The last 3 trips
included also Iceland and was a 14-day trip. We decided
to skip Iceland this time around in exchange for additional
time in both Ireland and Scotland which will also make for
a more relaxing trip.
We fly from LAX to Dublin
via JFK. In the wake of a remarkable economic boom, Dublin's
landscape has changed immeasurably over the past decade.
These days Dublin ranks among the top tourist destinations
in Europe, and this vibrant city hums with a palpable sense
that it is creating a new cultural heritage. The city's
burst of prosperity gave it a new confident sheen, but what
remains special is the spirit of the people who ensure that,
despite whirlwind changes, Dublin remains one of Europe's
most down-to-earth, friendly and accessible cities. Voted
by Frommers Guide readers in 2011 as their favourite holiday
destination in the world, it’s now your turn to uncover
the mystique and charm of the Emerald Isle. A bustling metropolis
alive with entertaining cultural pursuits, fine museums,
beautiful architecture and lively pubs, Dublin offers something
for everyone. Castles, galleries, cathedrals, parks, shopping,
fine dining – Dublin has it covered.
ITINERARY:
These are the optional tours that we offered on our
last trip. They have a separate cost to cover the bus and
guide and to give our travelers the freedom of opting only
for the tours they are most interested in.
IRELAND
WICKLOW AND
GLENDALOUGH
Today
we'll enjoy a wonderful scenic day starting with our drive
from Dublin into the heart of Wicklow's stunning countryside
The stops on our tour will include the Powerscourt Estate
where we will explore the gardens of the estate including
the Italian gardens, Japanese gardens and pet cemetery.
This is one of the most visited tourist destinations in
Ireland. We will also visit Powerscourt Waterfall, the highest
waterfall in Ireland.
We'll visit the pretty Wicklow village of Avoca (where the
famous TV show, Ballykissangel was filmed). Leisure time
at Avoca (60 minute stop) where you can drop into Fitzgerald's
pub for a pint of Guinness. Visit the famous Handweaver's
craft shop, considered the oldest weaving mill in Ireland
From there we'll visit the 6th century monastic settlement
in Glendalough (105 minute stop). Enjoy a guided tour of
this mystical site. See the famous 10th century Round Tower
and St Kevin's Kitchen. Enjoy the fresh country air of the
Wicklow Mountains Glendalough is famed for its beautiful
scenery and historic monuments, but has also been a centre
for pilgrims and visitors from the time of St. Kevin, (from
whom the bus service took its name).
KILKENNY
Once
the capital of Ireland in the middle-ages, Kilkenny is renowned
for its magnificent Norman Castle dating back to 12th century.
With its narrow street and colorful shops and buildings,
Kilkenny is unique as a city and a mecca for those who choose
to visit. You will have plenty of time to enjoy a pint of
Kilkenny in Kilkenny. Kilkenny's rich medieval heritage
is evident in the city's treasure trove of historical buildings
and landmarks, exemplified by the magnificent Kilkenny Castle.
Kilkenny is arguably the pre-eminent medieval city in Ireland,
with the current layout of the city clearly grounded in
the city's medieval roots. However,
the city's origins predate the medieval landmarks existing
today. Saint Canice founded a monastic settlement in Kilkenny
in the sixth century, unfortunately the sole remaining landmark
from this settlement is the round tower positioned alongside
the cathedral.
We will depart
Dublin and at the end of this tour bring the group to our
next destination on the west coast, the town of Lisdoonvarna
where we will spend the next 2 nights.
Tour of Brú
na Bóinne in County Meath, a site that is older
than England’s Stonehenge and Egypt’s Giza Pyramids. This
Neolithic site of henges, standing stones and burial chambers
was built around 3,200 B.C., and is highlighted by several
large passage tombs: Knowth, Dowth and Newgrange.
Visit
the Rock of
Cashel (also known as St. Patrick’s Rock) in County
Tipperary. Dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, this
formidable fortress boasts a round tower, cathedral and
chapel bearing priceless Celtic art and medieval architecture.
BELFAST
Today
we will be moving on to Belfast in the north. This great
city blossomed from very humble beginnings… It started
out as a small hamlet with fertile land along the mouth
of the Lagan. Soon, marauders and pirates realised our lough
was deep and our shores were safe from the north Atlantic
storms. The perfect haven for repairing sea ravaged ships.
