Step away from the beaten path of the Emerald Isle for an all-encompassing Ireland tour spanning Newgrange to Belfast, County Donegal to County Galway. The land of magic, mystery, and indelible beauty draws you in with scenery reminiscent of fairytales and captivating legends deriving from historic castles. Monstrous cliffs tower above the Atlantic Ocean at the northern tip of the Wild Atlantic Way and tranquil villages pepper the rolling hills showcasing thatched-roof cottages and friendly taverns....
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Belfast – Arrive in Dublin and Transfer to Belfast with Day of Sightseeing
The ease and friendly ambiance of Dublin welcomes you to Ireland before you leave the airport as your private transfer greets you upon arrival. The River Liffey splits city along its banks between north and south. Cobblestones streets unravel outwards from the bridges spanning the river leading to quiet boutique shops and lively pubs. You spend little time in the city before heading north towards Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland. The Irish countryside personifies the legendary greenery of the “Emerald Isle” highlighting the lush grasses, hills with grazing sheep, and sporadic views to the rugged coastline. You stop at Newgrange en route north to view the stunning stone walls and grass dome of the Stone Age passage tomb.
The edifice stands over 40 feet tall with a diameter of more than 260 feet wide. The prehistoric site dates back to 3,200 BC, which predates Egypt’s pyramids by 600 years. The structure was erected in precise alignment with the sun during the winter solstice, suggesting the tomb also acted as a calendar. Although historians and archeologists are not sure of the edifice’s original purpose, many agree on the theory that it was used as a burial place for kings or a center for ritual. A fascinating curbstone features double and triple spirals guarding the entrance.
What's Included:
Day 2
Belfast – Travel Off the Beaten Path to Explore the Glens of Antrim
Day 3
Donegal – Discover the Uniqueness of Belfast before Traveling to Donegal
Day 4
Donegal – Traverse the Marvels in and Around Donegal on a Full Day Tour
Day 5
Westport – Venture to Belleek, Drumcliff, Ceide Fields, and Achill Island
Day 6
Westport – Relish a Guided Excursion into the Heart of Connemara
Day 7
Dublin – Explore Galway City and Clonmacnoise en route to Dublin
Day 8
Dublin – Enjoy the Fascinating Highlights of Dublin on a Full Day City Tour
Day 9
Dublin – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Experience the grandeur of panoramic views from Slieve League Cliffs, which reach nearly three times the height of the famous Cliffs of Moher
- Traverse the distinctive estates spread across the famous Irish landscape, including Belleek Castle and Kylemore Abbey
- Discover the magnificent ancient tomb at Newgrange that dates back to the Stone Age
- Explore the fantastical scenery of the Glens of Antrim, which hosts the unique coastal rock formation of the Giant’s Causeway
- Witness the history of the religious complex ruins at Clonmacnoise
- Enjoy a semi-private tour of Dublin’s cultural history finding literary references and hidden monuments connected to the 1916 uprising
- Relax in the charming ambiance of Drumcliff, a village in County Sligo known for its vibrant scenery and beauty celebrated by W.B. Yeats
- Immerse yourself in the Irish emigration experience at Ulster American Folk Park, which offers insight into three centuries of Irish expatriation
Detailed Description
Discover the endless charms of enticing landscape and lively pub culture, captivating stories and distinctive histories on your 9-day Ireland vacation offering the charm of a small group, the luxuries of boutique hotels, and the magnificent destinations connected to national parks and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Your time in Ireland features the main cities of Dublin, Belfast, and Galway while also introducing you to smaller towns and villages, such as Drumcliff and Clifden. The uniqueness of Ireland sheds light on the traditions of storytelling and the connection to castles resembling iconic fairytale structures inspired by the landscape. By following an unfamiliar path, your guide will lead you through the diversity of the Emerald Isle by tracing its history and culture along the iconic landscape.
The journey begins with your arrival at Dublin International Airport. Your semi-private transfer leads you along the western shores to reach Belfast, offering your first introduction to the marvels of the landscape and the prehistoric marvels it hides when visiting Newgrange. The splendor of the Glens of Antrim highlights the remarkable contours of the landscape shaped by volcanic activity, wind, water, and time. Take a moment to indulge in the castle grounds and undulating valleys before sampling whiskey at Bushmills Distillery. Experience the ways in which Belfast has evolved from its ship-building past while still celebrating its history with fantastic style.
Learn about the exceptional experiences of the Irish émigré during a visit to the Ulster American Folk Park. The stunning scenery around Donegal and the Wild Atlantic Way highlights the marvels of the coastal cliffs and excellent panoramas. Castles, islands, villages, and an archeological field system populate the scenery around Westport while the heart of Connemara gives way to the majestic fjord at Killary, the colorful town of Clifden, and the iconic architecture of Kylemore Abbey. The deep cultural connection of Galway City gives way to the preserved religious complex of Clonmacnoise. The contemporary culture adds layers of new life to the historic architecture and streets revealing the well-known highlights and hidden gems of the capital city.
Starting Price
$5,900 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.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.85 stars based on 486 reviews.
We had a wonderful trip. Everything was executed flawlessly, which made it so easy and relaxing for us. The hotels that were chosen were great. Our driver/guide was amazing and the perfect companion.
The only advice I would give is to include driving times on the itinerary so we would know how far things were from each other. But I would 100% recommend Zicasso's travel company to anyone traveling to Ireland. I can’t wait to go again!
Reviewed By Katie M.
This was our first time booking a trip through Zicasso and we were very happy with the experience. We were connected with an exceptional agent in Ireland who knew all the great, off-the-beaten-path sites. Our accommodations were beyond our expectations. Each driver we had was friendly and knowledgeable.
Reviewed By Holly F.
We had an exceptional experience with the team at Zicasso's travel company, particularly our agent. She listened to our hopes and needs for a very complex trip, and created a journey that exceeded our expectations in every way.
Reviewed By Lorraine M.
Words cannot describe how thankful we are to Zicasso's travel company. Our agent and her team put together an itinerary that hit everything we wanted to see, plus the things we didn’t know we needed to see.
They handled everything from the hotel reservations to entrance tickets and dinner reservations, and were readily available throughout our trip to make sure everything went smoothly.
The best part of our entire trip though, was our wonderful driver. He never missed a beat, was incredibly knowledgeable and kind, and went out of his way over and over again to make sure we had the best time possible. It’s not easy traveling with a group of nine people with ages ranging from 27 to 75, but our travel company made it easy and unforgettable.
It was a trip of a lifetime and our agent and driver exceeded our expectations. Highest of recommendations.
Reviewed By Sarah M.
The trip was fantastic! We had a great driver. He gave us great restaurant recommendations. We were busy the whole trip, a positive in our book.
The hotels were also nice and met expectations. Some rooms were a tad warm, but we were traveling in July.
Some of our tickets were only for six people rather than the seven we booked for. Also, the last hotel tried to charge us extra for a third person in the room. We are not sure who was responsible for that issue, but it did throw a curveball before leaving that hotel.
Although our driver for the last two days did a good job, we did not appreciate losing our first driver.
Reviewed By Desiree K.
It was a great trip and Zicasso's travel company did a great job.
Reviewed By Babak K.