Thursday 24th October – Thursday 7th November 2024
Arriving in Dublin this morning, your guide will greet you at the airport and together you will journey north to Belfast, a two-hour transfer.
This afternoon you are free to rest before dinner or explore the city with your guide. Belfast is a city that is fast establishing itself as a bucket list destination and it is easy to see why. With many excellent restaurants and bars to choose from, there is a great musical and foodie scene in Belfast, combined with its history and involvement in the Troubles and there is no shortage of activity.
We recommend a visit to The War Memorial and Museum which provides a window on Northern Ireland’s key role in the Second World War and the impact of the war on its people. From the Belfast Blitz to the American presence, the Ulster Home Guard and the role of women and industries, find out what life was like during the war years.
Your guide will join you this evening to celebrate and toast your first night in Ireland.
Overnight: Belfast | The Merchant Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner
Today we explore Belfast’s connection and involvement in The Troubles, a 30-year-long violent conflict that took thousands of lives in Northern Ireland. We start with a unique Black Cab Tour of Belfast learning of the conflict from both the Catholic and Prodestant views while touring some of the political murals that are now designated art pieces.
Later in the afternoon there are options to vivit the Titianic Visitors Experience for a self guided tour, or a stroll through St Georges market, a historic open air market filled with local produce and wares.
Overnight: Belfast | The Merchant Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Leaving behind the city this morning we make our way to the famed Causeway coast, along one of the most scenic driving routes in Europe.
Along the way, we stop and meet a local guide for a special Emigrants Walk. Follow the footsteps of Irish migrants as they escaped the horrors of the Great Hunger and made their way to the new world. The walk is about 6km (3.7 miles) through the countryside which remains unchanged since famine times.
Later after a delicious local lunch, spend the afternoon exploring the Causeway coast including a visit to the famous Giants Causeway. Legend has it that an Irish giant named Finn McCool created a causeway to get across the Irish Sea to face his rival, the Scottish giant Benandonner. Following their fearsome meeting, Benandonner ripped up the causeway as he fled back to Scotland, leaving what you see here today.
Your accommodation this evening is Northern reland’s only 5-star B&B in the scenic town of Portrush.
Overnight: Portrush | Blackrock House B&B
Room Type: King
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Derry City is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples of Walled Cities in Europe. Built in the 17th century, the walls, approximately 1.5km in circumference, form a walkway around the inner city and provide a unique promenade with which to view the layout of the original town. Take a private guided tour of the city with your local expert and learn of the historical battles that Derry faced and how these 400-year-old walls offered a defence.
Visit the Peace Bridge and the Victorian Guildhall with its clock modelled on Big Ben before stepping into Saint Columb’s Cathedral, which was the first Cathedral built after the Reformation. It is the city’s most historic building containing displays of artefacts from the Siege.
Returning to the coast, we have a private Whiskey Tasting Experience at one of Ireland’s oldest distilleries to round off the day in style.
Overnight: Portrush | Blackrock House B&B
Room Type: King
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Glenveagh National Park lies in the heart of County Donegal, among the wild and rugged landscape of the Derryveagh Mountains. Its pristine habitats and protected wildlife, and its trails taking in the stunning Victorian Castle and Gardens along Lough Veagh, make Glenveagh the ideal escape for lovers of the natural world.
Explore Glenveagh National Park with your guide today with hikes and walks to suit all abilities and the weather. We recommend the walk from the visitor centre to the castle to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Derryveagh Mountains and Lough Veagh followed by a tour of the castle before indulging in tea and scones in the pretty tea rooms.
Check in the stunning Lough Eske Castle Hotel this evening for a truly memorable anniversary stay in one of the most picturesque counties in Ireland.
Overnight: Donegal | Lough Eske Castle
Room Type: Superior Deluxe
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
The Slieve League Cliffs are some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe, three times the Cliffs of Moher! Explore the little-visited cliffs on one of the several hiking trails – one of our favourites follows a little-known ancient pilgrimage path where the remains of a mass rock (an illicit church) stand, arriving at the top of the cliffs.*weather dependant
Later we visit a traditional little Donegal village and a local weaver who learned his craft at the tender age of 16 on a hand loom. This evening join your guide at a local restaurant for dinner and a toast to your final night together.
Overnight: Donegal | Lough Eske Castle
Room Type: Superior Deluxe
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Saying goodbye to the northern reaches of Ireland, we journey south and east to Dublin, your base for the next two nights and the start of your southern exploration. Your guide will take their leave of you at your city hotel and leave you to explore Dublin in the care of a local expert tomorrow.
Later this afternoon, make your way to our iconic Guinness Storehouse for a tour and tasting. We have some fantastic restaurant recommendations to make for you for Dublin from casual pub grub with traditional music to fine dining.
Overnight: Dublin 2 | The Green Hotel
Room Type: Classic King
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Happy Halloween!
This morning, meet a local walking guide for a historical tour 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.
The afternoon is yours to explore the capital city at your own pace, with some of our favourite activities being: a visit to the EPIC museum, a relaxing stroll through Stephen’s Green followed up with some shopping on the colourful Grafton Street, or one of Dublin’s most historic sights, Trinity College and Book of Kells.
You may wish to collect your rental at the end of the day so you can hit the road early tomorrow.
