Ireland Tours - Full Circle Private Escorted or Self Drive

Dublin City Sightseeing Day

On your second day in Dublin, you might want to enjoy some sightseeing in Ireland’s vibrant capital city. Don’t miss the Guinness Store house for the history of the famous pint of stout, Trinity College for the Book of Kells, Temple Bar  for the pubs and people watching, or Dublinia museum for the history of the Vikings in Dublin. Ireland Luxury Travel can make dinner reservations, give pub recommendations and/or suggestions for great traditional Irish evening entertainment.

Dublin to Waterford via Wicklow and Wexford

Your private driver guide will meet you in your hotel this morning. Alternatively,  you can collect your car hire and head south out of the city. There are a few optional routes you can choose from and Ireland Luxury Travel can discuss options with you. Some highlights include: a drive through Co. Wicklow with a stop at the beautiful Glendalough Lake and medieval monastic church. Continue en route through Co. Wexford and choose between Hook lighthouse (oldest working lighthouse in the world), Johnstown Castle (once home of the Fitzgerald Family), Dunbrody Famine ship (learn of the emigrants' sad and inspiring stories) or the Kennedy Homestead (home of JFK’s family ancestors) in New Ross. Or drive straight to Waterford with a great stop in Kilkenny town for lunch and shopping. Continuing on to Waterford were you can visit the House of  Waterford Crystal visitor’s center and enjoy a private tour. Finally, arrive at your Waterford hotel and enjoy some fine dining and great views while you unwind. 

Waterford to Cork - Copper Coast to Kinsale

After a morning coastal stroll, get into your car and head along the Copper Coast road into Co. Cork. Stop in Middleton’s Jameson Experience and discover the making of Irish whiskey. Carry on to the pretty seaside town of Cobh and visit the Titanic Museum to learn about life on board the famous vessel. This seaside town was the ship’s last stop before its maiden voyage. Carry on to the small fishing village of Kinsale, now a lively foodie mecca and the first stop on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way. Here, you will stay and soak up one of Ireland’s most beautiful little towns.

Cork City Sightseeing

After a late breakfast (or an early one and a round of golf at the picturesque Old Head Golf course), drive to Cork, Ireland’s second oldest city, which has kept its traditional feel while embracing the trendy youthful vibe. Expect Snug pubs, live music, local food produce and friendly people, all within a compact walking distance.

Cork to Kerry - Wild Atlantic Way

Make an early start and head along the first stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way from Kinsale to the tiny fishing village of Baltimore. Learn about piracy and the way of life of the old Irish Clans in the Baltimore Castle visitor center. Experience an exclusive private tour by the owners of the castle, who have a vast knowledge on local and Irish history. Weather allowing, go on a whale watching boat trip or sea safari. Continue on the coastal road and head for the beautiful Cork & Kerry mountains. Stop at the 18th Century Bantry House and visit the ancestral home of the Earls of Bantry, where their descendants still own and live. Head over the mountains and enjoy the view! Settle into your luxurious Kerry hotel and relax after your long day.

Kerry - Killarney National Park

Relax today and make a slow start. Go for a swim or spa and unwind. Take a stroll through Killarney town or visit the picturesque Killarney national park on a horse and buggy. A visit to Ross Castle and a short boat trip on the lakes are all a must do. Take the guided tour of Muckross House, all very near your hotel and no long drives.

Kerry - Ring of Kerry

Today, you will drive through the world famous Ring of Kerry. Experience the raw beauty of 179 km (111 miles) of the country’s most scenic peninsula routes round the Iveragh Peninsula in southwest Ireland’s County Kerry. The combination of rugged sea, spectacular mountains and small traditional villages will not fail to impress. Skellig Michael, a rocky island with an abandoned 7th-century Christian monastery, is a major destination point. The spectacular views are world famous. Ireland Luxury Travel can help you plan your day and get to see the real County Kerry. Ireland Luxury Travel will suggest a private guided walking guide to bring you off the beaten path and help you discover the archaeological  sites and the wonderful wildlife of Kerry. 

Kerry - Dingle Peninsula

The second of the Kerry peninsulas, Dingle, is yet another beautiful drive. This remote place steeped in history offer stunning views and sightseeing opportunities. The area is a “Gaeltacht” region where people speak the Irish language as their first language. Stop in Dingle town for a fish lunch and some shopping. Ireland Luxury Travel will include pub and restaurant recommendations for Dingle town and make reservations for you where needed. Stay in the town and experience the nightlife of one of Ireland's best small towns.

Kerry to Galway

This morning, head out of Kerry towards Co. Limerick. Visit the restored Bunratty Castle to experience castle life in medieval Ireland. Drive out to the coast and through the Burren, a rocky nature reserve, which is home to unique flora and fauna and many archaeological sites. Head for the coast and the awesome Cliffs of Moher. The magnificent Cliffs are the top of the list of sights to see in Ireland. Soaring 702 ft above the sea cliffs boast a fantastic view. Definitely a highlight, with some great places to stay from fabulous 5* castle hotels to sea view boutique guesthouses.

Galway City Sightseeing

See Galway and take a guided tour to discover this colorful city. Galway has a fascinating trading history, as it was the principal Irish port for trade with Spain and France in the middle ages. The city is famous for its pubs and restaurants and you can expect to experience some traditional music and fun.

Galway - Aran Islands

Depending on the weather today (Irish weather is unpredictable!), you might want to take a day trip to Inishmore, the biggest of the Aran Islands. Take a bike across the island to Dun Aonghasa, a semi circle stone fort overlooking the Atlantic. This famous archaeological site has had people living there since 1500BC. The island is definitely worth a visit. 

