Day 1
FLIGHT TO DUBLIN, IRELAND:
Today we travel to the Charlotte
Airport to board our overnight flight
across the Atlantic to Ireland — the
jewel of Western Europe. An exciting
journey awaits in the Emerald Isle, filled
with myth, charm, and natural beauty.
Day 2
ARRIVE DUBLIN • GUIDED TOUR
OF DUBLIN • ST PATRICKS’S
CATHEDRAL:
We arrive in Dublin and
are transferred to our hotel. This afternoon
we begin our afternoon tour of
Dublin where we see 18th century
Georgian houses with brightly painted
doors, tranquil parks, and wide O’Connell
Street. We visit St Patrick’s Cathedral,
founded in 1191 and with a history that
dates back to 450 AD, the Cathedral is
one of the few buildings left from the
medieval city of Dublin. In the evening,
we are back at the hotel and you are
free to explore the city and dine as
you choose.
Day 3
GLENDALOUGH • DUNBRODY
FAMINE SHIP • WATERFORD:
After breakfast, we enjoy the delightful
scenery of the Wicklow Mountains on
the way to 6th century Glendalough, a
stunning example of Ireland’s beauty.
We explore the remains of one of the
most important monastic sites in Ireland,
founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century.
We walk through the deep valley to
view the picturesque ruins of a round
tower, churches, and Celtic crosses. We
head southeast to the Dunbrody Famine
Ship, an authentic reproduction of an
1840’s vessel that brought desperate
Irish emigrants fleeing famine to the
New World. We then continue on to
our hotel in Waterford, where before
dinner we take a gentle guided stroll
around the narrow streets of this
historic city. (B, D)
Day 4
WATERFORD CRYSTAL • COBH
• BLARNEY CASTLE:
Today we
witness the creation of crystal masterpieces
during our visit to the House of
Waterford Crystal. We then travel to
Cobh for our guided walking tour of
this harbor town, which was the last
port of call for the Titanic in 1912 and
was also the main point of embarkation
for Irish emigrants between 1848 and
1960. We proceed to Blarney, to visit
Blarney Castle and kiss the famous
“Stone of Eloquence” or explore the
tranquil gardens. We journey west
through rugged countryside for a
delicious meal and two night stay in
Killarney. (B, D)
Day 5
RING OF KERRY • KILLARNEY:
Discover the beauty of this Emerald
Isle as our drive takes us through scenery
of plunging cliffs and spectacular lakes,
between granite mountains and endless
beaches on our tour of the Ring
of Kerry, Ireland’s most scenic coastal
drive. We will have plenty of photo
stops along the way. We stop for lunch,
take a stroll around Sneem and enjoy
amazing panoramic views at Moll’s
Gap. We have the evening at leisure
to enjoy a delicious meal at one of
Killarney’s many restaurants. (B, L)
Day 6
CLIFFS OF MOHER • GALWAY:
Today we embark on a ferry ride
across the River Shannon Estuary. We
then take a scenic drive along the coast
of County Clare to view the Cliffs of
Moher, which soar almost 700 feet
above churning Atlantic swells. You may
walk along the top of the cliffs to
O’Brien’s Tower for great views of Galway
Bay and the Aran Islands. We then
head to Galway to join a local guide
for a brief stroll through the twisting
streets of the old city before spending
some time on our own. (B, D)
Day 7
SHEEPDOG DEMONSTRATION •
DONEGAL • DERRY:
After breakfast,
we immerse ourselves in Irish farm
life during a visit to an authentic working
farm to watch trained sheepdogs
round up mountain sheep. We stop at
Donegal to enjoy some free time in
this charming town. We meet our local
guide in Derry to discover the history of
this ancient city that retains its fortified
medieval walls dating from 1613. (B, D)
Day 8
GIANT’S CAUSEWAY • TITANIC
BELFAST • GLADE INN:
Today we
explore the northern coastline and the
Giant’s Causeway, enormous hexagonal
columns formed by volcanic activity
over 60 million years ago. We visit
Titanic Belfast to learn about the ill-fated
ship through state-of-the-art displays.
We see the docks where the famous
liner was built just over a century ago.
We then stop at the Glade Inn for our
farewell dinner with Irish specialties
and entertainment featuring traditional
Irish music and songs. (B, D)
Day 9
DEPART DUBLIN:
Today we bid
farewell to the enchanting beauty
of Ireland as we depart Dublin International
Airport for our return flight to
America.
Tour arranged by:
CIE Tours
