Day 1 Overnight Flight to Dublin
A Riley motorcoach will transfer us to MSP Airport where we will board an overnight flight to Dublin, Ireland. Soak in the landscapes of rolling hills and feel the warmth of an Irish welcome!

Day 2 Dublin, Ireland
We'll arrive in Dublin this morning and meet our local guide and motorcoach and do a city tour of Dublin, Ireland's capital city. Sights include Georgian Squares with their 18th century houses, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity College, the Phoenix Park, statue filled O'Connell Street and the fashionable Grafton Street. We also visit EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum which tells the story of the many Irish who emigrated over the centuries and how they helped to change the world. We check-in to our hotel and enjoy an included welcome dinner. (D)
Accommodations: The Camden Court Hotel

Day 3 Kinsale, Ireland
We bid farewell to Dublin and travel south to County Kildare - the center of Ireland’s horse breeding industry. Here we will enjoy a guided tour of the Irish National Stud Farm. Since it bred it’s first winner MINORU in 1909, the stud farm at Tully has continued to produce many famous race horses. From here we will travel to Cashel for a guided tour of the amazing Rock of Cashel. This was the seat of the Kings of Munster from 370-1101 and has early associations with St. Patrick. The group of medieval buildings includes a 12th century Round Tower, a 13th century Gothic Cathedral, a 15th century High Cross and Romanesque Chapel. We continue to Kinsale, a historic fishing town with some old cobblestone streets located on the southern coastline. Our hotel overlooking Kinsale Harbour. This evening we enjoy an included dinner overlooking Kinsale Harbour. (B, D)
Accommodations: The Trident Hotel

Day 4 Killarney, Ireland
This morning we travel to Blarney to visit the Blarney Castle and Gardens. You will have an opportunity to climb the spiral stairs to the top of the castle and kiss the famous Blarney Stone said to bestow the gift of eloquence on those who dare. Next we head to Killarney for a two-night stay. Dinner is included. (B, D)
Accommodations: The Killarney Plaza Hotel

Day 5 Killarney, Ireland
Enjoy the unspoiled beauty of the Dingle Peninsula today. It was once cited as the most beautiful place on earth by National Geographic. Take in breathtaking views of the Atlantic coastline and see some beehive huts (early monastic settlements) dating back over a thousand years. We’ll soon come to the most westerly point of Ireland where you can view the Blasket Islands and see the locations for such films as Ryan’s Daughter, Far and Away starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman and the more recently filmed here, Star Wars - The Last Jedi. There will be some free time in Dingle for lunch before returning to Killarney. Tonight, dinner is on your own. (B)

Day 6 Galway, Ireland
Today we will travel to Tralee, the capital town of County Kerry. We continue to Tarbert and board the Shannon Ferry for a short sailing across the Shannon Estuary to Killimer. From here we take the coast road to the majestic Cliffs of Moher, which rises to a height of 600 ft over the Atlantic Ocean. Then we will wind our way through the lunar type landscape of the Burren, from the Irish word ‘bhoireann’ meaning, ‘a stony place’ or ‘a rocky place’. Upon arrival to Galway, we will check-in to our hotel overlooking Galway Bay for a two night stay. Dinner is included this evening. (B, D)
Accommodations: The Salthill Hotel

Day 7 Galway, Ireland
We embark on a tour of Connemara. Connemara is made up of mountains, lakelands and boglands. Because of it’s wild and rugged landscape, it has been the location for many films including “The Quiet Man” with John Wayne and Maureen O Hara and in more recent “The Field” starring Richard Harris. Next , we will visit Kylemore Abbey, which was built in 1866. From 1920 to 2008, it was home to the Benedictine Nuns. We return to Galway and have the evening free to enjoy the city. (B)

Day 8 Donegal, Ireland
This morning we depart Galway and travel to Donegal passing by the Knock Shrine, an internationally recognized Marian Shrine with one and a half million pilgrims visiting annually. Next we visit Drumcliffe, set against the striking backdrop of the Benbulben Mountain. It is best known as the final resting place of one of Ireland’s great poets W.B. Yeats. Onward to the town of Belleek, most famous for the fine Parian China produced at Belleek China. We’ll tour the facility and end our day in Donegal. Another included dinner this evening. (B, D)
Accommodations: The Mill Park Hotel

Day 9 Belfast, Ireland
This morning, travel to Derry City, which was founded in 546AD and still retains it’s 17C walls. You will see the new Derry Peace Bridge over the River Foyle. This 235-metre-long pedestrian bridge that opened in 2011. It bridges a 400-year-old physical and political gap between two sides of a once divided community. We continue to Limavady where we begin the Antrim Coast Road Drive, taking in scenic views of the northern coastline. Of course, no visit to Northern Ireland would be complete without a visit to the Giant’s Causeway, a remarkable basaltic formation made of approximately 37,000 columns and ranked as one of the natural wonders of the world. We eventually arrive in Belfast for our overnight. Dinner is included. (B, D)
Accommodations: The Europa Hotel

Day 10 Glasgow, Scotland
Our morning begins at the Titanic Belfast, a new state of the art visitor center which will take you through nine galleries, telling the story of RMS Titanic, from her conception in Belfast to her famous maiden voyage and tragic end. Later we travel to the port of Belfast and board the ferry and sail across the North Atlantic to Cairnryan in Scotland. From there we travel to Glasgow pass through Alloway, the birthplace of Robert Burns, one of Scotland’s greatest poets. Dinner is included at our hotel this evening. (B, D)
Accommodation: The Radisson Blu Hotel

Day 11 Inverness, Scotland
This morning we’ll take a tour of Glasgow City, often described as Britain’s finest Victorian City. When departing Glasgow, we’ll will travel north along the banks of Loch Lomond, one of Scotland’s most beautiful lakes, into the Scottish Highlands. Surrounded by spectacular scenery, we continue through the historic Glen Coe to Fort William on the shore of Loch Linnhe. From here, our tour winds around the foothills of Scotland’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. Continuing along the banks of Loch Ness, keep your camera ready for a view of the monster! Finally, we arrive in Inverness, the capital of the highlands and check-in to our hotel. Dinner is included tonight. (B, D)
Accommodations: The Kingsmills Hotel

Day 12 Edinburgh, Scotland
This morning we travel a short distance to Culloden. The last major battle in Britain was fought here on April 16,1746. We’ll relive the event with a visit to the Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre. We then continue south through the scenic Grampian Mountains passing by Blair Castle, the ancient seat of the Dukes of Atholl and the only person in Britain allowed to keep a private army. Next we’ll travel through Dundee before crossing the Tay Bridge to St. Andrew’s, not only is St. Andrew’s famed as the home of golf, it is also an ancient ecclesiastical capital and Scotland’s oldest university city. We continue south over the Forth Road Bridge to the historic Edinburgh City for a two-night stay. Dinner is included. (B, D)
Accommodations: The Voco Hotel

Day 13 Edinburgh, Scotland
Our day begins with a tour of Edinburgh City. We travel down Princess Street and the historic Royal Mile before visiting the Palace of Holyrood House, the official Scottish residence of her Majesty the Queen. Hear the tales of some truly intriguing characters, the Bodysnatchers, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Greyfriars Bobby. Next, visit the majestic Edinburgh Castle providing breathtaking views of the city from the castle ramparts. Tonight we attend the Spirit of Scotland Show at the Jam House, a traditional Scottish evening of song and dance accompanied by a great selection of quality Scottish food. (B, D)

Day 14 Home
We travel to Edinburgh Airport for our flight home with fond memories and newly acquired accents and many stories to relate to our friends and family.