Gardens of Ireland Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Dublin Airport. Transfer to your hotel. Stay 3 nights Dublin

Arrive in Dublin Airport and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel. Settle in today, and become familiar with your surroundings. Perhaps take a horse and carriage ride through the old Georgian Squares of Dublin. Enjoy a delicious dinner at a local pub, with traditional Irish Music. Stay 3 nights at Brooks Hotel.

Day 2: Explore Dublin

Tour Trinity College & The Book of Kells. Pay a visit to the Jameson Whiskey Distillery or the Guinness Storehouse. See the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin Writer’s Museum and the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Perhaps enjoy an afternoon on the ‘Hop on Hop off’ double decker bus tour of the city, it’s a great way to see everything at your leisure. Enjoy dinner in the ‘Brazen Head’ tonight, Dublin’s oldest pub.

Day 3: Tour Dublin City & Phoenix Park

Tour Dublin City today, including; The Kilkenny design shop, Dublin Castle, and Grafton St. Tour The Phoenix Park. At 1752 acres the Phoenix Park is one of the largest enclosed recreational spaces within any European capital city. The Park was established in 1662 by one of Ireland’s most illustrious viceroys, James butler, Duke of Ormond, on behalf of King Charles II. About 30% of the Phoenix Park is covered by magnificent trees. A huge herd of Fallow Deer has lived in the Park since the 1660′s. The Phoenix Park is a sanctuary for many mammals and birds and a wide range of wildlife habitats are to be found in the park. The Victorian People’s Flower Gardens located close to the Parkgate Street entrance comprise an area of 22 acres. These gardens were established in 1840 as the Promenade Grounds. They provide an opportunity to display Victorian horticulture at its best.

Day 4: National Botanic Gardens & Japanese Gardens. Stay 1 night Kilkenny

After breakfast, pick up your rental car in Dublin City today, and drive south towards Kilkenny. before you depart Dublin, make sure to visit the National botanic Gardens; founded in 1795 it is one of the loveliest botanic Gardens in the world. En route to Kilkenny, stop in Kildare to visit the Irish National Stud’s Japanese Gardens & St Fiachra’s Garden, renowned throughout the world and the finest of their kind in Europe, are far more than simply a treat for the eye. They also provide comfort to the soul, achieving exactly the objective that was set out when the gardens were created between 1906 and 1910.

Continue south, and arrive in Kilkenny where you’ll stay for 1 night at the Kilkenny Pembroke Hotel. Kilkenny is Ireland’s best example of a medieval town, and rich in history. Tour Kilkenny Castle and gardens this afternoon, and enjoy a good dinner and restful evening.

Day 5: Kilfane Glen & waterfall. Rock of Cashel. Stay 2 nights Cork

After breakfast, tour the beautiful Kilfane Glen and waterfall; A pristine example of a romantic era garden dating from the 1790s. Untouched for 200 years, it is a picturesque paradise with a waterfall tumbling its way to a rushing stream and woodland paths leading to a cottage orné. Tiny bridges sit among ancient trees, wild fox-gloves, ferns and other historically correct 18th century planting. Then drive south headed towards to Cork.

En route you have the option to stop in Cashel, and tour the Rock of Cashel. The Rock of Cashel (Carraig Phádraig), more formally St. Patrick’s Rock, it is also known as Cashel of the Kings.Most of the buildings on the site date from the 12th and 13th centuries. It’s a magnificent sight. Upon arrival in Cork, you’ll stay 2 nights at Hayfield Manor.

Day 6: Cork City, Kinsale, & Lisselan Estate Gardens

Options today include, exploring Cork City; The Shandon bells, the gothic style University College, St Finbarr’s Cathedral, City Market and the Crawford Art Gallery. Visit Cobh harbor, last port of call for the Titanic. Drive to Clonakilty and tour the Lisselan Estate Gardens; these gardens are among the most peaceful, romantic, and handsome gardens in Ireland. Take a little drive to the picturesque fishing town of Kinsale; famous for its outstanding seafood. Enjoy an evening meal and a stroll through the picturesque cobble stoned streets.

Day 7: Kenmare & Bantry House and Gardens. Stay 2 nights Kerry

Depart Cork today. Drive to Kerry. En route, stop in Kenmare and bantry. Tour bantry House and Gardens; this imaginative garden is one of the finer gardens in the country, and in one of the most extraordinary settings in the world. It is impossible not to be charmed by this place. Travel onwards to Killarney, Co. Kerry, where you’ll stay for 2 nights at the Cahernane House. Enjoy an evening of relaxation by the roaring fireside, Irish Coffee in hand.

Day 8: Killarney National Park & Lakes. Muckross House Gardens

This morning take a horse and carriage ride to Muckross House on the Killarney Lakes. Set among the Lakes of Killarney in Killarney National Park, Muckross house Gardens are truly lovely. With spectacular views, woods, walled gardens, Torc waterfall and much more, the possibilities here are endless. See the Gap of Dunloe and Kate Kearney’s Cottage. Take a tour of the Dingle Peninsula featuring some of Ireland’s most spectacular coastal scenery, including Slea Head and the Connor Pass. Dingle town is well known for hiking, fishing and sailing by day and by night for lively restaurants, pubs and a traditional music scene.

Day 9: Ring of Kerry. Knockpatrick Gardens. Stay 2 nights Co. Clare

Tour the famous Ring of Kerry. For centuries artists and writers have celebrated this beautiful landscape where the contrasting mountain, lake, and coastal scenery is at its most spectacular. Drive north to Foynes Co. Limerick, and tour Knockpatrick Gardens. Located overlooking the Shannon River estuary; this extravagant garden has been in existence for over 70 years. Continue, by taking the car ferry boat over the Shannon Estuary, and drive north into Co. Clare. Stay 2 nights at Sheedy’s Country House Hotel.

Day 10: Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, & Bunratty Castle & Folk Park

Visit the majestic Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 ft above the Atlantic Ocean, and enjoy a stop at Ailwee Cave to see the underground river and waterfall with their dramatic stalagmites and stalactites. Explore the lunar like landscape of the burren region, famous for its unique flora and fauna and views of the Aran Islands. This limestone landscape is dotted with druidic altars, Stone Age fireplaces and 22 different kinds of orchid. Visit bunratty Castle and Folk Park; charming flower gardens, vegetable gardens, farm animals, and old fashioned gardening methods and implements are all a part of this recreation of life in an old Irish Village.

Day 11: Drive to Airport & prepare to return home

After a good breakfast, drive to Shannon Airport, return your rental car, and prepare for your return flight home.

Slan Abhaile!

Your Ireland Trip Includes:

• Deluxe accommodations for 10 nights
• Private Car transfer to your hotel on arrival
• Full Irish Breakfast each day
• Self-Drive rental vehicle OR upgrade to a Professional Driver Guide
• All taxes & service charges
• 24 / 7 Concierge service in Ireland while travelling
• Touring Map of Ireland & List of recommended pubs, restaurants and places of interest
• An exclusive & extensive list of all the best gardens and activities in Ireland
• Deluxe portfolio of travel Documents & Personalized Itinerary
• Prices based on per person sharing. Single supplement will be additional. Call for details
• For airfare; use points or contact our air department for best schedules & fares

Airfare

Airfare is not included but may be booked with us at competitive rates – just let us know your preferred dates and U.S. Departure airport*

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