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12 Days Authentic Ireland Tour Package
Featuring Ireland's West Coast
Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights
Priced From: $2,349 pp dbl. occ.
Dates: Jun, Aug, Oct, Mar, Apr
Spend 12 days discovering Authentic Ireland on this Explorations tour that brings you personal experiences far off the beaten tourist paths of the Emerald Isle. Sip tea fireside during an evening of storytelling. Tour the Dingle peninsula and the Aran Islands. Travel the Burren's vast limestone landscape and spend a day exploring the wilds of the Connemara. Shop at the Spiddal Irish Craft Village. Visit Croagh Patrick. Find your seat in Ireland's oldest pub, The Brazen Head, for an evening of "food, folk and fairies
Tour Itinerary
Day 1:Overnight Flight
Begin your discovery of “Authentic Ireland,” and delve into the ancient and contemporary history, culture and scenic wonders of Ireland.
Day 2: Dublin, Ireland - Tour Begins
Your tour begins today in Dublin. Start your exploration of Ireland with a delightful panoramic sightseeing tour of Dublin. See O’Connell Street, Grafton Street, Trinity College and Dublin’s magnificent rows of Georgian town homes. The afternoon is at leisure, allowing you to further explore Dublin’s cultural riches. Tonight, meet your fellow travelers at The Brazen Head, Dublin’s oldest pub, for a traditional Irish meal and an entertaining discussion on Irish folklore.
Day 3: Dublin - Croagh Patrick - Westport
Depart Dublin, traveling through central Ireland to Strokestown Park. A guided visit of the park features the restored 18th-century Georgian mansion and 4-acre pleasure garden with its famous herbaceous border, as well as the Famine Museum, which documents the hardships experienced by tenant farmers during the Great Irish Famine. Continue to the base of Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s Holy Mountain, where Saint Patrick fasted for 40 days in 441 AD. Learn about this pilgrimage site at the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre and see the nearby National Famine Monument. This evening, enjoy a guided walking tour in the “heritage town” of Westport.
Day 4: Westport
Today is at leisure to explore Westport and its environs at your own pace. You may wish to return to nearby Croagh Patrick for a hike to its summit, plan an exciting cruise on Clew Bay where you can discover some of its 365 islands, or visit the Westport House and Park where you can explore this lovely manor house and its grounds. An optional excursion is available to the Ceide Fields, the most extensive Stone Age monument in the world, where you can see 5,000-year-old megalithic tombs. This optional excursion also includes a visit to the Museum of Country Life which examines the lives of rural Irish from 1850 to 1950.
Day 5: Westport - Killary Harbor - Galway
Enjoy a delightful day of sightseeing in the Gaelic-speaking Connemara region, known for its sweeping views of boglands, misty mountains and picturesque seaside villages where the locals maintain their Irish language and traditional lifestyles. Visit the 19th century Kylemore Abbey, home of Benedictine nuns. Next, enjoy a delightful cruise* on Killary Harbor, the only fjord in all of Ireland. Continue to Spiddal where you will visit an Irish craft village featuring handicrafts including traditional instruments, jewelry, woodturning and Irish language-themed items. Your day ends in the lovely city of Galway.
Day 6: Galway - Aran Islands - Galway
This morning, a brief panoramic tour introduces “The City of Tribes.” Then, spend some free time exploring Galway’s lively pedestrian area. This afternoon, step back in time with a visit to the Aran Islands. Following a quick ferry ride, a guided sightseeing tour introduces the rich language, culture and heritage of this unique region.
Day 7: Galway - Limerick - Tralee
This morning you travel through the vast limestone landscape of the Burren, known for its stark beauty and Neolithic tombs. Visit Dysert O’Dea Castle and the Dysert O’Dea Archeology Trail, containing ruins that date back 3,000 years - including Romanesque churches, high crosses, tower houses, stone and earthen forts and holy wells. Your exploration of western Ireland continues with a panoramic tour of Limerick showcasing King John's Castle and Treaty Stone. Learn about the fascinating history of the "city of the violated treaty." Your journey ends in Tralee, renowned for its annual international beauty pageant, the Rose of Tralee, where all girls of Irish decent are eligible for the title. Tonight, relax by the fire during a Gaelic lecture followed by traditional Irish story telling.
Day 8: Tralee - Dingle Peninsula - Tralee
Travel one of the most majestic coastal routes in the world, the Dingle Peninsula. Spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean await you along the 32 mile Slea Head drive. See charming coastal villages such as Ventry, Dunquin and Ballyferriter. In the distance you will see the once inhabited Blasket Islands. Learn about the Blasket islanders and their unique literary achievements during a tour of the Blasket Island Centre. Tonight, enjoy a performance at Siamsa Tire*, Ireland’s national folk theater.
Day 9: Tralee - Lough Hyne - Clonakilty- Kinsale
This morning, travel through one of the loveliest portions of the Ring of Kerry and the pretty town of Kenmare. Next, enjoy an eco-tour of Lough Hyne salt water marine lake and nature reserve. Discover the unique life forms that reside here in Ireland’s only salt pond. Continue to a farm house in the lovely town of Clonakilty on Ireland’s south coast where you will enjoy an Irish baking demonstration. Of course, you’ll get to sample the cook’s creation during a home cooked lunch. End your day in the magnificent town of Kinsale, Ireland’s culinary capital, known for its fresh seafood.
Day 10: Kinsale
Enjoy a full day experiencing the charms of Kinsale. Begin your day with a locally guided tour of the town, including a stop at Charles Fort. Your afternoon is free to relax or perhaps enjoy one of the local pubs or superb restaurants. Explore the unique art galleries, antique shops and boutiques.
Day 11: Kinsale - Kildare - Dunboyne
Depart the south coast today and head to County Kildare to visit the Irish National Stud. The tradition of pedigree horse breeding dates back centuries in this region. Your visit includes a guided tour of this historic home to the world's finest thoroughbred horses, as well as the Japanese Garden. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner with your traveling companions in the village of Dunboyne just outside of Dublin.
Day 12: Dunboyne - Tour Ends
Your tour ends today in Dunboyne.
Tour Highlights
Dublin, Westport, Killary Harbor Cruise*, Galway, The Burren, Dingle Peninsula, Irish National Theatre*, Kinsale
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