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Best of Ireland

Everyday Price From

$3,915

$4,350

10 days

No Countries

Overview

An in-depth encounter with the Best of Ireland awaits, from spectacular sights like the Cliffs of Moher and Ring of Kerry to the past and present showcased in Dublin, Galway and pretty Adare. You’ll learn all about Irish famine history, former kings and how to embrace the craic.

Locations Visited

Dublin, New Ross, Waterford, Kilkenny, Blarney Castle, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Adare, Limerick, Cliffs of Moher, Lisdoonvarna, Galway, Connemara, Knock, Sligo, Westport

Countries Visited

Ireland

Travel Style

Country Explorer

Accommodations

9 nights included

Age Requirements

Minimum Age 5

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Itinerary

COLLAPSE ALL EXPAND ALL

Day 1

Welcome to Ireland

Write your own lively tale of legends and iconic landscapes during this epic encounter with Ireland's treasures. Begin your journey in the capital of Dublin, joining a Local Specialist to see the sights. This evening sees you visiting EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum, for some drinks and canapes.

  • Accommodation

    Clayton Ballsbridge


Highlights

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Dublin City Tour

A Local Specialist will show you Dublin's elegant Georgian squares, O'Connell Street and the Custom House.

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EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum

Embark on an interactive discovery of the 70 million people who claim Irish ancestry at EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum. Throughout 20 rooms divided per topic, learn about the Irish experience and the timeline of Ireland’s history told through the personal stories of emigrants. The sights and insights range from learning a special Irish dance to reading the letters of past emigrants, to tracing your family name going back generations.

Journey through the scenic countryside of County Wicklow, 'The Garden of Ireland', and on to New Ross – the ancestral home town of John F. Kennedy. Dive Into Culture and gain insights into the plight of the starving Irish emigrants who boarded the Dunbrody Famine Ship to flee the potato famine. Continue to Waterford. This afternoon, celebrate the centuries-old craft of flint glass creations, as you Dive Into Culture at the House of Waterford Crystal and witness talented master crafters at work. Arrive in Kilkenny where you will stay for the night. 

  • Accommodation

    Kilkenny


  • Meals

    Breakfast

    Dinner

Highlights

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Discover the tragic history of the Dunbrody Famine Ship

Explore the tragic history of Ireland's famine emigration with a Local Specialist at the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, a replica of one of the original ships used in the 1800s.

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Tour the House of Waterford Crystal Workshop

Learn how crystal is crafted at the House of Waterford Crystal during a workshop tour.

Today, pursue the 'gift of the gab' at Blarney Castle, where you'll have a chance to kiss the famous stone. Consider joining an Optional Experience for a traditional pony and trap ride through the beautiful Bourn-Vincent National Park. During your journey, your Local Specialist will share fascinating anecdotes about the area and Ireland. Arrive in Killarney for a two-night stay. In the evening perhaps join an optional Gaelic Roots show. Using traditional instruments, Irish dance and time-honored folk songs, this energetic show will have you tapping your feet and singing along in no time.

  • Accommodation

    Hotel Killarney


  • Meals

    Breakfast

    Dinner

Highlights

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Visit Blarney Castle

It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. But to do so, you must dangle from the ramparts! Visit Blarney Castle and see the famous Stone of Eloquence. 

Ireland's soul-stirring Ring of Kerry takes center stage today as you embark on a scenic drive past its mountains, lakes and lush green countryside – unquestionably one of the most scenic routes in Ireland. See Daniel O'Connell's Cahirciveen, the fishing village of Waterville, Moll's Gap and the Black Valley, whose remoteness saw it become the last area in Ireland to receive electricity.

  • Accommodation

    Hotel Killarney


  • Meals

    Breakfast

Continue through the windswept countryside, arriving in Adare, one of the prettiest villages in Ireland. On arrival in Limerick, you will enjoy views of St. Mary's Cathedral, the Treaty Stone and the 13th-century King John's Castle during an orientation tour. Delve into an Ireland of old, as you discover the day-to-day life of the Irish during the 18th and 19th centuries on your included visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park this afternoon.

  • Accommodation

    Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa, Limerick


  • Meals

    Breakfast

Highlights

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Adare Orientation

Experience a village walk through the main street lined with thatched cottages.

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Limerick Orientation

See Limerick's iconic landmarks during an orientation with your Travel Director.

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Bunratty Castle and Folk Park Visit

Visit the impeccably-preserved Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.

The Cliffs of Moher are a must-see along the Wild Atlantic Way. The towering cliffs plunge into the Atlantic, offering endless ocean views and perfect spots for taking photos. Explore the interactive visitor center, where you can see the cliffs through the eyes of the wildlife that call this UNESCO site home, bringing the whole experience to life. Later, you’ll meet Brigitta at her family-run Irish smokehouse for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Discover the secrets of their organic salmon, learn how the kiln and smokebox work, and savor the distinctive flavors of their award-winning smoked salmon. Arriving in Galway, enjoy time at leisure to admire its beautiful stone Cathedral or wander through vibrant Eyre Square–it’s yours to explore at your own pace.

