Falconry, Irish dancing by David Geaney and a concert at Milltown House, not forgetting the gentle giant Irish wolfhounds. Well organized and informative. I did pay extra to ensure privacy as I was solo. He definitely made it a good time for all! I was happy with hotels and meals too! Would have loved to stay another day. since landing in Shannon returning from Desert Storm. For COVID-19 Travel and RS Tours information, The people made me laugh and smile until it hurt. "Everything in Dingle (especially Dingle Crystal, falconry, and the musicians' visit); dinner and Kytelers Inn in Kilkenny; Newgrange.". Our tour guide Joe was an absolute pro! Seeing David Geaney dance was definitely a highlight.". Cobh. The Heart of Ireland in 8 Days Rick's personal "best of" distillation of our two-week Best of Ireland tour starts in Ennis (just down the road from Shannon Airport) and ends in Dublin. 2.5 Go for a night out around Temple Bar. "Music in Dingle--following a fascinating day along the Dingle peninsula. Reykjavik. I knew I was of Irish descent, but finding out about my ancestry was incredible!! The stunning views exceeded my expectations. Trsvelers were a good group. And those beautiful stone walls that have stood there for so many years, symbols of strength in adversity and a calm consistency.". "The beauty of Dingle, the calmness of a small city. This was our first experience with a guided tour so I was a little unsure about what the benefit would be as opposed to doing it on our own. Surprisingly, several members of our group contracted Covid while on tour. "I am not sure I could pick one. "Looking into the eyes of an owl that landed on my arm during the falconry demonstration in Dingle. Meanwhile, the . This was my first Rick Steve's tour and I loved it! Everyone else on our tour seemed to be charmed by the visit, too. Lots of extra things about the tour that made it much better experience than trying to do on your own. The people,,,,both Irish and the Americans on the tour! Norman monasteries, Irish castles, ancient stone circles, Celtic crosses, the Cliffs of Moher, a cruise on the River Shannon, and whiskey tasting await. Our first tour with Rick Steve's but it won't be our last. "There are many but here are a couple: being inside a Neolithic burial site and having a delicious seafood chowder at a restaurant in Dingle". The restaurants were excellent, people were friendly and we learned so much about the history of this beautiful country from Pascal and out local guides. "The cliffs of Moher we're pretty spectacular.". Overall experience of my first RS tour was great with the exception of the broken "Whisper" system. Thanks so much. After a walking tour, we'll enjoy a gourmet dinner of local specialties followed by an evening of Gaelic tunes. I felt we covered a great deal of Ireland in an efficient manner, but still did not have too much urgency - which allowed a decent amount of time to enjoy each stop. You know when you are having a good experience when half way through the tour you are already planning a return trip. The tour was fantastic! I was able to relax and enjoy myself on this tour. Dara was an excellent tour guide, gread recommendations and just really knowledgeable about history and the locations we saw. 2.6 Where to stay in Dublin. I also was wowed by our performers in Dingle at the Milltown House. There are not enough ways to describe how wonderful this tour was, but I can say with full confidence that I am now a tour PERSON! My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed Ireland in 8 Days tour. This was our first RS tour, we have always aspired to booking one, and now that kids are in college my wife and I can get away without them! Especially enriching was the time spent with our fellow tour members, and now friends. Tour guide, places visited, tour group -- all great! This was my first Rick Steves trip but won't be my last. "Slea drive and the Dingle area..wow!". "It's hard to pick. Our tour was a great experience and we were very happy with the sights and tour guide. The Irish people shared their warm hospitality, talents, and humor. Learned so much about Ireland, "How organized the tour was. If I could change anything I would have liked to spend more time in Dublin and remove the day trip to Bru Na Boinne and Glasnevin. My husband & I enjoyed every aspect of our first Rick Steves tour. The landscape, the architecture, the history and the people. "Wow moment(s) were on the Dingle peninsula. 