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Day 1: Dublin - Glendalough - Kilkenny Castle - Waterford Crystal - Waterford
The tour begins this morning @ 9:00 in central Dublin. We'll leave the city behind and drive through rolling countryside to the Wicklow Mountains. Our first stop is the monastery ruins at Glendalough, the Valley of Two Lakes. This is an area of natural beauty and you'll have time at leisure to enjoy the local walks and trails and take some great photos of the ancient Celtic crosses and round towers. Afterwards, we'll continue to medieval Kilkenny with its cobbled streets and famous red ale. Potential sights to explore at leisure include the Castle, Cathedral, Abbeys and Churches all dating back to the Norman period following the invasion of the 12th Century. This afternoon we continue south to the Viking settlement of Waterford. Not far from Waterford Harbour on the south- east coast, Waterford City is a relaxing spot to spend the evening with some great pubs and seafood restaurants. Our day ends with a visit to the world famous Waterford Crystal factory. Stock up on fine cut glass at the outlet store or simply pause a while to watch the artisans at work.
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Day 2: Waterford - Cobh - Blarney - Annascaul
Our day begins with a scenic drive through Co. Waterford on the way to Cobh. Cobh is the historic port where Titanic last saw dry land in 1912. Perhaps visit the Titanic Museum in the actual ticket office where passengers paid their fares onto this famous ship. Alternatively, stroll through town enjoying the colourful streetscapes and amazing views of imposing St. Colman's Cathedral. The highlight for many today is our afternoon stop - world renowned Blarney Castle. Here we spend plenty of time (2 hours) visiting the Castle, with the chance to kiss the Blarney Stone (to receive the gift of eloquent speech also known as the gift of the gab). Surrounded by beautiful and majestic gardens, you may also shop for souvenirs at Blarney Woolen Mills, the world's largest Irish shop. Your tour will regroup and push further west to the Dingle Peninsula and tonights overnight location at Annascaul village.
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Day 3: Annascaul - Dingle Peninsula - Slea Head - Annascaul
This morning we take the short drive to Dingle, a charming Gaelic speaking fishing village. Famed in many films like Far and Away and Ryan's Daughter, Dingle is celebrated for having most pubs in Ireland for a town of its size, 52 pubs and 2000 people. We cannot forget Dingle's most famous resident, Fungi the Dolphin who we shall time to visit in the early afternoon. Then it's off on a wonderful pleasant trip around Slea Head with amazing views of Sleeping Giant Island, the Blasket Islands, and Beehive Huts dating back to 2000 B.C. Regarded as the most beautiful Peninsula in the world by many photographic magazines, Slea Head has some of Ireland's most fabulous beaches and is definitely the highlight of Ireland's famed Wild Atlantic Way. This area is completely Gaelic speaking, and you may even get to hear some of the locals converse in this ancient language. Then it's back to Dingle where there is ample time for shopping in traditional arts and crafts stores, lunch in one of the many colorful pubs with local musicians playing some mystic tunes. We complete our day with a visit to Ireland's longest beach at Inch, connecting Dingle Peninsula to the Ring of Kerry. Your overnight this evening is in Annascaul.
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Day 4: Killarney - Ring Of Kerry Highlights - Spanish Point
Toay we'll continue on our journey through the Kingdom of Kerry, a journey that combines the best of the Ring of Kerry with its emerald pastures and villages highlights including Moll's Gap, Ladies View, Leprechaun Crossing, Killarney, Killarney National Park, Lakes of Killarney, Torc Waterfall, and much more. Overnight Spanish Point, County Clare - a stone's throw from Cliffs of Moher.
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Day 5: Spanish Point - Cliffs of Moher & Burren - Doolin - Galway
Leaving Spanish Point, today's emphasis shall be the Wild Atlantic way, visiting Cliffs of Moher, the most popular natural tourist destination in Ireland and most spectacular cliffs in Europe. Rising over 700 ft in height, these cliffs are home to some of natures most majestic birds including puffins, gannets and many more. The villages of Doolin or Liscannor, (the home of Irish traditional music) will be your lunch stop before continuing onwards to explore the Burren, a lunar landscape dating back 300 million years with unique features like underground rivers and waterfalls. Our journey takes us along the West Coast of Clare, and Galway Bay with fabulous vistas of the Aran Islands before stopping at Corcomroe Abbey one of Ireland's finest examples of the Island of Saints and Scholars. We overnight in Galway known as the city of the tribes and Ireland's cultural capital, with a vast array of fine seafood eateries, and home to an endless selection of traditional Irish music venues.
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Day 6: Galway - Sligo - Derry
After a great night in Galway, we'll enjoy a road trip through picture postcard Connemara to Derry in Northern Ireland. Our lunch stop today shall be Ireland's premier surf venue and beach at Strandhill, County Sligo. We watch some of Ireland's finest breakers roll against our Atlantic shores and enjoy lunch and a pint at The Strand Bar (at leisure - not included). Refreshed, the drive continues through the poetic heartland of W.B. Yeat's country, feauring beautiful Benbulben referenced in many of his poems. This afternoon we'll visit the city of Derry. Enjoy a walking tour of Derry's walls (1613) and the well known Bogside district made famous by the 1972 massacre and U2 song "Bloody Sunday". Enjoy some time at leisure and maybe a pint in one of the local pubs. We recommend Peadar O'Donnells, a local famous for its traditional music sessions. Tonight we stay in Derry / Londonderry.
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Day 7: Derry - Dunluce Castle - Giants Causeway - Dark Hedges - Derry
Today we cruise the beautiful North Antrim Coast to world famous Giant's Causeway. Its 37,000 basalt columns form stepping stones leading from Ireland to Scotland and are featured in the Celtic legend of Fionn MacCool. Afterwards, we'll continue along the coastal route with a fantastic visit to Dunluce Castle. Take some amazing photos as Dark Hedges on our way back to Derry.
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Day 8: Derry - Belfast - Monasterboice - Dublin
We begin the day with a city tour of the highlights of Belfast including City Hall, Queen's University, Botanic Gardens and much more. Together we'll visit Titanic Belfast, a fascinating exhibit housed in the very docklands where this most famous ship was built and launched before her tragic maiden voyage. You will also have some time at leisure and many guests will take a Black Taxi tour (EUR 20.00 / GBP 15.00) of the political murals and of course the Peace Walls which divide the Catholic Republican from the Protestant Loyalist communities. Enjoy time for lunch and shopping downtown. We'll depart Belfast around 14:00 - 14:30 making a stop at the ruins of Monasterboice for photos and fresh air en route to Dublin. We'll stop at Dublin Airport at 16:30 approx. and finish in Dublin at 17:00 approx.