Focus on Ireland 7 Day tour from $1214     an Insight Vacations luxury tour

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Tour Highlights

Hotels

The four hotels on this tour range from the modern Abbey Gate in Tralee and Dublin's Camden Court to the newly refurbished Quality in Galway and the traditional, family  run Dooleys in the heart of Waterford.

Fellow Passengers

This tour attracts both the experienced and first time travellers who are looking  for an introduction to Ireland. Often attracts passengers with an Irish background  who are interested to explore their ancestry.

Highlights

Exploring the living museum at Bunratty, taking the ride on the Jaunting car in Killarney, enjoying the beautiful green countryside and listening to the 'lilt'  of Irish voices.

Excursions & Sights

• Visit Dublin Castle (when open) & see the Customs House and Phoenix Park
• See Galway's Church of St Nicholas, Spanish Arch & Eyre Square
• Drive through the limestone landscape of the Burren to visit the awesome Cliffs of Moher
• See King John's Castle & St Mary's Cathedral in Limerick
• Visit the picturesque town of Adare, its main street lined with thatched cottages
• Tour the magnificent Ring of Kerry through Sneem to 'Ladies View'
• Climb Blarney Castle and dangle from the ramparts to kiss the famous 'Blarney Stone'
• Drive through Cork and the scenic port of Dungarvan
• See the old city walls, Reginald's Tower and visit the Waterford Crystal Factory
• Visit St Kevin's ruined monastery at Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains
• Travel along the Vale of Avoca to the 'Meeting of the Waters' & Thomas Moore memorial

Guided City Tours

In depth sightseeing tour in Dublin

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

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 7

Quality Dining

Highlight Dinner in a traditional Irish venue in Dublin

6 full breakfasts and 3 three course evening meals with choice, or buffets, plus tea or coffee

Tour Itinerary

Tour Pace

Well paced with two nights in Tralee & overnight stays in Galway & Waterford.  The driving days are of a reasonable length with frequent and often scenic stops  with photo opportunities.

DAY 1 SUN - ARRIVE DUBLIN

Welcome to a land of legends, of misty mountains, lovely lakes and a warm friendly greeting wherever you go! There are complimentary transfers from Dublin Airport  to your Insight tour hotel this morning. This afternoon, our sightseeing tour of  Dublin takes us past the Customs House and along O'Connell Street and through Phoenix  Park. Then we travel alongside the river Liffey to see the Guinness Brewery and we visit Dublin Castle (when open) before admiring the 18th century buildings surrounding  the courtyards of Trinity College. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Drink and a highlight  dinner in a traditional venue. Hotel: Camden Court. (HD)

DAY 2 MON - DUBLIN - GALWAY

This morning we drive through the 'forty shades of green' landscape of the Emerald Isle. We cross the Boyne river, its name a reminder of the battle where William of Orange sowed the seeds of future strife in his defeat of the Catholic King James. We pass through the former fortress town of Athlone, built to defend the strategic  crossing of the Shannon, before crossing Ireland's most important river ourselves.  Our destination is the historic town of Galway. With our Tour Director we see the Church of St Nicholas (where Columbus reputedly heard mass before sailing for America), the massive Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the late President John F Kennedy. Hotel: Quality. (B)

DAY 3 TUE - GALWAY - TRALEE

This morning we take the scenic route through the 'Burren' to the awesome Cliffs of Moher, soaring up 700ft from the sea below. Next stop is Bunratty Folk Park, where old Ireland comes alive in the thatched cottages and cobbled streets of the  museum. Nearby lies Limerick, famous for rhymes, lace and elegant Georgian houses. Here we see King John's impressive castle and the 800 year old St Mary's Cathedral,  then continue via the charming town of Adare through the land of song and legend  to Tralee. Hotel: Abbey Gate. (B,D)

DAY 4 WED - RING OF KERRY EXCURSION

A leisurely excursion today takes us along the magnificent Ring of Kerry with  breathtaking views over mountains and sea. We follow the narrow road as it winds along the cliffs and through delightful villages like Sneem. We cross the peat bogs  of the Black Mountains to Moll's Gap and admire Queen Victoria's 'Ladies View'. We arrive at Killarney, where we enjoy a memorable highlight ride on a jaunting car with the local 'Jarvies' before returning to Tralee. (B)

DAY 5 THU - TRALEE - WATERFORD

We cross the rugged Derrynasaggart Mountains this morning as we make our way to the ancient castle of Blarney. Will you dare to hang upside down from the ramparts  to kiss the Blarney Stone, and ensure a lifetime of eloquence? We also visit the  Blarney Mills to enjoy their enticing displays of crystal and other Irish crafts.  Then we continue through the town of Cork, Ireland's second city, before enjoying a coastal drive via the port of Dungarvan. Our destination tonight is Waterford, where we tour the famous crystal works before reaching our hotel. Hotel: Dooleys.  (B,D)

DAY 6 FRI - WATERFORD - DUBLIN

We see Waterford's ruined city walls and Reginald's Tower this morning. Then a beautiful drive takes us through the Vale of Avoca to see the 'Meeting of the Waters' memorial to Ireland's poet laureate Thomas Moore. We continue to the lochs and glens of Glendalough, where we visit the ruined 6th century monastery of St Kevin, nestled in a setting of total tranquillity. Finally we return to Dublin. Why not enjoy a farewell dinner and Irish cabaret tonight? Hotel: Camden Court. (B)

DAY 7 SAT - DUBLIN

Sadly, our tour comes to an end this morning. There are complimentary transfers  to Dublin Airport. (B)