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Best of Ireland 2010 - About this Tour

Tour Details | Departure Dates and Pricing

Details

Duration (with arrival/departure): 11
Tour Style: Regional
Destinations: Dublin, Kilkenny, Kildare, Waterford, Blarney, Killarney, Adare, Limerick, Bunratty, Galway Bay

Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to Dublin.

Day 2 - Arrive Dublin Welcome to Ireland and Dublin! After check-in the afternoon is free to relax and unwind. This evening we enjoy a Welcome Drink with our Tour Director and fellow traveling companions.

Hotel: Maldron Cardiff Lane

Day 3 - Dublin – Kildare – Waterford After breakfast we make our way to Kildare to the Irish National Stud, where we will enjoy a walking tour to see some of the finest stallions in the world. We will also have time to visit the Japanese Garden. We continue to Kilkenny where we view the medieval city dominated by its Norman Castle and ancient cathedral. Finally on to Waterford. (Full breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Days Hotel

Day 4 - Waterford – Kenmare Bay (Kerry) (2 nights) This morning we visit the Waterford Crystal Showroom and our Tour Director tells us that a Hidden Treasure will be revealed to us today! On to Cork and Blarney Castle where we kiss the stone and aquire the ‘gift of the gab’. We travel across the Derrynasaggaret mountains along the picturesque Loo Valley to the pretty town of Kenmare. (Full breakfast)

Hotel: Kenmare Bay

Day 5 - Ring of Kerry excursion Enjoy a full day of spectacular scenery through plunging cliffs and lakes, granite mountains and jagged coastlines as we tour the Ring of Kerry. Our route passes Killorglin (of Puck Fair fame), Daniel O’Connell’s Cahirciveen, Waterville and Moll’s Gap in the Black Mountains before returning to our hotel at Kenmare Bay. Tonight we enjoy a delicious dinner in an Irish family’s farmhouse and are entertained with unique story-telling! (Full breakfast / Be My Guest dinner)

Day 6 - Kenmare Bay – Limerick This morning we drive through the Glanaruderry Mountains and into County Limerick. We pause a while in Adare – with its thatched cottages, it is one of the prettiest villages in Ireland. Then on to the mouth of the River Shannon and to Limerick, where on arrival an orientation tour shows us St. Mary’s Cathedral, King John’s Castle and the Treaty Stone. Then we visit the Bunratty Castle and folk park before going on to our hotel in Limerick. (Full breakfast)

Hotel: Radisson SAS

Day 7 - Limerick – The Cliffs of Moher and the Burren – Connemara – Galway Our first stop today is to see the beautiful Cliffs of Moher, then we follow the coastline enjoying splendid views of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. Soon we come to the Burren country, a haven for geologists and botanists because of the unusual rocks and flora. Then we head for Galway city where our orientation tour shows us the Spanish Arch and Galway cathedral. Finally we take a drive through the barren mountainous region of Connemara before continuing via Lough Corrib to our hotel. (Full breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Carlton

Day 8 - Galway – Sligo This morning we depart for County Sligo, an area rich in ancient ruins, traveling via the County of Mayo. Our first stop is in the village of Knock, the place of pilgrimage where villagers saw apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Finally via the small market town of Tobercurry to splendid Sligo Bay and our overnight hotel. Time to relax or to take an excursion to Drumcliff to see the church where Yeats is buried and across the border into Northern Ireland to visit the famous pottery at Belleek in County Fermanagh. Tonight we enjoy a Highlight Dinner in a local pub restaurant. (Full breakfast / Highlight dinner)

Hotel: Yeats Country Hotel

Day 9 - Sligo – Dublin (2 nights) Today we travel via Boyle – famous for its Cistercian abbey – and along the valley of the mighty River Shannon back to Dublin. You’ll have time to perhaps visit a beautiful monastic site this afternoon. Why not take the opportunity this evening to attend an Irish cabaret and enjoy the unique entertainment and atmosphere plus the Irish sense of humor? (Full breakfast)

Hotel: Mespil

Day 10 - Dublin sightseeing and at leisure Morning sightseeing tour with a local guide includes views of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Phoenix Park and visits Trinity College to see the famed 8th century Book of Kells, which is renowned for its extravagance and complexity as an illuminated manuscript. Tonight, we enjoy a Farewell Dinner with wine with our Tour Director and new-found friends. (Full breakfast / Farewell dinner)

Day 11 - Dublin – USA This morning it is time to bid farewell to our Tour Director and fellow travelers as our tour of Ireland comes to an end. (Full breakfast)

Free airport transfers: Transfers on Day 2 at Dublin Airport will operate at 08.00, 11.00 and 13.30. Passengers arriving later should make their own way to the first hotel. Return transfers on the last touring day will arrive at Dublin Airport at 07.30, 09.30 and 11.30.

