From the bustling city of Belfast to the hidden gems of Donegal, the Bohemian City of Galway to the Kingdom of Kerry, from charming villages and beautiful countryside. From prehistoric sites older than the pyramids to historic forts and cathedrals. From cozy pubs with locals playing traditional tunes to quaint shops selling handmade crafts. Ireland is a land of legendary storytellers, world-class musicians, and exceptional chefs who can transform locally grown ingredients into works of art.  Prepare to be lifted and landed, wined, and dined!

Caddie Tours will be happy to organize flights from any US city to and from Dublin.

Credit cards are subject to processing fees for initial deposits, installments, and final payments, while checks or ACH payments have no fees!

Day One – Welcome to Ireland

A warm welcome awaits you at Dublin Airport. Once everyone is on board, we will drive north for an hour or so to the coastal town of Carlingford on the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth for some lunch at the Four Seasons Hotel. We'll then travel an hour north to Belfast and stay at the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast for the next three nights.

Standing tall above the city skyline, the Grand Central Hotel is more than just a hotel; it’s a thoughtful merging of the old and new Belfast. Contemporary luxury can be found at every turn. From our ground-floor gourmet bistro to the 23rd-floor cocktail bar, this modern five-star hotel located in Belfast city centre offers a unique 360-degree perspective of Northern Ireland’s historic capital, with exceptional service as standard. Situated in the heart of Belfast’s Linen district, with charming cobbled streets, pubs, history, and shopping right on our doorstep. Explore this afternoon on your own to explore National Geographic's 2024 choice as one of the most incredible and most exciting destinations to visit in the world! Tonight, we gather for an exceptional culinary experience.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT: GRAND CENTRAL HOTEL, BELFAST (L, D)

Day Two – Tracy's Farmhouse Kitchen

After breakfast, depart for Newcastle in Co Down, where you will enjoy some time to explore or walk on the beach before continuing to Tracy’s Farmhouse Kitchen on the shores of Strangford Lough. Join Tracey in her cozy and welcoming farmhouse kitchen and learn to make traditional Irish soda bread and wheaten bread, just like generations of Irish families have done before you. Sample the freshly baked bread with homemade jams and tea & coffee. Return to Belfast to explore one of the many fine restaurants and pubs in the city for dinner on your own.

OVERNIGHT: GRAND CENTRAL HOTEL BELFAST (B)  

Day Three – Giants Causeway & Bushmills Distillery

After breakfast, we depart the hotel and drive north into County Antrim to visit Northern Ireland’s only World Unesco Heritage site, the phenomenal Giant’s Causeway. The Giant's Causeway is made up of some 40,000 black basalt columns sticking out of the sea. The dramatic sight has inspired legends of giants striding over the sea to Scotland, but this striking landscape was caused by volcanic activity 60 million years ago. Celebrated in both the arts and in science, it has been a top visitor attraction for 300 years and has come to be regarded as a symbol for Northern Ireland.

It’s then just a few miles to our next stop to visit Bushmills, the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world, and maker of the famous Bushmills and Blackbush whiskeys. We’ll take a guided tour and see firsthand how the masters craft the whiskey, experiencing the impressive sights and rich scents at each stage from the mash tun to the pot still to the barrel. We’ll then complete our tour in the 1608 bar, tasting a wee dram of whiskey. Departing Bushmills, we will travel along the outstanding Antrim Coast Road, taking in the Glens of Antrim, which consistently ranks among the best scenic road trips in the world, before heading back to the Grand Central for another fantastic night of outstanding food.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT: THE GRAND CENTRAL (B, D)

Day Four – TITANIC EXPERIENCE MUSEUM

After breakfast, we will explore one of Northern Ireland’s top attractions, The Titanic Experience. This excellent visit extends over nine galleries, including full-scale reconstructions and innovative interactive features. You will explore the Titanic story freshly and insightfully from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, through her construction and launch, to her infamous maiden voyage and catastrophic demise.

We travel west to Omagh, County Tyrone, and visit the Ulster American Folk Park.

This open-air museum takes you from thatched cottages of Ulster to the log cabins of the American frontier. You will immerse yourself in three centuries of Irish emigration, walking in the footsteps of the bold migrants who set sail for the New World in the 18th and 19th centuries. Meet costumed characters with traditional crafts to show, tales to tell, and food to share as you wander the well-trodden pathways of rural Ulster. Continue the migration experience as you board the Big Union ship and emerge in the New World, discovering historic buildings, including the Mellon Homestead, as well as other buildings relocated to the museum. We will arrive in Donegal in the early evening and stay at the Sandhouse Hotel for the next two nights. Join your fellow travelers for a group dinner tonight in the hotel.

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: THE SANDHOUSE HOTEL DONEGAL (B, D)

Day Five – Slieve League & Ardara

After breakfast, travel through Killybegs, one of Ireland’s busiest fishing ports, with its picturesque harbor and vibrant seafaring culture. Continue through the village of Teelin to the awe-inspiring Slieve League Cliffs, one of Europe’s highest sea cliffs. Admire the dramatic views as the cliffs plunge nearly 2,000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean, offering vistas that surpass even the iconic Cliffs of Moher. We will journey through the ruggedly beautiful Glencolmcille, known for its vibrant arts and crafts scene, before arriving in Ardara for lunch at Nancy's. Visit Triona Design, a family-run business where you can observe traditional hand-weaving techniques that have been passed down through generations. We will conclude the day with a scenic drive through Glengesh Pass, a winding mountain route with breathtaking views, and enjoy a stroll in Donegal Town, rich in history and charm.

