Uncover the legends of the Emerald Isle
Though it is known to many as the land of leprechauns, Ireland is home to far more than legends. Where in one place you might find ancient ruins crumbling into the white-capped waters, another coastline may be home to patchwork farms scattered with grazing sheep. Ireland has a rich history, and a flair for producing household names like James Joyce, U2 and Liam Neeson - plus it is home to the legendary dry stout, Guinness. Diverse, hospitable, and full of great music and beer, the Emerald Isle is sure to impress.

From Dublin to Killarney and back again
Day 1 - Departure
Day 2 - Arrival in Dublin
Day 3 - Kildare and Kilkenny
Day 4 - Waterford, County Cork, Killarney
Day 5 - County Kerry
Day 6 - County Clare, Westport
Day 7 - Westport, Achill Island
Day 8 - Roscommon, Dublin

View a more detailed itinerary here

Eat, drink and be merry
Ireland is renowned for many reasons - like its wide palate of stunning shades of green - and an important one is St. Patrick's Day and the celebration of a perfected pub culture. While in Dublin you'll visit the Guinness Storehouse to learn about everyone's favourite dark stout (and indulge in a pint) and you'll visit the world's oldest distillery at Kilbeggan for a true Irish coffee. Start your trip off with a pint at the Temple Bar adjacent to your first night's accommodation at the Ashling Hotel in Dublin. Your Kilkenny accommodations are peaceful but located in the heart of the city's excitement, and your boutique hotel in Westport is a great base for browsing the town and its pubs. As a special treat on the last night of your tour you'll enjoy the festive Food, Folk and Fairies dinner and show at the Brazen Head - Dublin's oldest pub and a cornerstone that has been gracing the streets of the city since 1198.

Watch the sun go down on Galway Bay
Ireland is a country of grand traditions, and perhaps the most notorious tourist tradition is the kissing of the Blarney Stone. You'll visit this famous castle and have a chance to kiss the stone that is said to bring eloquence of speech. Enroute to Kilkenny you'll stop in Kildare for an afternoon of traditional Irish horseracing, or pause for a moment from your perch on the Cliffs of Moher to admire the sun as it sets on Galway Bay - a beautiful sight immortalized in the words of an old Irish ballad. You'll also have the chance to dance the night away at Kate Kearney's Cottage as dinner is supplemented with songs and traditional Irish step-dancing.

Uncover Ireland from Dublin to the Atlantic coast
To make the most of your time in Dublin, you'll enjoy a tour with a local guide where you'll explore peaceful St. Stephen's Green and the historic General Post office - make sure to leave time to view the incomparable Books of Kells at the library of Trinity College. Digging further into Ireland's beauty, you'll enjoy a ferry ride across the River Shannon, a day tour of Achill Island, and a drive through scenic County Kerry where you'll pause for a beat with a local farmer and a day in the life of a sheep herder. From this rough, surreal landscape you'll go on witness the finesse and style of Ireland with a tour of the House of Waterford Crystal and the amazingly ornate 18th Century mansion Waterford Castle.

TORONTO DEPARTURE