The British Isles in Depth

Check into your hotel. In the afternoon, there's time to rest or to start exploring the lively British capital; uniformed hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.

What's your pleasure? Today is devoted to exploring on your own or enjoying our exciting program of optional activities. London's calling with an optional morning sightseeing tour with a Local Guide to see the city's famous landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall's mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister's Downing Street, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. The highlight is a visit to St. Paul's Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece built between 1675 and 1708.

This afternoon, maybe visit Windsor Castle or the Tower of London with its spectacular Crown Jewels. And this evening we recommend a traditional dining experience followed by a guided nighttime cruise along the Thames River to see some of the capital's most beautiful, illuminated sights.

Meet your Tour Director and travel companions and depart at 8 am for a memorable day of sightseeing, including a walking tour of Oxford, one of the country's oldest seats of learning; then, skirt the Cotswold Hills to Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon. Take photos of Anne Hathaway's Cottage and explore the town at your own pace. Overnight in Coventry. Today's Distance: 249 mi/ 400 km.

This morning, head north to York, England's most complete medieval city. Stand in awe in front of the great structure of York Minster, then follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles. Stop for the night in Newcastle, once an important hub for the wool trade and coal mining and now a vibrant, modern city. Today's Distance: 108 mi/ 174 km.

See a section of Hadrian's Wall, then motor through wild Northumberland National Park to the Scottish border. Stop for photos at Jedburgh before arriving in Edinburgh. Here, sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town”. In the “Old Town,” visit Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland's Crown Jewels.

No trip to Scotland is complete without an authentic Scottish evening! Join an optional night out filled with traditional food, drinks, singers, dancers, bagpipes, and, of course, the unforgettable Ceremony of the Haggis! For select departures, tickets are included for tonight's performance of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Today's Distance: 117 mi/188 km.

Your choice of optional excursions today: this morning put on your best detective hat and get ready to decipher the cryptic symbols and spellbinding mysteries of 15th-century Rosslyn Chapel, one of Scotland's most enigmatic places. Join an afternoon excursion and get the royal treatment! Discover what life was like on board Queen Elizabeth II's floating residence during an exciting visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia, followed by dinner with wine at an excellent local restaurant!

A day of memorable sightseeing. Take the elegant Forth Road Bridge to St. Andrews, whose Royal and Ancient Golf Club has given us the rules of golfing, then cross the Firth of Tay and, via Dundee and Perth, head into the Highlands, with a stop in the Victorian mountain resort of Pitlochry. Cross the battlefield of Culloden Moor with its memories of Bonnie Prince Charlie, then via Inverness, head for your Highland destination. Today's Distance: 221 mi/ 355 km.

More spectacular Scottish scenery: Dornoch Firth, the Kyle of Sutherland, the Falls of Shin, the Mountains of Assynt, and Knockan Crag. Then, follow Strath Oykel for a visit to Ullapool, a remote fishing harbor on Loch Broom, before returning along Loch Glascarnoch. This afternoon, we recommend an optional excursion to join the hunt for Nessie! First visit the Loch Ness Centre before joining a cruise on the loch to hunt for the famous “water beast.” Supper rounds it all off. Today's Distance: 123 mi/ 198 km.

More heather-clad moors as you drive through the western Highlands all the way to Fort William beneath Ben Nevis. Glen Coe, where the MacDonald Clan was massacred in 1692, and a drive along the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond are scenic highlights on the way to Glasgow, Scotland's great cultural city. Today's Distance: 183 mi/ 295 km.

On this morning's orientation drive through Scotland's largest city, see the fine 12th-century cathedral, imposing university buildings, and elegant Georgian squares, built by wealthy tobacco barons. Later, stop at Alloway, the birthplace of Robert Burns, before boarding the ferry for the Irish Sea, crossing to Belfast. Today's Distance: 100 mi/ 160 km.

Take the scenic route along the Antrim Coast to awe-inspiring Giant's Causeway, then let the province's story unfold as you head for the city of Derry. Arrive in Sligo, tonight's destination. Today's Distance: 203 mi/ 327 km.

