Pro Travel International – Ireland Self Drive

Day 1 - Welcome to Dublin

Arriving in Ireland today, alight the ferry and take the short drive to your boutique hotel in the city centre where you can relax, check in freshen up and grab a bite to eat.

This afternoon head out 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. (G)

Overnight: Dublin | The Alex Hotel
Room Type: Classic King
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Killarney National Park

After breakfast, you will leave the city behind to begin your exploration of the Irish countryside. Your first destination is “The Kingdom” of County Kerry, where your hotel for the next three nights is within walking distance of Killarney National Park, and serves as a perfect home-base for you to discover some of Killarney’s most breathtaking mountains, lakes and waterfalls. Spend the afternoon walking a beautiful forest loop trail which hugs the edge of the expansive park lake, and takes you along its many historic sights including Victorian manor houses and castle ruins.

Overnight: Killarney | Cahernane House Hotel
Room Type: Lakeview Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - The Ring of Kerry

Into the southern part of the Ring of Kerry, the landscape becomes wilder and more rugged. At a secluded bay, join a forager, foodie expert, and true Irish gent for a seaweed discovery and tasting walk to uncover the Kerry coast’s edible gems. Together, discover how to sustainably harvest these sea plants, learning how they earned their reputation as a super-food. Enjoy a few nibbles of seaweed yourself, including the flavoursome variety, Duilleasc, which sustained the monks on Skellig Island, the rock pinnacles rising dramatically from the sea on the horizon, or Nori, the famous Sushi roll wrapping. Top your day off with a visit to the home of one of Ireland’s most famous revolutionary political figures before returning to your hotel this evening. (G)

Overnight: Killarney | The Lake Hotel
Room Type: Lakeview Double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - The Dingle Peninsula

The Dingle Peninsula is just to the north of Killarney yet feels a world away in its landscape, culture, and coastal beauty. This is Gaeltacht country where the Irish language is still widely spoken as a first language and its traditions remain strong. Take to the seas this morning with a wildlife expert as together you boat around Slea Head and the Blasket Islands, an abandoned archipelago famous for rich literary heritage and unique cultural insight about life in Ireland’s westernmost fringes. Spot seabirds and marine wildlife such as whales, seals and porpoises and dolphins. We recommend spending time in the bustling town of Dingle for the afternoon to enjoy a lunch, a pint, and of course any shopping in some of the wonderful locally run shops. (G)

Overnight: Killarney | The Lake Hotel
Room Type: Lakeview Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5 - North Kerry & The Cliffs of Moher

Spend the morning making your way up through North Kerry, where we’ll recommend a great beach walk along one of Kerry’s best-kept secret coastlines, as well as a few other great stops to make a leisurely day of it. Keep an eye out for dolphins and other marine wildlife as you cross the mouth of the mighty River Shannon. Crossing county borders, you will be introduced to County Clare in grand fashion with a visit to Ireland’s most-famous cliffs, the Cliffs of Moher, enjoying a walk along the dramatic cliff edge on a background of coastal panoramas. Your hotel is only a short drive from here in the charming and buzzing village of Doolin, renowned for its lively pubs and traditional Irish music sessions.

Overnight: Doolin | Doolin Inn
Room Type: Deluxe Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6 - The Burren National Park

The Burren’s rocky alien landscape is said to be the inspiration for Middle Earth in JRR Tolkien’s world-famous Lord of the Rings trilogy – and on your guided hike through this other-worldly region, it’s easy to see why! Home to a plethora of unique wildflowers, you will learn about the human history of the area dating back thousands of years. (G)

Overnight: Doolin | Doolin Inn
Room Type: Deluxe Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Cultural Day in Galway City

Galway is the capital of Ireland’s west – known as the ‘town of the tribes’ the small centre of cobblestone streets and colourful store fronts is vibrant, fun and cosmopolitan. Meet with a charismatic local guide today to get an in-depth look into one of the city’s many niche cultural identities, ranging from a food tour, craft-making and painting, military history, and Irish dancing, to name a few.  (G)

After a few hours exploring Galway city, its off to the wild of Connemara, your home for the next two nights.

Overnight: Connemara | Ardagh Hotel & Restaurant
Room Type: Seaview Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Inishbofin Island

On Connemara’s western edge lies the island of Inishbofin. Little visited due to its remoteness, the island is a distillation of the best of Connemara. Meeting a local archeologist , take in hidden coves, white sand beaches, open bogland, sea stacks and cliffs. Enjoy lunch of freshly caught local seafood overlooking the harbour,  a surprising treat in the middle of the day before returning to Clifden this evening.  (G)

Overnight: Connemara | Ardagh Hotel & Restaurant
Room Type: Seaview Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 9 - Connemara to Westport

This morning, before leaving Connemara, we recommend a visit to Kylemore Abbey, a Benedictine run Abbey with walled Gardens and a history that belongs on the big screen. Take a tour of the property, visit the tiny chapel buried in the woods and walked the magnificent gardens. There is even a chocolate shop on site before continuing on northwards to Westport.

Small enough to walk around, full of charming pubs, local restaurants, craft and boutique shops and a market square that is perfect for coffee and people watching Westport is the quintessential Irish town.

Overnight: Westport | Westport Plaza Hotel
Room Type: Superior King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 10 - Cycle the Great Western Greenway

Explore the Mayo coastline today, with a fantastic bike ride.  As part of a project to restore abandoned railway tracks, the Great Western Greenway was refurbished as a car-free cycling track. Pedal past rushing waterfalls, ancient ruins, megalithic tombs and scenic bridges on a canvas of coastal and mountain views as you learn how this fascinating prophecy came to be true. Enjoy as much of the 42 km Great Western Greenway as you’d like as we’ll arrange a return transfer back to town.

Overnight: Westport | Westport Plaza Hotel
Room Type: Superior King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 11 - Megalithic Sligo

Making your way into the northwest this morning, journey through time during an awe-inspiring encounter with Ireland’s ancient past. Meet your local guide enroute to the hills and make your way together to the oldest and densest concentration of tombs in Ireland. Walking through the rolling green hills, you’ll encounter an array of prehistoric monuments, including 35 passage tombs which date back over 5,000 years. We recommend a stop in Sligo town for lunch before continuing on to your best-for-last 5-star accommodation of your adventure: Lough Eske Castle. (G)

Overnight: Donegal | Lough Eske Castle
Room Type: Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 12 - The Slieve League Cliffs

Your final hike is also one of the most impressive. The Slieve League Cliffs are some of Europe’s highest cliffs, standing three times taller than the Cliffs of Moher. Take the little-travelled Pilgrim’s Path, a route used for Christian pilgrimages for centuries, up to the summit where you will get the chance to do something few visitors get to do: stand atop the edge of the Slieve League Cliffs. There are terrific views of the cliffs, the Atlantic Ocean, the mountains of Sligo and Donegal Bay. If you’re up for a short detour on your way back to your castle hotel, stop in the village of Ardara to meet local tweed-makers still practising their craft on a traditional handloom passed down for generations.

Overnight: Donegal | Lough Eske Castle
Room Type: Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 13 - Return to Dublin

After enjoying a relaxing morning at Lough Eske, it is time to leave the west coast and return to Dublin where you can overnight before your return ferry tomorrow.
Enjoy a final dinner in he capital and be sure to check out one of the local pubs known for their traditional music sessions.

Overnight: Dublin 2 | The Alex Hotel
Room Type: Classic King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 14 - Depart

Boarding your ferry today, we do hope your time in Ireland has been memorable and we once again have the opportunity to welcome to our shores.

Meals Included: Breakfast