Explorateur - Dooner & Campbell - Final Information

Day 1 - Friday 16^th May - Welcome to Scotland

A private transfer will meet you on arrival at the airport and whisk you to your hotel in the centre of this cultural city.  You will have some time to settle in and relax or begin exploring the surrounding area.

Late afternoon you will discover another side of Edinburgh as you adventure down underneath the City on an underground tour of a warren of tiny fascinating streets dating from the 17th century.

Overnight: Edinburgh | The Bonham
Room Type: x2 Deluxe Kings
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Saturday 17^th May - Exploring Edinburgh

This morning immerse yourselves in the winding cobbled streets of historic Old Town Edinburgh as you enjoy a private walking tour with an expert local guide. Discover the highlights of this unique capital city from the Palace of Holyroodhouse all the way up the ‘Royal Mile’ to the mighty ancient fortress which is Edinburgh Castle itself. Walk the ramparts atop castle rock and hear the tales of the One O’Clock gun and the stories of locals of times past. Your guide will leave you here so that you can spend as much time in the castle as you wish.

You then have a free afternoon to continue explorations at your own pace, pick up souvenirs or relax as you prefer.

Overnight: Edinburgh | The Bonham
Room Type: x2 Deluxe Kings
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Sunday 18^th May - Into the Heart of the Highlands

This morning you will meet your main guide (who will also be your driver), and together you will make your way into the heart of the Highlands.  On route you will stop at Dalwhinnie Distillery, Scotland’s highest distillery which prides itself on producing gently warming spirits in the coldest and harshest of conditions. Here you can enjoy a true Scottish welcome with a tour of the picturesque distillery and a special chocolate paired tasting.

As you continue through the stunning Cairngorm National Park, there are plenty of places to stop and enjoy a short hike with your guide.  From hidden lochs, and ancient pine forests to rugged hills, you are sure to find a place of peaceful tranquility.

Overnight: Inverness | Rocpool Reserve Hotel
Room Type: x2 Chic Packages
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Monday 19^th May - Loch Ness and Eilean Donan

Today enjoy some fabulous scenery as your guide drives you to the Isle of Skye. Pass the deep waters of Loch Ness and through steep sided mountain glens on the way. Stop to explore the elegant Eilean Donan castle, set out on the water on a private island, surrounded by majestic scenery. You will then continue onwards, passing over the graceful arc of the Skye Bridge onto ‘the misty isle’ itself and carrying on to your lovely hotel in the town of Portree.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Portree | Marmalade Hotel
Room Type: x2 Premier Double Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Tuesday 20^th May - Exploring Skye & Dunvegan Castle

This morning, set off with your guide to explore the breathtaking Trotternish Peninsula, home to the dramatic Quiraing. Your guide will tailor the experience to suit your interests. Discover the towering rock formations, hidden plateaus, and sweeping views of rolling hills, shimmering lochs, and distant islands. Along the way, your guide will share fascinating stories about the area’s geology, history, and folklore.

If time allows, visit Dunvegan Castle, a Hebridean fortress which has been home to the same family for over 800 years. Learn about the family ancestry and stroll around the formal gardens, perhaps pausing for a home bake and cup of tea, all the while admiring the stunning views and discovering the history as you explore the corridors.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Portree | Marmalade Hotel
Room Type: x2 Premier Double Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Wednesday 21^st May - Transfer to Glencoe

Today take the ferry back to the mainland and drive the scenic road, from the white sands of Arisaig and the mountain glens. Stop at Glenfinnan to admire the Viaduct and hear about the Jacobite history behind the monument and the ‘Lone Highlander’ on top. Your guide will then take you onwards to Glencoe and your unique hotel with incredible views over this historic landscape.

On your final night in Scotland, unwind with a wee dram of whisky in a traditional climbers pub and listen to local legends and fascinating tales of the dark past of Glencoe told by a local storyteller.  Sit back, relax and reflect on the unforgettable landscapes, captivating stories, and cherished experiences, letting the magic of the Highlands leave its lasting mark.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Glencoe | Kingshouse Hotel
Room Type: x2 Feature Kings
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Thursday 22^nd May - Scotland to Dublin

Leaving Scotland this morning, your guide will take you to the Airport in time to catch your flight.  Taking with you memories that will last a lifetime. Upon your arrival in Ireland, a private transfer will pick you up from the airport and whisk you into the city to your 5-star central hotel. Check-in is at 3 pm however, feel free to leave your bags, freshen up, or have a bite to eat before heading out to explore the city. The rest of today is free for you to enjoy as you wish. We have some great recommendations for experiences and restaurants for you, or simply enjoy your hotel and its amenities, including its dining options.

Booking ref: 438265179

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Dublin 2 | Leinster Hotel
Room Type: x2 Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Friday 23^rd May - Explore Dublin

Today, you get to explore some of Dublin’s highlights and hidden gems. You start with a fantastic walking tour with a local private guide through this vibrant capital city, with its mix of 1,000 years of architecture from the medieval 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. Finish your tour near Trinity College and The Book of Kells, where you can join a campus group tour and self-guided audio Book of Kells Experience. After a little lunch, you go the short distance to the Little Museum of Dublin for a private tour.

