Essential Ireland Southern Adventure

A bucket list tour of Dublin and Ireland’s Breath-taking South-West

Tour Details:

General details

We are delighted that you are considering joining us on our Essential Ireland Southern Adventure 7-night tour. We understand the trust you are placing in us to provide you with an unforgettable experience, on your trip of a lifetime. From the moment you contact us, we will work in partnership with you to curate an effortless, bespoke itinerary to provide you with the utmost on this bucket-list holiday.

Our team are passionate about travel in Ireland and Scotland and have first-hand experience of the accommodation and activities which we will organise for you. We use this passion and knowledge along with our five-star partners in Irish tourism to ensure that the trip is specifically tailored to your group and their particular needs and interests.

We are confident that our team will work tirelessly to ensure you a vacation of a lifetime!

What is included in your trip?

  • Bespoke personal itinerary
  • Accommodation as described in your itinerary
  • Breakfast included in your hotel each morning
  • Luxury vehicle as described in your itinerary with your friendly, passionate and knowledgeable driver guide
  • Admission to all attractions mentioned on your itinerary
  • Your lunch in Feehan’s of Cashel included free of charge
  • A personal connection with a member of the team who will provide you with support at all times of your trip.

Arrival and Departure Location: Dublin Airport

Arrival and Departure Location: Dublin Airport

  • Guinness Storehouse
  • Trinity College and The Book of Kells
  • Dublin Hop on Hop Off Tour
  • Rock of Cashel
  • Cobh
  • Blarney Castle
  • Ring of Kerry
  • Moll’s Gap
  • Ladies’ View Killarney
  • Muckross House
  • Dingle Peninsula
  • Slea Head Drive
  • Wild Atlantic Way
  • Inch Beach
  • The Cliffs of Moher
  • The Burren National Park
  • Connemara National Park
  • Kylemore Abbey

Exclusive accommodation:

  • The Merrion Hotel Dublin (2 nights)
  • Hayfield Manor, Cork (1 nights)
  • Great Southern Killarney (2 night)
  • The Hardiman, Galway (1 night)
  • The Merrion Hotel Dublin (1 night)

Itinerary:

Accommodation: The Merrion Hotel
Transport: Exclusive Transfer into your Dublin city centre accommodation

When you touch down in Dublin Airport, you will be welcomed to Ireland by a friendly local driver. You will be able to sit back and relax in your luxurious vehicle while your luggage is taken care of. From here, you will be transferred to The Merrion Hotel, your luxurious, five-star accommodation located at the heart of Dublin city.

Once you arrive at the hotel you will have time to admire the elegant setting and settle into the comfort of one of Ireland’s most exclusive hotels. Home to a 2-Star Michelin Restaurant you will be spoiled for choice for food and drink. If you are feeling adventurous and wish to explore your wider surroundings you will quickly discover that you are situated in the heart of Georgian Dublin, with Government Buildings situated just a stone’s throw from the hotel. A variety of museums and galleries are located within easy walking distance, while the pubs, restaurants and shops of Grafton Street are moments away.

Accommodation: The Merrion Hotel
Activity: Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour Dublin, Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College, Book of Kells

Following an exquisite breakfast, you can spend the day exploring Dublin at your leisure. Dublin is a diverse, vibrant city, with history dating back to the Vikings. With culture, history and creativity, at every corner, you find something to interest you at every turn. With access to the Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour of Dublin you can pick and choose what captures your imagination. We do, however, highly recommend a visit to Trinity College to view the famous Book of Kells, a spectacular example of the manuscripts produced in Irish monasteries from the 6th- 9th centuries. Located in the Long Room in Trinity College, you will be awe-struck not only by this ancient work of art, but also by the incredible surroundings of one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.

No trip to Dublin would be complete without a trip to the iconic Guinness Storehouse. Experience the history, sights, sounds and stories of the world’s most iconic stout. Of course, no trip to the home of Guinness would be complete without your chance to sample the famous stout, while enjoying the views from the spectacular 360 Gravity Bar.
After a long day exploring, you will be delighted to see the welcoming doors to the Merrion, where you can enjoy an evening of relaxation and fine dining before travelling south tomorrow.

Accommodation: Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork
Transport: Luxury Vehicle with your Private Driver Guide
Activities: The Rock of Cashel, Lunch in Feehan’s Cashel included free of charge, Blarney Castle, Cork.

You will be met by your friendly and knowledgeable driver guide at the Merrion Hotel. We are confident that you will automatically feel at ease with your private, chauffeur driver who will continue to provide you with top-class tour guiding throughout the rest of your stay. Sit back, relax and enjoy the rolling hills and green fields that you will pass as you make your way south.

