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Ireland Discovery Tour (South)
This tour takes you on a journey of discovery along the spectacular Atlantic coasts and through the green and fertile heart of Ireland.
You will visit castles and great houses, museums and art galleries, ancient monasteries and fortresses, explore medieval cities and tiny villages, all in the company of a friendly and knowledgeable guide who will be happy to answer your questions.
Fully guided tour - 10 days - 9 nights
This tour can start on any date.
For more information and booking details, please use the tabs below.
Tour Overview Detailed Itinerary Price Guide How to Book
Ireland Discovery South
Your tour will be a private one, specially arranged for your party - you will not be joining a larger group. This means that should you require any customizations to the itinerary or any other aspect of the tour this can easily be arranged.
Tour Highlights
- Touring the scenic regions of Kerry, including the Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry
- A day spent touring beautiful West Cork, a part of Ireland few tour buses reach
- A visit to Kinsale, renowned as Ireland's gourmet capital.
- Exploring the winding streets and ancient buildings of Kilkenny City, the medieval capital of Ireland.
- Visits to the Waterford Crystal Factory and to the lovely riverside village of Inistioge.
- Majestic Connemara, with it's unique light beloved of artists and photographers and it's capital, Clifden.
- A step into a different world with a visit to the magical Aran Islands.
Your Accommodation
You will stay in 3 star hotels specially selected for their superior quality and service for 9 nights - 3 nights in Killarney, 1 night in Kinsale, 2 nights in Kilkenny, 2 nights in Galway, 1 night in Ennis. You can opt to upgrade to 4 star or 5 star accommodation in any or each location if you wish.
All accommodation is in rooms with private bathrooms and breakfast is included each morning.
Your Driver/Guide
Your guide will be an experienced driver with an impeccable safety record and will have an extensive knowledge of Ireland. More than that, all our guides are friendly, flexible and easy company, adept at dealing with any problems that may arise and at making sure their guests have the best possible experience at each place they visit. They are committed to making your trip an enjoyable and truly memorable one.
As well as providing guided tours each day, guides are happy to make suggestions about good places to eat out or about evening entertainment options and to make reservations for you also.
Transport
All our vehicles are recent Mercedes models, or others of equivalent standard, which are configured to maximise touring comfort and passenger space. Smaller parties will travel in a Mercedes E Class Sedan, others in Mercedes Sprinter vans or small coaches. All vehicles have air conditioning.
Detailed Itinerary
The itinerary assumes arrival to and departure from Shannon Airport. If that is not the case we can easily alter the running order to take account of your plans.
Day 1: Shannon - Limerick - Adare - Killarney
Visit the magnificent King John's Castle and the unique collection at the
Hunt Museum. Frank
McCourt fans can take a walking tour around some of the places mentioned in
his best-selling memoir "Angela's Ashes".
Adare, an estate village built by the Earl of Dunraven who lived at nearby Adare Manor, is famed for its pretty thatched cottages. At Muckross House in Killarney board a Jaunting Car (house and carriage) to travel the shores of Killarney's famous lakes.
Overnight in Killarney
Day 2: Dingle Peninsula Tour
Today we drive through some of the most stunning scenery in Ireland - and
on some of its narrowest roads! The fishing town of Dingle is a haven for
Irish music lovers, its narrow streets always lively with many pubs
restaurants and craft shops.
Just off Slea Head are the Blasket Islands, uninhabited since 1953 but visits can be arranged. Nearby Gallarus Oratory, shaped like an upturned boat, is over 1000 years old and still intact. The windmill at Blennerville (left) is one of only two remaining in Ireland and is visible for miles around.
Overnight in Killarney
Day 3: Ring of Kerry Tour
More breathtaking scenery today in a tour of this most famous of scenic routes. Not far from
Killarney at the start of today's tour are a group of Ogham stones.
Ogham is
believed to be the earliest form of writing and is clearly visible here.
“The Red Fox” pub in Kilorglin is famous for its Irish coffees; its owner is responsible for saving the Kerry bog pony from extinction and will be happy to show them to you. Near Sneem the ruins of Staige Fort, more than 3000 years old, are well worth a stop. Kenmare is a wonderfully situated town and a very good place to do a little shopping.
Overnight in Killarney
Day 4: West Cork Tour
West Cork is a fashionable holiday destination for wealthy people from all over
Europe, who prize it for its peace as well as beauty. As a result property here is
among the most expensive in Ireland.
Bantry House, overlooking Bantry Bay, was home to the local earls and is now open to the public. Just off the shore at Glengarriff, Garnish Ireland is a semi tropical garden, planned to avail of the unusually warm micro-climate in this area. The drive by Roaring Water Bay to Schull, Ballydehob and Mizen Head is one of the most spectacular in Ireland. We end our day in the charming fishing village of Kinsale (left), a renowned gourmet's paradise.
