12 Day Country Roads Of Ireland 2012

12 Day Country Roads of Ireland Tour 2012

HIGHLIGHTS

• Dublin: See Customs House, Dublin Castle and O’Connell St. Visit the Old Library of Trinity College to see the Book of Kells.
• Belfast: Visit the Titanic Belfast Exhibition on your guided tour.
• Carrickfergus: Drive around the immense Castle.
• Giant’s Causeway: Visit this UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Londonderry: See ‘Derry’s Walls’ and Gothic guildhall.
• Belleek: Visit the Pottery Centre.
• Clonalis House: Visit this historic Irish Manor House.
• Galway: See St. Nicholas Cathedral, Spanish Arch & Eyre Square.
• Connemara: Drive through rugged landscapes to the Marble factory and visit the turreted neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey.
• Cliffs of Moher: Visit the Exhibition Centre and enjoy the views.
• Bunratty: Visit the Folk Park.
• Limerick: See King John’s Castle and St Mary’s Cathedral.
• Killarney: Enjoy a scenic tour around the Ring of Kerry. Take a ride with a Jarvie on one of the famous jaunting cars
• Dingle Peninsula: Enjoy a scenic tour to Slea Head.
• Blarney: Visit the Castle and kiss the Blarney stone.
• Waterford: Visit the Crystal showrooms.
• Kilkenny: Visit the Design Centre.
• Kildare: Visit Ireland’s National Stud and Japanese Gardens.
• Scenic drives: Boyne Valley, Antrim coast, Connemara, Burren.

Itinerary:

Day 1 - DUBLIN SIGHTSEEING
Welcome to Ireland! On arrival at Dublin Airport, transfers leave for the tour hotel at 08:00, 11:00 & 13:30. Later, your sightseeing tour of Dublin includes the elegant squares of Ireland’s ‘fair city’. See the famous O’Connell Street, Customs House and Dublin Castle. Visit the Old Library of Trinity College to admire the 8th century Book of Kells, its delicate paintings one of the treasures of the Middle Ages. Tonight, join your Tour Director for a Welcome Reception with drink and a light meal.
Hotel: D4 Berkeley/Burlington
Meals: Welcome Reception

Day 2 - DUBLIN – BELFAST
Heading northwards, cross the emotive valley of the River Boyne, site of the Battle of the Boyne where William of Orange defeated the forces of Catholic King James. Continue to Drogheda, then cross the border into Ulster. Travel alongside the beautiful Mountains of Mourne to Belfast.
Hotel: Europa
Meals: Full Breakfast
Day 3 - BELFAST – BALLYGALLY
Meet your local guide for a panoramic tour of Northern Ireland’s capital. Some of the highlights include the City Hall, Queen’s University and Stormont Castle. Now step back in time and uncover life in Belfast from 100 years ago as you follow the story of the ill fated Titanic in the new state of the art Titanic Belfast building and exhibition. Continue around the scenic coast, past the huge Norman castle at Carrickfergus, to arrive at your hotel, overlooking the sandy beach of Ballygally Bay.
Hotel: Ballygally Castle
Meals: Full Breakfast / Dinner

Day 4 - BALLYGALLY – LONDONDERRY
Prepare yourself for miles of breathtaking beauty! The road clings to the coastline at the mouth of the famous ‘nine glens of Antrim’, alongside sandy beaches beneath towering basalt cliffs. Stop at the spectacular Giant’s Causeway, and hear the fantastic legends which surround this geological masterpiece. Continue to the ancient walled city of ‘Derry’. Sightseeing with a local guide takes you inside the well preserved walls, still topped with cannons, and down steep Shipquay Street, with its elegant Georgian houses, to the Gothic Guildhall.
Hotel: City/Everglades
Meals: Full Breakfast / Dinner

Day 5 - LONDONDERRY – BELLEEK – GALWAY
First stop is for a visit to the Belleek Pottery Centre nestled on the banks of the River Erne. Afterwards continue to Clonalis House, ancestral home of the O’Conors, descendants of the last High Kings of Ireland. Meet the resident family and tour their home, imbued with a warm and friendly atmosphere. Continue on to Galway on the shores of Lough Corrib, for your hotel for the night.
Hotel: Clybaun/Clayton
Meals: Full Breakfast / Dinner

Day 6 - CONNEMARA EXCURSION
Square, dedicated to US president John F. Kennedy. Stop for a superb highlight lunch with wine at the elegant 5 star Ashford Castle, set in 350 acres of beautiful parkland. Then experience the beautiful rugged landscape of Connemara, a wonderland of trout-filled rivers, lakes and silent hills. Tour the workshop of the famous marble factory before visiting Kylemore Abbey one of Ireland’s greatest neo-Gothic castles, now a boarding school, and run by the Benedictine Nuns of Ypres.
Meals: Full Breakfast / Highlight Lunch

