRY – BALLYGALLY
Sightseeing with our local guide takes us inside the well-preserved walls, still topped with cannon, and down steep Shipquay Street, with its elegant Georgian houses, to the Gothic Guildhall. Then we continue along the coast to the spectacular Giant's Causeway. We hear fantastic legends surrounding this geological masterpiece, created by the cooling of lava which burst through the earth's crust millions of years ago. Now we continue along the scenic Antrim coast to arrive at Ballygally for our overnight stay. Hotel: Ballygally Castle. (Full Breakfast, Three or four course table d’hote or buffet style dinner)
DAY 10 – WED – BALLYGALLY – BELFAST
This morning we continue around the coast, past the huge Norman castle at Carrickfergus, to arrive in Belfast, capital of Northern Ireland. We meet our local guide for a panoramic tour of this unique city, which shows us the City Hall, Queen's University and Stormont Castle, before checking in for our overnight stay. Hotel: Europa. (Full breakfast)
DAY 11 – THU – BELFAST – DUBLIN
This morning we travel alongside the Mountains of Mourne to Drogheda, taking a short drive along the historic Boyne Valley, site of the Battle of Boyne where William of Orange defeated the forces of Catholic King James. We now return to Ireland's lively capital, Dublin. Tonight is free to perhaps take in a famous Irish Cabaret show? Hotel: Burlington. (Full breakfast)
DAY 12 – FRI – DUBLIN
Sadly, our tour ends today after breakfast. There are complimentary transfers to the airport. (Full breakfast)
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