Galway to Mayo

This leg of the route can be broken down into two or three days. It all depends on your time. All destinations are stunning, however, some highlights are: 1) scenic Connemara landscape, 2) Achill Island, 3) Mayo's North West Coastline.

Firstly, Connemara is a rocky plateau both scenic and beautiful. Enjoy quiet roads winding around lakes and barren hills. Head for Clifden and on to the Sky road, taking in the rugged Atlantic sea views. Watch the kite surfers on the waves and take a walk on a windswept beach. Other highlights include Connemara National Park and Kylemore Abbey, founded by Benedictine nuns fleeing Belgium in World War 1.

Achill Island is a remote and rugged island where the Atlantic sea and prevailing winds rush to meet you. Pub lunches and beach walks are a must. You can explore the region by bike on the beautiful Mayo Greenway. This specially designated off road bike path spanning 43 km from Westport town to Achill Island has magnificent views all along the safe , off-road path. This experience is suitable for children and adults alike.

And finally, the North west coast of Mayo can be explored at an easy pace with outstanding vistas at every point. A great highlight is the award winning Ceide Fields archaeological site and visitor center. Enjoy the stunning views and the oldest known field system in the world! At over five and a half thousand years old, the site was preserved in acidic bogland, a must for history lovers.

Mayo to Donegal

Take in some more coastal sights of County Sligo. Start by making your way to Downpatrick Head, the home to ruins of a church, holy well and stone cross, which together mark the site of an earlier church founded by St Patrick. The views are outstanding. Back in the car, head around Killala Bay, take a stroll through Ballina town on the banks of the River Moy, or, alternatively, through Belleek Woodlands for a peaceful nature experience. Heading along the coast road, see the Mullaghmore Head. This is a paradise for surfers with a passion for gigantic 'prowler' waves. The westerly winds and rugged coastline create the perfect environment for huge rolling seas. Surfing schools are dotted up the coastline so if you want to get in on the action, take a lesson or two! Don't miss the view of the Benbulben mountain, Ireland's 'Table Mountain', which was formed as a result of the different responses to erosion of the limestone and shale of which the mountain is formed. Continue on towards your luxury Donegal accommodation to rest after your wild Atlantic Way drive.

Donegal - Donegal day coastal drive - 1 - 3 Days Touring

Travel around county Donegal and take in the stunning Malin Head (the most northern tip of Ireland), Fanad Head, Glenveagh National Park and Slieve League cliffs. The route is approximately 557 km (346 miles) so pick your highlights or take a second and third day, if time allows, as the vast rugged coastline is not to be missed. Highlights include the Slieve League cliffs, standing 600 m tall (1968 ft), which are said to be the highest and most stunning sea cliffs in Europe. No trip to Donegal is complete without exploring its miles of golden, sandy beach. One particular highlight is Ballymastocker Bay, voted the second most beautiful beach in the world by Observer Magazine. Don’t forget to pick up a Donegal Tweed blanket in the Donegal woolen mills. Visit the small towns and villages, castles and pubs. Donegal is vast and varied and Ireland Luxury Travel can pick out the best for you, tailored to your interests.

Donegal to Antrim

Drive to the famous Giant’s Causeway and take in the stunning views. TV sensation Game of Thrones was filmed in Antrim. The locations, stunning in their own right, have now been made more famous due to the Hollywood connection. See the TV locations Dark Hedges (Game of Thrones' Kings Road) and Dunluce Castle on your route along the beautiful coastline. Visit the oldest whiskey distillery in Ireland, Bushmills Distillery, and take a stroll through the small village of Bushmills. Why not take in a seaside round of golf on the Royal Portrush golf course, one of Northern Ireland’s best and most challenging links golf courses.

Finally, the site not to be missed! The world famous Giant's Causeway. Arguably one of the most unusual geological features in Ireland, the stunning hexagon shaped rocky headland was formed by an ancient molten lava eruption. Our private guide will bring you along the sea cliffs  towards the famous headland. Enjoy the amazing views and local knowledge. A great way to experience one of Ireland's natural wonders!

Belfast City Sightseeing

Head for Belfast and explore the city's sights. Don't miss the Titanic Experience Visitor Center. This award winning complex is outstanding, and one of the best history and culture museums you might ever visit! Relive the fateful voyage of the infamous vessel, the Titanic. Explore the port complex and discover what life was like for the ship builders and passengers alike. Other Belfast highlights include the St. George's Food Market, the Botanic Gardens and, of course, the underlying troubled history of this small but colorful city. Ireland Luxury Travel will arrange a local tour guide to drive you through the streets of Belfast and help paint the picture of what life was like for the people of Belfast through the "troubles" and how much they have healed since peace.

Belfast to Dublin - Explore the Boyne Valley

First visit Newgrange (c 3,200 B.C.), the best-known monument of the World Heritage Site of Brú na Bóinne, predating the ancient pyramids by 400 years and Stonehenge by 1000. Visit the fantastic Visitor Center for a doze of history and lore. Travel to Monasterboice (an early Christian site with a round tower and 10th Century High Cross) and the Hill of Tara (seat of the high kings of Ireland) or Trim Castle (the largest Anglo- Norman castle in Ireland and part of "Braveheart’s" film set. Settle into your hotel outside Dublin for a good night sleep before your flight home. 

Home

Your airport transfer will take you on the 40 min drive to the airport for your journey home.