Castles and Manors

Trip Type: Small Group
Ireland | 8 Days

NZD 6,195.00 /Person

This grand Ireland trip is fit for royalty, including stays in the homes of Irish nobility. You’ll travel to Kildare and learn all about the raceho...

Castles and Manors

This grand Ireland trip is fit for royalty, including stays in the homes of Irish nobility. You’ll travel to Kildare and learn all about the racehorses of Ireland, visit the Ring of Kerry and watch how delicate crystal is carved in Connemara.

Welcome to Dublin

Set your watch to the lively pace of Ireland's capital city – the springboard for your in-depth journey through the lush landscapes and enduring allure of Ireland. Our exploration of Dublin with a Local Specialist will see us view St. Patrick's Cathedral and Georgian Squares. Spend some time at leisure exploring Dublin's pretty streets before joining your travel companions and Travel Director for dinner celebrating traditional Irish flavours.

Accommodation:

Clayton Ballsbridge, Radisson Blu St Helens Dublin

Locations Visited:
  • Dublin

Journey to Galway and on to Ashford Castle Stays With Stories

Our first stop today is Europe's 'City of the Tribes', where you will have an opportunity to see Galway Cathedral and stroll through Eyre Square. We overnight at one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories on the shores of Lough Corrib. Feel like lords and ladies as you relax in the elegant country quarters of The Lodge at Ashford Castle, celebrating the heritage and hospitality of Ireland.

Accommodation:

The Lodge at Ashford Castle

Locations Visited:
  • Dublin
  • Galway
  • Cong

Admire the Elegant Westport House and Abbeyglen Castle Connect with Locals Stays With Stories

Leaving the elegant estate of Ashford Castle behind, our journey takes us to Westport House where we'll Connect With Locals and indulge in a memorable Be My Guest experience with tales of the Pirate Queen, and enjoy Banoffee and Baileys flavours in the Drawing Room of this stately 18th-century home. Our home for the next two nights is one of Trafalgar's Stays With Stories - the spectacular Abbeyglen Castle.

Accommodation:

Abbeyglen Castle

Locations Visited:
  • Cong
  • Westport
  • Clifden

A Day Exploring Stunning Connemara

Drive through the 'savage beauty' of Connemara, as described by Oscar Wilde who was inspired by the region's craggy mountains, shimmering lakes and endless shades of green. We visit Kylemore Abbey, a magnificent castellated structure built as a family home and now inhabited by a group of Benedictine nuns. Stop for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at an oyster farm. Venture into the secret nooks and crannies of its extensive walled Victorian garden before returning to your castle accommodation for a delicious dinner.

Accommodation:

Abbeyglen Castle

Locations Visited:
  • Clifden
  • Connemara
  • Clifden

Onwards to the Cliffs of Moher and Killarney Dive Into Culture Make Travel Matter Stays With Stories

This morning, visit the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory, where you'll Dive Into Culture and witness first-hand how their famous crystal designs are made. Picture yourself living in 1520 alongside the Dunguaire Castle when you later pass through the charming seaport village of Kinvara. Next up is an experience you’ll remember for years to come as you watch the UNESCO-listed Cliffs of Moher plunge dramatically into the Atlantic waters below. Beyond the endless views you’ll have an opportunity to visit the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience which really brings this natural phenomenon to life in an interactive way, leaving you with a deep understanding of this special place. Our home for the next two nights is one of Trafalgar's Stays With Stories experience.

Accommodation:

Great Southern

Locations Visited:
  • Clifden
  • Cliffs of Moher
  • Killarney

A Day on the Ring of Kerry

Enjoy a slow start to your morning, joining a Local Specialist for a leisurely guided walk at Torc Waterfall, strolling over wooded paths and lakeshore trails. We embark on an epic drive next, exploring the enduring beauty of the Ring of Kerry whose enchanting coastal landscapes have inspired writers and poets for centuries.

Accommodation:

Great Southern

Locations Visited:
  • Killarney
  • Ring of Kerry
  • Killarney

Discover Cashel and Return to Dublin Dive Into Culture

Discover the legacy of St. Patrick when you visit the imposing Rock of Cashel, once the traditional seat of the kings of Munster. View its ecclesiastical ruins with a Local Specialist then traverse scenic landscapes to Kildare. Here you’ll Dive Into Culture and learn about Ireland's thoroughbred industry at the Irish National Stud. You'll have a rare opportunity to see the foaling unit, museum and of course the magnificent stallions that continue to make racing history. Later today, return to the Irish capital where you’ll inject a bit of the craic into your Farewell Dinner with new friends.

Accommodation:

Radisson Blu Hotel Dublin Airport

Locations Visited:
  • Killarney
  • Cashel
  • Kildare
  • Dublin

Journey Home

We say a fond farewell to our newfound friends and Dublin today. You will be transferred to the airport, where your journey through the 'Emerald Isle' comes to an end. Transfers are available. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.

Locations Visited:
  • Dublin

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Destination Details
Ireland | 8 Days
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Dublin, Ireland
Trip Finishes:
Dublin, Ireland
Countries Visited:
Ireland

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