From these early stages the industrious locals developed
a boat building trade. And the rest is our history.
So what’s
Belfast like today? Well, it’s packed with history,
culture, exciting events, great food, super shopping…
you might even spot a ship or two. You’ll also find
some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. One
of the more interesting tours that we will offer is the
Titanic Visitor
Experience. Only in Belfast can you trace the Titanic
story to its source, discover the passion and pride of those
who designed and built her and relive the excitement of
the Titanic era when the city was at the height of its powers.
This is the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience,
Titanic Belfast. Come and share the moment with us!
SCOTLAND
BELFAST TO
EDINBURGH
Today we will
take a luxury and very stable ferry from Belfast across
the North Channel to Scotland where we will be met by our
motorcoach for our trip to Edinburgh where we will spend
the next 4-nights. At our hotel we are giving everyone their
own room due to a lack of rooms with separate beds. If you
are able to share a room you and your roommate will deduct
$90 per person.
Scotland is home
to a relatively diverse terrain, complete with tall mountains,
several islands, sea-side cliffs, and lush forests. Possessing
vibrant and modern cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow,
it manages to successfully combine these two contrasting
sides. It holds a rural backdrop of awe inspiring scenery,
villages and towns of unique local history and culture all
the while possessing a modern and young urban landscape
with cities of the calibre of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen
that can rival the best in Europe. There's plenty of adventure,
whether you want to bash downhill on a mountain bike, hurl
yourself off a bungee or take on the Atlantic surf in a
kayak Scotland is one of the world’s top adventure playgrounds.
It's got wildlife with huge eagles and stately stags on
land and basking sharks, dolphins and even killer whales
at sea. Scotland’s seven cities – Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen,
Dundee, Inverness, Stirling and new city Perth- all have
their own charms and each is worth a trip on its own. Scotland
is also home to an impressive five UNESCO World Heritage
sites – Edinburgh’s Old and New Town, Orkney’s Prehistoric
Sites, Hadrian’s Wall, St. Kilda and New Lanark.
EDINBURGH
CASTLE
Our hotel is an easy 15 minute walk to this iconic castle
which is a must see. We will not need a bus or a guide.
I have set up a reservation for our entire group for this
morning. The afternoon is free and all the other interesting
sights are an easy walk. The city itself is like a museum
so enjoy your free time.
ST ANDREWS
AND THE HIGHLANDS
Today
we will visit Highlands, featuring Scotland's most characteristic
and romantic scenery. Visit the university town of St Andrews
on this private trip. Famous for being the 'home of golf,'
St Andrews is known for attractions like the Old Course
and Swilcan Bridge, part of St Andrews' prestigious golf
legacy and not to be missed. which you'll see on this tour
with a private guide. Walk around town and enjoy time to
buy lunch and shop a bit, if you like.
We are setting
up options to play a round on the Putting Club Course, probably
better known to visitors from around the world as The Himalayas
which is an ap
t
description for this unique facility found in St Andrews,
the home of golf. We are also setting up a 50 minute guided
walk of the Old Course There is the option to have your
photo taken on the Swilcan Bridge. You can also visit the
British Golf Museum or the Castle ruins and Cathedral (own
expense). Before stopping at the Old Course you will be
given a short driven tour around St Andrews to get your
bearings. For those not interested in Old Course there is
an option to stay in town and shop.
From there we
will venture further into the highlands with a visit to
Glaimis Castle. Glamis has been the family home of the Earls
of Strathmore since 1372 when SirJohn Lyon was granted the
thaneage by King Robert II. In 1376 Sir John married the
King's daughter and since then Glamis has been visited and
lived in by many members of the Scottish and British Royal
Families. The present owner is Simon Patrick Bowes Lyon,
19th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne who succeeded his
late father on the 27th of February 2016. The castle is
famed as being the childhood home of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
The Queen Mother, birthplace of HRH The Princess Margaret
and the setting for Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'. It is situated
in the fertile valley of Strathmore, only 5 miles from Forfar
and 12 miles from Dundee.
