Live like a local as you Experience Ireland on this unique tour
Suggested Touring Itinerary Only - Excludes sightseeing and entrance fees
Supplement applies for travel 10-31 Dec 2023
Rates Based on Category B Manual Vehicle - Opel Corsa or similar
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Itinerary
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Accommodation
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Important Information
Day 1: Dublin
Welcome to Dublin, capital city of Ireland! On arrival, pick up your hire car and make your way to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival you may want to explore the city. Why not include a city walking tour with a local guide to learn about the history, live and culture of Dublin. This evening, why not include a traditional Irish evening of food, song and dancing.
Overnight: Dublin area.
Day 2: Dublin to Mayo area (B)
This morning head north of Dublin to the Boyne Valley to see some of the world’s most mythical landscapes. Include a visit to Slane Irish Distillery, as part of the Slane Castle Estate, there could be no finer setting in which to discover the nature of whiskey. Housed within the 250-year-old stables of the iconic Slane Castle Estate, the guideddistillery tour uncovers a history like no other, paying homage to the resilient nature of Ireland's heritage and the surrounding lands. Continue to your accommodation.Overnight: Mayo area
Day 3: Achill Island (B)
Today come into the kitchen to have an authentic hands on Irish baking experience. Learn how to prepare traditional foods such as scones, potato cake or traditional Guinness bread. Continue on the coastal road and you may want to also exploreAchill Island off the coast of Mayo– accessible by road. Achill Island is the largest of all islands off the coast of Ireland and not only does the island offer spectacularly beautiful views, but it also rewards visitors with equally spectacular beaches.Overnight: Mayo area
Day 4: Inishbofin (B)
Set sail off the coast of Galway today on a short ferry ride to the remote island of Inishbofin, one of the most westerly islands off the Irish coastline. On arrival on the island stop to collect your bike hire before setting off to explore. The island is also famous for its musical heritage and it continues to be a haven for music lovers with sessions held regularly. Take the return ferry back to the mainland.Overnight: Galway area
Day 5: Galway - Clare (B)
Explore Galway today, this wild and bohemian city, is full of culture, artistry, exceptional food and music. You might even want to include a culinary walking tour of Galway, exploring the famous food culture and taking in some of the city’s best known and secret food haunts. This evening, why not join a night of music, stories and laughter and experience authentic, traditional Irish Music and heartfelt toe tapping rhythms all in the comfort and relaxed surroundings of the musician’s home.Overnight: Clare area
Day 6: The Burren (B)
Today explore the Burren region – stretching across northern Clare, the rocky, windswept Burren region is a unique striated lunar-like landscape with a wildly diverse ecosystem. Of Ireland’s 900 native plants species, the Burren is home to 70% – including artic plants brought to Ireland by glaciers in the last Ice Age. It is a living place teeming with nature’s bounty – ordinary and exotic rocks, plants, animals, insects and birds. Its geology and diverse habitats are packed with startling features and surprising landforms. Pay a visit to the Burren Smokehouse for a demonstration of the salmon smoking process and explanation of the ancient smoking techniques used and how these have influenced their own patented technique – and an all important tasting of the hot and cold smoked salmon. Why not combine this visit with a visit to the Burren Brewery and a beer tasting session with the Master Brewer, the beer uses local wild botanicals from the Burren region.Overnight: Kerry area
Day 7: Dingle Peninsula (B)
For centuries Lough Boora has given humans shelter, warmth and a unique contact with the forces of the natural world. Lough Boora Discovery Park is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts because it showcases the regenerating power of nature. It has been turned from a vast industrial peat production landscape into a spectacular haven for animals, birds and plants. As the worked boglands have been transformed into habitats of high ecological value, so the species naturally occurring in Lough Boora have begun to increase. Enjoy a bike ride in the park along the approx. 9km peaceful route that allows you to discover the local flora, fauna, sculptures, historic Mesolithic Site and open areas of cut-away bog.
Overnight : Newbridge area
Day 8: Gap of Dunloe (B)
Spend time today in Killarney, you might want to explore the town with its shops and restaurants, and take a traditional jaunting car around the town which a unique option to show you some of the hidden delights of Killarney National Park, the famous Lakes of Killarney and the Native Red Deer herds. The Gap of Dunloe shares in some of the most beautiful and inspiring scenery to be found in the world, with a rugged landscape and series of glacial lakes connected by a single stream known as a ‘pater noster’.
Overnight: Kerry area
Day 9: Return to Dublin (B)
It is time to start the journey east again. Make your way back to Dublin and if time allows why not include a visit to EPIC – the Irish Emigration Museum and experience not only what it means to be Irish, but the impact the 10 million Irish men and women who left Ireland had on the world. A perfect way to end a trip to Ireland, a lot of what you will see in the museum will tell stories of people from the areas you have toured. Another option to include on your last evening in Dublin is the National Leprechaun Museum – a storytelling experience filled with fun and folklore and a chance to immerse yourself in the Otherworld, home of leprechauns and other mythical creatures.Overnight: Dublin area
Day 10: Departure (B)
It is time to bid farewell - transfer to the airport and take your flight back home.
Tour Inclusions:
- Rental Car 10 days manual Category B, Includes CDW
- 6 nights accommodation at 3/4* hotels with full Irish Breakfast
- 3 nights bed and breakfast accommodation
Tour Exclusions:
- Personal expenses
- Additional /Optional Tour Costs
- Hotel Mini Bar
- Early check in/late check out unless specified
- Travel Insurance - compulsory
- Rental Car Insurance
- Non specified meals
- Fuel surcharges/Major currency fluctuations
Accommodation based on the below or similar
Dublin
Brooks Hotel
Mayo
Local Bed and Breakfast
Galway
Abbeyglen Castle
Clare
Local Bed and Breakfast
Kerry
Cahermane House Hotel
Dublin
Clontarf Castle
PAYMENTS:
A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the tour price is required 35 days prior to your travel date. If you book inside 35 days, full payment will be required at the time of booking. If you cancel between 18 and 34 days prior to your travel date 60% of your tour cost will be charged. Cancellations within 17 days of departures will incur a 100% cancellation charge. All cancellations must be acknowledged in writing.
Innovative Travel recommends purchasing travel insurance, even when travelling within New Zealand.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Full Terms and conditions are listed on the Innovative Travel website. When a booking is made it is accepted that these are agreed to. They include the following: Itineraries are correct when initially published, however are subject to change due to circumstances outside our control.
Flights are the responsibility of the passenger and Innovative Travel takes no responsibility for costs involved for any changes to flights that might be required due to necessary amendments in itineraries.
Note: Wheelchair passengers
Some activities are not suitable for wheelchair passengers and any passenger requiring wheelchair assistance must be accompanied by a fellow traveller that is capable of assisting with all mobility requirements. Maximum of one wheelchair per group, the wheelchair must be fully collapsible. Further wheelchairs may be allowed subject to group size.
Trip prices and dates are correct at the time of the website going live, however all offers are subject to reconfirmation at the time of booking. Note prices usually display available discounted rates if any, (eg. Early Bird Deals if applicable). All featured tour itineraries and offers maybe subject to change due to seasonal variations without notice, or due to local conditions or other conditions. Please confirm all details at time of booking. Travel insurance is mandatory for all Innovative Travel bookings. All passports must be valid for 6 months prior to your return to your home country. Visas are the responsibility of the traveller. Special VIP meet and assist offers are valid for New Zealand passport holders, for other nationalities please check at the time of booking. For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Booking Conditions page.