Mystical Ireland - 8 Days/7 Nights

Tour begins 2:00 PM at your Dublin hotel. Take a panoramic tour of Dublin, seeing such sights as elegant Georgian townhouses, St. Stephen’s Green and the River Liffey. Visit Dublin Castle, the seat of power and government in Ireland for many centuries. Take a guided tour through the castle and see the State Apartments, used today for official functions and presidential inaugurations. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dining independently.

Visit Down Cathedral where St. Patrick’s historical burial site is marked by a huge boulder. Immerse yourself in his work, life, and times in the nearby St. Patrick Centre. Explore Crumlin Road Gaol and see what prison life was like through the ages. Head to central Belfast for some time to relax before dinner at your hotel (B, D)

Tour central Belfast to see Victorian buildings, the imposing City Hall in Donegall Square, and the shipyards where RMS Titanic was built in 1912. Visit Titanic Belfast to learn about the ill-fated liner, which was built in the city. In the afternoon, join a local guide for a walking tour of Belfast before spending time on your own (B)

Drive north along the Nine Glens of Antrim for views of mountains, valleys, and coastline. This scenic region is one of the locations for “Game of Thrones.” Stop for photos at the ruins of Dunluce Castle. Explore the Giant’s Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity 60 million years ago. In Derry join a local guide for a short walking tour around the defensive walls that encircle the compact old city (B, D)

Travel through the rugged countryside of Donegal, renowned for heathery hills, sheep and the many tweeds made from their wool Drive around Donegal Bay and through Counties Sligo and Mayo. Head to Westport for a walking tour of this historic town with a local guide, and enjoy dinner in your hotel (B, D)

Enjoy views of the pilgrimage mountain of Croagh Patrick and stop in the beautiful town of Leenane. Head to a local farm to watch skilled dogs herd sheep. View Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord. Enjoy a drink before taking a guided tour of Westport House, an 18th-century home complete with its original contents including portraits, furniture, silver, and porcelain. Have dinner in Westport this evening (B, D)

Travel to Galway for some free time to explore the city. Head out to see the majestic Cliffs of Moher, which soar 700 feet above the Atlantic. Enjoy an evening at a medieval-style banquet in an authentic Irish castle (B, D)

Your tour ends after breakfast. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner  >