The Best of Ireland

•   TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS! Journey through the wilds of Connemara at Ashford Castle, and get an up-close look at some of the world’s most spectacular coastal scenery on a drive along the Antrim Coast Road in Northern Ireland

Day 1: Arrive Shannon / Cliffs of Moher
A transfer is included from Shannon Airport to the Old Ground Hotel in the charming village of Ennis. Travel with us to the mighty Cliffs of Moher this afternoon, where towering, sheer head­land plummets into the Atlantic Ocean. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight, with local entertainment, at the hotel.
Overnight: Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, Ireland
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 14: Journey Home
Tour ends: The Westin Dublin. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Dublin to Dublin Airport. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 2: Dairy Farm and an Elizabethan mansion
Discover the importance of farming in the west of Ireland on a visit to a working dairy farm, which has been in the same family for generations; you’re invited inside their home for a light Irish lunch and some excellent stories! Then it’s on to Killarney and a visit to Muckross House, an Elizabethan-style mansion which was built in 1843. Set in Killarney National Park, the estate features distinguished 19th-century interiors; it is surrounded by magnificent gardens in a palette of sensational colors. Your accommodations for the next two nights are at Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa, one of Ireland’s most gracious hotels. Overlooking the Lakes of Killarney, Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa exudes the warmth of a country home – and every Tauck guest room gazes out upon Killarney’s incredibly beautiful landscapes.
Overnight: Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3: Irish life on the Dingle Peninsula
For anyone who saw the epic films "Ryan’s Daughter," or "Far and Away," the Ireland in your mind’s eye is forever framed by the wild, rugged, romantic coastal scenery of the Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry. First stop today is the hilly town of Dingle for a visit to the former Presentation Sisters convent and a look at the stained glass windows of famed artisan Harry Clarke. Spend some time as you please exploring Dingle (and its famous pubs), then travel to the tip of the Dingle Peninsula for a visit to the Blasket Centre and a look at the lost lifestyle, tradition and language of the unique Blasket Islanders. Completely Irish speaking, the residents of these remote islands off the Kerry coast produced an amazing amount of books in the early 20th century that depicted their isolated lifestyle. A return to Dingle brings the perfect ending to the day on the peninsula – a special evening of traditional Irish food, song and storytelling that gives yet another look at daily life in this remote part of western Ireland. Return in mid-evening to Killarney and your resort hotel.
Overnight: Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 4: Blarney / Waterford / Mt. Juliet
Journey to 15th-century Blarney Castle to see the famous Blarney Stone; legend has it that if you kiss the stone, you will be blessed with the gift of the gab. Next up is a visit to the city of Waterford and a tour of the new Waterford Crystal Visitors Centre for a look at the centuries-old story of Ireland’s famed glassware. Arrive early evening at Mount Juliet Hotel, in the heart of Kilkenny, where you’ll dine à la carte this evening.
Overnight: Mount Juliet Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 5: Kilkenny Antiquities, Country Living
You’ll discover that Ireland’s antiquities tell the tales of days gone by... and today’s visit to the ruins of the Cistercian Jerpoint Abbey introduces some remarkable medieval architectural artifacts. Take a guided walking tour of Kilkenny, world-renowned as a center for craft and design, for insights into the Black Abbey, Rothe House and Kilkenny Castle. Mount Juliet is one of Ireland’s finest sporting estates, and you’ll have an opportunity to take advantage of some outstanding leisure activities today.
Overnight: Mount Juliet Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 6: Connemara and the Gaelic Soul
Today’s travels take you to Galway, one of Ireland’s fastest growing cities, for lunch and a look around before entering the Connemara region, home to windswept mountains, bogland, sparkling lakes and the dramatic Atlantic coastline. Arrive in Spiddal for a special visit to Cnoc Suain. Overlooking mountains and sea, the cultural retreat provides an all-embracing, unique celebration of the preservation of Irish / Gaelic culture, embraced by warm hospitality. And fun! Arrive at Lough Corrib for a private boat cruise, then on to Ashford Castle; set on a 350-acre private estate along the shores of the lough, it ranks as one of the finest castle hotels in the world.
