Welcome to London! On arrival at the airport, we will be waiting to transfer you to the hotel. Later, our guide will give an overview of the tour or you can check the informative panels in the hotel reception area.
In the early morning, comprehensive tour with local guide, lasting two hours and a half. We will see the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street, Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace and the famous Changing of the Guard (depending on the time of year). Afternoon at leisure. 18.30: In the evening, a stroll through Leicester Square, China Town and Soho, with its atmosphere, its theatres and its entertainment. Sit down for dinner at your preferred restaurant (Indian, Chinese, Thai, international, and so on) in the lively district. Return to hotel.
We start the day leaving London towards northern England. Our first stop is CAMBRIDGE to admire its beautiful residential colleges. After lunch, we will continue to YORK where its cathedral, Roman walls and lively shopping streets will create a charming memory, some free time to stroll around. Afterwards, we will continue north to DURHAM. Explore this charming medieval town full of life which has a wonderful cathedral right in front of the castle.
Today we will travel to Scotland, stopping in ALNWICK, a picturesque town with lovely gardens and a large medieval castle which was used in the Harry Potter films. We will continue to EDINBURGH, arriving at noon. This is Scotland’s capital city and one of the most active cities in Northern Europe. Its monumental centre has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its castle overlooks the city’s steep streets and parks. We will enjoy a sightseeing tour with a local guide.
We continue to enjoy the stunning landscapes of the Scottish Highlands with a coffee and stroll in PITLOCHRY, a charming little village. We will continue and pass by INVERNESS in the north of Scotland, a city located very near the mysterious Loch Ness. After lunch we visit (entrance included) the URQUHART medieval castle, from here we will take a boat trip on the dark waters of the lake. Afterwards, we will pass through FORT AUGUST with its sluice gate system and FORT WILLIAM, the tourist centre at the foot of Ben Nevis (the highest summit in the United Kingdom). We will return south through the high plateaus where it is possible to glimpse the snow before visiting Loch Lomond, one of the most popular lakes in Scotland. We arrive in GLASGOW at the end of the day. Short stroll around the city centre and accommodation.
Today we will leave Glasgow heading towards southern Scotland. We will board a ferry in Cairnryan. Our journey takes us towards Northern Ireland, arriving to BELFAST, Northern Ireland’s capital city. This monumental city is overcoming its religious conflicts. We will resume our journey to EIRE in Ireland. Last stop will be DUBLIN, arriving at the end of the day.
We start the day with a sightseeing tour of DUBLIN, Ireland’s peaceful capital city. We will enjoy a stroll on the banks of River Liffey, visiting its parks, old university and its lively downtown streets. We will stroll around Trinity College (depending on the duration of sunlight, this visit may take place the afternoon before, upon arrival in Dub- lin). Afternoon at leisure.
In the morning we will depart from Dublin heading to POWERSCOURT which is located near-by. We will visit its magnificent gardens, designed in the 18th century and considered the most beautiful gardens in Ireland. Admire its fountains, Japanese Gardens, and its pet cemetery. Afterwards, we will travel to KILKENNY, here we will have time for lunch and to stroll around this lively town. Further south, we will stop to visit the impressive Rock of CASHEL (entrance included), a medieval fortress that symbolizes the fight of Irish people against England. We will arrive in CORK around mid-afternoon. Time for a stroll in the centre of Ireland’s second largest city. Din- ner included.
We will depart for KINSALE. Making a stop by Charles Fort to admire its great views of the ocean right by the 17th century fortress. Time in the historic centre of KINSALE, a seasidetown, considered by many as one of the most beautiful coastal towns in Ireland. Afterwards, we will travel to KILLARNEY, a tourist town in the heart of Ireland. Time for lunch and a walk around, we will also enjoy a romantic horse and carriage tour of its national park (included). The horse and carriage tour will take us to Ross Castle which offers wonderful views by the lake. We include a short cruise to enjoy the beautiful views. Continuing, a brief stop in ADARE, a small village that preserves its picturesque traditional thatched-roof cottages and the ruins of the old abbey. Mid-afternoon we will arrive in LIMERICK. Time to stroll around its centre where you will have the opportunity to visit its castle, walk along the river, its cathedral or discover its shopping centre. Dinner included.
Today we will visit FOLK PARK in BUNRATTY (ticket included), a wonderful park where we can learn about how life was in Ireland in the past with its typical cottages and old markets. Its castle stands, accurately reproducing how life was in the Middle Ages. We will continue to CAHERCONNELL where the Poulnabrone Dolmen is found. We may get the chance to see an exhibition of how dogs shepherd sheep. Afterwards, we will visit the impressive Cliffs of Moher which overlook the ocean, those who wish can walk to O’Brien’s Tower (entrance included). Our route continues through Burren National Park which displays amazing landscapes. Finally arriving to GALWAY.
We will depart for CONG, a small picturesque village located in a magnificent lake area. We will visit the ruins of the Royal Abbey and walk around Ashford Castle, a gorgeous medieval castle that has been turned into a hotel. We will travel to CLONMACNOISE, where after lunch, we will visit its monastic ruins (ticket and visit included). We will resume our journey back to DUBLIN, where we will arrive in the late afternoon.
After breakfast, end of our services.