2025 Vacations

CONTINUING OUR EARLY 25 IN 25 CELEBRATIONS! 15% Discount on all self drive packages AND only €25pp deposit!

We continue to toast 25 years of creating Ireland vacations by extending our €25pp deposit AND offering you a 15% discount on any of our self-drive vacation packages! Book by 15th November 2024*

*CIE tours and Knitting tours not included

Tour Overview

‘Excellent’

Our most popular Ireland self drive tour -  See Ireland’s best attractions and most scenic locations on this 10 night/11 day best of ireland tour. 

This Best of Ireland Tour,  can be accessed using any of the Irish Airports and is a 10 night tour based on Ireland’s most famous sights including Trinity College and Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin, Powerscourt House & the Waterford Crystal exhibition in the South East, Blarney Castle and the Cobh Heritage Centre in Cork, Killarney and the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher and the ‘Burren Landscape’ of County Clare as well as the Aran Islands and Connemara in County Galway and Ireland's most visited attraction, the ancient Megalithic Tombs at Newgrange, just 45 minutes north of Dublin.

Depending on the airports used, the stopovers outlined below may vary in order but the same route will be covered.

This tour will leave the traveller with a wonderful array of memories of the diverse scenery and cultural differences that they will encounter from one side of the country to the other.

While the accents and dialects of the spoken word will vary greatly while journeying from County Dublin in the East of Ireland to the western counties of Cork, Kerry and Clare, the one unchanging constant will be the level of friendliness, humour & welcome that you receive throughout your travels.

While the suggested tour itinerary clearly outlines how you will be able to visit many of Ireland’s most historical locations and attractions, make sure to take time-out to get to know the local people and their culture.

What's included

  • Accommodation in rooms with Private Bathroom Facilities 
  • Full Irish Breakfast Each Morning
  • Rental Car or Chauffeur Driven Car
  • 24/7 Local Telephone Support During Your Trip
  • Our Renowned Customized Sightseeing Guide
  • Unlimited Services of Experienced Ireland Based Travel Planner
  • Map of Ireland

Tour highlights

  • Cobh Heritage Centre
  • Muckross House, Gardens & Traditional Farms
  • Titanic Walk
  • Bantry House & Gardens
  • Blasket Centre
  • Crag Cave & Kingdom Falconry
  • Desmond Castle & Wine Museum
  • Kinsale
  • Mizen Head Signal Station
  • Molly Gallivans Cottage & Farm
  • Skellig Experience
  • Garnish Island
  • Blarney Castle
  • Hunt Museum
  • Limerick
  • King Johns Castle
  • Muckross House, Gardens & Traditional Farms

Overnights for this tour

  • Waterford or Kilkenny for 1 Night
  • Kinsale, County Cork for 2 Nights
  • County Kerry for 2 Nights
  • County Clare for 1 Night
  • Galway for 2 Nights
  • Dublin for 2 Nights

Accommodation options

  • Superior & First Class Hotels
  • Luxury Accommodation & Service in our 4-Star Country Manor Houses
  • Deluxe Accommodation in our 4 & 5 Star Irish Castles
  • Our Recommended & Handpicked B&B's, all rooms with private bath facilities
  • Any Combination of the above

Tour itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive Shannon

Arrive Shannon Airport and meet with your experienced Irish driver/guide. All of the drivers we use are qualified guides and have great personalities that really will make your trip unforgettable. Drive the short distance to Vandeleur Walled Gardens. The beautiful old stone walls contain this sheltered garden (2.158 acres), which is set among 420 acres of native woodland. After the visit, take the short ferry crossing over the River Shannon into County Kerry and travel to the Heritage town of Listowel stopping to visit The Garden of Europe which also houses Ireland's only public monument to the memory of the millions who died in the Holocaust. Continue on to Killarney, Ireland’s premier tourist resort. After checking into your hotel, take a stroll through the town centre, visit Killarney National Park and Muckross House or take a boat ride around one of its lakes. Overnight Killarney DBB

