Overview
Itinerary
Your tour departs from your hotel at 2:00 PM on a panoramic tour of the city and visit to Dublin Castle for a guided tour. Learn how the castle was the seat of power in Ireland for many centuries, and see the State Apartments, used today for official ceremonies. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before enjoying an evening free to dine as you wish.
Tour Dublin independently, on a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour. Plus choose a visit to one of Dublin's top attractions – Guinness Storehouse, Teeling Distillery, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Jameson Distillery Bow St. Experience, or GPO Museum. Join your group in the evening for a dinner of Irish specialties and a lively show at Taylors Three Rock Pub. (B/D)
Travel to Blarney Castle; climb the winding staircase to kiss its famous stone or enjoy the gardens. Go to Kinsale, a picturesque old fishing town known for art galleries and gourmet food. Join a local guide for a fascinating walk around its historic streets, once besieged by the Spanish Armada, before dinner at your hotel. (B/D)
Enjoy free time to discover the bustling, friendly town of Killarney. Next, visit Moriarty's in the Gap of Dunloe, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner.
Continue on to Dingle, where you will dine at your hotel. (B/D)
Set out on the Slea Head Loop, one of Ireland's most beautiful drives, through scenic ocean and mountain vistas. Visit the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the Blasket Islands, visible off the coast. Abandoned in 1954, they were once a lively outpost of traditional culture and language. Return to Dingle and visit Murphy's Ice Cream; taste their distinctive flavors like Irish Orange Marmalade, Brown Bread, and Dingle Gin. Take the rest of the day to wander and dine as you wish in this quaint seaside town. (B)
Visit the Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, which recalls air travel in the 1930s and 1940s. Drive to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean.
In the evening, visit a castle for a medieval-style banquet with traditional songs and stories. (B/D)
Travel through the rounded limestone hills of the Burren to Caherconnell and watch skilled dogs round up sheep. Stop in a charming Burren village to explore independently.
Continue on to lively Galway for a walking tour with a local guide – check out the medieval history evident in the city walls, the narrow streetscape, and Lynch's Castle. Explore the charming shops and listen to street musicians before dinner at your hotel. (B/D)
Drive through Connemara to Leenane for a catamaran cruise (seasonal) of Killary Harbour, Ireland's only fjord. Travel on to see Kylemore Abbey, a beautiful castle in a lakeside setting. Enjoy an evening free to explore vibrant, artistic Galway city. (B)
Travel north through County Mayo. Stop in County Fermanagh and visit Belleek Pottery to see craftspeople create their renowned fine china. Visit Donegal Castle, built by the O'Donnell chieftains in the 15th century and restored in the 1990s after falling into ruin for centuries. Enjoy free time in Donegal town before dinner at your hotel. (B/D)
Enjoy a coastal drive to view Slieve League, Europe's highest sea cliffs.
Continue on to CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, Triona Design, in Ardara; see demonstrations of spinning, weaving and knitting. Enjoy free time to explore and dine independently this evening. (B)
Meet with a local guide for a walking tour to see Derry's medieval walls, the Diamond, and St Columb's Cathedral. Explore the Giant's Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns formed over 60 million years ago. Travel along the scenic Nine Glens of Antrim before arriving in Belfast. Dine this evening at the Cultra Inn at the Culloden Estate & Spa. (B/D)
Enjoy a leisurely morning at your luxury hotel, then depart for Belfast, where a panoramic tour will show you its grand Victorian buildings and introduce you to its maritime history. Visit Titanic Belfast to explore the story of the doomed ocean liner, built in the local shipyards in 1912.
Continue on to Dublin where the evening is free to do as you wish. (B)
Explore Dublin independently. Guests who have not used their vouchers on the previous independent day in Dublin may use them for the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour and choice of attractions. Otherwise, this vibrant city is yours to discover.
In the evening, dine independently at your choice of Dublin's many restaurants or pubs. (B)
Your tour ends after breakfast. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- Taylors Three Rock Pub: Visit Taylor's Three Rock in Dublin for an unforgettable evening of lively traditional Irish music, spirited dancing and a welcoming atmosphere that embodies the true essence of Irish hospitality.
- Blasket Centre: Enjoy stunning views of the wild Atlantic coast while learning about fishing, farming and traditional life in this remote community.
- Kylemore Abbey: Visit this monastery on the grounds of Kylemore Castle, founded for Benedictine nuns who fled Belgium during World War I.
- Giant's Causeway: Created by volcanic activity 60 million years ago – or, according to Gaelic legend, by a giant – mammoth hexagonal stone columns rise from earth in a striking formation.
- Belleek Pottery: Learn about the craftsmanship and heritage of the pottery created here since 1857.
- Cliffs of Moher: Marvel at the stunning views from these cliffs, rising 700 feet above the Atlantic.
- Titanic Belfast: Get an in-depth look at how the ship was built in Belfast's shipyards — and the inside story of its fateful maiden voyage.
- Donegal Castle: See one of Ireland's most splendid castles from its Gaelic past - abandoned for centuries but restored in the 1990s.
- Slieve League Cliffs: Enjoy the majestic views of the highest cliffs in Europe.
- 13 Breakfasts and 7 Dinners (D)
- The Gibson Hotel (4 Stars)
- Kinsale Hotel & Spa (4 Stars)
- Dingle Skellig Hotel (4 Stars)
- Treacys Oakwood Hotel (3 Stars)
- Galway Bay Hotel (4 Stars)
- Abbey Hotel Donegal (3 Stars)
- Culloden Estate & Spa (5 Stars)
- The Croke Park Hotel (4 Stars)
- Airport transfers at your arrival and departure destination are not included in the price of the tour.
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.
Each of our vacations are stress-free, with no surprise hidden fees, and plenty of fun for all ages. Read more
CIE Tours could not exist without our great locally employed tour directors - they are the envy of the travel industry. Read more
CIE Tours uses three classes of hotels – first class, superior first class & deluxe properties. Read more
Trip Reviews (6) Most Recent 'Jewels of Ireland' Reviews
Dates & Pricing
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A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by CIE Tours. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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