This 10 night southern Ireland tour takes you to both popular stops and hidden gems tasting food along the way.  Your private driver will regale you with the history and folklore of the Emerald Isle.

 

Day 1: Private Transfer to Dublin Hotel

Welcome to Ireland! After landing at Dublin Airport, complete customs and immigration formalities. A private transfer will escort you and your luggage to the hotel.

 

Hop On Hop Off Dublin (Green Bus)
The Hop On Hop Off Bus Pass allows you to experience all the history and culture of Dublin easily. This two-day pass will take you around a loop to different stops and will take approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. Feel free to get off and explore at any of Dublin’s most popular attractions! Stops include places like Guinness Storehouse, The Book of Kells in Trinity College, and Dublin Castle. Your native guide will provide live commentary along the way, pointing out all the famous points of interest, along with where famous Dubliners like James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett spent their time. Included in your pass is a free Walking Tour of Dublin that departs from the Dublin Bus Head Office multiple times a day, and free entrance to the Little Museum of Dublin.

 

Irish Whiskey Museum

Enjoy this guided tour and interactive experience at the Irish Whiskey Museum.  Learn about the origins of Irish whiskey, its rise and fall, and sample several different kinds. 

 

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2 Night Stay: Westin Hotel, Dublin
With its opulent stone façade and ornate columns, this hotel is sure to impress. It is located centrally to many popular attractions, and you are approximately a 5 minute walk to Trinity College, the River Liffey, Temple Bar, and Grafton street for shopping. It features an atrium lounge with views over the city.

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Day 2: Dublin at Leisure

Dublin Tasting Trail
Visit six to seven different places, all independently owned, tasting in each place and meeting the purveyors or makers. The tastings reflect the current food scene, bringing new international and contemporary tastes to the Irish table and all using great Irish produce. As you enjoy the food, you’ll also learn a little about the culture and history of the lively and charming Dublin from your local guide. 

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Trinity College (Book of Kells)
Visit Trinity College, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. Walk along the grounds that notable alumni such as Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, and Samuel Beckett had attended. Stop and see the Old Library, which houses the Book of Kells, a 9th century illuminated manuscript of the four gospels.

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EPIC Ireland
Next visit EPIC Ireland, which celebrates the dramatic story of the spread of Irish culture around the globe, and how Ireland has changed throughout the years.

 

Day 3: Dublin to Kilkenny

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Today your private driver services start. Meet your private driver in the lobby of your hotel at 9:00 AM this morning. Enjoy your comfortable ride with your knowledgeable driver who will guide you through the popular and hidden gems of Ireland.

 

Wicklow Mountains Drive

Drive south of Dublin to see the delightful scenery of the Wicklow Mountains. This mountain range runs north to south across County Wicklow with its highest peak, Lugnaquilla, at 3039 feet. The entire mountain region is frequented, especially on weekends, by Dubliners, for its scenery and outdoor recreation.

 

Ballyknocken Cooking Class
Experience this state of the art award winning cookery school. Nestled between lush herb, vegetable and soft fruit gardens, Ballyknocken Cookery School is owned and managed by Irish Celebrity Chef Catherine Fulvio. You will learn how to create dishes packed with flavours for a truly spectacular meal.

 

 

2 Night Stay: Manor House at Mount Juliet Estate, Kilkenny
Mount Juliet Estate's tradition of hospitality dates back to the 18th Century. The Manor was designed during the Georgian era, so you will find the rooms as bright and as generously proportioned, as they are luxurious. Enjoy the unique experiences of the Estate, whether that involves fishing, golfing, or the indulgence of the spa.

 

Day 4  Kilkenny at Leisure

Kilkenny Foodie Tour
Experience food tasting and cultural walking tours through Kilkenny’s medieval narrow streets and alleyways. On the tours, you visit local artisan food producers and meet the owners who share their insight on the delicious tastes found in this historic city.

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Kilkenny Craft & Design Center
Be sure to visit the Kilkenny Craft & Design Center, Ireland's leading center for contemporary craft and design. Explore the space admiring the various artisan stalls.

 

 

The Lady Helen, at Mount Juliet
Dine at the elegant Lady Helen Restaurant and savor an internationally-themed menu of dishes made using local ingredients, including many from the hotel's own kitchen garden, herb garden and farm. The atmosphere of opulence within the Lady Helen Restaurant complements the pastoral views out over the pastures to the River Nore.

 

Day 5: Kilkenny to Kinsale

Jameson Distillery - Midleton
In Midleton, visit the Old Midleton Distillery. Here, you can walk through the old buildings to see the largest pot still in the world while your guide explains how whiskey is made. At the end of your tour, enjoy a sampling of the finished product.

 

Cobh Village (Pronounced Cove)
Travel to Cobh, where you can enjoy some free time to exploring this picturesque waterside town that was known as the last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic voyage in 1912.

 

Dinner at Fishy Fishy Restaurant
Dine at Fishy Fishy Restaurant, located right on the doorstep of the harbour and supplied with only the best of fresh fish from the waters off the south coast of Ireland.

