SAMPLE- Ultimate Ireland Adventure

Day 1 - Welcome to Dublin

Arriving in Ireland, a private transfer will pick you up from the airport and whisk you to your boutique hotel in the city centre. Your room is held for you, so check-in is available on arrival. Today is yours to rest and relax or explore as you wish. Dublin is a compact city with a lot of museums and sights within easy walking distance of your central hotel. Grab a coffee and go for a stroll in the nearby Merrion Park, check out the National Gallery of Ireland or check out the Guinness Storehouse for that iconic Dublin Tour.

Please see the attached Recommended Restaurants list for Dublin.

*We recommend you check opening days and times prior to your arrival and prebook if necessary. 

Overnight: Dublin | The Merrion Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe King
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - History and Music

Start your day with a walking tour accompanied by a local private guide. See the Georgian-style Merrion Square, lush St. Stephen’s Green, as well as O’Connell Street, the site of the ‘1916 Uprising’ that led to Ireland’s independence in 1922. Enjoy a traditional pub lunch and perhaps a pint of Guinness before you explore more of the city’s hidden treasures. Join a local expert on a deep dive into the Dublin music scene. From U2’s recording studio to the busking corners of Grafton Street, where famous artists such as Glen Hansard and Damien Rice were discovered, your local expert knows all the hidden spots.

Overnight: Dublin | The Merrion Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Exploring Dublin

Enjoy a free day exploring Dublin. You may already have plans for your time today; however, if you are open to a suggestion, my favourite experience is a short taxi ride away: Kilmainham Gaol. Opened in 1796, the history and legacy of the gaol are intrinsically linked to that of Ireland, with names like Henry Joy McCracken, Robert Emmet and Charles Stewart Parnell forever linked with the building. For something a little more quirky, the National Leprechaun Museum is a world of Irish myth and legend. Not a children’s experience – the museum offers adult-only nighttime events which focus on the twisted tales of the country’s faeries.

*We recommend checking opening times and days in advance and pre-booking your tickets. 

Overnight: Dublin | The Merrion Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Galway Food Tour

This morning, meet your professional guide, who is also your driver. Travel to the West Coast, home to the Wild Atlantic Way and some of Ireland’s most stunning scenery. Arrive in Galway and meet a passionate local for an unforgettable culinary tour. Meet artisan producers, including cheese makers, chocolatiers, traditional family-run businesses and young entrepreneurs committed to showcasing the best Irish produce. Enjoy oysters, cheese, sushi, crab, doughnuts, strawberry tarts and local beer. (It’s safe to say there’ll be no need for lunch!) This evening, head into the wild, barren beauty of Connemara and settle into your welcoming hotel.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 5 - Connemara Shellfish Experience

Dominated by two mountain ranges, Connemara is exceptionally beautiful. To the southwest, the land breaks up into a myriad of tiny islands linked by causeways, slipping out into the ocean. With huge beaches, clear blue water and a rugged coastline, it’s a region shaped by the sea. This morning, visit a family-run shellfish farm to sail out onto the fjord and lift a string of mussels for hauling and harvesting. Afterwards, your guide will lead you on a short hike, delving into Irish history at a famine-era abandoned village. Head to a traditional pub this evening to enjoy a traditional music session and a seafood dinner.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6 - Sheepdogs & Perfume

After a leisurely breakfast, head farther south into Co. Clare. Our first stop today is a working sheep farm. Watch the brilliant sheepdogs work the flock as you chat to the local farmer about a life spent on the rugged west coast. Afterwards, visit the Burren Perfumery for a delicious lunch and behind the scenes tour. Taking its inspiration from Ireland’s wild landscapes, the Perfumery produces a wonderful array of perfumes, soaps and creams, and a visit to its tranquil space is sure to be the highlight of your trip. Tonight, arrive at your fabulous accommodation, where dining on-site is a real treat. Say hello to the donkeys, enjoy a walk in the gardens, and enjoy the quiet before turning in for a nightcap and a good night’s sleep.

Overnight: Clare | Gregans Castle
Room Type: Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7 - The Aran Islands

Today, spend your time exploring the Aran Islands: three distinctive, wild and remote isles that once held a position of great trading power in ancient Ireland. Now a bastion of traditional language, culture and music, they are as interesting as they are beautiful. On Inis Mór (the largest of the three) meet your guide, a fisherman-come-goat farmer and island native who will introduce you to his flock of adorable goats. Enjoy a private tour of his farm and come away laden with cheese and a wealth of local knowledge. Return to the mainland just as the sky blushes pink against the blue silhouette of the Connemara mountains.

