Best Of Ireland And Scotland

Explore the Celtic heritage and hospitality of Ireland and Scotland on this grand adventure through beautiful landscapes and enchanting cities. Your first day sees you delve into the whimsy of the Irish capital, before joining your fellow travelers and travel director for a welcome reception.

Drive through the streets of Dublin, joining your local specialist for a sightseeing tour past the stately Georgian Squares and St. Patrick's Cathedral, the tallest church in Ireland. Enjoy a leisurely day exploring the city. Stop for a pint of the "Black Stuff' in Temple Bar, admire the colorful performers on Grafton Street or consider joining an optional experience this evening to tap your feet to the lively sounds of Irish music at an Irish cabaret.

Dive Into Culture and gain insights into Ireland's strong tradition of breeding world-class thoroughbreds at the Irish National Stud. Enjoy a guided walk admiring the powerful steeds that have made racing history and stroll around the tranquil Japanese gardens. Next you will travel to the House of Waterford Crystal in the afternoon and witness this delicate craft, watching talented master craftsmen at work in their workshop.

Maybe, bend over backwards and kiss the Blarney Stone to acquire the 'gift of the gab' before crossing the Kerry Mountains to County Kerry. Journey to 1930s Ireland this evening, visiting the working farms of Muckross, where you'll learn about traditional farming and meet the families who ply the land. Join locals over a dinner experience, enjoying delicious local fare in the Quilles Farmhouse.

The astounding beauty of Iveragh Peninsula accompanies us on this soul-stirring coastal journey around the Ring of Kerry - a dramatic landscape of mountains, loughs and lakes which have inspired writers and poets for centuries. See Daniel O'Connell's Cahirciveen, the fishing village of Waterville, the Black Valley and Moll's Gap with the Macgillycuddy's Reeks peaks in the distance.

Drive to Adare, one of Ireland's prettiest villages, known for its thatched cottages. Visit the imposing stone cathedral, built on the site of an old prison and Eyre Square during your next stop in Galway, where you'll enjoy some free time to explore the city before continuing your journey northward. This evening you'll dine in your hotel.

Head north to Donegal with its "Diamond" center before joining a local specialist in Derry/Londonderry to stroll along its 17th-century walls. See the "Troubles" neighborhood of Bogside, with its murals depicting the battles of that time.

Tread in the footsteps of Finn MacCool and along the other-worldly Giant's Causeway "steps" that descend into the sea. Your visit will make a difference by helping to conserve this iconic landmark. Arrive in Belfast later and visit the Titanic Belfast Experience where you'll gain insights into the tragic story of the famous ship that met its end in the Atlantic. The rest of the evening is yours to enjoy the vibrant nightlife of the capital of Northern Ireland.

Join your local specialist in Belfast this morning for an included city tour which will take you to Queen's University and the Baroque Revival-style City Hall. Board your ferry at Larne and cross to Cairnryan in Scotland, driving through the Ayrshire countryside bound for Glasgow, your home for the next two nights.

Delve into Scotland's intriguing cultural capital and stroll through the town to admire views of George Square and the River Clyde, once the heart of Scotland's shipbuilding industry. Head to whisky country next, visiting the beautiful Glengoyne whisky distillery where you'll dive into culture and learn about Scotland's favorite drink. Your heart warmed, return to Glasgow for some free time to explore the city.

Journey along the famous bonnie banks of Loch Lomond to the tragic site of the 1692 massacre of the MacDonalds at the "Glen of Weeping." Continue to Fort William at the foot of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis. Then, cross to the Isle of Skye, where you'll spend this evening dining in your hotel.

We leave the rugged beauty of Skye behind and venture to the site where three lochs meet. View Eilean Donan Castle before traveling along the banks of Loch Ness in search of the elusive monster that bears its name. The bloody battlefield of Culloden is our next stop, where we spend a poignant moment reflecting on the many men who lost their lives in the brief but brutal battle between the Redcoats and Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobites. This evening we spend the evening dining at our hotel in the Scottish Highlands.

Traversing the dramatic landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, pass Pitlochry before arriving in St. Andrews to see its famous golf course on which golfing greats have clamored to play for centuries. You will cross the scenic Firth of Forth to enchanting Edinburgh, your home for the next two nights. Perhaps, take to the streets of the Scottish capital this evening, soaking up its warmth and conviviality with an evening of traditional dance, music and Scottish fare. Tickets to see the spectacular Edinburgh Tattoo are included on departures that coincide with performance dates.

Join your local specialist for a guided sightseeing tour which includes a visit to Edinburgh Castle, surveying the city from imposing Castle Rock. See the Royal Mile, the elegant Palace of Holyrood in the shadow of Arthur's Seat, and the new Scottish Parliament building. As your memorable holiday comes to an end, join your travel director and fellow travelers for a farewell dinner to reminisce over shared experiences.

For now it's time to say a fond farewell to Scotland and your newfound friends, at the end of an unforgettable Celtic sojourn.