Join us on the Celtic Treasures of Ireland tour, a 10-day trip starting at $4,598 from New York, NY. You will see St. Patrick's Cathedral, Phoenix Park, Burna Bonnie, the Hill of Tara, Monasterboice, Downpatrick, Armagh, Clonmacnoise, Galway, the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher, and more.
AT A GLANCE
STATUS
Registration is open. CLICK HERE to jump to the registration section.
DATES
Departing: October 22, 2024
Returning: October 31, 2024 OR (November 2, 2024 Dublin optional extension)
PRICING
Starting at $4,598 per person for double room occupancy from New York
2-Day Optional Dublin Extension: $799
Your all-inclusive price includes:
Basic tour and guided sightseeing;
Round-trip international airfare (additional baggage and optional fees may apply; see fine print for details);
Fuel surcharges and government taxes (subject to change);
Admin fees, entrance fees, hotel gratuities, and program fees;
Daily breakfast and dinner;
Deluxe motorcoaches;
First-class hotels
NOT included:
Travel insurance (required)
Domestic flights
Anything not listed on the itinerary
*See Terms and Conditions for details.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Depart Home
Today, you leave home behind as you board your overnight international flight to Dublin.
Day 2: Arrive in Dublin, Ireland
Our local representatives will meet you at the Dublin airport. Stop at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The church was transitioned from a Catholic church to the Church of Ireland over the centuries. Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels and a critic of British rule, was a pastor here. Enjoy a pub lunch in downtown Dublin. Travel on to Phoenix Park. Once a private park only for the titled gentry, it now serves the public as both a recreational venue and home to the Dublin Zoo. After a short driving tour of Dublin, we will check into our hotel for some downtime before dinner on our own. Take the opportunity to wander the streets of Dublin in the late evening light. Perhaps, make your way along the River Liffey to the Temple Bar area, where outdoor music can be enjoyed.
Day 3: Bru na Boinne, the Hill of Tara, and Monasterboice
Head north and discover the rich history of Celtic life at the Bru na Boinne Prehistoric Monuments. You will see one of the Passage Tomb sites here, such as Newgrange and Knowth. They are richly decorated with megalithic art. From the time of the first Celtic influence until the 1169 invasion, the Hill of Tara was the island’s political and spiritual capital. It contains several ancient monuments, and according to tradition, was the seat of the High King of Ireland. Walk the grounds of Monasterboice Monastery, where some of the finest 9th-century High Crosses can be seen. Founded in 521 AD by St. Buite, the ruins remain a testament to their Christian heritage. Finish the day in Armagh and check into your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Downpatrick and Armagh
Journey into the soul of Christian Ireland at Downpatrick. See the church and grave of St. Patrick, as well as a visitor’s center that presents the saint’s life and the conversion of Ireland. Then, return to Armagh and visit the Church of Ireland Cathedral to St. Patrick here. With foundations dating back to 445 AD, this church represents one of the oldest places of continuous worship in Ireland. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Clonmacnoise and Galway
Cross Ireland, stopping to visit Clonmacnoise, an important monastic site and the burial place of kings. Among these ruins are the famous thousand-year-old cross. Three high crosses, two hundred graves, and the ruins of a 13th-century ring fort also remain. Finish the day in Galway, whose main thoroughfare is lined with buildings that date back to the 15th century. Christopher Columbus visited the city in search of support for his search or trade routes to India by crossing the Atlantic. Check into your hotel in Galway overnight.
Day 6: The Burren, the Cliffs of Moher, and Bunratty Castle
As you travel through the Burren Region, arrive at the Cliffs of Moher. These sheer cliffs drop 600 feet to the water below. This is the most impressive stretch of shoreline on the west coast of Ireland. The eroded limestone rock through the Burrens has flowers popping up through the crevices. Continue to Bunratty Castle, near the town of Limerick. Bunratty is Ireland’s most complete, authentic, and elaborately furnished medieval castle. Finish the day in Killarney and check into your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Ring of Kerry, Waterville, and Muckross House
Delight in some of Ireland’s most spectacular scenery as you travel around the Ring of Kerry, where the sea crashes into the soaring coastline. Weather permitting, take in a sheepdog demonstration. Stop around lunchtime in Waterville. Charlie Chaplin brought his family here in the summers. You can choose from several seafood restaurants along the shore for a delicious lunch. After lunch, visit the 19th-century Muckross House. Enjoy the magnificent Victorian mansion, considered one of Ireland’s leading stately homes. Imagine yourself in that time when you wander through the elegantly furnished rooms. Downstairs, however, reveals the working conditions of the servants employed in the house. Finish the day in Kinsale and enjoy a walking tour. See the Norman French inscriptions at St. Multrose Church, which was built in 1190 and remains in use to this day. The courthouse in town was used for the inquiry over the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915. Check into your Kinsale hotel for overnight.
Day 8: Blarney and Rock of Cashel
Travel to Cork to visit Blarney Castle and see the fabled Blarney Stone. Legend says that those who kiss the stone acquire the gift of eloquence. You will see the Rock of Cashel, the traditional seat of Irish kings. Here, St. Patrick is thought to have converted the King of Munster. The present ruins are from structures built in the 12th and 13th centuries, during the Norman era. Check into your Dublin hotel for the overnight.
Day 9: Glendalough and Dublin
Then, board the bus for a ride through scenic Wicklow County to Glendalough, one of the most beautiful spots in all of Ireland. Here, St. Kevin founded a monastery in 498. See the Celtic High Crosses and a stone-roofed church. Explore the wonderful hiking trails around the two lakes. Finish the day with time on your own this afternoon in Dublin.
Day 10: Return to the USA or Enjoy an Extended Stay
We will carry the people, beauty, and history of Ireland with us as we return home.
Enjoy Dublin on Your Own (Optional Extension)
Starting at $799*
Day 10-11: Dublin on Your Own
Enjoy the sights of Dublin with two more days to explore and shop on your own. Hotel accommodations and breakfast are included.
Day 12: Return to the USA
Transfer to the airport after breakfast. Return home with memories of the people and places of Ireland.
*Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion.
HOW TO REGISTER
STEP 1: COMPLETE REGISTRATION FORM
Register for the trip by completing the Traveler Registration Form and paying the non-refundable registration fee of $300 (plus taxes and fees). For more info, please review our Terms and Conditions.
STEP 2: COMPLETE BOOKING
After you complete the Traveler Registration Form, click the event link below to select your trip options and complete your booking. Upon checkout via the event page, you can select from the following payment options: Online via Credit Card or PayPal; or Manual Payments via Check, Zelle, or Bank Wire. Instructions for each payment method will be available on the checkout page and are always available on our Payment Options page.