Day 7 - GALWAY – LIMERICK – KILLARNEY
Cross the Burren, a strange, rocky landscape rich with wild orchids to reach the Visitors’ Centre at the 700-foot Cliffs of Moher. Here you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Clare Coast. Now experience the lifestyle of rural Ireland over the centuries at Bunratty Folk Park. Next stop is Limerick, famous for rhymes, lace and elegant Georgian houses. Continue through the land of song and legend via the picturesque thatched village of Adare, to Killarney.
Hotel: Killarney Towers/Killarney Avenue
Meals: Full Breakfast / Dinner

Day 8 - RING OF KERRY EXCURSION
Join an excursion around the Ring of Kerry, one of the world’s greatest scenic tours! Follow the narrow road as it winds along the towering cliffs to the fishing town of Waterville where reservations for an authentic local lunch have been made. Return via Ireland’s highest mountain range and then enjoy a ride on one of the famous jaunting cars. Tonight your Dine-Around evening offers you the option of dinner at a selection of local restaurants.
Hotel: Killarney Towers/Killarney Avenue
Meals: Full Breakfast / Highlight Lunch / Dine Around

Day 9 - KILLARNEY – BLARNEY
This morning is dedicated to the wide skies, peaceful towns, and coastal scenery of the Dingle Peninsula, setting for the film Ryan’s Daughter. Drive to dramatic Slea Head at the peninsula’s far end and then return to cross the rugged Derrynasaggart Mountains. Head for your superb resort, close to the historic town of Blarney in County Cork.
Hotel: Blarney Golf Resort
Meals: Full Breakfast

Day 10 - BLARNEY – CORK – WATERFORD
After breakfast, visit the 15th century Blarney Castle, the home of the famous Stone of Eloquence, once kissed – never forgotten! Continue to Cork for an orientation tour of Ireland’s second most populous city, built on the River Lee. Then a delightful coastal drive brings you to historic Waterford. View the 9C Reginald’s Tower, the remains of the old city walls and visit the Waterford Crystal showroom. Enjoy a glass of wine with your Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant tonight.
Hotel: Dooleys
Meals: Full Breakfast / Celebration Dinner

Day 11 - WATERFORD - KILKENNY - KILDARE - DUBLIN
In medieval Kilkenny there’s free time to see St.Canice’s Cathedral and visit the Kilkenny Design Centre. Move on to Kildare for a visit to one of the country’s main racehorse breeding centres and acclaimed 100 year old Japanese Gardens. Return to Ireland’s lively capital and spend a leisurely evening relaxing, exploring or perhaps taking in a famous Irish Cabaret show.
Hotel: D4 Berkeley/Burlington
Meals: Full Breakfast

Day 12 – RETURN HOME
Your tour comes to an end after breakfast this morning. Departure transfers arrive at Dublin Airport at 07:30, 09:30 & 11:30.
Meals: Full Breakfast

Tours Pace: This is a well paced and expertly planned tour. The driving days are of a reasonable length, with frequent stops offering splendid photo opportunities.
Hotels: Modern hotels like the Europa in Belfast, contrast with the historic charm of Ballygally Castle Hotel with its antique furniture and resident ghost. The Blarney Golf Resort is set amongst 170 acres in the beautiful Shournagh Valley.

INCLUDED FIRST CLASS SERVICES

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Headsets for all guided visits and walking tours
• Enjoy the unique comfort of Insight’s Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room and on-board restroom
• Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Insight Traveller Welcome pack
• Airport arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 and Day 12(Should your flights not coincide with these transfers, please make your own way to/from the airport)

INCLUDED QUALITY DINING

• A Welcome Reception with light informal meal (WR)
• Stop on your journey around the Ring of Kerry for an authentic two-course lunch including a glass of wine. (HL)
• Choose from a selection of restaurants in Killarney (DA)
• Highlight Lunch with wine at the 5 star Ashford Castle (HL)
• Enjoy a tour finalé Celebration Dinner with wine (CD)
• 11 full Breakfasts (FB), 4 three-course Evening Meals with choice, or buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

Dates & Rates:
Tour leaves Dublin Sundays and returns to Dublin Fridays
April 1 – April 22: $2885
April 29 & May 4: $2935
May 6 – August 26: $2950
August 31 – September 16: $2975
September 21 & 23: $2950
September 28 – October 7: $2899

All Rates are in Canadian Dollars, per person, based on double occupancy.
Single Supplement: $615
Triple reduction: please call our office