The Best of Ireland featuring the Wild Atlantic Way

Rocky coasts, animated pubs, a storied past, and endless green hills – where else but Ireland? Experience the country like never before, visiting the traditional sites you’d expect as well as a few off-the-beaten-path spots you couldn’t find on your own. Connect with the locals, connect with your roots, and connect with the Emerald Isle.

Your Irish adventure starts in Dublin, built upon layered history and featuring a lively local culture. Peek into the capital’s past at The Little Museum of Dublin, following a storyteller through the historic home filled with artifacts, memorabilia, and other charms. This evening, toast the start of your journey with dinner at a local restaurant.

Start your morning with an Impact Moment and walk with an expert from Secret Street Tours, a non-profit that trains citizens formerly affected by homelessness to be guides in their own city. See the city through their eyes and gain insight into their life story as you discover Dublin’s Liberties district. The remainder of the day is yours to explore on your own.

This morning cross the border into Northern Ireland and arrive in Belfast. Cruise through town in a traditional black taxicab with a guide, taking in different murals along the way. Pause at the Peace Wall, which separates the Catholic and Protestant communities, adorned with political graffiti. Personalize your dining experience tonight with Diner’s Choice! Perhaps you’ll cook your meal with an expert chef, or consider a unique whiskey paired dinner, or maybe you’ll dine on some local seafood at a nearby restaurant.

Get a taste of the local culture at Bushmills Distillery, a staple in the whiskey industry for over 400 years. Tour the distillery with an expert and indulge in a tasting of the signature smooth flavors. After some free time on your own, walk in the footsteps of mystical legends at the ethereal Giant’s Causeway. Take in the hexagonal basalt slabs, formed by gargantuan beasts crossing the crashing waves according to legend.

Make your way to Derry, a growing artistic and cultural hub, and site of the infamous Bloody Sunday massacre. Delve into the city’s local history on a guided tour before continuing on to Glenveagh National Park. Embark on an expert-led tour of park’s 19th-century Glenveagh Castle, nestled along the shore of Lough Veagh. End your day in County Donegal. Connect with an age-old heritage when an esteemed seanchaí – a traditional Gaelic storyteller – joins you for dinner.

Set out to explore the Wild Atlantic Way. Visit the Slieve League Cliffs, offering stunning views over the Sligo Mountains and Donegal Bay. Three times higher than the Cliffs of Moher, these iconic cliffs are amongst the highest and most scenic in Europe. Afterward, travel back in time to eighteenth century Ireland when you visit the thatched cottages of Glencolmcille, a folk village maintained by the local community of southeast Donegal. Continue on to Donegal Town and enjoy time to shop and explore at your leisure.

Enjoy a leisurely morning before departing Donegal for Fermanagh, a county blanketed by lakes and waterways. Take in pastoral surroundings as you cruise toward Devenish Island, a 6th century monastic site. Explore the ruins of this picturesque island, including one of the finest high towers in Ireland. This afternoon, arrive at your beautiful resort on the banks of Lough Erne.

Arrive in Galway, a lively city of medieval relics and modern flare. This afternoon, explore the city with a local foodie, highlighting how Galway’s cuisine breaks the stereotype of traditional Irish food. After getting a taste of what that the city has to offer, enjoy the remainder of the day on your own.

The day is yours. Perhaps you’ll pop into a pub for a drink with the locals, or peruse one of the city’s many museums, or even go shopping along bustling Quay Street. Consider taking an optional tour to Kylemore Abbey, where you’ll drive through Connemara National Park before embarking on an expert-led tour of the monastery.

Peek into Irish culture at a sheep farm, where you’ll watch a dog-herding demonstration and meet the friendly canine workers. Experience the Ireland you’ve always imagined at the Cliffs of Moher, where mossy cliffs plunge 700 feet into the ocean. After visiting one of the country’s most beloved sites, arrive in the dynamic town of Killarney.

Spend the day discovering the renowned Ring of Kerry. As you take in the scenic coastlines and weathered stones, pause for an Impact Moment at a seaweed farm. Roam the beach with local experts, learning about conservation efforts and how seaweed was used during the famine. After returning to Killarney, the rest of the day is yours.

Immerse yourself in nature at the family-own Highbank Orchards. Green leaves and tangy scents waft through the air as you pass through the organic farm via tractor, enjoying samples of homemade syrups, ciders, and apple spirits. Continue on to Kilkenny, one of Ireland’s most charming cities, and uncover the city’s storied past at the Medieval Mile Museum. Explore this converted-church with a local guide, learning about Norman relics and local witch trials.

This morning, it’s your choice! Enjoy a leisurely day to explore the town and Kilkenny Castle on your own -OR- travel just outside of town to the ruins of Jerpoint Abbey, a Cistercian abbey founded in the 12th century. You will also attend a captivating demonstration at a family-owned glass company and learn about the important role Kilkenny plays in Irish design and craftsmanship. No matter what activities fill your day, come together in the evening for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Sláinte!

Wish the Emerald Isle goodbye as you depart for home.