Day 2: A Dairy Farm and an Elizabethan Mansion

Your Ireland tour continues when you discover the importance of farming in the west of Ireland on a visit to a working dairy farm, which has been in the same family for generations; you’re invited inside their home for a light Irish lunch and some excellent stories! Then it’s on to Killarney and a visit to Muckross House, an Elizabethan-style mansion which was built in 1843. Set in Killarney National Park, the estate features distinguished 19th-century interiors; it is surrounded by magnificent gardens in a palette of sensational colors. Your accommodations for the next two nights are at one of Ireland’s most gracious hotels, Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa, overlooking the Lakes of Killarney and exuding the warmth of a country home; every Tauck guest room gazes out upon Killarney’s incredibly beautiful landscapes.

Overnight at Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa

Day 3: Irish Life on the Dingle Peninsula

For anyone who saw the epic films Ryan’s Daughter, or Far and Away, the Ireland in your mind’s eye is forever framed by the wild, rugged, romantic coastal scenery of the Dingle Peninsula. First stop on your Ireland tour today is the hilly town of Dingle for a visit to the former Presentation Sisters convent and a look at the stained glass windows of famed artisan Harry Clarke, a leader in the arts and crafts movement in Ireland. Spend some time as you please exploring Dingle (and its famous pubs), then travel to the tip of the Dingle Peninsula for a visit to the Blasket Centre and a look at the lost lifestyle, tradition and language of the unique Blasket Islanders. Completely Irish speaking, the residents of these remote islands off the Kerry coast produced an amazing amount of books in the early 20th century that depicted their isolated lifestyle. A return to Dingle brings the perfect ending to the day on the peninsula – a special evening of traditional Irish food, song and storytelling that gives yet another look at daily life in this remote part of western Ireland. Return in mid-evening to Killarney and the Aghadoe Heights Hotel.

Overnight at Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa

Day 4: The Blarney Stone and Waterford Crystal

Journey to 15th-century Blarney Castle to see the famous Blarney Stone; legend has it that if you kiss the stone, you will be blessed with the gift of the gab. Next up is a visit to the city of Waterford and a tour of the new Waterford Crystal Visitors Centre for a look at the centuries-old story of Ireland’s famed glassware. Arrive early evening at Mount Juliet Hotel, in the heart of Kilkenny, where you’ll dine à la carte this evening.

Overnight at Mount Juliet Hotel & Spa

Day 5: Kilkenny Antiquities, Country Living

You’ll discover that Ireland’s antiquities tell the tales of days gone by... and today’s visit to the ruins of the Cistercian Jerpoint Abbey introduces some remarkable medieval architectural artifacts. Take a guided walking tour of Kilkenny, world-renowned as a center for craft and design, for insights into the Black Abbey, Rothe House and Kilkenny Castle. Mount Juliet is one of Ireland’s finest sporting estates, and you’ll have an opportunity to take advantage of some outstanding leisure activities today.

Overnight at Mount Juliet Hotel & Spa

Day 6: Connemara and the Gaelic Soul

Today’s travels take you to Galway, one of Ireland’s fastest growing cities, for lunch and a look around before entering the Connemara region, home to windswept mountains, bogland, sparkling lakes and the dramatic Atlantic coastline. Arrive in Spiddal for a special visit to Cnoc Suain. Overlooking mountains and sea, the cultural retreat provides an all-embracing, unique celebration of the preservation of Irish / Gaelic culture, embraced by warm hospitality. And fun! Arrive at Lough Corrib for a private boat cruise, then on to Ashford Castle; set on a 350-acre private estate along the shores of the lough, it ranks as one of the finest castle hotels in the world.