OVERNIGHT: THE SANDHOUSE HOTEL, DONEGAL (B, L)

DAY SIX - THE SHEDD DISTILLERY

After breakfast, our travels continue south to visit The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, an award-winning craft distillery celebrated worldwide for its unique Gunpowder Irish Gin. On a guided tour, you’ll learn how this iconic spirit is created using exotic botanicals and traditional distillation methods. A tasting in the inviting distillery bar provides the perfect finishing touch to this flavorful experience, with lunch to follow. We'll make our way to the Bohemian City of Galway and stay two nights at the Hardiman Hotel on Eyre Square. Join your fellow travelers for a group dinner in the hotel tonight.

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: THE HARDIMAN HOTEL GALWAY CITY (B, L, D)

Day SEVEN - WALKING TOUR OF GALWAY

WALKING TOUR & FREE TIME IN GALWAY CITY

Galway is one of the most popular destinations in Ireland for good reason, as tourists love this vibrant, thriving city with its diverse cultural, historic, artistic, and musical heritage. Today, we will get an insider’s view of the old city of Galway, which is perfect for exploring on foot. Join our old friend and raconteur, Brian Nolan, as he wanders the streets of Galway recounting fascinating tales of war and Conquest, joy and tragedy, emigration and slavery, success and folly. Walk in the footsteps of Saint Brendan, Christopher Columbus, W. B. Yeats, Padraig Pearse, James Joyce, John Wayne, John Huston, John F. Kennedy, and many others who have strolled the old cobble-stoned streets of Galway. The rest of the day is free to explore this magical city on your own and dine in one of the many restaurants in the city tonight.

OVERNIGHT: THE HARDIMAN HOTEL GALWAY CITY (B)

DAY EIGHT - CLIFFS OF MOHER AND FERRY CROSSING

After breakfast, we travel to the famous Cliffs of Moher. Rising some 700 feet over the wild Atlantic Ocean, the Cliffs of Moher are a symbol of Ireland and are world-renowned for their beauty—the views from the Cliffs stretch as far as Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. Discover the Cliffs by boat, on a cruise leaving from Doolin Pier, followed by lunch in Doolin at McCann’s Pub.

We will cross the Shannon Estuary from Co.Clare to Co. Kerry and travel to Kenmare for two nights at the Lansdowne Hotel.

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: THE LANSDOWNE HOTEL KENMARE (B, L, D)

DAY NINE- THE RING OF KERRY

After breakfast, we will have a full-day excursion exploring the world-famous Ring of Kerry with spectacular views over Dingle Bay and the Beara Peninsula. The Ring of Kerry is considered by many to be the most scenic area in Ireland. There is a fantastic contrast of sea-eroded coastline, sandy beaches, mountains, and valleys along this jaw-droppingly scenic route. Take a detour from the Ring of Kerry to the lesser-explored Skellig Ring. Cross by bridge to Valentia Island and the Transatlantic Cable Station, from here, over 150 years ago, the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable was laid between Valentia Island in Ireland and Heart’s Content in Newfoundland, Canada, connecting the Old World with the New World.  We will have lunch at the Moorings Pub before continuing on the Ring of Kerry. Return to Kenmare, where the evening is free to explore one of many restaurants and pubs in town for dinner tonight.

OVERNIGHT: THE LANSDOWNE HOTEL KENMARE (B, L)

After breakfast, we depart for Cahir Castle. It is one of Ireland’s largest and best-preserved castles. It stands proudly on a rocky island on the River Suir.

The castle was built in the thirteenth century and served as the stronghold of the powerful Butler family. So effective was its design that it was believed impregnable, but it finally fell to the Earl of Essex in 1599, when heavy artillery was used against it for the first time. During the Irish Confederate Wars, it was besieged twice more.

At the time of its construction, Cahir Castle was at the cutting edge of castle design, and much of the original structure remains. An excellent audiovisual show now provides sightseers with a detailed appreciation of the castle’s long history. Visitors also flock to the castle because of its role as a film and TV location – it has featured in productions like Excalibur and The Tudors. We will have lunch in Cahir before we arrive in the Medieval City of Kilkenny for our final night on the tour. Join your fellow travelers for a farewell group dinner and Traditional Irish Music at Kylers Inn, only a short walk from your hotel.

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: RIVER COURT HOTEL KILKENNY (B, L, D)

All too soon, our Irish adventure draws to a close. After breakfast, we will bring you to Dublin Airport in plenty of time to check in, clear customs and immigration, and enjoy a stress-free departure. With duty-free shopping on hand, you’ll have the chance to pick up a few last-minute gifts or mementos before your flight.

Thank you for trusting us once again with your vacation, and we certainly hope you had a great time!

Until then, we wish you a safe journey home.

Slán Abhaile – Safe Home!