The family will enjoy the irresistible mythology and fascinating history of the Emerald Isle when exploring castles, artifacts, and farms on your handcrafted family Ireland tour. Kiss the Blarney Stone for the legendary gift of gab. Shape clay and metal into elaborate pottery or delicate jewelry inspired by Celtic designs. Cycle through preserved woodlands connected to pristine reflective lakes. From the history of Vikings to the natural drama embodied in coastal cliffs, the enchanting tales passed...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Dublin – Arrive in Dublin with an Introduction to the Historical City Streets
Your flight lands at Dublin International Airport, where your private transfer greets you upon arrival. After settling into the comforts of your luxury accommodations at the heart of the city, your guide greets the family in the lobby eager to introduce you to the fascinating history encompassing the former Second City of the British Empire. Layers of history create an enrapturing atmosphere along the shores of the River Liffey running through central Dublin. Georgian architecture provides an ambiance of sophistication and elegance while the buskers performing on Grafton Street offer the spirit amid cobblestone lanes and quiet cafes.
The National Museum of Ireland opened in 1877 showcasing uncovered artifacts ranging from Celtic metalwork to 8th-century jewelry, Iron Age weaponry to 12th-century dinnerware. Your guide provides legend and mythology with the stunning artifacts bringing the past to life for the entire family. The Iron Age “bog bodies” inside the Kingship and Sacrifice exhibit shows four figures from the midland bog preserved with unique details. The Medieval exhibition highlights the Viking presence on the island including Scandinavian ecclesiastical material from the 11th and 12th centuries later absorbed into Irish culture.
What's Included:
Day 2
Dublin – Relish an Exciting Guided Treasure Hunt across Dublin
Day 3
County Cork – Bask in a Luxury Train to Blarney Castle and County Cork
Day 4
County Cork – Visit Kinsale for a Celtic Pottery and Jewelry Making Class
Day 5
County Cork – Explore an Organic Farm before an Irish Cooking Class
Day 6
County Clare – Enjoy the Killarney Landscape and Lakes on a Bicycle Tour
Day 7
County Clare – Discover the Cliffs of Moher and Relax on an Irish Estate
Day 8
Shannon – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Create memorable treasures for your time in Ireland by crafting authentic pottery and Celtic jewelry guided by local Kinsale artists
- Bask in the authentic flavors of Ireland with an Irish cooking class focusing on the tastes of fresh ingredients cultivated on the property
- Traverse the historical grounds of Blarney Castle to kiss the legendary Blarney Stone and real antique dungeons
- Wander the trails overlooking the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher for a stunning panorama of the Wild Atlantic Way
- Discover glistening lakes, serene woodlands, splashing waterfalls, and remarkable castles cycling Killarney National Park
- Uncover the marvelous layers of history in Dublin where Celtic, Viking, and Medieval artifacts reveal a distinct culture
- Witness the unique beauty and stunning allure surrounding the 9th century Book of Kells
Detailed Description
Relish a first-class experience on the ultimate 8-day family-friendly Ireland tour calling to families with children, preteens, and young teenagers interested in famous castles with a little bit of folklore, active exploration with a taste of authentic cooking. Travel across the lush Emerald Isle between Dublin and County Clare uncovering age-old traditions and fabulous stories intertwining with the unique landscape. Hunt for treasure, kiss the Blarney Stone and traverse the depths of an elegant estate accessing the layers of ancient, medieval, and contemporary history informing the daily culture.
The family adventure around Ireland begins with your arrival in Dublin. The charming city once acted as Britain’s Second City behind London but has since captivated locals and visitors with preserved Georgian architecture and displays of lavish historical artifacts. From the grounds of Trinity College to the dining room of an antique Pub, the family can hunt for treasure and enjoy the fascinating ambiance of the city’s foundations dating back to the 9th century. Enjoy a luxury train ride to Cork County for an introduction to the enticing city and surrounding countryside.
Traverse the standing grounds of Blarney Castle from the legendary stone to the dungeons. Visit the colorful seaside town of Kinsale for a lesson in Celtic jewelry and gorgeous pottery before spending time on a working farm established in the 1700s. Learn archery or spend time exploring an estate on horseback. At the Ballymaloe Cookery School, the family can indulge in the art of cooking for insight into organic farming, cooking demonstration, and flavors of authentic Irish cuisine.
Venture into County Clare for a family bike ride through Killarney National park. Discover the fabulous lakes, antique castles, and fascinating woodlands, as well as the powerful rush of Torc Waterfall. Arrive at your accommodations inside a castle overlooking the vast estate in County Clare. The Cliffs of Moher climb above the Atlantic Ocean with a visitor walkway providing views over the bluffs and onto the horizon. Visiting a traditional Irish farm offers live demonstrations of sheep herding and shearing, while also allowing the family to pet and feed the lambs revealing the variety of wonder found in Ireland.
Consider learning more about our travelers’ best Ireland travel experiences by reading their Ireland travel reviews.
Starting Price
$5,200 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 487 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.