Collette > Authentic Ireland

Authentic Ireland
12 Days starting from $2,099

Countries Visited:
Ireland

 

Length: 12 Days
Type: First Class Tour
Category: Europe Tour
Operator: Collette
Tour Code: 3507
   
 
 
 
About This Tour


Highlights include Dublin, Westport, Killary Harbor Cruise, Galway, The Burren, Dingle Peninsula, Irish National Theatre, Kinsale and more. ...
 
  • What's Included
  • Itinerary
  • Dates & Prices
  • Sightseeing
  • Details
  • SPECIALS

Enjoy the services of a professional tour manager who accompanies you throughout your trip.

Private transportation via a deluxe, climate-controlled motorcoach

Meals: 10 Breakfast(s),1 Lunch(es), 7 Dinner(s)

Hotel Accommodations:
Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service charges
DUBLINMespil Hotel
WESTPORTAtlantic Coast Hotel
GALWAYArdilaun Hotel
TRALEEMeadowlands Hotel
KINSDALEActons Hotel
DUNBOYNEDunboyne Castle Hotel

On some dates alternate hotels may be used.

Complimentary hotel-to-hotel baggage handling.
Day 1
Overnight Flight
Begin your discovery of “Authentic Ireland,” and delve into the ancient and contemporary history, culture and scenic wonders of Ireland.

Day 2
Dublin, Ireland - Tour Begins
Your tour begins today in Dublin. Start your exploration of Ireland with a delightful panoramic sightseeing tour of Dublin. See O’Connell Street, Grafton Street, Trinity College and Dublin’s magnificent rows of Georgian town homes. The afternoon is at leisure, allowing you to further explore Dublin’s cultural riches. Tonight, meet your fellow travelers at The Brazen Head, Dublin’s oldest pub, for a traditional Irish meal and an entertaining discussion on Irish folklore.

Day 3
Dublin - Croagh Patrick - Westport
Depart Dublin, traveling through central Ireland to Strokestown Park. A guided visit of the park features the restored 18th-century Georgian mansion and 4-acre pleasure garden with its famous herbaceous border, as well as the Famine Museum, which documents the hardships experienced by tenant farmers during the Great Irish Famine. Continue to the base of Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s Holy Mountain, where Saint Patrick fasted for 40 days in 441 AD. Learn about this pilgrimage site at the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre and see the nearby National Famine Monument. Overnight in the “heritage town” of Westport.

Day 4
Westport
This morning, enjoy a guided walking tour of Westport. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore Westport and its environs at your own pace. You may wish to return to nearby Croagh Patrick for a hike to its summit, plan an exciting cruise on Clew Bay where you can discover some of its 365 islands, or visit the Westport House and Park where you can explore this lovely manor house and its grounds. An optional guided excursion is available to nearby Achill Island.

Day 5
Westport - Killary Harbor - Galway
Enjoy a delightful day of sightseeing in the Gaelic-speaking Connemara region, known for its sweeping views of boglands, misty mountains and picturesque seaside villages where the locals maintain their Irish language and traditional lifestyles. Enjoy a delightful cruise* on Killary Harbor, the only fjord in all of Ireland. Next, visit the 19th-century Kylemore Abbey, home of Benedictine nuns. Continue to Spiddal where you will visit an Irish craft village featuring handicrafts including traditional instruments, jewelry, woodturning and Irish language-themed items. Your day ends in the lovely city of Galway.

Day 6
Galway - Aran Islands - Galway
This morning, a brief panoramic tour introduces “The City of Tribes.” Spend some free time exploring Galway’s lively pedestrian area. Then, step back in time with a visit to the Aran Islands. Following a quick ferry ride, a guided sightseeing tour introduces the rich language, culture and heritage of this unique region. A visit is included to the prehistoric hill fort, Dun Aengus, situated against dramatic sea cliffs.

Day 7
Galway - Limerick - Tralee
This morning, travel through the vast limestone landscape of the Burren, known for its stark beauty and Neolithic tombs. Visit Dysert O’Dea Castle and the Dysert O’Dea Archeology Trail, containing ruins that date back 3,000 years - including Romanesque churches, high crosses, tower houses, stone and earthen forts and holy wells. Your exploration of western Ireland continues with a panoramic tour of Limerick showcasing King John''s Castle and Treaty Stone. Learn about the fascinating history of the "city of the violated treaty." Your journey ends in Tralee, renowned for its annual international beauty pageant, the Rose of Tralee, where all girls of Irish decent are eligible for the title. Tonight, relax by the fire during a Gaelic lecture followed by traditional Irish story telling.