Your first stop of the day will be at the celebrated Rock of Cashel, located in the charming town of Cashel, in the heart of Ireland’s Golden Vale. The Rock of Cashel is considered one of Ireland’s most popular attractions, and it’s easy to see why. A cluster of highly impressive medieval buildings, including a round tower, a Romanesque chapel, an Abbey, a Gothic Cathedral and a high cross, it was once the seat of the Kings of Munster. According to legend, St. Patrick himself visited the Rock of Cashel to convert King Aenghus. Equally impressive, one of the most notable figures of medieval Irish history, Brian Boru was crowned High King of Ireland in 978 at this site and made Cashel his capital. In 1101 the site was granted to the Church and it quickly rose to prominence as one of the most important ecclesiastical sites in Ireland. No trip to Ireland is complete, without visiting this site of great historical significance in Ireland. Following your tour, you will be brought to Feehan’s Bar, Cashel for a complimentary lunch. You will experience a traditional Irish bar setting with a friendly atmosphere, while enjoying a tasty lunch.

Once back with your driver guide, you will continue your journey south to County Cork. Your final stop of the day will be in Blarney, Co Cork to explore the grounds of Blarney Castle, have an opportunity to kiss the Blarney Stone and explore the renowned Blarney Woollen Mills to purchase a range of gifts and souvenirs. Built almost 600 years ago, Blarney Castle has attracted millions of visitors in the centuries since. You will be enthralled by the beautifully maintained gardens and grounds, while you explore the history of this famous castle. No trip to Blarney would be complete without joining the ranks of Winston Churchill and Ronald Regan, by kissing the world-renowned Blarney Stone. Said to grant those who kiss it with the gift of eloquence, it is a highlight on any trip to Ireland.

Following your busy day exploring, you will feel immediately welcomed at the luxurious Hayfield Manor, a boutique hotel nestled at the heart of Cork city, located within beautiful walled gardens to create a peaceful oasis in the centre of the city. With Cork’s finest dining, luxury amenities and a choice of elegant bedrooms, you will feel pampered from the moment you step foot inside the hotel.

Accommodation: Great Southern Killarney
Transport: Luxury Vehicle with your Private Driver Guide
Activities: Visit the historic town of Cobh, Titanic Experience, West Cork towns and villages, The Ring of Kerry, Moll’s Gap, Ladies’ View Killarney, Muckross House

Following a decadent breakfast in the Orchids Restaurant in the Hayfield Manor, you will once again be greeted by your driver guide at a time of your choosing. You will travel to the picturesque seaside town of Cobh, formerly known as Queensland. Cobh holds great historic significance for many with Irish ancestry, as it was for many, the port from which they left Ireland for distant shores. A statue commemorating Annie Moore, the first passenger to pass through Ellis Island, is located on the quayside. Known for being the final port of call of the Titanic on its fated journey, Cobh is now home to The Titanic Experience, located in the former White Star Line buildings. Follow the final footsteps of passengers of the Titanic and listen to eyewitness accounts of the tragedy.

Once back with your driver guide, you will begin to make your way west. As your travel west, you will notice the landscape change, as you travel through the charming towns and villages of West Cork. Some of Ireland’s most striking and rugged coastline will give you your first introduction to the spectacular Wild Atlantic Way. Continuing on your journey you will begin the Ring of Kerry, a celebrated scenic drive along the Iveragh Peninsula. You will be spoiled for choice of breath-taking views as you pass views of mountains, lakes and coastlines. Make sure you have your cameras to hand, as you will want to capture some of these most beautiful sights. If you are particularly lucky, you may stumble across some sheep roaming wild and grazing at the roadside. The Gap of Dunloe, Moll’s Gap and Ladies’ View are just some of the acclaimed view points you will see. Ladies’ View gained international recognition as a sight of beauty, when Queen Victoria visited Ireland in 1861 and visited this scenic viewpoint with her ladies in waiting, hence the name, Ladies’ View. On your way into Killarney, you will stop at Muckross House, a nineteenth century, Victorian mansion to explore it’s magic and beauty.

You will finish your day in Killarney. Killarney is known as one of Ireland’s friendliest and most vibrant towns, surrounded by extraordinary and magical beauty. The Great Southern Killarney offers a great advantage as it is situated in the heart of Killarney and is in walking distance to the town centre, great for exploring this acclaimed town, famous for its unrivalled tradition of hospitality. Retaining some of its original Victorian features, you will feel right at home in the Great Southern, where you can enjoy the finest service coupled with outstanding facilities.

Accommodation: Great Southern Killarney
Transport: Luxury Vehicle with your Private Driver Guide
Activities: Dingle Peninsula, explore the bustling, tourist hotspot town of Dingle, The Magical, breath-taking Slea Head Drive

You will be met by your driver guide at a time of your choosing. Prepare to travel west to the Wild Atlantic Way. Named as ‘The most beautiful place on earth’ by National Geographic, we are confident that as the day goes on, that you will also understand why the Dingle Peninsula is voted among the top 100 destinations in the whole world, while also being the setting for numerous film productions including Ryan’s Daughter, Far and Away and Star Wars Episode VIII, The Last Jedi. You will travel through a number of charming Irish villages and the acclaimed town of Dingle, famous for its Irish culture and warm welcome to guests. A destination steeped in tradition, history, culture and literature, here Gaeilge (Irish language) is spoken daily by the locals alongside English. Strolling the streets of Dingle, you will come across a variety of shops celebrating local arts, crafts and photography, souvenir shops, a variety of places to eat, ranging from fine seafood dining, traditional Irish fish and chips, traditional Irish bar food and a range of snacks such as artisan ice-cream and crepe stands. Keep an ear out as you pass the bars, as if you are lucky, you might just stumble across a traditional music session.

