Your Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 - Thu: Flight to Dublin
Board your overnight flight to Dublin. Relax with inflight entertainment and meal service as you cross the Atlantic.

Day 2 - Fri: City Tour & St. Patrick's Cathedral
Arrive at Dublin Airport, complete immigration formalities and pick up your luggage. Go to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall to arrange a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later, you will need to transfer to the hotel at your own expense. Your hotel is located on the banks of the River Liffey and close to the Custom House from which it takes its name. At 2:00 pm join a local guide, who will tell you about Dublin's lore and legends as you drive around the city. See the shopping Mecca of Grafton and Nassau Streets, view the many elegant Georgian townhouses and pass the Dail where the government convenes. Tour St. Patrick's Cathedral, founded in the 12th century, and see memorials to many prominent people who contributed to Dublin life. Learn about Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels and Dean of the cathedral. This evening meet your fellow travelers over a welcome drink and dine independently.

Day 3 - Sat: Strokestown Park House & Galway
Leave Dublin and journey across the rolling pastures of Ireland's heartland to visit Strokestown Park House in County Leitrim. There are three parts to see - the 18th century mansion with its original furnishings; the four-acre walled garden, restored to its former elegance with plantings and Georgian features; and the Famine Museum, which shows the circumstances of the Great Irish Famine of the 1840's. Travel to Galway and drive around the main sights of the city before checking into your hotel, located overlooking Galway Bay and the Burren. Enjoy some free time to browse around on your own as Galway has many pedestrianized streets and lots of fun specialty stores and pubs before dining in your hotel. (B, D)

Day 4 - Sun: Connemara & "The Quiet Man" Tour
Travel through the Connemara region renowned for its open landscape with constantly-changing skies and light effects. Drive along Galway Bay and stop in the village of Spiddal where the Irish language is still spoken. Continue to Maam Cross and past the Maamturk Mountains. Sheep wander freely and you will see tracts of bogland where people cut turf for fuel. Then drive to Cong for a brief walking tour around this village, which was made famous by the filming of "The Quiet Man" in 1952. Return to Galway in time to enjoy some of the facilities at your hotel. (B, D)

Day 5 - Mon: Cliffs of Moher & Killarney
Drive to the coast to view the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, which rise to almost 700 feet above the wild Atlantic breakers and stretch along the coast for five miles. Then head south for a short ferry ride across the River Shannon. Stop in the charming village of Listowel for a stroll around before continuing through the mountainous countryside to Killarney. Take a look around this bustling and compact town before checking into your country home and meeting your Irish family. In the evening drive to the Gap of Dunloe to Kate Kearney's Cottage for dinner. Afterwards sit back and enjoy traditional Irish entertainment with popular songs, dances and a lot of laughs. (B, D)

Day 6 - Tue: Ring of Kerry & Muckross Gardens
Admire breathtaking vistas of mountains, cliffs and beaches on Ireland's most popular drive - the 100-mile Ring of Kerry. This winding route reveals breathtaking sights of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks as well as coastal views of beaches and cliffs. Stop near the Gap of Dunloe to view the Essence of Kerry AV show to learn about the region. As you travel along, there will be time for photos at the best vantage points. Drive through the villages of Cahirciveen and Waterville at the end of the peninsula. Take a brief walk around the colorful village of Sneem, pause at Moll's Gap for stunning views and stop for a guided walk around Muckross Gardens on the shores of Muckross Lake. Return to Killarney to experience a home-style dinner with your Irish host family. (B, D)

Day 7 - Wed: Blarney & Titanic Walk
Leaving Killarney head to the Blarney Woollen Mills where you can find excellent Irish-made merchandise. You will have time to walk around the village green or, if you feel energetic, you may like to climb Blarney Castle on your own to kiss the "Stone of Eloquence." Drive through the outskirts of Cork to the harbor town of Cobh, the last port of call for the Titanic. Take a walk around this picturesque waterside town and the dockside with a local historian to see places relating to the Titanic's last stop. Travel east through the coastal towns of Youghal and Dungarvan and on to Waterford to meet and dine with your next host family. (B, D)

Day 8 - Thu: Waterford Crystal & Shindig
Tour the Waterford Crystal Factory to watch craftspeople transform molten glass into elegant hand-cut crystal. See magnificent trophies and a huge selection of crystal on display in the showrooms. This morning travel north to discover the lovely scenery of the Wicklow Mountains. Visit Glendalough, a 6th century monastic site founded by St. Kevin. Learn about life in early Christian Ireland in the Visitor Centre and walk through the many church ruins and a round tower set in a deep valley. Continue into the metropolitan area of Dublin to the same hotel. In the evening attend a "Shindig" at the Old Jameson Distillery. See whiskey-making processes as you tour the distillery before sitting down to a dinner of Irish specialties, followed by a festive entertainment program. (B, D)

Day 9 - Fri: Independent Sightseeing in Dublin
Today you are free to schedule your activities as you wish. You may use your independent Dublin open-top bus tour pass (valid for 24 hours) to travel around Dublin's attractions and you may get off and on at any stop or stay on the bus for the complete route. A visit and tasting at the Guinness Storehouse or the Old Jameson Distillery is included. As you will dine independently tonight, you may choose to head to Temple Bar or other areas in Dublin. (B)

Day 10 - Sat: Head back to the USA
Today you have come to the final day of your tour. Make sure to book your taxi transfer to Dublin Airport in good time to check in for your return flight. (B)


B=Breakfast, CB=Continental Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner