Grand Tour of Ireland

Regional departure by coach, then to Holyhead for the ferry to Ireland. We continue to our overnight hotel in the Dublin area.

This morning we enjoy a panoramic city tour of Dublin. See the famous Georgian quarter of Dublin which features some of Dublin's most beautiful streets and houses of the 18th century, well known for their colourful doors. We'll also see the Houses of Parliament, O' Connell Street, Trinity College and St. Patrick's Cathedral from the comfort of the coach. We'll then have some free time to explore before heading north to Belfast.

After a short tour of our second capital city of the day, we'll head to the Titanic Museum. Its creators describe Titanic Belfast® as a "must see" visit in any tour of Belfast. It is no accident that the time it took to construct is a mirror of RMS Titanic’s build, nor is it coincidental that Eric Kuhne’s ultra-modern building resembles the hulls of four ships.

We then continue to our overnight hotel in Belfast area.

Today we'll travel along the picturesque Antrim Coast to the magnificent Giant's Causeway. According to legend, it is the work of Finn McCool, a giant who is said to have lived on the mountainside. This site is one of the greatest natural wonders of the world and in the interpretation centre, an audio-visual show explains the formation of these 'steps' and tells you the legends associated with them.

We continue to Derry, Northern Ireland's second city. Prosperity and peace have made this compact city, with its tumultuous history, one of the most fascinating to visit in the British Isles. It's Ireland’s only completely walled city – there is over 1,450 years of history locked into its 17th century walls. From the walls, you will view the murals, which are a reminder of key events within Derry’s more recent history.

We then continue to County Donegal for our overnight stay.

Discover County Donegal, Ireland's northernmost county, which is often called 'Ireland's Alaska'. County Donegal is often considered as Ireland's most beautiful county because it offers a great diversity of landscapes, dark and deep-coloured mountains. We visit Slieve League Cliffs, among the highest sea cliffs in Europe. From the highest point on the cliffs, it’s a staggering 609m (1,1998 ft) drop into the swirling Atlantic Ocean below.

We continue to our overnight stay in the County Mayo area.

This morning we tour the Connemara region in County Galway, an area particularly appreciated for its patchwork landscapes of small green fields, infinite stone walls, cottages with thatched roofs and pretty fishing ports.

We continue along the shores of Killary Fjord, separating County Galway and County Mayo, and then embark on a cruise to see this incredible Fjord from the water, enjoying lunch on board.

Back on land we continue to Galway, for a walking tour of this vibrant city before free time to explore.

We continue to our hotel in the Galway area for two nights.

Today we travel to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands. It is home to a population of around 800 people who predominantly speak Irish as their first language. Inishmore boasts many scenic attractions and historical monuments, including some which date back to early Christian times. A highlight for visitors is Dun Aonghasa, an Iron Age fort perched precariously atop a 100-meter-high cliff face. The island’s natural beauty is well worth experiencing, with its rugged terrain rife with flora and fauna to explore.

A day of spectacular scenery! We travel via the unusual landscape of the Burren, before seeing the Cliffs of Moher, Ireland's most famous cliffs. They fall steeply into the ocean, populated by hundreds of seabirds whose cries mingle with the sound of the waves. The panorama overlooks the Aran Islands, and in clear weather you can see as far as the mountains in Connemara.

We then continue to County Kerry and to our hotel for three nights. Here we also enjoy a traditional Irish show of music and dance.

We explore the Dingle Peninsula, a region renowned for its scenic coastal road that offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. This route takes us along beautiful beaches such as Inch, to the bustling fishing port of Dingle, and the headland of Slea Head, the western tip of Europe.

A true highlight of our trip, the Ring of Kerry offers magnificent views over the Atlantic Ocean. The steep and wild coastline contrasts with rich and varied vegetation, fed by the influences of the Gulf Stream.

We call at Sneem, a picturesque village with colourful houses, which was once voted the prettiest village in Ireland, before enjoying a traditional sheep dog demonstration in Kenmare.

This morning we take a trip on a traditional Jaunting Car Tour. Step back in time by experiencing Ireland’s most traditional mode of transport to view Killarney’s most loved beauty hotspots.

We then continue to Cork, where we enjoy a panoramic tour to take in the many sites such as Saint Fin Barr's Cathedral, Shandon Bells and Tower, St Anne's Church and the English Market.

We continue to our overnight stay in the Cork area.

Enjoy a little free time in Cork to explore, before we explore the Rock of Cashel. The Rock of Cashel, with its well-preserved ecclesiastical remains, is one of Ireland's most spectacular landmarks, rising above the surrounding plain and dominating the land route southward.

We continue to our overnight stay in the County Wicklow area.

This morning we travel through beautiful County Wicklow, visiting the town of ‘Ballykissangel’ fame, Avoca. In Avoca you will be able to stand on the Lion Bridge, where the rivers Avonmore and Avonbeg converge to take in the view which inspired the poet Tom Moore to write his famous song, ‘The Meeting of the Waters’. 

We continue to the valley of the two lakes, Glendalough, celebrated equally for its beauty and for its historical and archaeological interests.

We continue to our overnight stay in the Dublin area.

We wave the Emerald Isle farewell and board the ferry to return to Holyhead before continuing our journey home.