Rick Steves’ Best of Ireland in 14 Days
Ireland is where strange tales begin & happy endings are possible.
Charles Haughey
Day 1: Welcome to Ireland
Meet your tour guide and group around 5 p.m. • Neighbourhood orientation walk • “Welcome to Ireland” dinner together • Sleep in Dublin 2 nights
Day 2: The Historic Heart of Dublin
Walking tour through the heart of Dublin • Visit to Trinity College for an illuminating look at the Book of Kells • Free time to explore more of Dublin
Day 3: Kilmainham Gaol and Ruins
Travel to Kinsale • Visit to Kilmainham Gaol (when possible) • Guided tour of the ruins of the Rock of Cashel
• Dinner together • Sleep in Kinsale 2 nights
Day 4: Kinsale and Charles Fort
Walking tour of Kinsale • Guided tour of Charles Fort overlooking the harbor • Free afternoon and evening to explore more of Kinsale
Day 5: Killarney National Park and Dingle
Travel to Dingle • Scenic drive through Killarney National Park • Visit to a working sheep farm • Dinner together • Sleep in Dingle 3 nights
Day 6: Gaelic Heritage
Guided tour along the scenic Slea Head Drive • Visit to the strikingly-designed Great Blasket Centre
Day 7: Roam the Dingle Peninsula
The day is all yours to explore the Dingle Peninsula, take a walk along the local lanes, ride a bicycle along the Dingle Loop, or sail to the rugged Blasket Islands
Day 8: Cliffs of Moher and the Burren
Travel to Galway • Visit to the dramatic Cliffs of Moher • Guided tour of the rocky moonscape of the Burren • Dinner together • Sleep in Galway 2nights
Day 9: Galway and the Aran Islands
Ferry ride to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands (weather permitting) • Free time to join your guide for a minibus tour of the island, or hire a pony cart or bike to explore Inishmore on your own
Day 10: Connemara Countryside
Travel to the Connemara region • Stop in the charming town of Cong to see the abbey ruins • Sleep in Westport 1 night
Day 11: To Northern Ireland
Travel to Northern Ireland • Tour of Derry with a local guide sharing stories about “The Troubles” and the infamous “Bloody Sunday” of 1972 • Learn about Protestant-Catholic tensions from a local resident • Dinner together
• Sleep in Portrush 2 nights
Day 12: Antrim Coast and Old Bushmills
Visit to the ruins of Dunluce Castle and Giant’s Causeway • Guided tour of the Old Bushmills Distillery • Walk across the scenic Carrick-a-Rede rope footbridge (weather permitting)
Day 13: Belfast and Return to Dublin
Travel to Dublin • Coach tour of Belfast, including the striking politi- cal murals of Shankill and Falls Road • Farewell dinner together • Sleep in Dublin 1 night
Day 14: Tour Over After Breakfast
Drive to Ballyshannon • Stop in Kells • Sleep Cavangarden (Atkinson Family Estate) 2 nights
Day 15: Ballyshannon
Explore Ballyshannon and Atkinson family connections • Visit Enniskillen
Day 16: Newgrange and Return to Dublin
Drive to Dublin • Guided tour of Brú na Bóinne • Fly to Edinburgh
Slán leat!