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2 Night Stay: Actons Hotel, Kinsale
This 73-bedroom hotel is a two-minute walk from the center of Kinsale, overlooking the scenic harbor. The Captains Table Restaurant specializes in local seafood, while the comfortable Lounge and the Waterfront Bar and Bistro serve delicious snacks for you to enjoy.

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Day 6: Cork Sightseeing

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Kinsale Food Tours
Sharing the stories, scenery, seafood, and other tasty treats is what Kinsale Food Tours is all about. Taste the town on this 2-hour tour, stopping at various eateries, while meeting some of the local characters and producers who are passionate about their culinary creations. 

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Cork Sightseeing
Take a panoramic tour of the main areas of Cork, Ireland's second largest city. Cork is built on multiple hills with many steeply sloping streets. See Shandon Church, which dates back to 1722. Also view the Gothic-revival St. Finbarr's Cathedral, named for the patron saint of the city.

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English Market
Visit the English Market, which first opened in 1788. The market allows consumers to explore and sample a variety of produce from all corners of the globe.

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Day 7: Kinsale to Clare

Visit Limerick's Milk Market and discover the very best of fresh, natural produce from great farmhouse cheeses and chutneys, just-caught fish and artisan meats, organic fruit & vegetables, to delicious healthy breads and fresh pressed juices. You’ll also be able to snack on gourmet sandwiches, wraps, pastries, chocolates, delicious crepes, soups and freshly brewed teas & coffees or buy fresh flowers and vibrant plants. ***Open Friday through Sunday.

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Burren Cheese Trail

Take the Cheese Trail and visit a family run farm, watch cheese being made using traditional methods and visit a local market. Meet the animals, learn about their sustainable farming practices and, of course, taste the cheese.

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Overnight: The Lodge at Doonbeg (Trump International), Doonbeg
This beautiful seaside accommodation combines excellent service, a relaxing spa and a spectacular golf course for a luxurious stay on the coast of Ireland. This hotel is known a one of Europe's most distinguished 5-star star destination.

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Day 8: Clare to Galway

Burren Smokehouse
Go into the Burren Smokehouse Visitor Centre and get a tasting of Burren smoked salmon. You can discover mosaics inside and outside of the shop, and look at the first kiln used when they first set up the Burren Smokehouse.

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Galway Food Tour
Galway Food Tour is a wonderful culinary walking tour of Galway bringing people to try produce from oysters to cheese; Sushi to Crab and Doughnuts to Strawberry tarts, local beers and much more. Galway’s famous food culture is explored by taking in some of the city’s best known and secret food haunts.

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2 Night Stay: The Galmont, Galway
The Galmont overlooks Galway Bay and is just 200 meters from Eyre Square. At this stylish waterfront hotel, guests have an option to dine at a high-end seafood restaurant, Marinas Grill serves or at the Atrium Bar & Lounge. The spa center includes a gym, a sauna and a swimming pool, and offers spa treatments.

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Day 9:  Connemara Sightseeing

Connemara Sightseeing
Travel through Connemara Region to admire the sweeping views of boglands and misty mountains. As you drive along you will see many sheep that graze freely and also tracts of bogland where some people hand-cut peat for home heating. Follow the scenic Sky Road to the attractive village of Clifden.

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Oyster Farm
Visit one of the oldest oyster farms in Ireland. Oysters from Ballinakill Bay are served in local hotels and restaurants as well as exported worldwide. In this farm tour you will see how oysters are grown over a three-year period from seed to plate. As part of the tour enjoy the taste of a Connemara Oyster fresh from the waters of Ballinakill Bay.

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Day 10:  Galway to Kildare

Rathbaun Farm
Travel to Ardrahan and visit Rathbaun Farm, a picturesque 150-year old farmhouse. See a variety of animals and learn about traditional farming practices before enjoying a skilled sheepdog demonstration.

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Overnight: Carton House Hotel, Maynooth
Carton House Hotel is set in an 18th century restored manor house, and mixes contemporary design with stately charm. Set on over 1,000 acres of land, the hotel features two golf courses, a spa, and outdoor activities such as tennis, hiking, and fishing. Dining options include an elegant Irish restaurant, a chic bar, and a golf course bistro.

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Your private driver services will conclude at the end of the day. Ask your driver to reconfirm your return airport transfer, if applicable, before parting ways.

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Day 11:  Depart Ireland for Home

Your vacation ends after breakfast with a private transfer to Dublin Airport. We hope you had a wonderful vacation, and wish you a safe flight on your journey home. 

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What's Included: 

• Breakfast each day, some lunches, some dinners

• Select tastings

• Hotels

• Transportation: Private driver 

• Local Tour Guides and entry fees

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Trip Estimate for this tour with 8 travelers:

 

$ 5,537.00*

per person double occupancy

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This trip can be planned and customized for 2-8 travelers. Modifications can be made to fit your budget. If you have a larger group call for details.
 

*  All options are subject to change without notice. Quotes are per person, double occupancy and based on a trip with 8 passengers.  Call for final quote  based on number of passengers, dates and availability at time of booking. Travel protection recommended.  Additional options may be available.  Other restrictions may apply.  Must be booked no later than 30 days prior to trip.

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