Overnight: Clare | Gregans Castle Hotel
Room Type: Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8 - The Kingdom of Kerry

With acres of forest, mountains, parks, lakes and coastline to enjoy, not to mention pretty traditional towns and villages full of pubs and lovely restaurants –  you could easily spend a week in Kerry and still have more to do. Today, head to Kenmare and the 5-star Sheen Falls Lodge, our luxury base for the next few days. A horse and carriage ride is the perfect way to explore the estate, so climb aboard and take a trip back in time as you explore the countryside at a gentle pace. This evening, dine in the Lodge’s award-winning restaurant.

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

Day 9 - Unique Seaweed Foraging Experience

As you make your way into the southern part of the Ring of Kerry, the landscape becomes wilder and more rugged. At a secluded bay, meet a local foraging expert and storyteller who will take you on a wander along the shoreline. Enjoy some seaweed nibbles, including the flavoursome duilleasc and nori – the famous sushi roll wrapping. Afterwards, visit the home of one of Ireland’s most famous revolutionary political figures, Daniel O’Connell. Your guide will also take you to some of the best-known spots along the Ring of Kerry, a route which covers the perimeter of the Iveragh Peninsula’s stunning coastline. This evening, dine with the locals at the nearby village of Kenmare, where we are sure to find a cosy snug.

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

Day 10 - Killarney National Park

Accompanied by your guide, spend the day exploring the enchanting scenery of Killarney National Park. Ireland’s oldest park, Killarney stretches across 10,000 hectares and encompasses a stunning combination of mountains, lakes, woodland and waterfalls. Enjoy a tour of the famed Killarney Lakes with Dux, your Kerryman skipper, who has been sailing these lakes since he was a child. Explore Muckross Abbey, with its ancient and mystical yew tree growing in its centre and visit the Muckross Estate, home of lords, ladies and gentlemen. If you would prefer a more active afternoon, we can easily arrange a bike ride, horse riding or an afternoon hike with your guide.

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

Day 11 - Kerry to Cashel

There are not many 5-star hotels in Ireland that can boast views of an ancient historic site from its windows, a quaint village on its doorstep and a dedicated equine concierge service. However, Ireland’s newest addition to the high-end hotels list, Cashel Palace Hotel, welcomes you today with all of the above and more. This afternoon, wander through the quaint town of Cashel and enjoy some time exploring the antique craft stores. Later, join a local guide to visit the Rock of Cashel on a private behind-the-scenes tour. Have a casual dinner before enjoying an authentic traditional Irish music session.

Overnight: Cashel | Cashel Palace Hotel
Room Type: Main House Rock View Deluxe
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12 - Coolmore Stud & Pottery Workshop

Delve into Tipperary’s equine heritage with a visit to Coolmore Stud, widely acknowledged the world’s most extensive and most successful thoroughbred racehorse breeding operation. Afterwards, enjoy a lesuirelly lunch and channel your inner artist this afternoon with a visit to a local pottery studio where you will take to the wheel and throw your own piece of functional or impressionist art. Back at your hotel this evening, your dinner will be a thoroughly delicious fine dining experience.

Overnight: Cashel | Cashel Palace Hotel
Room Type: Main House Rock View Deluxe
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 13 - The Exclusive Ballyfin Demesne

This morning, head to the Ballyfin Demesne – an exclusive hotel set at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, where stone walls enclose 614 acres of beautiful landscape, including a lake, woodlands, follies and grottos. Enjoy exploring the eighty-foot library, relax in the French-inspired drawing room, soak up the grandeur of the saloon, or sink into the informality of the sun-filled conservatory (reached through a secret door hidden in a bookshelf). After settling in, explore the grounds and enjoy a lovely picnic. This afternoon, enjoy a historical tour of the house or an exhilarating private falconry experience.

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

Day 14 - Depart Shannon or Dublin Airport

After breakfast, your guide will transfer you to Shannon or Dublin Airport this morning, where your trip will conclude. Arriving with plenty of time to nip through security and find your gate, begin your journey home feeling refreshed and relaxed after a thoroughly enjoyable adventure exploring the crowning jewels of Ireland.

Meals Included: Breakfast