Irish Experience
Irish Experience
$3775
Tour Overview
Embark on the "Irish Experience" tour, a captivating journey through the heart of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Discover the vibrant cities of Dublin, Belfast, and Londonderry, and explore the charming locales of Galway and Waterford. Marvel at iconic landmarks such as St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Titanic Experience, and the UNESCO-listed Giant's Causeway. Enjoy scenic drives through Connemara and the Ring of Kerry, and take a ferry across the Shannon Estuary. This tour offers a blend of cultural immersion and natural beauty, with visits to the Cliffs of Moher and Blarney Castle. Travel in comfort aboard a luxury air-conditioned coach, stay in carefully selected hotels, and savor local cuisine. With expert guidance and unique experiences like a farm visit in Ballycastle, this tour promises an unforgettable exploration of Ireland's rich heritage and stunning landscapes. ...more ...less
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Ireland
Location: Dublin
Accommodation: Clayton Ballsbridge
Accommodation Name: Clayton Ballsbridge, Sandymount
Meals Included: Dinner
Embrace your playful side and discover the allure of the lively Irish capital - a small city with a lot of heart and yours to explore before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travellers this afternoon for a sightseeing tour with your Local Specialist. See the stately Georgian Squares and Trinity College before enjoying a Whiskey Tasting at a local distillery.The excitement will build this evening over drinks, good food and great company as your Travel Director gives you a taste of what’s to come.
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Day 2: Journey to Colourful Belfast
Location: Belfast
Accommodation: AC by Marriott
Accommodation Name: AC by Marriott , DoubleTree by Hilton Belfast Templepatrick
Meals Included: Breakfast
Leaving the cosmopolitan streets of Dublin behind, we travel to Northern Ireland and the bustling city of Belfast, where you will have some free time to enjoy a spud for lunch or perhaps an Irish stew. Later, we meet our Local Specialist 'Cabbie' for an insider view of the city’s living history during a journey through its vibrant streets in a real taxi. We spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure, or perhaps join an Optional Experience.
Day 3: Venture to the Giant’s Causeway and on to Derry/Londonderry Make Travel Matter
Location: Belfast, Giant's Causeway, Derry/Londonderry
Accommodation: City Hotel Derry
Accommodation Name: City Hotel Derry, Waterfoot
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Dive Into Culture during a visit to the award-winning Titanic Belfast Experience. Gain insights into the tragic story of the Titanic and its passengers who lost their lives in the icy Atlantic. Leave the city behind, travelling to your Be My Guest experience near Ballycastle for lunch. Then onto the Giant's Causeway for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as we walk in the footsteps of Finn MacCool. Our visit will help to conserve this iconic natural landmark. Take some time to admire the natural spectacle of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns before continuing to Londonderry, our home for the next two nights.
Day 4: Discover Londonderry’s Past
Location: Londonderry
Accommodation: City Hotel Derry
Accommodation Name: City Hotel Derry, Waterfoot
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Join your Local Specialist for a walk along the 17th-century city walls and see the formerly turbulent Bogside neighbourhood, with its street murals depicting the history of the 'Troubles'. Spend a free afternoon walking along the pretty Foyle River or consider joining an Optional Experience to Inishowen Peninsula, with its rich history. This evening enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Day 5: Onwards to Scenic Galway Dive Into Culture
Location: Belleek, Galway
Accommodation: Maldron Oranmore
Accommodation Name: Maldron Oranmore
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Journey through the lush countryside to Belleek, where you'll Dive Into Culture and witness talented pottery crafters create the exquisite collectables that have graced homes since the mid-19th century. Arrive in Galway later, where you will stay for the next two nights.
Day 6: Connemara Excursion
Location: Connemara, Kylemore Abbey, Galway
Accommodation: Maldron Oranmore
Accommodation Name: Maldron Oranmore
Meals Included: Breakfast
The rugged beauty of Connemara was captured in the film 'The Quiet Man' with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Its loughs and mountains are yours to explore today during a scenic drive. Arrive at Kylemore Abbey later to visit the country's most romantic castle and ramble through the hidden nooks of its Victorian walled garden. Returning to Galway, enjoy some free time to explore its imposing stone Cathedral or stroll through Eyre Square, which John F. Kennedy visited in 1963.
