Duration: 7 Days
Escape to the beauty and history of the “Emerald Isle” on your guided tour of Ireland. Enjoy your getaway into the green valleys and sweeping seashores without the large crowds or costs of the “busy” travel season. You’ll begin in the fair city of Dublin. Admire statue-lined O’Connell Street, Dublin’s main thoroughfare, and elegant Georgian squares with their red-brick townhouses and colourful doors behind the wrought-iron fences. You’ll also see Trinity College and St. Patrick’s Cathedral along the way.
Leave the bustle of Dublin for the green landscapes of Ireland’s countryside, and visit Rathbaun Farm. You’ll learn about Ireland’s sheep-farming practices, and try your hand at scone baking in the farmhouse kitchen. You’ll travel on to western Ireland’s colourful harbor city of Galway, with its vibrant shops, cafés, and traditional pubs. On your way to Northern Ireland, pass through Westport, Donegal, and Letterkenny. Then, enjoy a guided walk on Derry’s Old Town walls, and visit the amazing natural formation of the Giant’s Causeway—massive interlocking basalt columns that dramatically extend across the seashore.
Spend two nights in Belfast, with plenty to see in Northern Ireland’s capital city, including the fascinating Titanic Experience. On your way back to Dublin, stop in Carlingford. This Cooley Peninsula town is famous for its oyster farms, medieval buildings, and 12th-century King John’s Castle overlooking the city. Spend the last night of your escorted tour of Ireland where you began, in Dublin. You’ll see why this escape through Ireland’s beauty and history is made even better without the crowds of the high season on your affordable, guided Ireland holiday.
Cead mile failte - a hundred-thousand welcomes! At 3pm, meet your Tour Director and travelling companions for an afternoon orientation drive to see O'Connell Street, Georgian squares, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Trinity College. (D)
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 legendary library of Trinity College.
SHANNON'S SHORES & FARMER'S CHORES
ATHLONE Visit the town on the River Shannon.
RATHBAUN Globus Local Favourite Try your hand at scone baking, learn about sheep herding, and enjoy coffee and your scones at an Irish farm. (B) 130 mi / 210 km
LOCAL FAVOURITE
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.
WEST IS BEST
WESTPORT Visit the elegant holiday resort on Ireland's west coast.
DONEGAL Visit the Vikings' town. (B,D) 181 mi / 292 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT The long Wild Atlantic Way of Ireland stretching to Donegal's Inishowen peninsula encapsulates some of the most dramatic landscapes and charming towns such as Westport, with its Georgian town center and tree-lined promenade, and 'The Cathedral Town' of Donegal.
ANCIENT WALLS & GIANT STEPS
DERRY Walk on the city walls with a Local Guide.
GIANT'S CAUSEWAY See more than 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed millions of years ago. (B) 124 mi / 200 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDS & LORE Follow in the legendary footsteps of giants at the foot of the cliffs along the coast of Northern Ireland, where 40,000 massive black basalt columns jut out of the sea. Hear the legendary myth of two battling giants that caused the magnificent geological wonder of Giant's Causeway, which actually evolved through volcanic activity 50-60 million years ago.
A GRAND SHIP & GREAT SIGHTS
BELFAST Orientation drive. Visit Titanic Experience museum. Free time this afternoon. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT Explore the fascinating Titanic Belfast Experience for an in-depth look at the history and mystery of the legendary ocean liner. See artifacts and amazing accounts of Belfast's boom in shipping and those who built her. Learn about the courage and loss of all involved on a fateful night in April 1912. Get an immersive look at the launch, sinking, and final resting place of the doomed ship, with myths and reality revealed.
SEASIDE CHARM
CARLINGFORD Stop in the charming village on the Cooley Peninsula.
DUBLIN Free time in the evening. (B) 105 mi / 169 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT BEAUTY SPOT Carlingford is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Ireland, known for its oyster farms, quaint buildings and the 12th-century King John's Castle overlooking the harbour. Explore this magical place, full of character, and walk through the narrow lanes and small streets including Tholsel Street, where the remains of the medieval walled town's gates can still be seen.
SAFE TRAVELS UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN!
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
