12 Day Irish Guided Tour -

Overview

On a Carroll’s Tours 12 Day Irish Guided Tour you will always take the road less travelled. This unique guided tour goes clockwise around Ireland. On this exciting trip you get to enjoy the breath taking scenery, lively towns and delightful food and drink that Ireland has to offer. The road takes you on a broad sweep from Dublin through the mountains of Wicklow setting your journey off to a great start. Stop at Glendalough for refreshing views and a short beautiful drive to Kilkenny City to discover Medieval Ireland!

Heading west along Waterfords Copper Coast to the delights of Killarney in Kerry. This road is the starting point of your tour on the Wild Atlantic Way. In Kerry you will take the Ring of Kerry and the Skellig Ring two drives of stunning coastal cliff’s and high mountains. Heading North across the river Shannon into Clare you come to Ireland’s most iconic tourist attraction, The Cliffs of Moher. This road then goes on to Galway and majestic Connemara. Through a fairytale landscape of winding roads and empty beaches.

From Galway you head out to Mayo, stunning mountain scenery Dough Lough drive, Killadoon Beach and the high cliffs of Achill Island. Heading into Sligo you feel the ancient beating heart of Ireland’s Wild Queen Maeve. In Donegal you scale the highest cliffs in Europe. Drive through a bewitching landscape of ancient monuments and mist shrouded landscape. Explore lonely ruins and rediscover stirring tales of Ireland’s ancient past.

From Donegal to Derry you move along the North Derry/Antrim Coast, exploring the Game of Thrones landscape. Stopping at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Giants Causeway. When you take a Carroll’s Tours 12 Day Irish Guided Tour everywhere you go are restaurants and bars where you will discover friendly people making room for you. This drive will pass through lively cities and towns full of good food, fine company, and drink. This is a guided tour to be shared with a partner, with friends or with family, so why not go discover yourself?

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Description of Tour

Day 1: Arrival Day Dublin – Waterford City/Kilkenny City

An Airport meet and greet with a Carroll’s Tours Rep, information packs and guideline material will be given to you
Freshen up before you set out, with coffee and a chance to meet your guide
When everyone is settled only then wilkl you start on your Carroll’s Tour 12 Day Irish Guided Tour
Dublin to Waterford via Ireland’s ‘Medieval Capital’ Kilkenny where you will get to explore the famous 12th Century Kilkenny Castle. Travel along south to Waterford City where you can visit the famous House of Waterford Crystal. In the evening choose from one of the many pubs and restaurants Waterford has to offer.

Day 2: Killarney

Drive along the south coast of Ireland, about 120 miles, toward Killarney
You may like to stop in Cobh, Cork, or Blarney for some local sightseeing in Blarney Woollen Mills
Choose from a selection of visitor experiences such as Jameson Experience, Cobh Heritage Centre, Titanic Experience Cobh, and Blarney Castle.

Day 3: Ring of Kerry

Get ready for a fabulous day of scenic views on the Ring of Kerry, the 100 mile winding coastal drive consists of beautiful beaches and Cliffs and iconic landscapes
If you are a Star Wars fan why not visit the famous Skellig Michael where Star Wars VII was filmed
Pause for a stroll around Sneem, with its brightly painted houses, and at Moll’s Gap for panoramic views of Ireland’s highest mountains and deep valleys
Enjoy another evening in Killarney to sample the local pubs and eateries

Day 4: Cong via Galway

Leave Killarney early morning and drive north to Tarbert for a 20-minute ferry ride across the wide River Shannon Estuary
Continue along the coast of County Clare to the Cliffs of Moher, a spectacular wall of sandstone that reaches almost 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean
Drive past Lahinch and travel onwards north arriving at the village of Doolin
Doolin is world-famous for its wealth of Irish folk music and in recent years has been attracting crowds to spontaneous sessions in any one of its excellent pubs
Then it’s on to Galway via the lunar like Burren Region and the ancient Poulnabrone Dolmen Tombs
Drive through the Burren and around Galway Bay before reaching Kylemore Pass Hotel for your next overnight stay

Day 5: Connemara

Today, the beautiful Connemara Region awaits you
Situated west of Galway on the most western seaboard of Europe, you will get to experience breathtaking scenery.
featuring rugged, unpolluted coastline, dramatic mountains, numerous lakes and rivers and woodlands and the renowned Connemara National Park
Visit Kylemore Abbey and the Lough Inagh Valley as well as the spectacular Sky Road near the town of Clifden
You can also visit the fishing village of Roundstone and see how a ‘Bodhran’ (traditional Irish Drum) is made
Today you take “The Quiet Man” walking tour of Cong

