Ireland's Icons
From CAD $7275
Guarantee
Group Tour
Easy
Rating
(10 reviews)
Discover Ireland’s legendary landscapes and enduring traditions on this 10-day journey through the country’s most celebrated regions. From Georgian squares in Dublin to the windswept shores of Connemara, experience ancient sites, historic estates and vibrant cities. Walk along the Cliffs of Moher, travel the Ring of Kerry and enjoy an enriching MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Powerscourt Gardens. Visit Kylemore Abbey, cruise Lough Corrib and explore monastic ruins, film locations and castles that tell Ireland’s layered story.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 6 Dinner (D)
- 9 Breakfast (B)
Well-being
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
Insight Experiences
- Dublin: History and famous figures. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is one of the few buildings left from medieval Dublin. It is also on this site where St. Patrick reputedly baptized the local Celtic chieftains in the 5th century. The cathedral was later built between 1191 and 1270 and has come to be famous for its choir, also Ireland’s oldest. The cathedral’s burial site of author Jonathan Swift is one of approximately 700 burials on the site.
- Kildare: Horse racing is key part of Irish culture; and you'll gain a rare insight into it on your visit to the Irish National Stud. Set in Kildare at the breeding ground of champions and the birthplace of legends, explore the foaling unit, museum and the stallions that continue to make racing history. As the only stud farm in Ireland open to the public, learn the insights of horse-racing at a site whose former visitors include queens and presidents.
Authentic Dining
- Dublin: Join your Travel Director for a warm and friendly dinner, an opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers.
- Killarney: Choose from a fine selection of local restaurants on your Dine-Around evening.
- Dublin: Celebrate a memorable journey in Ireland on your final night out in Dublin - hub of food and drink culture including the Guinness factory. In 1759, Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease on St James Gate Brewery. After your final night out in Dublin, Guinness will be awaiting your return to the Emerald Isle.
Make Travel Matter
- Wicklow: Stroll through the manicured formal gardens and terraces, passing the striking statues, lakes and secret hollows of Powerscourt Gardens. Savor taking in the wonder of nature curated by world-class gardeners. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
Top Rated Highlights
- Cork: Ireland's second city - "Rebel Cork" dates back to the 7th century. Your Travel Director will show you the Grand Parade and South Mall, along with City Hall and the Opera House on an insightful orientation tour encompassing the development of the religious settlement of St. Finbarr, to Viking raiding and settlement, to the creation of the Norman city and Merchant Princes.
- Ring of Kerry: Venture into a world of towering cliffs, lush lakelands, beaches, fields dotted with sheep, rocky coastline, remote villages and historical sites, as you journey the magical Ring of Kerry. This 111-mile circular route is the best place to admire Ireland's scenic beauty and truly one of the most beautiful drives in the world.
- Cliffs of Moher: Towering cliffs and the dramatic sea, the Cliffs of Moher has inspired countless travelers. Visit the Exhibition Center and look out over the Wild Atlantic Way from these majestic cliffs that rise over 700 feet high. Gain insights from your Travel Director into the cliffs’ geology, history and the species that find sanctuary in its nooks and crannies.
- Galway: Fascinating stories and interesting locals take center stage on your orientation of the historic heart of Galway. Visit the Lynch Memorial Window. Then make your way to the Church of St. Nicholas - the largest medieval parish church in Ireland in continuous use, Spanish Arch and Eyre Square.
- Killary Fjord: Glide through the glacial waters of Ireland’s only fjord, framed by the rugged peaks of Connemara and Mayo. As you cruise this 16-kilometer inlet, learn how ancient ice shaped the landscape and hear stories of coastal life past and present from your onboard guide. Keep watch for seals and sea birds along the shoreline.
- Connemara: With a striking Victorian Walled Garden and turreted church, Neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey is a sight to behold. Dig into the Abbey’s history, discovering how it was founded in 1920 for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I.
