A modern multi-cultural city that embraces its past and exudes an enduring sense of fun, the 'Emerald Isle' has lured the most curious of travelers for centuries. Your Local Expert reveals the best of the city on a guided tour past the Georgian Squares and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Delicious cuisine and history merge this evening over drinks and canapes at EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum where you’ll discover the stories of Irish emigrants who became scientists, politicians, poets, artists and even outlaws all over the world.
The beauty of an Irish country house springs to life at Strokestown Park House and Gardens. After soaking in its beauty, go from grand homes to history visiting the onsite Irish Famine Museum to delve into the stories of the 1840s famine with a Local Expert. Learn the history behind the Irish Potato Famine, the most catastrophic event in Ireland and one of the worst famines in history. View rare 19th-century photographs, witness accounts, sketches, newspapers and maps before continuing to Sligo. In the afternoon, consider an optional cruise on the River Shannon and admire the rolling countryside of the "Emerald Isle".
The seaside town of Westport on Ireland’s west coast will charm any traveler. Your Local Expert leads you on a walk to learn about the town's heritage – from its settlement 5,000 years ago to today. Continue to indulge your curiosity at Kylemore Abbey, a treasure trove of picture-perfect scenery and the oldest of the Irish Benedictine abbeys. You could enhance your day with an Optional Experience, a Galway walking tour featuring the Lynch Memorial Window, Church of St. Nicholas, Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy. You’ll love hearing intriguing stories of this bustling medieval port.
Embark on an up-close and personal encounter with Ireland's nature at the towering Cliffs of Moher. Perched at 214 m (702 ft), take in views of the Clare Coast and the pounding Atlantic. Gain insights into the cliffs’ geology and history before crossing the Shannon Estuary by ferry from Killimer to Tarbert. Head to Killarney where you’ll relive the highlights of the day over a Dine-Around evening of local cuisine.
Famous for its 'forty shades of green', the Ring of Kerry showcases Ireland at its most elemental. This iconic 179-kilometer loop traces the contours of the Iveragh Peninsula, offering one of Europe’s most celebrated coastal drives. Pass through landscapes sculpted by ancient glaciation, with views stretching to the Skellig Islands—UNESCO-listed for their early Christian monastery. Drink in the beauty of the coastal drive lined with beaches, colorful seaside villages and views of the Atlantic Ocean on an insightful MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, meet John, a seaweed advocate and educator for a seaweed foraging walk. Embrace the landscape that has inspired poets, artists and writers. This evening, you'll have your pick of Optional Experiences including a Celtic Steps performance or a Gaelic Roots show of song and dance.
With Insight Choice choose to explore one of the icons of Ireland, Blarney Castle, the Witch's Kitchen and Wishing Steps gardens and, of course, the famous stone – said to bestow the 'gift of the gab' upon whoever kisses it. Or, don’t miss your chance to amble the 1,500-acre grounds including the raised boardwalk, surrounded by water-loving plants and waterfalls. The Carnivorous Courtyard features plants that with colorful, fluid-filled leaves while the Fern Garden features trees brought from the other side of the world that are survivors of the Jurassic period.
12th-century Kilkenny Castle is full of curiosities dating back to when it was the principal seat of the butlers, earls, marquesses and dukes of Ormond. On your exploration of its vast parkland, learn how the castle was remodelled in the Victorian style and restored several times before being formally taken over by the Irish State in 1969. Return to Dublin and finish your incredible tour with a memorable dinner at a traditional Irish pub.
It’s time to close the chapter on an unforgettable tour of the Emerald Isle. We bid our newfound friends and Travel Director a fond farewell.
