Day 1: Travel to Ireland
Depart U.S. and fly overnight across the Atlantic. Enjoy in flight entertainment and meals as you travel to Shannon.

Day 2: Dromoland Castle
Arrive in Shannon Airport in the morning, pass immigration control, pick up your baggage and go through customs. We will meet your guide in the Arrivals Hall and transfer to Dromoland Castle, just a few miles from the airport. Here you may relax for the remainder of the day in a delightful castle setting, play a round of golf or depart the hotel at 3:00 pm to visit nearby Bunratty Folk Park with its traditional cottages and crafts. In the evening get together with your guide and your fellow travelers and discuss your Irish tour while enjoying a creamy Irish coffee. Dinner is served in the elegant dining room of the castle. (D)

Day 3: Cliffs of Moher & Killarney
Drive through the town of Ennis to the coast to view the Cliffs of Moher, a wall of rock that rises to almost 700 feet above the open Atlantic swells. You may walk along the cliffs to O'Brien's Tower, a great lookout point. Continue your journey south and take a 20-minute ferry ride across the wide estuary of the River Shannon. Drive from pasturelands to the mountainous country of County Kerry and Killarney, famous for its delightful location surrounded by mountains and lakes. Check into your centrally located hotel and you may like to take a walk through the town or use the leisure facilities in your hotel. Dine in your hotel and perhaps sample an after-dinner drink in one of the many "singing" pubs in the town or in the hotel bar. (B, D)

Day 4: Ring of Kerry Tour
Today enjoy one of the most favorite picturesque drives in Ireland. The Ring of Kerry is 100 miles of changing scenes of mountains and shoreline. There will be many stops at strategic places to admire the views and take some photos. The route winds through Killorglin, Cahirciveen and Waterville. On the return stop in Sneem where colorful houses are grouped around two central parks. Also stop at Moll's Gap for a look at the mountains and three lakes with the town of Killarney in the background. A few miles from Killarney visit Muckross House. This charming 19th century manor house is set on the shores of Muckross Lake and contains period furnishings. This evening take a short drive to Killeen House Restaurant, renowned for wonderful food and its hilly location which affords great views. (B, D)

Day 5: Gap of Dunloe Excursion
Take a relaxed tour by carriage and boat today to see some more of the beauty for which Killarney is famous. Drive to Aghadoe Heights for views of Lough Leane and on to Kate Kearney's Cottage. Take a horse-drawn carriage through the rugged mountain pass of the Gap of Dunloe and, at Lord Brandon's Cottage, embark on a boat trip through the three lakes of Killarney; the Upper Lake, Muckross Lake and Lough Leane. Land at Ross Castle where your coach will be waiting for a short transfer to your hotel. The balance of the afternoon is at leisure and you might like to fit in a round of golf or take a walk by the shores of Lough Leane before dining in your hotel this evening. (B, D)

Day 6: Waterford Crystal & Wicklow
Leave the mountains and lakes of Killarney behind as you travel through the rich dairy country of Cork where much of Ireland's cheesemaking is located. Drive via Lismore and along the scenic Blackwater River valley to Waterford. Here visit the Waterford Crystal Factory for a tour to see craftspeople blow, form and cut crystal to produce fine tableware and trophies. See the extensive showrooms before heading north through County Wexford to Wicklow. Your country house hotel is set in delightful gardens and you will have some leisure time before enjoying dinner in the dining room which has won many awards for its excellence. (B, D)

Day 7: Mount Usher & Malahide Castle
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast or a walk around the hotel grounds before taking a short drive to visit Mount Usher Gardens. These attractive gardens have been developed over the past 150 years and contain more than 5,000 varieties of trees and plants. Have a glimpse of farm life and meet the farmers when you stop for tea and freshly baked scones. Then drive into the Wicklow Mountains to visit Glendalough Visitor Center. Learn about St. Kevin's monastic site which dates from the 6th century and see the round tower, churches and Celtic crosses set between two lakes in a peaceful valley. A short drive will take you to your Dublin hotel. This evening's venue is Malahide Castle, home to the Talbot family for over 800 years. Take a private tour around this historic mansion and gather in the dining hall for an exclusive 6-course banquet of delicious dishes enhanced by the mellow strains of a string quartet. (B, D)

Day 8: Dublin Sightseeing
See the highlights of Ireland's capital city this morning on a tour around the city center. Dublin is known for its Georgian row houses and stately squares but it is also a bustling shopping mecca. Take a guided tour through Dublin Castle's State Apartments. These elegant rooms date from the Georgian period and have been the setting for many important historic events. See the lavishly furnished chambers as you learn about Ireland's past. End your tour with a visit to the Chester Beatty Library which has fine collections of early Christian, medieval biblical manuscripts and oriental documents and pictures. The remainder of the day is at leisure for further sightseeing on your own and to choose from many restaurants for dinner. (B)

Day 9: Depart for Home
You have reached the final day of the tour so enjoy a good Irish breakfast before transferring to Dublin Airport. Arrive in good time to complete check in procedures and you may do some duty free shopping before passing through U.S. Immigration pre-clearance and boarding your aircraft for the flight back to the United States. (B)

What Your Tour Includes:

• Round trip flights between U.S. & Ireland
• Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout
• Services of a professional Irish tour director
• Deluxe and castle hotels with private bath/shower for 7 nights
• 7 full Irish breakfasts (B) & 6 dinners (D)
• Ferry ride across the River Shannon
• Horse-drawn carriage and boat excursion through the Gap of Dunloe
• Visits and admissions to Bunratty Folk Park, Cliffs of Moher, Muckross House, Waterford Crystal Factory, Mount Usher Gardens, Glendalough Visitor Center, Dublin Castle and Chester Beatty Library
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person

Your Hotels (or similar):

• Dromoland Castle Hotel, Newmarket-on-Fergus (1 night)
• Killarney Park Hotel, Killarney (3 nights)
• Tinakilly Country House, Rathnew (1 night)
• Berkeley Court Hotel, Dublin (2 nights)