ITINERARY
Day 1: Departure Day
- Fly from departure city to Reykjavik
Day 2: Arrive - Reykjavik
- On arrival you will be met by an Educational World Tours representative.
- Morning visit enjoying the comfort package at the Blue Lagoon pool that is geothermal heated which is one of the primary sources of energy in Iceland. Reykjavik itself translates to mean Bay of Steam.
- Guided tour of the National Museum of Iceland (Þjóðminjasafn Íslands)
- Center of History and Heritage of Iceland. Exhibits include the settlement of Iceland and the time of Vikings through the Conversion to Christianity up until the modern era including the volcanic eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in 2010.
- Lunch at your own expense.
- Guided walking tour of the city.
- Transfer to the Culture House (Safnahúsið)
- Home of many exhibits that tell the story of life in Iceland. Ex Photography, local art and Medieval Manuscripts
- Check in time at your hotel.
- Dinner buffet at your hotel.
- Northern Lights evening tour to see the spectacular natural phenomenon, usually only visible over the polar regions of the earth. A truly unforgettable sight to behold. Please remember to wear warm clothing during the tour.
Accommodation: Moderate hotel in Reykjavik
Day 3: Reykjavik
- Breakfast at your hotel.
- Activity specific to your group.
- Guided Tour of Harpa Concert Hall.
- One of Reykjavik's most distinguishing landmarks. It's a cultural and social centre in the heart of the city.
- Dinner at your hotel or local restaurant.
- Evening Symphony at the Harpa Concert Hall (schedule dependent and ticket price not included).
Accommodation: Moderate hotel in Reykjavik
Day 4: Reykjavik
- Breakfast at your hotel.
- Departure for the Golden Circle Tour.
- Lunch at your hotel.
- Iceland is known as the land of Ice and Fire and this tour showcases these elements of Iceland's landscape. Included in the tour you will visit Thingvellir (Þingvellir) national park which is the site where Iceland converted to Christianity. You will also visit Gullfoss water and the exciting Geysir hot spring area where you can watch giant active geysers.
- There will be a lunch stop during the tour where you can enjoy your packaged lunch.
- Dinner at your hotel or local restaurant.
Accommodation: Moderate hotel in Reykjavik
Day 5: Reykjavik / Dublin
- Breakfast at hotel.
- Early Transfer to the Airport and flight to Dublin.
- Clear customs and meet your Educational World Tours Representative Tour Manager who will escort you to your waiting private coach.
- Transfer to Belfast.
- On arrival, enjoy a panoramic tour of Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland and now a thriving city with great attractions and nightlife. The tour will take you past the leaning Albert Memorial Clock tower, City Hall, the Opera House, the Crown Bar, Queens University and the Botanical Gardens.
- Discover the story of the Titanic in the brand-new Titanic Experience, located in the heart of Belfast, right beside the historic site of this world-famous ship's construction. Learn more about her conception in the early 1900s, her construction and launch, her famous maiden voyage and tragic end.
- Check in at your hotel.
- Dinner at your hotel or local restaurant.
Accommodation: Moderate hotel in Belfast
Day 6: Belfast - North Antrim Coast
- Continental breakfast at your hotel.
- Morning Activity specific to your group.
- Afternoon tour to the Giant's Causeway. The Causeway was formed more than 60 million years ago when red-hot lava erupted onto the surface of the earth. It was quickly cooled by the sea, which crystallised it and formed it into the 40,000 basalt polygonal columns, which today form the Giant's Causeway. Legend tells a different story as to how this unique place was built by the giant Finn MacCumhaill. Finn built this causeway over the sea to Scotland, in order to fight against his arch enemy, Fingal, who had started his own path from his side of the sea.
- Return to Belfast after your visit. The rest of the day will be free to enjoy Belfast.
- Dinner at your hotel or local restaurant.
- Evening concert or symphony (schedule dependant).
Accommodation: Moderate hotel in Belfast
Day 7: Belfast / Dublin
- Continental breakfast at your hotel.
- This morning, transfer to Dublin via the Boyne Valley. The Boyne Valley is without a doubt the most historical region of the whole island. These are megalithic tombs, dating from 2500 B.C, located along the valley of the river Boyne.
- You will visit Brú Na Bóinne Visitor Centre. This is designed to present the archaeological heritage of the Boyne Valley, which includes the megalithic passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. The extensive exhibition includes a full-scale replica of the chamber at Newgrange as well as a full model of one of the smaller tombs at Knowth. You will also see Newgrange Megalithic tomb.
