Embark on a transformative journey through Ireland, where every moment is designed to soothe the soul.
This self-drive tour offers the perfect blend of rest and relaxation, allowing you to explore the country’s breathtaking landscapes at your own pace. With the freedom to traverse the charming villages, majestic castles, and stunning scenery, you can truly immerse yourself in the beauty of the Emerald Isle. Let the captivating charm of Ireland rejuvenate your spirit and provide the perfect remedy for all that ails you, all while celebrating the best of Irish hospitality and splendor.
Arrive in Dublin where you will pick up your rental car and drive out of the city to catch your first glimpse of the real Ireland. You will journey through the Wicklow Mountains on your way to your luxury hotel in Kilkenny.
The Wicklow Mountains are one of the most scenic areas in the entire country and will make for a memorable journey. If you have the time or the appetite, there are many places to stop along the way, including the Irish National Stud & Gardens or Glendalough. You can also choose to arrive in Kilkenny early and wander around this wonderful medieval city.
In the morning, after an appetizing breakfast in your beautiful surroundings, make your way to Killarney. You can make this journey as long or as short as you like but we certainly recommend taking the scenic route and visiting the Blarney Stone, Cork City and the fishing town of Kinsale on your way.
Arrive in Killarney as evening falls. This is the perfect time to explore Killarney town. Between the craft shops, pubs, music and restaurants, there is something to suit all tastes on an evening in Killarney.
It is always recommended to take an entire day to travel the Ring of Kerry. Not only is it quite a long journey at 100 miles, but it is also a slow one as you will want to stop quite often to take photos, see the various landmarks, and view the spectacular Kerry scenery.
Before you end your day stop off at Ross Castle built in the late 15th century by one of the O’Donoghue Ross chieftains or visit Muckross House & Gardens, a magnificent Victorian mansion and one of Ireland’s leading stately homes. The Gardens at Muckross House are renowned world-wide for their beauty.
Today you depart Killarney for the beautiful Galway city. As with every journey you take in Ireland, there is plenty to break up your journey. Stop off in the town of Dingle on the edge of the Dingle Peninsula and take a ferry across the mouth of the River Shannon.
Head to the coast of County Clare to view the Cliffs of Moher, which rise to heights of almost 700 feet above the churning Atlantic swells. Walk along the top of the cliffs to O’Brien’s Tower for great views. Drive through the Burren. Stop off in Galway City and take a walk around for the evening as your hotel is in the city centre.
Today set out along the west coast to Connermara and onto Clifden. Take some stunning pictures of Kylemore Abbey and find somewhere nice in the Connemara region to get some lunch. Make your way back to Galway city where you should spend a few hours. It is a beautiful little city that many consider the most charming in Europe. Be sure to make the short trip to Salthill and take a short stroll along the promenade. Make your way back to your hotel in your own time.
If you have set your sights on spending a lot of time in Dublin, it is better to leave early. It is only a two hour drive to your next hotel so you can take your time as you drive around Dublin, through Phoenix Park, down O’Connell’s Street and past the GPO.
Our advice would be to take public transport to see the city. The open top bus tour is the best way to see the city as you can hop on and off at the destinations of your choosing. Later on, make your way back to your castle hotel for your final night in Ireland.
Your Irish adventure concludes with a final breakfast at the hotel. Following your meal, make your way to the airport for your onward journey.
(For all Trans-Atlantic flights, we recommend arriving at the airport 3 hours before departure to ensure a smooth check-in process.)
All hotels and accommodations included in your trip are carefully selected to meet a 4-star standard or higher. While we occasionally book 3-star hotels or B&B properties, they must meet our high standards of quality and comfort. To ensure consistency, we strive to have a team member visit each property regularly or conduct a thorough site inspection.
Round trip flights to the tours destination are not included, but we are happy to provide you with a flight quote for your trip along with travel protection for the duration.
While booking flights may seem simple, hidden fees and service classes that exclude seats, meals, or bags are common. Since 1985, our expertise and exclusive contracts allow us to secure better routes and often better prices than what’s available online.
We would be happy to help create a custom itinerary for you before or after your time in Ireland, if you’d like to extend your trip.
Your first vacation quote, and up to two revisions, for trips of 9 or fewer days, and 45 days in advance of travel, are complimentary. If an itinerary requires further revisions subsequent to this, we will require a non-refundable deposit of $75 per person in order to continue.
If you are requesting a quote for a vacation that is 10 days in length, or with travel dates within 45 days, or to a non-core destination, a deposit of $75 per person will be required in order for us to begin working on your proposal.
Planning deposits can then be put towards the cost of the trip should you decide to proceed with the booking.
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