Superior First Class Hotels - 9 Day Coach Tour
See the best of Ireland, Wales and England in just nine activity-filled days. Start in Dublin where the wit and music at Taylor's Three Rock Pub will set the mood for your vacation. Tour the Ring of Kerry and the picturesque town of Cobh before crossing the Irish sea. Your route covers the Welsh capital of Cardiff, the city of Bristol and Stonehenge's ancient mysteries before ending in the heart of London.
Day 1 - Dublin Arrival
Your tour starts at Dublin Airport with a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. Your Victorian hotel is a few miles south of Dublin, overlooking Dublin Bay. In the evening meet your tour director for a welcome drink.
Day 2 - Book of Kells & Taylor's Three Rock Pub
Take a tour around central Dublin, with spacious Georgian squares and streets, landmark public buildings and graceful townhouses. Visit Trinity College to see the campus and view the Book of Kells in the Old Library. The afternoon is free for independent sightseeing or shopping. Enjoy dinner at Taylor's Three Rock Pub followed by an upbeat show with Irish music and dance. (B, D)
Day 3 - Rock of Cashel & Killarney
Depart Dublin and drive south through pleasant farming country. Visit the Rock of Cashel, where Brian Boru was crowned King of Munster in 977. See the 12th century highly-decorated Cormac's Chapel, the large cruciform cathedral and a round tower. Continue to the famous town of Killarney and check in to your centrally-located hotel with state-of-the-art pool and spa facilities. (B, D)
Day 4 - Ring of Kerry & Skellig Experience
Embark on the Ring of Kerry tour for constantly-changing vistas of mountains, open Atlantic Ocean, beaches and cliffs. There will be plenty of stops to admire the scenery. Visit the Skellig Experience to learn about early Christian monks who lived on the rocky offshore islands and about prolific bird life today. Stop at Moll's Gap for panoramic views before returning to Killarney. (B, D)
Day 5 - Blarney Castle & Waterford Crystal
Visit the famous Blarney Castle this morning to kiss the “Stone of Eloquence.” Travel through the outskirts of Cork city and along the south coast to the city of Waterford. Visit the House of Waterford Crystal to see how glass is blown and cut by master craftspeople and view a collection of amazing trophies. Check in to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. (B, D)
Day 6 - Ferry to South Wales
Depart Waterford early this morning to catch the ferry from Rosslare to South Wales. Journey through pleasant farmlands and South Wales where coal used to be mined. Head to Cardiff Castle, developed in Roman times and transformed into an elaborate Gothic-style castle in the 19th century. A tour of the castle is followed by a fun Welsh banquet. (B, D)
Day 7 - Roman Baths & Stonehenge
This morning explore Bath, popular for its natural hot springs with the Romans 2,000 years ago and again in fashion in the 18th century Regency period. Visit the Roman Baths and Pump Room, wonderfully preserved after two millennia and take a panoramic tour to see some of the stately Regency mansions and the Pulteney Bridge. Drive to Salisbury Plain to view the prehistoric circle of vast monoliths at Stonehenge. Continue into London and check in to your hotel near the Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. (B)
Day 8 - London Sightseeing
Today explore London independently. Use one voucher for an open-top sightseeing bus tour - you have a choice of routes around London's famous landmarks so you may get on and off wherever you wish. Your second voucher is for a visit to the Tower of London. (B)
Day 9 - Depart for Home from Heathrow Airport
Travel to Heathrow Airport by independent transfer in time to check in for your flight home. (B)
B=Breakfast, CB=Continental Breakfast, D=Dinner
Hotels on this tour
- Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin (2 nights)
- Killarney Plaza Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
- Granville Hotel, Waterford (1 night)
- The Park Hotel, Cardiff (1 night)
- Park Plaza County Hall, London (2 nights)
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