|
13 Days Ireland and Scotland Featuring Northern Ireland Tour Package
Duration: 13 Days / 12 Nights
Priced From: $2,449 pp Dbl. Occ.
Dates: Mar-Nov / Mar-Apr - 2010
Explore centuries of Celtic culture and tradition on this tour spanning Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Enjoy a full day excursion to Scotland's Western Isles, including Mull and Iona. Traditional music fills the air during a ceilidh in Scotland and an Irish music night. Discover Dublin, Edinburgh and Derry. See the rugged beauty of Donegal and Glenveagh National Park. See the Giant's Causeway. Visit the Cultúrlann McAdam O'Fiaich- an Irish language arts center supported by the Collette Foundation.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1:Overnight Flight
Begin your journey through the history, culture and scenic wonders of Ireland and Scotland with an overnight flight.
Day 2: Dublin, Ireland - Tour Begins
Your tour begins in Dublin, the beautiful capital of Ireland. This evening, join your fellow travelers for Irish Night, a memorable experience featuring great local cuisine and traditional Irish entertainment.
Day 3: Dublin
Discover why Dublin is dubbed the "Fair City" during a sightseeing tour highlighting its many attractions. Visit the world-renowned St. Patrick’s Cathedral, O’Connell Street, Grafton Street, Phoenix Park and see the magnificent rows of lovely Georgian town homes, a Dublin trademark. An afternoon at leisure allows you to further explore the city's delightful atmosphere and cultural treasures.
Day 4: Dublin - Bundoran
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. Next, visit Belleek Pottery, internationally known for its highly decorative Parian China. Your day ends in the beautiful coastal resort town of Bundoran.
Day 5: Bundoran – Donegal County - Derry, Northern Ireland
Today’s journey showcases the rugged, natural beauty of County Donegal. Visit spectacular Glenveagh National Park, a natural wonderland with over 40,000 acres of mountains, lakes and woodland. Enjoy a guided tour of the Scottish-styled Glenveagh Castle, set amidst the natural, colorful splendor of one of the finest gardens in Ireland. This afternoon cross the border into Northern Ireland en route to Derry.
Day 6: Derry - Ulster American Folk Park - Derry
Begin your day with a locally guided walking tour in "Maiden City." See Derry's medieval walls, St. Augustine’s Cathedral and the Guildhall. Then, travel via Omagh, one of the oldest towns in Ireland, to the Ulster American Folk Park. This open-air museum documents the stirring story of emigration from Ireland to North America during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Day 7: Derry - Giant’s Causeway - Antrim Coast - Belfast
This morning, see the most famous natural sight in Northern Ireland when you visit the wondrous Giant’s Causeway. Formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago, the causeway resembles an old cobbled road leading mystically into the sea. Continue along the stunning Antrim Coastal Route en route to Belfast.
Day 8: Belfast - Ferry Crossing - Edinburgh, Scotland
This morning, enjoy a guided tour of Belfast's many sights. A visit is included to the Cultúrlann McAdam O’Fiaich*- an Irish language arts and community center supported by the efforts of the Collette Foundation. The Cultúrlann is headquartered in West Belfast, which suffered greatly during many years of political strife. This groundbreaking program is dedicated to enriching the lives of Ireland’s underprivileged children and the revitalization of Northern Ireland. Later this morning, bid farewell to Ireland as you board a high-speed ferry that will carry you across the sea to Scotland. Upon arrival in Stranraer, travel to Scotland’s regal capital city, Edinburgh.
Day 9: Edinburgh
The beauty and charm of Edinburgh comes to life during a tour of the city. Visits are included to the majestic Edinburgh Castle - home of the Scottish crown jewels - and the famous Palace of Holyroodhouse (except when the Queen is in residence), which was once the home of Mary, Queen of Scots. Enjoy a free afternoon in which you could shop along Princes Street or perhaps visit one of Edinburgh’s many museums.
Day 10: Edinburgh - Loch Lomond - Oban
Travel through the beautiful Trossachs National Park this morning before enjoying a delightful scenic cruise on Loch Lomond, subject of Andrew Lang's song, "The Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond." Then, continue to Oban, a charming port town known as the “Gateway to the Western Isles.”
Day 11: Oban - Isle of Mull - Iona - Oban
A ferry crossing brings you to the Isle of Mull. Behold spectacular landscapes as you travel toward Fionnphort, where a passenger ferry* takes you to the mystical Isle of Iona. Enjoy a visit to Iona Abbey, the birthplace of Scottish Christianity and burial place of early Scottish Kings. Upon your return to Mull, stop at Duart Castle** and enjoy a guided visit of the ancestral home of the Clan Maclean of Duart. Return by ferry to Oban this evening.
Day 12: Oban - Stirling - Drymen
This morning, visit Stirling Castle, first erected 900 years ago and formerly the royal residence for the House of Stewart where Mary, Queen of Scots, was crowned in 1543. Your next stop gives you the opportunity to learn about Scottish farm life with a fascinating and delightful sheep dog demonstration! Join your fellow travelers tonight for a farewell dinner where you will enjoy a traditional Scottish meal and a ceilidh (a social gathering with traditional music, dancing, and storytelling).
Day 13: Drymen - Tour Ends
This morning your unforgettable journey through Ireland and Scotland comes to a close in Drymen.
Tour Highlights
Dublin, Irish Night, Strokestown House, Belleek Pottery, Glenveagh National Park, Derry, Ulster American Folk Park, Giant’s Causeway, Belfast, Edinburgh, Loch Lomond, Oban, Mull, Iona, Stirling
Save time, money and stress!
For reservations: Fill out the vacation planner to be contacted by our Ireland vacation specialist.
Contact: Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252
4/10
|
