The landscapes of Ireland inspired mythical legends of Celtic fairies and heaven-like lands of the eternal youth. After 11 days of traveling through Ireland’s patchwork pastures, ancient ruins and wild coastlines, you’ll understand why.

Please note: 2009 itinerary and excursions vary. Please call for details.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Dublin

Fly through the night to Ireland.

Day 2 - Dublin

Meet your Go Ahead representative after you arrive in Dublin. You’ll then be escorted to your hotel for check-in. If you took our pre-tour extension to London, join the rest of your tour today. Dinner is included this evening. (B in flight, D)

Day 3 - Dublin

Guided sightseeing of Dublin features a visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, founded by Ireland’s patron saint in A.D. 450. Then travel along the banks of the River Liffey; see the official residence of the Irish president in Phoenix Park. The tour ends with a visit to Trinity College. Within the college’s library is the famed Book of Kells, an illuminated text believed to have been written in the 8th century. Also, join an optional afternoon excursion to Malahide Castle. (B)

$59 USD

Malahide Castle Set on 250 acres of park land in the pretty seaside town of Malahide, Malahide Castle was both a fortress and the private residence of the Talbot family for nearly 800 years.

Day 4 - Dublin

With a free day in Dublin, shop along Grafton Street. Or join an optional excursion to Powerscourt, an estate known for its gardens. You’ll also visit Glendalough, former monastery of St. Kevin. Tonight, experience traditional Irish music, dance and food at our optional Irish Cabaret Night. (B)

$119 USD

Irish Cabaret Night Enjoy this special evening of traditional Irish food, music and live entertainment.

$99 USD

Powerscourt & Glendalough *A Go Ahead Favorite excursion!* County Wicklow has some of the wildest and most spectacular mountain scenery in Ireland, as well as many of the country’s most important historic sites

Day 5 - County Cork

Leaving Dublin for your journey through the Irish countryside, stop in Kildare at the National Stud Farm. Tour the pastures and stables and learn how the world’s fastest racehorses are bred and raised. Arrive later in Kilkenny, Ireland’s center of craftwork and medieval architecture, and visit 13th-century St. Canice’s Cathedral. Your tour director then introduces you to the charming town itself, situated on the banks of the River Noire. Continue on to the city of Cork, Ireland’s “second city.” (B)

Day 6 - County Kerry

After a walking orientation of Cork led by your tour director, visit the Queenstown Story Museum at the port of Cobh. It was in this seaside town that hundreds of thousands of Irish citizens in centuries past bid farewell to their homeland and set off for the New World; learn the stories behind their emigration in the museum’s fascinating exhibits. Your last stop before reaching County Kerry is Blarney Castle, where you could follow a longstanding tradition by kissing the legendary Blarney Stone (a feat trickier than it sounds!). (B, D)

Day 7 - County Kerry

Take a leisurely journey around the 112-mile Ring of Kerry on today’s full-day excursion. See spectacular coastal scenery, including the mountain peaks of Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, ruins of Iron Age forts and the three Lakes of Killarney, part of the sprawling National Park. Stop along the way in Killarney, one of Ireland’s famed resort towns. (B)

Day 8 - Galway

Drive through some of Ireland’s most rugged scenery on the way to Galway, the “gateway to the West.” Along the way, you’ll stop at 13th-century Bunratty Castle. Tonight, dine at our optional Castle Banquet dinner. (seasonal) (B)

$125 USD

Castle Banquet Dinner Dine like royalty when you enjoy a four-course meal followed by an evening of Irish entertainment inside the Dungaire Castle.

Day 9 - Galway

With another free day in Galway, you might choose to explore the city’s cultural highlights or cross the River Corrib to see University College. Alternatively, join a full-day optional excursion to the Aran Islands (weather permitting), a rugged region of traditional Irish culture that has remained largely unchanged in recent centuries.  (B)

$99 USD

Aran Islands Ferry west across Galway Bay for a guided tour of Inis Moor. As one of three remote Aran Islands, Inis Moor has remained essentially unchanged over the past centuries, preserving ancient Irish culture.

Day 10 - Limerick

Travel through the limestone plateau known as the Burren and stop to see the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, which rise 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Later,  transfer to Limerick. Overlooked by Woodcock Hill immediately to the north, and the Silvermine Mountains to the east, the city is spread along both banks of the Shannon River. Here, you’ll enjoy an included dinner.  (B, D)

Day 11 - Galway

Board your flight home. (B)

Please note: 2009 itinerary and excursions vary. Please call for details.