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This grand Ireland castle trip is fit for royalty, including lavish stays in the homes of Irish nobility. You’ll travel to Kildare and learn all about the racehorses of Ireland, visit the Ring of Kerry and watch how delicate marble is carved in Connemara.
This grand Ireland castle trip is fit for royalty, including lavish stays in the homes of Irish nobility. You’ll travel to Kildare and learn all about the racehorses of Ireland, visit the Ring of Kerry and watch how delicate marble is carved in Connemara.
Set your watch to the lively pace of Ireland's capital city – the springboard for your in-depth journey through the lush landscapes and enduring allure of Ireland. Our exploration of Dublin with a Local Specialist will see us view St. Patrick's Cathedral and the colourful Georgian Squares. Spend some time at leisure exploring Dublin's pretty streets before joining your travel companions and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception celebrating traditional Irish flavours.
Our first stop today is Europe's 'Capital of Culture', where you will have an opportunity to see Galway Cathedral and stroll through Eyre Square. We overnight at one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories on the shores of Lough Corrib. Feel like lords and ladies as you relax in the elegant country quarters of the Lodge at Ashford Castle, celebrating the heritage and hospitality of Ireland.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - The Lodge at Ashford Castle
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
TODAY'S INCLUDED HIGHLIGHT EXPERIENCE
Day 3
Admire the Elegant Westport House and Abbeyglen Castle
Leaving the elegant estate of Ashford Castle behind, our journey takes us to Westport House where we'll Connect With Locals and indulge in a memorable Be My Guest experience with tales of the Pirate Queen, and enjoy Banoffee and Baileys flavours in the Drawing Room of this stately 18th-century home. Our home for the next two nights is one of Trafalgar's Stays With Stories - the spectacular Abbeyglen Castle.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast, Dinner, Be My Guest
Day 4
A Day Exploring Stunning Connemara
Drive through the 'savage beauty' of Connemara, as described by Oscar Wilde who was inspired by the region's craggy mountains, shimmering lakes and endless shades of green. We visit Kylemore Abbey, a magnificent castellated structure built as a family home and now inhabited by a group of Benedictine nuns. Venture into the secret nooks and crannies of its extensive walled Victorian garden before returning to your castle accommodation for a delicious dinner.
Dive back into 19th-century rural Connemara to hear its stories and traditions. You'll be able to see first hand the centuries-old custom of turf cutting at the hilltop bog. And in the cottage where he lived, hear stories of Dan O’Hara, who lived here before having to leave during the Famine. This is a not-to-be-missed insight into rural Ireland life.
Adult Price: €30.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 5
Onwards to the Cliffs of Moher and Killarney
This morning, visit the Connemara marble artisan workshop, where you'll Dive Into Culture and witness first-hand how this famous green jade-like marble is carved. Picture yourself living in 1520 alongside the Dunguaire Castle when we later stop to explore the charming seaport village of Kinvara. Next up is a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience you’ll remember for years to come as you watch the UNESCO-listed Cliffs of Moher plunge dramatically into the Atlantic waters below. Beyond the endless views and the opportunity to capture on film the colonies of curious-looking puffins that find sanctuary in its nooks and crannies, you’ll have an opportunity to visit the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience which really brings this natural phenomenon to life in an interactive way, leaving you with a deep understanding of this special place. Our home tonight is one of Trafalgar's Stays With Stories - Great Southern, a Victorian-styled hotel built over 160 years ago as Ireland's first purpose-built hotel. The hotel’s Victorian architecture ends the day still dreaming of life many years ago.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Great Southern
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Optional Experience
Irish Ceilidh Evening
The Irish Ceilidh epitomises how music and dance were enjoyed in rural Ireland, especially on festive occasions. The craic - welcoming, jolly, fun and informal - is accompanied with plenty of food and drink. There's no more enjoyable way to understand Irish culture.
Adult Price: €67.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 6
A Day on the Ring of Kerry
Enjoy a slow start to your morning, joining a Local Specialist for a leisurely guided walk at Torc Waterfall, strolling over wooded paths and lakeshore trails. We embark on an epic drive next, exploring the enduring beauty of the Ring of Kerry whose enchanting coastal landscapes have inspired writers and poets for centuries.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Optional Experience
Experience a Jaunting Cart Ride
Enjoy a traditional pony and trap ride through the beautiful Bourn-Vincent National Park. During your journey, your Local Specialist will share fascinating anecdotes about the area and Ireland.
Adult Price: €22.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Optional Experience
Celtic Steps
Enjoy a spectacular evening of Irish music, song and dance performed by champion dancers and musicians and showcasing the music of Kerry and beyond.
