The Wolanski's Irish Adventure V3

Thursday 1st August – Thursday 8th August 2024

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

Overview

Picturesque coastal towns and villages, green pastoral fields, soaring cliffs, wild barren landscapes, the crash of the ocean, the laugh of a local. Ireland is romantic, authentic, a home away from home where both old and modern seem to cohabit seamlessly on a small island in the middle of the sea. Packed with history and tradition your days are spent exploring Ireland’s famous and off the beaten track sites of natural, cultural and ancient interest. A world renowned food scene means your evenings are spent dining in style and with the promise of a pub just around the corner, music and laughter are never far away. Your trip to Ireland will surprise and delight you but the people of Ireland will stay with you, long after your journey has taken you home.

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1 | Thursday 1st August | Welcome to Dublin, Exploring Self-Guided | Overnight: Dublin

Day 2 | Friday 2nd August | Falconry & Afternoon Tea at Ashford Castle | Overnight: Connemara

Day 3 | Saturday 3rd August | Exploring Connemara with a Local Guide | Overnight: Connemara

Day 4 | Sunday 4th August | Inishbofin with an Archaeologist | Overnight: Connemara

Day 5 | Monday 5th August | Galway Food Tour | Overnight: The Burren

Day 6 | Tuesday 6th August | Goat Farm Tour & Cheese Tasting & The Cliffs of Moher | Overnight: The Burren

Day 7 | Wednesday 7th August | The Burren | Overnight: The Burren

Day 8 | Thursday 8th August | Depart

Day by Day

Day 1 - Thursday 1st August - Welcome to Dublin, Exploring Self-Guided

Arriving in Ireland today, a private transfer will pick you up from the airport and whisk you into the city to your 5 star hotel. Check-in is at 3pm however feel free to leave your bags, freshen up, or have a bite to eat. Head out in the afternoon to enjoy all the city has to offer. We’ll give you plenty of recommendations to keep you busy throughout the day. This evening, enjoy dinner at one of Dublin’s many award winning restaurants before ending the night in a cosy pub.

Overnight: Dublin | The Merrion
Room Type: x1 superior king
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Friday 2nd August - Falconry & Afternoon Tea at Ashford Castle

After a leisurely breakfast, pick up your rental car and begin your journey west. Once described as “a savage beauty” by author Oscar Wilde, Connemara is a wild and windswept region that feels untouched by modernity. We’ve booked an afternoon tea for you at Ashford Castle. The long-established tradition of Afternoon Tea has been wonderfully preserved at Ashford Castle since 1868 – you’ll notice the original silver tea set displayed in The Connaught Room, which was presented to Lord and Lady Ardilaun to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in 1896. Afterward, you’ll discover the ancient form of falconry at the oldest established Falconry School in Ireland. After you have been introduced to your hawks you’ll set off into the magnificent woodlands to fly your hawks, as they follow you from tree to tree through the woods before swooping down to land on your gloved fist. A truly unique experience! Continue your journey into Connemara, a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking region) known for its windswept landscapes of mountains, beach and bog. Your home for the next three nights is Cashel House, overlooking the majestic Cashel Bay. Tonight dinner is included at your accommodation.

Overnight: Connemara | Cashel House
Room Type: x1 Junior Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 3 - Saturday 3rd August - Exploring Connemara with a Local Guide

This morning, you’ll make your way to the very southwest of Connemara, where you’ll meet a local guide to explore four islands connected by bridges, at the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht region. Immerse yourself in the everyday language of Irish spoken here, and marvel at the road signs and shop names in Irish. You’ll head to the seaweed centre, dedicated to the sea plant abundant along these shorelines, used globally in medical, beauty, and culinary industries. You’ll enjoy an indulgent seaweed bath before heading for lunch. Your guide will take you to a family-owned cottage and farm where you’ll meet local woman Tami, who prides herself in using local produce and raising her own animals. Finish off your day in a local pub with a creamy pint of Guinness before heading home.

