Country Roads of Ireland 12 Day tour from $1985   

an Insight Vacations luxury tour

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Tour Highlights

Hotels

A varied selection of both modern hotels like the Europa in Belfast and the Abbey  Gate in Tralee, contrasting with the historic charm of the Ballygally Castle hotel with its original beamed ceilings & antique furniture.

Fellow Passengers

This tour attracts both experienced & first time travellers who wish to explore  the Emerald Isle. This comprehensive tour is also perfect for those with Irish heritage  or those who just are fascinated by the Irish way of life.

Highlights

Exploring the history of Ireland at the ancestral Clonalis House or the living museum of Bunratty Folk Park, the unforgettable ride on the Killarney Jaunting car and the delightful memories of the Highlight Dinner.

Excursions & Sights

• Visit Dublin Castle (when open) and see the Customs House & O'Connell  Street
• Visit the Irish National Stud & experience the 'journey of life' in the Japanese Gardens
• Tour the 13th century Kilkenny Castle and Kilkenny Design  Centre
• See the old city walls, Reginald's Tower and visit the Waterford Crystal Factory
• Climb Blarney Castle and dangle from the ramparts to kiss the famous 'Blarney Stone'
• See St Finbar's Cathedral in Cork
• Scenic tour of Dingle Peninsula to Slea Head
• Tour the magnificent Ring of Kerry, to view the three lakes of Killarney
• Visit the town of Adare
• See King John's Castle & St Mary's Cathedral in Limerick
• Visit the awesome Cliffs of Moher, rising 700ft out of the Atlantic Ocean
• See St. Nicholas Cathedral, Spanish Arch & Eyre Square in Galway
• Connemara excursion  including a visit to the Connemara Marble factory
• Visit the turreted neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey
• Visit Belleek Pottery Centre
• See O'Donnell's Castle in Donegal
• See 'Derry's Walls' and Gothic guildhall
• Visit the world famous Giant's Causeway
• See Carrickfergus Castle
• View the City Hall, Belfast Castle and Queen's University in Belfast

Scenic drives - the 'Burren', Antrim coast, Boyne Valley

Guided City Tours

In depth sightseeing tours in Dublin, Londonderry & Belfast

Orientation tours in Waterford, Cork, Tralee, Killarney, Limerick, & Galway

Insight's First Class Services

Escorted by a professional Tour Director

Luxury air-conditioned coach with onboard toilet

First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage

Complimentary arrival transfer on Day 1 and departure transfer on Day 12

Quality Dining

Highlight Dinner in a traditional Irish venue in Dublin

11 full breakfasts and 6 three course evening meals with choice, or buffets, plus tea or coffee.

Tour Itinerary

Tour Pace

This is a well paced tour with two night stays in Tralee and Galway. The driving days are of a reasonable length with frequent stops often with splendid photo opportunities.

 DAY 1 MON - DUBLIN SIGHTSEEING

Welcome to the land of legends, of misty mountains and a warm greeting wherever  you go! On arrival there are complimentary transfers to your tour hotel from Dublin Airport. Our sightseeing tour of Dublin includes the elegant squares of Ireland's  'fair city' and a visit to the impressive castle (when open). We also see famous O'Connell Street and the Customs House. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Drink and a highlight  dinner in a traditional venue. Hotel: Burlington.(B,HD)

DAY 2 TUE - DUBLIN - WATERFORD

This morning we drive to Kildare, where we visit Ireland's National Stud, one of Ireland's main racehorse breeding centres. We visit the Japanese Gardens, laid out by Eida, a Japanese landscape artist invited to Ireland at the turn of last century. Then to the architectural gem of Kilkenny, where we visit the 13th century Kilkenny Castle. We tour the castle with its splendid picture gallery and also see the Kilkenny Design Centre, before continuing on to our hotel in ancient Waterford. Hotel: Dooleys. (B,D)

DAY 3 WED - WATERFORD - CORK

We see history unfold before our eyes this morning in Waterford as we view Reginald's  Tower, the remains of the old city walls and the two Georgian cathedrals. We also tour the Waterford Crystal Factory, before driving to Blarney to kiss the famous stone at 15th Century Blarney Castle. Next we admire displays of Waterford Crystal at Blarney Mill, before continuing on to historic Cork. While here, you  might like to visit Cobh, from where so many settlers left for the New World? Hotel:  Quality. (B)