The Dingle Peninsula stretches 48 km in the Atlantic Ocean, dominated by a range of mountains, including Mount Brandon, Ireland’s second highest peak. The spectacular coastline includes an award winning beach at Inch beach, the steep sea-cliffs of the Slea Head Drive, along with dramatic headlands, broken by sandy beaches.

Following your day exploring the Wild Atlantic Way, you will be welcomed back to The Great Southern for your choice of evening activity, whether you decide you want to relax in the luxuriant surroundings of the hotel, or head into Killarney to enjoy the local nightlife.

Accommodation: The Hardiman, Galway
Transport: Luxury Vehicle with your Private Driver Guide
Activities: Shannon Region, Tarbert Ferry, Cliffs of Moher, The Burren National Park, Galway

Today you will travel North along the Wild Atlantic Way. Your day will begin by travelling North through County Kerry, into the Shannon Region. You will arrive to the Shannon Estuary where you will take the Tarbert car ferry which connects County Kerry with County Clare. Once again you will follow the Wild Atlantic Way to an unmissable spot in any trip to Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs of Moher, really are one of Ireland’s most spectacular natural attractions, rising 200m above the Atlantic Ocean. The Cliffs of Moher really will leave you feeling awestruck, with the rugged Clare coastline to one side and the unique landscape of The Burren National Park to the other. Without a doubt, a highlight of any trip to Ireland. Be sure to have your camera to hand, so you can capture those memories to stay with you for life.

As you continue to travel further north towards Galway, you will travel through The Burren National Park, a UNESCO Geopark, internationally recognised as a place with unique geology, landscape, history and culture. You will be mesmerised by the natural beauty of the 330 million year old limestone pavements, with the diverse array of flora, including Arctic, Alpine and Mediterranean species.

Your day will come to an end in the traditionally called ‘City of the Tribes’; Galway, Ireland’s fifth largest city and key gateway to the West. Considered wild, and bohemian, and internationally recognised as a place of culture, artistry, music, as well as delicious local food and drink. You will be charmed as you wander the cobblestoned streets, lined with colourful shop facades and lively traditional pubs. You will have a real sense of Irish hospitality in play in many of the traditional pubs with their turf fires and traditional music.

The Hardiman is one of Galway’s most iconic hotels, located centrally in Eyre Square. Enjoy the impressive combination of Victorian grace and opulent luxury, evident in this hotel that has played host to numerous notable guests over the last century and a half. The easy charm and flawless hospitality will leave you feeling right at home.

Accommodation: The Merrion, Dublin
Transport: Luxury Vehicle with your Private Driver Guide
Activities: Connemara, Sky Road, Kylemore Abbey

For your final day exploring Ireland, you will truly be taken away by the rugged charm and natural beauty which you will encounter today. Travelling west through County Galway, you will notice the a different landscape to that which you have encountered thus far. Take note of the signature hand built small stone walls dividing the landscape into blocks of green fields. Connemara is considered by many as Ireland’s Wild and Wonderful Region. With close ties and connections to traditional Ireland, it is easy to feel transported to a different time as you travel this ancient and beautiful Gaelic heartland. A unique landscape, where the rugged beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way meets with the majestic mountains and lakes of the Gaelic heartlands.

Travelling along the Sky Road, justifiably famous for its spectacular views, it is advisable to once again have your camera to hand to capture the beautiful scenery you will encounter. Nestled in the heart of Connemara, you will visit Kylemore Abbey, a haven of beauty, history and serenity. This stunning Victorian castle is perched overlooking a stunning lake. Explore the diverse and interesting history of the castle, originally built as a family home, it has taken many different functions since, as a home to the Benedictines, a school and now a celebrated visitor attraction. Take your time to wander the grounds and the beautifully maintained, magnificent gardens.

Following your excursion, you will begin to make your way back to Dublin to spend your night in the comfort and luxury of The Merrion prior to your flight tomorrow. Once again, you can enjoy the opulence and elegance of your surroundings while savouring the finest food and service on offer.

We will arrange a luxury vehicle transfer to Dublin Airport for you at a time of your suiting. Once again, you can sit back and relax, while your luggage is taken care of, and you can enjoy your final drive through Dublin in style. While sadly, your trip of Ireland has come to its end, we are confident that you will be flying home with the memories of a lifetime, full of the spectacular natural beauty of Ireland, its world famous hospitality and the vibrant, lively culture which combine to create the captivating magic of the land of ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’, ‘a hundred, thousand welcomes’. We hope that we, at Celtic Chauffeur will get to welcome you back once again.

Location

Tour Location