Travel south to Galway, a popular seaside destination and a buzzing cosmopolitan district with vibrant shops and a busy café and bar culture. Then, cross the limestone plateau of The Burren to visit the spectacular 668-foot Cliffs of Moher. Everyone's Irish with an optional banquet at an original Irish medieval castle. Enjoy a 4-course feast with wine, then relax as your medieval hosts dazzle you with unforgettable music and storytelling. Today's Distance: 181 mi/ 291 km.

Via Adare and Tralee into County Kerry. Breathtaking scenery this afternoon on the Dingle Peninsula, where the 32-mile Slea Head drive affords magnificent vistas of the Atlantic Ocean. Afternoon arrival in Killarney, your destination for the next two nights. Today's Distance: 171 mi/ 275 km.

At Killorglin, join the road known as the Ring of Kerry for a 100-mile coastal panoramic drive featuring sparkling seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly painted farmhouses, winding lanes bordered with subtropical vegetation, and spectacular views of the Lakes of Killarney. Climb aboard a delightful optional horse-drawn jaunting car ride through Killarney National Park to legendary Ross Castle on the shores of Lough Leane. Today's Distance: 100 mi / 160 km.

More scenic beauty as you head 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. Finally, pass Dungarvan and travel along the Copper Coast to the seaside resort of Tramore.

Enjoy a bit of craic (conversation) with an early evening optional of authentic Irish local flavor. Take a scenic drive to a traditional pub with a local musician ready to entertain you and give you wonderful memories of this beautiful country. Two drinks of your choice are included. Today's Distance: 131 mi/ 211 km.

On your northbound journey pause in Waterford, famous for its exquisite crystal, and visit Kilkenny, one of Ireland's prettiest towns with medieval cobblestone streets and Old-World charm. Learn an Irish toast or two on a popular optional outing to the legendary Taylors Irish Cabaret, featuring a delicious dinner, drinks, and outstanding Irish music, dance, and comedy. Today's Distance: 128 mi/ 205 km.

A day in the “Fair City” starts off with an orientation drive through Ireland's capital and includes statue-lined O'Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. The rest of the day is free to enjoy Dublin at leisure. This evening, raise a glass on an optional excursion to learn about the history, traditions, and brewing techniques behind one of the world's most popular beers on this fascinating tour, tasting and dinner at Dublin's legendary Guinness Storehouse.

Take the ferry across the Irish Sea to Holyhead on the Welsh Isle of Anglesey with its tongue-twisting names. Explore North Wales on the way to Caernarfon where the castle saw the investiture of King Charles III as Prince of Wales in 1969, before arriving in Liverpool. Today's Distance: 130 mi/ 209 km.

A day dedicated to Wales as you head south through the ancient market town of Builth Wells and Brecon Beacons National Park, land of salmon rivers and the Welsh mountain pony. In Cardiff, an orientation drive in Cathays Park features its splendid civic buildings and Cardiff Castle. Experience Welsh culture at its finest during this memorable optional excursion featuring a dinner of local specialties and wine. Today's Distance: 184 mi/ 296 km.

Across the Severn Bridge to the elegant Georgian city of Bath, famed for its Roman relics. Into the West Country via Glastonbury and its legends of King Arthur, and wild and romantic Dartmoor with a visit to the picture-book village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor. Upon arrival in Plymouth, hear about Sir Francis Drake and see the Mayflower Steps, where the Pilgrim Fathers embarked in 1620. Today's Distance: 198 mi/ 319 km.

Today's excursion takes you to the pretty fishing village and former smuggler's port of Looe. Then, follow in the footsteps of Drake, Raleigh, and the Pilgrim Fathers on an optional cruise on Plymouth Sound, one of the world's greatest natural harbors. Today's Distance: 45 mi/ 65 km.

An interesting day heading into Thomas Hardy's Wessex and a visit to intriguing, prehistoric Stonehenge. Explore the visitor center with its imaginative exhibitions, then admire the magnificence of the monument up close. Return to London in the early evening. How about celebrating the success of your tour with a night on the town? Curtain's up with an optional escorted evening in London's theater district, starting with a delicious dinner, followed by excellent seats at your chosen show. Today's Distance: 215 mi/ 346 km.

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.