The Emerald Isle bids you a hundred thousand welcomes on this comprehensive Ireland tour. Splendid scenery, fascinating history, a vibrant culture and warm, hospitable people all contribute to the great charm of Ireland. Enjoy stays in two castle hotels and visit with farmers.  Experience the sophistication of Dublin and the peaceful ambience of small villages. Have a pint with friendly locals at a lively pub. All that is best about Ireland is yours to enjoy during our Ireland tour.

Day 1 – Welcome to Ireland
Tour Operators Best of Ireland tour departs: 9:30 AM from Shannon Airport. As your Ireland tour begins, journey through emerald countryside and along the coast to the Cliffs of Moher en route to legendary Ashford Castle. Meet your Tour Director and your fellow travelers at our welcome dinner this evening.
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Lodging: Ashford Castle, Cong, Ireland

Day 2 – Discover Connemara
Connemara is one of the more scenically diverse regions seen on any Ireland tour, with glistening lakes, bogs, mountain vistas and the craggy Atlantic coastline. At Kylemore Lough, see Kylemore Abbey, a splendid Gothic-revival castle.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Ashford Castle, Cong, Ireland

Day 3 –Sligo to Donegal Bay
Noted poet, W. B. Yeats, described Sligo as the Land of Heart’s Desire. While in Sligo, visit Yeats’ resting place at Drumcliffe. Continue on to Donegal for a two-night stay at a lakeside hotel in the serene Irish countryside.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Harvey's Point Country Hotel, Donegal Town, Ireland

Day 4 – Explore County Donegal
Tour Operators northwest Ireland tour enchants visitors with the beauty of its scenery and the warmth of its people. A lovely drive today encompasses both the coast of Ireland along Donegal Bay, and her lush farms and meadows.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Harvey's Point Country Hotel, Donegal Town, Ireland

Day 5 – Journey across Ireland
Your Ireland tour takes you through the picture-perfect scenery for which the Emerald Isle is known en route to Dublin today for a two-night stay at one of the city's finest hotels. View verdant green hills dotted with grazing sheep, ruined castles and abandoned abbeys along the way.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Four Seasons Dublin, Ireland

Day 6 – Dublin’s "Fair City," an Ireland tour highlight
Ireland’s capital and largest city, Dublin is known for its rich literary history, the intricate glass lace found on the doors of its Georgian townhouses, and its lively pubs proudly serving locally made Guinness Stout. Read a page from the Book of Kells at ancient Trinity College, and visit Dublin Castle before spending the rest of the day experiencing Dublin life as you please.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Four Seasons Dublin, Ireland

Day 7 – Through the Wicklow Mountains to Kilkenny
Today’s adventures are a highlight of any Ireland tour. The 19th-century Powerscourt Gardens, in the beautiful Wicklow Mountains, are a treat for the senses. The medieval town of Kilkenny is as well known for the quality and variety its crafts as for its rich history.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Mount Juliet Conrad, Thomastown, Ireland

Day 8 – Waterford Crystal and historic Cobh
Watch as gifted artisans create treasures in glass at the Waterford Crystal factory. The last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic, Cobh also saw the sailing of the first steamship to cross the Atlantic; discover the role that Cobh has played in maritime history at the Cobh Heritage Center. Continue on to Cork, where you'll spend the night in an elegant country manor house.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork, Ireland

Day 9 – From Blarney to Killarney
Few visitors to 15th-century Blarney Castle can resist the opportunity to kiss the famous Blarney stone in the hope of being gifted with legendary Irish eloquence. Journey into County Kerry, stopping at the historic town of Kenmare en route to Killarney where you'll visit Muckross House. Tour this Elizabethan-style mansion, with time to enjoy its lovely gardens.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa, Killarney, Ireland

Day 10 – Explore the Ring of Kerry
One of the most famous drives in the world, the 100-mile route around the Ring of Kerry reveals some of Ireland’s most splendid scenery. Return to Killarney for time at leisure, adding more enjoyment of the countryside’s rich cultural heritage to this Ireland tour.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa, Killarney, Ireland

