10-Nights Ireland: Legends of the Emerald Isle - Small Group Journeys from $12,995

Abercrombie & Kent

OFFER ID 1696462

With its medieval castles, Celtic ruins, verdant fields and sparkling seas, Ireland beckons in a beguiling lilt worthy of a poem by William Butler Yeats. Revel in the legendary hospitality and warmth of the Irish people on a comprehensive journey across the Emerald Isle, taking in world-famous scenic backdrops, basking in traditional songs and stories and overnighting in historic accommodations, all while celebrating a culture cherished on both sides of the Atlantic.

10 nights from $12,995 per person

Itinerary

1 Arrive Dublin, Ireland
Fronting the River Liffey on Ireland’s eastern coast, the cosmopolitan capital of Dublin complements its wealth of history with an unabashed wit and verve that define its irresistible personality. Stately public buildings, grand scholarly enclaves, cobbled boulevards and spacious squares teem with a diversity that proudly heralds Dublin’s status as a bustling global sophisticate. Tonight, gather for a welcome dinner.
The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin

Meals:

2 Dublin – Ireland’s Greatest Authors

Immerse yourself in Dublin’s literary heritage, viewing Oscar Wilde’s Statue and visiting the Museum of Literature, where you learn the stories of great Irish writers, including James Joyce. Continue to Marsh’s Library, which has remained unchanged for three centuries, its original oak shelves housing more than 25,000 books. Then walk by the childhood home of Oscar Wilde, the modern-day location of American College Dublin. Tour nearby St. Patrick’s Cathedral with an expert guide before enjoying some free time.

The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin

Meals:

3 Kilkenny – Countryside Traditions

Travel south to the heart of County Kilkenny, a living, breathing time capsule of rolling green pastures, winding rivers, medieval towns, Norman castles and meandering back roads flanked by mossy stone walls. Visit a family-owned country pub, meet the owner and his family, and receive a hands-on introduction to the national Irish sport of hurling. Listen to a seannachi (traditional storyteller) spin tales and play music, eat a hearty lunch and learn how to pull a pint of Guinness for a full-on classic Irish pub experience.

Castlemartyr Resort

Meals:

4 Castlemartyr – Water Of Life

Visit the Cobh Heritage Centre, followed by a tour and tasting at Jameson’s Old Midleton Distillery. Your afternoon is free before you gather for a gourmet dinner at Ballymaloe House, one of Ireland’s culinary treasures, that features a delectable chef-led experience.

Castlemartyr Resort

Meals:

5 West Cork – Scenic Shorelines, Lively Stories

Drive Ireland’s wild southern shore through rugged West Cork to meet a sixth-generation Irish storyteller. Join this colorful raconteur for a ferry ride to Whiddy Island and listen as he leads you on a personally narrated tour of the island and its history, and then stop at a pub for lunch and a pint. Ferry back to the mainland and proceed to your hotel in Kenmare.

Sheen Falls Lodge

Meals:

6 Kenmare – Around The Ring Of Kerry

Cross through postcard-perfect Killarney National Park and ride in a traditional jaunting car for a closer look at the park’s natural beauty. Pause to peruse local handicrafts in the Gap of Dunloe, a lovely valley formed by glaciers. Then set out on the famed Ring of Kerry for a breathtaking coastal drive, where every turn in the road reveals new and ever-more-stunning vistas. Set atop cliffs that overlook the Atlantic, the ring circuits the Iveragh Peninsula from Killarney to Dingle Bay and beyond.

Sheen Falls Lodge

Meals:

7 Adare – Lunch With A Farm Family

Make a personal connection to Ireland when you visit a traditional family farm. Hear about rural life here from family members, and then join them for a homecooked farm lunch, on this A&K-exclusive experience. Afterward, in the heart of County Limerick, stop in Adare, often voted Ireland’s most beautiful village for its charming thatched-roof cottages and quintessentially Irish atmosphere. Then proceed to your historic countryside hotel outside Galway.

Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate

Meals:

8 Galway – The Irish Sheep Dog In Action

Head out this morning for an unforgettable drive along the Cliffs of Moher, gazing out across the verdant cliff tops, down sheer rock walls and out to the glittering Atlantic. Stop at a local farm for an expert herding demonstration by resident sheep dogs. Later, sample oysters freshly caught from Galway Bay for a taste — literally and figuratively — of daily life along western Ireland’s rocky shores.

Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate

Meals:

9 County Kildare – Historic Monastery Visit

Visit the Clonmacnoise Monastic Site to walk the ruins of a spectacular monastery on the banks of the River Shannon, its tall Celtic crosses and stone towers an austere testament to medieval religious life. Follow the Shannon to Athlone, a picturesque town of brightly-painted houses and ancient pubs, where you stop for lunch. Continue to majestic Carton House in County Kildare.

Carton House

Meals:

10 County Kildare – Irish National Stud & Gardens
Visit the Irish National Stud, a fixture of horse racing in Ireland, for a tour and time to wander through its Japanese Gardens. Return to Carton House, gathering this evening for a magnificent farewell dinner.
Carton House

Meals:

11 Depart Dublin
After breakfast, take your private transfer to the airport for your departing flight.

Meals:

Featured Destinations

Kildare

Galway

Galway is a city, a county, and an experience to be savoured and remembered. The historic city of the tribes dances to a beat uniquely it's own. There is a certain chemistry and vibrancy to this friendly university city, which many delight in, and few forget. Music, festivals, horse racing, pubs, restaurants, shops, theatres and most of all -Galway people, combine to create this atmospheric medieval city of culture. From this pulsating heart the rest of the county flows.

Galway Bay, immortalised in song, its beauty unchanging. Scenic Gaeltacht areas including the Aran Islands. Connemara, with the picturesque town of Clifden as its capital. Mountains, castles and stone walls, banks of turf, long sandy beaches, clear lakes, joyful leaping streams and flowing rivers. The mighty Shannon, delightful countryside punctuated by pretty villages, traditional pubs.

Photo used with permission
from Joe Desbonnet, www.galway.net

Excursions

Inishmore, Aran Islands - 8 hours Full Day

On the very edge of Europe, is an Island rich in the language, culture and heritage of Ireland, unique in its geology and archaeology and in its long tradition of gentle hospitality. Here is a place to sense the spirit of Gaelic Ireland, to touch the past, but with all the comforts and facilities of the present. Aran will take you back to an Ireland of Celts and Early Christians. This is an island of great peace and tranquility, but it is also an island of great fun and activity. A timeless land in an endless sea, weathered monuments on awesome cliffs, great labyrinths of limestone, meandering walls, patchwork fields, quiet beaches and a welcoming island people.

This morning we will depart from Galway and take a ferry to Inishmore, the largest of the three islands, the other islands being Inishmaan and Inisheer. The Islands are located off the West Coast of Galway about 18km out from Rossaveal Harbour in Connemara. Inishmore is approx. 13km long, and contains 3,092 ha. with a native population of about 900. Kilronan the chief center and port.
Landing in Kilronan on Inishmore, you are met by your driver in a horse drawn buggy for a guided tour of the Island and visiting one of its more impressive stone forts called Dun Aonghasa. It is semi-circular structure, resting on the edge of a perpendicular cliff rising 100 meters out of the ocean. The fort consists of an inner court 50 meters across surrounded by a wall six meters high and five meters thick at the base.

Visit the Aran Islands Interpretative Centre which highlights the unique history, spirit and landscapes of the Aran Islands. The center details the geology, history and present lifestyle of the islands. See how the legendary currachs, those open-topped, often tar-coated, boats that skim over the waves, are made. Also on display are details of the fish species off the islands and how the islanders have long used seaweed to create patches of soil that could be cultivated for crops, in between the dry stone walls that crisscross the islands and divide its tiny fields. The islands' other craft traditions, including weaving of the famous Aran sweaters, are also documented.

Duration: 8 hours

Included:
Enjoy a pub lunch on Inishmore

Departing the island by ferry you return to Galway City.
Note: it is also possible to fly to Inishmore.

