Irish Foray | 9 Day Self-Drive

Explore. Traverse. Discover.

Ready to take the Emerald Isle by storm? Maybe it’s your first time setting foot on Irish soil. You’ve waited long enough for this journey, and you’re ready for the adventure. Or, perhaps, this is a return trip, and the island is a long-lost friend calling your name. Whatever your connection, she’ll be happy to greet you. From the taste of smooth Jameson to the iconic steps of Blarney Castle, your Irish Foray enchants as much as it thrills.

Day 1: Dublin City Attractions

Pick up your rental car at the airport and drive to your hotel. Take today to leave the car idle and use the open top bus tour as your mode of transport. It allows you to hop on and off at whatever attractions you choose along the route and should keep you entertained for a large part of the day. Be sure to visit the Guinness Storehouse and the Jameson Distillery among the other attractions along the route.

Day 2: More Dublin & Drive to Donegal

You can see all that remains to be seen in Dublin this morning before leaving the city for now. Continue towards Donegal. You can make a short detour, less than an hour’s drive to Newgrange. Newgrange is best known for the illumination of its passage and chamber by the winter solstice sun. While you are out of Dublin, you may also wish to visit Drogheda and the Battle of the Boyne Centre. This historic exhibit commemorates the largest battle to ever take place in Ireland. There was so much at stake at that time – the British throne, French dominance in Europe and Religious power in Ireland. After you’re done exploring for the day, arrive in Donegal towards evening.

Day 3: Donegal Tour & Slieve League

Today will be your first taste of Ireland’s iconic, rugged beauty. Along the northwest coast, Donegal is the most sparsely populated county in Ireland with narrow roads winding around its famed hills. Take as long as you wish on this scenic drive before returning to your hotel. To break up the drive, be sure to visit Slieve League, the highest sea cliffs in Europe. If you are the adventurous type, Donegal is great for surfing, biking and hiking.

Day 4: Drive to Galway

Whether you are a fan of the legendary W.B. Yeats or not, Yeats’ Country is a beautiful part of Ireland and one that too few tourists get to experience. Taking in most of Sligo and parts of Leitrim and Roscommon, Ben Bulben and Lough Gill provide the main attractions. You can take a cruise on the lake or just stop to appreciate Ben Bulben. Seaside towns like Enniscrone provide the perfect stopping point for lunch. Enniscrone in particular has a gorgeous beach and is home to the famous seaweed bath. Visit Parke’s Castle and/or Yeats’ Grave on your travels.

Day 5: Connemara Tour & Galway City

Today set out south along the west coast to Connemara and onto Clifden. Take some stunning pictures of Kylemore Abbey and find somewhere nice in the Connemara region to get some lunch. Make your way back to the city of Galway where you can spend a few hours. It is a beautiful little city that many consider to be the most charming in Europe. Be sure to make the short trip to Salthill and take a short stroll along the promenade. Make your way back to your hotel in your own time.

Day 6: Cliffs of Moher & Killarney

Make your way from your hotel in Galway through the Burren to the famous Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs of Moher tower over the wild Atlantic Ocean and have been acknowledged all over the world as one of the most spectacular sights to see. You may recognize them from the classic film The Princess Bride (dubbed ‘The Cliffs of Insanity’ – inconceivably, of course). The Cliffs made it to the final 28 in the ‘New 7 Wonders of Nature’ campaign in 2011 and are definitely one sight you do not want to miss on your trip to Ireland.

If you have time there are many more stops you can make on your way to Killarney but we advise that you leave as much time as you can there.

Day 7: Ring of Kerry Tour

Today you will set off from Killarney in around the Ring of Kerry. This is a very scenic drive around the coast of the county and unspoilt region of Ireland. Before you end your day stop off at Ross Castle built in the late 15th century by one of the O’Donoghue Ross chieftains or visit Muckross House & Gardens, a magnificent Victorian mansion and one of Ireland’s leading stately homes. The Gardens at Muckross House are renowned world-wide for their beauty.

You can take as much or as little time as you like touring the Ring but be sure to get back in time to explore, Killarney which is a wonderful town and is home to some of the best pubs in the country.

Day 8: Blarney Stone & Rock of Cashel

Today is full of of interesting stops as you make on your way back to Dublin. You can visit Blarney Castle to kiss the famous Stone of Eloquence. From there, you can take a trip into Cork city to the English Market or if you wish to bypass the city, go to Kinsale for lunch. Kinsale is known as the gourmet capital of Ireland with no shortage of nice restaurants.

From there move onto the Rock of Cashel before arriving in Dublin for your final night.

Day 9: Return Home

Make your way from your hotel to Dublin Airport where you will return your rental car and fly home.

Flights

We are more than happy to include a flight quote separately to your package so that you can decide if you would like to book with us or on your own.  While booking flights can seem straight-forward, there are often hidden fees or classes of service that do not include seat assignments, meals or checked bags. We have been booking flights since 1985 and know the best routings and have great contracts that mean we often have better prices than what you will see online.

Accommodation

In Ireland, we generally try to book hotels that are at a 4 star level or higher. In some situations, we will book some 3 star or B&B properties but we do require them to be at a certain standard. We try to ensure a member of the team have stayed at each property in recent years or that we have done a site inspection.

Planning Deposits

Your first vacation quote, and up to two revisions, for trips of 9 or fewer days, and 45 days in advance of travel, are complimentary. If an itinerary requires further revisions subsequent to this, we will require a non-refundable deposit of $75 per person in order to continue.

If you are requesting a quote for a vacation that is 10 days in length, or with travel dates within 45 days, or to a non-core destination, a deposit of $75 per person will be required in order for us to begin working on your proposal.

Planning deposits can then be put towards the cost of the trip should you decide to proceed with the booking.

Our Process