Magical Ireland

En route to Belfast, we'll stop at a hands-on baking demonstration at a family home in County Down. We'll enjoy a warm Irish welcome and a cup of coffee or tea with some homemade sweet treats. Our session starts with a traditional Irish Fruit Soda Cake, a sweet treat made with delicious homemade Irish butter. While our soda cake bakes in the oven, we'll make potato bread, or fadge as it's known in these parts We'll take home a bag filled with our handmade breads and sweet treats and all of the recipes we learned here at this traditional Northern Irish house.

We continue to historic Belfast where our tour continues. We'll see the curious "leaning" Albert Memorial Clock, the Opera Hosue, City Hall, Belfast's legendary pub, the Crown Bar; Queens University, and the Botanic Gardens. We'll also see Belfast's famous "peace wall," where murals illustrate the 30-year conflict called The Troubles. This evening we'll enjoy dinner at our hotel.

Today we'll learn more about a catastrophic event that has been captured in film, books, and television at the Titanic Belfast Experience. This must-see attraction uses special effects, full-scale reconstructions, and interactive features to bring the story of the ill-fated Titanic alive from its sinking to present-day exploration. After our visit, the rest of the day is ours to explore Belfast independently or join an optional tour to Crumlin Road Gaol.

We'll enter Game of Thrones territory today as we travel along the remote North Antrim Coast. Our destination: The Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and geological wonder. We'll learn all about the myths, legends, history, and geology of this amazing phenomenon before we continue to the picturesque port town of Derry. We'll enjoy a guided walking tour of Derry's highlights and stroll along wonderfully preserved medieval walls before our dinner together.

Today’s journey takes us into County Sligo, where the contrast of calm lakes and rugged uplands inspired Nobel Prize-winning poet W. B. Yeats. We’ll visit the world-famous Belleek Pottery, housed in an imposing Victorian building. Our guided tour here takes us through the production areas where we'll have an opportunity to meet the craftspeople and watch them work on different handmade pieces. We'll continue to Galway, a harbor known for narrow streets, stone-clad buildings, and traditional pubs with live music.

Today is ours to explore Galway at our own pace. We may consider a full-day optional tour to the breathtaking and utterly romantic Connemara region, where we'll visit the neo-goth Kylemore Abbey and take a scenic cruise on Killary Fjord to see why Oscar Wilde called the region "A Savage Beauty."

We'll start the day with a visit to Rathbaun Farm to see a sheepdog herding demonstration and enjoy freshly baked scones. Our travels continue through The Burren, a unique limestone landscape that will make us feel like we've landed on the moon, and along the Wild Atlantic Way to Ireland’s most iconic sight, the majestic Cliffs of Moher. Standing 702 feet above the ground at their highest point, the cliffs boast magnificent views of the Atlantic coast and provide nesting sites for thousands of seabirds. On a clear day, you can see the Aran Islands. Later, we’ll take the Shannon Ferry over to County Kerry and proceed to the lovely town of Killarney. Dinner tonight is included at your hotel.

Killarney is a great base for our expeditions in County Kerry over the next two days. Today we’ll take the Ring of Kerry route, stopping for panoramic views at Molls Gap and Ladies View. We’ll enjoy free time in the picturesque heritage town of Kenmare, which is set on the Ring of Kerry and known for its natural beauty, gourmet dining, and interesting craft shops. The afternoon is ours to further explore Killarney independently. This evening, consider our optional Kate Kearney’s Cottage traditional Irish night with dinner.

Today we'll explore the Dingle Peninsula, quite possibly one of the most breathtaking spots in the world. Here, the Irish language and traditional ways are preserved, and we’ll enjoy a step back in time as we see mountains, beaches, dunes and the fishing village of Dingle. We'll enjoy some free time in Dingle Town before our scenic drive continues along the Dingle Peninsula, bewitching us with dramatic beauty and brightly painted cottages. We'll return to Killarney late this afternoon with the balance of the day free to relax after our day of touring or explore local shops. Our tour director is happy to offer suggestions for a pub or restaurant for our independent evening meal.

Our first stop is the 5th-century Blarney Castle, famous for the Blarney Stone which is believed to bestow the "gift of gab" on those who kiss it. Our day continues to the Blarney Woolen Mills (where we can purchase a gorgeous heritage sweater!) and Adare, a picture-perfect village with pretty thatched cottages. We'll enjoy some free time in Adare before we stop for the evening in Limerick, which may have inspired the humorous verses of the same name. We'll enjoy our last evening together with a farewell dinner.

Our tour comes to an end after breakfast this morning.