The All Ireland - 6 Day Rail Tour

• Enjoy your Full Irish Breakfast at leisure. 
• You will be collected from your accommodation at 09:45am (or as directed by the Raintours Ireland Killarney representative) for your Ring of Kerry tour.
• There are plenty of stops along the Ring of Kerry for morning tea, lunch and taking photos, etc. Ireland’s highest mountains are located in Kerry and Carrauntouhil, which can be seen en route, is their highest peak, standing at 1041 meters. The tour will make a stop at the Kerry Bog Village Museum, which gives an insight into how people lived and worked in rural Ireland in the 18th century. The village is the only one of its kind in Europe. Later, on the approach to Waterville there are views (weather permitting) of the Skellig Rocks (islands), where Star Wars 'The Force Awakens' was recently filmed. The tour will make several photo stops, a stop for lunch and one final stop at the pretty village of Sneem, for about 30 minutes, or as directed by your tour leader.
• An essential part of any visit to Ireland, this tour circles the magnificent Macgillycuddy's Reeks and runs through its many passes and valleys along the shores of Dingle Bay and Kenmare Bay. There is an unspoiled nature to Ireland's most beautiful region and the Ring of Kerry provides many unforgettable memories as it passes through the many picturesque villages such as Glenbeigh, Waterville and Sneem and returns via Ladies View, the famous Lakes of Killarney and through the Oakwoods of Killarney's magnificent National Park. At the end of the tour you will be brought to the railway station at Killarney. 

• Enjoy your full Irish Breakfast at leisure. 
• 07:30am - Depart Killarney by road to Limerick to join the Bunratty Castle and Cliffs of Moher Tour.
• Arrive into Limerick where you will join your Railtours Ireland tour coach. Limerick has a population of about 90,000 and its city charter was granted in 1197AD, making it older than London! As you cross the river Shannon, which is Ireland’s longest river, you will see views of King John’s Castle to the right. The castle was completed in 1200 and marks the origins of the city. Limerick’s most famous author, Frank Mc Court, grew up here and used this place as the setting for his book, ‘Angela’s Ashes’. Limerick is also the birthplace of celebrated BBC radio DJ, Terry Wogan and Hollywood star, Richard Harris. You will pass the GAA grounds of Páirc na nGael – the home ground of County Limerick’s Hurling and Gaelic Football teams. Limerick is also the home of Irish Rubgy and you will pass Thomond Park, the Rugby stadium. After a brief city tour, travel onto Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. The castle was completed in 1425 and, after many years of neglect, has been restored to its former glory. There is also a folk park here which you will have time to explore.

After the visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk park we make our way to Co. Clare. There is a lunch stop at O’ Connor’s Pub in Doolin before arriving at the Cliffs of Moher, among the highest sea cliffs in Europe. There is plenty of time to visit Ireland’s second most popular tourist attraction and your host will advise you of the departure time. From here we take the coast road for much of the way to Galway, with time for photos along The Burren. This is a national park and the word Burren comes from the Irish Language, it means ‘rocky place’. It is a unique lunar landscape of limestone which was described in 1649 by one of Oliver Cromwell’s men as: “No tree to hang a man, no water deep enough to drown him and no soil deep enough to bury him”. Today the Burren is noted for its diverse Flora with few parallels elsewhere in Ireland or, indeed, Europe. We continue along the coast road to Black Head, passing the quaint coastal villages of Ballyvaughan and Kinvara before joining the main road to Galway. At the end of the day the coach will set you down at Eyre Square in the centre of Galway City adjacent to your hotel (and the railway station). You will be directed to your hotel by your host and your evening is free in Galway.

