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Irish Classic 12 & 13 Day Coach Tour
Tour Highlights
- Traditional Irish evening in Dublin
- Bunratty Castle Medieval Banquet
- St. Patrick’s Burial Site
- Giant’s Causeway
- Achill Island Tour
- Historic Derry & Waterford Walks
- Jaunting Car Ride
Day 1: Arrive Ireland & Dublin Sightseeing
Arrive in Dublin Airport, complete immigration formalities and pick up your luggage. Go to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall to arrange a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later, you will need to transfer to the hotel at your own expense. At 2:00 pm enjoy a tour of Dublin. Visit Dublin Castle’s State Apartments where a guide will relate events from Irish history as you walk through gracious Georgian chambers. In the evening meet your fellow travellers over a welcome drink and your tour director will help you choose a restaurant to dine independently.
Day 2: St. Patrick Centre & Belfast
Drive north past the Mourne Mountains to visit Down Cathedral and see the reputed burial place of St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint, marked by a huge boulder. Then learn about his life and times in the nearby St. Patrick Centre. Visit the Stately mansion of Castle Ward then drive to Belfast and check in to your hotel in the centre of this thriving city. Enjoy some free time to look around on your own. The imposing City Hall is within easy walking distance and the ornate Victorian pub, Crown Liquor Saloon, is just across the street. (B, D)
Day 3: Belfast & Titanic Quarter
See Belfast’s Victorian buildings, the Harland and Wolff Shipyards, where the Titanic was built, the Shankill and Falls Road.
Visit Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, newly opened for 2012, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the building of the famous liner. Your afternoon is free for personal sightseeing
Day 4: Giants Causeway & Derry
Drive north along the “Nine Glens of Antrim,” for lovely views of mountains, valleys and coastline. Stop at the Giant’s Causeway, hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity which have spawned legends about the mythical giant, Finn McCool. Continue to Derry and join a local guide for a short walk around the city centre and its medieval walls and learn about the city’s long history. (B, D)
Day 5: Donegal & Westport
Travel through the rugged countryside of Donegal to visit Triona design for demonstrations of spinning and knitting and an Irish Coffee. Pause at the grave of W.B Yeats. Travel through Counties Sligo and Mayo to your hotel in the centre of Westport, an attractive estate town, which was laid out in 1780. (B, D)
Day 6: Achill Island & Westport House
After a late breakfast travel around Clew Bay to Achill Island, joined to the mainland by bridge. Follow the Atlantic Drive to capture wonderful views of steeply-sloped mountains plunging into the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Near Slievemore see the Deserted Village, the remains of nearly 100 stone cottages abandoned around the time of the 1840’s Famine. Return to Westport to tour the Stately Westport House. (B, D)
Day 7: Cliffs of Moher & Bunratty Medieval Banquet
Travel to Galway City for a panoramic tour and free time. Drive through the limestone hills of the Burren to view the Poulnabrone Dolmen, a pre-Christian burial site. Walk along the majestic Cliffs of Moher, a rocky wall that rises nearly 700 feet above the foaming Atlantic Ocean. At Bunratty check in to your hotel, right beside 15th century Bunratty Castle, the Bunratty Folk Park and Durty Nelly’s Pub. Head to Bunratty Castle for a jolly medieval-style dinner where the lords and ladies serenade you. (B, D)
Day 8: Flying Boat Museum & Dingle Peninsula
Drive through the outskirts of Limerick and alongside the River Shannon to visit Foynes Flying Boat Museum. During the 1930’s and early 1940’s, Pan Am Clippers from the United States and Europe landed here and the museum’s memorabilia recreates this era. Journey into County Kerry and along the Dingle Peninsula for glorious scenic views. Stop in the town of Dingle before going up the Connor Pass for more panoramas. Then head to your hotel in the centre of Killarney. (B, D)
Day 9: Jaunting Car Ride & Moll’s Gap
Take a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car ride to Ross Castle for views of Lough Leane, Killarney’s largest lake. Drive to the delightful town of Kenmare where gaily-painted buildings are enhanced with flowers. Enjoy mountain views at Moll’s Gap and continue along part of the Ring of Kerry, pausing at Ladies’ View. Return to Killarney in time to allow you some leisure time before dinner. (B, D)
Day 10: Cobh Heritage & Traditional Music Session
Travel through the mountains of Kerry and make a brief stop at the Blarney Woollen Mills. Next visit Cobh Heritage Centre, located in the old train station through which all emigrants passed when travelling to the new worlds. Displays show the many hardships that travellers endured. Drive to Dungarvan to the Marine Bar for a creamy Irish coffee and an informal traditional music session. Continue to Waterford, check in to your hotel and join a local guide for a stroll around the historic city centre. (B, D)
Day 11: Medieval Kilkenny & National Stud
Visit the Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre to see how molten glass is blown into shapes before being cut by hand by experts and view priceless trophies. Stop in Kilkenny for a look around the prosperous medieval trading city where narrow streets still follow ancient routes. Visit the Irish National Stud to learn about the valuable horse breeding industry. Walk through the Japanese Gardens, which symbolize the “Life of Man” through plants and rocks. Then head to Dun Laoghaire on the outskirts of Dublin. Check in to Royal Marine Hotel. This evening’s destination is a typical Irish Pub for dinner and an evening of song and dance. (B, D)
Day 12: Depart Dublin Airport or extra day in Dublin
For those booked on the 12 day tour group transfers to Dublin Airport will be arranged.
For those on the 13 Day tour, spend an additional day in Dublin with an individual Dublin open top bus tour pass with a visit to either Guinness or Jameson (valid for 24 hours) (B)
Day 13: Homeward bound
A voucher is provided for Independent transfers to the Airport (B).