Overnight in Kinsale
Day 5: Kinsale - Cork - Blarney - Cobh - Cashel - Kilkenny
Cork is Ireland's second city and is a prosperous and busy port city. Kissing the famous stone at
Blarney Castle is
said to impart the gift of eloquence, but you must be suspended upside-down
to achieve it! Nearby Blarney Woollen Mills is probably the best place in Ireland to
purchase Irish clothing, gifts, glassware or pottery.
Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic and the point of departure for many Irish people emigrating to America. Cashel (left) is home to the magnificent "Rock" which dates back to 370AD and once the seat of the Kings of Munster.
Overnight in Kilkenny
Day 6: Kilkenny - Thomastown - Waterford - New Ross
Explore the narrow streets and
lanes of medieval Kilkenny (left) with its many historic buildings, including
Kilkenny Castle and St Canice's Cathedral - a guided walking tour of the city is
well worth while. The Cistercian Abbey of Jerpoint, close to Thomastown,
dates from 1158 and was one of the most important monastic settlements in
Ireland.
The port city of Waterford is famous for its Crystal Factory - a tour is highly recommended. We travel back to Kilkenny via New Ross, the birthplace of John F Kennedy's ancestors, and the charming village of Inistioge with its tree lined square.
Overnight in Kilkenny
Day 7: The Burren - Cliffs of Moher - Galway
The Burren covers 100 sq miles of lunar like rock with underground
rivers, caves, turloughs and ancient burial places, some dating back more
than 3000 years. At 800 feet above the Atlantic Ocean a walk along the Cliffs of Moher
(left) is a bracing experience. O'Connors Pub in nearby Doolin
is a mecca for traditional music.
Lisdoonvarna, home to an annual matchmaking festival, Ballyvaughan and the fishing village of Kinvara where a very old type of boat, the Currach, is still popular. The lively university city of Galway, capital of the West, is a great place for those who like a night on the town!
Overnight in Galway
Day 8: Connemara Tour
Close to Galway city centre is the old fishing village of "The Claddagh",
where the famous Claddagh ring originated. Connemara, an area of rugged landscape, bogs and mountains is known for
its clear light and unspoilt beauty.
The town of Clifden famous for its Connemara Ponies, a breed renowned for good looks and an even temperament, and was also the landing point for the first transatlantic flight. On the return trip through the Maam valley (left) you are likely to see locals harvesting turf, used as fuel, from the bog still using tools and methods a thousand years old.
Overnight in Galway
Day 9: Aran Islands Tour
The three
Aran
Islands are situated in Galway Bay and the ferry crossing
takes about 50 minutes depending on weather. The population of the three island is approximately 1000 with most of
those on the main Island, Inishmore. Gaelic is still spoken the older
people on the islands.
Dun Aenghus, on Inishmore, is one of the most spectacularly situated circular stone forts in Ireland, perched on the edge of the cliffs. All three islands are dotted with ruins of small churches, dolmens, and some beehive huts.
Overnight in Ennis
Day 10: Galway - Limerick - Shannon
Today's activities will be determined by departure times. For those with late flights it is a good opportunity to linger in Galway,
see any places that were missed on the earlier visit to Limerick or to
spend a few hours at Bunratty Castle (left) and Folk Park, which is very close
to Shannon Airport.
We will be at your service right up to your departure, when it will be time for you to say farewell - not goodbye! - to Ireland and head home with some wonderful memories. Come back soon!
Price Guide for the Ireland Discovery tour (south)
Important Note:
Because your tour will be specially created for your party, and only your party, it can be customized as much or a little as you wish.
This means that it is not possible to give an exact price before we discuss your specific requirements.
If your party is larger or smaller or you wish to alter the duration of the tour, change the accommodation class, or make other changes, this will have an effect on price.
Guide Price: €2200 per person, based on four adults travelling together.
The price includes:
- Accommodation for 9 nights in specially selected and good quality 3 star hotels.
- Breakfast each morning of your tour
- Transport throughout your tour in a Mercedes vehicle (or equivalent), specially configured for comfortable touring
- The exclusive services of an experienced driver/guide for 10 days
- Guided tours on each day of your trip
- A meet and greet service plus transfers to and from the airport
- All petrol costs, road tolls and applicable taxes.
- Booking service and advice about dining and entertainment
The Price does not include:
- Travel to and from Ireland
- Travel Insurance
- Gratuities
- Meals other than breakfast unless specified
Send a Booking Enquiry
Please use the form below to send us an enquiry about booking the Ireland Discovery Tour (South).
Note: Because your tour will be customised just for your party, we need to discuss the details of your tour with you before providing you with a final price or making a confirmed booking.
