Country Roads of Ireland - End Dublin, Classic Group, Winter
Country Roads of Ireland - End Dublin, Classic Group, Winter
Country Roads of Ireland - End Dublin, Classic Group, Winter
12 Days Starting in Dublin, Ireland and ending in Dublin
Visiting: Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Cahir, Cork, Blarney Castle, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula, Dingle, Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Londonderry, Giant's Causeway, Ballygalley, Antrim Coast, Belfast
Tour operator:
Tour code:
W909ZN118
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
20 - 40
Physical rating:
Low
Age range:
5-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
Let the luck of the Irish be with you on this 12-day guided tour across Ireland. Start the tour in Dublin, where you get up close to the Book of Kells, an ancient Gospel manuscript filled with mythical beasts and Celtic knots. In Kilkenny, visit the majestic Kilkenny Castle with a Local Expert. A chef will share traditional Irish recipes at a farm-to-table feast in Killarney. You'll see the Ring of Kerry, a mystical, verdant peninsula dotted with seaside villages. Finally, step onto Giant's Causeway with it's basalt columns carved onto the coast by volcanic lava, or a giant's feet, if Irish myth is to be believed.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Dublin
Location: Dublin
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Clayton Hotel Burlington Road
Meals Included: Dinner, with Wine
Join your Travel Director for a warm and friendly Welcome Dinner, with the opportunity to mingle and get to know each other over a meal with wine.
Arrival Transfer -
Depart the airport at 08:30, 11:00, 13:00
Welcome Meeting -
Meet your Travel Director at 08:00
Day 2: In Dublin’S Fair City Relaxed Start
Location: Dublin
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Clayton Hotel Burlington Road
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accompanied by a Local Expert, become acquainted with Dublin’s elegant squares during an orientation of the city. Discover Custom House, Christchurch Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Enjoy entrance to the 9th century Book of Kells and a walk through the cobbled courtyards of Trinity College.
Day 3: A Journey From Dublin To Cork
Location: Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Cahir, Cork
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: The Kingsley Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
In the morning, visit one of the country’s main racehorse breeding centres. Continue to the acclaimed 100 year old Japanese Gardens where you can ‘journey through life’ during a walk through the beautiful surrounds. Travel to the medieval city of Kilkenny to visit the majestic Kilkenny Castle. With a Local Expert, learn how the castle was built in 1195 after the Norman Conquest of Ireland and admire its beautifully restored Victorian era rooms.
Continue through Cahir and see its imposing 13th-century castle, featured in the film 'Excalibur', on the way to Cork. On arrival, your Travel Director will show you around the compact university city, with its vibrant waterfront and grand Georgian parades.
Day 4: Across The Mountains To Killarney Relaxed Start
Location: Cork, Blarney Castle, Killarney
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner, with Wine
Travel to the ruined Blarney Castle. Will you hang upside down from the ramparts to kiss the stone and ensure a lifetime of eloquence? Or enjoy a sensory walk in the extensive and varied estate gardens. Travel across the majestic Derrynasaggart Mountains to the lively town of Killarney. For your Farm-to-Table dining experience, enjoy some Irish home cooking in the kitchens of chef John Sheehan. Join John and Freda, your hosts at the 19th Green Guesthouse, and savour the delicious flavours of fresh local cuisine on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Gather together at a Farm-to-Table dinner, using responsibly sourced ingredients from the local community, and gain personal insight into classic Irish recipes that are loved throughout the world.
Day 5: Ring Of Kerry Experience Relaxed Start
Location: Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Killarney
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast
Start your day with Insight Choice. Choose a memorable ride on a horse-drawn jaunting car with the local jarveys. Alternatively, join a gentle hike with a Local Expert along the lake shore and past the grounds of Ross Castle, admiring the incredible scenery of the National Park. While there aren't any mountains to climb, walkers should be fit, have good walking shoes or boots, sunscreen and rain gear. Explore around the magnificent Ring of Kerry. Here, mountains, valleys, lakes and sea blend into a landscape that is breathtaking beyond words. Journey past lush lakelands and around towering cliffs as you appreciate sweeping sea views. Continue through delightful villages like Sneem and cross the peat bogs of the Black Mountains to Moll’s Gap to admire Queen Victoria’s Ladies View. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Maybe take the opportunity to hire a bicycle and enjoy one of the many scenic trails around the lake or through the National Park.
