The Manthei Family's Irish Adventure

Tuesday 18th March – Tuesday 25th March 2025

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, 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 the island of Ireland’s famous and off-the-beaten-track sites of natural, cultural and political 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 | Tuesday 18th March | Céad Míle Fáilte | Overnight: Dublin

Day 2 | Wednesday 19th March | Wine Tasting & The Ghosts of Kinsale | Overnight: Kinsale

Day 3 | Thursday 20th March | Foraging & Fort Tours | Overnight: Kinsale

Day 4 | Friday 21st March | Sea Kayaking & Seashore Picnic | Overnight: Kinsale

Day 5 | Saturday 22nd March | Local Characters & Local Cheeses | Overnight: Kenmare

Day 6 | Sunday 23rd March | Sheen Falls & Chocolate Treats | Overnight: Kenmare

Day 7 | Monday 24th March | The Skellig Islands & Distillery Tours | Overnight: Kenmare

Day 8 | Tuesday 25th March | Depart

Day by Day

Day 1 - Tuesday 18th March - Céad Míle Fáilte

Céad míle fáilte, or “one hundred thousand welcomes” to Ireland’s capital, Dublin! Arriving this morning, a private transfer will meet you at arrivals and take you to your centrally located hotel. There is no better introduction to this city than to join a local historian for an engaging walking tour of this lively capital city. Explore some of Dublin’s best-known attractions, while also enjoying the benefit of local knowledge by visiting spots hidden off the tourist trail. Finish the day in one of Dublin’s many award-winning restaurants for dinner.

Overnight: Dublin | The Davenport Hotel
Room Type: x1 Classic King & x1 Junior Suite
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Wednesday 19th March - Wine Tasting & The Ghosts of Kinsale

This morning, our private guide will meets us in the lobby of our hotel and after some short introductions, we begin our journey south. The first stop on our adventure is a behind-the-scenes tour of a small, working winery in Wicklow that specialises in award-winning Irish Strawberry, Blackberry, and Raspberry Wines. Next, we journey to the historical fishing town of Kinsale. Famous as the gourmet capital of Ireland, this colourful town is brimming with activity from art galleries to elegant yachts. Our accommodation is in a central location overlooking the sea. This evening, we have a unique introduction to the town via a ghost tour led by local actors. We learn about Kinsale’s vibrant history while meeting the colourful characters of Kinsale’s past as they come alive during an entertaining evening stroll through Kinsale.

Overnight: Kinsale | Perryville House
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Twin, x1 Deluxe Double, x1 Junior Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3 - Thursday 20th March - Foraging & Fort Tours

Historically a medieval fishing port, Kinsale’s spectacular waterfront setting and candy-coloured houses, shops and restaurants, make it a glorious blend of old and the new. Here we meet a local marine biologist and forager who will lead us on a walk to learn about wild seaweeds, shellfish and local plants. Discuss the ways in which these things can be used for food, beauty and health purposes before enjoying a gourmet picnic with some wild food along the coast. Our next stop is a hike to the 17th century-star-shaped Charles Fort, which has survived some of the most momentous events in Irish history.

Overnight: Kinsale | Perryville House
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Twin, x1 Deluxe Double, x1 Junior Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Friday 21st March - Sea Kayaking & Seashore Picnic

Kinsale was often visited by pirates over the centuries and today we’ll kayak along the seashore to where the pirates once landed. With the water lapping quietly at the side of our kayaks, and the seabed slowly passing by underneath the surface, enjoy this wonderfully relaxing way to travel. Our guide will provide guidance to everyone and set the standard of the trip to best suit the family. Weather permitting, we will all enjoy a picnic on the seashore. On our final evening in Kinsale, we enjoy a stroll through the village or a browse in the stores before heading back to our accommodation.

Overnight: Kinsale | Perryville House
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Twin, x1 Deluxe Double, x1 Junior Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Saturday 22nd March - Local Characters & Local Cheeses

This morning, our guide takes us to the final stop on our Irish adventure, the Kingdom of Kerry! En route, our journey takes us across rolling farmlands with stunning pastoral scenes. We stop at a working Buffalo dairy farm for an immersive tour and tasting and get up close and personal with a herd of Irish Buffalo! Meet the herd, chat about all things agriculture with John, and finish with a spectacular tasting session of some fine Irish cheese, made right there on the farm. Afterwards, we check into our accommodation, Sheen Falls, situated amidst the majestic landscapes of the Ring of Kerry. This afternoon we enjoy an interactive falconry experience onsite.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: x2 Classic Double, x1 Classic Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Sunday 23rd March - Sheen Falls & Chocolate Treats

This morning enjoy the facilities and activities on site at Sheen Falls. This afternoon, we visit a local chocolatier for a hands-on chocolate-making workshop. Learn all about the roasting process, how to temper chocolate to achieve the perfect snap and create some mouth-watering treats to take away with you. There will also be a dipping competition so come prepared to win!

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: x2 Classic Double, x1 Classic Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Monday 24th March - The Skellig Islands & Distillery Tours

The Skelligs are two jagged rock pinnacles rising above battering Atlantic waves. It was on the UNESCO site Skellig Michael that the monks of yesteryears once lived and prayed in stone beehive huts which still cling to the island’s rocky slopes. Today your skipper will transport you out for a 3-hour landing on the big island, where you can follow in the footsteps of these 7th-century Irish monks to their dramatic island retreat. The small Skellig is equally renowned as a home to 27,000 pairs of gannets, the second-largest colony in the world. The islands have famously been used as a filming location for the 2015 and 2017 Star Wars movies. The next stop is the Skellig Six 18 Distillery where we 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.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: x2 Classic Double, x1 Classic Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - Tuesday 25th March - Depart

This morning, our guide drops us to the airport in time for our flight home.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More
  • 7 nights accommodation, as stated in the itinerary above
  • Most meals, as stated in the itinerary above
  • The services of a qualified and experienced guide from Day 2 to Day 8 inclusive
  • All transfers in a private vehicle driven by our guide on guided days
  • Private Airport Transfer on Arrival Day
  • All Ferry Travel Included in the Itinerary
  • All guided hikes mentioned in the itinerary
  • Entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary, specifically:
    • Private Dublin Walking Tour
    • Private Winery Tour
    • Private Ghost Tour
    • Private Foraging Experience
    • Entry to Charles Fort
    • Private Kayaking Experience
    • Private Buffalo Farm Tour & Tasting
    • Private Chocolatier Experience
    • Private Skellig Islands Landing Tour
    • Private Distillery Tour
  • Personalised trip design and delivery
  • 24/7 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 25% 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.
  • Activities are only private if so specified.
Pricing Read More

The price of this trip is €6,305 per person and is based on availability at the time of booking.

Terms & Conditions Read More

Please see our booking terms here.

Virtuoso

The Manthei Family’s Irish Adventure – V1

Tuesday 18th March – Tuesday 25th March 2025