 Your
Day-by-Day Itinerary |
Day 1 – Fri: Depart
U.S. for Dublin
Depart U.S. on your overnight flight to Dublin. Sit back and
enjoy inflight meal service and entertainment as you travel
to Ireland.
Day 2 - Sat: Dublin Arrival
Land in Dublin Airport in the morning and head to the CIE
Tours desk in the Arrivals Lobby.
Personnel will arrange a group transfer to your hotel between
7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If you
arrive later than noon, you will need to transfer to the hotel
at your own expense. Your newly restored Victorian hotel is
located a few miles south of Dublin city, overlooking Dublin
Bay.
Enjoy some free time to rest after your journey or you may
like to browse around Dublin on your own. In the evening meet
your tour director for a welcome drink and discuss the tour
itinerary.
Day 3 - Sun: Dublin Castle
& Merry Ploughboy Pub
Take a morning tour around central Dublin, renowned for its
rows of graceful Georgian
townhouses with their colorful doors. Also see government
and historic buildings such as Trinity College, where the
Book of Kells is housed; the Bank of Ireland, built in the
18th century to house the Parliament; and Leinster House,
where both houses of today’s government convene. Tour
Dublin Castle’s elegantly furnished State Apartments,
where many important events have taken place and are now used
for government functions. The afternoon is free for browsing
or further sightseeing on your own. In the evening head to
the Merry Ploughboy Pub where dinner is followed by a great
show with lively music
and intricate step-dancing. (B, D)
Day 4 - Mon: National
Stud & Japanese Gardens
Depart Dublin and visit the National Stud and Japanese Gardens
in Kildare. Horseracing is
very popular in Ireland and breeding is a lucrative international
business. Learn about
this industry at the National Stud and see some of the magnificent
horses. Take a walk around the Japanese Gardens, cleverly
laid out to represent the “Life of Man” from cradle
to the grave in oriental-style gardening. See a variety of
landscapes as you drive south and stop for photos of the Rock
of Cashel with its collection of early medieval church ruins.
Continue towards the mountains of Kerry and into your delightful
hotel in the center of Killarney. (B, D)
Day 5 - Tue: Muckross
House & Kenmare
Just outside Killarney tour the gracious 19th century Muckross
House, which is set on the
shores of Muckross Lake and surrounded by fine gardens. Learn
about the history of the previous owners, including Californians,
and see elegant rooms with richly crafted period furnishings.
Drive to the delightful town of Kenmare where traditional
buildings are gaily painted and enhanced with flowers. Travel
through Moll’s Gap, a wonderful vantage point on the
Ring of Kerry and stop at Ladies’ View before returning
to Killarney. (B, D)
Day 6 - Wed: “Titanic”
Walk & Waterford Crystal
Travel through the mountainous country of West Cork and through
the outskirts of Cork city to
Cobh, the port town which was the last scheduled stopping
place for the “Titanic.” Take a brief walk with
a local guide to see places associated with that fateful journey.
Drive along the south coast via Youghal to visit the Waterford
Crystal Factory where skilled craftspeople create this famous
crystal from molten glass. Watch as the glass goes through
the many stages of cutting and polishing to become a shimmering
masterpiece. See the vast display of trophies and tableware
in the showrooms. Continue to Wexford for dinner
and overnight stay. (B, D)
Day 7 - Thu: Ferry to
Wales & Bath
It’s an early start today as you depart Wexford for
a short drive to Rosslare to catch the ferry to
South Wales. Journey through pleasant farming country and
along the southern part of Wales, passing former coal mining
valleys and the built-up areas around Cardiff. Drive across
the River Severn Bridge into England to Bath. Check into your
hotel, located in the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage
City. You may like to take a walk around in the evening to
look at the elegant buildings, which date from Regency times
when this city became popular for “taking the waters.”
(B, D)
Day 8 - Fri: Roman Baths
& Stonehenge
Tour the famous spa town of Bath, popular with nthe Romans
2,000 years ago for its natural hot springs. It became fashionable
again in the 18th century Regency period when the spacious
houses of the Royal Crescent and the Circus, a circle of fine
mansions, were built. Visit the wonderful Roman Baths and
Pump Room, still preserved after two millennia. See the springs
where the water still flows and the excavated chambers where
Romans used to bathe and relax. Drive to Salisbury Plain to
view the prehistoric circle of vast monoliths at Stonehenge.
Learn how primitive peoples quarried and erected these huge
stones and marvel at their size as you walk around to look
at them. Continue your drive into London and check into your
hotel near Oxford Street for a two-night stay. (B)
Day 9 - Sat: London Sightseeing
Today you are on your own so that you may opt to join your
open-top sightseeing bus tour
whenever you wish. Stops at all of London’s famous landmarks
are included on the route—
Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of
London, Piccadilly Circus and many
more. You may get off wherever you wish, then just join a
later bus and continue to the next
place that interests you. (CB)
Day 10 – Sun: Depart
for Home
As today is departure day, travel to Heathrow Airport or Gatwick
Airport by independent
coach transfer. Allow plenty of time for check-in formalities.
(CB) |