Overnight: Dublin 2 | The Green Hotel
Room Type: Classic King
Meals Included: Breakfast
With your car secured, it’s time to get out of the city and head south. Your days are yours to plan, stop, detour and explore as you wish however we have some fantastic suggestions and activities arranged for you along the way to help you discover the best of Ireland’s southern coast.
The first suggested stop today is the medieval town of Kilkenny – certainly one of our best-kept secrets! An artsy, colourful town, Kilkenny is home to local artists such as ceramics and other hand-made crafts found in the craft village. Probably the most impressive sight in town is Kilkenny Castle. One of the most fascinating castles in Ireland, we suggest you take a guided tour to learn about the massive restoration process behind the castle, following clues back through the years to restore the castle to its former glory. It is worth spending time walking around the tiny little back streets and cobbled alleyways with pretty coffee shops before moving on to Waterford this evening.
Overnight: Waterford | Faithlegg House
Room Type: Classic Double Garden Room
Meals Included: Breakfast
Waterford is a city with a strong mediaeval heritage. Joining a local for a private tour, as you stroll around the Viking Triangle you will step back in time and walk through a millennium of history. From ancient Ireland to the arrival of the Viking Regnall, the Norman invasion, and the marriage of Strongbow and Aoife, and how it changed the course of history for the next 800 years.
Later, you will also visit the world-famous Waterford Crystal Factory where you’ll enjoy an exclusive private tour and indulge in a delicious afternoon tea onsite.
Overnight: Waterford | Faithlegg House
Room Type: Classic Double Garden Room
Meals Included: Breakfast
The Waterford Copper Coast, a UNESCO Global Geopark, extends along the County Waterford coastline for 25km and is named after the 19th-century copper mines that lie at the heart of this spectacular stretch of cliffs. Oceans, volcanoes, deserts and ice sheets all combined to create the rocks, which provide the physical foundation of the natural and cultural landscapes of the Copper Coast.
There are many stops and sites of importance along the coastline including 460 million-year-old bedrock at Garrarus Strand, the mineral-rich diversity at Tankardstown, the geological garden at Bunmahon and of course the GeoPark Visitors Centre. Be sure to stop by the Cursing Stone while exploring the Geological Gardens, all will be revealed when you go there.
Check-in this evening is in your city centre hotel.
Overnight: Cork | The Imperial Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast
Spend today exploring your family roots and heritage, wherever that may take you.
If you are after some suggestions, we recommend a day in Cobh, a small picturesque town with links to the Titanic as her last port before she sailed for America. Formally called Queenstown, Cobh today has many attractions and not just for Titanic enthusiasts. Small colourful houses line the streets that cup a picturesque harbour while the impressive Cobh Cathedral dominates the skyline overlooking the town. If time allows, a visit and tour of the Jameson Distillery here is a must. Can you taste the difference between Busmhills and Jameson yet?
If you have some time in Cork City, we highly recommend visiting the English Market too, along with Cork Cathedral.
Overnight: Cork | The Imperial Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast
A foodie haven and the end of the Wild Atlantic Way, Kinsale is a bolthole for Ireland’s most culinary-minded, and its pretty harbour with mystical sea views is an idyllic place for an adventure. Historically a medieval fishing port, its spectacular waterfront setting, and candy-coloured houses, shops, and restaurants, make it a glorious blend of old and the new. You’ll embark on a delightful culinary journey where every bite tells a story of tradition, innovation, and local flavour. As your local guide regales you with stories of the town, enjoy fresh seafood, artisan cheeses, and vibrant produce sourced from nearby farms. Afterwards, enjoy a stroll through the village and a browse in the stores before heading back to your accommodation. *Vegetarian friendly
Overnight: Cork | The Imperial Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast
Leaving Cork, it is time to head back to Dublin and your final night in Ireland. To make the most of your journey we recommend stopping in the pretty little town of Cashel and touring the medieval Rock of Cashel, a hilltop complex featuring a ruined Gothic cathedral and 15th-century castle with sweeping views over the town and county below.
Return your rental and enjoy your last night in Dublin with a delicious meal and pint of Guinness.
Overnight: Dublin | The Davenport Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your time in Ireland has come to an end but we hope the memories live with you forever and we welcome you back to our shores once again.
All accommodation from Day 1 to Day 15
Meals as indicated above, breakfast daily, lunch while guided plus two evening meals
Services of an experienced and knowledgeable qualified guide from Day 1 to Day 7
Ground transportation from Day 1 to Day 7
Airport transfer on arrival
Car Rental for 7 days- Automatic, one drover, small SUV
All guided experiences and activities mentioned in the itinerary
– Visit N.Ireland War Museum
– Private Belfast Black Cab Tour
– Self Guided tour Titanic Museum
– Private Emigrants Walk Experience
– Causeway Coast sites
– Private Derry City Tour
– Bushmills Distillery Tour
– Glenveagh national Park
– Slieve league Hike
– Private Weaver Experience
– Guinness storehouse Tickets
– Private Dublin Walking Tour
– Private tour Waterford
– Private tour Waterford Crystal
– Private Kinsale Food Tour
Personalised trip design and delivery
Snacks throughout the trip ( guided)
All tips and gratuities for included experiences
24 hour in-country support.
Flights
Travel insurance
Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
Gratuities for the main driver guide
The per person cost for the above itinerary, based on two people sharing one room is €12,390
Thursday 24th October – Thursday 7th November 2024