DAY 01 EDINBURGH
Meals
- TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Sightseeing tour.
- Welcome to EDINBURGH, Scotland.
- Transfer to the hotel
- Sightseeing tour with a local guide
to the 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, its steep streets, and its parks.
- Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 02 EDINBURGH – DAY AT LEISURE
Meals
- You can enjoy the charm of this city
and explore and discover memorable places.
- Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 03 EDINBURGH - STIRLING - DUNKELD - PITLOCHRY - BLAIR PALACE - INVERNESS
Meals
- TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Traditional
whisky distillery in Pitlochry. Blair Castle.
- After breakfast, we will travel to
northern Scotland. We will visit STIRLING, famous for its historic downtown
area and castle which sits atop the mighty Castle Hill.
- We will then continue travelling
north. Not far from the village of Dunkeld we will stop at HERMITAGE FOREST,
where we will enjoy a nature walk along pleasant paths of low difficulty level,
great for hikers of all fitness levels and ages.
- Next, we will head to PITLOCHRY, a
picturesque town where we will visit Blair Athol, the traditional whisky distillery
which manufactures Bell´s whiskey.
- Time to have lunch. After the break,
we will explore BLAIR CASTLE (entrance included) and its impressive grounds.
- Then we will continue travelling
north. Late-afternoon arrival in INVERNESS, a seaside town quite close to the
world-famous Loch Ness.
- Overnight stay at hotel
- Note: Hotel and room availability in
northern Scotland are quite limited. For some departure dates (normally in the
peak-season month of August), we may have to offer accommodation in towns
around Inverness.
DAY 04 INVERNESS
Meals
- TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: Beautiful
landscapes of Northern Scotland, Eilean Donan Castle, Boat tour on Loch Ness.
- Post breakfast, we will have a day
full of excitement as we travel along the hauntingly beautiful landscapes,
forests, lochs, and plains of northern Scotland.
- Later we will visit the fascinating
EILEAN DONAN CASTLE probably the most photographed fortress in the entire
country (entrance included).
- Next, we will travel to FORT AUGUSTUS
where we will visit the sluice gate system.
- Time to have lunch and a stroll. In
the afternoon, we will then travel to LOCH NESS and go on a boat tour on the
lake’s dark and mysterious waters.
- After that, we will visit the
medieval castle of URQUHART (entrance included). Accommodation in INVERNESS.
-
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 05 INVERNESS - FORT WILLIAM - INVERARAY - LOCH LOMOND - GLASGOW
Meals
- TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Beautiful
landscapes of Northern Scotland.
- After breakfast, we will continue
enjoying a stage with gorgeous landscapes. We will make a brief stop in SPEAN
BRIDGE to visit a monument that speaks about the Second World War.
- We will later stop in FORT WILLIAM, a
tourist Centre at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest summit in the United
Kingdom. We will go by KILCHURN Castle, which displays its beautiful ruins
right by a dark lake. INVERARAY, a quite picturesque historic village by Loch
Fyne with a large castle and quiet streets. Lunchtime.
- Later we will return contouring
Loch Lomond, one of the most popular lakes in Scotland. Time for a stroll
around BALLOCH, the liveliest town on its banks.
- Arrival in GLASGOW at mid-afternoon.
Time for a stroll around the Centre of this lively city.
- Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 06 GLASGOW - BELFAST - DUBLIN
Meals
- TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Ferryboat to
Ireland.
- Today after breakfast, we will leave
Glasgow heading towards southern Scotland.
- We will board a ferry in Cairn Ryan.
Our journey takes us towards Northern Ireland, arriving in BELFAST, Northern
Ireland’s capital city. This monumental city is overcoming its religious
conflicts.
- Later we will resume our journey to
EIRE in Ireland. Last stop will be DUBLIN, arriving at the end of the day.
- Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 07 DUBLIN SIGHTSEEING
Meals
- TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Sightseeing tour
of Dublin.
- After breakfast, 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 Dublin). Afternoon at leisure.
- Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 08 DUBLIN - POWERSCOURT - KILKENNY - CASHEL - CORK
Meals
- TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Powerscourt
gardens, Rock of Cashel, dinner included in Cork.
- After breakfast, 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 (entrance included). 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.
- Dinner included.
-
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 09 CORK - KINSALE - KILLARNEY - LIMERICK
Meals
- TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Kinsale,
Killarney, carriage tour and cruise in National Park. Dinner in Limerick.
- 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 seaside town,
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.
- Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 10 LIMERICK - CLIFFS OF MOHER - GALWAY
Meals
- TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Folk Park in Bunratty,
Poulnabroune Dolmen, Cliffs of Moher.
- Today after breakfast, 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 Poulnabroune 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 in GALWAY
- Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 11 GALWAY - CLONMACNOISE - DUBLIN
Meals
- TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Monastic ruins in
Clonmacnoise.
- 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.
- Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 12 DUBLIN - CAERNARFON - LIVERPOOL
Meals
- TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Ferry from Ireland
to Wales, Maritime landscapes, Caernarfon.
- After breakfast, we will board a
ferry in the early morning.
- After a journey of three hours, we
will arrive in Wales.
- We will visit CAERNARFON, a World
Heritage site by the sea overlooked by an impressive castle. There will be time
for lunch and a stroll.
- We continue to LIVERPOOL, where you
will have a chance to visit The Beatles Story Exhibition.
-
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 13 LIVERPOOL - STRATFORD - OXFORD - LONDON
Meals
- TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Shakespeare’s
hometown. Oxford.
- Today after breakfast, we explore
central England.
- We will visit STRATFORD UPON AVON,
Shakespeare’s hometown. Time to take some lunch and a stroll.
- Afterwards, we will travel to OXFORD,
a town that is synonymous with study and culture. Kings, statesmen, philosophers,
and scientists have studied here!
- We will continue to LONDON, arriving
in the late afternoon.
- Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 14 LONDON
Meals
- TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Visit London.
Night transfer.
- Get to know London on a guided tour
featuring style, culture and history. See Westminster, the Houses of
Parliament, the River Thames, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace, where
we shall be able to watch the famous “Changing of the Guard” (depending on the
season).
- Free afternoon. In the evening, we
will meet at a meeting point in Piccadilly to walk to Leicester Square, China
Town and Soho with its amazing atmosphere, its theatres and bustle.
- Time for dinner in this area with
numerous ethnic restaurants (Indian, Thai, Chinese, international, and so on).
- Return to the hotel from Piccadilly.
-
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 15 LONDON – DAY AT LEISURE
Meals
- After breakfast, you can enjoy the
charm of this city and explore and discover memorable places.
- Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 16 LONDON - DEPARTURE
Meals
- After
breakfast, end of our services