Deluxe & Superior First Class Hotels - 9 Day Coach Tour
Experience the Giants Causeway, Cliffs of Moher, "The Quiet Man" Walking Tour, Glenveagh Castle plus traditional Irish evening with dinner and entertainment.
Day 1: Shannon
Arrival & Ennis Walking Tour
Once you have arrived at Shannon Airport we will arrange a transfer for you between 7:00 am
and 12:00 noon. However, if your flight arrives later than noon you will need to arrange your own transfer.
In the hotel lobbey you will meet a local tour guide at 2:00 pm who will take you on a walking tour
around Ennis.
Enjoy a welcome drink with fellow travellers before dinner. (D)
Day 2: Cliffs of
Moher & Galway
On the second day, travel to the coast and view the Cliffs of Moher.
See the
rounded limestone hills of the Burren before heading to the village of
Ballyvaughan and continue to Moycullen which is just north of Galway. Enjoy a tour of Galway city tour before heading to your hotel in time for tea! (B, D)
Day 3: Connemara
& Catamaran Cruise
Day 3 will involve exploring the area of Connemara which is a scenic region of misty hills and
shimmering lakes. At Leenane you will have the opportunity to embark on a catamaran cruise through Ireland’s only fjord, Killary
Harbour. You will find steep hills where the ridges of the great potato fields once stood - one of the few
reminders of the Great Famine of the 1840’s. Also visible are the mussel and salmon farms.
Visit Kylemore Abbey Visitor Centre before driving to Cong for a
short walking tour around the various set locations for the 1952 movie “The
Quiet Man". The last place of interest on day 3 is the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory. The factory specialises in
beautiful designs with coloured crystal. (B,
D)
Day 4: Country life
& Belleek China
Outside the town of Castlebar, you will be given the option to tour the Museum of Country Life where you will see
collections of domestic goods used in times past. Visit
Knock Shrine where you will find the church where locals saw a vision of the Virgin
Mary in 1879.
Following your visit to Knock, you will cross into County Sligo where you stop at the grave of W. B. Yeats
before continuing to the Belleek Pottery Factory. Here you will be able to watch skilled craftspeople
create delicate china. Your journey will continue past the Blue Stack Mountains
to Stranorlar. (B, D)
Day 5: Glenveagh
Castle & Grand Atlantic Drive
Today you will travel into the heart of Donegal to Glenveagh National Park
where Captain Adair famously evicted just over 225 tenants to build Glenveagh Castle in 1870.
You will be able to learn about the history of the mansion as you are allowed to tour the rooms
and walk around the gardens. Enjoy the experience
of the glorious natural beauty of the Grand Atlantic Drive, which winds through
Downings and Rosapenna and further around the coastline.
You will be brought back to Stranorlar in time
for your evening meal. (B, D)
Day 6: Giant’s
Causeway & Nine Glens of Antrim
On the sixth day of the tour a local guide will join you In Derry where you will embark on a walking tour of the medieval city. Diamond and St. Columb’s Cathedral are not to be missed before driving along the
north coast. Taking photos at Dunluce Castle is a must!
You will have the chance to explore the Giant’s Causeway and the Irish legends associated with it. Experience the amazing
scenery along the coastal “Nine Glens of Antrim” route before you drive into Belfast city. Your hotel is located in the cenre of the city and you will have some free time today before dinner. (B, D)
Day 7: Belfast &
Dublin Pub Evening
On day 7 you will be able to tour central Belfast with a local guide where you are sure to enjoy the beautiful Victorian
buildings before heading to the famous the Harland & Wolff shipyards where the Titanic was built. Shankill and the Falls Road is another port of call where you will see for yourself the areas in which the early 19th century struggles of Northern Ireland took place. Visit the Down
Cathedral where you will be able to view the reputed burial place of St. Patrick who is of course Ireland’s patron
saint. You will also have time to visit the fantastic St. Patrick Centre where you will learn about his life.
Follow this you will travel to Dublin and check in to your hotel for night 7. Enjoy your dinner which is followed
by traditional Irish music and step-dancing. (B, D)
Day 8: Dublin Tour
& Book of Kells
On the second last day you will enjoy a great tour of Dublin city centre. View the elegant Georgian squares with
the famous colourful doorways before passing through the tranquil St. Stephen’s Green. Enjoy the bustling
shopping areas around Nassau Street; and then cross the River Liffey to O’Connell Street
and view the General Post Office where the 1916 Rebellion began almost 100 years ago. Walk
through the campus of Trinity College to view the 8th century manuscript of the Book of Kells.
The afternoon is free so you may decide to use independent vouchers for an
open-top bus tour all around central Dublin and a visit to either Guinness or
Jameson. (B)
Day 9: Return Home
A group transfer will be provided to Dublin Airport for the following times:
- 6:00 am
- 9:00 am
- 12:00 noon
(B)
B=Breakfast, D=Dinner
Hotels on this tour
- Old Ground Hotel, Ennis (1 night)
- Galway Bay Hotel, Galway (2 nights)
- Kee's Hotel, Stranorlar (2 nights)
- Europa Hotel, Belfast (1 night)
- Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin (2 nights)
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