Kelly Gregg Rubingh
Family Travel
Wanderlust Women Ireland
Apr 15, 2023 to Apr 24, 2023
Ireland
*Tour only price per traveler. Flight quote available on request. Taxes inclusive.
Day 1 | Dublin. Arrive at your leisure, transfer to Dublin, and enjoy a panoramic tour of Dublin city. Afternoon free to relax or take a stroll around Dublin city. Dine at Gresham Riu Plaza hotel for dinner, located in a grand Georgian building.
Day 2 | Depart for Abbeyglen Castle across the centre of Ireland through the counties of Kildare, Meath, Offaly and Westmeath. Visit Pearse Lyons Distillery. Learn all about the whiskey-making heritage of The Lyons family. Travel on via Galway into the wilds of Connemara, via the villages of Oughterard, Maam Cross and Recess to Clifden. Tonight you will overnight and dine at Abbeyglen Castle Hotel, majestically set on the Sky Road overlooking the town of Clifden in Connemara.
Day 3 | Today you will tour the sights of wild Connemara, famous for its bogs, mountains and rugged coastline. Visit Kylemore Abbey, a historic building nestled at the base of Duchruach Mountain, on the northern shore of Lough Pollacappul — in the heart of the Connemara Mountains. It is regarded as one of Ireland's most romantic buildings. Visit Killary Fjord. The fjord is a Wild Atlantic Way signature discovery point, a spectacular 90-minute cruise on Ireland's only fjord. Tonight you will overnight and dine at Abbeyglen Castle Hotel.
Day 4 | An optional e-bike tour is offered this morning through the Wild Atlantic Way and Omey Island. Next you will begin one of the great coastal scenic routes of the world down the Atlantic west coast of Clare to Kinnitty Castle. See The Burren, which is Gaelic for rocky land—an apt name for this vast limestone plateau. Visit Cliffs of Moher and hike along the dramatic 702ft high and 9 mile long cliffs, a Wild Atlantic Way signature discovery point, to gaze out on the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean. Tonight you will overnight and dine at Kinnitty Castle, this unique castle has had a long and turbulent history and now stands as an intimate and cozy castle hotel.
Day 5 | Optional 5 mile hike on Kinnitty trailhead before breakfast. After breakfast visit Kilkenny Castle. This imposing structure dominates the skyline of Kilkenny City. Take time to stroll through the medieval streets of Kilkenny. Enjoy a Traditional Farm Lunch. This will be on a Family Farm outside Kilkenny. You can chat with your hosts and hear about their life and times farming in this rural part of Ireland. Visit the Rock of Cashel, the seat of kings and medieval bishops for 900 years. Second night at Kinnitty Catle
Day 6 | Explore Dublin with your local guide on board as they join you on a journey through Ireland's capital. Enjoy a visit to EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum. Visit Guinness Storehouse. With an address at the world-famous St. James's Gate. Here you will tour the world-renowned brewery and enjoy a perfect complimentary pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar — located at the top of a glass tower that commands spectacular views of Dublin City. Enjoy a Traditional Music Night and dinner at The Merry Ploughboy Pub—one of Dublin's iconic trad music venues.
Day 7 | Meet your driver in the lobby at the designated time for the short trip back to the Dublin Airport
Additional Options Available:
• Single Supplement for all nights $520 USD
• Trip extension to Northern Ireland (see below) $699 double occupancy, $325 single occupancy supplement
• Air is not included but a quote can be provided, currently less than $1000 nonstop roundtrip flights from SFO on Aer Lingus, Travel dates with extension are April 15 - 24, or April 18 - 24 without Northern Ireland.
• Cancellation and Travel Insurance is mandatory and a quote will be provided. Currently running $295 for land and $365 with air.
• Optional e-bike tour details will be added when available.
Terms and Conditions
Cancellation policy:
Cancellation Policy
* Cancellation 60 days or more prior to departure = Loss of deposit
* Cancellation between 30 and 59 days prior to departure = 50% loss
* Cancellation within 30 days of departure = 100% loss
What's not included:
- Gratuities (Approximately $10 per day guide)
- Lunches (approximately $20 per day)
- Drinks (alcohol optional)
- Items of a personal nature and souvenirs
An optional 3 day pre-trip extension is available for arrivals Sunday 4/17 that includes transportation to Belfast and with a stop at Monasterboice, Black Cab history tour of Belfast, Giants Causeway, Dunluce Castle and the Titanic Museum. Price includes transportation, 2 nights hotel in Central Belfast with breakfast, and all entrances.
