Luxury Irish Castles & Hotels Tour (6 Night)

Your tour begins at 2:00 PM at Dunboyne Castle Hotel. We strongly recommend you book an airport transfer when you buy your tour. Head out to visit Malahide Castle, first built in 1185 and filled with medieval artifacts. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dinner. (D)

Visit the home of equine royalty, the Irish National Stud, where you’ll see some of the world’s finest thoroughbreds. Take a walk around the grounds to see St. Fiachra’s Garden and the miniature Japanese Gardens. Enjoy lunch in the Kilkenny Design Centre. Take a walking tour of Kilkenny with a local guide along the Medieval Mile, the city’s main road to see historic streets and buildings. The evening is free for dining on your own. (B, L)

Witness the creation of crystal masterpieces during your visit to the House of Waterford Crystal. Then join a local guide for a gentle walking tour to hear stories about Waterford’s long history and some of its colorful characters. Explore more of the town with time for lunch on your own, then head to New Ross to explore the Dunbrody Famine Ship, a replica of the vessel used during the 1840s famine to transport emigrants to North America. (B, D)

Travel south to Cobh, the last port of call of the Titanic and where many places associated with the liner still exist. Visit the Cobh Heritage Centre, which traces the history of emigration over a number of centuries from Ireland to North America. Head to Blarney Castle to kiss the famous stone or stroll through the spacious parklands to view Blarney House before traveling on to Killarney. (B, D)

Spend the morning at leisure in Killarney, a little town with an ideal location beside Ireland’s highest mountains. Discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula as you drive along the south shore to admire views of heathery mountains, sandy stretches of beach, and rocky headlands. Stop at the South Pole Inn to learn about Tom Crean, an early Irish explorer who braved the South Pole. Browse around the town of Dingle and enjoy a drink, dinner and entertainment at Foley’s Bar and Restaurant before returning to Killarney. (B, D)

Embark on a memorable ferry ride across the wide River Shannon Estuary. View the Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above churning Atlantic swells. Walk along the top of the cliffs where on a clear day you can see great views of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. Immerse yourself in farm life at Rathbaun Farm and watch a farmer demonstrate how his trained dogs herd sheep. Enjoy tea and homemade scones at the farm. Head to Galway for a panoramic city tour. (B, D)

Set out across the Galway Bay for Inishmore, the largest of the three Aran Islands. These rocky islands are renowned for the hardy islanders who maintain traditional fishing and farming methods. Head to Dun Aengus, a huge pre-historic fortress perched on sheer cliffs, which fall away to the Atlantic Ocean below. Explore Kilronan, the main town, and enjoy a casual lunch before returning by ferry. (B, L)

Visit Clonmacnoise, a monastic settlement founded in 545 AD and set on the banks of the River Shannon. Marvel at elaborate High Celtic crosses decorated with biblical scenes, walk around the many church ruins and two round towers. Head to nearby Athlone and stop at Sean’s Bar for an Irish coffee, a CIE Tours Exclusive experience. This pub has a documented history going right back to 900 AD – and is featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest pub in Europe. During renovations in 1970, ancient walls and old coins dating back centuries were discovered. In the evening, head to Dublin’s Abbey Tavern for an Irish dinner and lively show. (B,D)

Enjoy your day in Dublin independently on the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour and a visit to your choice of one of Dublin’s top attractions – Guinness Storehouse, Teeling Distillery, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, or the GPO Witness History Visitor Centre. (B)

Your tour ends after breakfast. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner All components of this tour (hotels, visits and attractions) for 2020 itineraries are subject to change until finalized in September 2019.  >