Country Roads of Ireland

A 13-Day Insight Tours tour starting from $2,525

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Starting Price: $2,525 Printer Friendly Page
Tour Length: 13 Days
Countries Visited: Ireland
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More Information About This Tour:
Tour Type: First Class Tour
Tour Category: Britain and Ireland
Tour Operator: Insight Tours
Tour Code: B909
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Cities Visited:
See Description

This is a well paced tour with two-night stays in Killarney and Galway, as well as in Dublin. The driving days are of a reasonable length, with frequent stops offering splendid photo opportunities.

 

Included Premium Highlights

  • Tour the Ring of Kerry, a scenic symphony with stunning views over mountains and sea
  • Enjoy a highlight ride with the locals on one of the famous Killarney jaunting cars
  • Ireland's rural heritage comes to life on your visit to Bunratty Folk Park
  • Admire the breathtaking views of the Clare Coast and the 700-foot Cliffs of Moher
  • Visit the spectacular Giant's Causeway

Included Personal Insights

  • An equine professional will join you for a behind the scenes look at Ireland's National Stud and its famous Japanese Gardens
  • Meet the descendants of the last 12th century High Kings of Ireland at their ancestral home, Clonalis House

Included Additional Excursions & Sights

  • See the Customs House, Dublin Castle and O'Connell Street in Dublin
  • Stop in medieval Kilkenny and visit Kilkenny Design Center
  • See the remains of the old city walls and Reginald's Tower in Waterford
  • Visit the Waterford Crystal showrooms
  • Climb Blarney Castle and dangle from the ramparts to kiss the famous 'Blarney Stone'
  • Scenic tour of Dingle Peninsula to Slea Head Visit the town of Adare
  • See King John's Castle and St Mary's Cathedral in Limerick
  • See St. Nicholas Cathedral, Spanish Arch and Eyre Square in Galway
  • Connemara excursion including a visit to the Connemara Marble factory
  • Visit the turreted neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey Visit Belleek Pottery Center
  • See 'Derry's Walls' and Gothic guildhall See Carrickfergus Castle
  • View the City Hall and Queen's University in Belfast
  • Scenic drives - the 'Burren', Antrim coast, Boyne Valley

Included First Class Services

  • Escorted by a professional Tour Director
  • Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard restroom
  • Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
  • Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information pack
  • Airport Shuttle arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 2 and Day 13

Included Quality Dining

  • Dine-Around evening at your own choice of restaurant from our selection in Kilarney (DA)
  • 11 full Breakfasts (B) and 5 three-course Evening Meals with choice, or buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
 

Day 1 - DEPART USA

Overnight flight.

Day 2 - DUBLIN SIGHTSEEING

Welcome to Ireland! On arrival at Dublin Airport, your airport shuttle service leaves for the tour hotel at 08:00, 11:00 & 13:30. Later, your sightseeing tour of Dublin includes the elegant squares of Ireland's 'fair city'. See the famous O'Connell Street, Customs House and Dublin Castle. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Drink with your Tour Director and fellow guests.
Hotel: Burlington.

Day 3 - DUBLIN - KILDARE - KILKENNY - WATERFORD

Drive to Kildare for an informative visit to Ireland's National Stud, one of the country's main racehorse breeding centres. Visit the Japanese Gardens, laid out by Eida, a Japanese landscape artist invited to Ireland at the turn of last century. Move on to the medevial town of Kilkenny with free time to see St.Canice's Cathedral and the Kilkenny Design Centre before continuing to your hotel in historic Waterford.
Hotel: Dooleys. (B)

Day 4 - WATERFORD - BLARNEY

See history unfold before your eyes in Waterford as you view the 9th century Reginald's Tower and the remains of the old city walls. Visit the Waterford Crystal showroom before a coastal drive brings you to Ireland's second city of Cork, then continue to your hotel in Blarney. This afternoon visit the ancient castle of Blarney this morning. Will you dare to hang upside down from the ramparts to kiss the Blarney Stone, and ensure a lifetime of eloquence?
Hotel: Blarney Golf Resort (B,D)

