Explore the ruins of Blarney Castle and its gardens near Cork. At the castle’s ramparts, you can choose whether to kiss the Blarney Stone, a ritual traditionally said to bestow the gift of eloquence.

The medieval stronghold rises above landscaped grounds that invite a closer look beyond its best-known legend. Stone walls, winding paths and the unusual stone-kissing tradition make this a visit rooted equally in Irish heritage and folklore.

Cross the Shannon Estuary by ferry between Tarbert and Killimer, travelling over the broad waters where Ireland’s longest river meets the Atlantic. Take in views from the crossing and keep watch for bottlenose dolphins, which are sometimes seen in the estuary.

More than a way across the water, this historic route passes shores associated with trade, smuggling and 19th-century emigration. The open estuary gives a sense of the river’s scale and its place in western Ireland’s coastal history.

Follow Slea Head Drive around the Dingle Peninsula, where cliffs and beaches frame views towards the Blasket Islands. Look out for ancient stone dwellings and other traces of settlement in this exposed Atlantic landscape.

The peninsula preserves a strong Irish-language and cultural heritage. Offshore, the Blaskets were once home to an Irish-speaking community whose accounts of island life became an important part of Irish literature; the remaining residents moved to the mainland in 1953.

• 5 Dinner (D)
• 11 Breakfast (B)

• Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

• 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. 
• Kilkenny: Visit Kilkenny Castle to learn the history of this magnificent castle and that of the powerful Ormonde family that came to call it home for so many centuries. Amble through the Picture Gallery, library, drawing room, nursery and bedrooms decorated in 1830s splendor as well as the rolling parkland formal terraced rose garden, woodlands and man-made lake.
• 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.
• Derry/Londonderry: There’s no better way to experience sightseeing than with one of Northern Ireland’s best storytellers, Ronan, as he takes you on a tour inside the city walls. See the Gothic Guildhall and the Georgian houses of Shipquay Street.

Insight Vacations

• Business class coach with extended leg room
• Top-rated dining, from farm-to-table to local restaurants
• 4 & 5-star stays

Meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers over a hosted welcome dinner in Dublin. The gathering offers a relaxed introduction to the people sharing your journey, with time for conversation around the table.

Irish hospitality is as much about company as cuisine. This included dinner gives everyone a chance to exchange stories and settle into the easy sociability that locals call the craic.

Explore Dublin with a Local Expert, travelling along the River Liffey and through the capital’s elegant squares. See the Custom House, Christ Church Cathedral and St Patrick’s Cathedral, with views of the Guinness Storehouse.

The route reveals a city shaped by medieval churches, Georgian architecture and its long relationship with the river. Local insight connects these landmarks to Dublin’s history and gives you a clearer sense of its neighbourhoods.

Visit Trinity College in Dublin and discover the Book of Kells experience, devoted to one of Ireland’s most celebrated manuscripts. See the intricate decoration of this ninth-century Gospel book, whose illuminated pages weave Christian imagery with interlacing patterns and richly coloured figures.

Founded in 1592, Trinity is framed by cobbled walkways, lawns and historic university buildings. Its setting adds another layer to the visit: a place of scholarship that has remained central to Dublin’s cultural life for centuries.

Explore the Irish National Stud in County Kildare, a working thoroughbred breeding centre open to visitors. Discover the foaling unit, museum and stallions while gaining insight into the care and expertise behind Ireland’s horse-racing tradition.

Walk through the century-old Japanese Gardens, designed as a symbolic journey through the stages of life. Their carefully arranged paths and planting offer a contemplative contrast to the energy of the stud farm.

Step inside Kilkenny Castle to explore the former seat of the powerful Butler family, Earls and Dukes of Ormonde. Walk through restored rooms including the Picture Gallery and drawing room, where Victorian-era interiors evoke the castle’s life as a grand residence.

First built in the late 12th century following the Norman conquest, the castle changed with its owners over generations. Its parkland and gardens provide a different perspective on this enduring landmark above the River Nore.

Discover Cork with your Travel Director on an orientation of Ireland’s second city. See the Grand Parade, South Mall, City Hall and Opera House while taking in the streets and waterfront of this lively university centre.

Known as Rebel Cork, the city grew from an early religious settlement through Viking and Norman periods into a prosperous trading port. Its civic buildings and former merchant streets make that layered history visible in the modern city.

Get to know Killarney on a gentle orientation led by your Travel Director. Take in its shopfronts and church spires while hearing stories that bring the town’s past into focus.

Set beside the lakes and mountains of County Kerry, Killarney has long welcomed visitors drawn to the surrounding landscape. This short guided introduction helps you place the town within that setting and appreciate the character of its streets.

Share a farm-to-table dinner with hosts John and Freda at their Killarney guesthouse. Enjoy Irish home cooking and hear about traditional recipes and the fresh ingredients used to prepare them.

