Truffle Pig - Shultz Ireland Adventure

Day 1 - Sunday 11^th August - Welcome to Dublin

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 in the city centre. Check-in is at 3 pm however feel free to leave your bags, freshen up, or have a bite to eat. Head out in the afternoon to enjoy a walking tour with a private guide through the rich musical heritage of Dublin. Led by a knowledgeable local, you’ll stroll through the streets of Dublin and discover the stories and songs of the city’s most impactful musicians. From traditional Irish music to the sounds of rock, pop, and beyond, Dublin has been a melting pot of musical creativity for centuries. Along the way, you’ll visit iconic landmarks and venues associated with legendary artists such as U2, Thin Lizzy, The Dubliners, and more, hearing tales of their rise to fame and the lasting impact of their music on the city. 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 Hotel
Room Type: x1 Queen Room
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Monday 12^th August - Iconic Dublin

This morning, you’ll make your way to 14 Henrietta Street, a social history museum of Dublin life, connecting the history of urban life over 300 years to the stories of the people who called this place home. Work began on the street in the 1720s when houses were built as homes for Dublin’s wealthiest families. By 1911 over 850 people lived on the street, over 100 of those in one house – 14 Henrietta Street. Spend some time this afternoon exploring Ireland’s fair city – 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. This evening, pull up a stool and enjoy an intimate behind-the-scenes tasting experience at the Jameson Distillery.

Overnight: Dublin | The Merrion Hotel
Room Type: x1 Queen Room
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Tuesday 13^th August - Vintage Afternoon Tea

This morning, you’ll head out for some lunchtime fun! Take a step back in time with Vintage Tea Trips and experience Dublin in a unique way. Indulge in afternoon tea treats, and great conversation, and tap your feet along to some fabulous 1950s jazz while taking in the sights of the city. Board your vintage Routemaster bus in the historic Temple Bar. Soak up the nostalgia as your host gets the conversation started, the music begins, and a classic afternoon tea is served. Pass sights such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church, Trinity College, St. Stephen’s Green, Wood Quay, O’Connell Street, Phoenix Park, and the grand buildings of Georgian Dublin. This afternoon is free for you to spend how you like, indulge in the fantastic onsite facilities at your hotel, or continue exploring the vibrant and lively city of Dublin!

Overnight: Dublin | The Merrion Hotel
Room Type: x1 Queen Room
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Wednesday 14^th August - Bru Na Boinne & The West Coast

This morning pick up your rental car in Dublin city centre and make your way for a tour of the Neolithic historical site, Brú na Bóinne. The World Heritage Site of Brú na Bóinne is Ireland’s richest archaeological landscape and is situated within a bend in the River Boyne. Brú na Bóinne is famous for the spectacular prehistoric passage tombs of Knowth, Newgrange, and Dowth which were built circa 3200 BC. These ceremonial structures are among the most important Neolithic sites in the world and contain the largest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe. Continue West to Doolin, a picturesque village renowned for its traditional Irish music and charming atmosphere.

Overnight: Doolin | Doolin Inn
Room Type: x1 Townhouse Executive
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5 - Thursday 15^th August - Hiking in The Burren

This morning after a lovely breakfast to fuel you up, you’ll meet a local guide and set off for the Mullaghmore Loop Walk in The Burren. Its unique, striated limestone landscape was shaped by ancient seas and is famous for its Mediterranean and alpine wildflowers. The region is steeped in history as well, with over 2,500 historical monuments to be explored. 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! Options for dinner tonight include a Michelin-starred organic restaurant not far from your accommodation.

Overnight: Doolin | Doolin Inn
Room Type: x1 Townhouse Executive
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Friday 16^th August - Biking on Inis Mor

Today you will get to fully immerse into the culture of Inis Mór – its history goes back millennia and today Irish is still the daily spoken language of the inhabitants. Your guide will meet you at the ferry port and together you will rent some bikes to explore the breathtaking limestone scenery, cliffs, and prehistoric forts that dot the sprawling island.  Inis Mór is home to a prehistoric semi-circular stone fort and is best explored by bicycle. Stop for lunch at a locally sourced thatched roof cottage and take a leg stretch off the bikes by taking the short hike up the cliffside stone fort of Dun Aonghasa, before returning to your ferry in the late afternoon to return to the mainland.

Overnight: Doolin | Doolin Inn
Room Type: x1 Townhouse Executive
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Saturday 17^th August - Galway Food Tour & Connemara

After breakfast at Doolin Inn, you will drive around one hour to Galway, a charming Medieval-era city with a thriving arts scene.  What better way to spend an afternoon here than a delectable food tour? Stop off in the city and tantalise your taste buds with a delightful journey through Galway’s culinary scene. From artisanal cheeses, and craft beers, to handcrafted chocolate, this will be a true feast for the senses. From Galway, it is 1h30 further into Connemara, a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking region) known for its windswept landscapes of mountains, beach, and bog. For the next four nights, you are staying in the 4-star Delphi Lodge, built in the 1830s on the foot of Connaght’s highest mountains.