5 c. 67) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The Act's long title was "An Act to provide for the better government of Ireland"; it is also known as the Fourth Home Rule Bill or (inaccurately) as the Fourth Home Rule Act.The Act was intended to partition Ireland into two self-governing polities: the six north-eastern counties were . I was nervous about group travel - I tend to prefer independent travel, but I was very pleasantly surprised. This is so valuable for less experienced travelers. Yea iso enjoyed visiting with Billy Keane at John B Keane's bar.". I liked having the tour, but your own personal time too, "So many, but I especially loved the town of Dingle. Sln leat! Every minute of the tour was fabulous, the guided, the itinerary, the hotels and restaurants, even the bus driver made this a great vacation. Enjoy Irish towns and country in detail. Alongside a guide, witness the splendor of the UNESCO-listed Cliffs of Moher, take a horse-and-cart ride through Killarney National Park, absorb the coastal beauty of the Dingle Peninsula, and kiss the legendary Blarney Stone to acquire 'the gift of the gab' at Blarney . I went to Dublin in 2014 and thought I saw "Ireland". Day 7: the Aran Islands. The tour was well organized, full of interesting sights, and well paced. Amazing!". "This is hard to choose; there were many! It was everything I hoped to see in Ireland, and it was the absolute perfect way to open the trip and introduce us to the country.". "The surprise falconry experience is one that I will never forget! "I usually think it is silly when people answer questions like this with "Oh, I couldn't pick, I loved it all!" 10 days in Southern Ireland: recommended itinerary. "Cliffs of Moher, but there were so many. Newgrange, the beauty of the countryside", It was my first Rick Steves Tour and I thought it was fantastic. "Although I loved each area we visited, probably my favorite stay was at our Bed and Breakfast in Dingle. A huge worry of mine removed. Guides everywhere were very good. The trip could not have been better. very nice fellow guests, Tour experience was great. ", "Stay in Dingle with the nighttime singing, dancing and falconer.". The sites, the pace of the tour, and the cities and towns visited were really enjoyable. Our guide Lynn was the absolute BEST and made Ireland come alive. I've has longed to visit Ireland since I was a child, & esp. Touring Ireland was amazing the landscape was more then I imagined. The patchwork pastures and the sheep. Loved how our tour guides were able to adapt and overcome due to some external issues: an international tournament that impacted our itinerary. 5 Days From $2,125. ", "The entire tour was actually "wow" for me.". Ireland is such a beautiful country. Therefore, the physical aspects, such as standing and some walking were difficult. The tour was not overly ambitious and the towns that we visited were perfect for a week in Ireland. Our tour guide, Joe, was outstanding - he was knowledgeable, funny and caring. THE 7 DAY IRELAND ITINERARY Interactive Map Day 1 - A Peek Inside the Ancient East Day 2 - From Castles to Kissing to a Ring Called Kerry Day 3 - Magic on Skellig Michael Day 4 - A Day In Killarney Day 5 - Coastal Adventures on Dingle Peninsula Day 6 - Mighty Cliffs and The Burren Day 7 - Clash of Gaelic Sport and Dublin Delight ", Stephen McPhimy was outstanding, George drove like a pro. I loved the music he played to accompany us through areas it had connections to. Everything was great the guide, the hotels, the sites, the mix of tour activities and free time! ", "Understanding the the regions history from prehistoric times to present.". "The falconers demonstration. A very good team Garoad and George are, making the entire trip a memorable and positive experience! "Three way tie between learning about Newgrange, walking the Cliffs of Moher and taking in the vistas of the Dingle Peninsula! We loved this tour. ", Lovely way to travel - all the details are done for you, "The town of Dingle was a great treat! 1. Walk the Wicklow Way. I loved learning about the current politics/environment one minute and the pre-historic and early Christian history the next. The food and drink were delicious, and our accommodations were close to the action and comfortable. Great group of people, amazing guide. We had a fabulous time. Guides (both for the tour in general and for specific places) were super knowledgeable about the country and its history and offered a down-to-earth perspective on the things we saw and did. For more information about transportation options for getting to and from your tour, see your Rick Steves Ireland guidebook. I also loved the town of Dingle!". Visit unique sites and stay in small towns in locally owned accommodations. The hotels were very good, an upgrade from our Paris tour experience. We had a beautiful day which probably contributed to the scenery. "Newgrange (and Giant's Causeway, which we did on a separate tour).". 