DAY 4 THU - CORK - TRALEE

Today we see St Finbar's Cathedral in Cork before driving up the valley of the River Lee into the majestic Derrynasaggart Mountains. Then we experience wonderful  Irish scenery as we make our way onto the Dingle Peninsula, spectacular setting for the film 'Ryan's Daughter'. From dramatic Slea Head at the peninsula's far end,  we now make our way to Tralee with its 18th century architecture and majestic houses.  Hotel: Abbey Gate (B,D)

DAY 5 - FRI - RING OF KERRY EXCURSION

Our excursion today takes us around the Ring of Kerry on one of the greatest scenic tours – into a world of towering cliffs, lush lakelands, remote villages  and above all, Ireland's highest mountain range. A sense of unhurried Irish pace  surrounds us as we view the three peaceful Lakes of Killarney. Before returning to Tralee, we take a highlight ride with the locals on one of Killarney's famous jaunting cars. (B)

DAY 6 SAT - TRALEE - GALWAY

Leaving Tralee this morning we drive via picturesque Adare to ancient Limerick, where we see 12th century St Mary's Cathedral and medieval King John's Castle. We then visit Bunratty Folk Park, a living museum.We continue to the awesome Cliffs of Moher, rising 700 feet out of the Atlantic Ocean. Then a delightful drive takes us through the Burren, a strange, rocky landscape rich in wild orchids, to Galway. Hotel: Corrib Great Southern. (B,D)

DAY 7 SUN - CONNEMARA EXCURSION

In Galway today we see St Nicholas Cathedral, the Spanish Arch and Eyre Square,  dedicated to the late US president John F. Kennedy. Then into the beautiful rugged  landscape of Connemara, a wonderland of rivers, lakes and silent hills. Our first stop is the famous marble factory, where we tour the workshop. We visit palatial Kylemore Abbey before returning to our hotel. (B)

DAY 8 MON - GALWAY - LONDONDERRY

Bidding farewell to Galway and Connemara we drive past Tuam, en route to Clonalis  House. This estate is the home of the O'Connor family, descendants of the last High  Kings of Ireland. Here we meet the resident family and tour their home before driving  through County Sligo, to visit the Belleek Pottery Centre. We continue to Donegal town, with its stronghold of the great O'Donnells, then we head north through the Blue Stack Mountains into Northern Ireland and on to the ancient city of 'Derry'.  Hotel: Everglades. (B,D)

DAY 9 TUE - LONDONDERRY - BALLYGALLY

Sightseeing with our local guide takes us inside the well-preserved walls, still topped with cannon, and down steep Shipquay Street, with its elegant Georgian houses,  to the Gothic Guildhall. Then we continue along the coast to the spectacular Giant's  Causeway. We hear fantastic legends surrounding this geological masterpiece, created by the cooling of lava which burst through the earth's crust millions of years ago. Now we continue along the scenic Antrim coast to arrive at Ballygally for our overnight  stay. Hotel: Ballygally Castle. (B,D)

DAY 10 WED - BALLYGALLY - BELFAST

This morning we continue around the coast, past the huge Norman castle at Carrickfergus, to arrive in Belfast, capital of Northern Ireland. We meet our local guide for a  panoramic tour of this unique city, which shows us the City Hall, Belfast Castle  and Queen's University, before checking in for our overnight stay. Hotel: Europa.  (B)

DAY 11 THU - BELFAST - DUBLIN

This morning we travel alongside the Mountains of Mourne to Drogheda, taking a short drive along the historic Boyne Valley, site of the Battle of Boyne where  William of Orange defeated the forces of Catholic King James. We now return to Ireland's  lively capital, Dublin. Tonight is free to perhaps take in a famous Irish Cabaret  show? Hotel: Burlington. (B)

DAY 12 FRI - DUBLIN

Sadly, our tour ends today after breakfast. There are complimentary transfers  to the airport. (B)