Insight > Britain and Ireland Discovery

Britain and Ireland Discovery
26 Days starting from $5,250

Countries Visited:
England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

 

Length: 26 Days
Type: First Class Tour
Category: Britain and Ireland
Operator: Insight
Tour Code: B959
   
 
About This Tour


A well paced tour with two-night stays in the cities of Edinburgh, Thurso, Sligo, Plymouth and Dublin, plus the change of pace with two different Irish ferry crossings and pleasant driving days with frequent stops.

 
  • What's Included
  • Itinerary
  • Dates & Prices
  • Sightseeing Highlights
  • SPECIALS

Insight's First Class Services

  • Escorted by a professional Tour Director (hosted by Insight staff in London)
  • Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
  • Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
  • Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information packLondon airport arrival and departure transfer

Quality Dining

  • Traditional Highland Dinner with Scottish entertainment (HD)
  • 2 Continental (CB) & 22 full Breakfasts (B) and 11 three-course Evening Meals with choice, or buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

26 Days ~ England ~ Scotland ~ Ireland ~ Wales

Tour Pace
A well paced tour with two-night stays in the cities of Edinburgh, Thurso, Sligo, Plymouth and Dublin, plus the change of pace with two different Irish ferry crossings and pleasant driving days with frequent stops.

DAY 1 – DEPART USA
Overnight flight to London.

DAY 2 – ARRIVE LONDON
Welcome to London! On arrival you are transferred to your London tour hotel.
Hotel: Thistle Marble Arch.

DAY 3 – LONDON SIGHTSEEING
Your half day sightseeing tour shows you Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The afternoon is at leisure. (B)

DAY 4 – LONDON – STRATFORD
After a warm welcome from your Tour Director, head west over the green Chiltern Hills. Stop in the university town of Oxford before driving through pretty Cotswold villages to visit Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon. Enjoy a Welcome Drink.
Hotel: Thistle. (CB,D)

DAY 5 – STRATFORD – YORK
Visit the Wedgwood china factory before continuing to York to wander the cobbled streets of the Shambles and see the huge York Minster. 
Hotel: Marriott. (B,D)

DAY 6 – YORK – EDINBURGH
Tour the beautiful Lake District before stopping at Gretna Green in Scotland. Then it’s on to Edinburgh. Tonight, selected departures attend the spectacular Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle.
Hotel: Royal Terrace. (B)

DAY 7 – EDINBURGH SIGHTSEEING
Take a guided tour inside historic Edinburgh Castle. Continue down the Royal Mile, past St Giles’ Cathedral to the Queen’s Holyroodhouse Palace. Cross to the 18th century New Town. The afternoon is at leisure. (B)

DAY 8 – EDINBURGH – HIGHLANDS
Cross the Firth of Forth on your way to St Andrews – the home of golf. Continue to Perth and over the Grampian Mountains, past Blair Athol, to the sparkling Spey Valley. Enjoy a traditional dinner with Scottish entertainment.
Hotel: Laggan Country Hotel. (B,HD)

DAY 9 – HIGHLANDS – THURSO
First stop to see the Clava Stone Circles and continue across the battlefield of Culloden. Drive via Inverness and along the shores of Loch Ness, before following the coast to Thurso.
Hotel: Royal. (B,D)

DAY 10 – ORKNEY ISLANDS EXCURSION
Drive to John O’Groats, the most northerly town on the British mainland, where you board a ferry to the Orkney Islands. Visit the village of Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, Kirkwall and the Italian Chapel. Head back to the mainland for the evening. (B,D)

DAY 11 – THURSO – ISLE OF SKYE
Relax and enjoy the lochs and mountains on your way to the fishing town of Ullapool. Then it’s ‘over the sea to Skye’. Admire the scenic splendor of the Cuillin Hills en route to your hotel in Portree.
Hotel: Tongadale. (B,D)

DAY 12 – ISLE OF SKYE – GLASGOW
Take in magnificent scenery as you pass Eilean Donan Castle and continue through Glencoe, ‘the valley of the weeping’. Stop on the ‘bonnie banks’ of Loch Lomond before arriving in Glasgow.
Hotel: Marriott. (B)

DAY 13 – GLASGOW – LONDONDERRY
Bid farewell to Scotland as you cross the Irish Sea, enjoying views of the Island of Arran on the way. Take the scenic Antrim coast road to the Giant’s Causeway before reaching your hotel.
Hotel: Everglades/City. (B,D)

