Compare Irish Journey by Great Value Vacations

Day 1 Welcome to Dublin!

Feel the luck in the air as you land in Ireland's capital city, Dublin. Upon arrival, enjoy a comfortable transfer to your first accommodation. Check in and get settled, then walk around and get to know the city! Go ahead and treat yourself to a pint at a traditional pub in the Temple Bar area.

Day 2 Dublin

Recharge with a scrumptious Irish breakfast, then use your included 24-hour hop-on/hop-off sightseeing bus pass! Feast your eyes on architectural beauties like Dublin Castle, Trinity College, Christ Church Cathedral, St Patricks Cathedral, and more. Skip over the Ha'Penny Bridge, then do some souvenir shopping on Grafton Street!

Day 3 Dublin - Portrush

Rise and shine with an early breakfast! Today, arrive on Nassau Street at 8:30 AM for your guided tour up to Northern Ireland. Begin your journey with a quick drive up to Belfast and enjoy a short city tour. Stop for lunch in the newly redeveloped Titanic Quarter and consider a visit to the award-winning museum! In the city, you'll notice the contrasts between the busy city and the beautiful scenery of the Antrim Coast and Glens. Follow the coast from Ballycastle along to the world-famous Giant's Causeway! Enjoy some time exploring this area before arriving in the resort town of Portrush for the night.

Day 4 Portrush - Donegal

After breakfast, your tour will make its first stop of the day in the historic walled city of Derry, designated a UK City of Culture in 2013. Explore this fascinating city at your leisure and consider stopping in a museum or gallery!

After Derry, you will cross back over to the Republic of Ireland, into one of the most remote and unspoiled parts of the country: County Donegal. Take in stunning scenery and immerse yourself in authentic Gaelic culture! Pass through Glenveagh National Park and Errigal Mountain, then follow the coast through adorable fishing villages. Don't worry, there will be plenty of time for walks and photos along the way!

Day 5 Donegal - Westport

Travel south along the coast from Donegal to County Sligo, the grave of famous poet WB Yeats. As you enjoy the drive, look out for the dramatic mountain scenery of Ben Bulben! Near Sligo Town at Carrowmore, you will have the chance to visit the largest collection of megalithic tombs in Ireland - dating back over 6,000 years!

Your route will turn westwards into County Mayo, an area hit hard by the great potato famine and from where many people emigrated to North America. The road takes you through large areas of farmland, bog, and open moor with views to distant hills, before coming back to the Atlantic Coast and Achill Island. Enjoy the peace and quiet of this beautiful area, then enjoy a quick drive to Westport - your home base for the next two nights!

Day 6 Westport

Sitting on the edge of Connemara, you will explore the beautiful area surrounding Westport today. While the itinerary will depend on the weather, possibilities include Kylemore Abbey, Connemara National Park, Clifden, Sky Road, and the Twelve Bens of Connemara. Along the way, there will be many opportunities for photos of postcard-worthy landscapes.

Tonight, enjoy a leisurely night in the quaint town of Westport. Why not sample some local seafood in one of the many excellent restaurants!?

Day 7 Westport - Galway

Enjoy a pleasant breakfast and a leisurely start to your day. Leave Westport behind and travel inland through the heart of Connemara to the village of Cong on the shore of Lough Corrib - where the classic film "The Quiet Man" was made! In Cong, you'll have some time to visit Cong Abbey or the Quiet Man Museum.

From there, you'll pass through the Maam Valley and then head on to Galway City, where you will be dropped off at your next accommodation. Spend the evening exploring this lively university city! Stroll down colorful High Street, see the Spanish Arch, and feel like a local in Eyre Square.

Day 8 Galway - Killarney

From Galway City, you'll enjoy a scenic drive along the coast to the Burren, one of Ireland's great natural treasures! This land of limestone pavements, barren hillsides, rare flora, early Christian settlements, and ancient stone monuments is a must-see site in western Ireland. After The Burren, stop in Kilfenora, the "town of the crosses," for a visit to the old cathedral. Enjoy lunch in one of the local villages in the area! 

This afternoon, you'll experience one of the most-visited natural wonders in Ireland: the spectacular Cliffs of Moher! Walk the clifftop trails and admire the stunning seascape, which drops almost 700 feet into crashing bright blue waves.

After an exciting visit to the Cliffs of Moher, travel south through County Clare and pass the famous golf course and beach at Lahinch. Catch the ferry across the Shannon estuary and into County Kerry, then to the beautiful lakeside town of Killarney, where you will spend your next three nights. Weave in and out of lively pubs, say "cheers" with a pint, and find some live folk music!

Day 9 Killarney

Today, you will explore the breathtaking Dingle Peninsula - one of the most scenic parts of Ireland and a heartland of Gaelic culture and tradition. Your first stop will be the beach at Inch, a vast expanse of sand facing out into the Atlantic. From here, you'll drive along narrow roads that lead onto the peninsula itself, through the town of Dingle, and out to Slea Head. This area is filled with ancient forts and dwellings, dating back thousands of years! Take in stunning views, as you gaze out at the Blasket Islands and mountains of the Ring of Kerry surrounding you.

Enjoy an afternoon at leisure in Dingle, lined with brightly colored buildings and a bustling harbor! After a fun afternoon in Dingle, you'll head to beautiful Killarney. Depending on the weather, you might want to take an evening walk in Killarney National Park!

Day 10 Killarney

Get ready to tour one of the world's most scenic routes: the Ring of Kerry! This 100-mile stretch is flooded with beauty and interest. 

As you depart the town of Killarney, stunning mountain views will come into sight. Take photos of Carrauntoohil, Kells, Cahersiveen, and other beautiful landscapes. In this area, you may stop in Daniel O'Connell's birthplace and the Cahersiveen ring fort, before reaching the little fishing village of Portmagee. There, you can relax and sample local seafood for lunch! If you'd like, you also have the option of crossing over to the island of Valencia for a visit to the Skellig Experience.

In the afternoon, you will make photo stops in Waterville - a favorite resort destination for Charlie Chaplin! You will also stop for a view at the top of Coonmakista Pass. From there, you'll visit Derrynane House and walk through well-manicured gardens on the property. Your tour continues around the Ring with stops at Moll's Gap and the Ladies View. There will also be a short walk to Torc Waterfall before arriving back in Killarney for the night.

Day 11 Killarney - Dublin

Today, you'll head back east through the mountains of West Cork and along the Lee Valley to Blarney Castle. There, you will have time to visit the castle, explore the woodland walks and mystical Rock Close, as well as visit the village of Blarney itself – a good place for a bite of lunch and a bit of shopping. There may even be the chance to kiss the famous Blarney Stone, although, in peak season it can be very busy.

In the afternoon your tour continues on to the heritage town of Cahir, with its impressive castle on an island in the River Suir. The final stop of the tour is Kilkenny, a bustling city with a fine castle, riverside walks, the National Craft Centre, and plenty pubs for one last Guinness before hitting the road again for the last leg of a wonderful journey.

Tonight, you will arrive back in Dublin for your last night in Ireland. Get a good night's rest, or explore your favorite city streets one last time!

Day 12 Depart Ireland

Squeeze all your souvenirs into your luggage and enjoy a comfortable transfer back to Dublin airport (DUB). Spend your flight home replaying wonderful memories and dreaming about your next adventure!