SCOTTISH BORDERS
Journey
through the majestic Scottish Lowlands on this 7.5-hour
tour that will include Melrose, Abbotsford House, Traquair
House.and Roslyn Chapel. Take a scenic route along Scotland's
border to Melrose Abbey - believed to be the burial site
of King Robert the Bruce's heart - and enjoy lunch at your
leisure. Admire panoramic views over the Scottish countryside
and the Tweed River from Scott's View
The triple peaks of the Eildon Hills are the most distinctive
single landmark in the Scottish Borders. At their feet in
the valley of the Tweed lies Melrose. From the rolling hills
and moorland in the west to the gentle valleys and picturesque
Berwickshire coastline in the east, it is easy to see why
Sir Walter Scott was so enamored with this peaceful region
that he chose to build his beloved house, Abbotsford here
which we will visit. Here at Abbotsford he worked tirelessly,
writing book after book in his wood-panelled study. Scott
looked far and wide across Scotland for decorative elements
to embellish his house; he rescued architectural fragments
from houses, and took casts from existing houses to create
copies that reflected Scotland's architectural heritage.
The result was a very 'Scottish' building, inspired by Scotland's
heritage and containing pieces from a variety of dwellings
across the country. This very nationalistic pride in Scottish
heritage was typical of Scott and his work. The result was
almost universally popular, and Abbotsford became a very
popular place for sightseers almost immediately.
On our way back to Edinburgh we will make a stop at Roslyn
Chapel. One of Scotland's most remarkable buildings, Rosslyn
Chapel has been in the ownership of our family since its
foundation in 1446 and is still used today as a place of
worship.
DEPOSIT TO
SIGN UP - $200
OUR
AIR: We
will have our group air sometime around July 2025
INCLUDES:
- Round trip international
air from LAX (other gateways available but could be slightly
more)
- 10-nights
accommodations (double occ.)
- All ground transportation
- Ferry from
Ireland to Scotland
- Daily Breakfast
DOES
NOT INCLUDE:
IRELAND
The Morgan
- 4-star Subject to change
Website - Reviews
- 33 out of 150 hotels in Dublin
Tired
of traditional, boring hotels? Looking for a quirky Temple
Bar hotel? Then immerse yourself in our design hotel on
Fleet Street in Dublin City Centre. The Morgan Boutique
Hotel Dublin is located in the very heart of Temple Bar.Check-in
to your uber stylish room and go explore Dublin, you will
be minutes away from all of the city’s hot spots including,
Grafton Street and O’Connell Street, shops, museums,
restaurants, bars and famous sites including, Trinity College,
The Guinness Storehouse, Old Jameson Distillery, as well
as some of Dublin’s newest entertainment venues including,
the Convention Centre Dublin, The Bord Gais Energy Theatre
and The 3Arena (formerly o2) to name just a few.Risqué
design that is provocative, contemporary and unique holds
host to chic guestrooms, a funky cocktail bar, crazy outdoor
spaces, cool meeting rooms and an amazing Penthouse with
rooftop garden. This luxury deluxe, boutique Dublin hotel
in Temple Bar is an experience.
BELFAST
Premier
Inn - 3-star Subject
to change
Website
- Reviews
#4 of 43 hotels!
Welcome
to the city that inspired Gulliver's Travels. A stay at
Premier Inn Hotel Belfast Alfred Street puts you just a
small step away from some big attractions, not to mention
all the delights of a twenty-first century shopping centre.
And if you're here on business, we'll make sure your stay
is a pleasant one. Track down the Titanic story to its source.
Or make tracks to some of the biggest names on the high
street - don't miss the continental market if you're here
over Christmas. There's nightlife that'll make your day,
and everything from an interactive science museum to a candy
factory. Don't fill up on too many sweets though, there's
good food waiting for you at our restaurant, and comfy beds
in every room.
In our rooms
you’ll find:
The
Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh is designed to blend into
the surrounding medieval architectural with its own 16th-century
style façade. The hotel’s spot in the middle of Edinburgh
lets you see Scotland’s capital city from a convenient
vantage point. Nearby public transportation is readily
available, and many city attractions are within walking
distance of the hotel’s location.