DAY 14 – LONDONDERRY – SLIGO
Join a guide to see Derry’s Walls, the Guildhall and the city’s cathedral before driving south to visit the Belleek Pottery Centre. Continue to the churchyard at Drumcliff, where the Irish poet WB Yeats is buried, en route to your hotel in Sligo.
Hotel: Radisson SAS. (B,D)

DAY 15 – DONEGAL EXCURSION
Pass Ballyshannon to see O’Donnell’s Castle in Donegal, then it’s on to Ardara for a hand loom demonstration before returning to Sligo via picturesque Killybegs. (B)

DAY 16 – SLIGO – LIMERICK
Take a scenic drive through the Connemara region to visit the famous marble factory. Continue to Galway where you see St Nicholas Cathedral, the Spanish Arch and Eyre Square. Now on to Bunratty Folk Park, a living museum. Stay tonight in Limerick.
Hotel: George. (B)

DAY 17 – LIMERICK – KILLARNEY
An orientation tour shows you King John’s Castle, St. Mary’s Cathedral and the treaty stone. Now drive through the charming village of Adare into County Kerry. In Killarney, enjoy a ride on a famous jaunting car. Hotel: Killarney Avenue & Towers. (B,D)

DAY 18 – KILLARNEY – WATERFORD
Tour the Ring of Kerry before continuing to Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone. See the city of Cork before arriving at Waterford.
Hotel: Dooleys. (B,D)

DAY 19 – WATERFORD – DUBLIN
After visiting the Waterford Crystal showroom, drive to Kilkenny to see its castle en route to the fun loving Irish capital, Dublin.
Hotel: Radisson SAS Royal. (B)

DAY 20 – DUBLIN SIGHTSEEING
Tour Dublin’s elegant Georgian squares and visit Dublin castle (when open) with a local guide. Also see the Irish President’s home, O’Connell Street and historic Customs House before spending the afternoon at leisure. (B)

DAY 21 – DUBLIN – ST HELENS
Cross the Irish Sea and travel through North Wales, past Conwy Castle, to the walled city of Chester. See the ruined Roman amphitheatre, Tudor ‘Rows’ and cathedral before continuing to your hotel.
Hotel: Hilton St Helens. (B,D)

DAY 22 – ST HELENS – BRISTOL
Drive to the border town of Ludlow, with its half-timbered houses and ruined castle. Continue along the Wye Valley past romantic Tintern Abbey and over the soaring Severn Bridge to Bristol.
Hotel: Marriott City Centre. (B)

DAY 23 – BRISTOL – PLYMOUTH
Travel the short distance to Bath, famous for its Georgian architecture. Visit the Roman Baths before moving on to Plymouth, taking in Glastonbury along the way. On arrival in Plymouth, enjoy a highlight cruise on the harbour.
Hotel: Jurys Inn. (B,D)

DAY 24 – DARTMOOR & TINTAGEL EXCURSION
Stop in Princetown, in the heart of rugged Dartmoor, and visit King Arthur’s Tintagel, returning to Plymouth via Bodmin Moor. (B)

DAY 25 – PLYMOUTH – LONDON
Visit mysterious Stonehenge before crossing Salisbury Plain to return to London.
Hotel: Thistle Marble Arch. (B)

DAY 26 – RETURN TO USA
Your tour ends with a transfer to the airport. (CB)


To speak to one of our live, experienced travel consultants, Call us now at 1-800-942-3301.

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.

         
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Hotels
Hotels are mainly modern in the major cities like the Marriotts in York & Bristol. In the Highlands the hotels are mainly traditional & much simpler in style, although typical of the region. In Limerick, The George is a new boutique style hotel.

Fellow Passengers
This tour is suitable for both seasoned and first-time travelers who want the most comprehensive tour of the British Isles. It is perfect for those who want to trace their family ancestry or who are English history buffs.

Highlights
The visit to the Isle of Skye, the enjoyable ride on the Killarney jaunting cars, the sound of the bagpipes at the Highland evening, plus the ever changing shades of green of the countryside throughout the British Isles, are all highlights.

