• Return airfare from Toronto (YYZ)
• Airport transfers 
• Our unique Connections Program
• Private coach transportation
• 12 nights accommodation (1 In-flight)
• 13 breakfasts, 9 dinners
• Local professional guides and all entry fees and passes for the listed highlights
• Services of a Professional Tour Director

Prices are in Canadian dollars, are per person, and include HST.

INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS

• Guided Tour of Dublin
• EPIC – The Irish Emigration Museum
• Trinity College (Book of Kells)
• Stain Patrick’s Cathedral
• Guinness Brewery, self guided
• Irish Pub Experience (dinner and entertainment)
• Irish National Stud Farm
• Rock of Cashel
• Cobh Heritage Centre – “The Queenstown Story”
• Blarney Castle & Stone
• Ring of Kerry Scenic Drive
• Skibbereen Heritage Centre, Guided Tour
• Kenmare
• Dingle Peninsula
• Shannon Ferry Crossing
• Cliffs of Moher
• Overnight stay in Dromoland Castle
• Galway
• Connemara
• Kylemore Abbey
• Glen Keen Farm: Sheep Herding Demonstration
• Atlantic Coastal Drive 
• Turlough Park House & Museum of Country Life
• Drumcliffe County Sligo
• Derry
• Antrim Coastal Drive: Giants Causeway
• Guided Tour of Belfast
• Titanic Belfast

Complete Tour of Ireland

Beginning and ending in Dublin, this tour explores Ireland’s 5 regions: Dublin, Ireland’s Ancient East, Wild Atlantic Way, Northern Ireland, and Belfast.

Stay in a Historic Castle 

Wake up feeling like royalty when you overnight in the opulent Dromoland Castle. Nestled next to a lake on 450 acres of manicured lawns and mysterious woodlands, this historic property creates a magical atmosphere the minute you arrive. Warm up by one of the magnificent fireplaces, dine under sparkling chandeliers, and enjoy a well-rest in your luxurious room. 

Take in the Autumn Splendor

While Ireland is famous for its lush green scenery, it is also a great place to see fall colours.  The brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows of fall transform the landscapes, and the crisp, cool air makes touring enjoyable.

Day 1: Fly to Dublin, Ireland

This is a big travelling day.  Enjoy your overnight flight from Toronto to Dublin Aiport

Stay: N/A (in flight)

Day 2: Guided Tour of Dublin, EPIC - Irish Emigration Museum

After arriving in Dublin, Ireland’s capital city, meet your Tour Director, board the coach, and depart on a guided city tour. Learn the stories of this historic city while seeing iconic landmarks such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College, Phoenix Park (Europe’s largest town park), fashionable Grafton St. and statue-filled O’Connell Street. Visit Epic The Irish Emigration Museum, to dive deeper into what it means to be Irish and to discover the stories of those who emigrated and how they changed the world. Check in to your hotel, located in the heart of Dublin, freshen up and enjoy an included welcome dinner.   

Stay: The Camden Court Hotel, Dublin, IE  (2 nights)

Meals: B (on the plane), D

Day 3: Trinity College, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Guinness Brewery

In the morning, travel to Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest and most prestigious university to visit the Long Room which houses 200,000 of Trinity College’s oldest books including the Book of Kells, considered the world’s most famous medieval manuscript. Next, marvel at the beautiful architecture of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, one of the few buildings left of Medieval Dublin. See artifacts including the original 12th-century floor tiles and medieval stone font, which is still used today. Take some time to discover a great place to eat. After lunch, take a self-guided tour through the Guinness Brewery, home to Ireland’s most famous beer.  Finish your tour with a complimentary pint in the Gravity Bar, a 360-degree rooftop bar, that offers spectacular views of the city. Return to the hotel and freshen up for a fun night at a 200-year-old heritage pub. Enjoy a home-cooked Irish meal followed by an entertaining show full of traditional Irish music, song, and dance! 

Meals: B, D

Day 4: National Irish Stud & Gardens, Rock of Cashel

After an exciting evening, say goodbye to Dublin and travel south to County Kildare - the center of Ireland’s horse breeding industry for a guided tour of the Irish National Stud Farm. Learn the history of their first winning horse, Minoru in 1909, and hear how their legacy has continued. While on the grounds, check out the Japanese Gardens, renowned for their symbolism of “The Life of Man” and the recently opened St. Fiacre commemorative garden. After lunch (on your own), travel to Cashel for a guided tour of the amazing Rock of Cashel, also known as St. Patrick’s Rock. The group of most impressive medieval buildings, includes a 12th-Century Round Tower, a 13th-Century Gothic 

Cathedral, a 15th-century High Cross and Romanesque Chapel. Travel to Kinsale, Ireland, a historic fishing town on the southern coastline of County Cork. Home to colourful streetscapes and old cobblestoned streets, Kinsale is also known as the gourmet capital of Ireland. Your stay for the next two nights is at the Acton Hotel, a boutique heritage hotel that overlooks the Kinsale Harbour. After some time to freshen up, rejoin the group for a delicious group dinner. 