YOUR TOUR INCLUDES
- Transfers on arrival and departure
- Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout
- Dublin open-top bus tour with complimentary visit and a drink at Guinness Storehouse or Old Jameson Distillery. (13 day tour only)
- Services of a professional Irish tour director
- Superior first class hotels with private bath/shower for 11 or 12 nights
- Full Irish breakfasts (B) except Day 1
- 10 dinners (D) including:
- Dinner and traditional Irish entertainment at a Dublin Pub
- Medieval banquet and entertainment at Bunratty Castle
- 8 table d’hôte dinners
- Welcome get-together drink
- Tours of Dublin and Belfast
- Walking tours of Derry and Waterford with local guides
- Day tour to Achill Island
- Horse-drawn jaunting car ride in Killarney
- Irish coffee and music session at the Marine Bar in Dungarvan
- Visits and admissions to Dublin Castle, Down Cathedral, St. Patrick Centre, Castle Ward, Titanic Quarter, Giant’s Causeway, Triona design, W.B Yeats grave, Westport house, Poulnabrone Dolmen, Cliffs of Moher, Foynes Flying Boat Museum, Blarney Woollen Mills, Cobh Heritage Centre, Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre and Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
- Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
- All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person
YOUR HOTELS
Stay at the following (or similar):
- Conrad Hilton Hotel, Dublin (1 nights)
- Europa Hotel, Belfast (2 night)
- City Hotel, Derry (1 night)
- Hotel Westport, Westport (2 nights)
- Bunratty Castle Hotel, Bunratty (1 night)
- Killarney Plaza Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
- Granville Hotel, Waterford (1 night)
- Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire (1 or 2 nights)
Tour Starts Tour Ends 12Day 13Day Dublin Dublin Sat Mar 09 Wed Mar 20 1898 2068 Sat Mar 16 Wed Mar 27 1898 2068 Sat Mar 23 Wed Apr 03 1898 2068 Sat Mar 30 Wed Apr 10 1898 2068 Thu Apr 04 Mon Apr 15 2098 2286 Sat Apr 06 Wed Apr 17 2098 2286 Thu Apr 11 Mon Apr 22 2098 2286 Sat Apr 13 Wed Apr 24 2098 2286 Thu Apr 18 Mon Apr 29 2098 2286 Sat Apr 20 Wed May 01 2098 2286 Thu Apr 25 Mon May 06 2228 2426 Sat Apr 27 Wed May 08 2228 2426 Thu May 02 Mon May 13 2358 2558 Sat May 04 Wed May 15 2358 2558 Thu May 09 Mon May 20 2358 2558 Sat May 11 Wed May 22 2358 2558 Thu May 16 Mon May 27 2358 2558 Sat May 18 Wed May 29 2358 2558 Thu May 23 Mon Jun 03 2358 2558 Sat May 25 Wed Jun 05 2358 2558 Thu May 30 Mon Jun 10 2358 2558 Sat Jun 01 Wed Jun 12 2488 2688 Thu Jun 06 Mon Jun 17 2488 2688 Sat Jun 08 Wed Jun 19 2488 2688 Thu Jun 13 Mon Jun 24 2488 2688 Sat Jun 15 Wed Jun 26 2488 2688 Thu Jun 20 Mon Jul 01 2488 2688 Sat Jun 22 Wed Jul 03 2488 2688 Thu Jun 27 Mon Jul 08 2488 2688 Sat Jun 29 Wed Jul 10 2488 2688 Thu Jul 04 Mon Jul 15 2488 2688 Sat Jul 06 Wed Jul 17 2488 2688 Thu Jul 11 Mon Jul 22 2488 2688 Sat Jul 13 Wed Jul 24 2488 2688 Thu Jul 18 Mon Jul 29 2488 2688 Sat Jul 20 Wed Jul 31 2488 2688 Thu Jul 25 Mon Aug 05 2488 2688 Sat Jul 27 Wed Aug 07 2488 2688 Thu Aug 01 Mon Aug 12 2488 2688 Sat Aug 03 Wed Aug 14 2488 2688 Thu Aug 08 Mon Aug 19 2488 2688 Sat Aug 10 Wed Aug 21 2488 2688 Thu Aug 15 Mon Aug 26 2488 2688 Sat Aug 17 Wed Aug 28 2488 2688 Thu Aug 22 Mon Sep 02 2488 2688 Sat Aug 24 Wed Sep 04 2488 2688 Thu Aug 29 Mon Sep 09 2488 2688 Sat Aug 31 Wed Sep 11 2488 2688 Thu Sep 05 Mon Sep 16 2488 2688 Sat Sep 07 Wed Sep 18 2488 2688 Thu Sep 12 Mon Sep 23 2488 2688 Sat Sep 14 Wed Sep 25 2488 2688 Thu Sep 19 Mon Sep 30 2488 2688 Sat Sep 21 Wed Oct 02 2488 2688 Thu Sep 26 Mon Oct 07 2488 2688 Sat Sep 28 Wed Oct 09 2488 2688 Thu Oct 03 Mon Oct 14 2328 2578 Sat Oct 05 Wed Oct 16 2328 2578 Thu Oct 10 Mon Oct 21 2328 2578 Sat Oct 12 Wed Oct 23 2328 2578 Thu Oct 17 Mon Oct 28 2168 2348 Sat Oct 19 Wed Oct 30 2168 2348 Thu Oct 24 Mon Nov 04 2168 2348 Sat Oct 26 Wed Nov 06 2168 2348 Sat Nov 02 Wed Nov 13 1898 2068 Sat Nov 09 Wed Nov 20 1898 2068 Sat Nov 16 Wed Nov 27 1898 2068 * 13 day tour returns from Dublin one day later than shown above Single room supplement: 12day $668, 13day $748