Enjoy our Premium Highlights plus these extra tour features

Excursions & Sights

  • See all the sights of London’s West End
  • See the colleges of Oxford
  • Visit Wedgwood China factory
  • See York Minster Visit Gretna Green
  • Drive down Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace Visit St Andrews
  • See the Clava Stone Circles
  • Cross Culloden battlefield
  • Visit Inverness & Loch Ness drive
  • Visit John O’Groats
  • See Eilean Donan Castle Loch Lomond drive
  • See ‘Derry’s walls’ & Guildhall
  • Visit Belleek Pottery Centre Visit W.B. Yeats grave
  • See O’Donnell’s castle in Donegal
  • Ardara loom demonstrationVisit Killybegs
  • Visit Connemara Marble Factory
  • See Galway’s Eyre Square
  • See the King John’s Castle in Limerick
  • See Adare
  • Kiss the stone at Blarney Castle See Cork’s Grand Parade
  • Visit Waterford Crystal Showroom
  • See Kilkenny Castle
  • See Dublin’s O’Connell St
  • Visit Chester’s ‘Rows’ and see the Cathedral
  • See Ludlow Castle
  • See Tintern Abbey
  • Visit Glastonbury
  • Visit Tintagel
  • Scenic drives – Cotswolds, Lake District, Highlands, Glencoe, Isle of Skye, Antrim coast, the ‘Burren’, Ring of Kerry, Wye Valley, Severn Bridge, Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor, Salisbury Plain

Guided City Tours

  • In-depth sightseeing tours in London, Edinburgh, Londonderry & DublinOrientation tours in Stratford, Oxford, York, Bath, Glastonbury, Plymouth, Glasgow, Cork & Waterford

Insight's First Class Services

  • Escorted by a professional Tour Director (hosted by Insight staff in London)
  • Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
  • Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
  • Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information packLondon airport arrival and departure transfer

Quality Dining

  • Traditional Highland Dinner with Scottish entertainment (HD)
  • 2 Continental (CB) & 22 full Breakfasts (B) and 11 three-course Evening Meals with choice, or buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

CURRENT SPECIALS:

Great Savings and Discounts

EARLY PAYMENT DISCOUNTS

SAVE UP TO 10%: Insight sells its tours in many countries worldwide so the most popular tours fill very quickly. Don’t be disappointed, book early! You’ll be assured of the tours you want, andthe earlier you pay, the more you SAVE!

Here’s how...

Pay 4 months prior to tour departure date to SAVE 2.5%

Pay 7 months prior to tour departure date to SAVE 5%

Pay 10 months prior to tour departure date to SAVE 7.5%

Pay 12 months prior to tour departure date to SAVE 10%

Tours must be paid in full for this discount to apply. Discounts apply to the land-only portion of your tour. Tour prices may change in future brochures. Exceptions: 1. Does not apply to additional accommodation, airfares or flight supplements, Easy Pace London & Countryside, Easy Pace London & Paris, Easy Pace London, Paris & Rome, Egypt tours, Israel tours, Jordan tours, the 3 Night Greek Island Cruise & Athens Extension, and Greek tours which include a Mediterranean cruise. 2. Does not apply to tours with River Cruises.

FAMILY SAVINGS

YOUNG TRAVELLERS SAVE 10% AGED 5-17 YEARS :Travel broadens the mind and enhances those special relationships. Insight offers you the opportunity of

sharing your happy holiday memories with your children or grandchildren. This discount applies to the Land Only portion of your tour. Young Travellers must be under the age of 18 years old on the tour departure date, and MUST be accompanied by an adult (limit of one Young Traveller Discount per room). On all escorted tours, children under 5 years old are NOT accepted. The Young Traveller must be the specified age at the time of travel to be eligible for this discount. This discount cannot be combined with our Groups Discount. Exceptions: 1. Does not apply to additional accommodation, airfares or flight supplements, Easy Pace London & Countryside, Easy Pace London & Paris, Easy Pace London, Paris & Rome, Egypt tours, Israel tours, Jordan tours, the 3 Night Greek Island Cruise & Athens Extension,

and Greek tours which include a Mediterranean cruise. 2. Does not apply to tours with River Cruises.

GROUP DISCOUNTS

5 OR MORE – SAVE 5%: If a group of 5 to 8 people travel together a discount of 5% per person applies to the Land Only portion of your tour. So it pays to get together with your family and friends!

SAVE $$$ FOR 9 OR MORE : If you have a group of 9 or more people travelling together on the same scheduled tour, then you automatically qualify for big savings! Your savings will be determined by the number of people travelling so ask call for details. You may also reserve a tour departure exclusively for your group! Some restrictions apply. Please contact our Groups Department 1-866-475-7023.