Day 7: Explore the Cliffs of Moher and Killarney
Location: Cliffs of Moher, Killarney
Accommodation: Killarney Towers
Accommodation Name: Killarney Towers, Killarney
Meals Included: Breakfast
See the imposing UNESCO-listed Cliffs of Moher rising over 650 feet (200 m) above the pounding Atlantic and scan the horizon all the way to the Aran Islands to get the full view of the irresistible beauty of this special place. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with your Local Specialist to truly appreciate this breath-taking landscape. You’ll have an opportunity to visit the ‘Atlantic Edge’ exhibition which will bring to life this extraordinary natural phenomenon in a way that only the wildlife of the area get to see. Enchanted by the wild landscapes, you’ll continue along the Wild Atlantic Way with spectacular views of this dramatic coastline before you board a ferry across the tranquil Shannon Estuary river. Then, continue through County Kerry to your hotel in Killarney, where you'll have an evening at leisure or join in the craic at an optional Irish ceilidh.
Day 8: A Day on the Ring of Kerry
Location: Ring of Kerry
Accommodation: Killarney Towers
Accommodation Name: Killarney Towers, Killarney
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
The soul-stirring landscapes of Iveragh Peninsula provide a mesmerising backdrop for our scenic coastal drive around the Ring of Kerry – an unimaginably beautiful natural setting. En route we will see Killorglin, famous for its annual 'Puck Fair', as well as Daniel O'Connell's Cahirciveen, the fishing village of Waterville, the Black Valley and Moll's Gap.
Day 9: Off to Blarney, Waterford and Kilkenny Dive Into Culture
Location: Blarney, Waterford, Kilkenny
Accommodation: Hotel Kilkenny
Accommodation Name: Kilkenny
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you might acquire the 'gift of the gab', bending over backwards to kiss the Blarney Stone before we travel to Waterford. Admire the delicate creations of fine crystal during a visit to the House of Waterford Crystal where you will Dive Into Culture and witness a demonstration by master crafters. This evening, arrive in Kilkenny with its imposing 12th-century castle, once the seat of the Butlers of Ormonde.
Day 10: Through County Wicklow’s Countryside to Dublin Dive Into Culture
Location: Kilkenny, New Ross, County Wicklow, Dublin
Accommodation: Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel., Clayton Cardiff Lane
Accommodation Name: Clayton Leopardstown, Sandymount
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After a morning exploration of Kilkenny, depart for New Ross where you'll see the monument to John F. Kennedy, who visited his ancestral family hometown in 1963. Dive Into Culture and gain insights into the tragic plight of Irish emigrants during the potato famine of the 1800s on your visit to the nearby three-masted Dunbrody Famine Ship. Journey through the lush Irish countryside of County Wicklow, the 'Garden of Ireland', and back to Dublin where you’ll spend your final evening with travel companions sharing stories of your memorable journey through Ireland at dinner.
Day 11: Farewell Dublin
Location: Dublin
Meals Included: Breakfast
It’s time to say a fond farewell to Ireland and newfound friends as you prepare to end your wonderful Irish experience.
What's Included
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Expert Travel Director and Professional Driver
The tour includes the services of an expert Travel Director and a professional Driver.
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Cherry-picked Hotels
Accommodation is provided in carefully selected hotels that are tried and trusted.
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Porterage and Restaurant Gratuities
Porterage and restaurant gratuities are included in the tour package.
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Hotel Tips, Charges, and Local Taxes
Hotel tips, charges, and local taxes are covered in the tour.
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Must-see Sightseeing and Surprise Extras
The tour includes must-see sightseeing and surprise extras.
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Audio Headsets for Flexible Sightseeing
Audio headsets are provided for flexible sightseeing.
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Luxury Air-conditioned Coach with Wi-Fi
Transportation is provided by a luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation options like rail journeys.
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Ferry Across the Shannon Estuary
The tour includes a ferry crossing across the Shannon estuary.
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Optional Experiences and Free Time
Optional experiences and free time are part of the tour itinerary.
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On Occasion, Hotels of Similar Standard and Location
Hotels of similar standard and location may be used if necessary.
What's Not Included
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
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Optional Excursions
Optional excursions and activities not mentioned in the itinerary are not included.
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Flights
International and domestic flights to and from the tour start and end points are not included.
