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Britain and Ireland Explorer

Britain and Ireland Explorer

A well paced tour with two-night stays in the contrasting cities of Edinburgh, Dublin and Killarney; plus a variation in pace with two different Irish ferry crossings to Dublin and from Rosslare.

Trip Dates:

Departures available from April through September 2010

Length:

17 days

Accommodations:

  • London Thistle Marble Arch
  • York: Hotel 53
  • Edinburgh: Royal Terrace
  • Highlands: Laggan Country Hotel
  • Lake District: Windermere Hydro
  • Manchester: Park Inn
  • Dublin: Burlington
  • Killarney: Killarney Towers
  • Waterford: Dooleys
  • Cardiff: Radisson Blu

Meals:

  • Traditional Highland Dinner with Scottish entertainment
  • 1 Continental Breakfast
  • 14 Full Breakfasts
  • 5 three-course Evening Meals with choice, or buffets, plus tea or coffee

Locations:

London, York, Edinburgh, Highlands, Lake District, Manchester, Dublin, Killarney, Waterford, Cardiff

Transportation:

Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard restroom

Package Inclusions

  • Escorted by a professional Tour Director
  • Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard restroom
  • Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
  • Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information pack
  • Free London Airport shuttle service

 

  • In Stratford-upon-Avon visit the birthplace of the Bard, William Shakespeare
  • Visit Edinburgh Castle for fine views over the city and to see the 'Honours of Scotland'
  • Experience the sights & spectacle of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo (selected departures only)
  • Embark on a guided highlight cruise on Loch Lomond - one of Scotland's most beautiful lochs
  • Join a local guide for a visit to Dublin Castle (when open)
  • Experience the magnificent Ring of Kerry with breathtaking views over mountains and sea
  • Visit the well-preserved Roman Baths and Georgian Pump Rooms in the English city of Bath
  • Visit the mysterious megaliths of Stonehenge
  • See Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace on your London sightseeing tour
  • Enter York's medieval city walls to see the Minster and the tilting houses of the 'Shambles'
  • See Durham's Castle and fine Romanesque Cathedral
  • See part of the Roman built Hadrian's Wall
  • See Jedburgh's ruined Abbey
  • Cross Edinburgh's New Town and drive the Royal Mile to Holyroodhouse Palace
  • Visit the university town of St Andrews to see the famous golf course
  • See Chester's 'Rows' and city walls
  • See Dublin's Customs House
  • See the Rock of Cashel
  • Kiss the stone at Blarney Castle
  • Visit Waterford Crystal showroom
  • See Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and Castle
  • Cross the mighty Severn bridge

 

Insight Vacations

Insight Vacations logo

Insight Vacations is the world leader of premium escorted tours to Britain, Ireland, Europe, Scandinavia, the Eastern Mediterranean and North America. From the moment you begin your journey, you will notice the Insight difference. Insight's vast selection of itineraries are planned embracing their unique 'small group' philosophy and are perfectly paced for your complete satisfaction.

