Jewels of Ireland 15 Day Tour

Included in this tour: 

• Enjoy an Irish coffee at the South Pole Inn where you’ll learn about Tom Crean, an Irish explorer who bravely journeyed to the South Pole.
• Relax as you take in a special step dancing display at the Cabra Castle Hotel.
• Sample local beer in a unique setting at Clarke’s Bar in Drogheda.

• Full daily breakfast (except Day 1)
• Visits and admissions to Blasket Centre, Boyne Valley Visitor Centre, Dingle Bay Cruise, The Dark Hedges, Donegal Castle, Giant's Causeway, Lissadell House, Slieve League - Europe's Highest Sea Cliffs and Titanic Belfast. 
• Free Wi-Fi on coaches so you can stay connected along the way
• Documents wallet and backpack to keep you organized
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & handling of one suitcase per person

• The Gibson Hotel
  Dublin (2 nights)
• Actons Hotel
  Kinsale (1 night)
• Cahernane House Hotel
  Killarney (2 nights)
• Temple Gate Hotel
  Ennis (1 night)
• Galway Bay Hotel
  Galway (2 nights)
• Mill Park Hotel
  Donegal (2 nights)
• Radisson Blu Hotel - Belfast
  Belfast (1 night)
• Cabra Castle Hotel
  Kingscourt (1 night)
• Knightsbrook Hotel & Golf Resort
  Knightsbrook (1 night)
• Croke Park Hotel
  Dublin (1 night)

Day 1: DUBLIN CASTLE & CITY TOUR
Tour begins 2:00 PM at Dublin hotel. Tour central Dublin. Take a guided tour of Dublin Castle, the seat of power and government for many centuries, and see the State Apartments. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dining independently this evening.

Day 2: RUSSBOROUGH HOUSE & TAYLORS THREE ROCK
Head to Blessington for a guided tour around Russborough House, a Palladian mansion filled with interesting treasures, works of art, and early photographic collections. Back in Dublin, your afternoon is free for an independent open-top bus tour with one visit to your choice of Guinness Storehouse, Teeling Distillery, EPIC Ireland, or the General Post Office Museum. Head to Taylors Three Rock for a dinner of Irish specialties and a lively show.
(B, D)

Day 3: BLARNEY CASTLE & KINSALE WALK
Pause for photos at the Rock of Cashel as you travel south to Blarney Castle to kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence” or walk through the gardens. Treat yourself to Irish-made goods at the Blarney Woollen Mills. Head south to Kinsale, an old fishing town now renowned for sailing and gourmet food. Join a local guide for a short walk around Kinsale’s historic streets.
(B, D)

Day 4: WEST CORK COASTAL DRIVE & KILLARNEY
Journey along the rugged western coastline of Cork via Clonakilty and Skibbereen, passing picturesque coves and beaches. Travel to Killarney for some free time and a horse-drawn jaunting car ride through Killarney National Park to view Ross Castle. Enjoy dinner at your hotel and a free evening in Killarney.
(B, D)

Day 5: SCENIC DINGLE PENINSULA & BLASKET CENTRE
Explore the Dingle Peninsula and embark on a scenic boat trip of Dingle Harbor and Bay to view heathery mountains, sandy beaches, and green landscapes of the Dingle Peninsula. Visit the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the offshore Blasket Islands. Enjoy some free time in Dingle and sip an Irish coffee at the South Pole Inn before continuing to Killarney for a free evening and independent dining.
(B)

Day 6: CLIFFS OF MOHER & MEDIEVAL CASTLE BANQUET
Visit the Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, which recalls air travel in the 1930s and 1940s. Drive to the Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Travel inland to Ennis. Head to Knappogue or Bunratty Castle for a medieval-style banquet with songs and stories.
(B, D)

Day 7: SHEEPDOG TRIALS & GALWAY
Travel through the rounded limestone hills of the Burren to Caherconnell and watch skilled dogs round up sheep. Stop in a charming Burren village to explore independently. Head to Galway for a guided walking tour around the central attractions -- the medieval city walls, Lynch’s Castle, and the narrow streets. Enjoy free time to explore before dinner.
(B, D)

Day 8: CONNEMARA CATAMARAN CRUISE & HOMESTEAD VISIT
Drive through Connemara to Leenane for a catamaran cruise of Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord. At Dan O’Hara’s Homestead, experience farm life and see Connemara ponies, donkeys, and chickens. Savor a farmhouse lunch before heading to Standun of Spiddal for an Irish coffee and a talk on Irish crafts. Spend a free evening in Galway.
(B, L)

Day 9: LISSADELL HOUSE, BELLEEK POTTERY & DONEGAL
Travel north through County Mayo. Visit Lissadell House in County Sligo, a magnificent country estate that has strong connections with the 1916 Rising. In County Fermanagh visit Belleek Pottery to see craftpeople create the renowned fine china. Head to Donegal for some free time before departing to your hotel for dinner.
(B, D)

Day 10: SLIEVE LEAGUE CLIFFS & DONEGAL
(B, D)

Day 11: DERRY WALK & GIANT'S CAUSEWAY
Meet with a local guide for a walking tour to see Derry’s medieval walls, the Diamond, and St. Columb’s Cathedral. Pause for photos at Dunluce Castle before exploring the Giant’s Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns formed over 60 million years ago. See where “Game of Thrones” was filmed at The Dark Hedges and travel along the scenic Nine Glens of Antrim before heading to Belfast.
(B, D)

Day 12: TITANIC BELFAST & CABRA CASTLE
Tour Belfast to see Victorian buildings and the shipyards where RMS Titanic was built in 1912 and visit Titanic Belfast. Drive to Kingscourt to Cabra Castle Hotel, built in 1760, and enjoy free time. After dinner, enjoy a lively step-dancing display.
(B, D)

Day 13: NEOLITHIC TOMBS & DROGHEDA
Visit the Boyne Valley Visitor Centre to learn about the 5,000-year-old burial tombs of Newgrange and Knowth. Continue to Drogheda for a leisurely stroll around the historic town and sample locally brewed beer in a traditional pub or drive to the historical town of Trim to enjoy a farewell dinner.
(B, D)

Day 14: INDEPENDENT DUBLIN SIGHTSEEING
14-day tour ends. Guests on 15-day tour enjoy a free day in Dublin or use your independent Dublin sightseeing vouchers if you did not use them on Day 2.
(B)

Day 15: DEPART DUBLIN FOR HOME
Your program ends after breakfast.
(B)

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner