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9 Day Irish Explorer
Low Cost Coach Tour starting in Dublin and finishing in Dublin
Countries Visited: Ireland 
Tour Type: Regional
Tour Duration: 9 Days (8 Nights)
From: Dublin to Dublin
Tour Code: 9200
Operator: Cosmos
from AU $1,099 pp
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Tour Description

Explore the Emerald Isle in depth; beginning in Dublin with an orientation drive that introduces you to the major attractions. Motor north past castle and tower ruins, stopping for an overnight in Sligo. Then cross into Northern Ireland to visit the Belleek Pottery Factory. Visit the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher and overnight in the market town of Ennis. Drink in the scenery on the Dingle Peninsula and along the spectacular 'Ring of Kerry' before spending two nights in Killarney. Next, stop in Blarney, famous for its castle and 'Blarney Stone,'. Enjoy an included visit to the world-famous crystal factory in Waterford and spend the night at seaside Tramore. Heading north, visit historic Enniscorthy, Ireland's oldest hand weaving mill at Avoca. Return to Dublin for the finale of your exciting adventure.

Included Features

  • SIGHTSEEING: Visits to Downpatrick, Giant's Causeway, Derry, Donegal town, Knock, Galway, Cliffs of Moher, Adare, Killarney, Blarney, Tramore, handweaving mill at Avoca, Glendalough; orientation drive in Dublin
  • SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS: Boyne Valley, Mountains of Mourne, Northern Ireland's Antrim coast, Donegal Bay, The Burren, Dingle Peninsula, Ring of Kerry and Lakes of Killarney, Wicklow Mountains
  • GUIDES: Local Guide for visit to House of Waterford Crystal. Service of a professional Tour Director in Ireland
  • TRANSPORTATION: Private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach
  • HOTELS: Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service charges
  • OPTIONALS: Choice of optional excursions available at reasonable prices to customise your own experience

Tour Meals

  • Full Irish breakfast (B); 3 three-course dinners (D) with choice of menus

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Day
1
Arrive In Dublin, Ireland.
Check into your hotel. At 3 pm, meet your travelling companions for an afternoon orientation drive through statue-lined O'Connell Street and elegant Georgian squares to St. Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity College. Your Tour Director will have some suggestions for dining tonight.
Day
2
Dublin - Downpatrick, Northern Ireland - Belfast.
On your northbound route today, pass Drogheda, scene of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, then through the fertile landscape of the Boyne Valley, known for its prehistoric passage graves. Cross the border into Northern Ireland and drive through the Mountains of Mourne to Downpatrick, the burial place of Patrick, Ireland's Patron Saint. Follow the shores of Strangford Lough to the vibrant city of Belfast, where the Titanic was built. Later, why not join a Local Guide on a "living history" tour including a visit to the fascinating, brand-new Titanic Exhibition. (B)
Day
3
Belfast - Giant's Causeway - Derry - Donegal, Ireland - Sligo.
First stop this morning is Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Let the province's story unfold as you head for the city of Derry before returning to the Republic to visit Donegal, the ancient town founded by Danish Vikings and home of the O'Donnell Clan. Drive along Donegal Bay with its small fishing ports and hidden beaches before arriving in Sligo, tonight's destination. (B/D)
Day
4
Sligo - Knock - Galway - Cliffs Of Moher - Ennis.
South to Knock, a village that has attracted pilgrims from all over the world since the townsfolk saw apparitions. Then, to Galway, a vibrant city with a great seafaring tradition, where you hear about the infamous Lynch Stone, commemorating the day Mayor James Lynch Fitzstephen hanged his son for murder. Cross the limestone plateau of The Burren to visit the spectacular 204 metres (668-foot) Cliffs of Moher. Tonight's optional opportunity: a traditional Irish evening in the setting of a village barn with dinner, wine, and entertainment. (B)
Day
5
Ennis - Adare - Dingle Peninsula - Killarney.
Skirting the city of Limerick, head to Adare, a village known for its prize-winning thatched cottages. Breathtaking scenery this afternoon on the Dingle Peninsula, where the 52 kilometres (32-mile) Slea Head drive affords magnificent vistas of the Atlantic Ocean. See the Blasket Islands and hear about the way of life and unique literary achievements of its inhabitants prior to their evacuation in 1953. The next two nights are spent in the popular resort of Killarney. (B/D)
Day
6
Killarney. Ring Of Kerry Excursion.
At Killorglin, join the road known as the "Ring of Kerry" for a 161 kilometres (100-mile) coastal panoramic drive: sparkling seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly coloured farmhouses, winding lanes bordered with subtropical vegetation, and spectacular views of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. Back in Killarney, a special optional adventure: take a horse-drawn jaunting car along the national park lakeshore for pictures of Ross Castle. Tonight, enjoy the optional outing to Tralee for dinner and a performance at Siamsa Tire, Ireland's National Folk Theatre. (B)
Day
7
Killarney - Blarney - Waterford - Tramore.
More scenic splendour as you head over the Kerry Mountains into County Cork. Stop in Blarney, famous for its Stone of Eloquence, with time at your leisure to see the castle and shop for Irish crafts and handmade crystal. After lunch, drive past Cork, the country's second-largest city. Youghal and Dungarvan are further milestones on your way to Waterford, where a guided tour of the House of Waterford Crystal is included. Spend the night at the nearby seaside resort of Tramore. An optional pub tour might be fun this evening. (B/D)
Day
8
Tramore - Enniscorthy - Avoca - Glendalough - Dublin.
Highlights on your northbound journey: Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; a visit to Ireland's oldest handweaving mill at Avoca; views of the Wicklow Mountains; and Glendalough with its ruins of a centre of Irish Christianity, founded by St. Kevin. Back in Dublin tonight, celebrate the success of your tour with an optional dinner evening at the Guinness Storehouse. (B)
Day
9
Dublin.
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

