Irish Elegance - Classic Group
Experience the Wild Atlantic Way and journey from Galway to Killarney on this once in a lifetime tour of Ireland. In Dublin explore the cobbled courtyards of Trinity College, before cutting the queue with fast track access to the 9th century Book of Kells. After an exploration of County Mayo and sojourn through picturesque Cong, indulge in a taste bud tantalizing Ashford Castle Dinner. The exquisite dining and locally sourced produce are matched only by the luxurious facilities of this vast estate, which include a falconry school, spa and an Irish Piper to signal your arrival. Look out at Galway Bay from the dramatic Cliffs of Moher and contemplate the beauty of County Clare on this weeklong, Irish experience.


Dining Summary

• 4 Dinner with Wine (DW)
• 7 Breakfast (B)

Choice Highlights

• Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Blarney: It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone, the famous stone of eloquence, are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. Take your turn at giving it a peck knowing that the stone was sourced from 330-million-year-old limestone.
• Blarney: Your up close and personal encounter with the lush gardens of the Blarney Castle estate is brought to life on a guided tour with a senior gardener. On your stroll enhanced by your expert’s insights, learn about the arboretum’s rare trees, mystical Druid rock formations and the Bog Garden boasting three 600-year-old yew trees.
• Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden: With a striking Victorian Walled Garden and turreted church, Neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey is a sight to behold. Dig into the Abbey’s history, discovering how it was founded in 1920 for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I.
• Connemara: Taste the unique flavors of DK Connemara oysters, bred in pure water that runs off the limestone hills of the Connemara National Park. Learn about the farm's sustainability initiatives in an enlightening experience. DK Connemara oysters lead the way in biodiversity and packaging for farming and advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption & Production. Alternatively, enjoy a visit to the turreted Neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey.

Additional Included Highlights

• : Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
• : Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
• : We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
• : From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
• : Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
• : If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.

Authentic Dining

• Dublin: Join your Travel Director for a warm and friendly Welcome Dinner, an opportunity to get to know each other over a meal with wine.
• Ashford Castle: Dine on delicious Farm-to-Table fare in a stylish setting at Ashford Castle's iconic George V Dining Room.

Insight Choice

• Blarney: It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone, the famous stone of eloquence, are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. Take your turn at giving it a peck knowing that the stone was sourced from 330-million-year-old limestone.
• Blarney: Your up close and personal encounter with the lush gardens of the Blarney Castle estate is brought to life on a guided tour with a senior gardener. On your stroll enhanced by your expert’s insights, learn about the arboretum’s rare trees, mystical Druid rock formations and the Bog Garden boasting three 600-year-old yew trees.

Insight Experiences

• Dublin: A stunning combination of cobblestone walkways, emerald-green lawns and 18th-century architectural gems, Trinity College is one of Europe’s elite universities and counts poet Oscar Wilde among its alumni. See the enchanting college campus and discover insights into its impressive history. Enjoy access to view the famous Book of Kells, an exquisite manuscript of the four gospels of the Christian New Testament, renowned for the intricacy, detail and majesty of the illustrations.

Make Travel Matter

• Kerry: Meet John, a seaweed advocate and educator for a seaweed foraging walk at Atlantic Irish Seaweed. Stroll along the shore learning about how they work to protect the fragile ecosystem of the wild Atlantic Irish coasts through their educational courses and passion for the local environment. Irish Atlantic Seaweed's environmental policy is to respect, enjoy and protect the natural wonders that surround them, and promote the sustainable use of Ireland's fragile marine ecosystems. This experience directly supports UN Global Goal 14: Life Below Water.
• Connemara: Taste the unique flavors of DK Connemara oysters, bred in pure water that runs off the limestone hills of the Connemara National Park. Learn about the farm's sustainability initiatives in an enlightening experience. DK Connemara oysters lead the way in biodiversity and packaging for farming and advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption & Production. Alternatively, enjoy a visit to the turreted Neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey.

Top Rated Highlights

• Dublin: During your orientation with your Travel Director, see Custom House and travel along the River Liffey. See the Guinness Brewery, Christchurch Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral.
• Cashel: See the Rock of Cashel where St. Patrick preached.
• Killarney: Enjoy hearing of the history of Killarney during your city orientation.
• Ring of Kerry: Venture into a world of towering cliffs, lush lakelands, beaches, fields dotted with sheep, rocky coastline, remote villages and historical sites, as you journey the magical Ring of Kerry. This 111-mile circular route is the best place to admire Ireland's scenic beauty and truly one of the most beautiful drives in the world.
• Shannon: Cross the Shannan Estuary by ferry. This large estuary is where the River Shannon flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
• Cliffs of Moher: Towering cliffs and the dramatic sea, the Cliffs of Moher has inspired countless travelers. Visit the Exhibition Center and look out over the Wild Atlantic Way from these majestic cliffs that rise over 700 feet high. Gain insights from your Travel Director into the cliffs’ geology, history and the species that find sanctuary in its nooks and crannies.
• Galway: Visit the stunning cathedral of the City of Tribes. Admire its Renaissance style dome and unique rose shaped window.
• Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden: With a striking Victorian Walled Garden and turreted church, Neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey is a sight to behold. Dig into the Abbey’s history, discovering how it was founded in 1920 for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I.
• Cong: Enjoy time as you wish to explore this delightful, quintessential Irish village, used as the location for 1952 film, 'The Quiet Man.' See the statue of the lead characters played by John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, and the ruins of the Medieval Cong Abbey.
• Ashford Castle: On arrival to Ashford Castle, you are escorted over the drawbridge by a lone piper for a majestic entrance fit for royalty.

Well-being

• : Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
• : Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.