The Kennedy's Irish Adventure

Mitch & Jennifer

Friday 7th February – Wednesday 19th February 2025

Number of Travellers: 2
Duration: 13 Days / 12 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, and 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. V2

Day by Day

Day 1 - Friday 7th February - Céad míle fáilte

Céad míle fáilte, or one hundred thousand welcomes, to Ireland’s capital, Dublin! 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 3 pm however feel free to leave your bags, freshen up, or have a bite to eat. Today is open for you to explore more and Dublin is best explored on foot or using public transport such as the LUAS, our light rail system. 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. Enjoy a local pub lunch and spend the rest of your afternoon taking in some of Dublin’s sights.

Overnight: Dublin | The Westbury
Room Type: x1 Westbury King
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Saturday 8th February - Ireland's Fair City

There is no better introduction to Dublin than 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. Finish the day in one of Dublin’s many award-winning restaurants.

Overnight: Dublin | The Westbury
Room Type: x1 Westbury King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Sunday 9th February - The Wilds of Connemara

Meeting your private guide in the lobby of your hotel, this morning you journey cross country, to the County of Galway, home to Connemara National Park along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. En route, you will visit a family-run crystal factory. Glass cutting in Ireland is part of a vibrant artistic tradition and you will have the chance today to meet the master glass cutter as they craft a personalised item for you.. As you continue to the coastal regions, feast your eyes upon the breathtaking expanses of Connemara, once described as “a savage beauty” by author Oscar Wilde. Check into Ballynahinch Castle, 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: x1 Riverside Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Monday 10th February - Inishlaken & Roundstone Bay

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: x1 Riverside Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Tuesday 11th February - Sheepdogs & Stories on the West Coast

We take a drive through the windswept Twelve Bens Mountain Range to Killary, Ireland’s only fjord where we visit a local sheep farm for a private sheepdog demo in this wild and remote landscape. Watch the magnificent and intelligent collies work the sheep from mountainside to pen with only the calls and commands of its owner to follow. Enjoy some tea and cake with Tom the farmer and chat about rural life in Ireland. Later we leave behind the wilds of Connemara, making our way farther south to Clare and Dromoland Castle, your home for the next two nights.

Overnight: Newmarket On Fergue | Dromoland Castle Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Wednesday 12th February - Hiking in 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 – as you explore this region today you’ll see why! Transfer to the Burren – a rugged, limestone escarpment that comes alive in the spring and summer with wildflowers. Set off for a walk in the nearby Slieve Carran Nature Reserve. 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. Lunch will be held at a local tearoom with an option to visit the adjoining Burren Perfumery where only natural and organic ingredients are used in production. It’s the oldest working perfumery in Ireland!

Overnight: Newmarket On Fergus | Dromoland Castle Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Thursday 13th February - Southern Explorations

Tracking further south this morning, your destination is the Kingdom of Kerry. Your guide will make a day out of it and you’ll stop a couple of times before you get to your final stop. One of our favourite walks is a great beach walk along one of Kerry’s best-kept secret coastlines, and you can enjoy lunch in the quaint village of Adare, voted “Ireland’s prettiest village”. Its quaint cottages and artisan stores make it a great place to wander. Arriving in Killarney this evening, your hotel is in a prime location overlooking the spectacular world-famous Lakes of Killarney and the magnificent MacGillycuddy’s Reeks mountain range.

Overnight: Killarney | Aghadoe Heights
Room Type: x1 Garden Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - Friday 14th February - Killarney National Park

Kerry is an expanse of a rugged, mountainous country that sweeps down to the world-famous Lakes of Killarney. Here, stretching across 10,000 hectares, lies Killarney National Park, with its unforgettable combination of mountains, lakes, woodland and waterfalls. Your guide will lead you on a hike of your choosing through the verdant woodlands and along the lakeshores of Killarney, keeping an eye out for the park’s herd of red deer and taking in the gorgeous views that make this region special. Step back in time to the Middle Ages at an imposing mediaeval castle, idyllically nestled on the shores of Lough Leane.

