Remarkable Journeys- Marcus Tibesar & family Ireland V2

Day 1 - Thursday 10^th October - Welcome to Dublin

Arriving in Ireland today, we recommend you pick up you can rental this morning so that you can hit the road early on Saturday.  The drive into the city should take about 20/25 minutes. Alternatively we can arrange a private airport transfer and you can pick up your car in a couple of days.

Check in may not be available till later today however, you are welcome to leave secure your bags, freshen up, grab a bite to eat and head out to start exploring the city. There is no better introduction to Ireland than with a tour of The Guinness Storehouse, followed by a pint ( soft drink) in their sky bar with commanding views over the capital city and beyond.

Within easy walking distance of your hotel are a host of museum’s including The Natural History Museum where examples of Ireland’s Celtic and Viking artefacts are on display. You have the leafy St Stephens Green, pedestrian shopping streets and Trinity & The Book of Kells.

Overnight: Dublin 2 | The Alex Hotel
Room Type: Suite consisting of one bedroom and one living room 2 x roll away beds

Day 2 - Friday 11^th October - Exploring Dublin

Head out this morning 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. This afternoon you are free to explore the city – Dublin is best explored on foot or using public transport such as the LUAS, our light rail system. Many of Dublin’s highlights are within walking distance and indeed you will discover it is in the act of wandering from one to another where you will soak up Dublin’s authentic atmosphere.

Overnight: Dublin 2 | The Alex Hotel
Room Type: Suite consisting of one bedroom and one living room 2 x roll away beds
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Saturday 12^th October - Rock of Cashel

Leaving Dublin, its time to head out west, to where the roaring wild Atlantic Ocean meets the tide scarred shores of Ireland. Your destination this evening is the quaint little town of Kenmare along the Ring of Kerry.

On route to Kerry, we recommend stopping in the little town of Cashel and taking a tour of the imposing Rock of Cashel. Set on a dramatic outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale, the Rock of Cashel, iconic in its historic significance, possesses the most impressive cluster of mediaeval buildings in Ireland. Among the monuments to be found there is a round tower, a high cross, a Romanesque chapel, a Gothic cathedral, an abbey, the Hall of the Vicars Choral and a fifteenth-century Tower House.

Overnight: Kenmare | Brook Lane Hotel
Room Type: 2x Interconnecting Standard rooms, one double one twin
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Sunday 13^th October - Explore The Ring of Kerry

Today a local guide will meet you at your hotel and together you will travel to the southern shores of the Iveragh peninsula, also known as The Ring of Kerry, where you will meet one of our favourite characters. A fisherman, foraging expert, storyteller and a true Irish gent, John, will take you on a wander along the shoreline learning about life on Ireland’s west coast all the while regaling you with tales of characters from the region, from lonely monks to 18th century civil rights activists to mythical heroes.

Take some time today to tour The Ring of Kerry with your guide stopping at picturesque bays and harbours and points of interest along the way before returning to you hotel in Kerry this evening.

Overnight: Kenmare | Brook Lane Hotel
Room Type: 2 x Interconnecting Standardrooms one double and one twin
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5 - Monday 14^th October - 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 who’s furry friends join him daily.
Before leaving Killarney we suggest you step back into the past on Muckross Traditional Farms and visit a very different Ireland – the Ireland of the 1930s and 1940s. Then, a trip to the well was still a daily chore for the housewife and electricity had yet to be introduced to the countryside.

Leaving Killarney, your destination this evening is the lively town of Dingle.

Overnight: Dingle | Castlewood House
Room Type: Superior King, Single and Rollaway bed
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6 - Tuesday 15^th October - Dingle & Falconry

Spend today exploring the Dingle Peninsula, and there is much to discover. Take an exhilarating Sea Safari and do a spot of dolphin and whale watching, strap on the boots and take to the hills and trails for a hike, grab some takeaway coffees and browse the local stores or take the famous Slea Head Drive route along the Wild Atlantic Way with ancient archeological sites, like the Fahan Beehive Huts. The peninsula delivers breathtaking views around every corner. Be sure not to miss my personal favourite,  Dunquin Harbour ( pictured). Round off your day with some award-winning ice cream and today is going to be a perfect day.

Overnight: Dingle | Castlewood House
Room Type: Superior King, Single and Rollaway bed
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Wednesday 16^th October - Burren Sheep Farm & Cliffs of Moher

We take to the road again today, leaving Dingle and Kerry, crossing the Shannon River and entering Clare. Head into the heart of The Burren to meet with a local farming couple for a guided experiential tour of their farm. Discover how a real Irish farm works and learn about the ancient agricultural practices unique to the Burren’s landscape, before settling in with a home-grown picnic lunch among the fields.

Use the quiet of the afternoon to visit Ireland’s famed Cliffs of Moher, part of the UNESCO Global Geopark, a special region with outstanding geology. Visually stunning, the Cliffs Stand 702ft at their highest point and stretch for 5 miles along the Atlantic coast. Take in the views, stop into the visitors centre, and most of all, take a family selfie for those at home before heading for Doolin.

Be sure to pick up some breakfast provisions and snacks on route!

Overnight: Doolin | Traditional Irish Cottage
Room Type: We suggest either Russel Cottage or Elfin Cottage
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Thursday 17^th October - Aran Island

It’s hard to resist the allure of one of the many islands that dot the Irish coastline and today you will take to the water and ferry to The Aran Islands. The history of these islands goes back millennia and today Gaelic is still the daily spoken language of the inhabitants. The Aran islands seem to defy their size by all they have to offer: breathtaking scenery, medieval castles, cliffs and prehistoric forts are all to be found on this little group of islands. Inis Mór, the largest of the three islands, is your destination today where you will meet two brothers who offer a unique off road tour of the islands.

Overnight: Doolin | Traditional Irish Cottage
Room Type: We suggest either Russel Cottage or Elfin Cottage
Meals Included: None

Day 9 - Friday 18^th October - Clare to Dublin

Today you leave Doolin and the wild Atlantic coastline behind you making your way back to where it all began, Dublin, coast that is not the city.
Before departing Doolin, we highly recommend an underground adventure at Doolin Caves, home to Ireland’s largest Stalactite. A firm family favourite the hour long tour sees you passing through caves and under overpasses, deep underground in a magical limestone wonderland. The girls will love it!
Drive cross country to the coastal fishing village of Howth and your final night in Ireland. With so much relatively unspoilt upland, cliff, coastal and beach territory, Howth is the perfect location for a final night dinner and drink overlooking the picturesque harbour. We recommend the fish and chips with mushy peas!

Overnight: Howth | King Sitric
Room Type: Deluxe Room - Second Floor. Double bed Sofa bed used for the girls, with 2 single duvets
Meals Included: None

Day 10 - Saturday 19^th October - Depart

Drop off car at 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