Thursday, August, 24 - Thursday, September 07 Highlights of Ireland

Arrive calm and relaxed, knowing our Anytime Transfers will be waiting for you to transfer you safely and comfortably to your Dublin hotel. Today is set aside to recharge your batteries after a long journey. Maybe stroll nearby O’Connell St. or explore Dublin’s Temple Bar. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Drink at a local bar before a Welcome Dinner in a nearby restaurant to get to know your fellow travellers.

Your local guide shows you the Irish capital this morning, including the Custom House, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, O’Connell Street, and St. Stephen’s Green. Afterwards, enjoy a walk through the grounds of Trinity College to see the 9th-century Book of Kells and the stunning Long Room of the Old Library. We finish our sightseeing with a visit to Guinness Brewery to see how they make their beloved black nectar before enjoying a pint in the Gravity Bar with incredible views over Dublin.

This morning, your local guide shows you County Wicklow, known by many as the Garden of Ireland. Your visit will include a drive through the Wicklow Mountains, including the famed Sugarloaf Mountain, to the 6^th-century monastic settlement of Glendalough. After a guided visit and leisure time, you will return to Dublin for an afternoon at leisure. This evening we visit a local theatre restaurant to enjoy a fantastic dinner and an incredible evening of Irish music, dance, and song.

Today, you leave the Irish capital to visit the Medieval town of Kilkenny. After a short orientation, you visit Smithwick’s Brewery to see how they make their beloved Kilkenny Cream Ale, one of the country’s oldest ales. After some leisure time to explore, you visit a local sports club field for lessons on how to play one of Ireland’s most loved sports, hurling. You finish your day in the country’s second-largest city, Cork, where you have a leisurely evening after a short orientation.

This morning, you visit the Cobh, pronounced Cove, one of the largest harbours in the world and the last port of call of the Titanic. After a stop at St. Colman’s to admire the incredible views, you visit the Queenstown Experience to see and hear about the Irish Immigrations with its award-winning exposition. Some leisure time follows before we visit Blarney to see its castle and maybe kiss its famed Blarney Stone. We finish our day in Killarney, the capital of the picturesque Co. Kerry.

Your journey today takes you around one of Ireland’s most famous scenic drives, the Ring of Kerry. Photos opportunities galore as we cross the bog fields that have produced the nation’s peat for centuries. The day will take you past mountains, lakes, lush green fields, and a spectacular coastline as you visit towns such as Cahirciveen, Waterville and Sneem. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free to visit the many gift stores or try one of the town’s many pubs with traditional live music.

The scenery continues today as you head to Dingle Peninsula, home to some of Ireland’s most rugged and dramatic landscapes. Enjoy the incredible views of the Atlantic and the Blasket Islands as the road snakes and weaves its way around the sharp cliff faces. After some leisure time in the fishing village of Dingle, you continue to Limerick, located on the banks of the Shannon, where your orientation tour shows you King John’s Castle, St. Mary’s Cathedral, and the Treaty Stone.

This morning, cross into County Clare to visit one of Ireland’s most recognisable landmarks, the Cliffs of Moher. Dropping more than 700 ft, the cliffs offer incredible views of the Atlantic and the jaw-dropping Irish coastline. After some leisure time to explore and visit the Visitors Centre, you continue to Galway, your home, for the next two nights. Enjoy a Medieval Banquet and show in an authentic 14th-century castle this evening.

Today you drive the stunning Connemara coast to board for the crossing to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands. Upon arrival, your local guide will be waiting to show you this incredible island. Your visit will include a stop at the clifftop Dun Aonghasa, the largest of the pre-historic stone forts on the island, the village of Eoghanacht to see the Seven Churches, and the seal colony viewpoint. After some leisure time, you return to Galway for an afternoon and evening at leisure.

This morning we visit the picturesque village of Cong, famed for being used in the film the Quiet Man with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. After some leisure time to explore, we continue through the Connemara to the stunningly located Kylemore Abbey. After a guided tour of the Abbey and Gothic church, enjoy some leisure time to wander and explore its beautiful Victorian gardens. This afternoon, you continue to the beautiful town of Donegal, romantically located in the shadow of Donegal Castle.

Today, you explore the scenic south of Ireland’s famous county Donegal. You begin with a visit to the village of Killybegs, the country’s largest fishing port, before heading to Slieve League, one of Europe’s highest sea cliffs. After some time for the world’s best selfie, you continue to the folk village Glencolmcille, spectacularly perched overlooking Glenbay beach. You then return to Donegal via the Glenesh Pass, the heritage town of Andara, and the Glenveagh National Park.

Your journey today takes you along the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal to Malin Head, Ireland’s most northerly point. After admiring the spectacular views, continue to Northern Ireland and to Londonderry, where your local guide will give you an incredible insight into Ireland’s turbulent past with a visit to the Bogside to see its vibrant murals. Walk the city walls and see its famed Guildhall before some leisure time to wander and explore. You finish the day in the coastal resort town of Portrush.

You continue visiting The North this morning by stopping at the UNESCO World Heritage Giants Causeway. Explore the incredible stones that many believe once formed an ancient bridge to Scotland before continuing to Bushmills for a guided visit to see how the Irish make their beloved whisky. This afternoon, continue to Belfast via the spectacular Antrim coast and glens with views of Rathlin Island and the Scottish Mull of Kintyre.

Today, your local guide shows you the Northern Ireland capital. Your tour includes The Belfast City Hall, St. George’s Market, and the parliament buildings at Stormont. Later, drive the famed Shankhill Road, one of the most infamous streets in Belfast, to see the murals remembering the Troubles. You finish sightseeing at the award-winning Titanic Belfast to learn about this most-famous ship. This evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant to say goodbye to new-found friends.

Your trip finishes this morning after breakfast; bwd vacations offer all guests complimentary airport transfers to Belfast airport, arriving in ample time for your flight. For those flying out of Dublin, bwd vacations also provide a complimentary transfer to Dublin Airport.