Fancy seeing the very best of Ireland and Scotland in 9 days? This is the vacation for you, starting with 4 days in Ireland taking in the lively capitals of Dublin and Belfast, with plenty of scenic action in between. Learn the art of scone baking and sheep herding at a typical Irish farm visit that will be a memory that will never fade and visit the ultimate Titanic experience to understand fully why the ship holds such an iconic place in history. The Celtic connection sails across the seas to Scotland with visits to castles in Inveraray, Stirling and Edinburgh, a whisky distillery and even a remote village community that supplied roof slate to thousands of houses. Along the way the scenery will astound you as you glide through lochs and glens to the capital of Edinburgh, known as “Auld Reekie” from days gone by when the city was filled with smoke from coal and wood fires. This trip will warm the cockles of your Celtic heart! PLUS, your tour includes your choice of excursions in Belfast so you can play your day your way.
Special Features Included in this Tour:• Orientation drive in Dublin• Rathbaun Farm visit with scone baking, coffee and sheep herding demonstration• Globus Choice excursion in Belfast – included in your tour with your choice of a walking tours• Visit to the Titanic Experience • Guided sightseeing in Edinburgh with visit to Edinburgh Castle and the Scottish Crown Jewels• Admission to The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (July 31, August 7, 14 and 21 departures)• Visit to Inveraray Castle• Visit to the village of Ellenabeich• Visit to Stirling Castle• Visit to a Whisky Distillery
Notes: This tour requires some uphill walking on rough terrain at Edinburgh Castle which may pose a challenge to guests with physical limitations or reliant on mobility devices such as wheelchairs. Some walking involved back to the hotel after the Edinburgh Tattoo for departures that include the Tattoo. We encourage all guests to prebook their preferred included Globus Choice excursions to ensure your selection is available. If your preference is not selected 35 days prior to departure, we will select a Choice excursion on your behalf based on availability. Headsets available on tour except for London.
Céad mile fáilte—a hundred-thousand welcomes! Enjoy free time upon arrival before meeting your Tour Director and travel companions at 6 pm for a welcome dinner at your hotel Dinner
Day 2 DUBLIN
Ireland’s Capital City The morning’s orientation drive in the “Fair City” includes statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this vibrant city. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS “In Dublin’s fair city where girls are so pretty” you’ll also find great personality and charm. The charisma of Dubliners and the bounty of pubs here is matched only by the gorgeous Georgian Squares, 12th-century St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College Breakfast
Day 3 DUBLIN–ATHLONE–RATHBAUN FARM–GALWAY–CASTLEBAR
Scones and Cities First stop today is the pretty town of Athlone, located on the banks of the River Shannon. At Rathbaun Farm, try your hand at [LF] scone baking and learn about sheep shearing and herding from the farmer before enjoying coffee and your homemade scones. Continue to Galway, a popular seaside destination with a buzzing center of colorful shops and a busy café and bar culture. Enjoy some free time before heading to Castlebar for your overnight stay. (B,D).
206 mi / 331 kim
LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Someone’s in the kitchen in Rathbaun Farm, just outside of Galway. You can don an apron and whip up your own delicious home-made scones, served with fresh preserves and whipped cream. Learn about the long-time tradition of sheep farming in this beautiful Irish landscape BreakfastDinner
Day 4 CASTLEBAR–BUNDORAN–BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND
Spend your day your way in Belfast Start your day with a stop in Bundoran before crossing into Northern Ireland. Explore Belfast with your choice of an included Globus Choice excursion. (B)
186 mi / 300 km Breakfast
Day 5 BELFAST–GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
Strait to Scotland This morning, visit the fascinating Titanic Experience and learn about the building of the largest passenger steam ship, its maiden voyage, and the tragic night of April 14, 1912. Board your ferry for the maritime port of Cairnryan on Scotland’s west coast. Continue on to Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. (B)
84 mi / 135 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE The North Channel (also called the Irish Channel) connects northeast Ireland to the southwestern coast of Scotland. The North Channel is part of the Ocean’s Seven, a set of seven long-distance open-water swims, although most who cross rely on the many ferries that run between Belfast and Cairnryan, the Scottish village with a proud maritime history, including building sections of the floating Mulberry Harbors built to support the D-Day invasion of Normandy Breakfast
Day 6 GLASGOW–INVERARAY–OBAN
Clans and Slate Enjoy an opportunity for a photo stop on the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond before a visit to the stunning Inveraray Castle. Continue to the pretty conservation village of Ellenabeich, a remote former slate-mining village and the largest village on the island of Seil. Oban is your overnight destination. (B,D)
130 mi / 209 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
THE CLAN’S CASTLE Inveraray Castle is the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, the chief of Clan Campbell, one of Scotland’s most powerful and influential clans. The castle’s conical roofs and turrets give it a fairy-tale appearance, while its interior features stunning rooms with opulent decorations. Located with stunning views over Loch Fyne, it’s no wonder it has been used for location filming on many occasions, including the popular Downton Abbey BreakfastDinner
Day 7 OBAN–STIRLING–EDINBURGH
Castle and Tipples A scenic drive through the Trossachs National Park takes you to the historic city of Stirling. Explore its imposing castle, a favored residence of the Stewart kings and queens before a [LF] visit to a whisky distillery. Enjoy some free time in Edinburgh this evening. (B)
126 / 203 km
LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES We’ll raise a wee dram of malt whisky at a local distillery, distilling in slow Scottish style in the highlands for many years. Slàinte Mhath! Breakfast
Day 8 EDINBURGH
Drummers, Pipers & Precious Jewels Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town,” and the famous scientists, inventors, and novelists who lived there. In the “Old Town,” visit Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Enjoy some free time this afternoon and evening. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Unpack your plaid! Edinburgh Military Tattoo performances included on departures July 31, August 7, 14 and 21.
MUSIC & MASTERPIECES Ascend to Castle Rock to explore Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important historical strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, with an 11,000-year history as “the most besieged place in Great Britain.” Here, you’ll find the royal regalia and Scotland’s Crown Jewels. The Castle forms the background of the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, an extravaganza of bagpipes and drums performed en masse in August each year Breakfast
Day 9 EDINBURGH
Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Accommodations
Dublin
Castlebar
Belfast
Glasgow
Oban
Edinburgh
The Gibson Superior First-Class
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