V.4 Denton, Sielbecks and Bartusch Group

Gus & Candy Denton, Crea & Alan Sielbeck, Scott & Alicia Bartusch

Saturday 26th April – Friday 9th May 2025

Number of Travellers: 6
Duration: 14 Days / 13 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 the island of Ireland’s famous and of 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.

Highlights

  • Explore Ireland over two fun filled and extraordinary weeks in the company of lifelong friends
  • Stay in exclusive premium hotels, castle and manor homes
  • Indulge in some local bespoke behind the sceens food and drink experiences
  • Meet locals and make new friends as you get under the skin of this romantic country

Day by Day

Day 1 - Saturday 26th April - Welcome to Dublin

Arriving in Ireland today, Platinum Services will greet you off your aircraft and take you through passport control and bag retrieval as quickly and smoothly as possible, before you are handed over to your private driver/ guide for the short spin into the city.
Your rooms at your 5 star city centre hotel will be waiting for you when you arrive so you are free to check in, grab a bite to eat, rest, nap or start exploring as you wish.

This afternoon, 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, Dublin Castle and 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.

This evening your guide will take you to dinner in a local restaurant renowned for its fresh produce, before a pint and some Ceol agus Craic in a local pub.

Overnight: Dublin | The Merrion Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe King
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2 - Sunday 27th April - Iconic Dublin

Explore some of Dublins most iconic sights today starting with a tour of Trinity College and Book of Kells. Your guided Trinity tour will take you around the campus, discovering some of the secrets and famous pupils who graced its halls and quads before making your way to the Old Library for an audio tour of the Book of Kells with its new immersive digital experience.
Indulge your senses in the world of Guinness with our exclusive private experience at the Guinness Storehouse. For the discerning connoisseur, this tour delves deep into the history and origins of the iconic stout. From the moment you step inside this historic establishment, you’ll be immersed in the rich heritage of Guinness, tracing its roots back to its founding by Arthur Guinness in 1759. Your expert guide will walk you through the intricate brewing process, sharing the secrets and traditions that have been passed down through generations. Finish the tour by tasting a variety of Guinness brews and savouring their unique flavours.

Enjoy a local pub lunch before meeting a local sportstar and dare to be a Celtic Warrior! Take a journey of discovery deep into Irish culture, where our sports and language meet. From hurling, one of the oldest field sports in the world, to Gaelic football you will experience an enthralling energy packed introduction to our National Games that will literally take your breath away and leave you with memories to last a lifetime.

Dinner in Dublin this evening with your guides.

Overnight: Dublin | The Merrion Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3 - Monday 28th April - Irish Music, Song and Dance in Galway

A short transfer to a local hanger this morning and your private helicopter will whisk you to the west coast of Ireland with stunning views of the Wild Atlantic Ocean below. Spiddal (An Spidéal), County Galway, is a picturesque seaside village on the shores of Galway Bay, and part of An Gaeltacht, an Irish speaking area. At one of the finest recording studios in Europe you will be joined by some Irish Dancers and treated to an afternoon of music and dancing with views of the bay beyond. Enjoy a local beer and food tasting and tap your feet in time to the boudrán and fiddle as the gigs and reels play.

This evening, check into Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, once owned by an Indian Raj, this traditional hunting lodge has seen presidents and dignitaries grace its halls and rooms for generations. Today, surrounded by thousands of acres of estate land and forests, Ballynahinch boasts fine dining, a traditional pub, on site fly fishing and an remote escape in the wilds of Connemara.

Dinner this evening will be onsite at Ballynahinch Castle

Overnight: Connemara | Ballynahinch Castle
Room Type: Luxury Double
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4 - Tuesday 29th April - The Wilds of Connemara

Together with your tour hosts you will delve into the heart of Connemara. Described by Oscar Wilde as a “savage beauty” as you travel, the landscape opens up to wild mountainscapes and heather clad valleys. On the shores of Killary Fjord we will join a local for a zodiac tour of these pristine waters. Watching shellfish farmers at work, we will head back to the shore where we will join one of these farmers in their home for a fresh shellfish lunch and the opportunity to gain some insight into life on Ireland’s west coast .

Later you have the choice of activity, enjoy a short hike along the shore to the remains of an abandoned famine-era village. As you walk you will hear about the impact of this era in history on this region or return to Ballynahinch where your afternoon Fly Fishing is booked for you.

This evening, a local storyteller will join you at the hotel with stories, folklore, mythology and tales of Irelands past.

Dinner will be on site and joined by your guides.

Overnight: Connemara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: Luxury Double
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5 - Wednesday 30th April - Island Crafts

Today we set out to explore one of the remote and sparsely populated islands that dot the coastline all around Ireland. Taking a flight to Inis Oirr, the smallest of the three Aran Islands, explore the charms of this remote jut of land. Drystone walls are a significant feature of island life with narrow roads and pathways connecting the various townlands and villages. Discover the pristine carpeted white sandy beach facing clear crystal turquoise water and plenty of fishing boats, their nets, and fisherman returning at the end of the day with their catch. The main village area is right next to the beach and is enclosed by a small hill with a castle and a fort at the top as if they are taking care of the islanders and its visitors. Meet some islanders and experience some local crafts with basket weaving, stone craft and the famous Aran Knit jumpers accompanied by a delicious lobster lunch and glass of crisp white wine.

