Castles and Manors

Day 1
Welcome to Dublin
Set your watch to the lively pace of Ireland's capital city – the springboard for your in-depth journey through the lush landscapes and enduring allure of Ireland. Your exploration of Dublin with a Local Specialist will see you view St. Patrick's Cathedral and Georgian Squares. Spend some time at leisure exploring Dublin's pretty streets before joining your travel companions and Travel Director for dinner celebrating traditional Irish flavours.

Day 2
Journey to Galway and on to Ashford Castle Estate Stays With Stories
The first stop today is Europe's 'City of the Tribes', where you will have an opportunity to see Galway Cathedral and stroll through Eyre Square. Overnight at one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories on the shores of Lough Corrib. Feel like lords and ladies as you relax in the elegant country quarters of The Lodge at Ashford Castle, celebrating the heritage and hospitality of Ireland.

Day 3
Enjoy a Be My Guest experience at Glen Keen Farm and admire Abbeyglen Castle Connect with Locals Stays With Stories
Leave the estate of Ashford Castle behind and travel through the rugged landscapes of County Mayo to Glen Keen Farm for your Be My Guest experience. Meet Catherine and Jim, whose family has farmed this land since the 1600s, and hear how tradition meets innovation on their award-winning sheep farm. Watch the border collies at work and enjoy a farmhouse lunch and homemade cake with tea in their home. Continue to Clifden, where you’ll stay for the next two nights at Abbeyglen Castle. This Stays with Stories experience combines historic charm with views of the Twelve Bens, offering warm hospitality and a strong connection to life in Connemara.

Day 4
A Day Exploring Stunning Connemara
Drive through the 'savage beauty' of Connemara, as described by Oscar Wilde who was inspired by the region's craggy mountains, shimmering lakes and endless shades of green. Visit Kylemore Abbey, a magnificent castellated structure built as a family home and now inhabited by a group of Benedictine nuns.  Venture into the secret nooks and crannies of its extensive walled Victorian garden. Later, stop for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at an oyster farm before returning to your castle accommodation for a delicious dinner.

Day 5
Onwards to the Cliffs of Moher and Killarney Dive Into Culture Make Travel Matter Stays With Stories
This morning, visit the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory, where you'll Dive Into Culture and witness first-hand how their famous crystal designs are made. Picture yourself living in 1520 alongside the Dunguaire Castle when you later pass through the charming seaport village of Kinvara. Next up is an experience you’ll remember for years to come as you watch the UNESCO-listed Cliffs of Moher plunge dramatically into the Atlantic waters below. Beyond the endless views you’ll have an opportunity to visit the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience which really brings this natural phenomenon to life in an interactive way, leaving you with a deep understanding of this special place. Your home for the next two nights is one of Trafalgar's Stays With Stories experience.

Day 6
A Day on the Ring of Kerry
Enjoy a slow start to your morning, joining a Local Specialist for a leisurely guided walk at Torc Waterfall, strolling over wooded paths and lakeshore trails. Embark on an epic drive next, exploring the enduring beauty of the Ring of Kerry whose enchanting coastal landscapes have inspired writers and poets for centuries.

Day 7
Discover Cashel and Return to Dublin Dive Into Culture
Discover the legacy of St. Patrick when you visit the imposing Rock of Cashel, once the traditional seat of the kings of Munster. View its ecclesiastical ruins with a Local Specialist then traverse scenic landscapes to Kildare. Here you’ll Dive Into Culture and learn about Ireland's thoroughbred industry at the Irish National Stud. You'll have a rare opportunity to see the foaling unit, museum and of course the magnificent stallions that continue to make racing history. Later today, return to the Irish capital where you’ll inject a bit of the craic into dinner with your new friends.

Day 8
Journey Home
Say a fond farewell to your newfound friends and Dublin today. You will be transferred to the airport, where your journey through the 'Emerald Isle' comes to an end.

Dining Summary
4 Dinner (D)
7 Breakfast (B)
1 Lunch (L)
Be My Guest
Cong: Join Catherine and Jim at Glen Keen Farm, owned by the same family since 1600. Hear the story of their land, meet the working border collies and watch a live herding demonstration. Discover how they’ve embraced sustainable farming on the Wild Atlantic Way, then sit down to a farmhouse lunch and homemade cake with tea. 
Dive into Culture
Connemara: Visit the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory and witness master craftsmen bring these intricate crystal designs to life.  
Kildare: Admire Ireland's finest thoroughbreds at the Irish National Stud Farm.
Iconic Experience
Dublin: A Local Specialist will show you Dublin's elegant Georgian squares, O'Connell Street and the Custom House.
Galway: Explore the historic heart of Galway. See landmarks such as the Spanish Arch and the cathedral, or perhaps admire the distinctive Claddagh rings.
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.
Lahinch: Help preserve the Cliffs of Moher for generations to come and learn about its extraordinary geology, history and the species that find sanctuary in its nooks and crannies.
Ring of Kerry: Admire Ireland's enduring scenic beauty on one of the most beautiful drives in the world.
Torc Waterfall: Visit the Torc Waterfall with a Local Specialist. 
Cashel: View the ruins of the Rock of Cashel with a Local Specialist.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
Connemara: Oscar Wilde described Connemara as “wild mountainous country. . . in every way magnificent.” Experience this region for yourself on a visit to DK Connemara Oysters. This family run farm leads the way in sustainability, biodiversity and packaging for farming and advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption & Production. The experience also promotes sustainable food experiences, small scale farmer interactions or responsible consumption. 
Must-see Highlights
Explore Dublin, Killarney National Park and Cashel
Discover Killarney and Galway
Visit Kylemore Abbey, Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory, Cliffs of Moher, Rock of Cashel in Cashel and the Irish National Stud near Kildare
View Torc Waterfall in Killarney National Park
See Dublin's Georgian Squares and Galway Cathedral
Scenic Drive of the Ring of Kerry and through Connemara
Trafalgar Difference
Cong: Overnight on the shores of Lough Corrib in the elegant country quarters of the Lodge at Ashford Castle.
Clifden: Romance and royalty are guaranteed on your overnight stay at historic Abbeyglen, along the famous Sky Road overlooking Clifden Bay and the spectacular Twelve Bens.