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11-Nights Highlights Of Ireland & Scotland from $2,599
Cosmos
OFFER ID 1515153
Discover the treasures of Ireland and Scotland on your affordable tour from Dublin to Edinburgh. In Dublin’s fair city, you’ll drive along the statue-lined O’Connell Street and see the elegant Georgian squares with their red-brick townhouses. You’ll also see Trinity College and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. En route from Dublin to the seaside resort of Tramore, take a stroll through the pretty lanes of Kilkenny, and see the city famous for its Irish crystal-Waterford. In Blarney, home of the fabled Stone of Eloquence, time to browse or buy irresistible Irish handicrafts and crystal. On your way to Killarney, stop for spectacular photo opportunities along the Ring of Kerry. You’ll travel to the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, and the cosmopolitan seaside city of Galway. Drive along Donegal Bay, with its small fishing ports and hidden beaches, to Derry. Continue to the north coast’s awe-inspiring Giant’s Causeway-40,000 interlocking basalt columns that were formed by volcanic eruptions some 60 million years ago. An amazing sight!
Next, to Belfast, where the Titanic was built. You’ll board a ferry for an Irish Sea crossing to Cairnryan, then on to Glasgow. Your budget-minded travel through Ireland and Scotland delves into the lush and rugged country of Scotland with magical scenes such as the "Bonnie Banks" of Loch Lomond, wild landscapes of Rannoch Moor, Loch Ness, and Scotland’s famed whisky region. From the spectacular Cairngorms National Park to the beautiful Victorian resort of Pitlochry, and the home of golf, St. Andrews, you’ll cross the elegant Forth Road Bridge to Edinburgh for royal Scottish history in the home of historic scientists, inventors, and novelists. Your value-minded tour of Ireland and Scotland is chock-full of priceless experiences, sights, and memories brave and true!
11 nights from $2,599 per person
Highlights Of Ireland & Scotland
Day 1 ARRIVE IN DUBLIN, IRELAND Check into your hotel. In the afternoon, there’s time to rest or discover the vibrant Irish capital. Why not end the day with an optional dinner evening at the Guinness Storehouse? Toast Ireland with an optional excursion to learn about the history, traditions, and brewing techniques behind one of the world's most popular beers on this fascinating tour, tasting and dinner at Dublin's legendary Guinness Storehouse.
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Day 2 DUBLIN Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions to start your day in the “Fair City” with an orientation drive along statue-lined O’Connell Street; elegant Georgian squares with their tall red brick townhouses, multi-hued doors, and wrought-iron decorated windows; Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College; and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The afternoon is free for you to explore at your leisure. Enjoy a bit of craic (conversation) with a this popular optional outing to the legendary Taylors Irish Cabaret, featuring a delicious dinner, drinks, and outstanding Irish music, dance, and comedy. (B)
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Day 3 DUBLIN–KILKENNY–WATERFORD–TRAMORE Kilkenny, with its medieval cobblestone streets and Old-World charm, is your first destination today. There is time to stroll through pretty lanes with vibrantly painted houses and enjoy a morning coffee. Continue on to Waterford, famous for its exquisite crystal, before arriving at the seaside resort of Tramore. Enjoy a bit of craic (conversation) with an early evening optional of authentic Irish local flavor. Take a scenic drive to a traditional pub with a local musician ready to entertain you and give you wonderful memories of this beautiful country. Two drinks of your choice are included.
Today’s Distance: 128 mi/ 205 km (B,D)
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Day 4 TRAMORE–BLARNEY–RING OF KERRY–KILLARNEY The first of today’s highlights is Blarney, famous for its Stone of Eloquence, with time at leisure to see the castle and shop for Irish handicrafts and handmade crystal. At Kenmare, join part of the Ring of Kerry, and stop for spectacular photos of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View before arriving in the popular resort town of Killarney.
Today’s Distance: 165 mi/ 265 km (B)
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Day 5 KILLARNEY–ADARE In Killarney this morning, there is time for an optional horse-drawn jaunting car ride along the National Park lakeshore for pictures of Ross Castle. Then to Adare, renowned as one of Ireland’s prettiest towns. Its main street is punctuated with beautiful stone buildings and thatched cottages, medieval monasteries, ruins, and a picturesque village park. Go medieval with an original Irish castle medieval banquet optional. Enjoy a 4-course feast with wine, then relax as your medieval hosts dazzle you with unforgettable music and storytelling.