Stay: Acton’s Hotel, Kinsale, IE  (2 nights)

Meals: B, D

Day 5: The Queenstown Story, Blarney Castle & Stone, Free Time in Kinsale 

After a lovely breakfast at the hotel, travel to Cobh, one of the main points of emigration during the great famine. Here you will visit “The Queenstown Story” which portrays the hardship of life onboard a ship as it sailed to the “New World”. Learn about Annie Moore, the first emigrant ever to be processed on Ellis Island, and Cobh’s ties to the Titanic. Then it’s off to Blarney Castle for the chance to kiss the famous Blarney Stone, said to bestow the gift of eloquence on all those who dare. As you make your way through the castle grounds, take some time to meander the Castle Gardens and Rock Close. Return to Kinsale for a free afternoon and evening to discover the town as you see fit. 

Meals: B

Day 6: Skibbereen Heritage Centre, Kenmare, Ring of Kerry Drive 

This morning, depart Kinsale and travel along the southern coastline to Skibbereen, stopping for a guided tour of the Skibbereen Heritage Centre. Skibbereen and the surrounding area suffered the most fatalities during the Great Famine of the 1840s and is the most significant town in Ireland in terms of famine heritage. Travel the coast via lovely, lazy towns & villages to Kenmare, an example of one of Ireland's few planned towns, established in 1670. Kenmare and its Gaelic name, Neidin means little nest given because of its fine setting, nestled among the mountains of Cork and Kerry. Continue travelling to Killarney via the famous Ring of Kerry. This famous route shows off the spectacular landscapes of Ireland. Arrive in old town and check in to your historically charming hotel. Freshen up and enjoy a locally sourced dinner.

Stay: The International Hotel, Killarney, IE (2 nights)

Meals: B, D

Day 7: Dingle Peninsula, Brian de Staic Studio 

Today you will enjoy the unspoiled beauty of the Dingle Peninsula, once cited as the “Most Beautiful Place on Earth” by National Geographic. Stop in at a local artisan’s studio, which specializes in Celtic jewelry, handcrafted and engraved with ancient Celtic symbols and the letters of the ogham alphabet, an ancient Irish form of writing. As you continue around Slea Head, take in the breathtaking views of the Atlantic Coast and see some beehive huts (early monastic settlements) dating back over a thousand years. Stop at the most westerly point of Ireland where you can view the Blasket Islands, the location for such films as Ryan’s Daughter, Far and Away starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman and the more recently filmed Star Wars - The Last Jedi. You will have some free time in Dingle for lunch before returning to Killarney for a free afternoon and evening to discover Killarney’s nightlife. 

Meals: B

Day 8:  Shannon Ferry Ride, Cliffs of Moher, Overnight in a Castle!

After breakfast, bid farewell to Killarney and travel to Tralee, the capital town of County Kerry. Continue to Tarbert and board the Shannon Ferry, for a delightful ride across the Shannon Estuary to Killimer. From here you travel the coast road to the majestic Cliffs of Moher which rise to 600 ft over the Atlantic Ocean. Following some free time to view the cliffs, continue to the luxurious Dromoland Castle for an overnight stay. Built-in the 16th century, the castle was once the royal seat of the O'Brien clan. It was refurbished and transformed into a luxury hotel in 1962 and retains priceless reminders of the castle's historic past. Splendid woodcarvings, stone statues, and fine antique furnishings surround you during your stay. Get ready (dress code: smart casual) for a magical private dinner in the Castle’s Terrace Room.

Stay: Dromoland Castle: Queen Anne Rooms, County Clare, IE (1 night)

Meals: B, D

Day 9:  Connemara, Kylemore Abbey, Glen Keen Farm Sheep Demo

Today’s first stop of the day is at the second-largest inhabited castle in England, Alnwick. Enjoy a tour of the castle, its grounds, and the magnificent gardens. Parts of the castle may look familiar if you are a Harry Potter or Downton Abbey fan!  Early in the afternoon, we’ll continue northward into Scotland and arrive in Edinburgh. After settling into the hotel, enjoy an included dinner at a local restaurant.  If interested, an optional Ghouls and Ghosts walking tour is being offered (see Important Info for this Tour section).

