Best Of Ireland & Scotland

Relax at your hotel before joining your travel director for a warm and friendly dinner, an opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers.

An orientation with your local expert will take you past the Custom House and travel along the River Liffey. See the Guinness Storehouse, Christchurch Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Enjoy entrance to the 9th century Book of Kells and a walk through the cobbled courtyards of Trinity College to gain insight into the establishment's impressive history.

Witness life behind the scenes of the National Stud Farm, where many legendary racehorses are bred. Then see the finest Japanese gardens in Europe, where the gardens portray the symbolism of life and trace the journey of a soul, designed by master horticulturists, Tassa and Minoru Eida. Continue on to Cork, Ireland's second most populous city, built on the River Lee. Travel along Grand Parade to see Cork's City Hall and Opera House.

Experience your choice of one of Ireland’s most iconic sites. Perhaps explore Blarney Castle, climbing its medieval tower to kiss the famous Blarney Stone, long said to grant the "gift of the gab." Alternatively, take time to roam the castle’s 1,500-acre estate, discovering the Wishing Steps, Witch’s Kitchen and a series of imaginative themed gardens, from the tranquil Water Garden to the tropical Fern Garden. Continue to Killarney, where you’ll enjoy a traditional jaunting car ride through the town and into Killarney National Park. With your local Jarvey, take in the park’s lakeside scenery and views of Ross Castle and Lough Leane. This evening, travel west to the coastal town of Dingle where you’ll check in to your hotel.

Enjoy a Relaxed Start before setting out along the Dingle Peninsula, a region rich in Gaelic culture and striking Atlantic views. Drive the Slea Head route, one of Ireland’s most scenic stretches, passing rugged cliffs, ancient stone huts and panoramic lookouts across the Blasket Islands. Along the way, gain insight into Ireland’s early Christian heritage and the daily life of this remote, Irish-speaking region.

Begin the day with a short ferry ride across the Shannon estuary. Enjoy magnificent views of the Clare coast, as you journey to the Visitors' Center at the 700-foot Cliffs of Moher. Continue on to your hotel, located at the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way. Join your travel director in Galway to see the infamous Lynch Memorial and the Church of St. Nicholas, where Christopher Columbus reputedly prayed before his discovery of America. Also see the aged Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the late US President, John F. Kennedy.

Tour the wild Connemara region, a scenic wonderland of rivers, lakes and silent hills. Drive along the scenic shores of Sligo.

Cross into Northern Ireland to visit Londonderry. What better way to experience sightseeing than with one of Northern Ireland's best storytellers, Ronan, as he walks with you inside the city walls, still topped with cannons. Walk down Shipquay Street, with its elegant Georgian houses, to the Gothic Guildhall. Journey to the iconic Giant's Causeway for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. This geological masterpiece was created by the cooling of lava which burst through the earth's crust millions of years ago. Learn how the National Trust is enabling farming and biodiversity to work together, supporting both wildlife and quality food production. Next, take a spectacular drive along the Antrim Coast to your hotel, overlooking the sea at the head of Ballygally Bay.

Depart Ballygally this morning and cross the Irish Sea by ferry to reach Scotland. This route has long connected the islands of Ireland and Britain, with centuries of migration, trade and cultural exchange shaping both shores. On a clear day, spot Ailsa Craig rising from the sea—a striking volcanic plug that has supplied granite for curling stones worldwide since the 19th century. After disembarking, stop at Craufurdland Castle to meet the 29th Laird and Lady for a tour of their home, and enjoy a traditional afternoon tea featuring classic British fare. Continue to Glasgow, known for its 19th-century shipyards and the distinctive architecture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

A scenic drive takes you along the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond. Absorb the dramatic landscape of Glencoe, still echoing with the cries of massacred clansmen. Pause at the Commando Memorial for a view of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis before reaching the Great Glen. Continue on to Loch Ness and embark on a cruise to soak up the scenery, historic monuments and intriguing tales of Nessie in the heart of Scotland's great glen.

In the morning, see the sights of Inverness, before traveling to the Culloden Moor Visitor Center, where Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite army was finally defeated. Then have a "wee dram" during a visit to a local distillery, hear stories of the whisky smugglers as you delve into the fascinating world of the single malt.

A scenic drive takes you through the Grampian Mountains past the Duke of Atholl's Blair Castle. Drive down and cross the Tay to visit St. Andrews. As you arrive, pass the Old Course, the home of golf since its invention in the 15th century. Enjoy free time to explore. Perhaps wander to St. Andrews University where the love story of Kate Middleton and Prince William began. Alternately, stroll to West Sands Beach where the famous "Chariots of Fire" scene was filmed. Continue across the majestic Forth Road Bridge to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. In the evening, select departures attend The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

In the morning, join a local expert to see the highlights of the city. Drive along Princes Street to the ornate Scott Memorial, then see the 18th century New Town with its neoclassical Georgian facades. In the Old Town see the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the King. Venture up the Royal Mile to visit Edinburgh Castle, home of Mons Meg and Scotland’s Crown Jewels, the Honours of Scotland. In the afternoon, you are at leisure to continue exploring as you wish, or perhaps go shopping. Join your friends in the heart of Edinburgh at a celebration dinner of modern Scottish cuisine served with wine.

Your journey comes to an end after breakfast with transfers arriving to Edinburgh airport. Departure transfer arrive at the airport at 6:15, 8:00.