For dinner this evening, we suggest visiting the nearby town of Clifden where we have some excellent restaurants to choose from, your guides will join you.

Overnight: Connemara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: Luxury Double
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6 - Thursday 1st May - The Burren National Park

This morning, we set aside a little time to visit Kylemore Abbey and Gardens before leaving Connemara and Galway behind and making our way south to Co. Clare.
As you enter the Burren landscape, you’ll quickly notice its otherworldly attributes. With endless lines of karst limestone rock dominating fields and covering hillsides, the area is said to have been an inspiration for JRR Tolkien’s world-famous Lord of the Rings trilogy. Visit a beef farm in the Burren and learn a little of the traditional farming methods that help shape and conserve the this unique landscape. Explore the original farm house and see how the Irish people used to live, survey the pre famine settlement where inhabitants lived on rockier ground and visit an ancient ring fort designed for defensive purposes enabling the Chieftain to guard his sheep.

Later you will head to the musical village of Doolin, where you’ll hop on a zodiac for an up close and personal exploration of the Cliffs of Moher. Far from the tourist crowds, learn the mythology and wildlife of this iconic site.

 

Overnight: Limerick | Adare Manor
Room Type: Stateroom King
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7 - Friday 2nd May - On Site at Adare Manor

Spend the day enjoying your surroundings at Adare Manor partaking in some of the onsite leisure activities this luxurious hotel resort has to offer. We start the day getting up close and personal with some of the resident birds of prey at Adare as you are introduced to a selection of raptors by their expert handlers. Owls, Falcons, Buzzard’s, Eagles and Hawks, your private falconry experience will be one to remember.

Following your time with the birds, settle into the beautifully appointed carriage for a meandering exploration of some of the 840 acres of pristine parkland. Your tour takes in some sweeping views of the lush countryside, memorable points of interest and fascinating and engaging tales of Adare’s long history.

The rest of the day is yours to indulge in some relaxation at the spa, perhaps go for a swim, take afternoon tea like the lords and ladies or indulge in an afternoon cocktail.
This evening you will enjoy a curated whiskey tasting, including some of the hotel’s private casks before checking out some of the local hot spots with your guide for dinner in the local village just outside your estate gates.

Overnight: Limerick | Adare Manor
Room Type: Stateroom King
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8 - Saturday 3rd May - Killarney National Park

In the southwest of County Kerry is an expanse of rugged, mountainous country that sweeps down to the world-famous Lakes of Killarney. Here, stretching across 10,000 hectares, lies Killarney National Park, with its unforgettable combination of mountains, lakes, woodland and waterfalls. Take a tour of the famed Killarney Lakes with Dux, your Kerryman skipper who has been sailing these lakes since he was a child with his family.
Alighting back on solid land, we leave the lakes behind and head to The Ring of Kerry where Sheen Falls Estate awaits.

There will be time later this afternoon for shopping and browsing in Kenmare Town.

Dinner this evening will be on site at Sheen Falls ward winning restaurant.

Overnight: Kerry | Sheen Falls Estate
Room Type: Estate Room
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9 - Sunday 4th May - Fishing at Sheen Falls Lodge

Between river and mountain, sea and sky, lies Sheen Falls Lodge, a luxury hideaway on Kenmare Bay. Some say fishing in Ireland is better than anywhere else. Nowhere is this truer than at Sheen Falls Lodge, where a fishing lodge has stood on these grounds for hundreds of years. Given the centuries-old connection to these lands, you won’t be surprised to learn that they hold exclusive fishing rights for the River Sheen, the tumbling river and waterfalls that lend their name to the five-star hotel.

Not fishing today, no problem. The Ring of Kerry is often used as a substitute name for the Iveragh Peninsula, but more properly it refers to the 175-kilometre road that encircles this vast, scenic leg of land on the southwest of the island. The crystal clear coastal waters and shores of Ireland have been providing its inhabitants with sustenance for a milenia. This morning, meet a local fisherman, forager, poet and gent John who will help you discover the many edible gems to be found among the nook and crannies with a unique seaweed foraging walk. After a delicious lunch in a nearby pub, take a spin out to the nearby Valentia Island, a step back in time. On the rugged and exposed elements of the southwest coast is Valentia Lighthouse, a beacon of safety to many a seaward traveller. There are even prehistoric fossilised footprints to discover.

For dinner this evening, we suggest a fantastic local restaurant in the nearby town of Kenmare.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: Estate Room
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10 - Monday 5th May - Farm Tour and Cheese Tasting

We love to offer our visitors the chance to partake in local and authentic experiences, meeting the people who call Ireland home and learning of their culture and history.

