THE BEST OF IRELAND ITINERARY:
1. Arrive Shannon / Ashford
Tour departs: 9:30 AM from Shannon Airport. Travel
with us from the airport to the mighty
Cliffs of Moher, where towering, sheer headland plummets into
the Atlantic Ocean. Continue on along scenic Yellow Roads
through the Burren, among the eeriest country landscapes in
Ireland, to Ashford Castle for a two-night stay. Located on a
350-acre private estate along the shores of Loch Corrib, it is
consistently ranked as one of the finest hotels in the world.
Join us this evening for a welcome dinner.
Note: today’s journey
to Ashford Castle is a very full day; please ask at time of
booking about pre-stay accommodations. Meals LD
2. Connemara / Kylemore Abbey
Drive through Connemara, a rugged region whose diverse
scenery includes windswept mountains, bogland, sparkling lakes
and the rugged Atlantic coastline. See a Gothic Revival lakeside
castle, magnificent Kylemore Abbey on the shores of Kylemore
Lough. A Benedictine abbey in World War I, it is now a girls’
boarding school. Return to Ashford Castle for the evening. Meals
BLD
3. County Sligo / Donegal Bay
Travel to Sligo today, the largest town in the northwest of
Ireland. Enjoy time at leisure in Sligo, the Land of Heart’s
Desire as it is described by W. B. Yeats. Visit Yeats’ final
resting place at Drumcliffe, beneath legendary Ben Bulben. Spend
the next two nights amidst the spectacular countryside of
Donegal at your lakeside hotel. Meals BD
4. County Donegal
Donegal regales the visitor with its incredible scenery and
the charm of its people. Meander today along the fringe of
Donegal Bay, where you will wind, dip and weave your way along
the coast through Killybegs, one of Ireland’s major fishing
ports; as the country road narrows, the farms and grazing lands
look as if they sprang from artists’ imaginations. Locals in the
villages want you to linger; we wish you good weather today!
Meals BLD
5. Journey to Dublin
Enjoy a beloved Irish tradition today as you sample tea and
scones before departing for Dublin; en route, see the emerald
green landscapes Ireland is famous for, as well as grazing
cattle, sheep, abandoned abbeys and castles reflecting a bygone
era. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring Ireland’s capital
city. Your hotel is centrally located amidst Georgian and
Victorian buildings, manicured parks and lively pubs. Stay
for two nights in one of Dublin's finest hotels. Meals BD
6. Sightsee Dublin
Visit both Trinity College, steeped in tradition and home to
the Book of Kells, and 13th-century Dublin Castle, standing in
the historic heart of the city. The afternoon and evening are
yours to experience a bit of Dublin life. Enjoy strolling down
city streets lined with 2 1/2 -story brick Georgian row houses,
famous for their intricate, glass-laced doorways, and wander
through some of Ireland’s most beautiful parks, including St.
