The Harris' Irish Adventure V2

Catherine & David

Monday 23rd September – Monday 30th September 2024

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

Overview

Picturesque coastal towns and villages, green pastoral fields, soaring cliffs, wild barren landscapes, the crash of the ocean, the laugh of a local. Ireland is romantic, and authentic, a home away from home where both old and modern seem to cohabit seamlessly on a small island in the middle of the sea. Packed with history and tradition your days are spent exploring the island of Ireland’s famous and off-the-beaten-track sites of natural, cultural and political interest. A world-renowned food scene means your evenings are spent dining in style and with the promise of a pub just around the corner, music and laughter are never far away. Your trip to Ireland will surprise and delight you but the people of Ireland will stay with you, long after your journey has taken you home.

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1 | Monday 23rd September | Welcome to Dublin | Overnight: Dublin

Day 2 | Tuesday 24th September | Irish National Stud & West Cork | Overnight: Skibbereen

Day 3 | Wednesday 25th September | Cape Clear Island | Overnight: Skibbereen

Day 4 | Thursday 26th September | Forage & Feast | Overnight: Killarney

Day 5 | Friday 27th September | Killarney National Park | Overnight: Killarney

Day 6 | Saturday 28th September | The Cliffs of Moher & Galway | Overnight: Galway

Day 7 | Sunday 29th September | Cultural Galway City & An Irish Goodbye | Overnight: Galway

Day 8 | Monday 30th September | Depart

Day by Day

Day 1 - Monday 23rd September - Welcome to Dublin

Arriving in Ireland today, a private transfer will pick you up from the airport and whisk you into the city to your 5-star hotel in the city centre. Check-in is at 3 pm however feel free to leave your bags, freshen up, or have a bite to eat. Head out in the afternoon to enjoy a walking tour with a local private guide through this vibrant capital city, with its mix of 1,000 years of architecture from the mediaeval to Georgian to modern. See the Georgian-style Merrion Square, lush St. Stephen’s Green and Fitzwilliam Square, as well as O’Connell Street, the site of the ‘1916 Uprising’ that led to Ireland’s independence in 1922. Your guide is also a historian who will bring the city to life with colourful tales of life in the city in times gone by.

Overnight: Dublin | The Westbury Hotel
Room Type: x1 Westbury King
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Tuesday 24th September - Irish National Stud & West Cork

This morning you’ll meet your private guide in the lobby of your hotel and after some short introductions, you will begin your journey south. You will stop en route for a delightful experience at the Irish National Stud & Gardens – you will travel through the entire farm on a private tour and learn how these majestic animals are managed from birth until retirement. Enjoy the Japanese Gardens before stopping for lunch onsite. You have a 3-hour drive in front of you as you head for the wilds of West Cork – a remote haven where crafters, artists and artisan food producers have happily retreated over the years. Get settled and tonight you will enjoy a tasting of some of Ireland’s finest whiskeys, including hidden gems from West Cork.

Overnight: Skibbereen | Liss Ard Estate
Room Type: x1 Lake House King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Wednesday 25th September - Cape Clear Island

Off the coast of Baltimore is Ireland’s southernmost inhabited island, traditionally the last glimpse of Europe for those who once sailed to North America by ship. Cape Clear is a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) island just 5 km long and 2 km wide. Hopping off the ferry, you’ll visit a local goat farm, where you’ll learn about the island’s farming traditions and sample some of the delicious cheese made from the goats’ milk. As you take in the stunning, coastal vistas that surround you, you’ll realise that this is authentic and untouched Ireland!

Overnight: Skibbereen | Liss Ard Estate
Room Type: x1 Lake House King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Thursday 26th September - Forage & Feast

Saying farewell to Cork today, you’ll head further north into Kerry, but not before stopping for a fully immersive experience in the sights, sounds, smells & taste of a rare temperate rainforest valley & bay on the Wild Atlantic Way. Too often overlooked by visitors, the Beara Peninsula is a hidden paradise. At each turn, there is a new view to marvel upon, with panoramas over the hidden valleys, rocky slopes, sheep-dotted hills and far-away lakes. Make sure to leave room after breakfast this morning, as your experience of the day involves meeting local foraging expert Kloe to share in her craft on the remote southern edge of the Beara Peninsula. After an hour out in the field learning the science and practices of foraging in the woods, reconvene around a campfire together for a cooked lunch of your gathered goods. Afterwards, you’ll head north and check in to your accommodation, nestled on a private estate on the edge of Killarney National Park.

