9 days

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About this activity

Day 1: Dublin - Glendalough - Kilkenny Castle - Waterford City
• Drive through Wicklow Mountains
• Explore Glendalough
• Kilkenny - Cathedrals, Church's, Abbeys, Castle
• Viking Settlement - Waterford City (overnight)
Day 2: Waterford City - Waterford Crystal - Blarney Castle - Dingle Peninsula
• Waterford Crystal factory
• Blarney Castle - Two hours to explore the castle and gardens
• Blarney Woolen Mills - Worlds Largest Irish Store
• Dingle Peninsula (overnight)
Day 3: Dingle Peninsula - Slea Head - Killarney
• Dingle - Celebrated for having most pubs in Ireland for a town of its size, 52 pubs and 2000 people.
• Slea Head - Beehive Huts from 2000BC - Sleeping Giant - Blasket Islands
• Inch Beach - Ireland's longest beach
• Killarney (overnight)
Day 4: Killarney - Ring of Kerry - Killarney
• Ring of Kerry - famous for it's jaw droppping cliff views, mountains, and ancient pagan forts.
• Horse and cart or Horseback ride through Killarney National Park (optional)
• Killarney National Park - Molls Gap - Torc Waterfall - Ladies View
• Killarney (overnight)
Day 5: Killarney - Cliffs of Moher & Burren - Doolin - Galway
• Bunratty Castle (photo opportunity)
• Cliffs of Moher - over 700 ft in height
• The Burren - a lunar landscape dating back 300 million years
• Galway (overnight) Ireland's cultural capital
Day 6: Galway - Cong - Country Life Museum (Castlebar) - Letterkenny
• Cong - Ashford Castle
• Connemara to the Museum of Country Life.
• Drumcliff Abbey - Resting place of W.B. Yeats
• Letterkenny (overnight)
Day 7: Letterkenny - Glenveagh National Park - Derry - Letterkenny
• Glenveagh National Park
• Derry / Londonderry - in-depth walking tour of Derry's walls (1613)
• Letterkenny (overnight)
Day 8: Letterkenny - Giants Causeway - Rope Bridge - Glens of Antrim - Belfast
• Giant's Causeway - 37,000 basalt columns form stepping stones leading from Ireland to Scotland
• Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge - (cross if you dare by making a small charitable donation to the National Trust!)
• Antrim Coast - fantastic views of Whitepark Bay
• Belfast (overnight)
Day 9: Belfast - Dublin
• Belfast City Tour - City Hall, Queen's University, Botanic Gardens
• Titanic Belfast
• Black Taxi Tour (optional) - political murals and of course the Peace Walls which divide the Catholic Republican from the Protestant Loyalist communities.
• Arrive Dublin Airport approx 4.30pm, Dublin approx 5pm
A full in-depth itinerary is available under the
Additional info section.

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Included

8 nights accommodation (Waterford City - Dingle Peninsula - Killarney x2 - Galway - Letterkenny x2 - Belfast)
Breakfast each morning of the tour
Fun Professional Guide
Transport by air conditioned coach
FREE WIFI on the majority of our coaches

Not included

Food and drinks, unless specified
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Cost of Horse and Carriage, or Horseback Riding in Killarney. *optional, organised and paid to your guide*
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (small charitable donation to the National Trust Fund from those who wish to cross)
Black Taxi Tour - Belfast (optional, organised and paid to your guide)