Overnight: Leenaun | Delphi Lodge
Room Type: x1 Lake View Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Sunday 18^th August - Inishlaken Island Landing

This morning you’ll make your way to Roundstone Harbour to meet local man Damien, a fourth-generation fisherman who has been around the sea all his life. As you explore Roundstone Bay by boat, look out for the resident seals, dolphins & Basking sharks! You’ll pass by the stunning beaches of Ervallagh, Gurteen & Dog’s Bay as you make your way to the deserted Island of Inishlacken. With its panoramic views, picturesque unspoilt beaches & pristine waters, this deserted island is the perfect place to stop off for a bespoke picnic lunch!  Inishlaken has long been a centre point for writers, poets & artists because of its unique setting. A once largely populated island with its own schoolhouse & lots of quaint cottages, the population dwindled & the last of the island’s residents left for the mainland. But where man has left, nature has flourished and the island is now home to a large variety of insects & birds, rabbits, resident goats, sheep & donkeys. Tonight we recommend sticking around Roundstone Village for a lovely seafood dinner.

Overnight: Leenaun | Delphi Lodge
Room Type: x1 Lake View Double
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9 - Monday 19^th August - Exploring Connemara

Located only a short drive from your accommodation is one of the most beautiful National Parks Ireland has to offer. The hills and mountains of Connemara are defined by the ocean surrounding them, and this is particularly evident at the beautiful Killary Fjord. Today you will explore this region self-guided, and we will give you plenty of recommendations including a famine-era abandoned village and a stunningly beautiful Abbey and Gardens.

Overnight: Leenaun | Delphi Lodge
Room Type: x1 Lake View Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 10 - Tuesday 20^th August - Inis Oirr Adventure

Connemara is home to the largest Gaeltacht (Irish Speaking Population) in Ireland, where an estimated 70% of the population speaks Irish as their first language on a daily basis. Oozing with culture and tradition, Connemara and the islands have a lot to offer. This morning you will meet your guide and take a flight to Inis Oirr, the smallest of the three Aran Islands. Enjoy the commanding views of the islands, Galway Bay, and the Connemara coastline before stepping into the wilderness. You’ll visit the island Arts Centre where you will get a glimpse of the island’s history, culture, heritage, and traditions and finish up doing a craft workshop with Máirtín, a local islander and expert craftsman. A feast of local seafood will be served for lunch, including Aran Lobster, before you embark on a tour of the island visiting the Shipwreck, Underground Church, and the 15th century O Brien’s Castle perched on the highest point of the island. Head back to the mainland this evening just in time to freshen up and grab a bite to eat.

Overnight: Leenaun | Delphi Lodge
Room Type: x1 Lakeside View
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 11 - Wednesday 21^st August - Westport Town

Leaving Connemara behind this morning, head further north into Mayo. We recommend stopping to explore the vibrant market town of Westport, which lies at the edge of the Wild Nephin wilderness and on the shores of Clew Bay, known for the hundreds of tiny islands created by glaciers millennia ago. A bustling regional hub and host to some of Ireland’s most musical pubs, arrive in town early to explore the colourful streets and visit some fantastic shops and artisans! Continue to Belmullet, a coastal village and Gaeltacht area, known for its idyllic, white sandy beaches, wind-swept coasts, and stunning cliffs.

Overnight: Belmullet | The Talbot Hotel
Room Type: x1 Junior Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 12 - Thursday 22^nd August - Atlantic Sea Safari

Amongst Irelands most hidden gems, the remote Inishkea Islands off the west coast of the Mullet Peninsula make for a truly amazing day out. These abandoned outcrops are home to sandy dunes, fertile grassy machair, long silver strands, and incredibly clear turquoise waters. You’ll take a 35-minute trip across the water and have a picnic on the beach, walk the abandoned ruins of the village, or hike to the signal tower at the highest point and take in the incredible views of the mainland. Watch the wildlife, which includes a thriving seal colony and a wide range of waders and seabirds. With no distractions on the islands to hurry you and nowhere to be, the Inishkea Islands Experience is the ultimate in stepping back in time and the perfect day out!

Overnight: Belmullet | The Talbot Hotel
Room Type: x1 Junior Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 13 - Friday 23^rd August - Exploring Belmullet

Today you will explore Belmullet self-guided. Belmullet is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with its stunning coastal scenery providing a backdrop for a variety of activities. The nearby Erris Head Loop Walk offers spectacular views of the rugged coastline, and for those interested in history, Belmullet offers historic sites such as ancient stone circles and megalithic tombs scattered throughout the peninsula. We’ll also recommend a visit to dramatic blow holes, where you can stand atop wild cliffs in this forlorn but breathtaking region.

Overnight: Belmullet | The Talbot Hotel
Room Type: x1 Junior Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 14 - Saturday 24^th August - Yeats Country

This morning, you’ll head east to Co. Sligo, or “Yeats Country,” so nicknamed since Ireland’s national poet W.B. Yeats drew great inspiration from Sligo’s landscapes and natural beauty. Drop off your bags and head out for a stroll along the banks of the Garavogue River, or visit Sligo Abbey, which offers a glimpse into the town’s medieval past. We recommend a visit to the oldest and densest concentration of Neolithic tombs in Ireland – Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery. Cap off your day with a delightful meal at one of the town’s seafood restaurants, or head to a cosy pub that was voted “Best Pub in Ireland” in 2023.

Overnight: Sligo | Riverside Hotel
Room Type: x1 Superking River View
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 15 - Sunday 25^th August - Depart

This morning, make the 40-minute drive to Knock Airport and catch your flight to London. We hope your time in Ireland has been memorable and we look forward to welcoming you to our shores once again.

*there are three flights today from Knock airport, 9.10am, 2.15pm and 6.30pm.

Meals Included: Breakfast