Whats Included

Sightseeing Highlights

Dublin: Visit Trinity College, view St. Patrick's Cathedral and Phoenix Park.
Kilkenny: Visit the medieval city.
Kildare: Visit the Irish National Stud Farm and the Japanese Garden.
Waterford: Visit the crystal showroom (when open).
Blarney: Visit the castle and the famous Blarney Stone.
Killarney: See the beautiful lakes.
Ring of Kerry: Visit Killorglin, Cahirciveen, Waterville and Moll's Gap.
Adare: Visit the prettiest village in Ireland.
Limerick: See St. Mary's Cathedral and King John's Castle.
Bunratty: Visit the castle and folk park.
Galway Bay: Panoramic views. Galway orientation tour. Visit Connemara, Dunmore Abbey, Sligo.

Dining Highlights

9 full Irish breakfasts
2 three-course dinners
'Be My Guest' dinner in an Irish family's farmhouse
Local highlight restaurant dinner with wine in Sligo
Farewell Dinner with wine in Dublin

14 meals in total

First Class Travel Highlights

First Class hotel accommodation includes twin-bedded rooms with private facilities, all hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes.
Touring by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and a washroom onboard.
The services of one of Trafalgar's top professional Tour Directors.
A qualified local city guide in Dublin.
Airport transfers are provided on Day 2 and Day 11.
A stylish wallet, tour documents and a Welcome on Tour book.

Airport Transfers

London Gateways: Transfers can be expensive, particularly between the airport and your London hotel. But when you book your Trafalgar tour and take advantage of our land and air packages, we have included a FREE transfer to and from London’s airports and your Trafalgar London hotel. For passengers who have their own flight arrangements we offer you the opportunity to purchase inexpensive transfers to and from London’s Heathrow – Trafalgar has negotiated special rates for the Dot2Dot transfer from London’s Heathr
Important – Please Note: Passengers will only be entitled to transfers to and from London Airports providing the following conditions are met:
For included transfers: Your flights must be booked directly by Trafalgar no fewer than 21 days prior to departure. For chargeable transfers: Your Travel Agent provides detailed flight information to Trafalgar no fewer than 21 days prior to departure. Once transfers are booked they cannot be changed.
For London arrivals, you must stay at a London hotel booked by Trafalgar on the night of arrival and the night prior to your departure date.
Trafalgar only includes one inbound and one outbound transfer.
In the event of flight delays outside of Trafalgar’s control, the transfers will be deemed to be cancelled.
All transfers are based on group transfers. No refund is therefore available for missed transfers, or passengers not using this service.
In the event of unforeseen events (such as road or rail works, strikes or demonstrations), Trafalgar will not be responsible for delayed or cancelled transfers.
Heathrow Airport: National Express Dot2Dot will pick up and drop off in time to meet all flights to/from London’s Heathrow Airport. For guests arriving at the Dot2Dot desk after 22.00 hrs please make use of the courtesy phone to arrange your transfer to your Trafalgar hotel.
Gatwick Airport: Passengers who have booked Trafalgar’s Land and Air packages arriving at London’s Gatwick Airport are provided with a Gatwick Express train voucher. The Gatwick Express train journey from Gatwick Airport to London’s Victoria Station takes 30 minutes. Guests then need to make their way from Victoria Station to their Trafalgar hotel.
European Gateways: With Trafalgar all passengers will receive complimentary arrival and departure transfers on the scheduled arrival and departure day of their tour at the times specified below. Please ensure your Travel Agent reserves your flight to co-ordinate with the transfer times shown.
Trafalgar Bonus - Passengers who book Trafalgar's Land+Air package and who arrive or depart outside of these specified times on the scheduled arrival and departure day of the tour will also be provided with a transfer.
Passengers arriving before or leaving after the scheduled tour days are not entitled to a transfer but may book and purchase one through Trafalgar providing that they also purchase the additional pre and/or post tour hotel night(s) from Trafalgar. Please ask for prices of transfers at the time of booking your extra night accommodation.
Land only passengers arriving or departing on the scheduled tour arrival or departure days but whose flights don't coincide with the listed transfer times below may also book and purchase these transfers. Flight details must be provided to Trafalgar not less than 21 days before the flight departure.
Click here to see scheduled transfer times.

Options

Child Prices: Apply to children under the age of 16.