Upcoming Vacations
2023 Irish Legends
May 26 – June 4, 2023
10 Days / 9 Nights / 17 Meals
AK Destinations Travel Group
Use link above for registration or additional information.
Dates:
May 26 – June 4, 2023
Depart from USA on May 25, 2023. Tour begins May 26, 2023
Pricing:
$2,985 LAND ONLY per person based on double occupancy
Single Room Supplement $795
Trip Highlights:
• Cliffs of Moher
• Aran Islands Excursion
• Cobh Heritage Centre
• Clonmacnoise Monastic Site
• Sean’s Bar
• Irish National Stud & Gardens
Irish Legends Tour 10-Day Itinerary:
- Day 1: Dublin Arrival | Malahide Castle
Your tour begins 2:00 PM at Dunboyne Castle. Head to visit Malahide Castle, first built in 1185 and filled with medieval artifacts. Enjoy a welcome get-together drink with your group before dinner. (Dinner) - Day 2: National Stud | Kilkenny Walking Tour
Visit the home of equine royalty, The Irish National Stud, where you’ll see immaculately bred stallions alongside protective mares, frolicking foals and athletic yearlings. Take a walk around the grounds to see St Fiachra’s Garden and the miniature Japanese Gardens. Enjoy a casual lunch at the Kilkenny Design Centre, housed in the former stables of Kilkenny Castle. Take a walking tour of Kilkenny with a local guide along the Medieval Mile, the city’s main street to see buildings dating back as far as the 13th century. The evening is free for independent dining. (Breakfast, Lunch) - Day 3: House of Waterford Crystal | Dunbrody Famine Ship
Visit the House of Waterford Crystal, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner; see skilled artisans create crystal masterpieces on a factory tour. Then join a local guide for a gentle walking tour to hear stories about Waterford’s long history and some of its colorful characters. Explore more of the town at your leisure, then head to New Ross to explore the Dunbrody Famine Ship, a replica of the vessel used during the 1840s Famine to transport emigrants to North America. (Breakfast, Dinner) - Day 4: Cobh Heritage Centre | Blarney Castle
Travel south to Cobh, the last port of call of the Titanic and where many places associated with the liner still exist. Visit the Cobh Heritage Centre, which traces the history of emigration over a number of centuries from Ireland to North America. Head to Blarney Castle to kiss the famous stone or stroll through the spacious parklands to view Blarney House before travelling to Killarney. (Breakfast, Dinner) - Day 5: Killarney | Dingle Peninsula
Visit Moriarty’s, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, in the beautiful Gap of Dunloe. Afterwards discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula as you drive along the south shore to admire views of heathery mountains, sandy stretches of beach, and rocky headlands. Stop at the South Pole Inn for an Irish coffee and learn about Tom Crean, an early explorer who braved the South Pole. Browse around the town of Dingle and enjoy a drink, dinner and entertainment at Foley’s Bar and Restaurant before returning to Killarney. (Breakfast, Dinner) - Day 6: Cliffs of Moher | Galway Panoramic Tour
Embark on a memorable ferry ride across the wide River Shannon Estuary. View the Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above the churning Atlantic swells. Walk along the top of the cliffs where; on a clear day you can see great views of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. Immerse yourself in farm life and watch a farmer demonstrate how his trained dogs herd mountain sheep. Enjoy tea and home made scones at the farm. Head to Galway for a panoramic city tour. (Breakfast, Dinner) - Day 7: Aran Islands | Dun Aengus Fort
Set out across Galway Bay for Inis Mor, the largest of the three Aran Islands. These rocky islands are renowned for the hardy islanders who maintain traditional fishing and farming methods. Head to Dun Aengus, a huge prehistoric fortress perched on sheer cliffs, which fall away to the Atlantic Ocean below. Explore Kilronan, the island’s main village and enjoy a casual lunch before returning by ferry. (Breakfast, Lunch) - Day 8: Clonmacnoise | Sean’s Bar | Abbey Tavern
Visit Clonmacnoise, a monastic settlement founded in 545 AD and set on the banks of the River Shannon. Marvel at elaborate high Celtic crosses decorated with biblical scenes, walk around the many church ruins and two round towers. Head to nearby Athlone and stop at Sean’s Bar for an Irish coffee (CIE Tours Exclusive). This pub has a documented history going right back to 900 AD and is featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest pub in Europe. During renovations in 1970, ancient walls and old coins dating back centuries were discovered. In the evening, head to Dublin’s Abbey Tavern for an Irish dinner and lively show. (Breakfast, Dinner) - Day 9: Independent Dublin Sightseeing
Enjoy an independent day of sightseeing in Dublin using your Hop On Hop Off bus tour voucher. Using your visit voucher you can choose to visit one of the following top attractions – Guinness Storehouse, Teeling Distillery, Epic The Irish Emigration Museum or the GPO Museum. (Breakfast) - Day 10: Tour Ends in Dublin
Your tour ends after breakfast. (Breakfast)
Hotels:
• Dunboyne Castle Hotel
• Newpark Hotel
• Killarney Towers Hotel
• Salthill Hotel
• Radisson Blu Royal Hotel – Dublin
2023 Scottish Dream
September 1-8, 2023
8 Days / 7 Nights / 11 Meals
AK Destinations Travel Group
Use link above for registration or additional information.