Insight Choice
- Blarney: Your up close and personal encounter with the lush gardens of the Blarney Castle estate is brought to life on a guided tour with a senior gardener. On your stroll enhanced by your expert’s insights, learn about the arboretum’s rare trees, mystical Druid rock formations and the Bog Garden boasting three 600-year-old yew trees.
- Blarney: It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone, the famous stone of eloquence, are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. Take your turn at giving it a peck knowing that the stone was sourced from 330-million-year-old limestone.
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Blarney: Your up close and personal encounter with the lush gardens of the Blarney Castle estate is brought to life on a guided tour with a senior gardener. On your stroll enhanced by your expert’s insights, learn about the arboretum’s rare trees, mystical Druid rock formations and the Bog Garden boasting three 600-year-old yew trees.
- Blarney: It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone, the famous stone of eloquence, are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. Take your turn at giving it a peck knowing that the stone was sourced from 330-million-year-old limestone.
Trip Details
Product Code: 20876
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Explorer, Budget
Tour Operator:
Insight Vacations (CA)
Supplier Code: 405.1652A
Starts: Dublin, Ireland
Finishes: Dublin, Ireland
Duration: 10 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $7275 ($728 /day)
Itinerary
Meet your Travel Director and fellow guests before setting out with your Local Expert for a city tour that reveals the layers of Dublin’s past. Trace the capital’s transformation from Viking settlement to Georgian grandeur, stopping at St. Patrick’s Cathedral—established in 1191 on a site long associated with Ireland’s patron saint. Here, you’ll learn how the cathedral became a national religious symbol and the former seat of Jonathan Swift. This evening, gather for dinner to toast the start of your journey and sample Dublin’s celebrated hospitality.
Accommodation: Camden Court, Dublin
Meals: Dinner
This morning, visit the estate of Powerscourt, where you'll take part in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience that supports the restoration of Ireland’s natural heritage. With its formal terraces, Japanese gardens and a backdrop of the Great Sugar Loaf Mountain, Powerscourt has been voted one of the world’s top ten gardens by National Geographic. Learn how ongoing conservation efforts are helping to preserve its biodiversity and historic landscape for future generations. Return to Dublin with the afternoon free to explore. You might choose to visit the National Museum, browse the galleries of the Hugh Lane or enjoy a pint at the Guinness Storehouse. Or, join an Optional Experience of food and fun at a Dublin Dinner and Cabaret.
Accommodation: Camden Court, Dublin
Meals: Breakfast
Visit the Irish National Stud to discover Ireland’s celebrated role in thoroughbred breeding and see retired champions grazing the paddocks. In Cork, your Travel Director introduces the city’s independent spirit, from the 18th-century English Market brimming with local produce to Georgian avenues and the colorful quays of the River Lee. With your evening at leisure, opt for an Optional Experience of traditional Irish entertainment, featuring local musicians and a hearty pub dinner, an authentic taste of Cork’s vibrant music scene.
Accommodation: The Kingsley, Cork
Meals: Breakfast
Today's Insight Choice gets you up close and personal to one of the icons of Ireland, Blarney Castle, the Witch's Kitchen and Wishing Steps gardens and, of course, the famous stone—said to bestow the 'gift of the gab' upon whoever kisses it. Or, go beyond the castle and don’t miss the chance to amble the 1,500-acre grounds. After your visit to the stone or stroll through the grounds, head west to Killarney. Tonight’s Dine-Around invites you to enjoy your pick of Irish specialties. Then finish your day with an Optional Experience of traditional Irish song, music, and dance.
Accommodation: Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Spa, Killarney
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Famous for its 'forty shades of green,' the Ring of Kerry has inspired writers and poets for centuries. Drink in the beauty of the coastal drive lined with beaches, colorful seaside villages and views of the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll be astounded by even more icons of Ireland as you venture inland to a mountainous region dotted with lakes and green woodlands. Enhance your discovery over an Optional Experience Jaunting Cart Ride through Bourn Vincent National Park. Upon arrival back in Killarney, end your day with a decadent three-course dinner infused with Irish flavors.
