10 DAY WILD IRISH EXPERIENCE

• Enjoy a guided tour of Westport house. Explore historic Westport House one of County Mayo’s best-loved attractions with beautiful parklands, lakes and a fascinating history of Westport House that goes back to the 1500s when the famous Pirate Queen of Connaught, Grace O’Malley, built one of her castles here.
• Choose to climb Croagh Patrick – Ireland’s Holy Mountain
• Or hire a bike and discover the amazing Great Western Greenway from Achill Island to Westport
• Or just spend the day wandering the towns colourful streets, visiting friendly pubs and cafes and craft shops.
• You will have the evening free to experience this most exciting market town, full of fantastic pubs and restaurants, many with traditional Irish music. Listen out for the Irish language – Gaeilge – being spoken by some locals and take in the many and varied cultural experiences awaiting you.
• The next morning, after a full Irish breakfast, you will be brought on a wonderful tour of one of Ireland’s most scenic regions – Connemara.

Overnight in Westport

• Visit the ruins of 16th-century Murrisk Abbey and the National Famine Memorial.
• Drive through the breathtaking Doolough Valley and of its tragic and haunting past
• Discover the picture-postcard beauty of Killary Fjord & mystic fairy trees.
• Listen to toe-tapping Irish music in local pubs

We spend another day and night in the wilderness of Connemara, so you don’t need to repack your suitcase. Just relax and enjoy.

• After breakfast is yours to design. Relax with downtime in Clifden.
• Meet your guide and head out for a tour of the Connemara Region
  • Admire Kylemore Abbey, one of Ireland’s most beautiful buildings
  • Wander Kylemore’s wonderful landscaped gardens.
  • Discover the picture-postcard beauty of the Inagh Valley & Sky Road.
  • Drop by Clifden, a quaint town at the heart of Connemara.
  • Accommodation tonight is once again in Connemara

  The average driving time today is 2 hours.

Travel back in time as we spend a whole day on the Gaelic speaking island of Inis Mor. Miles of stone walls awaits

• Enjoy a 40 min boat trip to the island & choose to explore the island by bus with a local guide or on pony & trap
• Discover the most impressive stone fort in Ireland at Dun Aengus.
• Drop by local market shops for the famous Aran sweaters.
• Pass by the remaining two Aran Islands en route back to Doolin in County Clare
• Visit a nice cosy Pub for food and a traditional Irish music experience.

The average driving time today is 2 hours.

From the mighty cliffs to the magical kingdom as we move from Clare to Kerry.

• Don’t look down, it’s the 700ft high Cliffs of Moher – a must-stop on this small group tour of Ireland.
• Watch out for dolphins as we take a ferry across the mighty mouth of the Shannon – the longest river in Ireland or Britain!
• Enjoy a spectacular sheepdog demonstration on a locally run farm.
• Drive over Ireland’s highest mountain road, The Conor Pass.
• Roll into bustling Dingle just in time for a creamy pint of Guinness.
• Overnight in Dingle.

The average driving time today is 3 hours 30 minutes.

This morning you will meet up with your professional driver/guide, where jaw-dropping scenery and knife-edge drops are guaranteed on a leisurely drive around Slea Head.

After lunch is yours to design. Relax with downtime in Dingle. Or partake of the following options:

•  By boat discover the historic Dingle Bay (Tour Option – €15-20 per person).
• Take a guided craft tour of a working Irish crystal studio.
• Sample craft Irish whiskey and gin at Dingle Distillery (Tour Option – €15 per person).
• Stroll Dingle’s streets for a quirky mix of craft studios, lively pubs, fantastic food, and traditional Irish music.

The average driving time today is 1 hour 30 minutes.

Today we’re touring the scenic Ring of Kerry route, circuiting the Iveragh peninsula from Dingle to Killarney

• Explore 1400 years of history on a boat trip around the Skellig Islands (Tour Option – €40 per person). Seasonal departures: May to September.
• Get a taste of local Irish culture, history, and ice cream on Valentia Island.
• Discover Derrynane, historic home (Tour Option – €5 per person) and golden sand beach.
• Your accommodation is the ​centrally-located at the edge of Killarney National Park

The average driving time today is 3 hours.

Explore Killarney at your leisure

• Take a scenic horse-drawn carriage ride around Killarney National Park (Tour Option – €15 per person).
• See the magical 1,000-year-old yew tree growing at the heart of ruined Muckross Abbey.
• Catch traditional Irish music and outstanding local food in picturesque Killarney.
• Scenic, short hike to Torc Waterfall.
• Admire charming 19th century Muckross House Gardens.
• Your accommodation is the ​centrally-located at the edge of Killarney National Park

The average driving time today is 1 hour.

This morning after a hearty breakfast we depart Killarney for Cahir Castle.

• Our morning drive takes through the heart of North Cork. Passing through many colourful small towns and villages, and lush Irish countryside.
• Cahir Castle, on the river tSuir, is one of Ireland’s largest and best-preserved medieval castles. It has featured in productions like Excalibur and The Tudors.
• Tour the epic Rock of Cashel with its stunning natural setting and historic architecture.
• Arriving in the medieval city of Kilkenny, you will have the opportunity for a self-guided walking tour around the medieval mile. Meet the witch Dame Alice Kyteler, rhymes, taverns, crime, punishments and much more.
• Enjoy some free time in Kilkenny to explore the medieval mile, craft studios, cafés and numerous quaint independent shops.
• Take a self-guided cathedral tour at St. Canice’s (Tour Option – €7 per person).
• Sample Ireland’s famous nightlife and musical culture in Kilkenny.

Overnight in Kilkenny

Drive time today is 3 hours approx

Before we say goodbye to our small group tour of Ireland, there’s still time for some of Ireland’s top highlights, your tour takes in some amazing sights on the journey from Waterford back to Dublin.

• Discover the delights of Waterford – Ireland’s oldest city, established by Vikings in the 10th century.
• Admire the pinnacle of Irish crafting excellence with a guided tour of the House of Waterford Crystal (Tour Option – €14 per person).
• Meet the Norsemen at the Viking Museum, housed in an 800-year-old tower (Tour Option – €5 per person, €4 seniors). There’s so much more to Ireland’s history than you might think!
• Cross the wilderness of Wicklow Mountains National Park.
• Explore the 6th-century monastery of Glendalough.
• Disembark your  tour vehicle back at the Ashling Hotel in Dublin between 5-6 pm

This is where your easygoing experience of Ireland comes to an end – we hope you had a blast!

The average driving time today is 3 hours and 30 minutes.