9 Day Irish Explorer Reviews

Tour reviews from past clients of Global Journeys. 1 Reviews, Average Rating 4.0 of 5.
Had a great time and both tour quide and bus driver were wonderful. Tour guide was very informative, chatty, funny and willing to help in anyway possible and both driver and guide made tour very easy to enjoy. Would have liked a little more time at some attractions and perhaps a little more personal time for shopping etc and some of the hotels did not give you information their facilities (i.e. how showers worked, control of heating). Would like to travel again with Global/Cosmos tours as this tour was more than we had hoped for and the tour consultant was very helpful with all questions and extras required in conjuction with tour. Tour information and tickets and extras very complete and well presented when received in useful folder.
Gordon & Meryl Shiels (Australia)
Tour Date 06/10/2011

Tour Prices

Tour prices are per person. Please request a quote for tour availability.

EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL OFFER*

2012 Season Sale! Save up to $220 per couple. Exclusive to Global Journeys. Deposit this month only to qualify! Subject to availability at the time of booking.

START DATE END DATE BROCHURE
(Twin Share)
BROCHURE
(Single)
OUR
SAVINGS
OUR
PRICE
17 May 2012 25 May 2012 AU $1,266 AU $1,602 Save $110 AU $1,156
24 May 2012 01 Jun 2012 AU $1,266 AU $1,602 Save $110 AU $1,156
31 May 2012 08 Jun 2012 AU $1,266 AU $1,602 Save $110 AU $1,156
07 Jun 2012 15 Jun 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
14 Jun 2012 22 Jun 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
21 Jun 2012 29 Jun 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
28 Jun 2012 06 Jul 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
05 Jul 2012 13 Jul 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
12 Jul 2012 20 Jul 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
19 Jul 2012 27 Jul 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
26 Jul 2012 03 Aug 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
02 Aug 2012 10 Aug 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
09 Aug 2012 17 Aug 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
16 Aug 2012 24 Aug 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
23 Aug 2012 31 Aug 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
30 Aug 2012 07 Sep 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
06 Sep 2012 14 Sep 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
13 Sep 2012 21 Sep 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
20 Sep 2012 28 Sep 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
27 Sep 2012 05 Oct 2012 AU $1,276 AU $1,612 Save $110 AU $1,166
04 Oct 2012 12 Oct 2012 AU $1,228 AU $1,564 Save $105 AU $1,123
11 Oct 2012 19 Oct 2012 AU $1,228 AU $1,564 Save $105 AU $1,123
18 Oct 2012 26 Oct 2012 AU $1,199 AU $1,535 Save $100 AU $1,099
25 Oct 2012 02 Nov 2012 AU $1,199 AU $1,535 Save $100 AU $1,099

Note: The majority of departures above will proceed or are guaranteed to depart. We will outline the status of your departure date in your quote along with all applicable discounts and specials.

