Best of Ireland

Day 1
Welcome to Ireland
Write your own lively tale of legends and iconic landscapes during this epic encounter with Ireland's treasures. Begin your journey in the capital of Dublin, joining a Local Specialist to see the sights. This evening sees you visiting EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum, for some drinks and canapes.

Day 2
Through the Scenic County Wicklow and Waterford to Kilkenny Dive Into Culture
Journey through the scenic countryside of County Wicklow, 'The Garden of Ireland', and on to New Ross – the ancestral home town of John F. Kennedy. Dive Into Culture and gain insights into the plight of the starving Irish emigrants who boarded the Dunbrody Famine Ship to flee the potato famine. Continue to Waterford. This afternoon, celebrate the centuries-old craft of flint glass creations, as you Dive Into Culture at the House of Waterford Crystal and witness talented master crafters at work. Arrive in Kilkenny where you will stay for the night.

Day 3
Journey to Blarney and on to Killarney
Today, pursue the 'gift of the gab' at Blarney Castle, where you'll have a chance to kiss the famous stone. Consider joining an Optional Experience for a traditional pony and trap ride through the beautiful Bourn-Vincent National Park. During your journey, your Local Specialist will share fascinating anecdotes about the area and Ireland. Arrive in Killarney for a two-night stay. In the evening perhaps join an optional Gaelic Roots show. Using traditional instruments, Irish dance and time-honoured folk songs, this energetic show will have you tapping your feet and singing along in no time.

Day 4
A Day on the Ring of Kerry
Ireland's soul-stirring Ring of Kerry takes centre stage today as you embark on a scenic drive past its mountains, lakes and lush green countryside – unquestionably one of the most scenic routes in Ireland. See Daniel O'Connell's Cahirciveen, the fishing village of Waterville, Moll's Gap and the Black Valley, whose remoteness saw it become the last area in Ireland to receive electricity.

Day 5
Onwards to Lively Limerick
Continue through the windswept countryside, arriving in Adare, one of the prettiest villages in Ireland. On arrival in Limerick, you will enjoy views of St. Mary's Cathedral, the Treaty Stone and the 13th-century King John's Castle during an orientation tour. Delve into an Ireland of old, as you discover the day-to-day life of the Irish during the 18th and 19th centuries on your included visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park this afternoon.

Day 6
Admire the Cliffs of Moher and Onwards to Galway
The Cliffs of Moher are a must-see along the Wild Atlantic Way. The towering cliffs plunge into the Atlantic, offering endless ocean views and perfect spots for taking photos. Explore the interactive visitor centre, where you can see the cliffs through the eyes of the wildlife that call this UNESCO site home, bringing the whole experience to life. Later, you’ll meet Brigitta at her family-run Irish smokehouse for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Discover the secrets of their organic salmon, learn how the kiln and smokebox work, and savour the distinctive flavours of their award-winning smoked salmon. Arriving in Galway, enjoy time at leisure to admire its beautiful stone Cathedral or wander through vibrant Eyre Square–it’s yours to explore at your own pace.

Day 7
A Day Exploring Stunning Connemara
Connemara's 'savage beauty' is yours to explore today as you tread in the footsteps of Oscar Wilde who described its 'wild and mountainous splendor' as magnificent. Admire the views on the scenic drive to Kylemore Abbey, now a Benedictine monastery, where you will embark on an included visit to the country's most romantic castle and walk through its exquisite Victorian Walled Garden.

Day 8
A Pilgrimage to Knock and on to Sligo Connect with Locals
Your journey takes you to Westport House to indulge in a memorable Be My Guest experience with tales of the Pirate Queen, and enjoy Banoffee and Baileys flavours in the Drawing Room of this stately 18th-century home. Heading north, stop in the pilgrimage town of Knock to view the Marian Shrine where villagers witnessed an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1879. Arrive in Sligo this evening, your home for the night.

Day 9
Return to Lively Dublin
Continue south to Dublin. Here you’ll enjoy some free time to take a walk down Grafton Street or stroll along the Liffey. This evening, close the chapter on an epic journey through Ireland, joining your fellow travellers for a memorable dinner.

Day 10
Farewell Ireland
After a hearty Irish breakfast, bid your Travel Director and fellow travellers a fond farewell as your Irish holiday comes to an end.

Dining Summary
9 Breakfast (B)
4 Dinner (D)
1 Lunch (L)
Be My Guest
Westport: Enjoy a traditional High Tea with your hosts, the Hughes family, in the drawing room of their historic home, Westport House. Savor traditional banoffee and Baileys flavors while delighting in stories about the house's history and tales of the Pirate Queen.
Dive into Culture
New Ross: Explore the tragic history of Ireland's famine emigration with a Local Specialist at the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, a replica of one of the original ships used in the 1800s.
Waterford: Learn how crystal is crafted at the House of Waterford Crystal during a workshop tour.
Iconic Experience
Dublin: A Local Specialist will show you Dublin's elegant Georgian squares, O'Connell Street and the Custom House.
Dublin: Embark on an interactive discovery of the 70 million people who claim Irish ancestry at EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum. Throughout 20 rooms divided per topic, learn about the Irish experience and the timeline of Ireland’s history told through the personal stories of emigrants. The sights and insights range from learning a special Irish dance to reading the letters of past emigrants, to tracing your family name going back generations.
Blarney: It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. But to do so, you must dangle from the ramparts! Visit Blarney Castle and see the famous Stone of Eloquence. 
Adare: Experience a village walk through the main street lined with thatched cottages.
Limerick: See Limerick's iconic landmarks during an orientation with your Travel Director.
Bunratty: Visit the impeccably-preserved Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.
Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden: Visit the turreted Neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey. This monastery was founded in 1920 for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I.
Knock: In the pilgrimage town of Knock, visit the beautiful Marian Shrine, where the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph and John the Evangelist are said to have appeared to the townsfolk in 1879.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
Lisdoonvarna: Discover the art of traditional, sustainable salmon smoking at the family-run Burren Smokehouse in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare. Guided by Brigitta, you’ll uncover the secrets behind their award-winning organic smoked salmon, produced with respect for Irish traditions and local ecosystems. Explore the interactive visitor centre, where the story of Irish salmon unfolds through captivating mythology, history and cutting-edge aquaculture. You’ll witness the unique smoking process up close and savour the distinct flavours of their delicious, sustainably sourced produce. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Production and Consumption.
Must-see Highlights
Explore Dublin
Discover Waterford, Killarney, Limerick and Galway
Visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship in New Ross, the Crystal showroom at Waterford, Blarney Castle to kiss the stone and gain the 'gift of the gab', Adare, Bunratty Folk Park in Bunratty, Cliffs of Moher, Connemara and Kylemore Abbey
View King John's Castle in Limerick and the Marian Shrine in Knock
See St. Mary's Cathedral in Limerick and Galway Cathedral
Scenic Drive the Ring of Kerry