Additional

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
FULL ITINERARY
Day 1: Dublin - Glendalough - Kilkenny Castle - Waterford City
The 9 Day All Ireland tour begins this morning @ 9:00 in central Dublin. We'll leave the city behind and drive through rolling countryside to the
Our first stop is the monastery ruins at
This is an area of natural beauty and you'll have time at leisure to enjoy the local walks and trails and take some great photos of the ancient Celtic crosses and round towers. Afterwards, we'll continue to
with its cobbled streets and famous red ale. Potential sights to explore at leisure include the Castle, Cathedral, Abbeys and Churches all dating back to the Norman period following the invasion of the 12th Century. This afternoon we continue south to the Viking settlement of Waterford. Not far from
on the south- east coast,
is a relaxing spot to spend the evening with some great pubs and seafood restaurants.
Day 2: Waterford City - Waterford Crystal - Blarney Castle - Dingle Peninsula
Our day begins with a visit to the world famous
Stock up on fine cut glass at the outlet store or simply pause a while to watch the artisans at work. Afterwards, we'll continue with a scenic drive through Co. Waterford and a
The highlight for many today is world renowned
Here we spend plenty of time (2 hours) visiting the Castle, with the chance to kiss the Blarney Stone (to receive the gift of eloquent speech also known as the gift of the gab). Surrounded by beautiful and majestic gardens, you may also shop for souvenirs at
the world's largest Irish shop. After lunch we'll continue on our journey to the
and overnight amongst the last parishes before America.
Day 3: Dingle Peninsula - Slea Head - Killarney
This morning we take the short drive to
a charming Gaelic speaking fishing village. Famed in many films like Far and Away and Ryan's Daughter, Dingle is celebrated for having most pubs in Ireland for a town of its size, 52 pubs and 2000 people. We cannot forget Dingle's most famous resident, Fungi the Dolphin who we shall time to visit in the early afternoon. Then it's off on a wonderful pleasant trip around
with amazing views of
the
and
dating back to 2000 B.C. Regarded as the most beautiful Peninsula in the world by many photographic magazines, Slea Head has some of Ireland's most fabulous beaches and is definitely the highlight of Ireland's famed
This area is completely Gaelic speaking, and you may even get to hear some of the locals converse in this ancient language. Then it's back to Dingle where there is ample time for shopping in traditional arts and crafts stores, lunch in one of the many colorful pubs with local musicians playing some mystic tunes. We complete our day with a visit to Ireland's longest beach at
connecting Dingle Peninsula to the Ring of Kerry before continuing on to our evening destination at
where we stay for the next 2 nights.
Day 4: Killarney - Ring of Kerry - Killarney
Today we embark on the world famous
The day begins with a horse and cart ride through
through the park for the energetic and adventurous (optional). Next it's off on our journey that combines emerald pastures and villages with jaw dropping views of cliffs, mountains and ancient pagan forts. Highlights include vistas of the
and the beautiful town of
once home of the legendary Charlie Chaplin. After lunch we find ourselves in the homeland of Daniel O'Connell, known as the father of the nation and the man who brought Catholic emancipation to Ireland in the early 1800s. Our afternoon is packed with many highlights including
and much more.
Day 5: Killarney - Cliffs of Moher & Burren - Doolin - Galway
Leaving Killarney, our first stop will be a photo of the beautiful
photo opportunity & refreshments).Today's emphasis shall be the Wild Atlantic way, visiting
the most popular natural tourist destination in Ireland and most spectacular cliffs in Europe. Rising over 700 ft in height, these cliffs are home to some of natures most majestic birds including puffins, gannets and many more.
the home of Irish traditional music is our lunch stop before continuing onwards to explore
a lunar landscape dating back 300 million years with unique features like underground rivers and waterfalls. Our journey takes us along the
and Galway Bay with fabulous vistas of the
before stopping at
one of Ireland's finest examples of the Island of Saints and Scholars. We overnight in
known as the city of the tribes and Ireland's cultural capital, with a vast array of fine seafood eateries, and home to an endless selection of traditional Irish music venues. Galway was also once home of Christopher Columbus, the famous explorer.
Day 6: Galway - Cong - Country Life Museum (Castlebar) - Letterkenny
After a great night in
our first stop today is the charming village of
famed by John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in the film the Quiet Man. The village is home to
a regular haunt for the rich and famous and wedding venue for a host of international stars. We have time to visit
before heading off through parts of
Here we are introduced to the Irish way of life that has existed in this rugged and beautiful part of country since 1800s. We watch some of Ireland's finest breakers roll against our Atlantic shores before heading off through the poetic heartland of Ireland,
country. We visit his final resting place in
and admire the beautiful Benbulben referenced in many of his poems. Our overnight tonight is in
in rural Co. Donegal.
Day 7: Letterkenny - Glenveagh National Park - Derry - Letterkenny
Begin today with a tour of
Ireland's premier National Park. Here we take the opportunity to enjoy nature with lakeside walks and a visit to
Onwards to Grianan of Aileach a hilltop fort, 3000 years old with panoramic views of 5 of the counties of Ulster and legendary stories from every era of Irish history. Then it's onwards to
for an excellent in-depth walking tour of Derry's walls (1613) and the well known Bogside district famed in the U2 song "Bloody Sunday" after the tragic events of January 1971. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure with time to explore
before returning to
for a relaxing evening.
Day 8: Letterkenny - Giants Causeway - Rope Bridge - Glens of Antrim - Belfast
Today we cruise the beautiful
to world famous
Its 37,000 basalt columns form stepping stones leading from Ireland to Scotland and are featured in the Celtic legend of Fionn MacCool. Afterwards, we'll visit
cross if you dare by making a small charitable donation to the National Trust!). This bridge was once used by salmon fishermen to catch fish but today it is a highlight for international travelers and sightseers. We continue along the coastal route, with fantastic views of Whitepark Bay and through part of the
Overnight in
Day 9: Belfast - Dublin
We begin the day with a city tour of the highlights of
including
and much more. Together we'll visit
a fascinating exhibit housed in the very docklands where this most famous ship was built and launched before her tragic maiden voyage. You will also have some time at leisure and many guests will take a
of the political murals and of course the
which divide the Catholic Republican from the Protestant Loyalist communities. Enjoy time for lunch and shopping downtown. We'll depart
around 14:00 - 14:30 making a stop at Dublin Airport at 16:30 approx. and finish in Dublin at 17:00 approx.

