Business Class + First Class Airfares – Luxury Travel Tours + Cruises – Your Holidays.com.au

Despite the incursions of the English, these countries retain their own distinctive character, as well as being blessed with dramatic scenery and warm-hearted people.

14 days, Priced from A$3150

Premium Escorted, Departs from Dublin, finishes at Edinburgh

Tour code B935

.

Itinerary

Day 1 – ARRIVE DUBLIN

Welcome to Ireland! On arrival at Dublin Airport, your airport transfer service leaves for the tour hotel at 08:00, 11:00 & 13:30. Perhaps stroll around the shops of Grafton Street? Tonight, join your Tour Director & fellow guests for a Welcome Drink.

Hotel: Burlington

Day 2 – DUBLIN SIGHTSEEING

A sightseeing tour of Dublin includes the elegant squares of Ireland’s ‘fair city’ & a visit to the impressive Dublin Castle (when open). See also famous O’Connell Street & the historic Customs House, one of architect James G&on’s masterpieces. As evening falls, there is time for shopping & the chance to see an Irish Cabaret show.(B)

Day 3 – DUBLIN – KILDARE – KILKENNY – WATERFORD

Begin the DAY with a fascinating insight into the highs & lows of the Celtic Tiger economy with our local expert, before driving to Kildare to visit one of the country’s main racehorse breeding centres & Europe’s finest Japanese Gardens. Continue to the medieval town of Kilkenny to see the 13C castle. Then head for Waterford to see Reginald’s Tower, the ruined city walls & to visit the famous Waterford Crystal Showroom.

Hotel: Dooleys (B,D)

Day 4 – WATERFORD – CORK – BLARNEY – KILLARNEY

Travel via the fishing village of Dungarvan to Cork for an orientation tour. Acquire the ‘gift of the gab’ by kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle & shop for woollens at the Blarney Mills. Continue to Killarney where you join a local ‘Jarvie’ aboard one of the jaunting cars. Tonight, dine as you please from our selection of local restaurants.

Hotel: Killarney Towers/Killarney Avenue (B,DA)

Day 5 – RING OF KERRY EXCURSION

A highlight Ring of Kerry tour opens up superb seascapes, towering cliffs & spectacular mountains. Unhurried Irish life surrounds you as you travel through charming villages to view the three Lakes of Killarney before spending an afternoon at leisure. (B,D)

Day 6 – KILLARNEY – LIMERICK

Journey through picturesque Adare to Limerick, on the shores of the Shannon, Ireland’s longest river & the setting of Angela’s Ashes. Sightseeing takes in the ruins of 13C King John’s castle & St Mary’s Cathedral.

Hotel: George Boutique Hotel (B)

Day 7 – LIMERICK – GALWAY – ROSSES POINT

Visit Galway to see the Cathedral of St Nicholas, the Spanish Arch & Eyre Square, dedicated to the late US President John F. Kennedy. Now drive out to the Connemara, a scenic wonderland of rivers, lakes & silent hills. Stay tonight in a picturesque holiDAY village on the shores of Sligo Bay.

Hotel: Yeats Country Hotel (B,D)

Day 8 – ROSSES POINT – BELLEEK – BALLYGALLY

Visit the Belleek Pottery Centre before reaching the walled city of Derry. Sightseeing with a local guide takes you past the Georgian houses of Shipquay Street. Continue around the coast to visit the amazing ‘Giant’s Causeway’. Now enjoy a spectacular drive along the Antrim coast road to your hotel.

Hotel: Ballygally Castle (B,D)

Day 9 – BALLYGALLY – GLASGOW

Take the ferry to Scotland; & continue along the Ayrshire coast, taking in views of the Firth of Clyde & the Island of Arran. Pass the Open golf links of Turnberry before arriving in Alloway, where you will visit Robert Burns’ birthplace & see Burns’ Monument & the famous ‘Brig O’ Doon’. Spend the night in vibrant Glasgow.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza (B)

Day 10 – GLASGOW – HIGHLANDS

It’s only a short drive from Glasgow to the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond where you will enjoy a guided cruise on this beautiful loch. Now into the dramatic scenery of Glencoe, still echoing with the cries of massacred clansmen, before reaching Fort William. Pause at the Commandos’ Memorial for a view of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, then continue along Loch Laggan to Newtonmore.

Hotel: Highlander (B,D)

Day 11 – HIGHLAND EXCURSION

Stop at the prehistoric Clava Stone Circle before crossing Culloden Moor, where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite army was finally defeated. Then it’s on to Inverness & the mysterious shores of Loch Ness. Return to your hotel for a rousing evening, Highland style! Enjoy a Higlight Dinner complete with haggis and bagpipes. (B,HD)

Day 12 – HIGHLANDS – EDINBURGH

A scenic drive takes you through the Grampian Mountains past the Duke of Atholl’s Blair Castle. Travel via the Pass of Killiecrankie to Pitlochry, famous for its Salmon Leap. Drive down & cross the Tay to visit St. &rews, the home of golf. Now continue across the majestic Forth Road Bridge to Edinburgh.

Hotel: Apex European (B)

Day 13 – EDINBURGH SIGHTSEEING

Join your guide for a tour of Edinburgh Castle, which houses the Scottish Crown Jewels. Pass St Giles’ Cathedral, as you drive down the Royal Mile to Holyroodhouse Palace. Now drive down Princes Street, past the Scott Memorial to see Edinburgh’s famous Georgian architecture. Later, there is still time to shop. Selected departures enjoy the spectacular Edinburgh Military Tattoo at the castle. (B)

Day 14 – EDINBURGH

Departure transfers arrive at Edinburgh Airport at 06:15 & 09:00. (B)

.

Tour Dates & Total Prices Europe and Britain 2012

.

Early Payment Discount on Early Bookings

Insight’s most popular tours fill very quickly. Don’t be disappointed, book early! You’ll be assured of the tours you want, and the earlier you pay, the more you SAVE! Here’s how …

* Pay in full 10 months prior to your tour departure date and SAVE UP TO 7.5%

* Pay in full 6 months prior to your tour departure date and SAVE UP TO 5%

Tours must be paid in full for this discount to apply. This discount only applies to tours that feature the “Early Payment Discount” in the price panel. Check the itinerary pages now to see how much you can SAVE.

Extra Tour Discount – ON YOUR 2ND TOUR

Book two Insight vacations, and you will receive a reduction of 5% off the cheaper of the two tours. Take three tours and save on two! Ask your Travel Agent for suggestions!

Exceptions 1, 2 & 3. All tours must be booked at the same time to qualify.

Young Traveller Savings – 5-17 Year-olds

Insight offers you the opportunity of sharing your happy holiday memories with your children or grandchildren.

This discount applies only to tours featuring the “Young Traveller Discount” in the price panel. Check the itinerary pages now to see how much you can SAVE!

Young Travellers must be under the age of 18 years old on the tour departure date and accompanied by an adult, sharing a twin room (limit of one Young Traveller Discount per room). Children under 5 years old are not accepted on any escorted tour. This discount cannot be combined with our Small Group or Milestone Celebrations Discount.