Kilkenny Castle and Parkland, Ireland.

In-Depth Ireland History & Culture Tour for Seniors

Ratings of Zicasso's Service
Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Ireland

Places Visited

Dublin, Kilkenny, Cashel, Kinsale...

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Suggested Duration

13 Days

History is experiential in Ireland. Traditions play out, and stories emanate from the streets. Here, the older history is integral to today’s culture, which can make for a very inspiring and immersive vacation. Handcrafted for senior travelers, this 13-day tour will connect 6,000 years of history from Dolmens and portal tombs to St Patrick to the Georgian heritage up through today. There will be storytelling, castles, thatched rooftops, James Joyce, and so much more.

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Experience local traditions as you will enjoy evenings of Irish storytelling and dancing
  • Travel a long way back in time while visiting megalithic passage tombs and limestone, Bronze-Age portals
  • Discover Ireland’s cute, old towns as you will spend two nights in Kinsale, two in Kenmare, and one in Adare
  • Visit the legendary castles and cathedrals along with the spectacular Rock of Cashel
  • Explore the Ring of Kerry and absorb all its traditional culture
  • Live out the history, especially during a James Joyce tour of Dublin and a music tour of Kilkenny
  • Uncover the city of the tribes and the ancient legend behind Galway
  • Enjoy Ireland’s sublime scenery from the Cliffs of Moher to the lush green pastures that are synonymous with the country

Detailed Description

Ireland has a history that you can really experience. Rather than just seeing the sights and landmarks, you can get involved with the culture. The old towns and cities are not museum pieces but lived-in places where tradition is actively preserved into the 21st century. With this handcrafted tour, you will travel from the Bronze-Age and Neolithic tombs through medieval memoirs and tribal tales, and then all the way forward to the 19th-century change. There will be music, storytelling, castles, cathedrals, and many colorful odes to yesteryear.

Spread over 13 days, this journey will provide a relaxing vacation in the southern half of the country. In most destinations, you will spend at least two nights, so there is an opportunity to settle in and really absorb why these places are so unique. Hotels have been chosen for their quality and location, helping to reduce how far you have to walk. All of your transfers will be privately guided, allowing for flexibility in your daily itinerary. Local historians take over at most the destinations, so you can understand stories and the context of the places you visit.

After flying into Dublin, you will spend four nights in the Irish capital. This should allow plenty of time to get over the travel and any jet lag in addition to experiencing different aspects of the city’s culture. While parts of Dublin are now quite modern, culture and tradition remain strong. One of these traditions is storytelling, and it can make for a charming experience on day one. Over the first two days, you will see the classic sights, including Trinity College and the highlights of Georgian Dublin. On day three, you will take the James Joyce trail through Dublin’s backstreets, and on day four, you will visit the Neolithic portal tombs of Newgrange.

It will be a short journey to Kilkenny on day five, which is where the castle and cathedral reveal almost 2,000 years of history. Smithwick’s Brewery can then give you a taste of the 17th century before two musicians take you on a tour of the city’s traditional music venues. The Rock of Cashel is Ireland’s most important historical site, and you visit this on day six en route to two nights in Kinsale. This town of cobblestone and intrigue is a base for discovering County Cork’s famous attractions, including Blarney Castle and Cobh. Your guide will customize day six to incorporate the aspects of Ireland in which you are most interested.

After a short transfer into Country Kerry, you will spend the next two nights in Kenmare, which is a lovely town that is recommended over nearby Killarney for senior travelers. It is quieter and more compact with the pubs and music venues that are more catered towards older people. On day eight, you can discover the town, and then on day nine, you will be taken on a private tour of the Ring of Kerry. Again, your guide will discuss different places that you can stop and see with the tour being able to be adjusted to your mood and energy levels. Some want to see it all and do the complete loop, while others only prefer a couple of interesting places that are away from the crowds.

Nearby Adare is the country’s best-preserved, historic village. It can feel as if you have entered a medieval century with the thatched-roof houses and a horse and carriage ride down the cobbles. The Cliffs of Moher and the Burren are Ireland’s most famous natural highlights. These are easy stops for you to make as they can be en route to your final two nights in Galway. You do not need to walk very far either because your guide will show you some of the Burren, Bronze-Age portal tombs that are closest to the road. Galway is the city of tribes and may seem to be a sum of all the past experiences with music, storytelling, plenty of tradition, and some enchanting evenings around a pub fire.

Consider learning more about our travelers’ favorite Ireland travel activities by reading their Ireland travel reviews.

Starting Price

$8,500 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

4.86 stars based on 457 reviews.

Ireland, Scotland Family Vacation Review: Ring of Kerry,...

We had an absolutely magnificent trip to Ireland and Scotland, beautifully planned and organized by Zicasso's travel company. The communication with our agent was fantastic and she tailored a trip that perfectly fit everything we wanted. From personal tours with locals in each area to excellent recommendations for meals and other activities, we had a wonderful family trip!


Reviewed By Katherine P.

Ireland Vacation Review: Dublin, Rock of Cashel, Blarney...

This Ireland trip was absolutely incredible. Our family of 13 ranged from three to 70 years old and we loved it so much. Working with Zicasso’s travel agent was so easy. During the planning stage, she accommodated my calls and emails, executing perfectly on a flawless itinerary.

We loved starting out in Dublin and then traveling to the stunning Irish countryside by way of private driver. We saw so much, from the Rock of Cashel to the Blarney Stone, the English market in Cork, and the café in Cork, which was a highlight for us!

Our absolute favorite accommodation was our lodge in County Kerry, which was a stunning property that took our experience to the next level.

The Gap of Dunloe and Cliffs of Moher were two of our favorite tours.

The travel company handled all the logistics with precision! Every transfer, tour, and activity was meticulously planned, allowing my family and me to fully immerse without worry. And our guide/driver, well, he was the absolute best. He became the 14th family member by the end of our eight-day road trip together!

Reviewed By Haneen S.

England, Scotland, Ireland Trip Review: Edinburgh, Lake...

Zicasso's travel agents were so helpful and polite. They kept us continuously updated on changes to the itinerary or the day, and made some great suggestions for plans throughout the United Kingdom.

Reviewed By Robert+ M.

Ireland Vacation Review: Food Tour, Scenery, Coast, Hikes,...

The preparation support was exceptional. Zicasso's travel consultant found activities and lodging that fit our ideas and requests quite well. She adjusted certain activities based on our reactions to the original plan. Responsiveness was fantastic. The trip itself worked out very consistently with the plan. The one occasion when we needed help, the support was immediate.

Reviewed By Jeff S.

Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland,...

Zicasso's travel partner created our dream vacation and their attention to detail was absolutely spectacular! They went above and beyond to ensure my daughter had a memorable trip!

Reviewed By Wendy N.

Ireland Tour Review: Kilkenny, Kinsale, Galway, Forty Foot,...

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.

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