Stay: The Clew Bay Hotel, Westport, IE  (2 nights)

Meals: B, D

Day 10: Achill Island, Atlantic Drive, Slievemore Ghost Town, Freetime in Westport

This morning, travel to Mulranny and cross the Michael Davitt Bridge to Achill, Ireland’s largest offshore island.  As your tour follows the coastline you will get some breathtaking views on the island’s spectacular Atlantic Drive. Visit the deserted village at Slievemore, which consists of 80 – 100 stone cottages (booley homes) on the southern slopes of Slievemore Mountain. Return to Westport for a free afternoon and evening. Be sure to explore this picturesque town with its cheerful, multicoloured shop fronts and an attractive selection of pubs, cafés, and restaurants.

Meals: B

Day 11: Turlough Park House, Museum of Country Life, Drumcliffe in County Sligo, Donegal

After breakfast, arrive at Turlough Park House, a high Victorian Gothic heritage building and home to the award-winning Museum of Country Life, which provides an insight into the lives of the people living in rural Ireland from the 1850s to the 1950s. Learn about the traditional trades, crafts, fashion and religion, and explore Ireland’s agricultural and maritime past. Continue to Drumcliffe in County Sligo where St. Colmcille founded a monastery in the 6th Century. It is also the final resting place of one of Ireland’s great poets, William Butler Yeats (1865 – 1939), whose grave is marked by a simple headstone with the inscription, “cast a cold eye on life, on death, horseman pass by.” Your next stop is Belleek, most famous for the fine Parian China produced here at Belleek Pottery, the oldest in Ireland. The China is valued by collectors from all over the world! Following a guided tour, travel to Donegal for an overnight stay. Enjoy your dinner tonight at the hotel.

Stay:  The Mill Park Hotel, Donegal (1 night)

Meals: B, D

Day 12: Derry, Antrim Coastal Drive, Giant’s Causeway

This morning, travel to Derry City, located on the banks of the River Foyle. The City was founded in 546AD and still retains its 17C walls. Take a look at the new Derry Peace Bridge over the River Foyle. This 235-metre-long pedestrian bridge opened in 2011 and bridges a 400-year-old physical and political gap between two sides of a once-divided community. Continue to Limavady and begin your  Antrim Coastal Drive. Of course, no visit to Northern Ireland would be complete without a visit to the Giant’s Causeway – a remarkable basaltic formation made of approximately 37,000 columns and ranked as one of the natural wonders of the world. Your tour continues along the Antrim Coast Road with spectacular views of the northern coastline to Belfast for an overnight stay. Check in to your centrally located hotel, freshen up, and enjoy an included group dinner. 

Stay: The Europa Hotel, Belfast, GB  (1 night)

Meals: B, D

Day 13: Guided City Tour of Belfast, Titanic Belfast

After breakfast, enjoy a guided tour of Northern Ireland’s capital city. Learn the history and see interesting landmarks such as the: City Hall – one of the finest Classical Renaissance buildings in Europe, the Linen Hall Library, where lending books has been a tradition for over 200 years, and the Grand Opera House, often described as the most beautiful Victorian theatre in the world. Admire the many murals that Belfast has become famous for. They depict the history and political views of both traditions and are a way of marking territory. Did you know: that Belfast was the birthplace of the Titanic? Discover Titanic Belfast, a new state-of-the-art visitor center which tells the stories of the ill-fated RMS Titanic, and her sister ships RMS Olympic and HMHS Britannic. In the afternoon, return to Dublin where your adventures began! Enjoy a farewell tonight with your fellow guests, sharing your favourite memories of your trip. 

Stay: The City North Hotel, Dublin, IE (1 night)

Meals:  B, D

Day 14: Fly Home

In the morning, depart for the Dublin airport for your flight home with fun new memories.

Meals: B

This tour begins and ends at the Dublin Airport. Round trip airfare is included from Toronto (YYZ). Other flight arrangements can be made for guests coming from anywhere in the world, and the price will be adjusted accordingly. Please contact us to discuss your airfare and pre-and post-tour accommodation options.

• Due to the accommodation overseas, this tour only has a maximum of 5 single rooms. 

PACKING NOTES:

• We recommend comfortable rubber-soled shoes for walking tours, cobblestoned streets, and uneven ground.
• The weather is unpredictable and changeable, so being able to dress in layers is recommended. 
• Pack a waterproof jacket.  It may or may not be needed for rain, but it will also protect from cool damp winds. 
• This tour will require two types of currency: Euros and Pounds