Accommodation: Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Spa, Killarney
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Begin the day with a ferry crossing of the Shannon Estuary before arriving at the towering Cliffs of Moher. Perched at 700 feet, take in views of the Clare Coast and the pounding Atlantic, where colonies of puffins make their homes. The area is home to Guillemot and Razorbills, Peregrine Falcon, Kittiwake and Fulmar as well as endangered bird species including Choughs. Full of fascinating insights, make your way through the rocky landscape of the Burren to Galway Bay.
Accommodation: Radisson Red Galway
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Ireland’s cultural center and festival capital, Galway hosts 122 festivals per year. One might say the city’s artistic side is reflected in actor Peter O’Toole, who had a strong connection with Galway. O’Toole claimed that he was born in Galway before being taken to England as a baby and built a house outside Clifden in the county. You’ll feel Galway’s fun, bohemian vibe come to life over an orientation tour. Your Travel Director introduces you to the sights including Eyre Square, dedicated to the late US President John F. Kennedy. With the rest of the day at leisure, continue to explore this bustling port city on your own or join an optional trip across to Aran Islands.
Accommodation: Radisson Red Galway
Meals: Breakfast
Leave Galway behind and journey into the wild beauty of Connemara, where mountain passes and stone-walled fields lead to the Atlantic coast. Embark on a scenic cruise along Killary Fjord, Ireland’s only fjord, stretching 16 kilometers between the peaks of Connemara and Mayo. Learn how glacial forces shaped this dramatic inlet and keep an eye out for seals and sea birds. Continue to Kylemore Abbey, a Neo-Gothic estate set against a tranquil lake. Walk through its Victorian walled garden and learn the story of the Benedictine nuns who still reside here. Traverse the remote valleys and boglands of Connemara en route to Clifden, where you’ll enjoy a traditional dinner and overnight stay at Abbeyglen Castle, a 19th-century manor offering views over the bay.
Accommodation: Abbeyglen Castle, Clifden
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Journey east to Athlone, a strategic crossing on the River Shannon since medieval times. Enjoy time at leisure to explore the town—perhaps step inside Athlone Castle, which dates to the 13th century, or visit Sean’s Bar, reputedly Ireland’s oldest pub with origins as early as AD 900. Alternatively, join an Optional Experience and cruise the Shannon in a Viking-style boat, learning about the town’s riverfront history. Later, return to Dublin for your final evening. You’ll have time for some last-minute shopping on Grafton Street or one final Guinness in a traditional pub, before gathering with your fellow travelers for a memorable dinner to reflect on your journey through Ireland.
Accommodation: Camden Court, Dublin
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
As the curtain falls on a memorable journey with new friends, say a fond slán go fóill to Dublin and the 'Emerald Isle'.
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Insight Vacations (CA)
Part of The Travel Company (TTC) family of brands, Insight Vacations began operations in 1978 and is based in Cypress, CA. Journeys are featured to destinations, such as the U.S. and Canada, Europe, Latin America, North Africa, Asia, the UK and Ireland. The company offers are a variety of tours under the classifications of Regional Journeys, Country Roads, Discovery Journeys, Easy Pace trips, and Special Interest tours. Insight is the ideal name for the tour operator, as the journeys provided by Insight Vacations allow travelers to gain further insight into whatever destination they wish to explore. For example, Discovery Journeys are the ideal choice for first-time visitors to Europe. Itineraries include Dine-at-Home or Farm-to-Table experiences so travelers can learn more about how locals live and dine. Regional Journeys allow trip-goers to see a specific location in Europe that they have always wanted to see – Poland, Switzerland, Italy, etc. The carefully planned trips enable customers to immerse themselves in one specific region or country and to become acquainted with its culture, traditions, and people. For anyone seeking travel off the beaten track, Insight Vacations offers Country Roads – trips that lead travelers off the well-tread tourist trail to explore hidden gems where visitors can savor the local produce with Farm-to-Table dining. Some trips are offered under the Easy Pace travel style – the ideal trip choice for trip-goers who wish to slow their pace during their vacation. During these tours, vacationers stay at least 3 nights at each destination, giving them some additional time to explore a place and enjoy it. Regardless of the travel style, many of the vacations offered by Insight Vacations begin with Relaxed Starts – giving travelers time to sleep in a little, spend more time at breakfast, or explore an area on their own. The tour company prides itself on providing business class tours that features luxury coaches with 40 seats. While most coach touring operators provide vehicles with 53 seats, Insight Vacations has re-configured its motor coaches to hold up to 40 guests. This gives passengers extra leg room while traveling and offers them more space and privacy.
