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SCOTLAND & IRELAND
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SCOTLAND & IRELAND
This tour is designed to give you a comprehensive view of Ireland and Scotland. Both countries are rich in history and culture and boast an awesome landscape. We want you to experience a wee bit of all of this and have endeavored to provide you with sights and experiences you will long remember. From the pubs of Dublin to the magnificent Edinburgh Castle, this tour is filled with fun and wondrous experiences. Please consider joining us for exciting journey.
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ITINERARY
DAY 1
Depart USA for overnight flight to Dublin, Ireland
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DAY 2
Arrive Dublin; coach overview of Dublin led by a local guide; check into our hotel; walking tour of Temple Bar and dinner on our own.
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DAY 3
Guided sightseeing of Dublin including a tour of the Guinness Factory (it really is quite interesting aside from the best view of Dublin from atop the Guinness building, the highest in Dublin)
Tonight you will enjoy a provided dinner and show at the Merry Ploughboy Pub.
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DAY 4
Depart Dublin and drive to Glendalough, an early medieval, Christian monastic settlement.
We will tour the Waterford Crystal factory (again, it is really quite interesting) and then check into our hotel and have dinner on our own.
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DAY 5
We depart Waterford, drive through Cork on our way to Blarney Castle. You’ll have an opportunity to actually kiss the Blarney Stone. We will visit the Woolen Mills factory and shop, have lunch, and continue onto Killarney, arriving late afternoon. Killarney is a typical little Irish town, not quite a village that you will enjoy walking through. We will check into our hotel for a two night stay, and dinner will be on our own. So many good places to eat.
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DAY 6
Today we drive the Ring of Kerry providing classic views of the Irish countryside and rugged coastline. We’ll return in time for a drive past Ross Castle and visit Torc Waterfall.
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DAY 7
We say goodbye to Killarney and drive to the Cliffs of Moher, one of the most popular destinations in Ireland. Breathtaking!
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After lunch, which should be light, we drive to Bunratty Castle. There we tour the castle and recreated medieval village. Following this casual walking tour we return to the castle for an included medieval banquet and entertainment. A very fun evening.
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Bunratty Castle Medieval Banquet (YouTube link)
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After the dinner and show, drive 1 hour to Galway.
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DAY 8
After a short drive through Galway we will proceed to Cabra Castle. We will have dinner on our own at a nearby village, Cavan where we will spend the night at the Cavan Crystal Hotel.
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DAY 9
We leave Cavan and drive an hour and a half to Belfast, Northern Ireland (which is a separate country from the Republic of Ireland) where we will be met by our local guide and tour the city. Following lunch we will go to the Titanic Museum (one of the two best museums I have ever been in) where we will spend several hours walking through it on our own.
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DAY 10
This morning we drive north a short distance to the Giants Causeway where we will spend 2-3 hours looking at and walking through this amazing quirk of nature.
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After lunch we return to Belfast where you will have several hours of free time. Tonight we will have dinner provided at a local restaurant.
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DAY 11
This morning we leave our hotel a little earlier than usual to catch a 55 minute flight from Belfast to Inverness, Scotland. Upon arrival, we will be met by our local guide and sightsee through Inverness, pause for lunch and then proceed to Loch Ness. There, we will walk through the ruins of Urquhart Castle and then, at your own risk, take a short boat ride on Lock Ness. Those who are not eaten by Nessy will travel a short distance to Fort Williams where we will check into our hotel. Dinner on our own.
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DAY 12
This morning we travel through the plains of the Scottish Highlands toward Stirling Castle. This is the part of Scotland that so strongly supported William Wallace (Braveheart) in the struggle for independence from England; we will make a short visit to Stirling where Wallace defeated an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in September 1297 viewing, from the outside, Stirling Castle. We then continue on our way reaching Edinburgh by late afternoon. Tonight we will attend the Edinburgh Tattoo, a rare treat as this event is so popular and draws people from around the world. We will experience one of the world’s greatest military and musical shows, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. The Tattoo is a 1.5-hour evening extravaganza of military pomp, music, ceremony and entertainment, set against the magnificent backdrop of the castle. Be swept up by massed bands, drums and pipes from British and international forces; and enjoy shows from motorcycle display teams, dance troupes, singers and more. A performance by the tattoo’s famous Lone Piper, floodlit on the ramparts, brings the spectacle to a close.
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DAY 13
Today we will meet our local guide and tour the old town of Edinburgh allowing plenty of time to walk the “Royal Mile,” the main street leading to Edinburgh Castle lined with small shops selling everything from cigars and scotch to fish N chips., and of course, souvenirs. This evening we will enjoy a provided dinner and show featuring Scottish heritage and culture. Haggis is on the menu. Enjoy!
DAY 14
This morning, very early, we drive to the airport where we begin our journey home.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
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Round trip air from Charlotte NC
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13 nights in 3 1/2 to 4 star hotels
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Full, hot breakfast every morning
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All ground transportation
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2 dinners with cultural shows
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1 banquet in Bunratty Castle with entertainment
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Local guides at major sites
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Entrance to major sites and museums
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Entrance to the Edinburgh Tattoo
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AND-this is really big-ALL TIPS; you will never have to worry about “should I tip” or “how much.”
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
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Passport
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Travel protection – quote available upon request. Note, to be covered by pre-existing condition, the full premium payment must be received within 10 days of making your trip deposit payment.
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Personal purchases
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COST: $5465 per person