Day 6: Connemara to Westport

Driving north from Connemara, stop to walk along the fjord at Killiary harbour or indeed take the catamaran cruise through Ireland’s only fjord
From there travel just south of Westport to see Croagh Patrick, otherwise known as Ireland’s ‘Holy Mountain’ upon which St. Patrick spent 40 days fasting
The area around Croagh Patrick is rich in archaeological remains which provide an interesting insight into life in times past
Westport House is located west of the Shannon and is one of Irelands’ most historic homes open to the public

Day 7: Westport – Achill Island

You have a fun packed day ahead, Leaving Westport for Achill island along Clew bay
first stop is Burrishoole Abbey, saved in your Garmin in ‘Favourites’ set in lovely quiet countryside adjacent to a still lake Continue along the route to Mulranny, and on to Achill sound, then drive over the bridge onto Achill island itself
The drive across the island is very dramatic and wild, with a mix of great ocean views and mountain passes
Onwards to Keem beach, a lovely Blue star beach, ideal place for a swim on a hot summers day
Drive back to Westport for the evening and enjoy this wonderful town, voted best town in Ireland in 2012

Day 8: Donegal

An early morning start for a short 1 hour drive towards the hills of Donegal
Arriving in Donegal, deep in the heart of County is Glenveagh National Park and is considered by many to be Ireland’s finest national park
Travelling further on north into the City of Derry where we have organized a Bogside Tour
Walk the around the walls of the city before you enjoy your evening meal and live Irish music.

Day 9: Giants Causeway

One of the many highlights of your trip will be visiting the breathtaking Giants Causeway today
As we leave Derry and make our way towards the Northern Coastal route,Look out for the glorious Mussenden Temple overlooking the 9 mile long Benone Strand
heading east take in the ruins of medieval Dunluce Castle, teetering out over the ocean, or breathe in the fresh air at the beaches of Portrush or Portstewart
From here travel to the Giant’s Causeway. The Causeway was formed 70,000,000 years ago by massive volcanic
Legend has it that the Irish giant Fionn Mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool) built the causeway to walk to Scotland to fight his Scottish counterpart Benandonner.
The coastal road to Belfast has spectacular views so have the cameras at the ready
From here, make sure to walk the stunning Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge spans a gaping chasm between the coast and a small island used by fishermen
The terrifying eighty foot drop can be crossed via the swinging bridge – not for the faint hearted!
Arriving that evening to give you plenty of time for to stroll around Belfast City.

Day 10: Belfast

Belfast City is full of history, culture and friendly locals inspiring the likes of Chronicles of Narnia and Gulliver’s Travel
Take Black Cab Political Tour to pick you up in the morning at reception where our driver guide will give you an insight into Belfast’s troubled history & vibrant modern culture
That afternoon after lunch, visit The Titanic Belfast Experience, telling the story of the famous HMS Titanic which tragically sank on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in 1912

Day 11: Newgrange

Leaving Belfast towards Dublin, you will get a chance to visit one of the great wonders of the ancient world, Newgrange
Newgrange is a 5,200 year old passage tomb located in the Boyne Valley in Ireland’s Ancient East
Newgrange is older than Stonehenge, Mycenae or even the Pyramids of Egypt
Not far from here is Trim Castle
The castle, on the shores of the Boyne, is one of the largest Norman castles in Europe, and Ireland’s largest castle
Just north of here lies The Hill of Tara
Located near the River Boyne, this ancient contains a number of ancient monuments, and, according to tradition, was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland
That night enjoy a mixture of music song and dance with our Live Traditional Irish Dance show & farewell Dinner

Day 12: Farewell

After enjoying a Full Irish Breakfast to get you sorted for the day ahead we say goodbye and wish you a safe journey home.

12 Day Irish Guided Tour Package Includes:

Airport Meet and Greet, Tour Pack
Guide/Driver
Twelve 3 or 4 Star Boutique Hotel Accommodation (Bed and Breakfast)
12 Lunches and 2 Special Dinners
Pre-paid Activity and Heritage Entrance: National Stud, Kilkenny Castle, Jameson Midleton Distillery Whiskey Experience, Ross Castle, Adare Castle and Abbey, Cliffs of Moher, Kylemore Abbey, Westport House, Donegal Castle, Glenveagh National Park, Causeway Coast including Dunluce Castle and Giants Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Dark Hedges, Belfast Titanic Experience, Newgrange, Trim Castle, Dublin Walking Tour, Guinness Storehouse