Best of Ireland

Best of Ireland

September 12-23, 2022 | 12 days

Pickup: Lancaster, Ephrata    Times pending

Price per person: $5,295 Double    $5,815 Single
Deposit – $400 per person at registration

Avoid $ loss; purchase travel insurance

10 breakfasts    2 lunches    8 dinners

♦Passport Booklet (valid 6 months after tour’s return) is required♦

Day 1 *Fly overnight to Shannon/Dublin Airport

Day 2 *Be greeted by our driver and coach and depart for Bunratty, Ireland *Tour Bunratty Castle, built in 1425 and restored in 1954 to its former medieval splendor , including Bunratty Folk Park, a living history museum of 26 acres, 30 buildings recreating 19th century life in Ireland *Overnight in Ennis/Limerick, Ireland (L)

Day 3 *Depart to Cliffs of Moher *Cruise from Doolin Pier, north of the cliffs along the cliff line that rises 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean *Visit Doolin Music House, where we will be hosted in the home of locals to experience local Irish music and discuss the history of traditional music, listening to a musical session by the fire *Enjoy a light lunch of smoked salmon and brown bread and cheeses *Overnight in Ennis/Limerick, Ireland (B, D)

Day 4 *Imagine the days of aviation from 1939 to 1945 between the United States and Europe at the Foynes Flying Boat Museum The museum features the original terminal, the radio and weather rooms with transmitters and Morse code equipment. *Make a photo stop on the way to Adare *Experience a local pub lunch *Overnight in Kerry County, Ireland (B, L)

Day 5 *Tour the Ross Castle, a typical example of an Irish Cheiftain during the Middle Ages *Travel to Killarney National Park to visit Muckross House and Gardens, a 19th century Victorian mansion *Overnight in Kerry County, Ireland (B, D)

Day 6 *Drive to Cork and visit Garnish Island The Island has a wonderful history and its unusual micro climate allow for a range of exotic plant species. On route to the Island, you will enjoy magnificent views of the bay and pass Seal Island and its colony of harbor seals. *Continue on to Kinsale and enjoy a Food Walking Tour *Overnight in Cork, Ireland  (B, D)

Day 7 *Take a fascinating walking tour of the historic town of Cobh in County Cork, the last port of call of the RMS Titanic Cobh is the single most important port of emigration in Ireland. *Relax the rest of the day at your leisure *Overnight in Cork County, Ireland (B, D)

Day 8 *Meet a local guide for a walking tour of Kilkenny, “the Marble City”—the most interesting and best preserved of the medieval Irish cities *Visit Kilkenny Castle, the most instantly recognized building in Ireland The castle was built by the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. *Overnight in Kilkenny, Ireland (B, D)

Day 9 *Drive to Dublin *See the Haydens Family Farm, where their 140 cow dairy produces milk through sustainable farm techniques for Bailey’s Irish Cream *Visit Avoca Handweavers, established in 1723, a family owned craft design company. Avoca Handweavers has a visitor center, which tells the story since 1723 and a mill tour, where you meet the weavers at work. *Overnight in Dublin area (B, D)

Day 10 *Depart for Belfast, where you will have a C.S. Lewis walking tour It covers the location in Belfast associated with Lewis’s family and the shape of his early life, family home and church. *Journey to Slane Castle, the home of Conyngham family since 1701 Between the castle and the River Boyne is a natural amphitheater that hosts world famous open-air Rock concerts. *Overnight in the Dublin area (B, D)

Day 11 *Visit the MoLI—the Museum of Literature Ireland, a museum dedicated to Ireland’s literary culture *Explore Dublin on your own *Enjoy a storytelling dinner experience *Overnight in the Dublin area (B, D)

Day 12 *Transfer to Dublin airport for our flight to the United States (B)