Dance along to the Gaelic beat as you explore the very best of Ireland with evocative histories, wild landscapes, and vibrant evenings spent with the locals. Think rugged roads, beautiful ruins, dramatic settings, and the windswept Atlantic coast all coming together for an unforgettable vacation. Enjoy overnight stays in a castle, a medieval thatched town, the lively capital, and the Gaeltacht region, and in ten days you can explore the range of Irish highlights, spending your evenings...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Dublin – Street Musicians and Gaelic Stories
Dublin is quick to impress Irish charm. Musicians find their place on the streets, strumming and singing throughout the day. Colorful pubs entice with their warm noises and inviting aromas as old cathedral spires stand above the city as if they are giants from the past looking down. You will hear Gaelic voices and strong accents, the sounds as memorable as the sights along the cobblestone central streets. Touch down in Dublin and you will be transferred to your boutique hotel. Nothing will be planned for the day as you arrive and settle in, but your guide can take you on an orientation tour, if you would like, to introduce you to the lively city. You might want to spend the evening at Temple Bar, the country’s most famous place for music and stories, or you can save that stop for another night if an early evening is better.
What's Included:
Day 2
Dublin – Highlights of Dublin From Day to Evening
Day 3
Kinsale – Two Evocative Periods From Ireland’s History
Day 4
Kinsale – Delightful Stories in Ireland’s Cutest Town
Day 5
Dingle – Mountains, Lakes, Sheep Farms and Gaelic Dancing
Day 6
Dingle – Rugged and Wild on the Dingle Peninsula
Day 7
Cong – Dramatic Landscapes on the Atlantic Coast
Day 8
Cong – Stark Beauty on the Aran Islands; Second Night in a Castle
Day 9
Adare – Relaxing in the Old Thatched Town
Day 10
Shannon – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Stay two nights in a glamorous medieval castle
- Travel through the lush landscapes of western Ireland, where rugged mountains meet sheep farms and wild coastlines
- Connect with Ireland’s history in one day, from St Patrick to the Munster kings and the island’s struggle for independence
- Escape to Inishmore, one of the wild Aran Islands cast adrift in the Atlantic
- Dance along during lively evenings in the Gaeltacht Irish-speaking town of Dingle
- Explore the highlights of Dublin, from Temple Bar to the Book of Kells
- Capture Ireland’s iconic highlights with a day at the Cliffs of Moher and The Burren
- Take a drive along Ireland’s most spectacular road, not the Ring of Kerry but Slea Head
- Relax in the beautifully preserved thatched town of Adare, an idyllic spot for your final night
Detailed Description
Walking into a Gaeltacht bar, you can hear the distinctive rhythm of local music while traveling along a windswept coast you will find a serenity that only the Atlantic can provide. Cruising down a long driveway, you will set eyes on the castle you will be staying at for the night, and somewhere in the heart of the country, you can find sheep covered valleys and mountains shrouded in mist. Welcome to Ireland, a country of authentic moments and dazzling experiences, and an island with a big heart and a vibrant soul that gives every visitor an intimate local experience.
This 10-day tour captures the highlights of Ireland beginning in Dublin and departing from Shannon. With just over a week, you can comfortably cover the southern half of the island without having to forgo the easy-going Irish style. Spend two nights in four destinations including Dublin, Kinsale, Dingle, and Cong before a final night in old-world Adare. This is a private tour, and you will have a private guide throughout for lots of opportunities to customize the days to your energy and likings. Your guide can accompany you during the evenings should you wish, helping you to get involved with the Irish dancing and storytelling, especially in Dingle.
Dublin is compact and easy to explore in a couple of days, the highlights encompassing two towering cathedrals, the history-changing Book of Kells, lively Temple Bar, and streets dotted with local musicians. Traveling on to Kinsale, you will explore two key periods from Ireland’s history with the independence at Kilmainham Gaol plus the Munster kings and St Patrick in Tipperary. Kinsale is cute and relaxed, so take it easy and feel the energy of western Ireland, as well as the revolutionary forts. The route to Dingle is sublime, through Killarney National Park and many preconceptions you may have of Irish landscapes, with sheep roaming beneath misty mountains.
Dingle is in the Gaeltacht, the Irish-speaking region, and is a small town offering the most traditional local experiences, notably in the pubs. The Dingle Peninsula also has Ireland’s finest coastal road, Slea Head Drive more impressive and less touristic than the Ring of Kerry. More superlative sights come on day seven with the Cliffs of Moher, and The Burren visited on route to Cong, where you will spend two nights in a castle hotel. Move next to take the ferry to Inishmore, an untamed Aran island that smothers you with serenity. Adare is a relaxed final stop, easy to explore on your own, and full of charm. From Adare, you can depart from Shannon International Airport, rather than rerouting back to Dublin. Read some of our travelers’ reviews for Ireland travel to discover new experiences to add to your own tour.
Starting Price
$6,500 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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