Overnight: Connemara | Cashel House
Room Type: x1 Junior Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4 - Sunday 4th August - Inishbofin with an Archaeologist

After a hearty breakfast you’ll drive 30 minutes to the village of Cleggan to catch your ferry to Inishbofin. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and seals along the way! Today you will be joined by a local archaeologist and Irish gentleman for a walk around this fascinating island. Highlights include rugged cliffs, blowholes, Bronze and Iron Age ruins and the crumbling Cromwellian fort where ‘Don Bosco’, the infamous Spanish pirate was stationed in the 16th century. You’ll have a picnic lunch before heading back to the mainland. This evening we recommend the town of Clifden for dinner and some live music.

Overnight: Connemara | Cashel House
Room Type: x1 Junior Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5 - Monday 5th August - Galway Food Tour

After breakfast, it’s time to make your way further south to Co. Clare. You have a super scenic drive in front of you and en route, you’ll stop off in Galway city, known as the ‘town of the tribes’. The small centre of cobblestone streets and colourful store fronts is vibrant, fun and cosmopolitan. What better way to spend an afternoon here than a food tour? Stop off in the city and tantalise your taste buds with a delightful journey through Galway’s culinary scene. From artisanal cheeses, craft beers, to handcrafted chocolate, this will be a true feast for the senses. Your 18th century manor house hotel, Gregan’s Castle, is a former retreat for poets and authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Tonight enjoy a cool pint of Guinness by the fire before dinner at its award-winning restaurant.

Overnight: The Burren | Gregan's Castle
Room Type: x1 Premier Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6 - Tuesday 6th August - Goat Farm Tour & Cheese Tasting & The Cliffs of Moher

Today you will pay a visit to a charming, locally owned goat farm for an immersive tour and tasting. Meet and feed the tribe, visit the milking parlour, and learn about the history of goat farming in Ireland and the traditional methods used to care for them and produce award-winning goat cheese. You’ll witness the cheese-making process firsthand and enjoy a tasting of their full range of Irish cheeses, right there on the farm! Afterward, breathe in the fresh ocean air at one of Ireland’s most impressive natural sites – The Cliffs of Moher. We recommend taking a walk on the coastal route along the cliffs, passing through dramatic hinterland with inspiring views offshore to the Aran Islands. The area is teeming with wildlife and 20 different species of birds, including puffins, make this area their home.

Overnight: The Burren | Gregan's Castle
Room Type: x1 Premier Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Wednesday 7th August - The Burren

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. You’ll have lunch at a local tearoom followed by a visit to the adjoining Burren Perfumery where only natural and organic ingredients are used in production. It’s the oldest working perfumery in Ireland! For dinner tonight there’s a great little restaurant on the pier in a nearby village that we’d recommend.

Overnight: The Burren | Gregan's Catle
Room Type: x1 Premier Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Thursday 8th August - Depart

This morning it’s time to make your way to the airport for your flight home. We home your time in Ireland has been memorable and we look forward to welcoming you to our little island once again.

*We recommend flying home from Shannon airport.

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More
  • All accommodation from Day 1 to Day 8
  • Car rental from Day 2 to Day 8 (intermediate SUV – automatic)
  • Breakfast each morning
  • 2 dinners, 1 lunch
  • All guided hikes and activities mentioned in the itinerary, specifically;
  • Falconry at Ashford Castle
  • Afternoon Tea at Ashford Castle
  • Galway city food tour
  • Guided tour of Connemara & Seaweed Bath experience
  • Exploring Inishbofin with an archaeologist
  • Ferry tickets
  • Farm tour & tasting experience
  • Entry to the Cliffs of Moher visitor experience
  • Guided hiking in The Burren
  • Note: All experiences are private apart from visitor centre entry
  • Personalised trip design and delivery
  • Snacks throughout the trip
  • 24 hour in-country support from the Wilderness Team
Exclusions Read More
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Gratuities for guides
Notes Read More
  • All suggested accommodations and services are subject to availability at the time of booking
  • A 20% deposit is required before any accommodation and services will be confirmed
  • This quote is valid for 14 days from the date quoted, after this time pricing may be subject to revision
Pricing Read More

The price of this trip is €6,981 per person and is based on availability at the time of booking.

Terms & Conditions Read More

Please see our booking terms here.

Virtuoso

The Wolanski’s Irish Adventure V3

Thursday 1st August – Thursday 8th August 2024