Visit Kylemore Abbey, a turreted former family home set against the mountains of Connemara, and explore its Victorian walled garden. The castellated building and carefully tended garden offer two contrasting views of life on this remarkable estate.

Built in the 19th century, Kylemore became home to Benedictine nuns in 1920 after they fled Belgium during the First World War. Its story connects Victorian ambition, personal history and a continuing religious presence in a striking rural setting.

Stand at the Cliffs of Moher and look out over the Atlantic from one of Ireland’s most dramatic stretches of coastline. Watch the cliffs rise above the water and take in the changing light across their sheer rock faces.

The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience offers an opportunity to explore the site’s geology, history and wildlife through interactive displays. Together, the viewpoints and interpretation reveal both the force of the landscape and the life it supports.

Travel through Connemara’s mountain and lake landscapes, where rocky hills, open bogland and shifting shades of green create a distinctive western Irish panorama. The scenic drive reveals the terrain that inspired Oscar Wilde’s description of the region’s “savage beauty.”

Rather than a single viewpoint, this experience is about seeing how Connemara’s scenery changes across the journey. Its exposed landscapes and scattered settlements convey the scale and character of this Atlantic-facing region.

Explore Ireland’s capital with a Local Specialist, viewing St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the elegant Georgian squares that give central Dublin much of its character. See O’Connell Street and the Custom House as your guide introduces the city’s landmarks.

The cathedral recalls Dublin’s medieval religious heritage, while its Georgian streets reflect the city’s 18th-century expansion. This guided introduction offers a sense of the history behind the capital’s lively streets.

Meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers over a welcome dinner in Dublin celebrating traditional Irish flavours. The shared meal offers an opportunity to get acquainted and hear more about the journey ahead.

Irish hospitality is expressed as much around the table as in its music and storytelling. This hosted gathering gives the opening evening a convivial local character, rather than leaving dinner as a meal on your own.

Discover Galway’s historic city centre, with an opportunity to see Galway Cathedral and stroll through Eyre Square. Look out for the Spanish Arch and the Claddagh rings associated with the city’s craft heritage.

Known as the City of the Tribes, Galway takes its nickname from the merchant families that shaped its history. Its compact streets, waterfront connections and public squares make this a rewarding introduction to Ireland’s western cultural hub.

Meet Catherine and Jim at Glen Keen Farm in County Mayo, where their family has worked the land since the 1600s. Hear about life on their sheep farm and watch working border collies demonstrate their herding skills.

The hosts share how they combine longstanding farming practices with sustainable approaches on the Wild Atlantic Way. A farmhouse lunch, homemade cake and tea bring the visit into their home and offer a personal connection with rural Irish life.

Visit DK Connemara Oysters for a hosted introduction to oyster farming in Connemara. Meet people connected to this family-run enterprise and learn how shellfish production is shaped by the region’s coastal environment.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience focuses on the farm’s work in sustainability, biodiversity and responsible packaging. It offers a closer look at small-scale food production and the decisions behind a local product rooted in western Ireland’s waters.

Visit the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory to watch craftspeople bring intricate crystal designs to life. Seeing the work at close range reveals the precision involved in shaping decorative pieces by hand.

The factory visit offers a craft-focused perspective on Connemara alongside the region’s celebrated scenery. Patterns inspired by Celtic design give the finished crystal a connection to Irish visual traditions, while the demonstration shows the skill behind its polished appearance.

Join a Local Specialist for a guided walk to Torc Waterfall in Killarney National Park. Follow wooded paths and lakeshore trails towards the cascade, taking time to appreciate the surrounding trees, water and mountain scenery.

The waterfall is one of the park’s best-known natural sights, but the walk also brings its wider landscape into focus. This is a gentler way to experience the textures of Killarney’s woodlands and lakes, with local guidance along the route.

Explore the Ring of Kerry on a scenic drive through the Iveragh Peninsula’s coastal and mountain landscapes. Watch the views shift between Atlantic shores, green valleys and the rugged terrain that has long drawn writers and artists to this part of Ireland.

The route offers a broad portrait of County Kerry rather than a single landmark. Its changing scenery makes the drive an experience in its own right, revealing the close relationship between the peninsula’s communities and its dramatic setting.

Visit the Rock of Cashel with a Local Specialist and view the ecclesiastical ruins rising above the surrounding County Tipperary countryside. Hear about the site’s association with St. Patrick and the kings of Munster as you explore its historic setting.

Once a seat of regional power, the Rock became an important religious centre. Its surviving medieval buildings make the changing role of this prominent hilltop tangible, from royal stronghold to one of Ireland’s most recognisable heritage sites.

Visit the Irish National Stud near Kildare to learn about Ireland’s thoroughbred industry and see the horses behind its racing reputation. Your visit offers a rare opportunity to view the foaling unit, museum and stallions.

Horse breeding has deep roots in County Kildare, where the landscape and local expertise have helped sustain the industry. The stud brings that heritage into focus, connecting the care of young horses with the bloodlines and achievements celebrated in racing.

Trafalgar

• 4 Dinner (D)
• 7 Breakfast (B)
• 1 Lunch (L)

• Deluxe coach travel
• Selected hotel dinners plus a locally hosted meal
• 4-star stays

• Dublin: A Local Specialist will show you Dublin’s elegant Georgian squares, O’Connell Street and the Custom House.
• Galway: Explore the historic heart of Galway. See landmarks such as the Spanish Arch and the cathedral, or perhaps admire the distinctive Claddagh rings.
• Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden: Visit the turreted Neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey. This monastery was founded in 1920 for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I.
• Connemara: Visit the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory and witness master craftsmen bring these intricate crystal designs to life.  
• Lahinch: Help preserve the Cliffs of Moher for generations to come and learn about its extraordinary geology, history and the species that find sanctuary in its nooks and crannies.
• Ring of Kerry: Admire Ireland’s enduring scenic beauty on one of the most beautiful drives in the world.
• Torc Waterfall: Visit the Torc Waterfall with a Local Specialist. 
• Kildare: Admire Ireland’s finest thoroughbreds at the Irish National Stud Farm.
• Cashel: View the ruins of the Rock of Cashel with a Local Specialist.