Dining Summary
- 5 Dinner (D)
- 10 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
Dive Into Culture
- Belfast: Experience Belfast from the comfort of your dedicated Black Cab with expert 'Cabbie' commentary.
- Belfast: Discover the full story of the Titanic at the Titanic Belfast visitor attraction and monument in Belfast.
- Belleek: See traditional craftsmen at work at the Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre, one of the oldest working potteries in the world.
- Waterford: Learn how crystal is crafted at the House of Waterford Crystal during a workshop tour.
- New Ross: Explore the tragic history of Ireland's famine emigration at the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, a replica of one of the original ships used in the 1800s.
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with a luxury air-conditioned coach equipped with Wi-Fi, ensuring a comfortable journey across Ireland. Enjoy scenic drives, ferry crossings, and the flexibility of audio headsets for sightseeing, all guided by an expert Travel Director and professional driver.
Accommodation
Stay in carefully selected hotels such as Clayton Ballsbridge in Dublin, AC by Marriott in Belfast, and City Hotel Derry, ensuring comfort and convenience throughout your journey. Enjoy the charm of Maldron Oranmore in Galway and the elegance of Killarney Towers in Killarney, among others.
Dive into Culture
- Belfast: Experience Belfast from the comfort of your dedicated Black Cab with expert 'Cabbie' commentary.
- Belfast: Discover the full story of the Titanic at the Titanic Belfast visitor attraction and monument in Belfast.
- Belleek: See traditional craftsmen at work at the Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre, one of the oldest working potteries in the world.
- Waterford: Learn how crystal is crafted at the House of Waterford Crystal during a workshop tour.
- New Ross: Explore the tragic history of Ireland's famine emigration at the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, a replica of one of the original ships used in the 1800s.
Iconic Experience
- Dublin: A Local Specialist will show you Dublin's elegant Georgian squares, O'Connell Street and the Custom House.
- Londonderry: With a Local Specialist explore inside the city walls. See the Gothic Guildhall and the Georgian houses of Shipquay Street.
- 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.
- Galway: Explore the historic heart of Galway. See landmarks such as the Spanish Arch and the cathedral, or perhaps admire the distinctive Claddagh rings.
- Ring of Kerry: Admire Ireland's enduring scenic beauty on one of the most beautiful drives in the world.
- Blarney: It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. But to do so, you must dangle from the ramparts! Visit Blarney Castle and see the famous Stone of Eloquence.
- New Ross: Visit the port town of New Ross. On the quayside, perhaps see the Dunbrody replica famine ship and statue of John F. Kennedy.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of transportation is provided during the Irish Experience tour?
The tour provides transportation in a luxury air-conditioned coach equipped with Wi-Fi, ensuring a comfortable journey across Ireland. It also includes scenic drives, ferry crossings, and the flexibility of audio headsets for sightseeing, all guided by an expert Travel Director and professional driver. ...more ...less
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What is the 'Be My Guest' experience on this tour?
The 'Be My Guest' experience takes place at Broughgammon Farm near Ballycastle, where you will join your hosts, the Cole family, to enjoy farm life and a delicious meal of local favourites.
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What is included in the 'Make Travel Matter' experiences on this tour?
The 'Make Travel Matter' experiences include a visit to the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, which supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Additionally, at the Cliffs of Moher, a Local Specialist will provide insights into environmental issues and conservation initiatives. ...more ...less
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What cultural experiences are included in the tour?
Cultural experiences include a Black Cab tour in Belfast with expert commentary, a visit to the Titanic Belfast Experience, witnessing traditional craftsmen at Belleek Pottery, learning about crystal crafting at the House of Waterford Crystal, and exploring the history of Ireland's famine emigration at the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience. ...more ...less
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What meals are included in the Irish Experience tour?
The tour includes daily breakfast and up to half of the evening meals. Additionally, there is one lunch included as part of the 'Be My Guest' experience.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Low Deposit
Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
Irish Experience
11 Days Starting and ending in Dublin, Ireland
Visiting: Dublin, Belfast, Giant's Causeway, Derry/Londonderry, Londonderry, Belleek, Galway, Connemara, Kylemore Abbey, Cliffs of Moher, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Blarney, Waterford, Kilkenny, New Ross, County Wicklow ...more ...less
Tour operator:
Tour code:
DREXZM20
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
