- 8 days / 6 nights / 11 meals or 9 days / 7 nights / 13 meals
- Group transfers on arrival and departure
- Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout
- Dublin open-bus tour & Guinness or Jameson visit
- Services of a professional Irish driver/guide
- Accommodation with private bath/shower for 6 or 7 nights - Superior & first class hotels in Bunratty, Dublin & Galway; town & country homes in Killarney & Waterford
- Full Irish breakfast daily (B)
- 5 or 6 dinners (D) including, medieval banquet & entertainment in a 15th century Irish castle, Dinner & show at Kate Kearney's Cottage, Traditional Irish evening with dinner and entertainment at the Abbey Tavern, 2 Irish homestyle dinners, Table d'hote dinner in Galway (9-day tour only)
- Welcome get-together drink
- Ferry ride across the River Shannon
- "Titanic" walking tour of Cobh
- Tour of Dublin with a local guide
- Visits and admissions to Cliffs of Moher, Muckross Gardens, Blarney Woollen Mills, Waterford Crystal Factory, Book of Kells at Trinity College and Clonmacnoise
- Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
- All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person
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Superior & First Class Hotels/B&Bs - 8 or 9 Day Coach Tour
For a real Irish welcome stay in Irish homes, sample country cooking and chat with host families. Three special evenings, Bunratty Castle Banquet, Irish night of laughter and song, dinner and ballads at Dublin’s Abbey Tavern, for fond memories of Ireland.
Day 1 – Flight to Shannon
Board your overnight flight to Ireland. Relax with inflight entertainment and meal service as you cross the Atlantic.
Day 2 – Bunratty & Medieval Banquet
Land in Shannon Airport! After immigration control and picking up your baggage, proceed to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall. CIE Tours staff will arrange a group transfer to your Bunratty hotel. Complimentary transfers will be offered from Shannon Airport between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later than 12:00 noon, transfer to the hotel at your own expense. There’s plenty to do right beside your hotel – Bunratty Folk Park, Durty Nelly’s Pub and shopping. This evening meet your fellow travelers over a welcome drink and join in the fun and entertainment at Bunratty or Knappogue Banquet. (D)
Day 3 – Cliffs of Moher & Killarney
Drive to the coast to view the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, which rise to almost 700 feet above the wild Atlantic breakers and stretch along the coast for five miles. Then head south for a short ferry ride across the River Shannon. Stop in the charming village of Listowel for a stroll around before continuing through the mountainous countryside of County Kerry to Killarney. Take a look around this bustling and compact town before checking into your country home and meeting your Irish family. In the evening drive to the Gap of Dunloe to Kate Kearney’s Cottage for dinner. Afterwards sit back and enjoy traditional Irish entertainment with popular songs, dances and a lot of laughs. (B, D)
Day 4 - Ring of Kerry & Muckross Gardens
Admire breathtaking vistas of mountains, cliffs and beaches on Ireland's most popular drive - the 100-mile Ring of Kerry. Enjoy the variety of scenery as you travel to the westernmost part of the Iveragh Peninsula. A number of stops will allow you to marvel at the spectacular scenery. Take a brief walk around the colorful village of Sneem and pause at Moll's Gap for stunning views of the Lakes of Killarney. Stop for a stroll around the wonderful Muckross Gardens, which are set along the shores of Muckross Lake. Return to Killarney and enjoy a home-style dinner this evening. (B, D)
Day 5 – Blarney & Titanic Walk
Leaving Killarney, head to the Blarney Woollen Mills where you can find excellent Irish merchandise. You will have time to walk around the village green or, if you feel energetic, you will have the opportunity to climb to the top of Blarney Castle to kiss the “Stone of Eloquence.” Drive through the outskirts of Cork to the harbor town of Cobh, the last port of call for the Titanic. Take a walk around this picturesque town and the dockside with a local historian to see places relating to the Titanic’s last scheduled stop. Travel east through the coastal towns of Youghal and Dungarvan and on to Waterford to meet and dine with your next host family. (B, D)
Day 6 – Waterford Crystal & Abbey Tavern
Tour the Waterford Crystal Factory to watch craftspeople transform molten glass into elegant hand-cut crystal. See magnificent trophies and a huge selection of crystal on display in the showrooms. Head north to Kilkenny, a medieval city with a huge castle dominating the center. Take a stroll through the narrow streets with many old buildings or beside the river. Continue into the metropolitan area of Dublin to your centrally-located hotel. Drive to Howth on the north side of Dublin to the Abbey Tavern. Here sit down to a traditional dinner followed by a great show with plenty of Irish music and intricate step dancing. (B, D)
Day 7 – Book of Kells & Dublin
Take a half-day guided tour of Dublin, founded by Vikings over 1,000 years ago. See elegant Georgian squares with townhouses and their famous colorful doors, pass the lush vegetation of St. Stephen's Green, cross the River Liffey to drive along O'Connell Street and pass the General Post Office where the 1916 Rebellion started. Finish your tour with a visit to Trinity College to view the magnificently illuminated manuscript of the 8th century Book of Kells. The afternoon and evening are at leisure to explore the city on your own. You may choose to return to your hotel in Ballsbridge or explore Temple Bar in the heart of the city. (B)
Day 8 - Depart for Home or Clonmacnoise & Galway Bay
For those on our 8-day vacation, your tour ends today with a group coach transfer to Dublin Airport. Lucky passengers on the 9-day program will leave Dublin and journey across the rolling pastures of Ireland's heartland to visit Clonmacnoise. This monastic settlement was founded in 545 AD by St. Ciaran and is set on the banks of the tranquil River Shannon. Drive to Galway city and take a panoramic tour around the city center to see Eyre Square, Galway Cathedral and the Spanish Arch. Then spend some time on your own before driving to your hotel, which is set on the shores of the famous Galway Bay, from where you can see the Aran Islands and the hills of the Burren country. (B, D)
Day 9 – Head Home from Shannon
Bid farewell to Galway and take a group transfer to Shannon Airport, where your tour concludes at 10:30 am. Check in for your flight in good time and you may like to shop at the duty-free stores. If you need to arrive at Shannon Airport before 10:30 am, your tour director will coordinate an early group transfer once you are on the tour. When booking your flights home, it is important to remember that Galway is 60 miles from Shannon and the drive takes 1 1/2 hours so do not spoil your last night in Ireland by booking too early flights. (B)
B=Breakfast, D=Dinner
Hotels on this tour
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Town & Country Homes, Killarney (2 nights)
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Town & Country Homes, Waterford (1 night)
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Bewleys Hotel Ballsbridge, Dublin (2 nights)
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Galway Bay Hotel, Galway (1 night - 9-day tour only) ( Bunratty Castle Hotel, Bunratty for Jul 23 departure)
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