Overnight at Ashford Castle

Day 7: Kylemore Abbey and Ashford Castle

Today on your Ireland tour you’re off for some pretty amazing sightseeing in the wilds of Connemara. See a Gothic Revival lakeside castle, magnificent Kylemore Abbey on the shores of Kylemore Lough. A Benedictine abbey in World War I, it is now a girls’ boarding school. Return to Ashford Castle, where the remainder of the day is free to pursue some of the castle’s many outdoor activities. Dine à la carte tonight in one of the celebrated restaurants.

Overnight at Ashford Castle

Day 8: From Yeats to the Fermanagh Lakelands

Travel from Ashford Castle to Sligo to visit the final resting place of poet W. B. Yeats at Drumcliffe, then on to County Fermanagh. Following lunch, drive past the Portora Royal School in Enniskillen, which has always excelled in the arts – former Royal Portorans include Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett. Arrive at Lough Erne Golf Resort, a waterside resort set on the shores of one of the world’s most beautiful lakes. Dine at the resort tonight.

Overnight at Lough Erne Golf Resort

Day 9: Belleek China and Resort Leisure

One of Northern Ireland’s finest exports, known the world over as a symbol of fine Irish craftsmanship, is the delicate Belleek Fine Parian China. A visit to Belleek Pottery takes you on a behind-the-scenes tour to meet and chat with the craftspeople who are utilizing many of the same techniques that have been used for centuries to create the intricate pieces. Arrive back at your lakeside resort in Enniskillen in the late afternoon for an evening spent as you please.

Overnight at Lough Erne Golf Resort

Day 10: Derry and Giants Causeway

Leaving the lakelands behind, head north for a guided tour of the historic city of Derry, whose well-preserved city walls are some of the finest examples anywhere in Europe. Lunch at the Bushmills Inn is a real treat, the epitome of Irish hospitality! Your afternoon is spent on one of the world’s great drives along the Antrim Coast Road. Explore the Giants Causeway, Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site; over 40,000 perfectly symmetrical basalt columns lead from looming coastal cliffs to the sea, creating one of the world’s strangest geological formations. Arrive late afternoon just outside Belfast at the magnificent Culloden Estate & Spa for a two-night stay.

Overnight at Hastings Culloden Estate & Spa

Day 11: Belfast, Ulster Folk and Transport

For centuries, the city of Belfast has played a central role in European and world events. A tour with a local guide this morning presents a look at Belfast, past and present. Enjoy some time to explore on your own, then join us for a visit to the dockyards to see where one of history’s most famous ships, the Titanic, was built. You’ll learn a lot more about the ill-fated liner on a visit to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, which also tells fascinating stories of land, air and sea transportation – including the DeLorean sports car! The rest of the day is spent at the estate.

Overnight at Hastings Culloden Estate & Spa

Day 12: Downpatrick and the Book of Kells

Your first visit today, to the Saint Patrick Centre, relays the story of Ireland’s patron saint in the countryside setting where he lived, and where he is buried (his grave overlooks the centre). Travel to Dublin, and upon arrival take a guided walking tour that includes a visit to Trinity College, home to the Book of Kells. The af­ter­noon and evening are yours to experience a bit of Dublin's nightlife, alive with traditional music and popular pubs from the trendy Temple Bar area to others not far from your hotel.

Overnight at The Westin Dublin

Day 13: Dublin Sights and Dublin Castle

Your hotel, The Westin Dublin, is located in the heart of the city, close to Grafton Street and Nassau Street. Depart today for a guided tour through streets lined with 2 1/2-story brick Georgian row houses, famous for their intricate, glass-laced doorways. Dublin is well-known for its beautiful parks, and today you’ll see Phoenix Park, one of Europe’s largest walled urban parks, and St. Stephen’s Green; drive along bustling O’Connell Street and see the Lord Mayor’s residence, with a guided visit to the State Apartments at 13th-century Dublin Castle. Join us this evening for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner at The Westin Dublin.

Overnight at The Westin Dublin

Day 14: Journey Home

Tauck's comprehensive Ireland tour ends at The Westin Dublin. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Dublin to Dublin Airport. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.