Day 11 – From a farm to a castle
Enjoy a visit and lunch with Irish farmers at their working dairy farm and discover the role of farming in the west of Ireland. Then, it’s off to Dromoland Castle to stay for the night. Prior to becoming a world-renowned hotel, this magnificent baronial manor was home to the O’Brian family for over 500 years. Join your new friends at a festive farewell reception and dinner tonight as your Ireland tour draws to a close.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Dromoland Castle, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ireland

Day 12 – Ireland tour ends – slaínte!
Tour ends: 7:00 am at Shannon Airport. Persons who are departing at other times should secure their own transportation to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast

Night 1 & 2: Ashford Castle
Cong, Ireland

Ashford Castle has the distinction of being named one of the best hotels in world by the readers of both Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler. Guests experience the royal lifestyle at this fairy-tale castle dating back to the 13th century. Stately Ashford Castle sits regally amidst a 350-acre private estate, surrounded by woodlands. Facilities include a championship nine-hole golf course, two outdoor tennis courts, a superb health and leisure center offering a plunge pool, whirlpool and a wide range of health and beauty treatments.    

Night 3 & 4: Harvey’s Point Country Hotel
Donegal Town, Ireland

Set on the shores of Lough Eske at the foot of the Blue Stack Mountains in County Donegal, the Harvey’s Point Country Hotel showcases Ireland at its scenic best. Tastefully decorated guestrooms, designed to create a sense of lavish comfort and space, offer all the amenities that today’s sophisticated travelers expect. The Bar, warmed by an inviting fire, is the perfect place to enjoy a nightcap after a busy day of exploration and discovery

Night 5 & 6: Four Seasons Dublin
Dublin, Ireland

Set within the Royal Dublin Society showgrounds in a fashionable residential neighborhood, the deluxe Four Seasons Dublin offers easy access to the city. Accommodations are spacious and beautifully appointed, blending elegance and comfort. The lovely indoor swimming pool looks out over an outdoor sunken garden. The state-of-the-art Fitness Center offers a wide range of equipment and the spa provides a selection of massage, skin and body treatments. The elegant Seasons Restaurant is known for its fine contemporary European cuisine and its views of the magnificent garden courtyard. The readers of both Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure regard the Four Seasons Dublin as one of the best hotels in the world.    

Night 7: Mount Juliet Conrad
Thomastown, Ireland

The baronial Mount Juliet Conrad regally reigns over what once was Ireland’s largest estate. Operating as a luxury hotel since 1989, the opulent Georgian mansion that lies at the heart of the Mount Juliet Conrad is a grand tribute to 18th-century craftsmanship. The Mount Juliet Conrad features the only Jack Nicklaus signature golf course in Ireland as well The Spa, which offers a wide range of pampering programs. Leisure activities, such as angling, horseback riding and clay target shooting, tennis and croquet, are available. The Mount Juliet Conrad is included in the Condé Nast Traveler 2006 Gold List.
   
Night 8: Hayfield Manor Hotel
Cork, Ireland

Located just five minutes from the lively center of Cork, the Hayfield Manor Hotel has the look and feel of a centuries-old grand residence of the wealthy elite, surrounded by gracious gardens and ancient trees. Although the atmosphere is one of traditional charm, the hotel’s Leisure Facilities complex is state-of-the-art and offers a lovely indoor heated swimming pool, an outdoor Jacuzzi, gym and steam room as well as extensive spa treatment alternatives to soothe the body and the soul.    

Night 9 & 10: Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa
Killarney, Ireland

Located high on a hill in the midst of the emerald-green County Kerry countryside, the Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa offers a luxurious and serene ambience surrounded by the sweeping panorama of the Killarney’s lakes and mountains. Indulge yourself at the impressive Spa, take a swim in the lovely indoor pool, walk in the hills or in the gardens, play a game of tennis or fish for salmon and trout from the hotel’s nearby private stretch of riverbank.
   
Night 11:
Dromoland Castle
Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ireland

In 2005, the readers of Travel + Leisure named Dromoland Castle the number 1 hotel in Ireland and the readers of Condé Nast Traveler voted it the number 2 hotel in all of Europe. One of the world’s most famous castle hotels, Dromoland Castle is magnificently steeped in history and tradition. In addition to all the pleasures to be found within the castle, to include the full-service spa and indoor pool, guests can enjoy superb golf, boating, shooting, fishing, tennis, walking and cycling within the extensive grounds of the estate.