Here's what our itinerary has in store:

Day 1 - Sunday, April 25

welcome to Ireland!

Begin your Irish adventure in Dublin's vibrant heart. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a sightseeing tour with your Local Specialist, discovering the elegant Georgian Squares and historic Trinity College. Enjoy a whiskey tasting at a local distillery, then gather this evening for drinks, fine food, and great company as your guide shares what awaits in the days ahead. Settle into the Clayton Ballsbridge hotel and prepare for the journey ahead.

Day 2 - Monday, April 26

JOURNEY TO COLORFUL BELFAST

Travel north to Belfast in Northern Ireland, where free time allows you to savor traditional Irish cuisine. Meet your Local Specialist "Cabbie" for an authentic insider's perspective of the city's living history during a journey through its vibrant streets in a genuine Belfast taxi. Spend your afternoon at leisure exploring independently, or choose an Optional Experience to delve deeper into this dynamic city's culture and character.

Day 3 - Tuesday, April 27

VENTURE TO THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY AND ON TO DERRY/LONDONDERRY

Visit the award-winning Titanic Belfast Experience to understand the tragic story of the ship and its passengers. Travel to Ballycastle for a Be My Guest lunch experience, then explore the Giant's Causeway—walk in the footsteps of Finn McCool among 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. This UNESCO-listed natural wonder is a testament to ancient geological forces. Continue to Derry/Londonderry, where you'll spend two nights, settling into your home base for further exploration.

Day 5 - thursday, April 29

Journey through lush Irish countryside to Belleek, where you'll witness talented pottery craftspeople creating exquisite collectible pieces during a cultural immersion experience. Arrive in Galway for an orientation tour with your Travel Director, exploring this charming Atlantic coastal town. Check into the Maldron Hotel Oranmore and enjoy dinner this evening, preparing for adventures through Connemara and the dramatic western landscape ahead.

Day 4 - Wednesday, April 28

DISCOVER DERRY/LONDONDERRY'S PAST

Walk along the 17th-century city walls with your Local Specialist, observing the historic Bogside neighborhood and its powerful street murals depicting the 'Troubles.' Spend a free afternoon strolling the picturesque Foyle River or joining an Optional Experience to Inishowen Peninsula, with its rich cultural heritage. Return to City Hotel Derry for dinner, reflecting on the day's encounters with Ireland's complex and compelling history.

ONWARDS TO SCENIC GALWAY

Day 6 - Friday, April 30

CONNEMARA EXCURSION 

Explore the rugged, romantic beauty of Connemara, immortalized in the film "The Quiet Man" with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Drive through loughs and mountains, then visit Kylemore Abbey, the country's most romantic castle, and ramble through its Victorian walled garden. Return to Galway for free time to explore the imposing stone Cathedral or stroll through Eyre Square, where President John F. Kennedy visited in 1963.

Day 8 - Sunday, May 2

Experience the soul-stirring landscapes of Iveragh Peninsula on a scenic coastal drive around the Ring of Kerry. En route, see Killorglin, famous for its annual Puck Fair, Daniel O'Connell's Cahirciveen, the fishing village of Waterville, the Black Valley, and Moll's Gap. This unimaginably beautiful natural setting provides constantly changing vistas of mountains, coastal views, and charming villages. Return to Killarney Towers Hotel for dinner, reflecting on one of Ireland's most scenic drives.

Day 7 - Saturday, May 1

EXPLORE THE CLIFFS OF MOHER AND KILLARNEY

Marvel at the towering Cliffs of Moher, rising over 200 meters above the Atlantic Ocean. Engage in a Make Travel Matter experience, gaining deeper understanding of this UNESCO-listed landscape from your Local Specialist. Visit the Atlantic Edge exhibition to discover how millennia of wind and sea sculpted these dramatic cliffs. Continue along the Wild Atlantic Way, crossing the Shannon Estuary to Killarney, where your evening is free to explore or enjoy a traditional Irish ceilidh.

A DAY ON THE RING OF KERRY

Day 9 - Monday, May 3

Kiss the famous Blarney Stone and acquire the "gift of the gab" before traveling to Waterford. Visit the House of Waterford Crystal and witness master craftspeople creating delicate fine crystal pieces during a cultural immersion. This evening, arrive in Kilkenny with its imposing 12th-century castle, once the seat of the powerful Butlers of Ormonde. Settle into Hotel Kilkenny, surrounded by medieval architecture and Irish heritage.

Day 10 - Tuesday, May 4

THROUGH COUNTY WICKLOW'S COUNTRYSIDE TO DUBLIN

Day 11 - Wednesday, May 5

FAREWELL DUBLIN

OFF TO BLARNEY, WATERFORD AND KILKENNY

Ireland Awaits!

Explore Kilkenny's medieval streets in the morning, then depart for New Ross to see the monument to President John F. Kennedy, who visited his ancestral hometown in 1963. Visit the three-masted Dunbrody Famine Ship for insights into Irish emigration during the 1800s potato famine. Journey through County Wicklow, the "Garden of Ireland," returning to Dublin for your final evening with travel companions, sharing memorable stories over dinner.

Bid a fond farewell to Ireland and the friendships forged during your 11-day journey. As you prepare for departure, reflect on the landscapes traversed, cultural encounters experienced, and connections made with fellow travelers. Your Irish Experience concludes, carrying memories of dramatic coastlines, historic cities, warm hospitality, and the unmistakable charm of the Emerald Isle home with you.

So, what did you think of this exciting Irish adventure? This custom, small-group tour was designed for our Watercolor clients. If you would like to see the full itinerary, please reach out to me, and I'll send it over to you. Put May 24, 2022 - June 3, 2022 on your calendar for this journey through the "Heart of Ireland."

Ready to explore the Emerald Isle with us?