Irish Experience
Start: Dublin Finish: Dublin
Duration: 10 Nights
Tour Operator: Trafalgar
Prices From:
Tour Overview
Explore the Emerald Isle on this most in-depth of Irish experience trips, filled with tales of mythical creatures and the troubled history of an island split in two. Beyond soul-stirring landscapes, there's time with a local 'Cabbie' who'll guide you through Belfast.
Highlights
Visit the Glasnevin Trust in Dublin, the Titanic Experience in Belfast, the UNESCO World Heritage site at the Giant's Causeway, Belleek to see how the famous pottery is made, Kylemore Abbey, the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney to kiss the stone and gain the 'gift of the gab', the Crystal Showroom at Waterford and the Famine Ship in New Ross- Sightseeing Highlights - See St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin and Galway Cathedral
- Explore Dublin, Belfast and Londonderry with a Local Specialist
- Sightseeing Highlights - Explore Dublin, Belfast and Londonderry with a Local Specialist
- See St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin and Galway Cathedral
- Dive into Culture Discover the full story of the Titanic at the Titanic Belfast visitor centre in Belfast. (Day 3) See traditional craftsmen at work at the Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre, one of the oldest working potteries in the world. (Day 5) Learn how Irish crystal is crafted at the House of Waterford Crystal during a demonstration. (Day 9) Explore the tragic history of Ireland's famine emigration at the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, a replica of one of the original ships used in the 1800s. (Day 10)
- Sightseeing Highlights - View the City Walls and Murals of Londonderry
- Sightseeing Highlights - Discover Galway and Waterford
- Scenic Drive through Connemara and along the Ring of Kerry
- Sightseeing Highlights - Scenic Drive through Connemara and along the Ring of Kerry
- Connect with Locals Go foraging with Oonagh and enjoy a delightful Be My Guest lunch at the O'Brien's homely Barrtra Seafood restaurant overlooking beautiful Liscannor Bay. (Day 7)
- Make Travel Matter At the Glasnevin Cemetery Museum in Dublin, you'll learn about the cemetery's importance to Irish history and how your visit helps to fund the cemetery's preservation. (Day 1) In Northern Ireland you'll discover the legend of the Giant's Causeway as you explore with an expert, who'll explain how your visit helps conserve this iconic natural landmark. (Day 3)
- Discover Galway and Waterford
- View the City Walls and Murals of Londonderry
- Sightseeing Highlights - Visit the Glasnevin Trust in Dublin, the Titanic Experience in Belfast, the UNESCO World Heritage site at the Giant's Causeway, Belleek to see how the famous pottery is made, Kylemore Abbey, the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney to kiss the stone and gain the 'gift of the gab', the Crystal Showroom at Waterford and the Famine Ship in New Ross
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Ireland
Location: Dublin
Accommodation: Mespil/Sandymount
Meals: Welcome Reception
Embrace your playful side and discover the allure of the lively Irish capital - a small city with a lot of heart and yours to explore before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travellers this afternoon for a sightseeing tour with your Local Specialist. See St. Patrick's Cathedral, the stately Georgian Squares and Trinity College. We enjoy a Welcome Reception this evening, joining a Local Specialist at the Glasnevin Trust to hear about the brave characters from Ireland's recent history and hear how our visit Makes Travel Matter and preserves Irish history.
Day 2: Journey to Colourful Belfast
Location: Belfast
Accommodation: Park Inn by Radisson/Maldron City
Meals: Breakfast
Leaving the cosmopolitan streets of Dublin behind, we travel to Northern Ireland and the bustling city of Belfast, where you will have some free time to enjoy a spud for lunch or perhaps an Irish stew. Later, we meet our Local Specialist 'Cabbie' for an insider view of the city's living history during a journey through its vibrant streets in a real taxi. We spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure, or perhaps join an Optional Experience.
Day 3: Venture to the Giant’s Causeway and on to Londonderry
Location: Londonderry, Bushmills, Belfast
Accommodation: Everglades/City Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Dive Into Culture during a visit to the award-winning Titanic Belfast Experience. Gain insights into the tragic story of the Titanic and its passengers who lost their lives in the icy Atlantic. We leave the city behind us, travelling along the beautiful Antrim coast road to the Giant's Causeway and walk in the footsteps of Finn MacCool. Make Travel Matter by helping to conserve this iconic natural landmark. Take some time to admire the natural spectacle of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns before continuing to Londonderry, our home for the next two nights.
