Great Britain & Ireland | Summer | 2023

Duration: 16 Days

Cross the Irish sea, explore historic cities shrouded in folklore and mystery, gawp at Ireland's breathtaking landscapes and appreciate a culture of cool from as far back as the Beatles. Through London, York, Glasgow, Liverpool, Dublin and more, this 16-day tour of Britain and Ireland includes entrance into awe-inspiring attractions aplenty, including puckering up for the Blarney stone, cruising across Loch Ness and enjoying your very own Magical Mystery tour. It'll be love at first London site.

Good morning dear Londonites! And welcome to your 16-day deep dive into all things Great Britain & Ireland. Big things are just around the corner. So big we've nicknamed one of them Big Ben. Chat all things Beatlemania & football in your best Scouse accent – this is the call of the day as we pull up in lively Liverpool.

Lap up your last dose of Liverpool before we go back to the time of the Vikings... in the traditional walled city of York. 2,000 years of history will unfold upon us as we amble down narrow lanes of York, exploring the Minster, the Shambles and Clifford’s Tower. For fans of folklore, sign up to a night of ghostly horrors and dark alleyways & prepare to be spooked.

Even if the ghosts of York kept you awake all night, you're going to need to rise and shine and wave goodbye to the Harry Potter like setting of this ancient city. We'll take a spectacular drive this morning to the Roman Empire’s impressive Hadrian’s Wall as well as English country charm in abundance. Whatever you do, don't Google this place before we arrive. It will spoil the surprise of its unfathomable beauty. Endless green hills, 16 serene lakes & streets of stone homes will have you pining for the country life.

Today we are in for some border hopping along the English/Scottish border to see the sights on our way to Edinburgh! Back in the 21st Century we'll find ourselves in Edinburgh, a city that, although still simmering in ancient history, comes alive with music festivals, a rousing creative scene & fun bars. Top the day off with a Scottish meal, complete with haggis and a traditional bagpiper.

Today is yours to roam free - but if you want to get the low down on the history of this city why not join our local guide for an optional tour of Edinburgh Castle (which is resting on an extinct volcano!!) to kickstart your love affair with this city. Or maybe you'll do a spot of tartan shopping on Princes Street or indulge in some whisky tasting.

It's time to blaze a trail out of Edinburgh & head for the Scottish Highlands. On the way to the main affair of the day we'll stop by St. Andrews, the birthplace of golf, would you believe? As well as Scotland’s oldest university town. Already blown away by the beauty of the rugged mountain scenery en route, we'll arrive in the Scottish Highlands amped up for mystical tales.

We might be coming down from a high (geographically speaking) this morning, but as we seek out the stunning Loch Ness and Glenfinnan Viaduct, the mood will only be rising. We'll stop to see lovely Loch Ness, the most voluminous lake in the UK - containing more water than all the lakes of England and Wales combined! It's also rumoured to contain something else, something far more legendary which you're sure to have heard of... We'll also check out Aviemore, a picturesque jewel in the Cairngorms' crown - home to lochs, mountains trails and plenty of panoramic views. With breath-taking scenery still in mind, today's sights will leave you more than content with your day's discoveries.

After a few days of remote and rugged goodness, a change of pace in Scotland's biggest city is sure to fire things up a notch. We make a stop in Stirling, known for its famous Castle nestled right on a hill, and the town where William Wallace took on the English and yelled "Freeeedom!" Get involved with everything great about Glasgow. Live music on every corner, a gothic cathedral & plenty of quirky characters make this city unique.

Scotland, you've been unreal. If Ireland puts on half the show you did, we have many happy days ahead of us. We arrive in the port town of Larne, your first steps on Northern Irish soil, but not for long... So much more than the capital city, Dublin is a place of heritage, character, and more cute pubs than you could crawl in a week. End the day with a lively night of festivities at the cobbled lanes of Temple Bar.

That's us done with Dublin…for now. But fear not Dub-lovers, we'll get another taste of this fine place before our trip comes to an end. Break up your coach hangs with some bicycle time in a city sure to leave you wanting Irish in your blood. Explore the castle, a cathedral and take in all of the medieval charm that Kilkenny has to offer before we hit the road again for County Cork. Welcome to vibrant County Cork! But not before the chance to sample some of Ireland's famous whiskey at the Jameson's Distillery in Midleton. Yum! Even when the skies are grey, County Cork is covered in color and good vibes.

Hopefully you exhausted all of your cork puns yesterday, as today we are moving on, sightseeing our way to 2-nights in Galway. Irish folklore tells us there's a chunk of limestone built into a castle that grants its kissers the gift of the gab. Pucker up kids, we're paying her a visit! Whether heights are your cup of Irish Breakfast or not, these impressive cliff faces are not to be missed! From the moment we arrive in Galway, you'll understand why 2 nights were needed here. Everything you've dreamed Ireland to be is tucked into this small, atmospheric city. Step into a local pub and down Irish stew over live music and chats with locals. Outside will be just as lively, with buskers & colorful buildings lining the streets.

Try your tongue at some Gaelic and carry on exploring gorgeous Galway. Head up to Dún Aonghasa (the ruins of a prehistoric fortress) - make sure you take photos, this area is not for the faint-hearted! Irish life, you so sweet.

Goodbye Galway, hello more Irish eye-candy. Here the 17th century walls stand at 8 meters high speaking of times gone by when this area was in battle. Times may have changed, but we're still keen to soak up the history and learn a thing or two from our wise Local Guide.

Today we've got a one way ticket to Belfast and a whole lot more exploration to do. UNESCO World Heritage site of the Giant’s Causeway - also known as those giant rock columns you've probably drooled over on Pinterest, needs to be seen to be believed. Get those hashtags ready, a snap with the group is essential on the mind-blowing natural formation. Next up - we'll arrive in Belfast. Concluding the day will be a driving tour and a trip to the Titanic museum where the world's most famous ship was built.

With one night left in Ireland and on tour, we're on the fast track to Dublin where our Irish fairytale first began. A promise is a promise. Here we are back in the city that started our Ireland infatuations. Use this second stint to do your missed critical activities such as visiting the Guinness Storehouse where you can learn how to pull a pint the Irish way.

We leave Ireland today with leprechauns in our hearts and memories in our souls. Enjoy the roll back to London town as it will be the last bout our crew has together. We've crossed the Irish Sea, motored through Wales, passed the town of try-to-say-it-out-loud Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, and now we are back in London. That's all folks! Pass the tissues, say your goodbyes, and make plans for your next adventure. Unless, of course, there's talk of a reunion tour. Greek Islands, anyone?

Start Date: 2023-09-29

End Date: 2023-10-14

twin

Adult Price: $5865

twinShare

Adult Price: $5865

single

Adult Price: $7330

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