Home > Itineraries > A Taste of Ireland
A Taste of Ireland
This tour is perfect for those with a relatively short time to spend in Ireland. Starting
in Dublin, it visits some of Ireland's top attractions and most beautiful and
historic places before it ends in Shannon after 6 action-packed days.
Just because it is short doesn't mean you will feel rushed. The tour is carefully designed to ensure you get the most from your trip but also have time to really appreciate the places we visit. This is also a perfect tour to add on following an independent stay in Dublin.
Fully guided tour - 6 days - 5 nights
This tour can start on any date.
For more information and booking details, please click on the tabs below.
Tour Overview Detailed Itinerary Price Guide How to Book
A Taste of Ireland
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. You can add additional days, change the start or finish location, allow time for a game of golf - it's your tour, so the choice is yours.
Tour Highlights
- A tour of Wicklow, the Garden of Ireland, including the ancient monastic settlement at Glendalouh
- Exploring the winding streets and ancient buildings of Kilkenny City, the medieval capital of Ireland.
- Visits to Cashel, seat of Ireland's high Kings, and a chance to kiss the Blarney stone!
- Touring the scenic regions of Kerry, including the Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry
- The mystical and beautiful Burren region, with a walk along the Cliffs of Moher
- A might in Galway, the vibrant capital of the West famous for its traditional music.
Your Accommodation
You will stay in 3 star hotels specially selected for their superior quality and service for 5 nights - 1 night stays in each of Kilkenny, Kinsale, Killarney, Limerick and Galway.
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 in Dublin 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 (Option 1): Dublin City Tour - Kilkenny
You can opt to-day to tour Dublin City or take the alternative tour via Wicklow if you have already spent time in the capital. Among the most
popular attractions in Dublin are Dublin Castle,
St Patrick's Cathedral, Christchurch Cathedral, Trinity
College, Marsh's Library and the Custom House.
After a day touring the city we will whisk you to Kilkenny in time for a relaxing evening in your hotel to recover from your journey.
Overnight in Kilkenny
Day 1 (Option 2): Wicklow - Powerscourt - Glendalough - Avova - Kilkenny
Powerscourt Gardens are among
the finest formal gardens in Ireland, with a famous waterfall as well as over 40 acres of
formal and informal gardens. The monastic settlement of Glendalough
was founded by St Kevin in 498 AD with the famous 110 ft high tower dating
from about 1000 years later.
Avondale House in nearby Rathdrum was home to Charles Stewart Parnell, leader of the Home Rule Party in the early 1880's. The beautiful Vale of Avoca has a tradition in gold and copper mining some remnants of which can be seen in the countryside. The village is now home to Avoca Handweavers, who produce a unique range of woollen goods and where an exhibition of hand looming and weaving can be seen.
Overnight in Kilkenny
Day 2: Kilkenny - Cashel - Blarney - Cobh - Middleton - Kinsale
Spend the morning strolling around the streets of medieval Kilkenny and its many historic buildings before heading to Cashel, once the seat of the Kings of Munster. Kissing the famous stone at
Blarney Castle may (or may not!) impart the gift of eloquence but you must be suspended upside-down to try it!
Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic and also the point of departure for many Irish people who emigrated to America. A visit to the commemorative exhibition in the restored railway station is highly recommended. At the Old Midleton Distillery visitors learn the story of Irish Whiskey with the aid of some magnificent artefacts of the industrial age, including a 40 foot water wheel.
Overnight in Kinsale
Day 3: West Cork - Ring of Kerry
Close to Clonakilty at the start of today's tour is the Drombeg
Stone Circle, one of the finest of its kind in existence and dating back
to 150 BC. 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.
Kenmare has been voted one of the best places to retire in the world, it is a lovely town and a great place to shop for gifts. Next comes the climb towards Moll's Gap, high in the mountains and with spectacular views down to the sea. At the end of today's tour we pass the famous Lakes of Killarney, with wonderful scenery that has long inspired artists and poets.
Overnight in Killarney
Day 4: Dingle Tour - Adare - Limerick
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.
Adare with its pretty thatched cottages and extravagant flower displays is a perfect example of an estate village and was developed by the Earls of Dun raven who lived at Adare Manor, now an highly rated hotel.
Overnight in Limerick
Day 5: Bunratty - The Burren - Cliffs of Moher - Kinvara - Galway
Bunratty Castle and the adjoining folk park, with reconstructions of typical
rural dwellings, including a full village, is well worth seeing. 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 is a bracing experience and will certainly give you an appetite for lunch! In the fishing village of Kinvara a very old type of boat, the Currach, is still popular; currach races are held regularly in the Summer months. 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 6 - Departure
Today's activities will be determined by departure times. For those with late flights from Shannon it is a good opportunity to tour
South Galway and stop off in Ennis. If you are leaving from Dublin we will return there to-day,
with stops at places of interest along the way as time permits.
In either case we will be with you right up to your time of departure. We hope you will take home happy memories of your time in Ireland - and that you will be back to visit again soon!
Price Guide for the Taste of Ireland
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: €1325 per person, based on four adults travelling together.
The price includes:
- Accommodation for 5 nights in specially selected superior 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 15 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 Taste of Ireland Tour.
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.
