Country Roads of Ireland - End Dublin, Small Group
Country Roads of Ireland - End Dublin, Small Group
Temple Bar Street, Dublin, Ireland
Kilkenny, Ireland
Walking along the bank of the River Lee in Cork, Ireland
Blarney Castle, Ireland
Ross Castle, Killarney National Park, Ireland
Blarney Castle
The famous "Ladies View", Ring of Kerry, Ireland
Dingle seaport, County Kerry, Ireland
Salmon Weir Bridge, Galway City, Ireland
Custom House and Lagan River, Belfast, Northern Ireland
$5925
Country Roads of Ireland - End Dublin, Small Group
12 Days Starting and ending in Dublin, Ireland
Visiting: Dublin, Custom House, Dublin, Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, Kilkenny, Cahir, Cork, Blarney, Killarney, Killarney National Park, Ring of Kerry, Sneem, Moll's Gap, Ladies View, Dingle Peninsula, Slea Head, Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Aran Islands, Blue Stack Mountains, Londonderry, Shipquay Street, Londonderry, Guildhall, Londonderry, Giant's Causeway, Antrim Coast, Ballygally Bay, Carrickfergus Castle, Belfast, City Hall, Belfast, Queen's University, Belfast, Parliament Building at Stormont Belfast
Tour operator:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on the "Country Roads of Ireland - End Dublin, Small Group, Summer" tour and explore the enchanting landscapes and rich history of Ireland and Northern Ireland. This journey takes you from the vibrant streets of Dublin to the serene beauty of Killarney National Park, offering a choice between a horse-drawn jaunting car ride or a gentle hike. Discover the majestic Cliffs of Moher, the mystical Giant's Causeway, and the scenic Ring of Kerry. Experience authentic Irish culture with farm-to-table dining in Killarney and a celebration dinner in Ballygally. With comfortable accommodations and a dedicated Travel Director, this tour promises an unforgettable exploration of Ireland's iconic landmarks and hidden gems.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Dublin
Location: Dublin
Accommodation: Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, Dublin.
Accommodation Name: Clayton Burlington Road, Dublin
Meals Included: Dinner
Join your Travel Director for a warm and friendly dinner, with the opportunity to mingle and get to know your fellow travelers.
Day 2: In Dublin’s Fair City Relaxed Start
Location: Dublin, Custom House, Dublin, Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin
Accommodation: Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, Dublin.
Accommodation Name: Clayton Burlington Road, Dublin
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accompanied by a Local Expert, become acquainted with Dublin’s elegant squares during an orientation of the city. Discover Custom House, Christchurch Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Enjoy entrance to the 9th century Book of Kells and a walk through the cobbled courtyards of Trinity College.
Day 3: A Journey from Dublin to Cork
Location: Dublin, Kilkenny, Cahir, Cork
Accommodation: The Kingsley Hotel, Cork.
Accommodation Name: The Kingsley, Cork
Meals Included: Breakfast
In the morning, visit one of the country’s main racehorse breeding centers, also home to the acclaimed 100 year old Japanese Gardens where you can ‘journey through life’ during a walk through the beautiful surrounds. Travel to the medieval city of Kilkenny to visit the majestic Kilkenny Castle. Learn how the castle was built in 1195 after the Norman Conquest of Ireland and admire its beautifully restored Victorian era rooms. Continue through Cahir and see its imposing 13th-century castle, featured in the film 'Excalibur', on the way to Cork. On arrival, your Travel Director will show you around the compact university city, with its vibrant waterfront and grand Georgian parades.
Day 4: Across the Mountains to Killarney
Location: Blarney, Killarney
Accommodation: Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa.
Accommodation Name: Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel to the ruined Blarney Castle and Gardens. Will you hang upside down from the ramparts to kiss the stone and ensure a lifetime of eloquence? Travel across the majestic Derrynasaggart Mountains to the lively town of Killarney. For your Farm-to-Table dining experience, enjoy some Irish home cooking in the kitchen of chef John Sheehan. Join John and Freda, your hosts at the 19th Green Guesthouse, and savor the delicious flavors of fresh local cuisine on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Gather together at a Farm-to-Table dinner, using responsibly sourced ingredients from the local community, and gain personal insight into classic Irish recipes that are loved throughout the world.
Day 5: Ring of Kerry Experience
Location: Killarney National Park, Ring of Kerry, Sneem, Moll's Gap, Ladies View
Accommodation: Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa.
