Irish Classic Tour
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Day 1: Depart U.S. for Dublin
Welcome aboard your overnight flight to Dublin. Relax with dinner and entertainment.
Day 2: Arrive Ireland & Tour Glendalough
Arrive in Dublin Airport, complete immigration formalities and pick up your luggage. Go to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall to arrange a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later, you will need to transfer to the hotel at your own expense. Your hotel, an elegant Victorian mansion, overlooks Dublin Bay and Dun Laoghaire Harbour. At 2:00 pm drive through the Wicklow Mountains at visit Glendalough, a 6th century monastic site. In the evening meet your fellow travelers over a welcome drink and your tour director will assist you in choosing a charming local restaurant to dine independently.
Day 3: Dublin Castle & Taylor's Three Rock
See Dublin's hilights and visit Dublin Castle's state apartments. Take an independent open-top bus tour with a visit to Guinness or Jameson. Head to Taylor's Three Rock Pub for dinner and a lively show.(B,D)
Day 4: Downpatrick & Mount Stewart
Drive north past the Mourne Mountains to Downpatrick. Visit the St. Patrick Centre to learn about Ireland's patron saint and see his reputed burial place in Down Cathedral. Cross Strangford Lough by ferry to visit Mount Stewart House and Gardens. The famous gardens at Mount Stewart were planted in the 1920's by Edith, Lady Londonderry, and have been nominated a World Heritage Site. The house tour includes world-famous paintings and stories about the prominent political figures to whom the Londonderry family played host. Check into your hotel in Belfast. (B, D)
Day 5: Belfast, Giant's Causeway & Derry
See the highlights of Belfast with a local guide, including Victorian buildings, the Harland and Wolff Shipyards, where the Titanic was built and areas around the Shankill and Falls Road. Drive north along the "Nine Glens of Antrim," a scenic drive with views of mountains, valleys and coastline. Stop at the Giant's Causeway, hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. The enormous rocks have spawned legends about the mythical giant, Finn McCool. Continue to Derry and join a local guide for a short walking tour around the ancient city center, surrounded by the medieval city walls. (B, D)
Day 6: Ulster Folk Park & Belleek China
Visit the Ulster American Folk Park, which traces the story of emigrants and show how they live. Tour the Belleek Pottery Factory to see craftspeople making delicate anr ornate china. travel to Westport. (B,D)
Day 7: Achill Island Excursion & Westport
After a late breakfast travel around Clew Bay, reputed to have 365 islands, and across the Curraun Peninsula to Achill Island, joined to the mainland by a bridge. Follow the Atlantic Drive to capture wonderful views of steeply-sloped mountains plunging into the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Near Slievemore see the Deserted Village, the remains of nearly 100 stone cottages abandoned around the time of the 1840's Famine. Also see stretches of windswept bogland and golden beaches. Return to Westport in time to take a stroll to explore this attractive estate town, which was laid out in 1780. (B, D)
Day 8: Cliffs Of Moher & Bunratty Banquet
Travel to Galway City and take a tour to see the main sights. Spend some time on your own before driving through the Burren, limestone hills with unique flora and prehistoric stone monuments. View the majestic Cliffs of Moher, a rocky wall that rises nearly 700 feet above the foaming Atlantic Ocean. Drive to Bunratty and check into your hotel, right beside Bunratty Castle, the Bunratty Folk Park and Durty Nelly's Pub. In the evening head to 15th century Bunratty Castle for a jolly medieval-style dinner where the Lords and Ladies serenade you with favorite songs. (B, D)
Day 9: Flying Boat & Dingle Peninsula
Drive through the outskirts of Limerick and along by the River Shannon to Foynes to visit the Flying Boat Museum. In the early days of flight, during the 1930's and early 1940's, this was the landing place for Pan Am Clippers from the United States and Europe. The museum recreates the infancy of aviation through displays of memorabilia. Journey into the mountainous scenery of County Kerry along the Dingle Peninsula and travel up the Connor Pass for splended views before heading to your hotel in Killarnet. (B, D)
Day 10: Jaunting Car Ride & Moll's Gap
Take a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car ride to Ross Castle to view Lough Leane, largest of Killarney's lakes. Drive to the delightful town of Kenmare where traditional buildings are gaily painted and enhanced with flowers. At Moll's Gap, a wonderful vantage point, stop to view the mountains. Continue along part of the Ring of Kerry route to enjoy the scenery. Pause at Ladies' View and stop at Muckross Gardens. Take a walk around the charming gardens before taking a guided tour through Muckross House. Before returning to Killarney. (B, D)
Day 11: Cobh Heritage & Traditional Music
Drive through the mountains of Kerry and make a brief stop at the Blarney Woollen Mills. Next visit Cobh Heritage Centre, located in the old train station through which all emigrants passed when traveling to the United States. Displays show the many hardships that travelers endured. Drive to Dungavan to the Marine Bar for a Creamy Irish Coffee and informal traditional music. Join a local guide for a stroll around Waterford. (B, D)
Day 12: Kilkenny & National Stud
Drive north to Kilkenny and stop to look around the town. In medieval times the town was a prosperous trading center and the narrow streets still follow ancient routes. Travel north to Kildare and visit the Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens. As a nation, the Irish are very interested in horses and the Stud will tell you about the valuable breeding industry. The Japanese Gardens symbolize the "Life of Man" through plants and rocks. Then head to the village of Dunboyne, on the outskirts of Dublin. Check into Dunboyne Castle Hotel and relax for a while before enjoying a farewell dinner and informal music with your group. (B, D)
Day 13: Dublin to U.S.
Complimentary group transfers are provided to Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon. After check-in, you'll have time to shop at the duty-free stores before U.S. Immigration pre-clearance and boarding your flight for the journey home. (B)
B=Breakfast, CB=Continental Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner