LuxuryBound - Alexander & Capp

Day 1 - Thursday 26^th June - Céad míle fáilte

Céad míle fáilte! One hundred thousand welcomes to Ireland’s ‘Wild West’, a region of immense beauty, ancient history, and Irish tradition. This morning, your guide will meet you at Shannon Airport and transfer you to Connemara, once described as “a savage beauty” by author Oscar Wilde. Check into Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, once owned by an Indian Raj, this traditional hunting lodge has seen presidents and dignitaries grace its halls and rooms for generations. Today, surrounded by thousands of acres of estate land and forests, Ballynahinch boasts fine dining, a traditional pub, on-site fly fishing and a remote escape in the wilds of Connemara.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: Luxury Twin
Meals Included: Lunch

Day 2 - Friday 27^th June - Inislaken Island

This morning your guide will take you 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.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: Luxury Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3 - Saturday 28^th June - The Wilds of Connemara

This morning it’s a 45-minute drive through the windswept Twelve Bens Mountain Range to Killary, Ireland’s only fjord. Start the day with a visit to Kylemore Abbey, a haven of history, beauty, and serenity and home to a Benedictine order of Nuns for the past 100 years. From there, walk an abandoned famine route along the southern shoreline of the fjord. After a pit stop at a local café for lunch, your guide will transfer you back to Ballynahinch Castle. You will have some free time to enjoy the estate this afternoon – go fly fishing, have a massage, or simply kick back with a book by the river.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: Luxury Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Sunday 29^th June - Galway City

After breakfast at Ballynahinch Castle, you will be transferred around 1.5 hours to Galway, a charming Medieval-era city with a thriving arts scene. A local expert will join you in Galway for a historical walking tour. After lunch, there will be some free time to explore, do some shopping or people watching at the city’s iconic Tigh Neachtain pub. From Galway, you’ll continue on to Dromoland Castle, welcoming guests since the 16^th century and ancestral home of the O’Briens of Dromoland, whose lineage dates back 1,000 years to Brian Boru, one of the last High Kings of Ireland.

Overnight: Newmarket On Fergus | Dromoland Castle Hotel
Room Type: Queen Ann Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Monday 30^th June - The Burren

Spend a relaxing morning onsite at Dromoland Castle today before heading into the heart of the lesser-known Burren National Park, and the jewel in the crown of West Ireland. The otherworldly exposed limestone landscape contains a fascinating mix of wildflowers, wildlife, geology, and ancient tombs. Visit a local farmer and enjoy a private viewing of their sheepdog demonstration, an exhilarating display of absolutely adorable and keenly intelligent dogs. Afterwards, you’ll visit Poulnabrone Dolmen. Dating back over 5,000 years, this Neolithic portal tomb is one of the most iconic and well-preserved megalithic monuments in Ireland. End your day at Ireland’s most famous cliffs, the Cliffs of Moher, where you can take a selfie for those back home!

Overnight: Newmarket On Fergus | Dromoland Castle Hotel
Room Type: Queen Ann Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Tuesday 1^st July - Killarney National Park

This morning you will bid farewell to Co. Clare and make your way to “The Kingdom” of County Kerry, with your first destination being the county’s crown jewel. Killarney National Park is the most famous of Ireland’s national parks – and with good reason, as it is flourishing with breathtaking mountains, lakes and waterfalls. Historic manor houses and abbeys make for an interesting visit but Killarney is best explored via the water with a private boat trip across the lake with Kerryman, Dux. Afterwards, your guide will lead you through the grounds and gardens of Muckross House, a 19th-century mansion set upon the shores of the glistening lake. You’ll then head further south to Kenmare & The Park Hotel.

Overnight: Kenmare | Park Hotel Kenmare
Room Type: Deluxe Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Wednesday 2^nd July - Relax in Kenmare or Explore The Ring of Kerry

Nestled between the Caha Mountains and the McGillicuddy Reeks, The Park Hotel is the ultimate place for you to relax and unwind. The Park offers a host of onsite activities that you can partake in including spa facilities, yoga, golf, fishing and cycling. We are more than happy to make reservations for you in advance.

If you prefer to continue your exploration of the region with your guide, we suggest spending the Day on The Ring of Kerry or Iveragh Peninsula. As a driving route, the Ring of Kerry allows you to experience breathtaking landscapes, charming villages, and a rich tapestry of Irish culture along one of the most scenic drives in the world. The diverse views—from rugged coastlines to lush mountains—make it a perfect destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike.

Overnight: Kenmare | Park Hotel Kenmare
Room Type: Deluxe Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Thursday 3^rd July - The Skellig Islands

Today, it’s a one-hour drive to the start of your boat excursion to the Skellig Islands. First, you’ll visit Skellig Michael, a World Heritage Site settled by Culdee hermits, and then it’s on to neighbouring Little Skellig, a protected wildlife reserve and nesting grounds for puffins, gannets and arctic terns.  You will disembark at Skellig Michael to visit the ancient oratory, graveyard and beehive huts and you’ll visit the bird colonies by boat. You’ll be among the lucky few, as only a limited number of visitors are permitted to visit each day.

Overnight: Kenmare | Park Hotel Kenmare
Room Type: Deluxe Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9 - Friday 4^th July - To Dublin

After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll bid farewell to Ireland’s west and your guide will take you to Ireland’s capital, Dublin. Dublin has been described as a ‘city with a village feel’; as you explore its cobbled streets and historical monuments, it will be easy to see why. Your private driver/ guide will leave you to discover Dublin unguided with the assistance of some expert local Dublin experiences and guides.

The afternoon is free for you to relax at your hotel or explore, many of Dublin’s highlights are within walking distance and indeed you will discover it is in the act of wandering from one to another where you will soak up Dublin’s authentic atmosphere. We recommend a walk down Grafton Street where musicians and buskers entertain with modern and traditional music.

Overnight: Dublin | The Westbury Hotel
Room Type: Westbury Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 10 - Saturday 5^th July - Ireland's Fair City

Head out this morning 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 medieval 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 walking guide is also a historian who will bring the city to life with colourful tales of life in the city in times gone by. Your tour will end at Trinity College where you will join a public guided tour of the campus, discovering some of the secrets and famous pupils who graced its halls and quads before making your way to the Old Library for an audio tour of the Book of Kells with its new immersive digital experience.

Overnight: Dublin | The Westbury Hotel
Room Type: Westbury Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 11 - Sunday 6^th July - An Irish Goodbye

We recommend a visit to St Stephen’s Green this morning, a historic park and gardens in the centre of Dublin. Grab some coffee and pastries and stroll the gardens and monuments in the bright morning sunshine. This evening, why not visit The Jameson Distillery and enjoy a tour and tasting of the famous whiskey or indeed, The Guinness storehouse is always a firm favourite and a great way to end your trip.

Overnight: Dublin | The Westbury Hotel
Room Type: Westbury Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 12 - Monday 7^th July - Depart

This morning, a private transfer meet you in the lobby of your hotel and take you to the airport for your flight home. We hope your time in Ireland has been memorable and we look forward to welcoming you to Ireland once again.

Meals Included: Breakfast