Tour Discounts & Options:

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  Click on the descriptions below for more detail. We will apply all valid discounts automatically to your quote to provide you with the best possible price. Terms & Conditions apply to the discounts below.

SAVE2.5 % Early Payment Discount
SAVE5% Journeys Club Discount
SAVEExtra Tour Discount On 2nd Tour
SAVESingle Traveller Saving
SAVEYoung Traveller Saving

Flights:

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  The prices on our site are land only prices. If you would like to include flights with your quote, then we have some amazing specials for you to take advantage of! Flight specials only apply for clients booking this tour from Global Journeys. Terms & Conditions apply and full details will be provided in your quote.



General Information

The information below relates to this itinerary only.

Tour Operator: Cosmos Tours

Cosmos holidays combine the freedom of independent travel with the benefits of group travel, all at an unbelievable value. If you have never taken a package holiday, consider this: travelling with Cosmos is less expensive, more comfortable and far easier than going it alone. Our expertly planned tour packages combine all the benefits of group travel with much of the freedom of an independent tour to create a balanced experience for each and every traveller. You travel hassle-free knowing that we've taken care of all the details. Once you have discovered the special advantages of Cosmos, you'll never want to travel any other way again. Cosmos turns your dreams into reality.


Tour Type: Regional

Our most popular style, Regional Discoveries, are well-planned, in-depth escorted vacations that provide one-of-a-kind opportunities to experience the character, personality, and flavour of a specific region or country.


Frequently Asked Questions

Why should we choose a Cosmos Tour?

  • Our famous value with complete travel packages including hotel, transportation, sightseeing and services of a professional Tour Director
  • Visits to major and must-see sights included in the vacation price
  • Expert Tour Directors share their unique stories and knowledge of destinations
  • Cosmos hotels are selected with care - three star or better hotels with private facilities, so you can relax in a comfortable, clean, and attractive environment
  • Optional excursions at an unbeatable value - diverse enough for unique interests and at reasonable prices
  • A dynamic blend of transportation, including first-class motorcoach, rail, air, and cruise - we make getting there part of the fun
  • Plenty of leisure time to explore on your own or to sit back and take it all in
  • Porterage included - not handling your own bag really makes you feel like you are on a holiday
  • Cosmos budget travel packages receive a 93% satisfaction rating on our customer's post-vacation surveys

I'm leaving in 4 weeks, when will I get my travel documents?

Travel documents, including any air tickets, tour itinerary, hotel lists, and helpful hints and other information are sent approximately four weeks prior to tour departure.

Who else will be travelling with me, and how many will be on tour with me?

Cosmos attracts a wide range of clientele of many ages from all over the English speaking world. Cosmos offers an affordable way to travel and as such the size of the Cosmos group can vary from departure to departure. A Cosmos coach can carry up to 51 passengers however on many tours the number of passengers is below 50 people.

Will the coach be modern and comfortable, and how many will be on tour with me?

Your Cosmos coach is a quiet smooth-riding high cruiser, equipped with soft, semi-reclining lounge seats, huge pan windows, a high-fidelity sound system, and air-conditioning. There is a no smoking policy enforced on the coach, but there are plenty of opportunities to smoke during the frequent stops. Cosmos uses the custom of daily seat rotation which gives every tour member a variety of vantage points to see the passing countryside and city scenery.

What hotel standards can I expect on a Cosmos tour?

Our experienced hotel contractors carefully select hotels that provide the best value for money. Of course, different countries have different standards, but Cosmos endeavours to provide our clients with the best available in cleanliness and comfort. They are mainly 'superior tourist' and 'tourist' class establishments that follow the standards set by the independent Official Hotel Guide (OHG) or by national tourist boards.

Where are Cosmos hotels located?

When Cosmos selects its hotels, it does so with you in mind. A great deal of effort goes into ensuring that the hotels are suitably located to meet the needs of the tour. Some hotels are more centrally located than others. In bigger cities (particularly in Europe), we sometimes use hotels that are located in the suburbs rather than using overpriced hotels or hotels in less desirable areas. In these instances, we make every attempt to locate hotels near public transport and with good access to shopping and/or meals.