Day 2 - Ring of Kerry

After breakfast, travel around the famed Ring of Kerry towards Kilorglin and Cahirciveen stopping at Kells Bay Gardens. The gardens contain one of the foremost collections of Southern hemisphere plants, mainly from Australia, New Zealand and South America. Leaving Kells Bay Gardens, we head for Valentia Island and Glanleam, an 18th century house with 50 acres of superb tropical gardens, most of which are now dense woodlands. The wonderful setting with a beach, a lighthouse and acres of green fields surrounding the house, make it perfect to soothe body and soul. Continue around the 100 mile scenic route passing through the colourful village of Sneem and pause at Moll's Gap to view the Three Lakes of Killarney. Overnight Killarney DBB

Day 3 - Bantry House & Gardens

This morning, we head south on a picturesque drive to Bantry, stopping at Bantry House And Gardens. The house has a collection of tapestries, furniture and art treasures which were mainly collected by the 2nd Earl of Bantry, Richard White, during his travels through Europe in the 1800s. The Gardens are home to sub tropical plants and shrubs - reflecting the best in European design and style. Features within the 45 acre grounds are the Hundred Steps, the Italian Garden and the largest Wisteria circle in Ireland. Continue on eastwards to Lisselan Gardens, designed in the 1800s and laid out in Robinsonian style, enhancing the natural features and contours provided by the valley and the river Argideen flowing throughout. This garden provides visitors with magnificent seasonal colours and has 12ha of gardens and woodlands with a variety of plants, trees, shrubs and flowers that flourish in this mild Gulf Stream enhanced climate. Travel back to Killarney via Blarney, to visit the famous castle and stone which, according to legend, gives the gift of eloquence to all who kiss it. Enjoy a stroll around the village green or visit Blarney Woollen Mills which houses quality Irish made goods. Overnight Killarney DBB

Day 4 - Depart Shannon

After breakfast, make our way back to Shannon Airport via Adare, known as the prettiest village in Ireland. Adare is lined with stone thatch cottages, some of which are craft & art shops, and contains two Abbeys and a Priory which date back to 13th century. Continue to Shannon Airport via Limerick and Bunratty Castle where a short stop will be made for any last minute shopping. Arrive at Shannon Airport in time to check in for your flight home.

Route map

Tour attractions

2025 Vacations

CONTINUING OUR EARLY 25 IN 25 CELEBRATIONS! 15% Discount on all self drive packages AND only €25pp deposit!

We continue to toast 25 years of creating Ireland vacations by extending our €25pp deposit AND offering you a 15% discount on any of our self-drive vacation packages! Book by 15th November 2024*

*CIE tours and Knitting tours not included

Tour Prices

Below, you will find a price for this self drive tour including your car rental. Pricing for other accommodation and transport options is also available upon request. Please also note that all of our driving tours itineraries and sightseeing guides are available to those wishing to avail of one of our experienced driver guides.

ACCOMMODATION WITH CAR PRICING

Notes

  • Please note prices are per person based on 2 persons in each room with full Irish breakfast and taxes included.
  • The Combination package includes 4 Nights in 3*** Hotels, 3 nights in Luxury Manor House Hotels & 3 Nights in our hand-picked B&B's
  • Children Sharing with 2 adults (aged 2-11) pay 40% of the Adult option.
  • Children under the age of 2 are free when sharing with 2 Adults.
  • Your Accommodation & Car Rental Package rate includes an Economy class car eg., Opel Corsa or Fiat Punto.
  • Included with your car is all compulsory insurances - Collision Damage Waiver insurance (CDW with an excess/deductible), theft protection insurance, location fee of €30, Road fund tax, sales tax at 13.5%, unlimited free mileage, third party liability insurance, 24 hour peace of mind break down cover.

Private Chauffeur Option Available For This Tour

  • Enjoy the services of an experienced and friendly driver guide
  • Luxury vehicles so you get to travel in style and comfort
  • Take the stress out of driving on unfamiliar and sometime narrow roads
  • With our knowledgeable drivers you see more in less time
  • You get to see the scenery instead of worrying about crashing into it!
  • Contact Us for a price quotation today

Prices in other currencies are indicative only. Please note that we charge in Euro.

Detailed Enquiry Form

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For customers based in North America, please note that as we are based in Ireland, we are 5 hours ahead of EST.

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