- Transfer to Hotel and check in.
- Dinner at your hotel or local restaurant.
- This evening enjoy a Ghost Bus Tour of Dublin.
Accommodation: Moderate hotel in Dublin
Day 8: Dublin
- Breakfast at hotel.
- Enjoy a panoramic tour of Dublin. You will see the beautiful Georgian Squares with their colourful doors, the famous shopping area of Grafton Street, the River Liffey, the GPO (General Post Office) and the largest public park in Europe, Phoenix Park among many other sites.
- Visit St Patrick's Cathedral. Dating from 1220, the cathedral was built in honour of Ireland's patron saint, and stands next to the famous well where it is said St Patrick baptised converts to Christianity.
- Stop at Trinity College and the Book of Kells. Trinity College is the oldest university in Ireland. Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth 1st, it was built on grounds confiscated from an Augustinian priory. At the time, its purpose was to serve the Anglo-Irish ruling classes, and it wasn't until the 1970's that restrictions on Catholics attending were fully lifted.
- Enjoy dinner and storytelling at the Brazen Head Pub.
Accommodation: Moderate hotel in Dublin
Day 9: Dublin / Kilkenny / Cork
- Continental breakfast at your hotel.
- Transfer from Dublin to Cork with a stop at Kilkenny.
- Travel to Kilkenny, said to be Ireland's loveliest inland city. Rising to prominence in the 13th century Kilkenny is famous for its local black limestone, known as Kilkenny marble and is also home to Smethwick beer, brewed in Kilkenny since 1710. Enjoy a guided tour of the city.
- After free time for lunch, transfer to Cobh.
- Arrive in Cork and Visit the Cobh Heritage Centre. Cobh was the main port from which Irish emigrants left for America. Cobh was also a port for luxury passenger liners and in 1838 the Sirius made the first transatlantic crossing under steam power from here. Cobh was also the last stop for the Titanic, before its doomed Atlantic crossing in 1912. You will visit Cobh Heritage Centre and see The Queenstown Story, a fascinating exhibit and audio-visual display depicting the part Cobh played in the Irish Emigration.
- Transfer to Cork and check into your hotel on arrival.
- Dinner at your hotel or local restaurant.
Accommodation: Moderate hotel in the Cork area
Day 10: Cork / Blarney / Limerick
- Continental breakfast at your hotel.
- This morning, visit Blarney Castle which was built nearly six hundred years ago by one of Ireland's greatest chieftains, Cormac McCarthy. Over the last few hundred years, millions have flocked to Blarney, making it a world landmark and one of Ireland's greatest treasures. Now that might have something to do with the Blarney Stone, the legendary Stone of Eloquence, found at the top of the Tower. Kiss it and you'll never again be lost for words.
- Activity specific to your group.
- Transfer to Limerick.
- Dinner at your hotel or local restaurant
- Transfer back to your hotel.
Accommodation: Moderate hotel in the Limerick area
Day 11: Limerick / Dublin
- Continental breakfast at your hotel.
- Depart for the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher. The Burren is a strange and unique region in Europe. "Burren" means "large stones": in fact, its name describes this impressive scenery perfectly well. Often described as lunar, the Burren is a high plateau of porous limestone situated in Northern Clare between Ballyvaughan and Kilfenora. No trees are growing here, no land is covering the stone, the limestone is bare. But the Burren is not as deserted as we believe: the cracks allow different types of flowers to grow all year round, though Spring would be the best season for the botanists to explore. The rocks hide many caves like Ailwee, as well as "Turloughs", an interesting phenomenon which transforms lakes into fields during the summer. You will also discover the testimonies of its rich history thanks to countless castles and monastic ruins.
- The tour includes a stop at The Cliffs of Moher, the most majestic cliffs in Ireland rise from the Atlantic Ocean at 215 metres and extend for over seven kilometres long. From this height, you can admire the Aran Islands, the Connemara Mountains and the many sea birds that colonise this place to nest in spring.
- Continue on to Dublin, upon arrival check into your hotel.
- Enjoy your farewell dinner at the Merry Ploughboys Pub.
- Transfer to your hotel.
Accommodation: Moderate hotel in Dublin or area
Day 12: Departure from Dublin
- Continental breakfast at your hotel.
- You will be transferred to the airport and flight from Dublin to Home city.