Accommodation Name: Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast
Start your day with Insight Choice. Choose a memorable ride on a horse-drawn jaunting car with the local jarveys. Alternatively, join a gentle hike with a Local Expert along the lake shore and past the grounds of Ross Castle, admiring the incredible scenery of the National Park. While there aren't any mountains to climb, walkers should be fit, have good walking shoes or boots, sunscreen and rain gear. Then explore around the magnificent Ring of Kerry. Here, mountains, valleys, lakes and sea blend into a landscape that is breathtaking beyond words. Journey past lush lakelands and around towering cliffs as you appreciate sweeping sea views. Continue through delightful villages like Sneem and cross the peat bogs of the Black Mountains to Moll’s Gap to admire Queen Victoria’s Ladies View. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Maybe take the opportunity to hire a bicycle and enjoy one of the many scenic trails around the lake or through the National Park.
Day 6: Around the Dingle Peninsula Relaxed Start
Location: Dingle Peninsula, Slea Head
Accommodation: Skellig Hotel, Dingle.
Accommodation Name: Falls & Spa, Ennistymon
Meals Included: Breakfast
Continue driving with views of wide skies, peaceful towns and coastal scenery of the Dingle Peninsula — the setting for the film Ryan’s Daughter. Drive to dramatic Slea Head at the peninsula’s far end, before journeying to reach your hotel.
Day 7: The Cliffs of Moher and Galway Relaxed Start
Location: Cliffs of Moher, Galway
Accommodation: Connemara Coast Hotel (Sea View Rooms), Galway.
Accommodation Name: Connemara Coast, Galway
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Journey to the Visitor Center at the 700-foot Cliffs of Moher. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Clare Coast before a delightful drive through the strange, rocky landscape of the Burren to Galway Bay. On arrival, see the Lynch Memorial and Church of St. Nicholas, where Christopher Columbus reputedly prayed before his voyages to America. See the Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the late US President, John F. Kennedy.
Day 8: Free day Galway or Aran Islands Relaxed Start
Location: Galway, Aran Islands
Accommodation: Connemara Coast Hotel (Sea View Rooms), Galway.
Accommodation Name: Connemara Coast (Sea View Rooms), Galway
Meals Included: Breakfast
Spend a day at leisure to relax and enjoy Galway. Perhaps join an Optional Experience to the Aran Islands? A genuine highlight of the Wild Atlantic Way. With their cliffs and spectacular coastal views, the islands are a true Irish experience.
Day 9: Derry Londonderry
Location: Blue Stack Mountains, Londonderry, Shipquay Street, Londonderry, Guildhall, Londonderry
Accommodation: Maldron Hotel Derry, Londonderry.
Accommodation Name: Maldron Hotel Derry, Londonderry
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Admire the Blue Stack Mountains of Donegal as you cross into Northern Ireland, bound for the ancient walled city of 'Derry.' What better way to experience sightseeing than with one of Northern Ireland's best storytellers, Ronan, as he takes you on a tour inside the city walls, still topped with cannons. Walk down Shipquay Street, with its elegant Georgian houses, to the Gothic Guildhall.
Day 10: Walk in the Giant’s Steps Relaxed Start
Location: Giant's Causeway, Antrim Coast, Ballygally Bay
Accommodation: Ballygally Castle Hotel, Co. Antrim.
Accommodation Name: Ballygally Castle
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Journey to the iconic Giant's Causeway. Learn how the National Trust is enabling farming and biodiversity to work together, supporting both wildlife and quality food production. Next, prepare yourself for miles of breathtaking beauty as you travel along the road clinging to the Antrim Coast. Continue onto your hotel, overlooking Ballygally Bay. For those who are brave enough, perhaps check out The Ghost Room, in one of the castle’s turrets? In the evening, please join us for a finale Celebration Dinner, where old-fashioned hospitality is blended with good food and wine for an experience that delights the senses.
Day 11: The Antrim Coast to Belfast Relaxed Start
Location: Antrim Coast, Carrickfergus Castle, Belfast, City Hall, Belfast, Queen's University, Belfast, Parliament Building at Stormont, Belfast
Accommodation: Titanic Hotel
Accommodation Name: Titanic, Belfast
Meals Included: Breakfast
Continue around the Antrim Coast, past the huge Norman castle at Carrickfergus, to arrive in the Northern Ireland capital of Belfast. Meet your Local Expert for a passionate city tour including views of the City Hall, Queen's University, the Parliament Building at Stormont and murals in different locations indicating political sentiments of local residents.
Day 12: Depart for Dublin
Location: Dublin
Meals Included: Breakfast
An early departure transfer will arrive at Dublin airport.
What's Included
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Choice Highlights
Choose between two carefully selected activities in Killarney: explore the scenery of Killarney National Park on a horse-drawn jaunting car or join a gentle hike with a nature guide.
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Top Rated Highlights
Experience top-rated highlights such as seeing Dublin's Custom House, Christchurch Cathedral, and St. Patrick's Cathedral, visiting Cahir Castle, exploring Cork, and journeying through the Ring of Kerry.