In Business Since 1978
Reviews
Maria - Traveled, May 2025
I can't say enough about the trip, Greg and Raymond Larkin our driver. Greg and Raymond were a dynamic duo. They were so in sync with each other that we thought they worked together several times before. Safety was always a priority, and I would suggest this team be offered the opportunity to work together as much as possible. Greg was fantastic! He was professional, kind, courteous, and extremely knowledgeable on our touring countries. He made the trip fun, and it was evident that he put a lot of time and effort into preparing for the trip and making it an enjoyable experience for everyone. I would jump at the chance to tour again with him in the future.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/20/2025
Kuhary - Traveled, May 2025
Greg was great! Energetic and humorous! And easy to understand.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/17/2025
Bess - Traveled, May 2025
Wow! We had an exceptional 14 day tour with Greg as our Travel Director and Raymond as our driver. Well organized, informative, friendly, and fun. We had lots of laughs. They were truly caring, kind and made sure we were all taken care of. I highly recommend him!’
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/16/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, July 2025
*Personal information removed by Feefo* and *Personal information removed by Feefo* our tour director and driver, did an excellent job getting us to our destinations safely and on time. The accommodations were very high end and the food and all the servers were the very best and made sure I was taken care of. It was a wonderful tour. My only comment, is while we saw many places, we did not get to fully explore and thereby enjoy the beautiful scenery. Most of our stops were long enough to get food and possible 30 minutes left to explore. I would have liked to spend more time in each place which I understand would possibly cut out some of the stops. I have a bit of a hearing loss and the sound system on the bus did not lend itself to me hearing all of the history, so I was a bit disappointed. There was plenty of time to shop, and I did purchase many gifts for my family. The woolen goods were beautiful.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/30/3035
Anonymous - Traveled, July 2025
The itinerary was packed with key destinations and essential sights to visit and experience, within a 10 day period.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/30/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, July 2025
Generally efficient and friendly service. There were a few days where there was little content, this part of the Tour was like a bus ride! The Tour Director was not particularly engaged with the passengers. Read less
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/19/2025
Ben - Traveled, July 2025
Tour Director and Driver were professional and accommodating. Ireland is a beautiful country to explore. Visiting and sleeping in a castle (Ashford) was quite memorable.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/13/2025
James Turner - Traveled, June 2025
Our travel director, *Personal information removed by Feefo*, was very entertaining and kept the drives interesting. He was always available to provide guidance and answer any questions. The night before he would email us the plan for the next day. The tour was great. It was our first time in Ireland and we visited a number of cities, which allows us to see which ones we like best and want to visit again on a future trip. The highlight of the trip for us was Ashford Castle, which included a cruise around the lake and a bagpipes when we checked in.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/15/2025
James Brannen - Traveled, June 2025
Great Food, Beautiful place and the best service!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/15/2025
Maureen Rowe - Traveled, June 2025
The country is Ireland is simply gorgeous and this journey facilitated the ability to see most of the country. It was a very active trip but not too aggressive. We saw so many highlights on this trip, including the Blarney Castle, Ashford Castle, the Ring of Kerry, the Aran Islands, and the Lakes of Killarney…just to name a few. We were blessed to have the most delightful tour director whose wit and wisdom made the trip even more memorable
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/15/2025
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