Pricing: Please inquire

Kenmare

Castlemartyr

Dublin

Dublin enjoys one of the loveliest natural settings in Europe. Dublin attracts visitors from around the world with its old world charm and friendly atmosphere. Most of the architecture dates from the 18th century, when Dublin enjoyed great prominence and prosperity. Also of interest are stately Georgian houses which front Merrion Square. O'Connell Street is considered the commercial center of Dublin. Perhaps the most memorable feature of Dublin is the traditional pub, where visitors can enjoy conversation over fine Irish brew. The city also offers many fine parks, including St. Stephen's Green and Phoenix Park. National Gallery's renowned collection includes works by such famous masters as Rembrandt and Monet. Trinity College's Old Library is home to the most cherished treasure, the Book of Kells, a manuscript of the Gospels. Admire Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Enjoy the exhibits in impressive National Museum. Self-guided walking tours include Old City Trail, Georgian Heritage Trail and the Cultural Trail.

Excursions

Dublin: Highlights of Dublin City - 8 hours

Ireland, known affectionately as the “the Emerald Isle” is renowned for its excellent hospitality and you can be assured of a warm welcome by your guide and driver, who will meet you at the port. Discover the history, literary heritage and culture that lies behind Dublin’s elegant Georgian architecture and famous landmarks, during your full-day tour.

Founded in the 16th-century, Trinity College is Ireland's oldest university and holds the Book of Kells, a greatly treasured example of early Irish manuscript illumination. History lovers may opt to visit the nearby Treasury of the National Museum or EPIC - the interactive museum commemorating the emigration of 10 million Irish. For those interested in art, the National Gallery houses a superb collection.

Afterwards make a lunchtime pit stop at the Guinness Storehouse, where you learn how a pint of the world-famous Guinness is created. The heart of the building is modelled on a giant pint glass, which would hold approximately 14 million pints of Guinness beer if filled! Enjoy a complimentary pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar, which boast 360-degree views of the capital.

Complete your touring this afternoon, with a visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland and final resting place of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels. Here, take a guided tour of the impressive staterooms which are a longtime symbol of British rule in Ireland, before being transferred back to your ship.

Highlights:

Admire the grandeur of St Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland and final resting place of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels
Pour yourself a pint of Ireland’s finest at the Guinness Storehouse to discover the country’s most famous export

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

Private transport by Mercedes E-class or similar for 1 and 2 passengers, VW Caravelle (7 passenger seats) or similar for 3 and 4 passengers and 12-seater or similar for 5 and 6 passengers.
Expert local guide for 8 hours of sightseeing in Dublin
Entrance fees to all sights and museums
All taxes

Exclusions

All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
Gratuities
Supplement for public holidays
Anything not specifically mentioned in the "inclusions" list above

Dublin - Dublin City & Powerscourt - Full Day Tour

Dublin: An Introduction to Dublin - 4 hours

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

05/07/2027 - 05/17/2027

from $12,995 per person

05/14/2027 - 05/24/2027

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05/21/2027 - 05/31/2027

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06/04/2027 - 06/14/2027

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06/11/2027 - 06/21/2027

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06/18/2027 - 06/28/2027

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06/25/2027 - 07/05/2027

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07/09/2027 - 07/19/2027

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08/06/2027 - 08/16/2027

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08/13/2027 - 08/23/2027

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08/20/2027 - 08/30/2027

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08/27/2027 - 09/06/2027

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09/21/2027 - 10/01/2027

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09/24/2027 - 10/04/2027

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10/01/2027 - 10/11/2027

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10/05/2027 - 10/15/2027

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10/08/2027 - 10/18/2027

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10/15/2027 - 10/25/2027

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* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

from $12,995 per person

Length

10 Nights

Air City

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Vacation Rating

Luxury
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Remarks

Prices are per person, double occupancy and include internal air where applicable. Holiday surcharge may apply. Departure dates, prices and availability may change at any time. Some restrictions may apply.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1696462

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