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Make Travel Matter
Participate in experiences that support sustainable practices, such as dining at a farm-to-table restaurant in Killarney and visiting the Giant's Causeway to learn about biodiversity efforts.
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Authentic Dining
Enjoy authentic dining experiences, including a warm and friendly dinner in Dublin and a celebration dinner in Ballygally.
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Insight Choice
In Killarney, choose between exploring the national park on a horse-drawn jaunting car or joining a hike with a nature guide.
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Insight Experiences
Enjoy unique experiences such as visiting Trinity College in Dublin, exploring the Irish National Stud in Kildare, and touring Kilkenny Castle with a local expert.
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Transport
Travel in style with a dedicated Travel Director, exploring Ireland's scenic routes and iconic landmarks. Enjoy comfortable transportation between destinations, including Dublin, Cork, Killarney, Dingle Peninsula, Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Londonderry, Giant's Causeway, and Belfast.
What's Not Included
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Optional Experiences
Optional experiences such as a trip to the Aran Islands are not included in the tour package.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included in the tour package.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
Dining Summary
- 5 Dinner (D)
- 11 Breakfast (B)
Insight Experiences
- Dublin: A stunning combination of cobblestone walkways, emerald-green lawns and 18th-century architectural gems, Trinity College is one of Europe’s elite universities and counts poet Oscar Wilde among its alumni. See the enchanting college campus and discover insights into its impressive history. Enjoy access to view the famous Book of Kells, an exquisite manuscript of the four gospels of the Christian New Testament, renowned for the intricacy, detail and majesty of the illustrations.
- Kildare: Horse racing is key part of Irish culture; and you'll get a rare peek into it over your visit to the Irish National Stud. Set in Kildare at the breeding ground of champions and the birthplace of legends, explore the foaling unit, museum and the stallions that continue to make racing history. As the only stud farm in Ireland open to the public, learn the insights of horse-racing at a site whose former visitors include queens and presidents.
- Kilkenny: Visit Kilkenny Castle to learn the history of this magnificent castle and that of the powerful family that came to call it home for so many centuries. Amble through the Picture Gallery, library, drawing room, nursery and bedrooms decorated in 1830s splendor as well as the rolling parkland formal terraced rose garden, woodlands and man-made lake.
- Blarney: It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone, the famous stone of eloquence, are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. Take your turn at giving it a peck knowing that the stone was sourced from 330-million-year-old limestone.
- Londonderry: There's no better way to experience sightseeing than with one of Northern Ireland's best storytellers, Ronan, as he takes you on a tour inside the city walls. See the Gothic Guildhall and the Georgian houses of Shipquay Street.
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with a dedicated Travel Director, exploring Ireland's scenic routes and iconic landmarks. Enjoy comfortable transportation between destinations, including Dublin, Cork, Killarney, Dingle Peninsula, Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Londonderry, Giant's Causeway, and Belfast.
Accommodation
Experience comfort and luxury at the Clayton Burlington Road in Dublin, The Kingsley in Cork, Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa, Falls & Spa in Ennistymon, Connemara Coast in Galway, Maldron Hotel Derry, Ballygally Castle in Co. Antrim, and Titanic Hotel in Belfast.
Check out our Q&As
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What unique experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes unique experiences such as visiting Trinity College in Dublin to see the Book of Kells, exploring the Irish National Stud in Kildare, and touring Kilkenny Castle with a local expert. Additionally, you can kiss the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle and enjoy a storytelling tour inside the city walls of Londonderry with one of Northern Ireland's best storytellers.
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What are the dining experiences like on this tour?
The tour offers authentic dining experiences, including a warm and friendly dinner in Dublin and a celebration dinner in Ballygally. In Killarney, you will enjoy a Farm-to-Table dining experience with fresh local cuisine prepared by chef John Sheehan, using responsibly sourced ingredients from the local community.
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What activities are available in Killarney National Park?
In Killarney National Park, you have the choice between exploring the scenery on a horse-drawn jaunting car with local jarveys or joining a gentle hike with a nature guide. Both activities allow you to admire the stunning mountains, lakes, woods, and waterfalls of the park.
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How does the tour support sustainable practices?
The tour supports sustainable practices through experiences like dining at a farm-to-table restaurant in Killarney, where all food is sourced locally, and visiting the Giant's Causeway to learn about biodiversity efforts. These activities align with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption & Production.
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What can I expect from the visit to the Giant's Causeway?
During the visit to the Giant's Causeway, you will learn about the National Trust's efforts to protect biodiversity and ecosystems, including habitat restoration and replanting activities. The site offers a chance to appreciate the natural beauty and geological wonders of the area.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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Low Deposit
Insight Vacations 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 insight vacations 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