Your Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 - Thu: Depart U.S. for London
Welcome aboard your overnight flight to London.

Day 2 - Fri: London Arrival & Welcome
Land in London in the morning and, after immigration and baggage claim, take an independent coach transfer to your hotel in Kensington. Coaches operate frequently throughout the day. The remainder of the day is free so that you may rest or do some sightseeing on your own. Whatever your interests, there is something for you – history, museums, art, fashion, peoplewatching, restaurants, clubs or theater. Get together with your tour director and fellow travelers over a welcome drink to discuss your vacation.

Day 3 - Sat: Tower of London & City Tour
Meet your London guide this morning and head to the Tower of London. This majestic fortress contains a collection of castles and residences where English kings have made history. See ravens and Beefeaters as you walk through the complex and view the Traitors’ Gate, the White Tower and the magnificent Crown Jewels. Drive through central London to see the main attractions. Pass the Houses of Parliament with Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, bustling Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street. The afternoon and evening are at leisure. (CB)

Day 4 - Sun: Blenheim Palace & Cotswolds
Travel to Woodstock to visit Blenheim Palace, an 18th century Baroque masterpiece and birthplace of Winston Churchill in 1874. See priceless treasures of art in the Great Hall and Long Library and view the charming Water Terrace Gardens. Drive through the Cotswolds, a delightful hilly region with honey-colored stone houses, many dating back to medieval times. Stop in Stratfordupon-Avon for a look around on your own to see some of the old black-and-white houses and Shakespeare’s Birthplace. Continue your drive to your lovely resort hotel in Whitchurch. (CB, D)

Day 5 - Mon: Chester & Scottish Cabaret
Depart Whitchurch to take a walking tour of Chester to see the Rows, the medieval city walls
and visit Chester Cathedral. Travel through the glorious Lake District to enjoy stunning views of shimmering lakes, gentle hills and valleys. Stop to browse around the quaint village of Grasmere, where you may view William Wordsworth’s Grave. Continue north into Scotland and through the gentle scenery of the Southern Uplands. Arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland’s delightful capital city, and check into your hotel near the Royal Mile. Head to a Scottish Cabaret for Scottish specialties with lively singing, dancing and humor. (B, D)

Day 6 - Tue: Edinburgh Castle & Tour
Explore central Edinburgh this morning, starting in the 200-year-old “New Town” with its planned streets and elegant Georgian houses, homes of many famous writers and inventors. See the Royal Mile where the old medieval houses are clustered. Tour Edinburgh Castle where the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny are housed. The afternoon and evening are free for independent activities and dining on your own. On departures from July 31 to August 14 watch the spectacular Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. (B)

Day 7 - Wed: Stirling Castle & Glen Coe
Visit the mighty Stirling Castle, which was captured from the English in 1297 by William
Wallace and again in 1314 by Robert the Bruce. The castle has featured largely throughout Scottish history. Drive through Callander and into the scenic Trossachs region, called “The Highlands in Miniature.” Stop at Kilmahog Woollen Mill, which stocks a large selection of Scottish goods and whiskies. Travel across Rannoch Moor and through Glencoe, notorious for the massacre of the Clan Macdonald by the Campbells. Drive along the coast to Oban and take a look around this bustling fishing town before dinner. (B, D)

Day 8 - Thu: Highlands & Loch Lomond
Travel through wonderful Highland scenery and past lochs. Drive by Loch Etive and Loch Awe
and through Glen Aray to the Georgian town of Inveraray on the shores of Loch Fyne. The New Town of Inveraray was built between 1753 and 1776 as the 3rd Duke of Argyll decided to move the entire town so that his splendid new castle could be properly landscaped. Cross the mountain pass of “Rest and Be Thankful” to Loch Lomond. Embark on a scenic cruise to admire panoramic views of Highland peaks before driving into Glasgow for a short orientation tour. (B, D)

Day 9 - Fri: Ferry to Ireland & Dublin
Drive south from Glasgow through the gentle pastoral countryside of the Southern Uplands
to Cairnryan. Your tour group and coach will embark on a short ferry journey to Larne. Take a
brief look around the city of Belfast before traveling south past the Mountains of Mourne and along the east coast to Dublin. Check into your hotel and enjoy some relaxation time. Your hotel is located in the city center, just off O’Connell Street, one of the city’s prominent thoroughfares. The evening is free and your driver/guide will assist with suggestions as to where to dine. (B)

Day 10 - Sat: Dublin Tour & Abbey Tavern
This morning tour Dublin city center in the company of a local guide to see public buildings,
delightful gardens and lively shopping streets. View elegant Georgian squares lined with townhouses boasting colored doors. Enter Trinity College to visit the Old Library where the 8th century illuminated gospel manuscript of the Book of Kells is housed. The afternoon is at leisure for further sightseeing or shopping. In the evening head to the Abbey Tavern for dinner and a session of traditional Irish music and step-dancing. (B, D)

Day 11 - Sun: Blarney Castle & Killarney
Depart Dublin and view the green countryside as you travel through the center of Ireland, which has many mixed farms. Stop to view the stately church ruins atop the Rock of Cashel, which rises high above the surrounding plain. Continue your drive south and just a few miles outside Cork, visit Blarney Castle to kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence.” Also visit the Blarney Woollen Mills before driving through Macroom and into County Kerry where the scenery becomes more mountainous to Killarney. Check into your hotel and relax before dinner. (B, D)

Day 12 - Mon: Dingle Peninsula Tour
Today discover the scenic Dingle Peninsula, made famous by two movies – “Ryan’s Daughter” and “Far & Away.” Drive along the south shore and stop to admire views of heathery mountains and the sandy stretches of Inch Beach. Pause in Dingle before continuing to the western tip of the peninsula. Tour the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the Blasket Islands, inhabited until 1953 by hardy families who eked out a living by farming and fishing. Return to Killarney and enjoy free time to relax or take a walk. After dinner in your hotel you may like to visit some of the cozy pubs featuring live music. (B, D)

Day 13 - Tue: Cliffs of Moher & Bunratty
Leaving Killarney travel to Tarbert where you take the ferry across the River Shannon. Drive via Lahinch to view the Cliffs of Moher. The impressive wall of rock rises to a height of almost
700 feet above the churning Atlantic Ocean and stretches for five miles along the coast. See part of the Burren, a region of limestone and drive to the outskirts of Limerick to check into your hotel. This evening a medieval-style meal and entertainment at 15th century Bunratty Castle will end your tour on a high note. (B, D)

Day 14 - Wed: Birr Castle Gardens & Dunboyne Castle
Drive through the outskirts of Limerick and farming country to the heritage town of Birr. Visit Birr Castle Gardens, which offer formal gardens, the tallest box hedges in the world, hornbeam cloisters and over 1,000 different species of trees and shrubs. Also see the giant telescope which was the largest in the world when completed in the 1840’s. Continue your drive eastwards to your elegant hotel, just outside Dublin. Enjoy the facilities and relax for a while before joining in a farewell dinner with your group. Savor great food followed by some local entertainment. (B, D)

Day 15 - Thu: Depart Dublin for Home
Take a group transfer to Dublin Airport where your tour concludes at 10:00 am. If you need
to arrive earlier, your guide will coordinate an early group transfer. (B)