Overnight: Dublin 2 | Leinster Hotel
Room Type: x2 Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 9 - Saturday 24^th May - Dublin to Galway - Glass Cutting

This morning your private tour guide will meet you at your hotel and take you cross country to the town and county of Galway. Galway is a bohemian town, full of art and artisans, crafters and performers. Just outside the city, you will stop at a family-run crystal factory. Glass cutting in Ireland is part of a vibrant artistic tradition and you will have the chance today to meet the master glass cutter as they craft a personalised item for you. With its cobbled pavement and street performers, Galway is the West Coast’s most vibrant urban centre and a great place to visit. You’ll have lunch in one of our favourite restaurants in the city centre before heading to your final destination, the stunning Delphi Lodge.

Overnight: Leenaun | Delphi Lodge
Room Type: 2 x Lake View Double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 10 - Sunday 25^th May - Connemara National Park

This morning, it’s a 45-minute drive through the windswept Twelve Bens Mountain Range to Killary, Ireland’s only fjord. Start the day with a sheep-herding demonstration at a local farm, and you’ll have the opportunity to cut peat from the bogs – a method that’s been used to harvest fuel in these parts for aeons. Take a stroll along the abandoned Famine Trail and hear stories of the people who emigrated en masse due to the harsh conditions they found themselves in. After your walk, spend a little time in the nearby village of Clifden, where you have the opportunity to browse the craft shops perhaps picking up a memento or two for home. On route back to your hotel, be sure to stop at the stunning Kylemore Abbey. Tour the house and walled gardens and be sure to stop by the cafe and gift shop.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Leenaun | Delphi Lodge
Room Type: 2 x Lake View Double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 11 - Monday 26^th May - The Cliffs of Moher

Leaving Galway, we make our way south, into the county of Clare, home to one of Ireland’s most enduring visitor attractions, the Cliffs of Moher. En route, we stop in Galway, a charming Medieval-era city with a thriving arts scene. A local expert will join you in Galway for a historical walking tour. Continue on to the Cliffs of Moher, towering over the Atlantic Sea on the rugged west coast, the cliffs are not only dramatic but also home to thousands of seabirds during the spring and summer months. On a clear day, the views are tremendous, with the Aran Islands etched on the waters of Galway Bay. Explore the visitor’s centre and take a walk along the pathways and viewing points for some of the most breathtaking scenery you will experience in Ireland.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Spanish Point | Armada Hotel
Room Type: 2 x Classic Doubles
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 12 - Tuesday 27^th May - The Aran Islands

We hope the weather gods are on our side today as we head out to visit one of the remote islands that dot the Irish coastline. Inis Mor (Inishmore) is the largest of the three Aran Islands, and our destination this morning. Explore the island with the aid of some off road adventure vehicles as your local guides, Padraig and Aonghus bring you to all the off the beaten track spots on the islands that only their 4×4’s can reach. Learn of the Gaelic language spoken on the islands, the unique Irish culture and traditions of the local people, the flora and fauna that inhabit the islands and of course the filming site from the recent Banshees of Inisherin film!

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Spanish Point | Armada Hotel
Room Type: 2 x Classic Doubles
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 13 - Wednesday 28^th May - The Dingle Peninsula

The county of Kerry is made up of four peninsulas, The Kerry Head, The Beara, The Iveragh and probably its most well-known,  The Dingle Peninsula and your destination today. Following a relaxed Irish breakfast hit the road to explore the beautiful Dingle Peninsula. This is Gaeltacht country where the Irish language is still widely spoken as a first language and culture and traditions remain strong. Tour around the peninsula visiting a fascinating array of ancient sites including Iron Age forts, beehive huts, inscribed stones, and historical churches. The Peninsula culminates at the dramatic Slea Head—Europe’s most western point.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Killarney | Cahernane House Hotel
Room Type: x2 Superior Room, Garden Wing
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 14 - Thursday 29^th May - The Ring of Kerry

After a leisurely breakfast this morning, the day ahead is fully dedicated to exploring The Ring of Kerry, a route which covers the perimeter of the Iveragh Peninsula’s stunning coastline, beaches, mountains, and hidden lakes. Spend the day stopping along our favourite hidden-gem beaches, visiting the birthplace of Ireland’s most prominent rebel figure, and admiring the dramatic, rapidly changing landscapes.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Killarney | Cahernane House Hotel
Room Type: x2 Superior Room, Garden Wing
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 15 - Friday 30^th May - Ireland to London

Departing from Dingle this morning your guide will take you to the Airport in time for your flights to London.

On arrival at London Airport, you will be met by a private transfer driver who will whisk you to your hotel in the centre of Knightsbridge.  You are free to settle in and relax or head out to explore the surrounding area.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: London | Knightsbridge Hotel - Firmdale - London
Room Type: x2 Deluxe Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 16 - Saturday 31^st May - A Free day in London

Today you have a full free day to spend entirely as you wish. Take in some of the iconic sites from The Houses Parliament, Buckingham Palace to the iconic London Eye.  Maybe make the most of the shopping opportunities, or head to one of the world-class galleries or museums. The choice is yours!

Overnight: London | Knightsbridge Hotel - Firmdale - London
Room Type: x2 Deluxe Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 17 - Sunday 1^st June - Depart

A private transfer will collect you from your accommodation and take you to London Heathrow Airport to make your onward connections. Waving farewell for now but taking with you special memories and wonderful stories of your explorations.

Meals Included: Breakfast