  • Day 1: Board your overnight flight to London.
  • Day 2 London: Welcome to London! After checking in to your hotel, the afternoon is yours to relax or explore this exciting metropolis.
  • Day 3 London: Your half day sightseeing tour of London's West End shows you Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace. The afternoon is free to explore or shop.
  • Day 4 London/Stratford/York: After a warm welcome from your Tour Director, drive through the Oxfordshire countryside into the 'heart of England' to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit the birthplace of the Bard, William Shakespeare. Head north to York, the ancient capital of Viking Britain, and see history unfold before your eyes as you pass the crooked houses of the 'Shambles' to reach York Minster, England's largest medieval cathedral. Settle into the hotel with a Welcome Drink with your fellow travellers.
  • Day 5 York/Durham/Edinburgh: Stop off in Durham to see the castle and the fine Romanesque cathedral before moving on to see Hadrian's Wall, Britain's most impressive Roman monument. Cross the wild Northumberland moors into Scotland, passing Jedburgh Abbey and the house of the ill-fated Mary Queen of Scots en route to the capital of Edinburgh, your base for two nights.
  • Day 6 Edinburgh: A guided tour takes you inside Edinburgh castle, dominating the city from its rocky crag. Continue down the Royal Mile, past the venerable St Giles' Cathedral, to see the Queen's Holyroodhouse Palace before crossing over to the 18th century New Town. The afternoon provides time to shop on Princes Street. Tonight, selected departures enjoy the Military Tattoo - a colourful mixture of historic battles and military manoeuvres, complete with pipes and drums.
  • Day 7 Edinburgh/Highlands: After breakfast drive towards the Fife coast to St Andrews, a picturesque university town and home of the famous golf course. Over the River Tay, through Dundee and Perth to Pitlochry, to cross the Grampian Mountains for a warm Highland welcome at your hotel. This evening enjoy a Highlight Dinner with haggis, accompanied by dancing and the sound of the bagpipes.
  • Day 8 Highlands/Lake District: Mountains and glens greet you as you drive through dramatic Glencoe. On the 'bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond' you'll board a guided Highlight cruise on one of Scotland's most beautiful lochs. Afterwards, continue south through Glasgow into the Southern Uplands of Scotland before crossing the border to arrive at your hotel in the beautiful English Lake District.
  • Day 9 Lake District/Grasmere/Manchester: Time to enjoy the beauty of the Lake District, its fells, lakes and valleys combining to make it one of England's best loved regions. There is time take an optional cruise on Lake Windermere, before stopping in Grasmere where the Lakeland poet William Wordsworth is buried. Then it's on to our hotel in Manchester for the evening.
  • Day 10 Manchester/Chester/Dublin: Step back into Roman times in Chester. See the city's ancient encircling walls and its remarkable 13th century black and white galleried 'Rows', now shopping arcades. Continue into Wales, glimpsing the massive Conwy Castle before crossing the Menai Straits to pass through the world-famous village with the very Welsh name of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. From the port of Holyhead, sail across the sea to Ireland and its fun-loving capital, Dublin, for a two-night stay.
  • Day 11 Dublin: A local guide will show you Dublin's elegant Georgian squares and the equally impressive castle, which you will visit (if open). Also see the Irish President's home in Phoenix Park, famous O'Connell Street and the historic Customs House. The afternoon is yours to shop in elegant Grafton Street or to continue sightseeing. In the evening, why not treat yourself to an Irish cabaret show and dinner?
  • Day 12 Dublin/Killarney: Drive to County Kildare, Ireland's premier thoroughbred horse region, for a guided tour of the National Stud, and admire the adjoining Japanese Gardens. Continue to view one of the great sights of Ireland, St. Patrick's great Rock of Cashel, crowned with the noblest group of medieval monuments in Ireland. Cross the rolling pastures which encircle Tipperary, which is immortalised in the famous song, before reaching Killarney.
  • Day 13 Ring of Kerry: A delightful excursion takes you around the magical Ring of Kerry, a world of towering cliffs, lush lake lands and remote villages. As you pass through Ireland's highest mountain range, the MacGillicuddy Reeks, a sense of the unhurried pace of Irish life will surround you, especially as you reach the three peaceful Lakes of Killarney. In the afternoon, perhaps take an optional ride with the locals on one of Killarney's jaunting cars.
  • Day 14 Killarney/Waterford: Cross the rugged Derrynasaggart Mountains to visit the famous 15th century Blarney Castle, the home of the famous stone of eloquence, once kissed, never forgotten! Travel on through the scenic port of Dungarvan to the historic walled city of Waterford, where you can admire a sparkling display of crystal before settling into your hotel for the night.
  • Day 15 Waterford/Cardiff: Drive to Rosslare to take the ferry across the Irish Sea to Pembroke. Continue past the valleys of South Wales to the Welsh capital, Cardiff, famous for its imposing castle and the brilliant Millennium Stadium.
  • Day 16 Cardiff/Bath/Stonehenge/London: Cross the Severn bridge, spanning the Bristol channel between England and Wales, then on to Bath with its Georgian streets and crescents, and visit the Roman Baths. Cross Salisbury Plain and stop to visit the mysterious megaliths of Stonehenge. From here, travel to London, where the tour ends.
  • Day 17 Return to Canada: Your tour ends after breakfast.

 

For reservations or additional information, call 1-866-286-9323 to speak with an experienced travel consultant.

 

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