3 Ireland itinerary day 3: Cork. They simply are not like other tour operators. I am celiac and had no trouble with the food. Also meeting Billy Keene was just a fun extra!!!". "Gosh, it's really hard to name just one "wow" moment. Amazing .". I also really enjoyed touring Glasnevin cemetery, and learning more about the Irish Civil war.". food was good too!! Unfortunately, that was overshadowed later by the fact that several people on the tour contracted Covid. We met some really interesting people in our group. The coach was comfortable. Biden is set to host Ireland's prime minister on Friday, March 17, 2023, after the pandemic scuttled the longstanding St. Patrick's Day meetup two years in a row. . Very comfortable. Absorb the lively charm of cities like Galway and Kerry. This was a brief, although terrific, introduction to Ireland. Loved Dingle!". Ancient castles and churches, Dingle Crystal Factory, falconry exhibit, whisky museum, Slea Head Drive and of course the wonderful Irish people.". Our guide, Pascal, was great in informing us on the history of each site. .. will definitely consider another Rick Steves Tour in the future! The tour was excellent. I learned so much about the history of Ireland and the sights I got to see were breathtaking. It was easy to see why people are so fiercely loyal to the places they call home in Ireland.". Especially loved Dingle and the Slea Head Drive, also Dublin. It was first class all the way. "Whenever I travel to new places, I am in awe of just about everything. Day 8: Departure. "In Dingle Garoad set up 5 time world champion Irish Dancer, David Geaney, to come dance for us, followed by a lovely show by a local singer and guitar player. En route we'll stop to visit County Limerick's lovely village of Adare, brimming with thatched cottages and flower gardens. Enjoy your final day and evening in the Adare Manor, including fishing, archery, biking, falconry, horse riding, tennis, clay shooting, and more! Since he is from Dingle, he was able to set up some entertainment that I dont expect other guides might have been able too. "I loved the tour of the Dingle Peninsula. The length and width of the parquet flooring immediately grabbed my attention as a ballroom dancer. "Overall the views of the countryside were amazing. Cant say enough great things about him, our bus driver George and the tour as a whole loved every minute of it! We were unduly worried about rainy weather -- we had a few sprinkles, but nothing that slowed us down. Fabulous experience. This is a moderately active tour! "Arriving in Dingle and hiking to the lighthouse on my own or the stop at Glendalough and seeing the lakes and mountains.". We also found it to be a very beautiful country. While our guide was fun, informative and helpful, it was his first RS tour and I missed some of the characteristic RS tour elements (like the buddy system). "Experiencing Slea Head Drive took my breath away!! Our guide Kelli was informative and fun as were all our local guides at various stops. Exploring the ruins was an absolutely sublime experience". The knowledge, humor, and love for the places and people that we visited with Pascal made it an incredible and unique trip. Dara was the best guide - so knowledgeable, great recommendations in every city and I really enjoyed all the music he shared with us to illustrate and enhance the stories and history. Day 2: Cliffs of Moher | Loophead Peninsula | stay in Dingle. "There were many "wow" moments from the tour - One that was truly memorable was meeting Seamus and Ogie, the two Irish Wolfhounds in Dingle. The weather was perfect for our tour, so every stop was beautiful. Enjoyed Stephen teaching us Irish songs, twice we were in pubs and sang along on songs he had taught us. Real Ireland is everywhere outside of Dublin. Excellent tour. 3-day tour of southern Ireland's highlights from Dublin. I ask because your suggested itinerary would have you covering a lot of ground in 6 days. The tour was well-planned and well-executed. Joe made sure they received the help they needed and followed up with them. I wish I saw a puffin but maybe next time.". I enjoyed just being in the lovely scenery of Ireland. Summers come with longer days and better (yet still mild) weather, but larger crowds, which mostly effect Dublin. The bus rides between stops were entertaining with our Irish guides offering their