Dates:
September 1 – 8, 2023
Depart from USA on August 31, 2023. Tour begins September 1, 2023
Pricing:
$2,555 LAND ONLY per person based on double occupancy
Single Room Supplement $770
Trip Highlights:
• Loch Lomond Cruise
• Inveraray Castle
• St Andrews
• Scottish Sheepdog Demonstration
• Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
• Isle of Skye
• Blair Athol Distillery
• Blair Castle
• Culloden Battlefield
• Edinburgh Castle
Scottish Dream Tour 8-Day Itinerary:
- Day 1: Glasgow Tour | Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Your tour begins at 2:00 PM at your Glasgow hotel. Set out on a panoramic tour of central Glasgow’s highlights including red sandstone Victorian buildings, delightful parks, Glasgow Cathedral, and the River Clyde, once important for shipbuilding. Visit the extensive and varied art collections in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Chat with your tour director and fellow travelers over a welcome drink. Your evening is free to dine independently. - Day 2: Loch Lomond Cruise | Inveraray Castle
Embark on a short cruise of Loch Lomond to appreciate the beauty of this famous loch and admire panoramic views. Browse around the town of Inveraray and have lunch on your own before taking a guided tour of Inveraray Castle, featured in “Downton Abbey”. Journey across Rannoch Moor and through Glencoe, often considered one of Scotland’s most spectacular and beautiful places. Continue to Ballachulish on the shore of Loch Leven. (Breakfast, Dinner) - Day 3: Isle of Skye | Loch Ness
Travel on the scenic “Road to the Isles”, stopping for photos at the Glenfinnan Monument. Ferry to the Isle of Skye to visit Armadale Castle, a romantic ruin surrounded by magnificent gardens. Back on the mainland, travel along the shores of Loch Ness. End the day at your hotel in Nairn, a lovely manor house set on spacious grounds near the North Sea. (Breakfast, Dinner) - Day 4: Culloden Battlefield | Sheepdog Trials
A short distance from Nairn is the Culloden Battlefield where the British government forces defeated the army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, popularly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. Walk around the battlefield and the visitor center. Continue through majestic Highland scenery to a local farm for a demonstration of trained dogs herding sheep. Travel through the high peaks of the Grampian Mountains to your gracious manor-style hotel near Pitlochry. (Breakfast, Dinner) - Day 5: Blair Castle | Whisky Tasting | Pitlochry
Visit Blair Castle, home of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl. Delve into the history of Mary, Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and how Queen Victoria’s famous stay led to the creation of Europe’s only private army, the Atholl Highlanders. Go behind the scenes at Blair Athol Distillery for a tour and sample of the finished product. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring the hotel gardens and museum or browsing around Pitlochry. (Breakfast, Dinner) - Day 6: Glamis Castle | St Andrews | Scottish Evening*
Travel through lush countryside to visit Glamis Castle, the legendary setting of “Macbeth” and childhood home of the late Queen Mother. This majestic building is filled with priceless artifacts and furnishings. Head to St Andrews, the “Home of Golf,” to see the famous Royal and Ancient Clubhouse and the Old Course. Enjoy free time to browse around the medieval town. Head to your hotel near Edinburgh, where you will enjoy a Scottish evening with traditional food, music, and dancing. (Breakfast, Dinner) - Day 7: Edinburgh Panoramic Tour | Edinburgh Castle
Explore Edinburgh to compare and contrast the wide streets and elegant mansions of the Georgian 200-year-old “New Town” with the narrow lanes and medieval townhouses along the Royal Mile, the oldest part of the city. Tour the imposing Edinburgh Castle with its splendid views of the city. The rest of the day is free for independent exploring, shopping, and dining. Enjoy the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade. (Breakfast) - Day 8: Tour Ends in Edinburgh
Your tour ends after breakfast. (Breakfast)
Hotels:
• Sandman Signature Glasgow Hotel
• Ballachulish Hotel
• Muthu Newton Hotel
• Atholl Palace Hotel
• Norton House Hotel & Spa