8 Day Northern Welcome

Itinerary

Northern Welcome - 8 Days / 7 Nights

Day 1: Dublin Arrival & Glasnevin Cemetery MuseumYour tour begins at 2:00 PM at your hotel in Stillorgan, a suburban village of Dublin. Take a guided panoramic tour of Dublin to see elegant Georgian townhouses with brightly painted doors and the wide thoroughfare of O'Connell Street. Tour Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, Ireland's national necropolis, a "Who's Who" of modern Irish history. In the evening, enjoy a welcome drink with your group before enjoying dinner on your own at the hotel or in the nearby coastal town of Dun Laoghaire

Day 2: Dublin Hop-On Hop-Off Tour & Merry Ploughboy Pub Dinner ShowSpend some time touring Dublin independently with tickets for the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour and choose one of four of Ireland's most popular attractions: Guinness Storehouse, GPO Witness History, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, or Teeling Distillery. In the evening, enjoy a meal of Irish specialties and a traditional show at the Merry Ploughboy Pub.(B, D)

Day 3: Sean's Bar & Galway Walking TourTravel to Athlone in County Roscommon to enjoy a CIE Tours' Exclusive, a visit to Sean's Bar. Founded in 900 AD, it is featured in the Guinness Book of Records as Europe's oldest pub; raise a glass there as thirsty patrons have done for centuries. Journey on to beautiful Galway where you'll have lunch on your own before taking a walking tour of this vibrant harbor city. Proceed to the charming coastal town of Westport for a dinner at your hotel this evening.(B, D)

Day 4: Achill Island & WestportStart the day with a walking tour of Westport. Travel around Clew Bay, which is reputed to have 365 islands, to access Achill Island by bridge. Follow the Atlantic Drive to capture wonderful views of steeply sloped mountains plunging into the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Near Slievemore, see the Deserted Village and stop in Keel for a casual lunch. Return to Westport and take a tour around the stately Westport House, which contains a wealth of interesting portraits, furniture, silver, and porcelain. Enjoy a glass of beer or wine there. The evening is free for independent exploration and dining in Westport.(B, L)

Day 5: Sheepdog Demonstration & DonegalEnjoy a scenic drive to County Sligo, where you'll stop for lunch. Proceed on for a visit to a traditional farm to see a demonstration of trained sheepdogs herding sheep. Travel through rugged countryside and stop in Donegal for some free time to explore. Continue to Derry, where you’ll have time to relax or explore before dinner at your hotel.(B, D)

Day 6: Inishowen Peninsula & Derry's WallsTravel around the Inishowen Peninsula, a 100-mile scenic route. Drive alongside Lough Foyle, to Banba's Crown on Malin Head, the most northerly point of the Irish mainland, to admire stunning seascapes. Stop at a pub overlooking the sea for tea and scones before continuing towards Buncrana. Back in Derry, join a local guide for a short walk around the city's medieval walls, and learn about its turbulent history. Walk across the Peace Bridge and complete your tour at the Walled City Brewery Restaurant; enjoy dinner there with a flight of 4 beers - and a bottle of CIE Tours' signature beer to take away.(B, D)

Day 7: Giant’s Causeway & Turf-Cutting DemonstrationSee the natural wonder that is the Giant's Causeway, hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. Take some time at the Causeway Coast Discovery Centre for a talk and turf-cutting presentation before enjoying tea and scones. Drive south along the Glens of Antrim, one of Ireland's popular scenic routes to discover lovely views of mountains, valleys, and coastline. This area is where many scenes from "Game of Thrones" were filmed. Travel on to Belfast where you will have some leisure time to explore independently before dinner at your hotel.(B, D)

Day 8: Titanic Belfast & Northern Ireland Farmhouse Kitchen ExperienceDiscover Belfast and see the prominent buildings, political murals, and the docks where the RMS Titanic was built in 1912. Visit the magnificent Titanic Belfast, a state-of-the-art attraction that will immerse you in the story of this iconic liner. Depart for dinner at your hotel.(B, D)

Day 9: Tour Ends in DublinYour program ends after breakfast.(B)

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner