This vacation is ideal for first-time visitors to the Emerald Isle who have limited time to spare. Begin in Dublin with an overnight and guided sightseeing that includes O’Connell Street, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College. Heading west, stop in Kildare at the Irish National Stud, in St. Patrick’s Cashel, and in Tipperary, made famous in the wartime marching song. On to Limerick for an orientation drive, then stop in Ennis for two nights. From here, an included excursion shows off stunning views from the Cliffs of Moher. Also enjoy Irish hospitality at Rathbaun Farm, where you’ll see a farmer shear a sheep and use a sheep dog to move his flock. Next, ferry across the Shannon estuary and travel around the famed Ring of Kerry. Spend the night in Killarney and stop in Blarney, famous for its magical Kissing Stone. In Waterford, visit the House of Waterford Crystal; see Ireland’s oldest handweaving mill at Avoca; cross through the Wicklow Mountains; and take a guided tour of St. Kevin’s 6th-century center of Irish Christianity in Glendalough. Return to Dublin for the conclusion of your Irish journey.

Day 1 Arrive in Dublin, Ireland
Check into your hotel. At 3 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for an afternoon orientation drive through statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and past St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (Dinner)

Day 2 Dublin–Kildare–Limerick–Ennis
Horse-racing country this morning. Drive across the Curragh to visit the IRISH NATIONAL STUD at Kildare, whose fine thoroughbreds command respect on the racecourses of the world. Lots more to see: the Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick preached; Tipperary, made famous in a wartime marching song; and Limerick, where an orientation drive acquaints you with St. Mary’s Cathedral, King John’s Castle, and the stone where the Treaty of Limerick was signed in 1691. Tonight’s suggestion for a very special night out: attend an optional banquet at Bunratty Castle. (Breakfast)

Day 3 Ennis. West Coast Excursion
Your day excursion along Ireland’s spectacular Atlantic coastline begins with a drive to the 668-foot CLIFFS OF MOHER, where you savor the breathtaking panorama of the Clare coast. A scenic route across the limestone plateau of The Burren takes you to Galway, a vibrant city with a great seafaring tradition where you hear about the infamous Lynch Stone, commemorating the day Mayor James Lynch Fitzstephen hanged his son for murder. Drive into the unspoiled region of Connemara and at Moycullen, visit the Joyce family at their MARBLE WORKSHOP. This afternoon, a special treat: at RATHBAUN FARM, watch the farmer shear a sheep and maneuver a flock with the help of a sheep dog. Then, enjoy a traditional tea in the 150-year-old thatched farmhouse. (Breakfast)

Day 4 Ennis–Ring of Kerry–Killarney
After a short drive via Clonderlaw Bay to Killimer, cross the Shannon estuary by FERRY. Continue on to Killorglin on Dingle Bay to join the spectacular RING OF KERRY for a 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip. Take your photos of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View, then spend the night in the popular resort of Killarney. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 5 Killarney–Blarney–Waterford
Across the Kerry Mountains and through County Cork to Blarney, renowned for its magical Kissing Stone. Time for lunch, to walk up to the castle, and to shop for traditional Irish handicrafts. In the afternoon, proceed via Cork to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings, and look forward to a guided tour of the HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL. Before dinner, why not join an optional pub tour? (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 6 Waterford–Avoca–Dublin
An exciting agenda today: Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; Ireland’s oldest HANDWEAVING MILL at Avoca; the Wicklow Mountains; and GLENDALOUGH, the early Christian monastic site founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. See the engaging audiovisual Ireland of the Monasteries, then let your Local Guide show you the remains of this ecclesiastical settlement. Back in Dublin tonight, a fitting farewell to Ireland would be an optional cabaret evening with dinner, followed by dance, song, and laughter. (Breakfast)

Day 7 Dublin
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

INCLUDED FEATURES

Dublin
Orientation drive; welcome dinner

Kildare
Guided tour of the Irish National Stud

Rock of Cashel
Take photographs of this famous landmark

Limerick
Orientation drive

Cliffs of Moher
Savor the spectacular views

Galway
Orientation

Connemara
Visit a marble workshop

Rathbaun Farm
Visit and Afternoon Tea

Killimer–Tarbert
Cross the Shannon estuary by ferry

Ring of Kerry
Scenic peninsula drive

Killarney
Visit the popular resort town

Blarney
Visit the famous village

Waterford
Guided tour of the House of Waterford Crystal

Avoca
Guided tour of the handweaving mill

Glendalough
Guided tour of St. Kevin’s center of Irish Christianity

INSIDE VISITS
Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.

Accommodations

MEALS
Full Irish breakfast; 3 three-course dinners with choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Dublin

SUPERIOR HOTELS - (D) Deluxe (SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class
DUBLIN Clarion IFSC (SF), ENNIS Temple Gate (F), KILLARNEY Holiday Inn (F), WATERFORD Granville (F), DUBLIN Hilton Kilmainham (SF)

Optional Excursions

Important Note: the following list of optional excursions are examples only for this vacation as they are the excursions that are being offered for this vacation in the current travel year. These optional excursions might or might not be offered next year, as well as new optional excursions might be offered. Information about what optional excursions will be offered for your vacation will be available later this year into next year. If no example excursions are listed, please check back later.

Here's a list of optional excursions you can enjoy during your vacation. Whether it's a special dinner, a local show or a special behind-the-scenes glimpse into an historical site, optional excursions are a wonderful way to enrich your vacation even further. Plus, they give you flexibility. We include the must-see sites and experiences, and we also understand that people take interest in different activities and may want to craft a more personal vacation by hand-picking optional excursions that appeal to them.

Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, days of operation, group interests, and general feasibility for your vacation. The approximate value listed gives you a good, general idea of what you can expect to pay but may vary once you are on your vacation. Some information provided might be in a foreign currency.

CITY: Dublin

City Pub Visit and Meal
For an informal experience with local atmosphere and fine food, this excursion includes a drink of your choice and dinner with an Irish coffee to top off the evening.
Approximate value: Please check back later per person

Irish Cabaret May to October
After a full choice dinner with wine and Irish coffee, enjoy a traditional Irish cabaret evening including dance, song and laughter.
Approximate value: EUR €80 per person

Theater Evening
After dinner with wine and coffee, enjoy the theater production your tour director has selected for you.
Approximate value: Please check back later per person

CITY: Ennis

Bunratty Castle Banquet
At 13th-century Bunratty Castle receive a goblet or two of mead and listen to the history of the castle, before enjoying a medieval Madrigal by the Castle Singers and dinner with wine.
Approximate value: EUR €75 per person

CITY: Killarney

Muckross House and Lake View Drink
This afternoon tour takes in historic Muckross House and ends with a drink overlooking the Lakes of Killarney.
Approximate value: EUR €25 per person

CITY: Waterford

Pub Evening
Drive to a nearby village where entertainment is provided while you enjoy two drinks of your choice at the local pub.
Approximate value: EUR €31 per person