Irish Highlights

Visit Ireland

Day 1

Welcome to the Emerald Isle

Tread in the footsteps of James Joyce and Oscar Wilde, through the lyrical streets of Dublin – your launch pad to a memorable encounter with Ireland's iconic highlights.

After a leisurely morning, meet a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour with views of Trinity College, St. Patrick's Cathedral and the stately Georgian Squares. Indulge in a little Irish craic this evening, joining your Travel Director and fellow travellers for dinner.

Day 2

Onwards to Limerick

Journey to Galway, the 'City of Tribes', where you'll see its stone cathedral on the banks of the Corrib and spend some free time exploring its stone facades.

Irish traditions and heritage are explored next, during a visit to Bunratty Castle and its Folk Park, a living history museum that reveals what life was like in Ireland during the 18th- and 19th-centuries. Continue to Limerick, for an orientation tour and view the 13th-century King John's Castle overlooking the Shannon.

Day 3

Experience the Iconic Cliffs of Moher and on to Killarney

Depart Limerick and journey to the mighty UNESCO-listed Cliffs of Moher along Ireland’s iconic Wild Atlantic Way.

Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with your Local Specialist and discover why this windswept coastline has stirred the imagination for centuries. You’ll visit the interactive visitor centre to explore how the cliffs formed over 300 million years, revealing layers of ancient seabed now home to puffins and peregrine falcons. Weather permitting, take in views stretching across Galway Bay to the Aran Islands. It’s a moment that connects land, sea and sky in a way only nature can. Continue your journey with a scenic drive to the ferry point, crossing the tranquil waters of the Shannon Estuary. Then on to the colourful town of Killarney, your base for the next two nights.

Day 4

A Scenic Day on the Ring of Kerry

Circle the spectacular Ring of Kerry – its emerald green hills, centuries-old stone villages and vivid blue seascapes provide a soul-stirring backdrop.

See Daniel O'Connell's Cahirciveen, Moll's Gap and the Black Valley, renowned for being the last place in Ireland to get electricity and telephone networks. Consider joining an Optional Experience to Muckross House and its beautiful gardens. With a backdrop of oak-clad mountains, enjoy taking in the towering azaleas and rhododendrons, alongside the shores of the lake. The 19th-century house contains some wonderful examples of furniture and paintings, including a portrait of King James VI, for whom Shakespeare wrote Macbeth.

Day 5

Explore Blarney and Journey to Waterford

Cross the rugged Kerry Mountains and travel to Blarney Castle to kiss the stone and acquire the 'gift of the gab'.

In the afternoon, arrive Waterford, where you can immerse yourself in the vibrant culture with an optional folk experience, enjoying traditional Irish music and warm hospitality. You'll then return to the hotel for a delightful group dinner.

Day 6

Through County Wicklow’s Countryside to Dublin Dive Into Culture Connect with Locals

Dive Into Culture and witness the centuries-old tradition of crafting fine glass at the House of Waterford Crystal.

Here you will watch the talented master crafters in their workshop creating exquisite pieces. Your next stop is in the town of New Ross, where you'll see the monument to John F. Kennedy who travelled to his ancestral family hometown in 1963. You'll visit the three-masted famine ship Dunbrody and Dive Into Culture yet again, gaining insights into the tragic plight of the Irish emigrants who fled the potato famine during the 1800s. Continuing through County Wexford and the lush countryside of County Wicklow, for a stop at Glenealy Farmhouse to meet the Fulvio family over dinner at your Be My Guest experience before continuing to Dublin.

Day 7

Farewell Ireland

For now, it’s time to say a fond slán abhaile to your fellow travellers as you close the curtain on an unforgettable journey through the 'Emerald Isle'.

Dining Summary

3 Dinner (D)

6 Breakfast (B)

Be My Guest

Wicklow: Traditional Irish fare with an Italian twist is served up at Glenealy House near Dublin with your host Catherine Fulvio who is one of Ireland’s top culinary stars, and her family on hand to share their story.

Dive into Culture

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 with a Local Specialist 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.

Galway: Explore the historic heart of Galway. See landmarks such as the Spanish Arch and the cathedral, or perhaps admire the distinctive Claddagh rings.

Bunratty: Visit the impeccably-preserved Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.

Limerick: See Limerick's iconic landmarks during an orientation with your Travel Director.

Cliffs of Moher: Stop by the Exhibition Centre and look out over the Wild Atlantic Way from these majestic cliffs.

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.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Lahinch: Gain a deeper understanding of the Cliffs of Moher on a guided walk with a Local Specialist in conservation. Learn how wildflowers support rare bird species like the red-billed chough and explore the cultural ties between the land and local communities. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land. 

Must-see Highlights

Explore Dublin

Discover Galway, Limerick and Waterford

Visit Bunratty Folk Park in Bunratty, the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney to kiss the stone and gain the 'gift of the gab', the Crystal Showroom at Waterford and the famine ship in New Ross

View St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Bunratty Castle, and King John's Castle in Limerick

See the Cathedral of Galway and St. Mary's Cathedral in Limerick

Scenic Drive of the Ring of Kerry

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