Day 8
Tralee - Dingle Peninsula - Tralee
Travel one of the most majestic coastal routes in the world, the Dingle Peninsula. Spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean await you along the 32 mile Slea Head drive. See charming coastal villages such as Ventry, Dunquin and Ballyferriter. In the distance you will see the once inhabited Blasket Islands. Learn about the Blasket islanders and their unique literary achievements during a tour of the Blasket Island Centre.

Day 9
Tralee - Skibbereen - Kinsale
This morning, travel through one of the loveliest portions of the Ring of Kerry and the pretty town of Kenmare. Continue to a farm house in the historic town of Skibbereen on Ireland’s south coast where you will enjoy a cooking demonstration focusing on Ireland’s contemporary “Slow Cooking” movement. Of course you’ll get to sample the cook’s creation during a home cooked lunch. This afternoon, enjoy a guided eco-tour of Lough Hyne salt water marine lake and nature reserve. Discover the unique life forms that reside here in Ireland’s only salt pond. End your day in the magnificent town of Kinsale, Ireland’s culinary capital, known for its fresh seafood.

Day 10
Kinsale
Enjoy a full day experiencing the charms of Kinsale. Begin your day with a locally guided tour of the town, including a stop at Charles Fort. Your afternoon is free to relax or perhaps enjoy one of the local pubs or superb restaurants. Explore the unique art galleries, antique shops and boutiques.

Day 11
Kinsale – Rock of Cashel - Kildare - Dunboyne
Depart the south coast today and head to the Rock of Cashel for a visit to the historic spot where St. Patrick preached and, as legend has it, rid the Emerald Isle of snakes. Continue to County Kildare to visit the Irish National Stud. The tradition of pedigree horse breeding dates back centuries in this region. Your visit includes a guided tour of this historic home to the world''s finest thoroughbred horses, as well as the Japanese Garden. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner with your traveling companions in the village of Dunboyne just outside of Dublin.

Day 12
Dunboyne - Tour Ends
Your tour ends today in Dunboyne.


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.
         
Touring Date
Land Only
Land + Air
Single
(Land Only)
Single
(Land + Air)
9/27/2008 - 10/8/2008
$2,299
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11/1/2008 - 11/12/2008
$2,099
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3/14/2009 - 3/25/2009
$2,099
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5/2/2009 - 5/13/2009
$2,499
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6/13/2009 - 6/24/2009
$2,549
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8/22/2009 - 9/2/2009
$2,649
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9/26/2009 - 10/7/2009
$2,549
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10/10/2009 - 10/21/2009
$2,449
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3/6/2010 - 3/17/2010
$2,349
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4/17/2010 - 4/28/2010
$2,449
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Package Notes:
*Killary Harbor Cruise is included from April through October only and is reflected in the tour price.
*Siamsa Tire is included from May through September only and is reflected in the tour price.
Single accommodations are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis.
Itineraries include many activities and may consist of walking on uneven terrain or significant walking at times. Some of the most unique sightseeing can mean accessing locations that restrict motorcoaches, especially in historic areas. For your comfort, we recommend bringing walking shoes.
Days of features are interchangeable.
Collette air passengers will arrive into and depart from the Dublin, Ireland airport. All Collette transfers will depart from Dunboyne for the Dublin airport.
Multiple night stays in Ireland’s premier resort destinations of Westport and Kinsale.

Visit the 19th century Kylemore Abbey, home of the Benedictine order of nuns in Ireland.

Travel one of the most majestic coastal routes in the world, the Dingle Peninsula.

Irish country life comes alive with a performance at Siamsa Tire*, Ireland’s national folk theater.

Tour the epicenter of Irish horse breeding, the Irish National Stud, in Kildare.
Package Notes:
*Killary Harbor Cruise is included from April through October only and is reflected in the tour price.
*Siamsa Tire is included from May through September only and is reflected in the tour price.
Single accommodations are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis.
Itineraries include many activities and may consist of walking on uneven terrain or significant walking at times. Some of the most unique sightseeing can mean accessing locations that restrict motorcoaches, especially in historic areas. For your comfort, we recommend bringing walking shoes.
Days of features are interchangeable.
Collette air passengers will arrive into and depart from the Dublin, Ireland airport. All Collette transfers will depart from Dunboyne for the Dublin airport.

CURRENT SPECIALS:

Save $100 USD on 9/27/08 departure!*

Call an agent to see if this special is still available 1-800-942-3301.  NOTE: Tour prices are lead-in land only rates based on double occupancy. Please call for triple or child occupancy rates. Taxes and fees are additional for tours that feature a cruise; port taxes are not included in the prices shown. Some dates may feature various changes in hotels, sightseeing and inclusions. Please confirm your specific itinerary at the time of booking. Airfare is additional and is available through Collette Vacations.


   
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