Adult Price: €36.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 7
Discover Cashel and Return to Dublin
Discover the legacy of St. Patrick when you visit the imposing Rock of Cashel, once the traditional seat of the kings of Munster. View its ecclesiastical ruins with a Local Specialist then traverse scenic landscapes to Kildare. Here you’ll Dive Into Culture and learn about Ireland's thoroughbred industry at the Irish National Stud. You'll have a rare opportunity to see the foaling unit, museum and of course the magnificent stallions that continue to make racing history. Later today, return to the Irish capital where you’ll inject a bit of the craic into your Farewell Dinner with new friends.
We say a fond farewell to our newfound friends and Dublin today. You will be transferred to the airport, where your journey through the 'Emerald Isle' comes to an end. Transfers are available. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
All optional experiences for this trip
Book with your travel director when you travel
Available on day 4
Visit an Historic Connemara Farm
Dive back into 19th-century rural Connemara to hear its stories and traditions. You'll be able to see first hand the centuries-old custom of turf cutting at the hilltop bog. And in the cottage where he lived, hear stories of Dan O’Hara, who lived here before having to leave during the Famine. This is a not-to-be-missed insight into rural Ireland life.
Adult Price: €30.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Available on day 5
Irish Ceilidh Evening
The Irish Ceilidh epitomises how music and dance were enjoyed in rural Ireland, especially on festive occasions. The craic - welcoming, jolly, fun and informal - is accompanied with plenty of food and drink. There's no more enjoyable way to understand Irish culture.
Adult Price: €67.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Available on day 6
Experience a Jaunting Cart Ride
Enjoy a traditional pony and trap ride through the beautiful Bourn-Vincent National Park. During your journey, your Local Specialist will share fascinating anecdotes about the area and Ireland.
Adult Price: €22.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Available on day 6
Celtic Steps
Enjoy a spectacular evening of Irish music, song and dance performed by champion dancers and musicians and showcasing the music of Kerry and beyond.
Adult Price: €36.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
All Optional Experiences
The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Notepad Icon You must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to travel
Trip details
Trip details
What's included
Trip Summary Accomodation Icon
7 nights
Accommodation
Trip Summary Meals Icon
12 Meals
1 Be My Guest, 1 Farewell Dinner, 1 Welcome Reception, 2 Dinners, 7 Breakfasts
Trip Summary Transport Icon
On-trip Transport
All transport shown
The Trafalgar difference
Connect With Locals
Enjoy a traditional Be My Guest High Tea hosted in the Drawing Room of a stately 18th-century home near the charming town of Westport.
Stays with Stories
Overnight on the shores of Lough Corrib in the elegant country quarters of the Lodge at Ashford Castle.
Stays with Stories
Built over 160 years ago, the Great Southern hotel's prime central location next to the train station and marvellous Victorian features have ensured enduring popularity.
Stays with Stories
Romance and royalty are guaranteed on your overnight stay at historic Abbeyglen, along the famous Sky Road overlooking Clifden Bay and the spectacular Twelve Bens.
Dive into Culture
Admire Ireland's finest thoroughbreds at the Irish National Stud Farm.
Dive Into Culture
Visit a Connemara marble factory to see how this vivid green-coloured stone has been crafted into jewellery and figurines for generations.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
Help preserve the Cliffs of Moher for generations to come and learn about its extraordinary geology, history and the species that find sanctuary in its nooks and crannies.
Sightseeing highlights
Experience Ti Filled Icon
Explore Dublin, Killarney National Park and Cashel with a Local Specialist
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Discover Killarney and Galway
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Visit Kylemore Abbey, Connemara Marble Factory, Cliffs of Moher, Rock of Cashel and the Irish National Stud
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View Torc Waterfall
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See Dublin's Georgian Squares and Galway Cathedral
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Scenic Drive of the Ring of Kerry and through Connemara
Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
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Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
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Ferry across the Shannon estuary
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Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
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Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
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Optional Experiences and free time
Live, unedited & independent traveler reviews
Castles and Manors trip reviews
Our guests are at the heart of everything we do, their feedback fuels our innovation, inspiring us to improve continuously and craft Simply The Best vacations. That's why we ask each of our guests to leave a third-party verified, independent review after every trip. As testament to our commitment we have been given the Trusted Service Award from Feefo, recognising we deliver exceptional experiences as rated by real guests.
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Steven Van Keirsbilck in Kansas City, MOMy Account Icon
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Overall great experience in Ireland.
Trip Rating
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4
The only reason for 4 instead of 5 is that the castles were still closed to the public for Covid reasons. Had we known we wouldn't be able to visit the interior of the castles we would have postponed our trip till they were open. We specifically picked this trip because of the castles. In fact, I tried to talk my wife into the longer 12 trip so we could see more.