Are breakfasts included in the tours?

Breakfast is not included on our American tours but Cosmos does offer the option to pre-pay breakfast supplements on selected North American tours to have a full breakfast daily. On Cosmos European tours a daily continental breakfast is provided. In London and on the Continent, you can expect to start the day with cereal, croissant, yoghurt, bread, butter, jam, cold cuts (cheese, ham, salami) and juice, coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, a fully cooked breakfast is provided.

What about dinners?

The number of dinners provided varies from tour to tour, check your itinerary for details. Where dinners are on offer, they tend to have an 'international' flavour. For clients wanting to sample some of the 'local' fare, there are optional excursions which feature dining out at local restaurants. Alternatively, clients can discover the local cuisine when there are free evenings without scheduled meals.

What is the difference between a tour director & a local guide? What are they like?

Your tour director will accompany you from the start to the end of your tour, educating you on the places and the history of the destination. Local guides are included in many cities to give you in-depth information on the culture, history and attractions of the city. Both Tour Director and Local Guides have a passion for travel, people and the destination and look forward to sharing their passion with you.

I'm finding it difficult to match two tours together?

Have you considered pre or post tour accommodation? We offer fantastic rates hard to find elsewhere and this may enable you to select sequential tours with minimal disruption to your intended travel plans.

What does the tour cost include?

Our packages take in each destinations's most popular highlights. They are carefully planned to include visits to places of interest and panoramic drives through areas of natural beauty. There's so much for you to look forward to! In North America you can ride a snocoach on Alberta's Columbia Icefield, tour Washington DC and Québec City with expert Local Guides, and cruise the swampy waterways of Louisiana's bayous. Please refer to the itineraries for a complete description of what is included in the holiday of your choice.

Do coach tour prices include tips to Tour Directors, Drivers & Local Guides?

It is customary worldwide to pay tips to Tour Directors and Drivers on all international vacations and these are not included in your quote. The option to prepay these tips prior to departure is possible however. Please ask your consultant to include this in your quote. You will receive Gratuity vouchers with your travel documents and all you need to do is give this to the Tour Director and driver or Cruise Director and ship's crew at the end of the vacation.

Are there optional excursions & is there much free time?

In addition to included sightseeing, we offer a rich program of optional excursions, all full of interest and very reasonably priced. Optional activities can be booked through your Tour Director. Many optional excursions are mentioned in the package descriptions. Your pre-vacation literature will specify cost and content of the optional highlights that may be offered during your trip. This enables you to budget accordingly before you leave home.

Do you have a share program for singles?

More than one third of Cosmos' clients travel alone. We can provide clients with a 'guaranteed share' facility. This means that we charge singles the basic price and match up singles of the same gender in twin-bedded rooms. If we cannot find a roommate for a tour member who has booked on a 'guaranteed share' basis, we will absorb the single room supplement. For mutal comfort, we do adopt a no-smoking rule in shared rooms. Please note that 'guaranteed share' cannot be offered for pre and post tour accommodation.

Where can I find out more information on Cosmos?

We have a dedicated section on our website providing more detailed information on Cosmos including FAQ's on what you need to know before, during and after your travel; as well as information on their 'Touring Styles', and a comprehensive search facility to enable you to easily find more of their tours. Read more> (NB: This link will take you away from this tour itinerary page).


Airport Transfer Information

Cosmos tour members may reserve our airport transfer service at AU$ 25 per person one way on the tour start and end date of the tour (Excluding some tours during the London Olympics, contact us for details) and are available for flights arriving/departing, at certain times set out below. Please see travel documents for full details regarding set pick-up times at designated airport locations. For very early departures, please note that breakfast cannot be included.

London (Heathrow) - 24 hours

London (Gatwick) - 6am - 3pm

Note: Airport transfers can be arranged when you purchase extra nights before or after the tour only if the extra accommodation is booked in conjunction with Global Journeys & Cosmos.


Terms & Conditions:

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Georgie Walpole

Your Tour Consultant Will Be:

Georgie Walpole
Tour Consultant
Email: georgie@globaljourneys.com
Expertise: International Coach Touring & River Cruising
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