Irish Highlights

Tread in the footsteps of James Joyce and Oscar Wilde, through the lyrical streets of Dublin – your launch pad to a memorable encounter with Ireland's iconic highlights.

After a leisurely morning, meet a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour with views of Trinity College, St. Patrick's Cathedral and the stately Georgian Squares. Indulge in a little Irish craic this evening, joining your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner. (D) Stay: Clayton Ballsbridge, Dublin, Hampton by Hilton Dublin City Center

Journey to Galway, the 'City of Tribes', where you'll see its stone cathedral on the banks of the Corrib and spend some free time exploring its stone facades. Irish traditions and heritage are explored next, during a visit to Bunratty Castle and its Folk Park. Continue to Limerick, for an orientation tour and view the 13th-century King John's Castle overlooking the Shannon. (B) Stay: The Inn at Dromoland, Greenhills Hotel Conference and Leisure Center

Depart Limerick and journey to the mighty UNESCO-listed Cliffs of Moher along Ireland's iconic Wild Atlantic Way. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with your Local Specialist and discover why this windswept coastline has stirred the imagination for centuries. You'll visit the interactive visitor center to explore how the cliffs formed over 300 million years, revealing layers of ancient seabed now home to puffins and peregrine falcons. Weather permitting, take in views stretching across Galway Bay to the Aran Islands. It's a moment that connects land, sea and sky in a way only nature can.

Continue your journey with a scenic drive to the ferry point, crossing the tranquil waters of the Shannon Estuary. Then on to the colorful town of Killarney, your base for the next two nights. (B) Stay: International Hotel, Killarney, Hotel Killarney

Circle the spectacular Ring of Kerry – its emerald green hills, centuries-old stone villages and vivid blue seascapes provide a soul-stirring backdrop. See Daniel O'Connell's Cahirciveen, Moll's Gap and the Black Valley, renowned for being the last place in Ireland to get electricity and telephone networks. Consider joining an Optional Experience to Muckross House and its beautiful gardens. With a backdrop of oak-clad mountains, enjoy taking in the towering azaleas and rhododendrons, alongside the shores of the lake. The 19th-century house contains some wonderful examples of furniture and paintings, including a portrait of King James VI, for whom Shakespeare wrote Macbeth. (B)

Cross the rugged Kerry Mountains and travel to Blarney Castle to kiss the stone and acquire the 'gift of the gab'. In the afternoon, arrive Waterford, where you can immerse yourself in the vibrant culture with an optional folk experience, enjoying traditional Irish music and warm hospitality. You'll then return to the hotel for a delightful group dinner. (B/D) Stay: The Fitzwilton Hotel, Waterford

Dive Into Culture and witness the centuries-old tradition of crafting fine glass at the House of Waterford Crystal. Here you will watch the talented master crafters in their workshop creating exquisite pieces. Your next stop is in the town of New Ross, where you'll see the monument to John F. Kennedy who traveled to his ancestral family hometown in 1963. You'll visit the three-masted famine ship Dunbrody and Dive Into Culture yet again, gaining insights into the tragic plight of the Irish emigrants who fled the potato famine during the 1800s. Continuing through County Wexford and the lush countryside of County Wicklow, for a stop at Glenealy Farmhouse to meet the Fulvio family over dinner at your Be My Guest experience before continuing to Dublin. (B/D) Stay: Roganstown Golf & Country Club

For now, it's time to say a fond slán abhaile to your fellow travelers as you close the curtain on an unforgettable journey through the 'Emerald Isle'. (B)