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Ireland – A gem worth discovering! 

It is a verdant jewel of an island, blessed with some of the most magical scenery in the world: from white sand beaches of county Donegal to the green valleys of county Wicklow, from soaring seacliffs to tranquil forests, and charming villages with some of the friendliest people in the world. 

Day 1 – Home to Dublin 

Depart Mpls with an R&J Tour Director and take an overnight flight across the Atlantic. Enjoy in-flight entertainment and meal service as you travel to start your vacation. 

Day 2 – Dublin 

After landing at Dublin Airport, complete customs and immigration formalities. Your Irish driver/guide will welcome you to Ireland and escort you and your luggage to the coach. Next, set off with a local guide who will show you around the prominent historic buildings and monuments of Dublin. Dublin is an ancient settlement, founded by the Vikings in the 9th century. Visit EPIC Ireland, which celebrates the dramatic story of the spread of Irish culture around the globe, and how Ireland has changed throughout the years. Stop to tour Guinness Storehouse to see exhibits on how this world famous stout was first created and why it is so popular today. Drive a short distance to your hotel, check in and relax or settle in. Join your fellow travelers for an authentic Irish dinner at the hotel. 

Included Meals: Dinner 

Hotel: Camden Court Hotel, Dublin 

Day 3 – Glendalough, Dunbrody Emigrant Ship, Waterford Walk 

This morning leave Dublin to see the delightful scenery of the Wicklow Mountains on the way to Glendalough. Learn about St. Kevin’s 6th century monastery in the Glendalough Visitor Centre and walk through the site to see its round tower, church ruins and Celtic crosses. Continue your drive south to Dunbrody where a walk through a reconstructed Famine Ship will demonstrate the harsh conditions that emigrants endured during the 19th century. Drive to Waterford and check into your city center hotel and relax or freshen up before a traditional Irish dinner in the hotel restaurant with your group. This evening take a short walking tour through the older sections of Waterford with a local guide. Walk along Merchant’s Quay where ships docked in former times and see the Clock Tower. Pass the Norman stronghold of Reginald’s Tower and stroll along the Mall to see the City Hall, Theatre Royal and many other places. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Hotel: Granville Hotel, Waterford 

Day 4 – House of Waterford Crystal, Cobh, Blarney Woollen Mills 

After a hearty Irish breakfast, visit the House of Waterford Crystal to learn about glass blowing and cutting and see one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Then depart Waterford and travel along the south coast via Dungarvan and Youghal to Cobh, the harbor town for large ships. Tour the Cobh Heritage Centre, located in the former train station from which passengers embarked for the United States. The exhibition traces the history of emigration from the age of the sailing “coffin ships” during the Famine years of the 1840s to the advent of steamships. Then drive through the outskirts of Cork to Blarney where you will see the castle and visit the Blarney Woollen Mills, which has an excellent range of Irish products of all types. You will also have time to browse around the village, charmingly set around a large village green. Then journey west through the rugged countryside to Killarney, widely celebrated for its setting overlooking lakes and mountains. Upon arrival check into your hotel and enjoy some time to relax or freshen up before joining your group for dinner at the hotel restaurant. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Hotel: Killarney Plaza, Killarney (2 Nights) 

Day 5 – Dingle Peninsula 

Today discover the beauties of the Dingle Peninsula, once described by the National Geographic Traveler as “the most beautiful place on earth.” Drive along the south shore of the peninsula for plenty of vistas of heathery mountains, sandy stretches of beach, stunning green landscapes, and rocky headlands. Pause at strategic locations to admire the views and take photos. Return to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day free for individual pursuits and dining options. 

Included Meals: Breakfast 

Day 6 – Bunratty Folk Park, Cliffs of Moher, Galway 

This morning drive to the Village of Bunratty. Upon arrival, visit the Bunratty Folk Park, which comprises a collection of farmhouses from different regions of Ireland and a 19th century village street with a pub, school, general store and many other buildings where traditional lifestyles and crafts are demonstrated. Continue your drive to the coast of Clare and view the Cliffs of Moher, an impressive wall of rock which rises to a height of 700 feet above the wild Atlantic waves and stretches for a distance of about five miles along the coast. Pass through the Burren Country, an area of rocky limestone hills where a number of unique flowers thrive. Drive around Galway Bay before arriving at your hotel in Galway. Enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure to relax or do some exploring on your own before joining your group for dinner. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Hotel: Galway Bay Hotel, Galway 

Day 7 – Derry Walking Tour/Atlantic Sheepdogs 

After a hearty Irish breakfast, journey through the rolling hills and rugged countryside to County Sligo, called “Yeats’ Country” as the poet spent time there. Follow the shoreline of Donegal Bay to Donegal town and past the lovely Blue Stack Mountains. Stop at Atlantic Sheepdogs, where you will have the opportunity to experience farm life and see some of the world’s smartest sheepdogs, working in their natural environment. Continue your drive to Derry. Upon arrival, embark on a walking tour to see the principal sights. See the 17th century city walls, which are some of the best-preserved in Europe, and the Diamond, the main central square. Also pass the 17th century St. Columb’s Cathedral, the Tower Museum with local history displays and the Guildhall where the history of Derry is depicted in stained-glass windows. In the evening join your fellow travelers for dinner in the hotel restaurant. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Hotel: Maldron Hotel, Derry 

Day 8 – Giant’s Causeway to Belfast 

Today, depart Derry and drive along the north coast of Ireland to explore the Giant’s Causeway, huge hexagonal columns formed over 60 million years ago. The huge rocks have given rise to many legends, especially involving Finn McCool. Admire the beautiful scenery on your way to Belfast as you travel through the “Nine Glens on Antrim,” providing wonderful views of mountains, valleys and coastline. After checking into our Belfast hotel, the remainder of the day is at your leisure to enjoy the area. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Hotel: Grand Central Hotel, Belfast 

Day 9 – Titanic Belfast 

Today embark on a guided sightseeing tour of the city, including the University area. In the city center, see the Albert Memorial and the ornate Victorian buildings of the Opera House and the Crown Liquor Saloon. In the Titanic Quarter, visit Titanic Belfast. Embark on a journey through the life of the Titanic, from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, through her construction and launch, to her famous maiden voyage and tragic end. Through state of the art technology, the exhibitions nine interactive galleries take you back to the sights, sounds and stories of Titanic as well as the city and people which made her. The exhibition also explores the discovery of the wreck and has live links to current marine expeditions. Continue through the rolling hills and rugged countryside of Ireland’s pastures and into Dublin. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and relax or freshen up. Tonight you are free to choose from the many restaurants & pubs that Dublin has to offer. 

Included Meals: Breakfast 

Hotel: Camden Court Hotel, Dublin (2 Nights) 

Day 10 – Dublin 

Today, set off with a local guide who will show you around Dublin. The city has been molded through the centuries with many architectural styles, reflecting the economic, political, and artistic influences. Stop at Teeling Distillery, known for its hand-crafted production process. Learn how the family business started in 1782 and enjoy a sample at the end of your tour. Stop at Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, an 8th century illuminated manuscript of the gospels and see the Old Library. Return to the hotel and relax before heading to a Dublin pub. Enjoy a dinner of Irish specialties followed by a lively show of traditional Irish music, songs, and displays of step-dancing. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Day 11 – Dublin to Home 

All too soon, your vacation in Ireland has come to the end. Transfer to Dublin Airport in plenty of time to check in for your flight, clear security and claim your VAT refund. You may do some last minute shopping at the duty free stores before boarding your aircraft and flying west across the Atlantic Ocean back to the United States. 

Included Meals: Breakfast