DUBLIN: Orientation drive; welcome dinner

KILDARE: Guided tour of the Irish National Stud

STROKESTOWN HOUSE: Guided tour of the house and Famine Museum, and visit the gardens

KYLEMORE: Visit the Benedictine abbey

CONNEMARA: Visit a marble workshop

GALWAY: Orientation

ARAN ISLANDS: Ferry to and from Inishmore, hear a presentation on life on the island by a local historian,  enjoy lunch at Tí Joe Watty’s pub, take a minibus tour with a driver-guide, visit Dun Aengus

RATHBAUN FARM: See the farmer at work,  bake your own scones, and enjoy morning coffee in the farmhouse

CLIFFS OF MOHER: Savor the spectacular views

FOYNES: Guided tour of the Flying Boat Museum, enjoy an Irish Coffee

DINGLE PENINSULA: Slea Head drive and visit Dingle town, enjoy  dinner at a local pub

RING OF KERRY: Scenic peninsula drive

KILLARNEY: Horse-drawn jaunting car ride

BLARNEY: Visit the famous village

WATERFORD: Guided tour of the House of Waterford Crystal

AVOCA: Guided tour of the handweaving mill

GLENDALOUGH: Guided tour of St. Kevin’s center of Irish Christianity

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DAY 1 ARRIVE IN DUBLIN, IRELAND

Céad míle fáilte—a hundred-thousand welcomes! An afternoon orientation drive through statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and past St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College. 

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DAY 2 DUBLIN–KILDARE–STROKESTOWN–BALLINA

Horse-racing country awaits this morning. Drive across the Curragh to the IRISH NATIONAL STUD at Kildare, whose thoroughbreds command respect on the racecourses of the world. Then, head north to Longford for a guided tour of STROKESTOWN HOUSE, the 1740s mansion with its fine gardens. Experience an insight into the circumstances of the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s at the Famine Museum. Overnight in Ballina, famous for its hospitality and internationally renowned for its exceptional salmon fishing in the Moy River.
Today’s Distance: 179 mi / 300 km

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DAY 3 BALLINA–KYLEMORE–GALWAY

Via Westport, head for the unspoiled region of Connemara, an area known for its hardy breed of ponies. Visit KYLEMORE ABBEY, a massive yet graceful castle acquired by Benedictine nuns as a precious heirloom for Ireland. At Moycullen, visit the Joyce family at their MARBLE WORKSHOP before arriving in the port city of Galway. 
Today’s Distance: 104 mi / 166 km

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DAY 4 GALWAY. EXCURSION TO THE ARAN ISLANDS

At Rossaveal, board a FERRY for the 45-minute crossing to Kilronan on Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands and where Gaelic is the first language of the islanders. Your fascinating day continues with a presentation about life on Inishmore by an island historian. After a light LUNCH at Tí Joe Watty’s pub, board a minibus to enjoy your driver/Local Guide’s commentary on a tour of the island. End with a visit to clifftop DUN AENGUS, one of the most spectacular and dramatic prehistoric stone forts in Europe. Back in Kilronan, board your ferry back to the mainland. 
Today’s Distance: 45 mi / 72 km

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DAY 5 GALWAY–CLIFFS OF MOHER–LIMERICK

Enjoy a real Irish farm experience at RATHBAUN FARM this morning. Try your hand at  SCONE BAKING, and learn from the farmer about sheep shearing and herding. Afterwards, enjoy coffee and your scones, fresh from the oven. Take the scenic route across the desolate limestone plateau known as The Burren, and stop for photos of prehistoric Poulnabrone Dolmen. At the CLIFFS OF MOHER, rising 668 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, savor the breathtaking panorama of the Clare coast. 
Today’s Distance: 129 mi / 207 km

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DAY 6 LIMERICK–FOYNES–DINGLE PENINSULA–TRALEE

This morning, make your way to Foynes for a guided tour of the FLYING BOAT MUSEUM. Board and explore the world’s only full-size replica of a Boeing B314 “Clipper.” In the flight simulator, re-enact the thrilling experience of crossing the Atlantic in a 1930s long-range flying boat. You will also be treated to an IRISH COFFEE DEMONSTRATION, complete with a sample of the classic drink. Then, enjoy the wonderful views during the Slea Head drive on Dingle Peninsula, stroll through quaint Dingle, and maybe catch a glimpse of Fungi, the resident dolphin. 
Today’s Distance: 145 mi / 238 km

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DAY 7 TRALEE. RING OF KERRY EXCURSION

At Killorglin, join the famous RING OF KERRY for a 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip. Plenty to focus your camera on here: sparkling seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly colored farmhouses, winding lanes bordered with subtropical vegetation, and the breathtaking panorama of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. Stop in the popular resort town of Killarney and enjoy a special treat: a fun-filled horse-drawn JAUNTING-CAR RIDE through the national park with glorious vistas of the Lakes of Killarney and ancient Ross Castle.
Today’s Distance: 104 mi / 166 km

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DAY 8 TRALEE–BLARNEY–WATERFORD

Across the Kerry Mountains, drive into County Cork for a visit to Blarney, renowned for its castle and magical Kissing Stone. In the afternoon, proceed via Cork, Youghal, and Dungarvan to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings in 853. Here, enjoy a visit to the HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL.
Today’s Distance: 150 mi / 236 km

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DAY 9 WATERFORD–AVOCA–GLENDALOUGH–DUBLIN

Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; Ireland’s oldest HANDWEAVING MILL at Avoca; and GLENDALOUGH, the early Christian monastic site founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. See the engaging Ireland of the Monasteries, then your Local Guide will show you the remains of this ecclesiastical settlement. 
Today’s Distance: 120 mi / 192 km

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DAY 10 DUBLIN

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

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