Stephen’s Green. Nightlife in Dublin entices with traditional
music and pubs where famous literary icons like Brendan Behan
and James Joyce once imbibed. Meals B
7. Powerscourt Gardens / Kilkenny
The Wicklow Mountains lie south of Dublin; they are a blend
of peaks, forests, streams and verdant valleys. Travel to
Powerscourt for a visit to lovely gardens that are considered to
be among the best in Ireland; set at the foot of Great Sugar
Loaf Mountain, their design dates back to the 19th century. Stop
in the picturesque medieval city of Kilkenny, world-renowned as
a center for craft and design, en route to your hotel. Meals BD
8. Waterford / Cobh / Cork
Visit the Waterford Crystal Factory to see the highly
skilled glass blowers, engravers and cutters at work. Travel
next to the scenic town of Cobh, a historic port that has played
an important role in maritime history. Over 2.5 million people
have emigrated from Ireland via Cobh; Sirius, the first
steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, departed from the harbor
in 1838; Cobh was the last port of call for the ill-fated
Titanic in 1912; and, in World War I, the ocean liner Lusitania
was torpedoed and sunk very near Cobh. Visit the Cobh Heritage
Center where exhibits detail these, and other, events. Spend the
night at an elegant country manor house in Cork, experiencing an
authentic glimpse of daily life in southern Ireland. Meals BD
9. Blarney / Kenmare
Journey to 15th-century Blarney Castle, set amidst beautiful
grounds, to see the famous Blarney Stone; legend has it that if
you kiss the stone, you will be blessed with the gift of the
gab. Your journey continues as you travel to County Kerry and
Kenmare, a historic small town on the site where the Finnihy,
Roughty and Sheen rivers converge into the Kenmare River. Then
it’s on to Killarney and a visit to Muckross House, an
Elizabethan-style mansion which was built in 1843. Set in
Killarney National Park, the estate features distinguished
19th-century interiors; it is surrounded by magnificent gardens
in a palette of sensational colors. Your accommodations for the
next two nights are at the lakeside Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa,
recognized as one of Ireland's most luxurious five-star hotels.
Overlooking the Lakes of Killarney, every guest room gazes out
upon Killarney's majestic landscapes. Meals BD
10. The Ring Of Kerry / Killarney
Explore the ruggedly beautiful countryside along the Ring of
Kerry, a 100-mile circle around the Iveragh peninsula - arguably
Ireland's most popular scenic drive. You will travel
through some of Ireland's most incredible scenery, past
glistening lakes embraced by mountainous backdrops, around
clifftop roads with spectacular views of the crashing sea below,
alongside endless fields dotted with the ruins of abandoned
stone cottages and through seaside villages lined with palm
trees and sandy beaches. Return to your resort in leisure.
This region boasts an unfailingly cheerful atmosphere, no doubt
in large part attributed to the unabashed beauty that surrounds
it. Meals BLD
11. Dairy Farm / Dromoland Castle
Discover the importance of farming in the west of Ireland on
a visit to a working dairy farm; enjoy a light Irish lunch at
the farm. The last leg of our Irish adventure takes you to
Dromoland Castle for a most memorable overnight stay. Steeped in
luxury and boasting impeccable service, it is one of the few
castle hotels that can trace its ownership back through history
to Gaelic Irish families of royal heritage. Join us this evening
for a farewell reception and dinner surrounded by centuries of
Irish history and royal hospitality. Meals BLD
12. Journey Home
Tour ends: Shannon Airport at 7:00 AM. Persons who are departing
at other times should secure their own transportation to the
airport. Meals B
Northern Ireland Journey
Select departures of "The Best of Ireland" feature three
days in Northern Ireland (days 3,4 and 5), instead of Country
Donegal. Highlights include:
Day 3: Folk Park/ Derry
Travel from Ashford Castle to the Ulster-American Folk Park and
discover the story of emigration from Ulster to American in the
18th and 19th centuries. Arrive in Derry in late afternoon for a
guided walk along the 17th - century city walls. Meals BLD
Day 4. Distillery/Giants Causeway
Take a private guided tour of Old Bushmills Distillery, the
world's oldest licensed whisky distillery, followed by a whisky
tasting. Drive the famed causeway Coast to see sights such as
the Giant's Causeway and Dunluce Castle, view the Glens of
Antrim en route to Country Down and your five-star luxury hotel.
Meals BLD
Day 5. Belfast/ Dublin
Explore Belfast, past and present, with a local guide before
continuing on to Dublin.
The Best of Ireland w/Northern Ireland
May 9 June 6 July 4, 18
August 15, 29
September 12, 26
Price Per Person
Double $5190 Single $5316
Triple $4882
Fine Hotels/Great Locations
Night 3 City Hotel Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Night 4 Hastings Culloden Hotel, Holywood, Ireland
Night 5,6 The Westin Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Note: This itinerary is identical to The Best of Ireland,
except days 3, 4, 5 as noted above.
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