Tauck Luxury Escorted Tours – The Best of Ireland Tour 2010
The Best of Ireland Tour
The Emerald Isle bids you a hundred thousand welcomes on Tauck’s comprehensive Ireland tour. Splendid scenery, fascinating history, a vibrant culture and warm, hospitable people all contribute to the great charm of Ireland. Enjoy stays in two castle hotels, have lunch with a farm family at a working dairy farm, visit Blarney Castle and the Waterford Crystal visitors center. Experience the sophistication of Dublin and the peaceful ambiance of small villages. Have a memorable night at The Irish House Party, and find out what it’s like to stay in a castle… two castles! Tauck’s comprehensive Ireland tour is certain to be one of your most memorable travel experiences.
Itinerary
| Day 1 | Welcome to IrelandTauck’s Best of Ireland tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Old Ground Hotel. A transfer is included from Shannon Airport to the Old Ground Hotel, set in the charming village of Ennis. Meet your Tauck Director and your fellow travelers at our welcome reception and dinner this evening.
Meals: Dinner Lodging: Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, Ireland |
| Day 2 | The Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and Loch CorribYour Ireland tour continues with travels through emerald countryside and along the coast to the mighty Cliffs of Moher, towering over the Atlantic shoreline. Journey along the Yellow Roads through the eerie landscapes of the Burren en route to legendary Ashford Castle on the shores of Loch Corrib; it’s continually ranked as one of the finest hotels in the world.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Ashford Castle, Cong, Ireland |
| Day 3 | Discover ConnemaraConnemara is one of the more scenically diverse regions seen on any Ireland tour, with glistening lakes, bogs, mountain vistas and the craggy Atlantic coastline. At Kylemore Lough, see Kylemore Abbey, a splendid Gothic-Revival castle. Return to Ashford Castle, where the remainder of the day is free; dine à la carte tonight in one of the castle’s celebrated restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Ashford Castle, Cong, Ireland |
| Day 4 | Sligo to Donegal BayNoted poet, W. B. Yeats, described Sligo as the Land of Heart’s Desire. While in Sligo, visit Yeats’ resting place at Drumcliffe, beneath Ben Bulben. Continue on to Donegal for a two-night stay at a lakeside hotel in the serene Irish countryside, voted AA Ireland’s 2007-2008 “Hotel of the Year.”
Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Harvey’s Point Country Hotel, Donegal Town, Ireland |
| Day 5 | Explore County DonegalTauck’s northwest Ireland tour enchants visitors with the beauty of its scenery and the warmth of its people. A lovely drive today encompasses both the coast of Ireland along Donegal Bay, through ports like Killybegs, and her lush farms and meadows.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Harvey’s Point Country Hotel, Donegal Town, Ireland |
| Day 6 | Journey across Ireland en route to DublinYour Ireland tour takes you through the picture-perfect scenery for which the Emerald Isle is known across the Republic of Ireland en route to a two-night stay in the heart of Dublin, in one of the city’s finest hotels. View verdant green hills dotted with grazing sheep, ruined castles and abandoned abbeys along the way. Arrive in Dublin, where the afternoon is free to explore. Tonight you’ll experience one of Ireland’s enduring traditions – an evening of traditional Irish music and Irish dancing. The Irish House Party takes place in the private parlor room of a family-owned Georgian building in the literary quarter. You’ll be treated to dinner and an evening that will both entertain and educate with stories about Dublin’s unique characters, traditional music by leading musicians, and dance.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: The Westin Dublin, Ireland |
| Day 7 | Dublin’s “Fair City,” an Ireland tour highlightIreland’s capital and largest city, Dublin is known for its rich literary history, the intricate glass lace found on the doors of its Georgian townhouses, and its lively pubs proudly serving locally made Guinness Stout. Read a page from the Book of Kells at ancient Trinity College, and visit Dublin Castle before spending the rest of the day experiencing Dublin life as you please.Your hotel, The Westin Dublin, is located in the heart of the city, close to Grafton Street and Nassau Street.
Meals: Breakfast Lodging: The Westin Dublin, Ireland |
| Day 8 | Through the Wicklow Mountains to Kilkenny
Today’s adventures are a highlight of any Ireland tour. The 19th-century Powerscourt Gardens, in the beautiful Wicklow Mountains, are a treat for the senses. The medieval town of Kilkenny is as well known for the quality and variety its crafts as for its rich history. Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Mount Juliet Conrad, Thomastown, Ireland |
| Day 9 | Waterford Crystal and historic CobhStop at the Waterford Crystal visitors center for a look at Ireland’s famed glassware before a visit to the Old Jameson Distillery for a guided tour and tasting. On to Cobh, the last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic. Cobh also saw the sailing of the first steamship to cross the Atlantic; discover the role that Cobh has played in maritime history at the Cobh Heritage Center. Continue on to Cork, where you’ll spend the night in an elegant country manor house.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork, Ireland |
| Day 10 | From Blarney to KillarneyFew visitors to 15th-century Blarney Castle can resist the opportunity to kiss the famous Blarney Stone in the hope of being gifted with legendary Irish eloquence. Journey into County Kerry, stopping at the historic town of Kenmare en route to Killarney where you’ll visit Muckross House. Tour this Elizabethan-style mansion, with time to enjoy its lovely gardens. Spend the night at Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa; overlooking the Lakes of Killarney, the five-star hotel exudes the warmth of a country home – every Tauck room looks out upon the beautiful landscapes of Killarney.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa, Killarney, Ireland |
| Day 11 | Explore the Ring of KerryOne of the most famous drives in the world, the 100-mile route around the Ring of Kerry reveals some of Ireland’s most splendid scenery. Wind your way through charming towns including Cahirciveen and Waterville, and features such as Mols Gap and Ladies View. Return to Killarney for time at leisure, adding more enjoyment of the countryside’s rich cultural heritage to this Ireland tour. Dine à la carte at your leisure in your hotel’s acclaimed restaurant tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa, Killarney, Ireland |
| Day 12 | From a farm to a castleEnjoy a visit with Irish farmers at their working dairy farm, which has been in the same family for generations; enjoy a light lunch at the farm as you discover the important role of farming in the west of Ireland. Then, it’s off to Dromoland Castle; prior to becoming a world-renowned hotel, this magnificent baronial manor was home to the O’Brian family for over 500 years. Join your new friends at a farewell cocktail reception and dinner as Tauck’s Ireland tour approaches its end.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Dromoland Castle, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ireland |
| Day 13 | Your Ireland tour draws to a close – slaínte!Tauck’s Ireland tour ends: Dromoland Castle. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Dromoland Castle to Shannon Airport. Please allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for check-in.
Meals: Breakfast |
Select departures of The Best of Ireland tour feature three days in Northern Ireland (days 4, 5 & 6) instead of County Donegal
Price Guide
13 Days from $4990
| Double | Single | Triple | |
| 2010 Price per Person | $4990 | $6418 | $4798 |
All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.
About The Tauck Luxury Escorted Tours Experience