These discounts cannot be combined with Frequent Traveller, Family Savings or Triple Room Discounts. To qualify, names of all passengers travelling must be advised to Insight at the time of booking. Exceptions: 1. Does not apply to additional accommodation, airfares or flight supplements, Easy Pace London & Countryside, Easy Pace London & Paris, Easy Pace London, Paris & Rome, Egypt tours, Israel tours, Jordan tours, the 3 Night Greek Island Cruise & Athens Extension,

and Greek tours which include a Mediterranean cruise. 2. Does not apply to tours with River Cruises.  

SINGLE TRAVELLER SAVING

SAVE UP TO $2850 PER PERSON with Insight’s Room Mate Matching service Insight believes travelling solo should not cost you more! That’s why for people travelling alone on an Insight coach tour, we'll match you with someone of the same gender, so you don't have to pay the single room supplement. If we fail to match you, we'll provide a single room at no extra cost. Please note there is a no-smoking policy in all shared rooms. Exceptions: 1. Does not apply to additional accommodation, airfares or flight supplements, Easy Pace London & Countryside, Easy Pace London & Paris, Easy Pace London, Paris & Rome, Egypt tours, Israel tours, Jordan tours, the 3 Night Greek Island Cruise & Athens Extension, and Greek tours which include a Mediterranean cruise. 2. Does not apply to tours with River Cruises. 3. Does not apply to Irish Elegance.

TRIPLE ROOM DISCOUNTS: When three people travel together and share one room,

each of the three enjoys a discount off the tour price. See the Triple Room Reductions on the itinerary of your choice. This discount only applies to tours featuring the “Share a Triple Room” reduction on the itinerary pages. Note the third bed will, on occasions, be a foldaway.

FREQUENT TRAVELLER SAVING

SAVE 5% OFF YOUR NEXT TOUR: Most first-time travellers go on vacation with Insight again and again. In recognition of our loyal customers, Insight now extends to all clients automatic membership into our Premier Plus Club, as well as a 5% Discount off the Land portion of their next Insight trip. Insight’s Premier Plus Club & 5% Discount is not available retroactively. Only one voucher is available per person, per tour, per year and only one voucher can be redeemed against each further tour

booking. This discount cannot be combined with our Groups Discount.  Exceptions: 1. Does not apply to additional accommodation, airfares or flight supplements, Easy Pace London & Countryside, Easy Pace London & Paris, Easy Pace London, Paris & Rome, Egypt tours, Israel tours, Jordan tours, the 3 Night Greek Island Cruise & Athens Extension, and Greek tours which include a Mediterranean cruise.

EXTRA TOUR DISCOUNTS

SAVE $$$ON YOUR 2ND TOUR: Book two Insight vacations, each 7 days or longer and you will receive a reduction of 5%off the cheaper of the two tours. Both tours must be booked at the same time. This discount is per person.

COMPLIMENTARY TRANSFERS: Save up to $135 per couple on LONDON taxi fares

FREE LONDON RETURN : Passengers taking the 'Land only' option on our Discovery

tours may return to London by Insight motorcoach at NO EXTRA CHARGE, instead of departing from Paris. Offer applies to the final day of the following Discovery tours:  E920, E910, E933, E914, E912, E913, E916 & G916. Accommodations will be

required, as arrival in London is late afternoon/early evening.

SMALL GROUPS ADVANTAGE : Many tour operators fill their tours with up to 53 passengers. This means more congestion and less leg room on the coach as seats are configured more closely. At Insight we have a

maximum of only 40 guests per tour.

INSIGHT'S GUARANTEES

PRICE GUARANTEE: With Insight, you don’t need to worry about currency fluctuations. Once we receive your full deposit, your land tour price is guaranteed and protected against any increases. (Excludes pre-registration for tours in future brochures and any imposed fuel surcharges or Government Taxes.

TOUR GUARANTEE FOR LAND TRAVEL: To assist you when booking our airline offers and taking our great early payment savings, Insight has designated a large number of tours which we guarantee will operate on the scheduled date, unless circumstances occur beyond our control. Look for Tour Guarantee (TG symbol) on the itinerary of your choice indicating applicable dates. All other featured departures are planned to operate however, for operational reasons, may be subject to re- scheduling with at least 50 days notice (between May 1st & September 30th).


   
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