Overnight: Ashford Castle
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Kylemore Abbey / Ashford Castle
Today you’re off for some pretty amazing sightseeing in the wilds of Connemara. See a Gothic Revival lakeside castle, magnificent Kylemore Abbey on the shores of Kylemore Lough. A Benedictine abbey in World War I, it is now a girls’ boarding school. Return to Ashford Castle, where the remainder of the day is free to pursue some of the castle’s many outdoor activities. Dine à la carte tonight in one of the celebrated restaurants.
Overnight: Ashford Castle
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8: From Yeats to the Fermanagh Lakelands
Travel from Ashford Castle to Sligo to visit the final resting place of poet W. B. Yeats at Drumcliffe, then on to County Fermanagh. Following lunch, travel to Lough Erne Golf Resort, a waterside resort set on the shores of one of the world’s most beautiful lakes. Dine at the resort tonight.
Overnight: Lough Erne Golf Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9: Belleek China and resort leisure
One of Northern Ireland’s finest exports is the delicate Belleek Fine Parian China. A visit to Belleek Pottery takes you on a behind-the-scenes tour to meet and chat with the craftspeople who are utilizing many of the same techniques that have been used for centuries to create the intricate pieces. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy your resort.
Overnight: Lough Erne Golf Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 10: Derry / Giants Causeway
Leaving the lakelands behind, head north for a guided tour of the historic city of Derry, whose well-preserved city walls are some of the finest examples anywhere in Europe. Lunch at the Bushmills Inn is a real treat, the epitome of Irish hospitality! Your afternoon is spent on one of the world’s great drives along the Antrim Coast Road. Explore the Giants Causeway, Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site; over 40,000 perfectly symmetrical basalt columns lead from looming coastal cliffs to the sea, creating one of the world’s strangest geological formations. Arrive late afternoon just outside Belfast at the magnificent Culloden Estate.
Overnight: Culloden Estate and Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 11: Belfast / Ulster Folk & Transport
A tour with a local guide this morning presents a look at Belfast, past and present. Enjoy some time to explore on your own, then join us for a visit to the dockyards to see where one of history’s most famous ships, the Titanic, was built. You’ll learn a lot more about the Titanic on a visit to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, which also tells fascinating stories of land, air and sea transportation – including the DeLorean sports car! Spend the remainder day as you please on the estate.
Overnight: Culloden Estate and Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 12: Downpatrick / Dublin / Book of Kells
Your first visit today, to the Saint Patrick Centre, relays the story of Ireland’s patron saint in the countryside setting where he lived, and where he is buried. Travel to Dublin and take a guided walking tour that includes a visit to Trinity College, home to the Book of Kells. The rest of the day is free to experience a bit of Dublin. Nightlife in Dublin entices with traditional music and popular pubs.
Overnight: The Westin Dublin
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 13: Dublin Sights & Dublin Castle
Depart today for a guided tour through Dublin; travel down city streets lined with brick Georgian row houses that are famous for their intricate, glass-laced doorways. See Phoenix Park and St. Stephen’s Green; drive along bustling O’Connell Street and see the Lord Mayor’s residence, with a guided visit to the State Apartments at 13th-century Dublin Castle. Join us this evening for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner.
Overnight: The Westin Dublin
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
5/22/2012 - 6/5/2012	$6,490
5/29/2012 - 6/12/2012	$6,490
6/5/2012 - 6/19/2012	$6,490
6/7/2012 - 6/21/2012	$6,490
6/12/2012 - 6/26/2012	$6,490
6/19/2012 - 7/3/2012	$6,490
6/26/2012 - 7/10/2012	$6,490
7/3/2012 - 7/17/2012	$6,490
7/10/2012 - 7/24/2012	$6,490
7/17/2012 - 7/31/2012	$6,490
7/24/2012 - 8/7/2012	$6,490
7/31/2012 - 8/14/2012	$6,490
8/7/2012 - 8/21/2012	$6,490
8/14/2012 - 8/28/2012	$6,490
8/21/2012 - 9/4/2012	$6,490
8/28/2012 - 9/11/2012	$6,490
8/30/2012 - 9/13/2012	$5,690
9/4/2012 - 9/18/2012	$6,490
9/6/2012 - 9/20/2012	$6,490
9/11/2012 - 9/25/2012	$6,490
9/13/2012 - 9/27/2012	$6,490
9/18/2012 - 10/2/2012	$6,490
9/25/2012 - 10/9/2012	$6,490
10/2/2012 - 10/16/2012	$6,490
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
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.

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