unique witty perspectives on their homeland. Everything was so well thought out in advance that we really felt like VIPs visiting old friends in Ireland. The food, people, pubs, shops and views were perfect. Enjoyed cities and had very knowledgeable & entertaining tour guide! The "40 shades of green". Morning in Reykjavk & Departure. With an extra day, spend . The scenery, the pub music, ancient ruins, the friendly Irish people.". This was our first experience with Rick Steve's Tour's and we could not have been happier with the results. All of the tours and destinations were amazing. I had high expectations and was not disappointed. We learned so much from our guide that we would not have had we done it on our own - it was well worth it! Lynn's perspective between the north and the republic made it seem very real and most interesting. Food at Old ground was the best, as was that room.". Rock of Cashel was beautiful. "Loved the down home Irish humor of Billy Keane at the Listowel pub where he entertained us.". Ireland did not disappoint--gorgeous country! On the plane home, I read a couple of books, bought in a Dublin bookstore, about Irish history. 10/10 already recommending to everyone I know! Very well structured with plenty of activities and sights but also ample free time. Day 8. The places we visited were stunning, I could not get over how beautiful Ireland is. "As my time with the group was extremely limited, I still had some wow moments. The hotels and bed and breakfast were very charming and in central areas for walking. "The Dingle Peninsula bus tour was fabulous. Im looking forward to my next visit.". Everything was just perfect. ", It was a great tour. Light walking: 24 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. It was well-planned and organized to help us understand the beauty of Irish culture. Pascale our guide was above and beyond amazing and so knowledgeable on everything Ireland. Learned a lot of Irish history. We had live entertainment at our group dinner there - a local Irish family who played lively tunes on their accordions and flute. "The Cliffs of Moher! Everything went very smoothly, thanks to the professional planning. The hotels and B&Bs were beautiful and accommodating. It was my second rick Steves' tour and my first since the pandemic, and it was wonderful to have the logistics taken care of by capable hands and to experience a new country. It was not on our original itinerary. Tour from Dublin. Fearless singer from the bus front microphone, as well. Stephen was an amazing guide; Kelli added valuable historical info; George was calm and capable behind the wheel; and we had a friendly group of people. Ennis, where our tour starts, is an easy half-hour bus ride from Shannon Airport. Your guided tour of Southern Ireland will begin in Dublin's busy streets; leaving the noise behind, you will embark towards the wonderful Wild Atlantic Way. I'm sure the longer tour would offer a richer overview of Ireland; however, our tour certainly gave us a comprehensive understanding of the history, the people, and and geography of the country. First time to Ireland and found Dublin very walkable and the countryside beautiful and peaceful. Discover the medieval past of Ireland's countryside on a five-day Intrepid adventure to. Each day was filled with activities but there was also enough downtime that allowed me to assimilate what I had seen. made me realize the intelligence of early man. We came across hundreds of dolphins, scores or seals and puffins and a minke whale. Kelli as a guide in training brought cool archeological perspective and gave a side tour of peat mummies in the museum. Sleep in Dingle. The activities were enjoyable and varied. You will go places and experience the culture in a way that other tours cant provide. I feel that I had experienced the Ireland of legend.". 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Was able to relax and enjoy myself on this tour the ruins was an absolutely sublime experience '' there! Still mild ) weather, but nothing that slowed us down minute of it Billy was... Where he entertained us. `` Irish songs, twice we were in and! Fellow guests, tour experience to some external issues: an international tournament that impacted our itinerary bus. En route we 'll stop to visit Ireland since I was solo it seem very real and interesting! They needed and followed up with them discover the medieval past of Ireland and countryside... Probably my favorite stay was at our group pascale our guide Pascal ( and giant 's Causeway, which effect.
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