Day 5 - BLARNEY - KILLARNEY

Drive up the valley of the River Lee into the majestic Derrynasaggart Mountains, and continue to the beautiful scenery of the Dingle Peninsula, spectacular setting for the film Ryan's Daughter. From dramatic Slea Head at the peninsula's far end, make your way to the peaceful town of Killarney.
Hotel: Killarney Towers (B,D)

Day 6 - RING OF KERRY EXCURSION

An excursion takes you around the Ring of Kerry on one of the world's greatest scenic tours: see towering cliffs, lush lakelands, remote villages and, above all, Ireland's highest mountain range, and view the three peaceful Lakes of Killarney. Return to Killarney and enjoy a highlight ride with the locals on one of the famous jaunting cars. Tonight your Dine-Around evening offers you the option of dinner at a selection
of local restaurants. (B,DA)

Day 7 - KILLARNEY - LIMERICK - GALWAY

Drive via picturesque Adare to the city of Limerick and see St Mary's Cathedral and medieval King John's Castle. Now visit Bunratty Folk Park, which recreates the homes and lifestyle of rural Ireland over the centuries. Continue to the 700-foot Cliffs of Moher with breathtaking views of the Clare Coast before a delightful drive through the Burren, a strange, rocky landscape rich with wild orchids.
Hotel: Maldron (B,D)

Day 8 - CONNEMARA EXCURSION

In Galway, see St Nicholas Cathedral, the Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the late US president John F Kennedy. The beautiful rugged landscape of Connemara opens up a wonderland of rivers, lakes and silent hills en route to the famous marble factory, where you will tour the workshop. Visit palatial Kylemore Abbey before returning to your hotel. (B)

Day 9 - GALWAY - BELLEEK - LONDONDERRY

Bidding farewell to Galway and Connemara, drive past Tuam to Clonalis House.This estate is the home of the O'Connor family, descendants of the last High Kings of Ireland. Meet the resident family and tour their home before driving through County Sligo to visit the Belleek Pottery Centre. Continue to Donegal County, and head north through the Blue Stack Mountains into Northern Ireland, settling for the night in the ancient city of 'Derry'.
Hotel: City (B,D)

Day 10 - LONDONDERRY - BALLYGALLY

Sightseeing with a local guide takes you inside the well preserved walls, still topped with cannons, and down steep Shipquay Street, with its elegant Georgian houses, to the Gothic Guildhall. Continue along the coast to the spectacular Giant's Causeway, and hear the fantastic legends which surround this geological masterpiece created by the cooling of lava which burst through the Earth's crust millions of years ago. Continue along the scenic Antrim coast to arrive at your hotel, overlooking the sandy beach of Ballygally Bay.
Hotel: Ballygally Castle (B,D)

Day 11 - BALLYGALLY - BELFAST

Continue around the coast, past the huge Norman castle at Carrickfergus, to arrive in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland. Meet your local guide for a panoramic tour of this unique city, with highlights including City Hall, Queen's University and Stormont Castle.
Hotel: Europa (B)

Day 12 - BELFAST - DUBLIN

Travel alongside the Mountains of Mourne to Drogheda, taking a short drive along the historic Boyne Valley, site of the Battle of Boyne where William of Orange defeated the forces of Catholic King James. Return to Ireland's lively capital, Dublin, and spend a leisurely evening relaxing, exploring or perhaps taking in a famous Irish Cabaret show.
Hotel: Burlington (B)

Day 13 - RETURN TO USA

Departure transfers arrive at Dublin Airport at 07:30, 09:30 & 11:30. (B)

 

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Airfare Disclaimer
A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link.

