Travel Through Rich Heritage, Natural Beauty & Heritage
Moderate pace with leisurely intermittent walks up to 2 hours on a variety of terrain, including cobblestones and moderate hills. Must be able to climb at least two flights of stairs, negotiate steps without railings and tolerate periods of standing during guided tours. Some days may include 3–5 km of walking over the course of the day.
We depart with Air Canada for Dublin (a non-stop flight from Toronto).
We arrive and transfer to our hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Tonight, get to know your fellow travellers at our Welcome Dinner.
On our morning city tour we see the 18th century Georgian squares and houses, the 12th century St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Leinster House (the Irish parliament), as well as Trinity College. Tonight enjoy a rousing evening of Irish food and entertainment at an Irish cabaret.
Our first stop is at the Rock of Cashel, set in a cluster of medieval buildings on top of a limestone hill, overlooking the Golden Vale. Enjoy a lunch at a local pub with good food and music. Then we proceed to Waterford and enjoy a walking tour to end the day with.
We travel to County Cork, stopping enroute for a tour of Cork City and a visit to Cobh Heritage Centre, a portside display depicting the exodus of the potato famine victims to America in the 19th century. We continue to Blarney, site of Blarney Castle and your chance to kiss the Blarney Stone, said to give you the "gift of the gab”.
This morning we will visit the factory where they once made the world-famous crystal before we head west for the quaint town of Killarney. This afternoon we take a jaunting car ride to the lakes, and visit Muckross House, a 19th century Irish estate. This evening we enjoy dinner and traditional music and dance in a quaint local pub.
A day of splendid scenery as we tour the famous Ring of Kerry. We pass Daniel O'Connell's Cahirsiveen, the fishing village of Waterville, Molls Gap in the heart of the Black Mountains. and many more sites that make the Ring of Kerry one of Ireland’s most beloved attractions. This evening we enjoy “Celtic Steps”—a grand performance of Irish culture.
Following the coast, we drive through many villages, each prettier than the last, until we reach the ferry port to cross from County Kerry to County Clare. We continue the drive up the coast to the Cliffs of Moher, rising 700 feet above the sea and displaying a magnificent, lush landscape. We continue through the beautiful countryside, stopping enroute at a working farm for a late farm-fresh lunch, and a sheepdog demonstration, before continuing our journey to Galway, a charming old town of narrow streets and stone houses.
We pass through the beauty of Connemara National Park and the rugged mountain ranges of Twelve Pins. We stop at Kylemore Abbey, with its dramatic setting overlooking Kylemore Lough (now a convent for Benedictine nuns). We overnight in Westport, a picturesque Georgian town with a delightful tree-lined public walkway and tempting shopping area.
We head to the town of Drumcliff, but first we stop for a cruise on Lough Gill and visit the Parke’s Castle. We then enter Northern Ireland and visit the Belleek Pottery Factory, known for its exquisite cream-coloured china. Our next two nights are in Donegal County.
Today we spend a full day enjoying the breathtaking views, scenic walks and fresh Irish air on our tour of Glenveagh National Park, in the Derryveah Mountains. Also included is a guided tour of Glenveagh Castle and its beautiful Victorian Gardens. In the afternoon we’ll stop at The Crolly Distillery for a taste of their famous Irish Whiskey.
On our guided tour of Derry we’ll learn about this fascinating city’s controversial history, depicted on many houses in the form of striking murals. We’ll visit the old city walls for panoramic views of the city and countryside, and then drive to Antrim’s north coast and the amazing Giant’s Causeway. These vast outcroppings were formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago. We’ll view this wonder from a cliff top and allow time for those who wish to climb them. We then drive through Antrim’s lovely glens and coastal villages to Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland.
Belfast is a beautiful city of imposing Victorian architecture set within picturesque hills. On our guided tour we see the City Hall with its copper-domed roof, the Grand Opera House, and the Parliament Buildings set amid beautiful parklands. This afternoon we visit the Titanic Museum, which features special effects, original drawings, full-scale constructions, and interactive elements to explore the moving Titanic story. The rest of the day is at leisure.
We journey through the outstanding natural beauty of the Ring of Gullion, first stopping for a visit at the Royal Hillsborough Castle. In the afternoon we’ll travel down the coast to North Dublin, for our Farewell Dinner and overnight.
We fly back to Canada from Dublin.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
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