Overnight: Killarney | Cahernane House Hotel
Room Type: x1 Signature Double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Friday 27th September - Killarney National Park

Killarney National Park is the most famous of Ireland’s national parks – and with good reason, as it is flourishing with breathtaking mountains, lakes and waterfalls. Historic manor houses and abbeys make for an interesting visit but Killarney is best explored via a private boat trip across the lake with a boatman whose furry friends join him daily. Before leaving you’ll step back into the past with a visit to Muckross Traditional Farms, which showcases a very different Ireland – the Ireland of the 1930s and 1940s. Back then, a trip to the well was still a daily chore for the housewife and electricity had yet to be introduced to the countryside.

Overnight: Killarney | Cahernane House Hotel
Room Type: x1 Signature Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6 - Saturday 28th September - The Cliffs of Moher & Galway

Leaving the Kingdom of Kerry behind this morning, make your way into the neighbouring counties of Limerick and Clare. Your first stop this morning is into the buzzing village of Adare, where you can stretch your legs with a wander between its traditional thatched-roof cottages, local art galleries, and warming cafes. Further up on your drive north, the real treat for the day is to see the famous Cliffs of Moher up close. Dropping some 700 feet below to the sea, the Cliffs are set among a jaw-dropping landscape with the cobalt waters swirling below and rolling green sheep-laden fields toward the land. Retire for the evening in Galway City, the unofficial capital of Ireland’s west coast with a rich history and strong culture which you will explore more tomorrow.

Overnight: Galway | The Hardiman Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Sunday 29th September - Cultural Galway City & An Irish Goodbye

Galway is a charming Medieval-era city with a thriving arts scene. Known as the ‘town of the tribes’ the small centre of cobblestone streets and colourful storefronts is vibrant, fun and cosmopolitan. Start your morning with a walk along the Spanish Arch and the picturesque Claddagh area, where you can enjoy views of Galway Bay. Galway is home to lively streets like Quay Street and Shop Street, filled with famous pubs, like The Quays or Tigh Neachtain, and a great place to wander. This afternoon you’ll join a local food guide who will lead you around the streets of Galway into some of the historic and delicious eateries the town has to offer. This will certainly leave you in the mood to go to your last stop to celebrate your final night in Ireland, we have organised an intimate performance of Irish dance in one of the oldest pubs in Galway. Soak up the wonderful atmosphere, music and dance unique to this island and cheers to a week well spent. Your guide will drop you back to your accommodation and you will say farewell.

Overnight: Galway | The Hardiman Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - Monday 30th September - Depart

This morning, a private transfer will pick you up in the lobby of your hotel and drop you at the airport for your flight home. We hope your time in Ireland has been memorable and we look forward to welcoming you to our shores once again.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More
  • All accommodation from Day 1 to Day 8
  • Breakfast each morning, 2 lunch (foraging and food tours)
  • Services of an experienced and knowledgeable qualified guide from Day 2 to Day 7
  • Ground transportation from Day 2 to Day 7
  • All guided hikes and activities mentioned in the itinerary, specifically;
  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Departure airport transfer
  • Private Historical Walking Tour of Dublin
  • Private Tour of the Irish National Stud
  • Irish Whiskey Tasting
  • Cape Clear Ferry Tickets
  • Private Farm Experience
  • Private Forage & Campfire Feast Experience
  • Private Traditional Boat Tour
  • Entry to Muckross House
  • Entry to the Cliffs of Moher
  • Private Food Tour of Galway
  • Private Irish Dancing Experience
  • Personalised trip design and delivery
  • Snacks throughout the trip
  • 24-hour in-country support from the Wilderness Team
Exclusions Read More
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Gratuities for the main driver guide
Notes Read More
  • All suggested accommodations and services are subject to availability at the time of booking
  • As we are less than 4 weeks from the departure date full payment is required at the time of booking
  • This quote is valid for 14 days from the date quoted, after this time pricing may be subject to revision
Pricing Read More

The price of this trip is €7,595 per person and is based on availability at the time of booking.

Terms & Conditions Read More

Please see our booking terms here.

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Virtuoso

The Harris’ Irish Adventure V2

Monday 23rd September – Monday 30th September 2024