Trafalgar took very good care of us in Ireland. The tour guide was extremely helpful and interested in us having the best time possible. She worked hard to overcome the several closed attractions that were on the itinerary by supplementing other events.
My daughter and I had a better than awesome time! Our tour guide,Katie was amazing!! She made the trip everything we hoped for. Our coach driver was excellent. PJ knew about everywhere we were going and was so helpful in making our adventure so special. What a perfect pair to make our Ireland experience A++
Castles & Manor Homes of Ireland was like a storybook that became real.
Trip Rating
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4
Kilronan Castle was somewhat overrated and the service & meal at the Michelin dining room was mediocre at best. No gardens either. Loved Abbeyglen, Great Southern stays. Famine museum depressing- hated to end our tour with such a downer, even the grounds were in such a dour state, unkept, overgrown. Reading Ireland by F. Delaney- could add Newcastle site to your historical agenda.
Matt, our tour guide & Mike, our driver did a wonderful job of introducing us to Dublin, the quaint villages & the beautiful countryside of Ireland. By far, our favorite stay was at the Great Southern with the lovely scenic Muckross Manor nearby with the lovely gardens, the evening of Celtic song-and-dance, and the lively pub scene around Kilarney watching the Celtic Football Championship games. I became a princess at the hospitable charming Abbeyglen Castle, and loved our dear host with his champagne reception and family history. Our only disappointment was the dreary weather on our drive around the ring of Kerry, but we shall just have to return.
Travel director and driver through Ireland were first class and accommodation generally good. unfortunately we both got food poisoning at one of the cafe stops so were quite unwell for half the trip.
Each hotel had it's own unique story. They were clean, beds very comfortable, service at each was very good. All of the meals were very good and the staff went out of their way to make us feel very special. We saw so much more than we expected, overall good value, I wasn't disappointed.
A well organized, exceptional trip! Our Tour Director was fun and experienced in the Irish history and culture. She went above expectations to make our trip special. Our Coach Driver was very skilled at driving on those narrow roads and we always felt we were in good hands. The Coach was comfortable, clean and enjoyable to ride in. The Local Specialists were all very knowledgeable and interesting to listen too. The service at the hotels and the restaurants was exceptional, and we always felt that we were treated very special. We had a wonderful time.
Gratuities: You have the option to pre-pay the gratuities for your Travel Director and Driver. Please speak with your travel agent.
This trip will be operated in conjunction with our sister company and Celtic Specialists – Brendan Vacations.
Shared Rooming: Room Share is not available on this trip.
Drinking Water: Tap water is safe to drink in all of the destinations on this trip. Please remember to bring a water bottle.
Unless otherwise stated, trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discount. Discounts are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice.
Trip prices are correct at the time of the products going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. All trip information is correct at time of trips going live, however are subject to change - please confirm all details at time of booking.
Twin-share option not available for trips to South America, Costa Rica, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, South Africa, Kenya & Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia or for any holiday & cruise combination, or in Asia and Eastern Mediterranean except Highlights of Turkey (without cruise) & Best of Turkey. It's also not available on Small Group trips. Guided Vacations included in this restriction are Newfoundland and Labrador (DNLA). Does not apply to trips operated by Inspiring Journeys & our Mini-stays.
For trips that are part of our Guaranteed Room Share, please note that there is a no smoking policy in all shared rooms. Solo travel is not accepted on guided Family Experiences holidays unless traveling as part of a family group.
Travel to Europe often requires an overnight flight. Please arrange your flights to arrive on or before day 1.
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Your selected departure date will feature some seasonal itinerary changes to what is displayed. Click 'VIEW ITINERARY' below to see full details.
Active Trip Details
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What is an Active Trip? This is an "Active" lifestyle itinerary, with walks and hikes most days. Hikes will range from easy/moderate to strenuous. No technical climbing skills are required but a reasonable level of fitness is required to make the trip more enjoyable. Understanding that not all people want to hike at the same pace or even on the same trail we will, where possible, host map orientation and then let everyone disperse to enjoy the trails best suited to them. What to Pack Guests should bring lightweight hiking shoes or boots, broad brimmed sun hats, sunglasses, layered clothing, reusable water bottle(s), a hiking day pack and hiking poles (optional)
Weather & Altitude While the itinerary is laid out below, we are at the mercy of the weather and so reserve the right to adjust the program as necessary. Please keep in mind that the higher elevations and possible variations in weather and temperature can increase the perceived level of difficulty of our activities. Elevation ranges up to 9,000 feet for Utah’s Mighty Five and up to 11,000 feet for California High Country Adventure.
Everyone reacts differently to altitude and so if you do have any health issues you should check with your doctor that this trip is suitable for you.
