Dreant Family Irish Adventure

Wednesday 21st August – Thursday 29th August 2024

Number of Travellers: 5
Duration: 9 Days / 8 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, 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 Ireland’s famous and off the beaten track sites of natural, cultural and ancient 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.

Highlights

  • Spot soaring wildlife as you walk along the Cliffs of Moher
  • Visit Inishbofin Island with an local archaeologist
  • Enjoy a bespoke food tour in Galway city

Day by Day

Day 1 - Wednesday 21st August - Arrival into Ireland

Arriving into Dublin airport, pick up your rental car and head west.  Watch as urban bustle gradually gives way to the untamed beauty of Connemara. The landscape transforms into rolling hills and expansive green fields, offering glimpses into the charm of rural life. Your accommodation for the next three nights is located in the breathtaking Delphi Valley on the Wild Atlantic Way. After check in you can take a walk around the resort or relax with a spa treatment. Tonight, enjoy a delicious dinner inspired by the seasons as you prepare for a week of adventure.

Overnight: Connemara | Delphi Resort
Room Type: x1 1 bed suite, x1 2 bed suite
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Thursday 22nd August - Killary Fjord & Kylemore Abbey

The hills and mountains of Connemara are defined by the ocean surrounding them, and this is particularly evident at the beautiful Killary Fjord. This morning meet an expert hiking guide who will lead you along the shores of the fjord, delving into Irish history at a famine-era abandoned village and bringing to life the rich and ancient histories of the landscape. Head back to your hotel via the stunningly beautiful Kylemore Abbey and Gardens to tour the grounds and hear the romantic story behind this iconic site.

Overnight: Connemara | Delphi Resort
Room Type: x1 1 bed suite, x1 2 bed suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Walk Details: 8 km / 5 miles

Day 3 - Friday 23rd August - Inishbofin Island

After a hearty breakfast you will drive 30 minutes to the village of Cleggan to catch your ferry to Inishbofin. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and seals along the way! Today you will be joined by a local archaeologist and gentleman for a walk around this fascinating island. Highlights include rugged cliffs, blowholes, Bronze and Iron Age ruins and the crumbling Cromwellian fort where ‘Don Bosco’, the infamous Spanish pirate was stationed in the 16th century. You’ll have a picnic lunch before heading back to accommodation for some down time. This evening we recommend heading into the town of Clifden for dinner and traditional music.

Overnight: Connemara | Delphi Resort
Room Type: x1 1 bedroom suite, x1 2 bedroom suite
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Saturday 24th August - Galway Food Tour

Today you will head further south to County Clare. En route, stop in the city known as the capital of Ireland’s west. Galway is the west coast’s most vibrant urban centre and a great place to visit. What better way to spend an afternoon here than a delectable food tour? Tantalise your taste buds with a delightful journey through Galway’s culinary scene. From artisanal cheeses, craft beers, to handcrafted chocolate, this will be a true feast for the senses. After your tour, a stroll through shop street and a coffee stop at the Spanish Arch is recommended. Continue on to your 18th century manor house and home for the next three nights, Gregan’s Castle, located in the heart of the Burren.

Overnight: The Burren | Gregans Castle
Room Type: Classic
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5 - Sunday 25th August - Hiking in The Burren

This morning, it’s time to explore this rocky and alien landscape. Meeting your local guide, you will traverse through what is said to be the inspiration for Middle Earth in JRR Tolkien’s world-famous Lord of the Rings trilogy. Highlights today will include vast limestone pavement expanses, Burren specialist wildflowers, outstanding archaeological monuments and otherworldly views of the Burren hills. For lunch, you will stop in a local perfumery that takes inspiration from the surrounding landscape. Pick up a handmade soap or cream and indulge in some local cheeses before continuing on your adventure. This evening you can sit back, relax and unwind in the magical setting of Gregans Castle.

Overnight: The Burren | Gregans Castle
Room Type: Classic
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6 - Monday 26th August - Cliffs of Moher & Chocolate Factory Tour

This morning we recommend the short drive to  the famous Cliffs of Moher – quite possibly the most iconic spot in all of Ireland. Rising 700 feet out of the swirling Atlantic, we recommend walking along the cliff-side path for stunning vistas, dramatic panoramas and diving seabirds. This afternoon stop by a local artisan chocolate factory for a tour and some delicious sweet treats, the perfect mid afternoon coffee break and chance to relax and take a break from the road.

Overnight: The Burren | Gregans Castle
Room Type: Classic
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Tuesday 27th August - To Dublin

After a leisurely breakfast you will bid farewell to Ireland’s west and make your way back to Dublin, arriving in time to explore the city in the afternoon. 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 Alex Hitek
Room Type: x1 Triple, x1 Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Wednesday 28th August - Exploring Dublin & Vintage Tea

This morning you are free to explore Dublin solo. Take a walk around St. Stephen’s Green, browse the storefronts along Grafton Street and listen to buskers and musicians on the streets. Later today, enjoy your afternoon tea delicacies, good conversation and tap along to some fabulous 1950s jazz. This is afternoon tea with a difference, onboard a converted double decker bus! Board your vintage Routemaster bus in historic Temple Bar. Soak up the nostalgia as your host gets the conversation started, the music begins, and a classic afternoon tea is served.

Overnight: Dublin | The Alex Hotel
Room Type: x1 Triple, x1 Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 9 - Thursday 29th August - Depart

Make your way to Dublin airport for your return flight home. We hope your time in Ireland has been memorable.

Meals Included: None

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More
  • All accommodation from Day 1 to Day 9
  • Breakfast each morning, 1 lunch
  • Car rental from Day 1 to Day 9
  • All guided hikes and activities mentioned in the itinerary, specifically;
  • Guided hike along Killary Fjord
  • Entry to Kylemore Abbey
  • Guided walk on Inishbofin with an archeologist
  • Private food tour of Galway city
  • Guided hike in The Burren
  • Public tour of artisan chocolate factory
  • Private historical walking tour of Dublin city
  • Vintage tea tour in Temple Bar
  • Personalised trip design and delivery
  • 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
Notes Read More
  • All suggested accommodations and services are subject to availability at the time of booking
  • A 20% deposit is required before any accommodation and services will be confirmed
  • This quote is valid for 14 days from the date quoted, after this time pricing may be subject to revision
Terms & Conditions Read More

Please see our booking terms here.