Enchanting Ireland and Northern Ireland Odyssey - 10 Days

On arrival at Belfast Airport, we’ll transfer you to your hotel. You’ve arrived in Northern Ireland’s capital and largest city – a place shaped by its Protestant and Catholic communities. Since the 1998 peace agreement, Belfast has undergone a remarkable transformation and today is a lively city that hosts several key institutions.

You’ll have free time to explore at your own pace. You could visit the Titanic Museum – the city’s most popular attraction – whose striking building stands in the historic shipyard where the Titanic was built, once one of the world’s leading shipbuilding centres. Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

We depart after breakfast, following the Antrim Coast to Cushendun, a village designated a conservation area in 1980 within the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Around midday you’ll have free time for lunch in the lively coastal town of Ballycastle – lunch at your own expense. We then continue to Bushmills for a guided visit to the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, with entrance and tour included. Later we explore the Giant’s Causeway – entrance included – an extraordinary sweep of around 40,000 basalt columns formed by cooling lava some 60 million years ago, long linked to the local legend of a giant’s pathway. We arrive in Derry, a walled city that blends history and modernity, where you have free time to stroll.

We travel through beautiful mountain scenery into the Republic of Ireland to reach the lively, picturesque small town of Donegal, where we include entry to its impressive medieval castle. Back in Northern Ireland, we visit the spectacular Marble Arch Caves – admission included – one of Europe’s most remarkable cave systems. Formed over 330 million years ago, the network extends for more than 11 km and continues to evolve as underground rivers erode the limestone. You’ll have free time for lunch before we continue to Belfast for arrival and free time.

We leave Belfast for Hillsborough Castle – admission included – the official government residence in Northern Ireland. This grand 18th–century Georgian mansion sits amid woodlands, wildflower meadows and beautifully kept gardens. You will have free time for lunch before we continue into the Republic of Ireland. En route we stop at Monasterboice – admission included – a 5th–century monastic settlement renowned for its tall Celtic crosses, especially Muiredach’s Cross, considered one of the most beautiful in Ireland, set among ruins and old tombs. We then continue to Dublin, arriving in the mid–afternoon – you will have the rest of the day free.

This morning we take a panoramic tour of Dublin – Ireland’s capital. We stroll along the River Liffey and through its parks, explore the historic university quarter, and walk the lively streets of the city centre. We also view the exterior of Trinity College. The afternoon is free for you to explore at your own pace. Note: depending on our arrival time in Dublin and daylight hours, the tour may be scheduled for the previous afternoon.

Leaving Dublin, we head to nearby Powerscourt to visit its magnificent 18th–century gardens – admission included – with fountains, the Japanese Gardens and a pet cemetery. We then continue to Kilkenny, where you have time for lunch and to stroll around this lively town. Further south, we stop to visit the Rock of Cashel – admission included – a medieval fortress symbolising the Irish struggle against England. We arrive in Cork in the evening; you have time to stroll in the city centre, and we include dinner.

We depart Cork for Kinsale, pausing at Charles Fort to take in the ocean views beside this 17th century fortress. You’ll have time to explore Kinsale’s historic centre, a seaside town considered one of the most beautiful coastal towns in Ireland. We then continue to Killarney, where you’ll have time for lunch and a stroll. We include a traditional Jaunting Car Tour through the National Park, travelling through gardens and along the lake to Ross Castle for lakeside views, and we also include a short cruise to enjoy the surrounding scenery. We make a brief stop in Adare – a village that preserves stone and thatched cottages and the ruins of an old abbey – before arriving in Limerick by mid afternoon. You’ll have free time to explore the city centre, visit the castle, walk along the river, see the cathedral or browse the shopping centre. Dinner is included.

After breakfast we leave Limerick for Bunratty Folk Park (ticket included) – an open‑air showcase of traditional cottages, old market streets and a castle that brings medieval life into focus. We then continue to Caherconnell, where the Poulnabrone Dolmen is located – we may be lucky enough to see dogs herding sheep. Afterwards we visit the Cliffs of Moher (admission included); you can walk to O’Brien’s Tower if you wish. We then follow the scenic route through Burren National Park before arriving in Galway.

We depart Galway this morning for Cong, a picturesque village in a beautiful lake area. We visit the ruins of the Royal Abbey and take a relaxed walk around Ashford Castle – a medieval fortress now converted into a hotel. We then continue to Clonmacnoise for a guided tour of its Celtic monastic ruins – tickets included. Please note that, due to renovation works, this visit will be shorter than usual. Afterwards, you’ll have time for lunch and a short stroll in Athlone before we continue to Dublin, arriving in the evening.

After breakfast in Dublin, our journey concludes – leaving you with lasting memories of Ireland and Northern Ireland.