  • Accommodation

    The Connacht Hotel Galway


  • Meals

    Breakfast

Highlights

Experience Sustainability at the Burren Smokehouse

Discover the art of traditional, sustainable salmon smoking at the family-run Burren Smokehouse in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare. Guided by Brigitta, you’ll uncover the secrets behind their award-winning organic smoked salmon, produced with respect for Irish traditions and local ecosystems. Explore the interactive visitor center, where the story of Irish salmon unfolds through captivating mythology, history and cutting-edge aquaculture. You’ll witness the unique smoking process up close and savor the distinct flavors of their delicious, sustainably sourced produce. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Production and Consumption.

Connemara's 'savage beauty' is yours to explore today as you tread in the footsteps of Oscar Wilde who described its 'wild and mountainous splendor' as magnificent. Admire the views on the scenic drive to Kylemore Abbey, now a Benedictine monastery, where you will embark on an included visit to the country's most romantic castle and walk through its exquisite Victorian Walled Garden.

  • Accommodation

    The Connacht Hotel Galway


  • Meals

    Breakfast

    Dinner

Highlights

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Visit Kylemore Abbey

Visit the turreted Neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey. This monastery was founded in 1920 for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I.

Enjoy a Be My Guest experience at Glen Keen Farm, where Catherine and Jim share stories of their centuries-old land and demonstrate life on their working sheep farm. Meet their skilled border collies during a live herding demonstration and indulge in a farmhouse lunch and homemade cake with a traditional cup of tea. Later, stop at Knock’s Marian Shrine, one of Ireland’s most significant pilgrimage sites, where an apparition of the Virgin Mary was reported in 1879. You’ll stop in Sligo for the night, where you could choose to join an Optional Experience that takes you off the beaten track, with a countryside drive and a relaxed dinner at a local restaurant.

  • Accommodation

    Clayton Hotel Sligo


  • Meals

    Breakfast

    Lunch

Highlights

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Knock Marian Shrine Visit

In the pilgrimage town of Knock, visit the beautiful Marian Shrine, where the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph and John the Evangelist are said to have appeared to the townsfolk in 1879.

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Enjoy a Farmhouse Lunch with the Power Family at Glen Keen Farm

Join Catherine and Jim at Glen Keen Farm, owned by the same family since 1600. Hear the story of their land, meet the working border collies and watch a live herding demonstration. Discover how they’ve embraced sustainable farming on the Wild Atlantic Way, then sit down to a farmhouse lunch and homemade cake with tea. 

Continue south to Dublin. Here you’ll enjoy some free time to take a walk down Grafton Street or stroll along the Liffey. This evening, close the chapter on an epic journey through Ireland, joining your fellow travelers for a memorable dinner.

  • Accommodation

    Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport


  • Meals

    Breakfast

    Dinner

After a hearty Irish breakfast, bid your Travel Director and fellow travelers a fond farewell as your Irish holiday comes to an end.

  • Meals

    Breakfast

Highlights

Must-see Highlights

  • Explore Dublin 

  • Discover Waterford, Killarney, Limerick and Galway

  • Visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship in New Ross, the Crystal showroom at Waterford, Blarney Castle to kiss the stone and gain the 'gift of the gab', Adare, Bunratty Folk Park in Bunratty, Cliffs of Moher, Connemara and Kylemore Abbey

  • View King John's Castle in Limerick and the Marian Shrine in Knock

  • See St. Mary's Cathedral in Limerick and Galway Cathedral

  • Scenic Drive the Ring of Kerry

What's Included

Travel Director

  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver

Hotels

  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • All porterage and restaurant gratuities
  • All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized

Meals

  • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals

Sightseeing

  • Must-see sightseeing

Audio

  • Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing

Transport

  • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

Optionals

  • Optional Experiences and free time

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Definite Departures Only

Special Offers

Airfare is not included, but can be added to quote upon request.

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Terms & Conditions

Trip Notes:

  • ​International Air: Please note that airfares are not included. We will quote you the lowest possible airfare available on the day you book.
  • ​Travel to Europe often requires an overnight flight. Please arrange flights to arrive on or before Day 1 of itinerary.

Terms & Conditions:

  • Prices listed are per person, land only and based on double occupancy in CAD. Single room supplements are available. 
  • ​'Price with Current Deals' reflects current applicable 'Early Payment Discounts', 'Last Minute Deals' or 'Early Booking Discounts'. Early Payment Discounts (land only) savings vary by itinerary, are not valid on all vacations/departure dates and are subject to availability; not valid with all other promotional offers. Last Minute Deals or Early Booking Discounts are available on select departures only and only available to travelers departing from Canada; not combinable with Early Payment Discounts or any other promotional offers; full payment due at time of booking. All discounts are for new bookings only, subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Call or request a quote for complete details.
  • ​'Exclusive Costco Member Price' is available upon member login. 
  • For 'Costco Vacations of a Lifetime itineraries the price shown is the final base price, exclusive to Costco members and already reflective of any special member savings. *Please note may not be available at all gateways/cities. Where unavailable, will offer a discount for up to $100 USD.Additional, limited-time discounts are not applicable, other conditions apply. Please refer to Terms & Conditions
  • ​​​Trip prices and information are correct at the time of the trips going live online, however are subject to confirmation - please confirm all details at time of quote and booking.
  • For full details, please refer to our Terms & Conditions page.
  • Other conditions may apply