ICONIC IRELAND AND ASHFORD CASTLE

• The ‘Emerald Isle’ puts its best foot forward in this iconic exploration of its soul-stirring landscapes.
• We kick off our epic journey along the walled gardens and rambling walks of Powerscourt Gardens, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.
• Its sweeping terraces, ornamental lakes and over 200 varieties of trees and shrubs ensure it befits its status as one of the most beautiful gardens in Ireland.
• Enjoy a Welcome Dinner this evening to get to know your fellow travellers.

Arrival Transfer: 08:30, 11:00, 13:00

Included Experience: Powerscourt Gardens

• Lyrics and legends await this morning as we join a Local Specialist on a city tour to visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where Jonathan Swift was once installed as Dean.
• We admire the colourful doorways in the stately Georgian Squares and stroll along the cobbled courtyard of Trinity College and see the Book of Kells.
• Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to soak up the charisma of this city.
• Wander along Grafton Street and see its lively performers, stop for a pint of the ‘Black Stuff’ in Temple Bar or relax in St. Stephen’s Green.

Included Experience: Dublin City Tour

Optional Experience: Dinner in Dublin City / Dublin Dinner and Cabaret

• We leave the hospitality of Dublin behind for County Kilkenny.
• After, we stop in Waterford where we have free time for lunch, or perhaps join a walking tour with a local specialist.
• We continue south to the lively city of Cork, enjoying a free evening to discover its sights, sounds and flavours.

Optional Experience: Evening of Irish Entertainment / Explore Waterford’s History / A Tour of Cork’s Inner City

• Head to Blarney in pursuit of the ‘gift of the gab’.
• Kiss the fabled Stone then head west to the lakeside setting of Killarney, our springboard to the enduring beauty of the Ring of Kerry.

Included Experience: Visit Blarney Castle

Optional Experience: Irish Ceilidh Evening / Experience a Jaunting Cart Ride

• Circle the scenic Ring of Kerry admiring its famous ‘forty shades of green’ and seeing first-hand the scenic landscapes that have inspired writers and poets for centuries.
• Perhaps join a Local Specialist for a scenic guided walk at Torc Waterfall, strolling over wooded paths and lakeshore trails.

Included Experience: See the Ring of Kerry and Torc Waterfall Guided Visit

Optional Experience: Gaelic Roots

• Begin the day enchanted by the wild landscapes, you’ll continue along the Wild Atlantic Way to Connect With Locals and meet local horticulturalist, Oonagh, who’ll teach you how to forage before our Be My Guest visit to the Barrtra Seafood restaurant.
• Oonagh will reveal the importance of sustainable food experiences and you’ll learn how everything on your plate has been bought locally, perhaps inspired to buy local produce when you return home.
• Our up-close encounter with Ireland’s irresistible beauty continues, as we journey north to the towering Cliffs of Moher.
• Admire the dramatic cliffs that rise 200 metres above the pounding Atlantic and survey the endless ocean views that will leave you with many stories to share when you return home.
• Beyond the endless views, you’ll have an opportunity to visit the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience which really brings this natural phenomenon to life in an interactive way, leaving you with a deep understanding of this special place.
• Your next overnight stop is Galway where you can really get under the skin of this cultural capital and indulge your love for music, art and good times.

Included Experience: Cliffs of Moher Visit and Lunch at the O’Briens Barrtra Seafood Restaurant Overlooking Liscannor Bay

• Dive Into Culture at the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory, watching master craftsmen carve Connemara crystal.
•  Then enjoy an orientation tour of Galway with plenty of free time afterwards to explore this vibrant city on your own.

Included Experience: Discover the craftsmanship of intricate crystal designs at the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory and Stroll Through Galway

 Optional Experience: City of Tribes Walk and Dinner

• A rugged realm of mountains, lakes, rivers and villages provides a stunning backdrop for our leisurely drive through Connemara – an unspoilt region of western Ireland that was immortalised in John Wayne’s ‘The Quiet Man’.
• We’ll visit Kylemore Abbey and ramble through its exquisite Victorian walled garden.
• Later, board ‘The Isle of Innisfree’ for an exclusive cruise on shimmering Lough Corrib.
• Captain Patrick, Ashford Castle’s Local Specialist, will share his local knowledge as you glide through its peaceful waters.
• Upon disembarking, a lone piper will escort you over the drawbridge to Ashford Castle, one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories, where tonight you will dine as lords and ladies at an elegant royal dining experience (gentlemen are requested to wear a jacket).

Included Experience: Stays with Stories, Visit Kylemore Abbey and Cruise the Isle of Innisfree with a Local Specialist

• Indulge in the sumptuous surrounds of Ashford Castle.
• Stroll around its exquisite estate and admire its lavish interiors before you return to Dublin.
• This evening, it’s time to reminisce over shared memories at a delicious Farewell Dinner.

Optional Experience: Shannon River Cruise & Drink in a Historic Pub

• As the curtain falls on a memorable journey with new friends, we say a fond slán go fóill to Dublin and the ‘Emerald Isle’.

Departure Transfer: Arrive at the airport at 07:00, 09:00, 11:00