Self-Drive | Ireland's Hidden Gems

Welcome to Ireland! You will be met in the arrival's hall by your private driver and transferred to your Dublin hotel. A Hop-On Hop-Off tour is a great introduction to the city, with more than 20 stops along the route, you can take in historic sights and modern marvels as you embark on a journey of discovery (entrance fees not included).

Your Hop-On Hop-Off tour pass is still valid for today to continue your exploration of Ireland’s capital. Later enjoy a 60-minute masterclass in the art of making whiskey cocktails at the Jameson Distillery. Learn about exciting new methods, drink like the locals and discover how this ancient spirit has changed with the times.

Embark on a journey through five thousand years of history along Ireland’s Ancient East to County Cork. Stop off at the Smithwick’s Experience, and taste one of our favourite local ale’s Smithwick’s and a must visit while in Kilkenny. Brewed here in Ireland since 1710, the local team here will tell you how to pronounce Smithwick’s like a local but also explain what makes this ale so unique. Arriving in Cork, you’ll quickly learn it has so much to offer, from its vibrant city centre to surrounding coastal villages such as Kinsale.

Travel to colorful Kinsale, renowned for its scenic harbor, artisans and seafood that pairs beautifully with the salty Atlantic air. Taste your way through this beautiful town on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Enjoy a guided stroll where you’ll meet charming locals and food producers, take in riverside views of the River Bandon and stop at various eateries and restaurants for delicious samples. Before you leave this charming village, drop by Kinsale’s tribute to those firefighters who lost their lives in 9/11. Journey through Skibbereen and Schull to Crookhaven - a small village on Ireland’s most southwestern tip, to experience a bit of seaside hospitality and perhaps visit St. Brendan’s church founded in the 1700’s.

Explore Bantry Bay and the wonderful Kenmare village before making your way to the Irish speaking Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry to explore it majestic hills, mountains, and lakes. For those who love a driving experience, hug the coast and drive to Dingle via the Beara Peninsula.

A market town and fishing port, Dingle has long been well supplied with pubs, restaurants and delightful local craft displays. Relish in the delights of a short boat cruise of Dingle Bay with enlightening commentary. Learn about the local maritime history from local guides, gifted storytellers, as they alternate between facts and folklore. Tales about Lord Ventry and a lost fishing village, to French queen Marie Antoinette and hidden passageways, this tour is sure to surprise and delight all onboard.

Make an unforgettable stop at the magnificent Cliffs of Moher. These limestone monoliths rise up to six hundred and fifty-feet above the pounding Atlantic waves and stretch five miles along the coast. Travel through The Burren National Park and stop off at the Burren Perfumery. This small west-of-Ireland company makes cosmetics and perfumes inspired by the landscape – everything is made on site, by hand and in small batches. Continue to Galway – a thriving, bohemian and cultural city that’s bursting with character.

Travel to Westport, a cheerful town that overlooks the three hundred and sixty-five islands (one for each day of the year, according to tradition) of Clew Bay. Explore the town on a walking tour with your Local Specialist. Continue traveling north to Sligo, home to one of the world’s most important poets, W.B. Yeats – a Nobel Prize Laureate.

Meet a Local Specialist who will share captivating experiences of growing up in a city steeped in history and culture as you stroll along the 17th-century walls.

At the Giant’s Causeway, see the ancient and legendary basalt columns placed against the backdrop of the Antrim Coast on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.. Here, you will meet a Local Specialist for a deep and personal insight that will take you beyond the famous Causeway and into the legend behind this natural beauty – You can then decide for yourself whether this magical place is the work of a mythical ancient giant, or that of volcanic activity. That’s for you to decide today before making your way to Belfast.

Join a Black Cab Tour, a terrific way to take in the city’s sights and hear about its living history. Next visit the impressive Titanic Belfast and learn about her story in a fresh and insightful way at the very place where this tragic legend got her start.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before traveling through the Mourne Mountains towards Dublin. Why not stop at the Hill of Tara, the seat of the High Kings of Ireland en route. For your last night, stay in one of our historic properties on Dublin’s Doorstep.

Make your way to Dublin airport for your flight home, go n-ardóidh an bóthar chun bualadh leat – may the road rise to meet you.