Day 1: Welcome to the Emerald Isle - Dublin

Dublin brings new sights, foods and traditions with every step. Meet your airport transfer and get right to the action in this modern, multicultural city that embraces its past and with a good dose of fun. Home to icons such as Trinity College and the Book of Kells, said to be the world’s most famous medieval manuscript, there is plenty for you to explore. Meet your Travel Director this afternoon for a guided orientation tour to view the elegant Georgian Squares and St. Patrick’s Cathedral followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2: Wicklow National Park

Dive into nature exploring Wicklow National Park, Ireland’s largest National Park, where your environmentalist guide leads you on a gentle hike. Keep your eyes peeled for rabbits, hares, foxes, goats, badgers, deer, sheep, and otters while your guide unlocks the secrets of flora and fauna and shares how you can protect the surrounding nature. With its wide-open vistas, streams, lakes and wooded valleys, you may recognize the Wicklow Mountains as the site of the battle scenes in the movie Braveheart. These mountains also house a community called Glendalough, one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland, still a place of spiritual significance. The afternoon is yours to feel the energy of Dublin buzzing with cafes, shops and the occasional street musician belting out a tune. 

Day 3: Journey to Kilkenny and Killarney

Castles, festivals, medieval charm, Kilkenny is also home to Ireland’s national sport and the world’s fastest field game of hurling. Get active meeting an experienced hurling player to learn about and try this 3,000-year-old Celtic sport and proud legacy of Ireland’s heritage. First, James, a former professional player, shows off his skills. Then give it a try yourself going onto the pitch and taking a shot at the goalposts -- scoring like the Kilkenny Cats. End your day winding through county Kilkenny to Killarney on the Wild Atlantic Way. Here in the lush green at the edge of Killarney National Park, why not spend your evening exploring the park.

Day 4: A day on the Ring of Kerry

Kick off your day in Killarney driving the scenic Ring of Kerry rich with the natural beauty of Ireland’s mountains, lakes and lush green countryside. See Daniel O’Connell’s Cahirciveen, the fishing village of Waterville, Moll’s Gap and the remote Black Valley before arriving at Atlantic Irish Seaweed to meet husband and wife John and Kerryann for a fascinating seaweed walk and MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience. As they guide you on a walk along the beach and coastal paths you‘ll learn about seaweed’s nutritional values and the importance of seaweed to protect the coastline. Continue your exploration of the land visiting Muckross House, a working farm taking you back to the Ireland of old. Set against oak-clad mountains, towering azaleas and rhododendrons along the lakeshore, this mansion house is sure to impress. Learn the local secrets of how to churn butter and hear Irish stories from a local storyteller. A traditional Irish leg of Kerry Lamb Stew is served in the Quilles Farmhouse against the backdrop of the lakes of Killarney for this Be My Guest experience.

Day 5: Clayton Hotel Galway / Sheraton Athlone Hotel

Get ready for the UNESCO-listed Cliffs of Moher, a natural masterpiece and icon of Ireland. Beaten by the Atlantic for 350 million years, these cliffs stretch into the horizon presenting you with a dramatic scene as the salty air envelopes. Admire their rugged beauty before exploring the ‘Atlantic Edge’ exhibition for a bird’s eye view of the nooks and crannies where Atlantic Puffins make their home. Out in the fresh sea air, you’ve surely worked up an appetite and Burren Smokehouse is the perfect place to try a local treat. At this family ran Irish smokehouse, get a close up look at the kiln and smokebox from the owner Brigitta, before tasting their award-winning, organic smoked fish. This evening, enjoy free time in Galway. 

Day 6: The Secrets of Aran Islands

Wave goodbye to Galway this morning as you take the ferry across Galway Bay to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands where a quieter lifestyle invites you to slow down and take it all in. In this ancient landscape, a Local Expert will guide you across white sand beaches and alongside rock formations as you keep an eye out for the resident seals and sheep. Your scenic excursion comes with plenty of history as you unlock the secrets of the island from the locals themselves as they guide you to the 3,200-yearold fort of Dun Aonghasa, the site of the seven churches. Before heading back by ferry, stroll through the island villages embracing the natural beauty of Ireland.

Day 7: Explore Stunning Connemara and Ashford Castle

The real Ireland springs to life on a visit to Cnoc Suain house, a hillside settlement in a conservation area in Connemara. Meet your hosts and co-founders of the home, the husband-and-wife team of natural scientist Charlie Troy and local native Gaelic speaker and musician Dearbhaill Standún. They’ll give you a tour of the house showing off the traditional way of living, history of emigration and life of Connemara that led to emigration – complete with a demonstration on how to make Irish soda bread. Continue your exploration of this wild region on a visit to DK Connemara Oysters. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience, taste the unique flavors of the region’s oysters, bred in pure water that runs off the limestone hills of the Connemara National Park and learn about the farm’s sustainability initiatives. Cap off the day with your Stay with Stories at the Lodge at Ashford Castle, where your arrival is marked with a lone piper escorting you to the drawbridge before your Celebration Dinner.

Day 8: Journey Home from Dublin

After a memorable week on the Emerald Isle, it’s time to say goodbye to your fellow travelers before your transfer to Dublin in the early afternoon.