Ground Arrangements by: CIE Tours
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 flight 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 flourished 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 known for its
university, Scotland’s oldest. 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 floors
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 learn about this famous liner through stateof-
the-art displays. Continuing our drive south to Dublin,
we enjoy some free time for dinner and check 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 brightly-painted 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 Cliff s 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 medievalstyle
feast where the lords
and ladies will serenade
you with song and harp
music, evocative 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 your surroundings. (B)
Day 12
DUBLIN AIRPORT • HOME:
This morning we transfer
to the Dublin Airport for our return flight home.