Day 4: Discover Londonderry’s Past
Location: Londonderry
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Join your Local Specialist for a walk along the 17th-century city walls and see the formerly turbulent Bogside neighbourhood, with its street murals depicting the history of the 'Troubles'. Spend a free afternoon walking along the pretty Foyle River or consider joining an Optional Experience to Inishowen Peninsula, with its rich history. This evening we dine at our hotel.
Day 5: Onwards to Scenic County Galway
Location: Galway, Belleek
Accommodation: Maldron Oranmore/Maldron Sandy Road
Meals: Breakfast
We journey through the lush countryside to Belleek, where we'll Dive Into Culture and witness talented pottery craftsmen create the exquisite collectables that have graced homes since the mid-19th century. Arrive in County Galway later, where we will stay for the next two nights.
Day 6: Connemara Excursion
Location: Kylemore
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
The rugged beauty of Connemara was captured in the film 'The Quiet Man' with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Its loughs and mountains are yours to explore today during a scenic drive. We arrive at Kylemore Abbey later to visit the country's most romantic castle and ramble through the hidden nooks of its Victorian walled garden. Returning to Galway, we enjoy some free time to explore its imposing stone Cathedral or stroll through Eyre Square, which John F. Kennedy visited in 1963.
Day 7: Explore the Cliffs of Moher and Killarney
Location: Lahinch, Killarney
Accommodation: Killarney Towers/Hotel Killarney
Meals: Breakfast, Be My Guest
See the imposing sheer Cliffs of Moher rising over 200 metres above the pounding sea and learn about the history of these natural phenomena during a visit to the 'Atlantic Edge' exhibition. We Connect With Locals and join Oonagh to forage before our Be My Guest experience at the Barrtra Seafood restaurant along the world famous Wild Atlantic Way. Enjoy spectacular views of the dramatic coastline before boarding a ferry across the tranquil Shannon River estuary. Then, continue through County Kerry to your hotel in Killarney, where we'll have an evening at leisure or join in the craic at an optional Irish ceilidh.
Day 8: A Day on the Ring of Kerry
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
The soul-stirring landscapes of Iveragh Peninsula provide a mesmerising backdrop for our scenic coastal drive around the Ring of Kerry - an unimaginably beautiful natural setting. En route we will see Killorglin, famous for its annual 'Puck Fair', as well as Daniel O'Connell's Cahirciveen, the fishing village of Waterville, the Black Valley and Moll's Gap.
Day 9: Off to Blarney, Waterford and Kilkenny
Location: Kilkenny, Waterford, Blarney
Accommodation: Kilkenny
Meals: Breakfast
Today you might acquire the 'gift of the gab', bending over backwards to kiss the Blarney Stone before we travel to Waterford. Admire the delicate creations of fine crystal during a visit to the House of Waterford Crystal where we will Dive Into Culture and witness a demonstration by master craftsmen. This evening, we arrive in Kilkenny with its imposing 12th-century castle, once the seat of the Butlers of Ormonde.
Day 10: Through County Wicklow’s Countryside to Dublin
Location: Dublin, New Ross
Accommodation: Sandymount/Ballsbridge
Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
After a morning exploration of Kilkenny, we depart for New Ross where we'll see the monument to John F. Kennedy, who visited his ancestral family hometown in 1963. Dive Into Culture and gain insights into the tragic plight of Irish emigrants during the potato famine of the 1800s on our visit to the nearby three-masted Famine Ship Dunbrody. Journey through the lush Irish countryside of County Wicklow, the 'Garden of Ireland', and back to Dublin where you'll spend your final evening with travel companions sharing stories of your memorable journey through Ireland at a Farewell Dinner.
Day 11: Farewell Dublin
Meals: Breakfast
It's time to say a fond farewell to Ireland and newfound friends as you prepare to end your wonderful Irish experience. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.
What's Included
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Optional Experiences and free time
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All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
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An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
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Ferry across the Shannon estuary
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1 lunch (Be My Guest)
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5 dinners
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Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
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Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
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Daily breakfast and up to half your evening meals
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All porterage and restaurant gratuities
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Audio Headsets for flexible sightseeing
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Handcrafted Highlights
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Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
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Handcrafted Highlights
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10 breakfasts
Your Peace of Mind Options
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Low Deposit
Trafalgar requires a deposit of 20% to secure a place on this tour, and the final balance is not due till 56 days before departure..
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Secure payments
All payments to TourHub are deposited into an externally regulated Trust account.