Focus on Ireland

Start your exploration of Dublin with an orientation tour with a Local Expert that brings to life Dublin’s architectural treasures and history, stretching back more than 1,000 years. Travel along the River Liffey, see Custom House, Guinness Storehouse, Christchurch Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral. View the 9th-century Book of Kells. Walk the cobbled courtyards of Trinity College. Enjoy a warm and friendly dinner with drinks and the opportunity to mingle and get to know each other over the course of the evening.

Leave Dublin and set off through the delightful landscapes of the Emerald Isle. Cross Ireland's longest river, the River Shannon, to reach historic Galway, the City of the Tribes, at the mouth of the Corrib River. Easily one of Ireland’s most fun and lively cities, the streets are lined with buskers, the region is known for its famous oysters and the pubs are full of Irish charm. Join your Travel Director to see the Church of St. Nicholas, where Christopher Columbus reputedly prayed before setting off for his discovery of America. Also see the pre-medieval Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the late U.S. President, John F. Kennedy.

Take the scenic route through the mysterious rocky limestone landscape of the Burren, with its underground caverns, streams and rare flora. Stop at the Exhibition Center, situated next to the 214 m (702 ft) Cliffs of Moher with breathtaking views of the Clare Coast. Continue past the city of Limerick, stop in quaint Adare and take a relaxed village walk to see its thatched-roof cottages. In the evening, stay in the center of the action in lively Killarney. Gateway to the famous Ring of Kerry, Killarney has been welcoming travelers, who appreciate the spectacular scenery of woodlands and lakes, for over 250 years.

This morning enjoy an Insight Choice. Choose to join a memorable ride on a horse-drawn jaunting car with the local jarveys. Alternatively, admire incredible scenery on a gentle hike with a Local Expert along the lake shore and past the grounds of Ross Castle, admiring the incredible scenery of the National Park. After, take a leisurely excursion around the magnificent Ring of Kerry with stunning views of mountains and sea. Pass through the small towns of Killorglin, where the famous Puck Fair takes place, and Cahersiveen, birthplace of the great patriot, Daniel O'Connell. Follow the narrow road as it winds along the cliffs to the fishing town of Waterville. Continue through delightful villages like Sneem and cross the peat bogs of the Black Mountains to Moll’s Gap to admire Queen Victoria’s Ladies View. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a Farm-to-Table dinner. Enjoy some Irish home cooking at the family-run kitchen of chef John Sheehan. Join John and his wife, Freda, for drinks and a personal insight into classic Irish recipes that are loved throughout the world and help preserve this intangible cultural heritage. Then, settle down for a night of great food and drink in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Drive to the historic port town of Cobh, which was the last port of call for the Titanic. Walk through the Queenstown Story exhibition at the Heritage Center, which recounts the era of Irish emigration and the life of this once great passenger port. Continue to visit the 15th century Blarney Castle, home of the famous Stone of Eloquence - once kissed, never forgotten! Then Continue on to Cork along the spacious Grand Parade and South Mall and see the City Hall and fine Georgian houses en route to your hotel. In the evening, raise your glass and revel in rich flavors at a lively dinner.

Drive through Ireland’s lush midlands, a region that has nurtured poets, playwrights and storytellers for centuries, before arriving in Kilkenny. Enjoy free time to explore, walk in the footsteps of medieval merchants along the cobbled lanes of the Medieval Mile, home to the 800-year-old St. Canice’s Cathedral and the atmospheric Rothe House, once the dwelling of a prosperous Tudor silk merchant. Today, the city is Ireland’s unofficial capital of craft, renowned for its thriving community of potters, glassblowers and textile artists. Return to Dublin, where the evening is yours to explore further if you wish. From Viking settlement to capital of literature, Dublin brims with stories. Seek out the stately Long Room of Trinity College’s Old Library, marvel at the colorful doors of Georgian Dublin or settle into a local pub where literary greats once raised a glass.

Your memorable trip through the Emerald Isle has come to an end. Say "Slán go fóill" as you bid farewell to your Travel Director and fellow travelers.