Documents
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Included Premium Highlights

  • Tour the Ring of Kerry, a scenic symphony with stunning views over mountains and sea
  • Enjoy a highlight ride with the locals on one of the famous Killarney jaunting cars
  • Ireland's rural heritage comes to life on your visit to Bunratty Folk Park
  • Admire the breathtaking views of the Clare Coast and the 700-foot Cliffs of Moher
  • Visit the spectacular Giant's Causeway

Included Personal Insights

  • An equine professional will join you for a behind the scenes look at Ireland's National Stud and its famous Japanese Gardens
  • Meet the descendants of the last 12th century High Kings of Ireland at their ancestral home, Clonalis House

Included Additional Excursions & Sights

  • See the Customs House, Dublin Castle and O'Connell Street in Dublin
  • Stop in medieval Kilkenny and visit Kilkenny Design Center
  • See the remains of the old city walls and Reginald's Tower in Waterford
  • Visit the Waterford Crystal showrooms
  • Climb Blarney Castle and dangle from the ramparts to kiss the famous 'Blarney Stone'
  • Scenic tour of Dingle Peninsula to Slea Head Visit the town of Adare
  • See King John's Castle and St Mary's Cathedral in Limerick
  • See St. Nicholas Cathedral, Spanish Arch and Eyre Square in Galway
  • Connemara excursion including a visit to the Connemara Marble factory
  • Visit the turreted neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey Visit Belleek Pottery Center
  • See 'Derry's Walls' and Gothic guildhall See Carrickfergus Castle
  • View the City Hall and Queen's University in Belfast
  • Scenic drives - the 'Burren', Antrim coast, Boyne Valley

Included First Class Services

  • Escorted by a professional Tour Director
  • Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard restroom
  • Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
  • Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information pack
  • Airport Shuttle arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 2 and Day 13

Included Quality Dining

  • Dine-Around evening at your own choice of restaurant from our selection in Kilarney (DA)
  • 11 full Breakfasts (B) and 5 three-course Evening Meals with choice, or buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
 

Red Hot Special Oberammergau Passion Play

Only once a decade does the Alpine village of Oberammergau stage

its world famous Passion Play and now is the time to book for 2010.

On selected departures, Insight Vacations has great value prices on Passion Play Options and is offering them at 10% off the brochure price!

So, instead of paying $1000 for the Passion Play Option, you’ll pay

only $900 pp! That’s a saving of $200 per couple!

Tour Name                                 Promo Code      Departure Date     Tour Duration

- Country Roads of Bavaria,         HOT106          4 Jun 2010           13 Days

Switzerland & Austria

- Road to Rome                            HOT107          8 May 2010           15 Days

- European Spotlight                    HOT108          18 Jun 2010          14 Days

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Promo        Tour                       Departure         Brochure Price    Price

Code         Name                          Date                  WAS             NOW

HOT109    Best of Germany        28 May 2010      $1,935           $1,740

HOT110    European Explorer     27 May 2010      $5,750           $5,175

HOT111    Hightlights of Europe  28 May 2010     $4,225           $3,799

Save $300 Off per couple

Two travelers booking together on an air-inclusive 2010 Europe tour will each save $150 off on all Lufthansa or United Airline flights.

Book Now - offer end March 31st, 2010.

TERMS: Valid for new bookings only. Offer CAN be combined with all brochure discounts. Entire booking including air must be paid in full by March 31, 2010. Offer valid from March 1st-March 31st, 2010. All Travel must be completed by October 24th, 2010. Offer is valid on UA and LH flights only (no code share flights allowed over the Atlantic – must be on UA or LH only). Valid on all tours to Europe, Egypt, Jordan, Israel and Morocco. Offer - $300 off per couple or $150 off for single travelers. Offer subject to availability and valid off of all net fares. Promotion cannot be booked online. Commission paid on air for this promotion is 0%. Air tickets are non-refundable after purchase. No name changes allowed once a reservation is made. Once payment is received, cancellation penalties apply. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Offer can be used for groups – with availability and names at time of booking – full payment on entire package due March 31, 2010. CST No. 2068745-20

 

Ratings & Reviews:

This tour's average rating:

Thanks for voting !

(5 out of 5, Based on 1 ratings) Write a review.

 

The most recent reviews for this tour:


Thanks for voting !

Nicky Druyor rated this tour a 5 on 10/18/2009 8:21:19 PM and says:

"My sister and I just returned from the Country Roads of Ireland tour with Maureen, our guide,and Tony, our driver. We had a wonderful time. Maureen is everything you could want in a tour guide and Tony kept us safe over some pretty harrowing turns and roads. Thanks to both. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone."

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All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing.