8 Day Irish Adventure Tour 2012

8 Day Irish Adventure Tour 2012

Highlights:

• Abbey Tavern Dinner & Irish Show
• Cliffs of Moher
• Dunbrody Famine Ship
• Walking Tours of Waterford & Derry
• Giant's Causeway
• Panoramic Belfast Tour

Day 1: Dublin Tour & Book of Kells
Your tour starts at Dublin Airport with a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If you arrive later than noon, transfer to the hotel at your own expense. At 2:00 pm join a local guide for a half-day guided tour of Dublin to see elegant Georgian squares with brightly-painted doors, O'Connell Street and the evocative statues of the Famine Memorial. Visit Trinity College's campus and the Old Library to view the illuminated manuscript of the Book of Kells. You are free to dine independently this evening and your tour director will assist with suggestions.
Day 2: 6th Century Glendalough & Waterford
This morning leave Dublin to see the delightful scenery of the Wicklow Mountains on the way to Glendalough. Learn about St. Kevin's 6th century monastery in the Glendalough Visitor Centre and walk through the site to see its round tower, church ruins and Celtic crosses. Continue your drive south to New Ross where a walk through the reconstructed 19th century Dunbrody Famine Ship demonstrates the harsh conditions that emigrants endured. Drive to Waterford and check in to your hotel where you will enjoy a welcome drink and a briefing on your tour. After dinner, take a walking tour around the narrow streets of historic Waterford with a local guide. (B, D)
Day 3: Waterford Crystal & Titanic Walk
Visit the House of Waterford Crystal to learn about glass blowing and cutting and see one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Travel along the south coast via Dungarvan to Cobh, the last port of call of the Titanic. A walking tour will reveal many of the places associated with emigrants as they left Ireland for better lives overseas. Drive through the outskirts of Cork city to reach the Blarney Woollen Mills, which stocks excellent Irish products. While Blarney Castle is not included in your tour, you will have time to kiss the “Stone of Eloquence” on your own. Then journey west through rugged countryside to Killarney and settle in to your centrally-located hotel. (B, D)
Day 4: Ring of Kerry & Skellig Experience
Enjoy the highlights of Ireland's natural scenery on the Ring of Kerry route. The road winds between the Macgillycuddy's Reeks Mountains on one side and the Atlantic coastline on the other. Drive through Killorglin and Cahirciveen to cross by bridge to Valencia Island. Visit the Skellig Experience to learn about the rocky islands off the end of the peninsula where monks lived in early Christian times. Today the islands form a protected bird sanctuary. Stop in the pretty village of Sneem and also at Moll's Gap to view the Three Lakes of Killarney. Enjoy free time in Killarney before dining in your hotel. (B, D)
Day 5: Flying Boat Museum & Cliffs of Moher
Drive to Foynes to visit the Flying Boat Museum, which recalls the early days of air travel, during the 1930's and early 1940's. Travel through the outskirts of Limerick and have a look around Bunratty Village before heading to the coast of County Clare. View the Cliffs of Moher rising to heights of almost 700 feet above the wild Atlantic swells and walk to O'Brien's Tower at the highest point for great views. Drive through the Burren and around the shores of Galway Bay. Take a short orientation tour of central Galway before checking in to your hotel. (B, D)
Day 6: Yeats' Grave & Derry Walk
Head north to visit the pilgrimage town of Knock, one of the world's leading shrines. See the church where villagers saw a vision of the Virgin Mary in 1879. Travel through County Sligo and stop to view W. B. Yeats' grave in Drumcliffe Churchyard, in the shadow of Ben Bulben mountain. Follow the shoreline of Donegal Bay to Donegal town and past the lovely Blue Stack Mountains to Derry. On arrival in Derry take a brief drive around the city, including the Bogside area, with a local guide before walking along the fortification walls, which encircle the old city and date from 1613 AD. (B, D)
Day 7: Giant's Causeway & Abbey Tavern
Today explore the northern coastline, stopping for photos at the sprawling ruins of Dunluce Castle. Visit the Giant's Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. Drive to Belfast for a panoramic tour around Victorian buildings, the Harland & Wolff shipyards where the Titanic was built, and the Falls Road and Shankill residential areas. Continue south to check in to your hotel on the north side of Dublin. A short drive will bring you to the popular Abbey Tavern for a farewell dinner and entertaining traditional Irish songs and step-dancing. (B, D)
Day 8: Depart for Home
Group transfers are provided to Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon. (B)
Your Hotels
Superior & first class:

• Maldron Hotel, Cardiff Lane, Dublin (1 night)
• Dooley's Hotel, Waterford (1 night)
• International Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
• Ardilaun House Hotel, Galway (1 night)
• Everglades Hotel, Derry (1 night)
• Croke Park Hotel, Dublin (1 night)

Tour Includes:

• Group transfers at start and end of tour
• Sightseeing by luxury coach
• Professional tour director
• 7 nights in hotels listed above
• Full breakfast daily except on day 1 (B)
• 6 dinners (D) including
  - Traditional Irish evening with dinner/show at the Abbey Tavern
  - 5 table d'hote dinners
• Welcome get-together drink
• Tour of Dublin with a local guide
• “Titanic” walking tour of Cobh
• Walking tours of Waterford and Derry with local guides
• Belfast panoramic drive
• Visits and admissions to Book of Kells at Trinity College, Glendalough Visitor Centre, Dunbrody Famine Ship, House of Waterford Crystal, Blarney Woollen Mills, Skellig Experience, Foynes Flying Boat Museum, Cliffs of Moher, Knock Shrine, W. B. Yeats' Grave and Giant's Causeway
• Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person

Dates & Rates:
Tour leaves & returns to Dublin on Mondays and Wednesdays.
April 4 – 16: $1288
April 18: $1398
April 25 – September 24: $1498
October 1 & 3: $1398
October 10 – 24: $1298
October 31 & November 5: $1198
November 12 & 19: $1098

All rates in US Dollars, per person, based on double occupancy

Single Supplement: $398