Explorer X - Stanley Family's Self Drive Trip to Ireland

Day 1 - Monday 10^th November - Céad míle fáilte

Arriving in Ireland today, a private transfer will meet you at arrivals and take you to the Dublin Heuston station for your train to Galway. Your hotel is centrally located and only a minute’s walk from the station so you can check in and settle. Known as the ‘town of the tribes’, Galway’s small centre of cobblestone streets and colourful storefronts is vibrant, fun and cosmopolitan. This evening join a local guide for some uniquely Irish fun – gather in a cosy pub for an intimate performance of traditional Irish dance before meeting a famous Galwegian storyteller. You’ll be transported back in time as you are immersed in ancient Ireland’s incredible myths and folklore.

Overnight: Galway | The Hardiman Hotel
Room Type: x1 Interconnecting Room
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Tuesday 11^th November - Sheepdog Demonstration in Connemara

This morning pick up your rental car and begin your journey to the next stop on your Irish road trip along the Wild Atlantic Way. Connemara is a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking region) known for its windswept landscapes of mountains, beaches and bog. Ballynahinch Castle is one of Ireland’s finest hotels, set in a private 700-acre estate of woodland, rivers and walks in the heart of Connemara, Co. Galway. You’ll pay a visit to one of our favourite friends, a working sheep farm where you will witness a live sheepdog demo. Experience these remarkable and intelligent collies who follow their owner’s commands using nothing but a whistle and hand signals, rounding the flock and transferring them from field to pen. An experience not to be missed.

*public times are 11am, 1pm & 3pm

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: x2 Classic Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Wednesday 12^th November - Diamond Hill & Kylemore Abbey

This morning you will meet a local guide for your first day of hiking, which takes you on a captivating 7km trail through Connemara National Park. As you climb a narrow pathway to the top of Diamond Hill, Connemara’s most iconic hilltop, enjoy stunning views from the mountains to the Atlantic. To one side, the silhouette of Connemara’s hills and mountains beckon, rugged and wild. On the other side, the sea glistens in the distance. Look just below, and you can out the turrets and towers of Kylemore Abbey, a gothic-style manor set amongst the slopes. You’ll visit this Benedictine monastery on your way back, set on 1,000 acres of mountainside with a beautiful walled garden. We suggest a local dinner in Clifden followed by some live music as a great way to round off the day.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: x2 Classic Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Thursday 13^th November - Traditional Baking Experience

Leaving the wild and rugged Connemara behind this morning, head further south towards County Clare, home to the famed Cliffs of Moher and the lunar landscape of the Burren. You’ll stop en route at a traditional farm where you will meet Evelyn and try your hand at making some traditional Irish scones. Continue to the quaint and colourful Doolin, known throughout the country for its Irish music sessions. Tonight we recommend settling in front of the fire at O’Connor’s and listening to a few tunes.

Overnight: Doolin | Doolin Inn
Room Type: x1 Double, x1 Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5 - Friday 14^th November - The Cliffs of Moher

Today you’ll meet local man Cormac, who will lead you on a walk along Ireland’s famed Cliffs of Moher, part of the UNESCO Global Geopark, a special region with outstanding geology. Visually stunning, the Cliffs Stand 702ft at their highest point and stretch for 5 miles along the Atlantic coast. Cormac is passionate about the history, geology and heritage of this area and holds a wealth of knowledge on the surrounding landscape. Take in the views, stop into the visitors centre, and most of all, take a family selfie for those at home before heading back to Doolin.

Overnight: Doolin | Doolin Inn
Room Type: x1 Double, x1 Twin

Day 6 - Saturday 15^th November - 4x4 Experience on Inis Mór

We hope the weather gods are on our side today as we head out to visit one of the remote islands that dot the Irish coastline. Inis Mór (Inishmore) is the largest of the three Aran Islands and our destination this morning. Explore the island with the aid of some off-road adventure vehicles as your local guides, Padraig and Aonghus bring you to all the off-the-beaten-track spots on the islands that only their 4×4 can reach. Learn of the Irish language spoken on the islands, the unique Irish culture and traditions of the local people, the flora and fauna that inhabit the islands and of course the filming site from the recent Banshees of Inisherin film!

Overnight: Doolin | Doolin Inn
Room Type: x1 Double, x1 Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Sunday 16^th November - The Guinness Storehouse

Enjoy breakfast this morning before you return to Galway, where you can drop back your car, and take the train to Dublin. Your adventure isn’t over yet as Dublin is yours to explore! Take a walk through the famous Temple Bar, the live trad. music spills out from many of the pubs and cafes along the cobblestoned streets. Stop for a beverage or two, checking out some musicians and buskers as you go, making your way to the iconic Guinness Storehouse for a late afternoon tour. From the moment you step inside this historic establishment, you’ll be immersed in the rich heritage of Guinness, tracing its roots back to its founding by Arthur Guinness in 1759.

Overnight: Dublin | The Davenport Hotel
Room Type: x1 Triple
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Monday 17^th November - Exploring Ireland's "Fair City"

This morning Kacey will take a taxi to Dublin Airport and Ashely and TJ will 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, Dublin Castle and 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. Your tour ends at the Book of Kells where you will enjoy a self-guided tour. Have dinner at one of Dublin’s many award-winning restaurants before ending the night in a cosy pub.

Overnight: Dublin | The Davenport Hotel
Room Type: x1 Triple Room
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 9 - Tuesday 18^th November - Depart

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