Day 6: Around The Dingle Peninsula
Location: Killarney, Dingle Peninsula, Dingle
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Skellig Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Continue driving with views of wide skies, peaceful towns and coastal scenery of the Dingle Peninsula — the setting for the film Ryan’s Daughter. Drive to dramatic Slea Head at the peninsula’s far end, before reaching your hotel on the shores of Dingle Peninsula. With the evening at leisure, why not treat yourself to a relaxing experience at the hotel's spa? Offering holistic and therapeutic treatments, the Peninsula Spa is the perfect place to unwind after a busy day of exploring the coast.
Day 7: The Cliffs Of Moher And Galway
Location: Dingle, Cliffs of Moher, Galway
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Connemara Coast Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner, with Wine
Journey to the Visitor Centre at the 700-foot Cliffs of Moher. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Clare Coast before a delightful drive through the strange, rocky landscape of the Burren to Galway Bay. On arrival, see the Lynch Memorial and Church of St. Nicholas, where Christopher Columbus reputedly prayed before his voyages to America. See the Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the late US President, John F. Kennedy.
Day 8: Free Day Galway Or Kylemore Abbey Relaxed Start
Location: Galway
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Connemara Coast Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Spend a day at leisure to relax and enjoy Galway. Perhaps join an Optional Experience to Kylemore Abbey, fo unded for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I?
Day 9: Londonderry
Location: Galway, Londonderry
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Maldron Hotel Derry
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner, with Wine
Admire the Blue Stack Mountains of Donegal as you cross into Northern Ireland, bound for the ancient walled city of 'Derry.' What better way to experience sightseeing than with one of Northern Ireland's best storytellers, Ronan, as he takes you on a tour inside the city walls, still topped with cannons. Walk down steep Shipquay Street, with its elegant Georgian houses, to the Gothic Guildhall.
Day 10: Walk In The Giant’S Steps Relaxed Start
Location: Londonderry, Giant's Causeway, Ballygalley
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Ballygally Castle Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner, with Wine
Journey to the iconic Giant's Causeway for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Learn how the National Trust is enabling farming and biodiversity to work together, supporting both wildlife and quality food production. Next, prepare yourself for miles of breathtaking beauty as you travel along the road clinging to the Antrim Coast. Continue onto your hotel, overlooking Ballygally Bay. For those who are brave enough, perhaps check out The Ghost Room, in one of the castle’s turrets? In the evening, please join us for a finale Celebration Dinner, where old-fashioned hospitality is blended with good food and wine for an experience that delights the senses.
Day 11: The Antrim Coast To Belfast Relaxed Start
Location: Ballygalley, Antrim Coast, Belfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Titanic Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Continue around the Antrim Coast, past the huge Norman castle at Carrickfergus, to arrive in the Northern Ireland capital of Belfast. Meet Hilda, your Local Expert, for a passionate city tour including views of the City Hall, Queen's University, the Parliament Building at Stormont and murals in different locations indicating political sentiments of local residents.
Day 12: Depart Dublin
Location: Dublin
Meals Included: Breakfast
An early departure transfer will arrive at Dublin airport.
What's Included
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Meals
As detailed in the itinerary
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Fully Guided
What's Not Included
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Complimentary arrival and departure transfer by shuttle coach is included on the arrival and departure day of your guided holiday. If your flight times do not coincide with the shuttle coach transfer timings you may choose to book and purchase a transfer.
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What is the tipping policy?
Hotel and restaurant tips are included. All taxes and porterage charges at hotels are also included.
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What is the maximum group size?
40 people
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
These tours generally have up to 1-3 miles of walking per day and may involve some uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones and stairs.
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Insight Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of insight vacations charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.