Features

Tourism

95%

Cultural

65%

Aquatic

35%

Reviews

4.5

4

d

duanelafont

5 | 2017-06-15

This is an outstanding tour for cost-conscious travelers. PaddyWagon Tours, and especially their driver, Freddie, made what could have been a disaster into the trip of a life-time. We started out with delayed flights and lost luggage and ended up with a deep appreciation for the Irish people and country. Freddie was engaged and knowledgeable. He went out of way to ensure that everyone had a good experience, even to the point of backtracking twice to pick up misplaced cameras and purses while still keeping us on schedule. The B and B accommodations were fine, the breakfasts were fine, the busses were fine. The pubs were outstanding! Don't hesitate to book this tour.

G

GLYKERIA X

5 | 2017-05-11

Amazing tour!!! FANTASTIC guide Shaun!!! Thank you for this unforgettable voyage!! Ria

S

Stacy B

3 | 2016-06-14

We booked through Elegant Irish Tours, but we were placed on a Paddywagon Tour instead, which we were told was the same thing. I will say this: If you are looking for elegance, continue your search. But if elegance is not at the top of your must-have list, this is a nice way to get around and see the sites. During our nine days, we went through three tour guides. The first guide was rather crass and unprofessional and as we later found out, he was not entirely truthful in answering questions about the area and culture, and we were glad to switch to someone else after two days. The second guide was fantastic and told us a lot about the history of the places we were going. We were sad to see him go after three days, but the third guide was also good about telling the history and legends though he did make things a bit tense sometimes with the other passengers by oversharing his religious and political views. Aside from the slightly sketchy way of doing things, this trip is really great at covering your Ireland to-do list. The nine days of the tour were essentially the only days we spent in Ireland, and we didn't leave feeling like we missed anything! My advice is to take this trip, but make sure you actually end up on an Elegant Irish Tours bus I saw them, so I know they truly exist.

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9-Day All Ireland Tour from Dublin

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