A Taste of Ireland and Scotland

Céad mile fáilte—a hundred-thousand welcomes!

Enjoy free time upon arrival before meeting your Tour Director and travel companions at 6 pm for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

Ireland's Capital City

The morning's orientation drive in the “Fair City” includes statue-lined O'Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Oscar Wilde's Trinity College. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this vibrant city. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - CITY SIGHTS: “In Dublin's fair city where girls are so pretty” you'll also find great personality and charm. The charisma of Dubliners and the bounty of pubs here is matched only by the gorgeous Georgian Squares, 12th-century St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Trinity College.

Scones and Cities

First stop today is the pretty town of Athlone, located on the banks of the River Shannon. At Rathbaun Farm, try your hand at scone baking and learn about sheep shearing and herding from the farmer before enjoying coffee and your homemade scones. Continue to Galway, a popular seaside destination with a buzzing center of colorful shops and a busy café and bar culture. Enjoy some free time before heading to Castlebar for your overnight stay. (B/D). 206 mi / 331 kim

LOCAL FAVORITE - LOCAL TASTES: Someone's in the kitchen in Rathbaun Farm, just outside of Galway. You can don an apron and whip up your own delicious home-made scones, served with fresh preserves and whipped cream. Learn about the long-time tradition of sheep farming in this beautiful Irish landscape.

Spend your day your way in Belfast

Start your day with a stop in Bundoran before crossing into Northern Ireland. Explore Belfast with your choice of an included Globus Choice Excursion. (B) 186 mi / 300 km

• TROUBLES & TRIUMPHS - Take an inspiring journey through war and peace with a walking tour of Belfast's city center to learn the history of Northern Ireland's political conflicts, "The Troubles," Hear the personal stories, struggles, and ultimate path to peace.
• THE BEST OF BELFAST- Discover the essential Belfast on a walking tour with your expert Local Guide. Explore its beautiful architecture, stunning street are, unique heritage, and the amazing stories spanning centuries of Scottish history.

Strait to Scotland

This morning, visit the fascinating Titanic Experience and learn about the building of the largest passenger steam ship, its maiden voyage, and the tragic night of April 14, 1912. Board your ferry for the maritime port of Cairnryan on Scotland's west coast. Continue on to Glasgow, Scotland's largest city. (B) 84 mi / 135 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - EPIC RIDE: The North Channel (also called the Irish Channel) connects northeast Ireland to the southwestern coast of Scotland. The North Channel is part of the Ocean's Seven, a set of seven long-distance open-water swims, although most who cross rely on the many ferries that run between Belfast and Cairnryan, the Scottish village with a proud maritime history, including building sections of the floating Mulberry Harbors built to support the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

Clans and Slate

Enjoy an opportunity for a photo stop on the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond before a visit to the stunning Inveraray Castle. Continue to the pretty conservation village of Ellenabeich, a remote former slate-mining village and the largest village on the island of Seil. Oban is your overnight destination. (B/D) 130 mi / 209 km.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - THE: CLAN'S CASTLE Inveraray Castle is the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, the chief of Clan Campbell, one of Scotland's most powerful and influential clans. The castle's conical roofs and turrets give it a fairy-tale appearance, while its interior features stunning rooms with opulent decorations. Located with stunning views over Loch Fyne, it's no wonder it has been used for location filming on many occasions, including the popular Downton Abbey.

Castle and Tipples

A scenic drive through the Trossachs National Park takes you to the historic city of Stirling. Explore its imposing castle, a favored residence of the Stewart kings and queens before a visit to a whisky distillery. Enjoy some free time in Edinburgh this evening. (B) 126 / 203 km

LOCAL FAVORITE - LOCAL TASTES: We'll raise a wee dram of malt whisky at a local distillery, distilling in slow Scottish style in the highlands for many years. Slàinte Mhath!

Drummers, Pipers & Precious Jewels

Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town,” and the famous scientists, inventors, and novelists who lived there. In the “Old Town,” visit Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland's Crown Jewels. Enjoy some free time this afternoon and evening. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO: Unpack your plaid! Edinburgh Military Tattoo performances included on select departures.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - MUSIC & MASTERPIECES: Ascend to Castle Rock to explore Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important historical strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, with an 11,000-year history as “the most besieged place in Great Britain.” Here, you'll find the royal regalia and Scotland's Crown Jewels. The Castle forms the background of the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, an extravaganza of bagpipes and drums performed en masse in August each year.

Safe travels until we meet again!

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)