The Best of Ireland.Enquire for Price
Various Dates | Depart Dublin | Arrive Kilkenny | Small Group Tour
On this, The Best of Ireland tour you’ll experience the beauty and culture of Ireland passed down through generations and reborn in the modern era.
Tour Highlights
- See Dublin from a different perspective during a walking tour with a guide who was formerly affected by homelessness.
- Cruise through the streets of Belfast in a vintage taxicab, pausing at poignant murals and the Peace Wall.
- Get a taste of the local culture with a tour and tasting at Bushmills Distillery.
- Walk in the footsteps of mystical legends at the ethereal Giant’s Causeway, taking in the hexagonal basalt slabs.
- Explore the rugged landscape of Glenveagh National Park.
- Be enchanted by traditional Irish stories told by a local seanchaí.
- Make the most of a day on your own in Galway to experience all this lively city has to offer.
Collette’s Small Group Explorations tours
With Collette, you’ll delve into engaging, immersive experiences. Settle into culturally reflective accommodation and savour authentic, local cuisine to absorb a destination’s true culture. On a small group tour of 14-24 travellers, you won’t be part of the crowd – you’ll be an integral part of a cultural expedition, with more built-in free time.
Embark on a small group tour and discover The Best of Ireland like never before.
Inclusions
- Accomodation
- Breakfast
- Meals as per Itinerary
- Sightseeing
- Transportation
Itinerary
Day 1 Dublin, Ireland - Tour Begins
Your Irish adventure starts in Dublin, built upon layered history and featuring a lively local culture. Peek into the capital’s past at The Little Museum of Dublin, following a storyteller through the historic home filled with artefacts, memorabilia, and other charms. This evening, toast the start of your journey with dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2 Dublin
Start your morning with an Impact Moment and walk with an expert from Secret Street Tours, a non-profit that trains citizens formerly affected by homelessness to be guides in their own city. See the city through their eyes and gain insight into their life story as you discover Dublin’s Liberties district. The remainder of the day is yours to explore on your own.
Day 3 Dublin - Belfast, Northern Ireland
This morning cross the border into Northern Ireland and arrive in Belfast. Cruise through town in a traditional black taxicab with a guide, taking in different murals along the way. Pause at the Peace Wall, which separates the Catholic and Protestant communities, is adorned with political graffiti. Personalize your dining experience tonight with Diner’s Choice! Perhaps you’ll cook your meal with an expert chef, or consider a unique whiskey-paired dinner, or maybe you’ll dine on some local seafood at a nearby restaurant.
Day 4 Belfast - Bushmills - Giants Causeway - Belfast
Get a taste of the local culture at Bushmills Distillery, a staple in the whiskey industry for over 400 years. Tour the distillery with an expert and indulge in a tasting of the signature smooth flavours. After some free time on your own, walk in the footsteps of mystical legends at the ethereal Giant’s Causeway. Take in the hexagonal basalt slabs, formed by gargantuan beasts crossing the crashing waves according to legend.
Day 5 Belfast - Derry - Donegal, Ireland
Make your way to Derry, a growing artistic and cultural hub, and site of the infamous Bloody Sunday massacre. Delve into the city’s local history on a guided tour before continuing on to Glenveagh National Park. Embark on an expert-led tour of the park’s 19th-century Glenveagh Castle, nestled along the shore of Lough Veagh. End your day in County Donegal. Connect with an age-old heritage when an esteemed seanchaí – a traditional Gaelic storyteller – joins you for dinner.
Day 6 Donegal
Set out to explore the Wild Atlantic Way. Visit the Slieve League Cliffs, offering stunning views over the Sligo Mountains and Donegal Bay. Three times higher than the Cliffs of Moher, these iconic cliffs are amongst the highest and most scenic in Europe. Afterwards, travel back in time to eighteenth-century Ireland when you visit the thatched cottages of Glencolmcille, a folk village maintained by the local community of southeast Donegal. Continue on to Donegal Town and enjoy time to shop and explore at your leisure.
Day 7 Donegal - Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
Enjoy a leisurely morning before departing Donegal for Fermanagh, a county blanketed by lakes and waterways. Take in pastoral surroundings as you cruise toward Devenish Island, a 6th-century monastic site. Explore the ruins of this picturesque island, including one of the finest high towers in Ireland. This afternoon, arrive at your beautiful resort on the banks of Lough Erne.
Day 8 Enniskillen - Galway, Ireland
Arrive in Galway, a lively city of medieval relics and modern flare. This afternoon, explore the city with a local foodie, highlighting how Galway’s cuisine breaks the stereotype of traditional Irish food. After getting a taste of what the city has to offer, enjoy the remainder of the day on your own.
Day 9 Galway
The day is yours. Perhaps you’ll pop into a pub for a drink with the locals, or peruse one of the city’s many museums, or even go shopping along bustling Quay Street. Consider taking an optional tour to Kylemore Abbey, where you’ll drive through Connemara National Park before embarking on an expert-led tour of the monastery.
Day 10 Galway - Cliffs of Moher - Killarney
Peek into Irish culture at a sheep farm, where you’ll watch a dog-herding demonstration and meet the friendly canine workers. Experience the Ireland you’ve always imagined at the Cliffs of Moher, where mossy cliffs plunge 700 feet into the ocean. After visiting one of the country’s most beloved sites, arrive in the dynamic town of Killarney.
Day 11 Killarney - Ring of Kerry - Killarney
Spend the day discovering the renowned Ring of Kerry. As you take in the scenic coastlines and weathered stones, pause for an Impact Moment at a seaweed farm. Roam the beach with local experts, learning about conservation efforts and how seaweed was used during the famine. After returning to Killarney, the rest of the day is yours.
Day 12 Killarney - Kilkenny
Today enjoy lunch at a traditional Irish pub, owned by the same family for 200 years. Listen to stories about the family ancestors and the social role that pubs play within rural communities. Afterwards, watch a hurling demonstration, a traditional sport of Ireland, with the opportunity to participate yourself! Continue on to Kilkenny, one of Ireland’s most charming cities.
Day 13 Kilkenny
This morning, it’s your choice! Enjoy a leisurely day to explore the town and Kilkenny Castle on your own -OR- travel just outside of town to the ruins of Jerpoint Abbey, a Cistercian abbey founded in the 12th century. You will also attend a captivating demonstration at a family-owned glass company and learn about the important role Kilkenny plays in Irish design and craftsmanship. Later this afternoon, uncover the city’s storied past at the Medieval Mile Museum. Explore this converted church with a local guide, learning about Norman relics and local witch trials. This evening, come together for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Sláinte!
Day 14 Kilkenny - Tour Ends
Wish the Emerald Isle goodbye as you depart for home.
Terms
*Terms & Conditions Apply. Offer is limited, subject to availability and change without notice. Promotion is correct and valid at the time of publication. Travelfix and supplier full booking terms and conditions apply. Valid for new bookings only and not combinable with any other offer (unless stated). All prices are in Australian Dollars based on twin share occupancy unless otherwise stated.
Hotels may charge resort fees or a security bond not included or mentioned in this package, payable direct upon check in. Price is based on a twin room type for 2 adults.
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