Visitor Attraction Admissions included: Bunratty Castle and Folk Park & The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience

• Enjoy your full Irish Breakfast, then check out of your hotel.
• 10:05am - Depart from Galway Train Station on your conducted tour of Connemara that leaves Galway to the village of Moycullen. From Moycullen, the road rises and falls towards the lovely village of Oughterard on the shores of Lough Corrib, traditionally regarded as Ireland’s premier angling center. Now the gateway to Connemara opens, and the breathtaking colors of this unspoiled countryside are revealed in all their natural splendor. At Maam Cross, the Connemara "crossroads", there is a replica of the cottage used in the 1950s John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara film "The Quiet Man", which was filmed here. From Maam Cross, your tour heads out to Leenane, Kylemore Abbey and Letterfrack, in the shadow of purple mountains rolling down to blue and green rocky valleys, reflecting the rich and varied colors of Connemara. There is a lunch break at Kylemore Abbey and Gardens, an 18th century castle now owned by the Benedictine nuns who run an excellent pottery, gift shop and restaurant here. Letterfrack is one of Ireland’s major national parks. The colorful town of Clifden has been one of Ireland's leading holiday resorts for generations. It is an excellent touring cente beloved by the walker, the biker, the hiker or the fisherman. It was here too, at Derrygimlagh Bog, near Clifden that aviation history was made when Alcock and Brown crash landed after their historic transatlantic flight in 1919.
• Back at Maam Cross again and the road turns southwards now through the Screeb, Costello and Rossaveal. Rossaveal is the departure point for ferryboats to the Aran Islands and is also a major fishing port. You are now in the Gaeltacht, or the Irish speaking area of Connemara, where Gaelic or Irish is still the everyday spoken language of all bilingual people.
• Your tour of Connemara heads homewards towards Galway City now, along the shores of Galway bay, through the Gaeltacht villages of Inverin and Spiddal and looking out across the blue waters of the Atlantic at the unique limestone of the Burren and the hills of Clare. After your day of touring you will be returned to Galway Station. Upon arriving at Galway Station please present your Railtours Ireland ticket and travel pack at the ticket barrier and you will be directed to your reserved seats on the train, where your host will be waiting for you.

Visitor Attraction Admissions included: Kylemore Abbey and Gardens.

Overnight Stay: Galway City Center

• Enjoy your full Irish Breakfast at Leisure.
• Depart Galway City for transfer to Inis Mór, the largest of the three Aran Islands. Irish is the spoken language on the Aran Islands, although the locals will be more than happy to speak to you in English. For many, the highlight of the tour is the formidable pre-Christian fort of Dún Aonghusa, with spectacular sea-cliffs on the western side and unspoilt views of the Atlantic Ocean. Transfer times may vary depending on the season.

Notes on Aran: Your tour of Inis Mór includes stops at 'Seven Churches' (15 minutes), Dún Aonghusa (75 minutes) and Kilronan for lunch (45 minutes).

Please note: Should weather conditions be such as to curtail transfer to the island you will be issued a refund for this portion of the tour. No further refund is available for any reason.

• Depart Galway to Dublin Heuston Station. Returning to Dublin Heuston at 09:45pm.
• Depending on your day of departure, tours on Day 4 and Day 5 may be reversed.

Overnight Stay: Dublin City Center

• Check in 20 minutes prior to departure for 07:35am train from Connolly Station. 
• Arrive into Belfast Central Station for 09:45am, where you will be met by your tour coach to continue on your journey along the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland’s Antrim Coast. Upon arrival, guests can see one of Belfast’s most well-known landmark, the two Harland & Wolfe Cranes which are nicknamed Samson and Goliath.
• Leaving Belfast, proceed to the town of Carrickfergus for a short photo-stop and take the coast road north from here. Further north, arrive at the fishing village of Carnlough, where the tour will stop for about 15 minutes. Continue on passing the coastal villages of Glenariff, Cushendall and Cushendun. There are stunning views of the sea to the right and the mountains or the Glens of Antrim to the left; you can even glimpse the Scottish coast on a clear day.
• Lunch stop is at Bushmills Distillery – lunch is not included and a tour of the distillery is not possible due to time restrictions.
• Your next stop is at the famous Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. Traditionally, fishermen erected the bridge to Carrick-a-Rede Island over a 23m-deep and 20m-wide chasm to check their salmon nets. Today, visitors are drawn here simply to take the rope bridge challenge!
• You will then head for Dunluce Castle for a photo stop, before arriving at the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where your tour will stop for about 2 hours. Leaving the Giant’s Causeway, head back to Belfast city to return to Dublin, arriving at 10:15pm (08:15pm in November - March).

Visitor Attraction Admissions included: Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.

Overnight Stay: Dublin City Center