Saint Patrick is the best-known holy man this side of Santa Claus, and his feast day is celebrated worldwide. But St. Patrick’s Day is more than green clothes and green beer: it’s a festival of culture, a glorification of the world’s most beloved island. What better way to celebrate this legendary figure than in the place where it all began?
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Galway - Welcome to the West
You enter the Emerald Isle at the airport in Shannon before heading north, seeking the most sensational scenery that this beautiful nation has to offer: fortunately, as you’ll discover throughout your visit, in Ireland inspiration is never far away. Your first stop takes you to Western’s Europe’s most renowned sea cliffs, the iconic Cliffs of Moher, soaring more than 300 feet above the breaking surf of the furious Atlantic Ocean. Make your way to O’Brien’s Tower and seemingly gaze upon the entirety of Ireland nearly seven hundred feet about the rock-strewn shore: a cloudless day will afford glimpses of the Aran Islands far to sea in Galway Bay, while inland lies the unconquered ruggedness of romantic Connemara, crowned by the Maumturks and the Twelve Bens, Ireland’s most impressive mountain ranges.
Further into County Clare lies the seemingly other-worldly landscape of the Burren, an alvar that is among the largest in Europe, stretching almost one hundred square miles. Besides being an area of geological majesty, the Burren is also one of the most ecologically diverse areas in Ireland, home to thousands of species of flora and endemic to some of the most unique species of butterflies in the world.
Your evening is spent in the delightful city of Galway, a thriving university town that is the center of the Gaelic-speaking west and a colorful mix of students, shepherds and storytellers. A short tour designed to familiarize you with the ins and outs of this medieval city’s polychromatic streets will be motivation enough to get you out among the locals for some of the most boisterous and entertaining nightlife in Ireland.
What's Included:
Day 2
Galway - Into the Heart of Captivating Connemara
Day 3
Dublin - Through the Midlands to the Banks of the Liffey
Day 4
Dublin - A Day in Dublin
Day 5
Dublin - Enjoy Ireland’s Enchanting Capital
Day 6
Dublin - Celebrating Ireland’s Holiday in True Irish Fashion
Day 7
Dublin - Saying Goodbye to the Land of St. Patrick
Trip Highlights
- Experience the natural wonders of the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren in the legendary west of Ireland
- Visit Galway, the “City of the Tribes,” and enjoy the city’s exciting and eclectic nightlife
- Wander Connemara in the heart of the Irish Galtecht and walk the magnificent Victorian gardens at Kylemore Abbey
- Tour Clonmacnoise, one of Ireland’s holiest sites and the home of some of the finest examples of carved crosses in the country
- Discover the many secrets of Dublin, including Trinity College, Kilmainham Gaol, and the producers of Ireland’s most famous beverages at the Jameson Distillery and the Guinness Storehouse
- Revel in the city-wide festivities that is Saint Patrick’s Day in the Republic’s capital city
Detailed Description
In early Christian mythology, Saint Patrick was a man of varied talents: a brave captive and a gifted theologian, the father of the shamrock and the expeller of snakes from the entire Ireland. While some – or most – of these tales may not be true, what is undeniable is that Patrick’s feast day has become a celebration of his adopted home throughout the world; and this week-long tour offers the chance to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the land that started it all.
Start your excursion in the west of Ireland, where Celtic culture thrives and where the rugged landscape reflects a lifestyle largely unchanged since St. Patrick’s arrival. Then head across this beautiful nation and into the heart of its capital city, as you drink in the history of Dublin. Check out the landmarks of this remarkable city before enjoying the parades, concerts, and celebrations of the life of Ireland’s patron saint.
Stirring tales and ringing songs, the lilting cadence of the Irish language and the rolling surf of the Irish Sea, the haunting romance of Ireland’s ancient capital and the bustling cosmopolitanism of the modern, all come together in this incredible vacation. You’ve celebrated March 17 before: now celebrate it right in one of the best tours of Ireland.
Starting Price
$4,600 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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