A 9-day Ireland Tour offering an incredible journey through the island’s most iconic and picturesque off the beaten track destinations, blending history & culture, meeting locals, tasting traditional organic food & drinks and staying in unique & atmospheric castle-hotels.
Day 1. “Fáilte go mBaile Átha Cliath” Welcome to Dublin
Explore Dublin with our tour guide. Visit Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest University and home of the Book of Kells.
Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Stroll Dublin’s Georgian squares and hear about famous Dubliners: Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, James Joyce and Bernard Shaw.
Lunch in the legendary Guinness Storehouse, Dublin’s highest restaurant, while admiring views of the city and tasting the freshest pint of Guinness – learn how to pour it.
Walk through the famous Temple Bar area, pop-in to say hello in the writer’s bar, taste some rare Irish whiskey
Day 2. The Gardens of Ireland – Wicklow
Start your day with a hearty Irish breakfast, then head to Co Wicklow On the way stop in picturesque south Dublin and marvel at the brave Irish swimmers jumping into the cold waters.
Warm up by tasting Irish coffee in the pub that Bono, Enya & Cillian Murphy call their “local”.
Visit an ancient Irish Monastic site, walk to the lakes and glens, and admire the beauty of Wicklow mountains.
Meet the Locals experience: Michael – a 5th generation sheep farmer, see his working sheep dogs herding the sheep, learn all about rural life in Ireland
Day 3. Ireland’s Ancient East: Kilkenny Castle, Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle
Morning will start with visiting the medieval city of Kilkenny, hear the legends of Kilkenny cats and witches. Visit Smithwicks brewery for a taste of Irish ale. Explore the Rock of Cashel, the ancient seat of the Kings of Munster. Learn about St. Patrick’s connection to the site and the rich tapestry of legends and events that unfolded here.
Travel to Cahir Castle, see its massive keep, defensive walls, and impressive gatehouse. The castle’s long history includes sieges and battles, and it has been used as a filming location for movies and TV shows due to its authentic medieval appearance. Gastronomic experience: visit a local cheese maker, taste Irish sheep & cow cheeses
Day 4. Cork – Killarney
Best food and the Irish gift of the gab.
Breakfast in Cork’s famous English Market and taste a wide variety of local organic produce: cheese, salami, pastries, fruit & veg, smoked salmon and oysters.
Walk through the narrow streets of Cork.
Find out how the Irish got their “Gift of the gab” by climbing to the top of
Blarney Castle and kissing the famous stone (and maybe receive the gift of eloquence yourself!).
Visit Middleton Distillery and taste premiere Jameson Whiskey.
Meet the Maker experience: a cooper who makes Jameson’s whiskey barrels and see him at work.
Day 5. Ring of Kerry
Day on the edge of the world
Take a scene-stealing route around the Iveragh Peninsula, beginning and ending in Killarney, taking in all the spectacular views – Moll’s Gap, Torc Waterfall and the Gap of Dunloe – but really, the route itself is so much more than the sum of its parts.
Meet a local marine biologist and take a walk along the Atlantic shores, gather seaweed and learn ways of cooking it and using seaweed in traditional medicine.
Day 6. Wild Atlantic Way Cliffs of Moher
Day on the Atlantic Ocean.
The coastal road will bring us through breathtaking landscapes, past ancient castles and picturesque villages.
Walk the Cliffs of Moher – Ireland’s top attraction.
Gastronomic Experience: Lunch in the Salmon Smoke house, taste their award winning produce and have a pint of a local beer made from an ancient druidic recipe.
Day 7. Connemara – The most “authentic Ireland”
Connemara is a place of legend, folklore and Gaeltacht areas (gaelic speaking villages).
We will visit the only Fjord in Ireland, explore Romantic Kylemore Abbey – a gothic country house in the heart of Connemara.
We will stop in charming towns and villages such as Leenane, Roundstone, Clifden and Letterfrack.
Lunch in a restaurant with one of the most picturesque views in Ireland.
Gastronomic experiences: Visit an oyster & mussel farm
Day 8. Clonmacnoise Monastery Kilbeggan Distillery.
Visit Kilbeggan Distillery, listen to the history of ‘uisce beatha’ and taste the fine Irish whiskey.
Stop for the best Irish Coffee in the Oldest Pub in the World (the Guinness Book of Records).
Visit the ancient monastery Clonmacnoise, beautifully set on the shores of the river Shannon.
Return to Dublin
Farewell Dinner & Irish Hooley night in a historical pub
Day 9. End of tour
Flights home from Dublin
Optional:
Continue to Northern Ireland & Donegal