The hosts source food from farms and the Irish coast within a five-mile radius wherever possible. Their approach makes the meal a personal introduction to local food traditions and responsible sourcing, rather than simply a stop for dinner.

Ride a horse-drawn jaunting car in Killarney with a local jarvey at the reins. This traditional carriage offers a leisurely way to take in the area and hear the observations of someone who knows its roads and stories.

Jaunting cars have long been part of Killarney’s visitor heritage, linking the town with its celebrated lake and mountain scenery. This is one of two included Insight Choice activities; travellers select it instead of the guided national park hike.

Join a gentle guided hike in Killarney National Park, following lakeshore paths and passing the grounds of Ross Castle. A local guide helps bring the landscape into focus as you take in woodland, water and mountain views.

Ross Castle dates from the 15th century, adding a historic landmark to the park’s scenery. This is one of two included Insight Choice activities, offered instead of the jaunting car ride. Walkers should bring suitable footwear and weather protection.

Explore the Ring of Kerry, a sweeping route around County Kerry’s Iveragh Peninsula. See changing views of lakes, mountains, coastal cliffs and small villages, including Sneem, as the road traces one of Ireland’s best-known landscapes.

Cross peat bog country towards Moll’s Gap and Ladies View, a viewpoint associated with Queen Victoria’s 1861 visit. The route’s appeal lies in its contrasts: sheltered valleys give way to open Atlantic horizons and rugged uplands.

Visit the Cliffs of Moher and their visitor centre on County Clare’s Atlantic coast. Walk to viewing points overlooking the sea, where the cliffs rise to approximately 214 metres above the water.

Exhibits and insights from your Travel Director add context to the rock formations, local history and wildlife that shelter along this coastline. The immense cliff face and shifting Atlantic light make this a distinctive encounter with the Wild Atlantic Way.

Explore historic Galway on an orientation that takes in the Lynch Memorial Window, St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Spanish Arch and Eyre Square. Your introduction connects these landmarks with the stories and people of this west-coast city.

St Nicholas’ is a medieval parish church still in use, while the Spanish Arch recalls Galway’s trading past. Together, the old stonework and lively streets reveal a city shaped by commerce, community and its setting beside Galway Bay.

Walk inside Derry/Londonderry’s historic city walls with local storyteller Ronan. See the cannons that remain along the fortifications and follow Shipquay Street past Georgian houses towards the Gothic Guildhall.

Built in the early 17th century, the walls remain a defining feature of the city. Ronan’s stories bring a local voice to its layered history, helping you see more than the stone defences and architecture alone.

Walk among the interlocking basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway on Northern Ireland’s Antrim coast. Explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site at your own pace, observing how the dark, geometric stone meets the Atlantic shoreline.

Volcanic activity around 60 million years ago formed the columns, while folklore offers a different explanation involving the giant Finn McCool. Both stories deepen the sense of place at this striking meeting point of geology and legend.

Take in the Antrim Coast on a scenic drive past cliffs and sea views, and enjoy a gentle orientation walk through Ballygally with your Travel Director. Follow the curve of the bay, where pale sand and cottages sit between the shoreline and surrounding slopes.

The walk gives you a closer feel for this small coastal village: salty air, open water and views along the coast. Together, the drive and village orientation reveal both the scale and quieter character of Antrim’s shoreline.

Gather for a celebration dinner in Ballygally, sharing regional cuisine and conversation with your fellow travellers. This hosted evening is a chance to exchange impressions of Ireland and Northern Ireland around the table.

Irish people often call the warmth of good company and lively conversation the craic. Here, that spirit gives the dinner its character, bringing a convivial close to the shared experiences of the tour.

See Carrickfergus Castle from the coach as you travel along the Antrim coast towards Belfast. Its imposing stone walls and waterfront position make it a striking landmark, even without an interior visit.

Founded by the Normans in the late 12th century, the castle guarded an important approach to Belfast Lough. This drive-by view offers a brief but vivid encounter with the region’s medieval history; it does not include entry to the castle.

Explore Belfast with a local perspective on a city tour taking in City Hall, the Titanic Quarter and the Samson and Goliath cranes. See the Big Fish at Donegall Quay and murals that express the political perspectives of local communities.

Local stories connect Belfast’s shipbuilding heritage and more recent history with the city you see today. The mix of civic landmarks, waterfront regeneration and street art offers a thoughtful introduction to Northern Ireland’s capital.

Discover the Aran Islands on an optional excursion from Galway. Their Atlantic-facing cliffs and coastal views offer a close encounter with the rugged island landscapes of the Wild Atlantic Way.

The islands are known for enduring Irish-language traditions and a distinctive relationship with the sea. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; the itinerary does not specify which island, crossing or individual sites are included, so ask your Travel Director for details.