Today’s Distance: 58 mi/ 92 km (B)
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Day 6 ADARE–CLIFFS OF MOHER–GALWAY–SLIGO Breathtaking scenery awaits you today. Start with a visit to the spectacular 668-foot Cliffs of Moher and fantastic views over the Atlantic and Clare coast. Then, cross the limestone plateau of The Burren and stop in Galway, a popular seaside destination and a buzzing cosmopolitan district with vibrant shops, and a busy café and bar culture. Your destination for tonight is Sligo.
Today’s Distance: 194 mi/ 309 km (B,D)
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Day 7 SLIGO-DERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND–GIANT’S CAUSEWAY–BELFAST Drive along Donegal Bay with its small fishing ports and hidden beaches to Derry, the walled city on the banks of the Foyle River. Continue on to awe-inspiring Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hear how millions of years ago, the more than 40,000 interlocking basalt columns were formed. Overnight in the vibrant city of Belfast, where the Titanic was built.
Today’s Distance: 197 mi/ 317 km (B)
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Day 8 BELFAST–ALLOWAY, SCOTLAND–GLASGOW Enjoy a leisurely morning in the capital city of Northern Ireland before boarding the ferry for the Irish Sea crossing to Cairnryan. On your way to Glasgow, stop in Alloway, the birthplace of Scottish poet Robert Burns.
Today’s Distance: 87 mi/ 140 km (B)
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Day 9 GLASGOW–FORT WILLIAM– FORT AUGUSTUS–CULLODEN MOOR–HIGHLANDS Follow the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond, and proceed via wild Rannoch Moor, Glen Coe, Fort William, beneath Ben Nevis and Fort Augustus. In the afternoon, look out for signs of the mysterious Loch Ness monster, on the way to Culloden Moor where the Jacobite Rising, with Bonnie Prince Charlie at its helm, came to a tragic end at the hands of the Hanoverians.
Today’s Distance: 202 mi/ 325 km (B,D)
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Day 10 HIGHLANDS–PITLOCHRY–ST. ANDREWS–EDINBURGH Travel through the spectacular Cairngorms National Park to Pitlochry, the Victorian mountain resort set amid beautiful scenery. Then, head to St. Andrews, whose Royal and Ancient Golf Club has given us the rules of golfing. Finally, cross the elegant Forth Road Bridge to Edinburgh. Our optional suggestion for this evening - no trip to Scotland is complete without an authentic Scottish evening filled with traditional food, drinks, singers, dancers, bagpipes, and, of course, the unforgettable Ceremony of the Haggis!
Today’s Distance: 176 mi/ 284 km (B)
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Day 11 EDINBURGH A full day to enjoy the Scottish capital. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town,” home to famous scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the “Old Town,” visit Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Afternoon at leisure. Get the royal treatment and discover what life was like on board Her Majesty's floating residence during an exciting visit of the Royal Yacht Britannia, followed by dinner with wine at an excellent local restaurant! For departures July 25 & 26, and August 1, 2, 8 & 9, tickets are included for tonight’s performance of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (B)
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Day 12 EDINBURGH Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
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extensive gardens, which are open to the public; as is the Main House. There is a lovely restaurant in the house, overlooking the gardens and Wicklow Mountains, which offers the finest in Irish artisan, home cooked cuisine. The 34,000 acres of this estate extend along both shores of the River Dargle . Powerscourt is one of the finest properties in Europe, designed and laid out by Daniel Robertson between 1745 and 1767. This property is filled with splendid Greek and Italian-inspired statuary, decorative ironwork, a petrified-moss grotto, lovely herbaceous borders, a Japanese garden, a circular pond and fountain with statues of winged horses, and an occasional herd of deer. Opportunity for shopping at Avoca Handweavers now located in Powerscourt House. Enjoy lunch here at Powerscourt or at a traditional Irish pub in the city centre.
number of city parks, such as St. Stephen’s Green and indeed Merrion Square. The highlights of any tour in Dublin may include a visit to Trinity College, the Guinness Storehouse… and –if time permits –St. Patrick’s Cathedral. 
Vacation Details
* 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.
Moderate facilities have modest enhancements to amenities and décor. These hotels or resorts are dependable, comfortable and some may offer standard features, such as select business services, Continental breakfast or coffee service and may have a swimming pool or small fitness center on-site. Guestrooms are comfortable, moderately spacious, in-room telephones, televisions and limited amenities. Moderate establishments provide suitable accommodations and service for budget-minded travelers.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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Rio Grande Travel Centers, Inc.
6500 Holly Ave. NE Suite A-2
Albuquerque, NM 87113
USA
(505) 292-7044
(877) 768-7913