Day 1
DUBLIN TO BELFAST
You will be picked up after our flight arrives in Dublin. Sit back and watch Dublin city fade into the background as we enter the green Irish countryside and receive a primer to the history and culture of Northern Ireland from your guide.
MONASTERBOICE CELTIC- CHRISTIAN RUINS
Half way to Belfast we'll leave the highway and make a short pit stop at the haunting ruins of Monasterboice. See an amazing 10th century stone round tower in pristine condition and learn how our ancestors sought refuge there from vicious Viking raids in the area. Touch the most beautiful hand carved stone Celtic crosses in Ireland, standing tall over the Irish countryside for over 1,000 years.
TIME AT LEISURE DOWNTOWN
Arrive in Belfast and check into hotel for two nights. Why not visit the historic Crown Liquor Saloon for a glass of Bushmills Whiskey or check out Belfast's own leaning tower, the “Albert Clock”?
INFAMOUS BLACK CAB TOUR
Black Taxi tour of the Falls and Shankill Roads along with the infamous political murals and the "Peace Lines" (walls) separating Irish Nationalist and British Loyalist neighborhoods.Many of the local Black Taxi driver- guides lived through the worst of the 1968 - 1998 conflict now known as the Troubles. They will recount incredible stories of urban warfare and tragedy and help you to understand what drove the conflict from the multiple perspectives involved.
Day 2
CAUSEWAY COAST ROAD TRIP
An absolute highlight for many guests today is the Causeway Coastal Route road trip which promises fine views of Rathlin Island, and on a clear day the Scottish coast across the sea. The views along this world famous coastline are spectacular, no wonder it is one of the most visited destinations in Europe!
DARK HEDGES
We visit the most popular natural phenomena in Northern Ireland, the Dark Hedges. The trees were planted in the 18th century by the Stuart family to impress their guests upon arrival to their house. Most of you will recognize the Dark Hedges as King's Road from the hit TV series Game of Thrones. It is a wonderful photo-stop and an opportunity to be a part of a real life set!
CARRICK-A-REDE ROPE BRIDGE (PHOTO STOP)
Next stop is Ireland's only rope bridge. Fishermen erected this bridge to Carrick-a-Rede island at just over 20 metres in length. It was used for centuries to harvest salmon from the nets below. From here we have views of Mull of Kintyre in Scotland and Rathlin Island. *Unfortunately, the rope bridge is not open to go on this time of year but we'll stop for some amazing photos and and enjoy extra time at Dunluce Castle.
GIANTS CAUSEWAY (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE)
The Giant's Causeway is the highlight of this trip for most! Built by the Irish giant Fionn and his Scottish rival Angus, it is a real masterpiece formed of perfectly shaped hexagonal columns. Your tour guide shall tell you all about the Causeway, and the legends.
DUNLUCE CASTLE (HOUSE OF GREYJOY)(PHOTO STOP)
Next stop is the House of Greyjoy from HBOs Game of Thrones. In real life, Dunluce Castle was built by the McQuillan family around 1500. One of Northern Ireland's premier castles, it is located atop sheer cliffs overlooking the Atlantic ocean – the perfect setting for one of the Great Houses of Westeros.
Day 3
TITANIC BELFAST Titanic Belfast extends over nine interactive galleries, with multiple dimensions to the exhibition, drawing together special effects, dark rides, full-scale reconstructions and innovative interactive features. Explore the shipyard, travel to the depths of the ocean and uncover the true legend of Titanic, in the city and dockside where it all began
Free time to Explore Belfast and lunch.
Return to Dublin to check into our hotel.
Price includes transportation to/from Dublin, 2 nights hotel in Central Belfast with breakfast, and all entrances to sites described. Lunches/Dinners and driver tip not included.
$699 per person double occupancy
$325 single occupancy supplement