Day 1
FLIGHT TO EDINBURGH:
Today we
join our tour director and fellow
travelers as we are transported to
Charlotte-Douglas Airport for our
overnight fl ight to Edinburgh.
Day 2
GLASGOW HIGHLIGHTS:
Today
we arrive at the Edinburgh airport
and transfer to Glasgow. You will be
amazed at all the inclusions on this tour!
In Glasgow we see the highlights of
this city which fl ourished in Victorian
times. We drive around George Square
with its ornate City Chambers and visit
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, a
splendid Spanish Baroque-style building
housing one of Europe’s finest art
collections, including masterpieces by
Rembrandt, Titian, and Dali. This evening
we join our traveling companions for a
welcome dinner. (D)
Day 3
LOCH LOMOND • LOCH NESS
CRUISE:
We travel alongside the
famous Loch Lomond, renowned for
its unsurpassed beauty and through
the deep valley of Glen Coe, notorious
for the Campbell massacre of the Clan
Macdonald in 1692. At Fort Augustus we
embark on a short cruise on Loch Ness
as we keep an eye out for “Nessie.” (B, D)
Day 4
BLAIR ATHOL DISTILLERY •
ST. ANDREWS • 2 NIGHTS EDINBURGH:
We visit Blair Athol Distillery to
see how whiskey is distilled. Continuing
our drive south, we visit St. Andrews,
renowned as the “Home of Golf” and
celebrated for its historic university,
the oldest in Scotland. We arrive in
Edinburgh and our gracious manor
house hotel, set on 1,000 acres with two
golf courses and spa facilities. Explore
as you wish and dine on your own this
evening. (B)
Day 5
EDINBURGH TOUR & CASTLE •
SCOTTISH EVENING:
This morning
an Edinburgh city guide will point out
the principal sights of this capital city.
We drive along the bustling Princes
Street and through the gracious, wide
streets of the 200-year-old Georgian
New Town and walk along part of the
Royal Mile where compact medieval
houses reach 11 fl oors tall. Next, we visit
Edinburgh Castle, which dominates the
city and contains the Scottish Crown
Jewels and the Stone of Scone. We
enjoy a Scottish Evening featuring
excellent Scottish cuisine followed by
a lively show of song, stories and
traditional dance. (B, D)
Day 6
IRELAND • FERRY • TITANIC BELFAST
• 2 NIGHTS DUBLIN:
Early
this morning we depart Edinburgh and
drive south through Ayrshire and along
the coast. At Cairnryan take a ferry ride
to Larne crossing into Ireland. In Belfast,
we enjoy a panoramic city tour followed
by a visit to Titanic Belfast, where we
learn about this famous liner through
state-of-the-art displays. Continuing our
drive south to Dublin, we enjoy some
free time for dinner before checking
into our hotel for a two-night stay. (B)
Day 7
DUBLIN SIGHTSEEING • CANAL
DINNER CRUISE:
Today tour central
Dublin with a local guide seeing public
buildings, lovely parks and rows of
Georgian houses with brightly-painted
doorways. Walk around and visit Christ
Church Cathedral, founded in 1028. We
enjoy a canal dinner cruise with traditional
Irish music aboard a former Guinness
barge through central Dublin. (B, D)
Day 8
FARMHOUSE TEA • SHEEPDOG
DEMONSTRATION • BLARNEY
CASTLE • 2 NIGHTS KILLARNEY:
Travel
through the midlands of Ireland, stopping
for photos at the stately Rock of
Cashel. We visit a farmhouse for tea and
scones and watch skilled sheep dogs
herd sheep. We continue south to visit
Blarney Castle and kiss the famous
“Stone of Eloquence.” It’s a beautiful
drive in the mountainous countryside of
County Kerry to Killarney, picturesquely
set beside lakes and mountains. Check
in to our hotel for a two night stay. (B, D)
Day 9
JAUNTING CAR • RING OF KERRY
• SKELLIG EXPERIENCE:
Take a
jaunting car ride as you pass Ross Castle,
set on Lough Leane. We view the
scenic Gap of Dunloe to visit Moriarty’s,
an authentic Irish gift store. Then
embark
on the Ring of Kerry drive, a winding
route with breathtaking sights of
mountains and coastal views. Cross to
Valencia Island by bridge to visit the
Skellig Experience which describes the
austere lives of early Christian monks on
the nearby islands. Enjoy a casual lunch
before our drive through Waterville. We
stop in Sneem to admire the brightlypainted
houses, then pause at Moll’s
Gap for stunning views before returning
to Killarney. (B, L)
Day 10
RIVER SHANNON FERRY •
CLIFFS OF MOHER • MEDIEVAL
CASTLE BANQUET:
We take a ferry ride
across the River Shannon to the Cliffs
of Moher, a spectacular wall of limestone
that reaches 700 feet above the
Atlantic Ocean. Our home for the night
is in Bunratty. Dinner this evening is in
a castle—a memorable medieval-style
feast where the lords and ladies will
serenade us with song and harp music,
evoking the spirit and romance of the
Middle Ages. (B, D)
Day 11
GALWAY WALKING TOUR •
CLONMACNOISE • DUBLIN:
This
morning we travel to Galway. We’ll enjoy
a walking tour around the city-center
visiting the picturesque monastic ruins
of Clonmacnoise, founded in 544 AD
by Saint Ciaran. We arrive in Dublin late
this afternoon. The evening is free to
explore and enjoy our surroundings. (B)
Day 12
DUBLIN AIRPORT • HOME:
This
morning we transfer to the Dublin
Airport for our return flight home.
Ground Arrangements by:
CIE Tours
