Day-by-Day Details

Céad Míle Fáilte - Ireland is the land of a hundred thousand welcomes. We’ve had the great pleasure of designing travel programs to Ireland for a great variety of themes including Comparative Education, Irish History, Music, theater & literature, tracing Irish emigration and ancestry, even a group visit to an Irish sister city! Ireland also offers diverse types of accommodations from youth hostels and B&B’s for smaller groups to hotels and even castle stays.

Day 1 - Departure Day

Begin your journey to the Emerald Isle with an overnight flight to Dublin.

Day 2 - Dublin

Meet your local Irish Driver / Guide and transfer to your centrally located hotel.

This afternoon enjoy a literary walk including a chance to glimpse at the detail in the renowned Book of Kells (replica) at Trinity College. This lavishly illustrated manuscript of the Gospels dates back to the 19th century, and it is simply a marvel of Early Christian art carried out by the monks’ steady hands. The 65-metre Long Room in the Old Library is an incredible sight, and it is filled with old books, marble busts and a barrel-vaulted ceiling. This is also the room that inspired the imagery of the Jedi Archive in Star Wars Episode II.

Day 3 - Dublin

Begin today with a guided panoramic visit of the city including a visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, still the country’s largest church.

This afternoon participate in an activity with a local musical group - High Hopes Choir. Share a performance with the group and hear stories of their personal and past experiences.

Day 4 - Dublin

This morning take part in a backstage tour of the Abbey Theater followed by a private workshop led by one of the theater's professional actors which will focus on acting and performance. This afternoon attend a matinee performance of Lennox Robinson's classic comedy Drama at Inish.

Day 5 - Belfast

Transfer to Belfast. A guided visit showcases this bustling city marked by a divided past and a hopeful future. Visit the Titanic Exhibition Centre upon arrival. The RMS Titanic was built in Belfast's shipyards and the locals love to say about the ship, “She was fine when she left here.” This is your chance to learn everything about the legendary Titanic. Here you will find nine galleries featuring mind-blowing exhibitions and covering fascinating details of the fitting of the ship, the maiden voyage, the sinking of the ship and all that happened after.  Performance at the Grand Opera House - Pantomime Theater

Day 6 - Belfast

Enjoy a full day excursion that includes stops related to the wildly popular HBO series, Game of Thrones. The series was based on George R.R. Martin's best-selling book series "A Song of Ice and Fire".

Continue to the world famous Giant’s Causeway, renowned for its polygonal columns of layered basalt, which is the only World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland. Resulting from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago, this is the focal point for a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has attracted visitors for centuries. It harbors a wealth of local and natural history and the most noteworthy items include a Spanish Armada shipwreck site (‘LaGirona’) & many traces of the legendary giant – Finn MacCool.

Weather permitting, there will be a visit to Carrick-a-Rede, famous for its rope bridge, unique in Ireland, which connects the mainland to Carrick-a-Rede Island. Offering an exhilarating coastal path and rope bridge experience from the cliffs to the rocky island, you will enjoy stunning views of Rathlin and the Scottish Isles, as well as a noisy seabird colony. 

Day 7 - Donegal

This morning depart Belfast and head west to Donegal. En route you will visit Bellaghy the resting place of Seamus Heaney. Visit HomePlace dedicated to the life and literature of the poet, Nobel Laureate and one of Ireland's greatest writers. Afterwards enjoy a music workshop at the US Grant Homestead where you will learn to play the tin whistle.

Day 8 - Donegal

This morning venture out to the stunning Slieve League peninsula. Stretching from Donegal towards the Gaeltacht village of Glencolmcille. The road stops at the show-stopping Slieve League cliffs. Dropping about 2000 feet into Donegal Bay, they’re amongst the tallest in western Europe. You will also visit the fishing village of Killybegs. 

Day 9 - Dublin

This morning drive back to Dublin. Upon arrival visit the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin’s most visited attraction, and with many good reasons. You can learn about the history of 'the black stuff’ and discover how it’s made, pull your own pint, enjoy The Gravity Bar’s stunning panoramic views and more.

This evening you will enjoy a typical Irish evening filled with folklore, traditional food, singing and dancing. Audience participation is encouraged!

Day 10 - Return Home

This morning say farewell to you Driver Guide and the beautiful Emerald Isle as you transfer to the airport for your return flight home.