Overnight: Killarney | Aghadoe Heights
Room Type: x1 Garden Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9 - Saturday 15th February - The Dingle Peninsula

The county of Kerry is made up of four peninsulas, The Kerry Head, The Beara, The Iveragh and probably its most well-known,  The Dingle Peninsula and your destination today. Following a relaxed Irish breakfast hit the road to explore the beautiful Dingle Peninsula. This is Gaeltacht country where the Irish language is still widely spoken as a first language and culture and traditions remain strong. Tour around the peninsula visiting a fascinating array of ancient sites including Iron Age forts, beehive huts, inscribed stones, and historical churches. The Peninsula culminates at the dramatic Slea Head—Europe’s most western point. Before leaving, meet some feather friends on an exhilarating Falconry experience. Watch as these magnificent birds of prey swoop and soar with breathtaking speed and learn all about their fascinating habits.

Overnight: Killarney | Aghadoe Heights
Room Type: x1 Garden Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 10 - Sunday 16th February - The Ring of Kerry

The Ring of Kerry is often used as a substitute name for the Iveragh Peninsula, but more properly it refers to the 175-kilometre road that encircles this vast, scenic leg of land on the southwest of the island. Your guide will lead you on explorations around the Peninsula today. Your first stop is the Skellig Six 18 Distillery where you’ll meet a local storyteller and discover the science and art of crafting Irish Whiskey, all while learning the history and mythology of this ancient land. After a delicious lunch in a nearby pub, you’ll take a spin out to the nearby Valentia Island, a step back in time. On the rugged and exposed elements of the southwest coast is Valentia Lighthouse, a beacon of safety to many a seaward traveller. There are even prehistoric fossilised footprints to discover.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: x1 Superior Deluxe Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 11 - Monday 17th February - Hike Beara Peninsula with a local folklorist

Balanced on the edge of County Cork and County Kerry, the Beara Peninsula is the wildest of Kerry’s three peninsulas. This rugged corner of Ireland weaves a tapestry of wild mountains, pristine lakes, and meandering coastal and mountain roads. The Beara Peninsula is rich in local culture. Sparsely populated and rural, you can stumble across quiet villages and their warm and welcoming communities. Today you will head out hiking the Beara Peninsula with your guide, joined by a local folklorist, who also specialises in the archaeology of the region bringing this fascinating landscape to life. Carina from Garnish, is a member of the Beara Historical Society. A writer and storyteller, she conducts guided historical tours throughout the Beara Peninsula in South West Ireland. She aims to give the visitor an appreciation of the deep history, culture, and dramatic beauty of Beara.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: x1 Superior Deluxe Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 12 - Tuesday 18th February - Kayaking in Bantry Bay

Bantry Bay is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Head out into the bay today viewing this stunning part of the Wild Atlantic Way from the water. Explore the stunning seascape to learn about the different types of fishing industries in the Bay, the local seafood culture, and the maritime history of Bantry Bay. The bay itself is surrounded by beautiful, rugged landscapes, with lush hills, dramatic cliffs, and peaceful coves dotting the coastline. The water is typically calm, especially near the shore, making it ideal for both beginners and more experienced kayakers. You’ll have the chance to paddle past uninhabited islands and wildlife —keep an eye out for seals, dolphins, and a wide variety of seabirds.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: x1 Superior Deluxe Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 13 - Wednesday 19th February - Depart

This morning, your guide will take you to the 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.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More
  • All accommodation from Day 1  to Day 13
  • Meals as indicated above
  • Services of an experienced and knowledgeable qualified guide from Day 3 to Day 13
  • Ground transportation from Day 3 to Day 13
  • All guided hikes and activities mentioned in the itinerary, specifically;
  • Private airport arrival transfer
  • Private historical walking tour
  • Private Glass-cutting experience
  • Private island experience
  • Private sheepdog experience & farm tour
  • Private falconry experience
  • Private Distillery experience
  • Private folklorist experience
  • Private kayaking experience
  • 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 the main driver guide
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 is18,450 per person and is based on availability at the time of booking.