Today you will visit a farm in the lush green countryside where you will take a tour of the land, meet the herd, chat about all things agricultural with the farmer and partake in a special tasting experience using local produce and cheese made right there on the farm before retiring to Ballyfin Demesne where stone walls enclose 614 acres of parkland, a lake and ancient woods, delightful garden buildings, follies and grottoes.

Overnight: Laois | Ballyfin Demesne
Room Type: Stateroom
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11 - Tuesday 6th May - Ballyfin Demesne

Step back in time and take a guided tour on a horse & carriage which awaits you at the front door. The tour will take you around the pathways of the demesne with your guide highlighting the history of the estate.
Following your Horse & Carriage ride, an exclusive picnic experience with some excellent locations to choose from, such as the grotto, temple, by the water cascade, top of the tower or by the lake.

This evening, fun and laughter will accompany your dinner as you delve into frockage Heaven – where you will find a wonderful selection of 40 costumes along with a great selection of matching accessories. Your group will have great fun exploring the rails of beautiful costumes and selecting one to suit each individual. The onsite trained dressers will ensure you look the part for the evening and your selected costume will be delivered to your room. You are now ready to enjoy a splendid evening with a fine banquet and entertainment to make the most of the occasion.

Overnight: Laois | Ballyfin Demesne
Room Type: Stateroom
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12 - Wednesday 7th May - Laois to Belfast

Your private helicopter transfer today takes you north to the bustling city of Belfast, a city that is fast emerging as the next hot destination for the worldly traveller.
This afternoon, you will explore all things Titanic with vistis to the Titanic Museum, shipyard and site of her launch.

Standing high on the slopes of the Holywood Hills, overlooking Belfast Lough and the County Antrim Coastline, is the magnificent Culloden Estate and Spa, the most prestigious luxury five star hotel in Northern Ireland and your base for your final two nights in Ireland.

Dinner will be onsite at Culloden Estate with your guides.

Overnight: Belfast | Culloden Estate
Room Type: Estate Room
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 13 - Thursday 8th May - The Troubles

Delve into Belfast political history as you embark on a journey into the social and political conditions that led to the infamous ‘Troubles’ periods of Belfast’s history. Your guide is an award-winning author and historian who was a combatant during the ‘Troubles’ and also a political advisor during the post ceasefires and Good Friday Agreement periods.
Visiting sites such as Crumlin Road Gael, political murals, Shankhill and Falls Road and many other noteworth sites your guides insight into this troubling time is first hand and balanced.

Tonight enjoy a final dinner with your guides where you will toast your health, friendship, and what we hope was a memorable time together in Ireland.

Overnight: Belfast | Culloden Estate
Room Type: Estate Room
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 14 - Friday 9th May - Depart

Depart Belfast International Airport today or if preferred Dublin.

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More
  • All accommodation from Day 1 to Day 13 including a pre-night at The Merrion Hotel
  • Full board at Ballyfin Demesne
  • Breakfast and lunch daily including speciality lunches such as food & beer pairing, shellfish lunch, lobster lunch, and farm and cheese tasting.
  • All evening meals with your guides, wine/ beer included with meal.
  • Platinum Services on Arrival in Dublin
  • Services of two experienced and knowledgeable qualified guides from Day 1 to Day 13
  • Ground transportation in 2 high-end VW Transporters or similar from Day 1 to Day 13
  • Private Helicopter transfer Dublin to Galway
  • Private Helicopter transfer Laois to Belfast
  • Separate luggage transfers throughout.
  • All guided hikes and activities mentioned in the itinerary
    – Private historical walking tour Dublin
    – Private tour Trinity College
    – Audio Tour Book of Kells
    – Private Guinness Storehouse Tour
    – Private Gaelic Games Experience
    – Private Music and Dancing Experience Galway
    – Food and Beer pairing Galway
    – Shellfish Experience incl special lunch
    – Private Storyteller at Ballyfin
    – Flights to Aran Island ( Inis Oirr)
    – Private Crafters on the islands
    – Lobster lunch on Inis Oirr
    – Private Burren Farm Tour
    – Private Cliffs of Moher boat experience
    – Private exclusive whiskey Tasting Adare Manor
    – Falconry at Adare Manor
    – Horse and Carriage Experience Adare Manor
    – Private Killarney Lakes Boat Excursion
    – Sheen Falls Fishing or Foraging experience
    – Private Farm Tour and Cheese Tasting
    – Horse & Carriage Ride
    – Special Ballyfin Picnic
    – Ballyfin Costume Experience with photographer
    – Titanic Experiences Belfast
    – Private Belfast Troubles Guide
  • 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
Optional Upgrades Read More

Room upgrades are available upon request

Pricing Read More

Please note the cost of the above itinerary is €46,910 Euro per person

Our standard booking terms and conditions apply

Terms & Conditions Read More

Please see our booking terms here.