7-Nights Southern Ireland Castles & Manors Tour with Private Driver/Guide — CALL
CIE Tours
OFFER ID 1633732
Experience Ireland your way with our most personalized style of travel for up to 9 guests. Enjoy your own private car with a driver who knows the local history and has plenty of insider stories to share. Perfect for heritage seekers, multi-generational families, and milestone celebrations.
7 nights | Call for pricing
Itinerary Details
Dublin Arrival
Private Transfer to Wicklow Hotel
Welcome to Ireland! After landing at Dublin Airport, complete customs and immigration formalities. A private transfer will escort you and your luggage to the hotel.
Brooklodge Estate at Leisure
Enjoy the balance of the afternoon relaxing in the comfort of your hotel at Brooklodge Estate.
Overnight: BrookLodge & Macreddin Village, Arklow
This hotel is set in the Wicklow Mountains, a Designated Area of Natural Beauty, just to the south of Dublin. It offers elegant modern rooms and extensive facilities which include an indoor-to-outdoor pool, Hamman massage center and sauna.
Private Driver Begins
Meet Private Driver
Today your private driver services start. Meet your private driver in the lobby of your hotel at 9:00 AM this morning. Enjoy your comfortable ride with your knowledgeable driver who will guide you through the popular and hidden gems of Ireland.
Kilkenny Medieval Mile
Stroll along the Kilkenny Medieval Mile running through the centre of Kilkenny city. It links the 13th-century St. Canice's Cathedral and the Anglo-Norman Kilkenny Castle. See historical buildings, charming narrow streetscapes, and landmarks as you take in the city, which is easy to explore on foot.
House of Waterford Crystal
Add a bit of sparkle to your day, by touring the House of Waterford Crystal to learn about glass blowing, cutting, and see one-of-a-kind masterpieces.
Overnight: Waterford Castle Hotel, Waterford
This 16th century castle hotel is located on a 310 acre island in the River Suir. Surrounded by nature, the hotel has outdoor activities such as golf, falconry, archery, and more. Relax in your room that is elegantly decorated with luxurious furnishings and antiques. You can dine in the Clubhouse overlooking the golf course for anything from a snack to an evening meal, or dine at the award winning Munster Room Restaurant.
Copper Coast Scenic Drive & Jaunting Car Ride
Copper Coast Scenic Drive
Travel along the glistening shores of the Copper Coast through the beautiful coastal villages of Dungarvan, Youghal, and Cobh. Continue into Cork, exploring the city and artisan stalls of the Old English Market.
Jaunting Car Ride to/from Ross Castle
Travel by horse drawn jaunting car through the beautiful grounds of Killarney National Park to Ross Castle on the shores of Lough Leane.
2 Night Stay: Cahernane House Hotel, Killarney
Cahernane House is a historic mansion from the 1870s. It is set on the edge of Killarney National Park and is only a 10 minute walk to Killarney’s town centre. The rooms are individually decorated in an elegant and traditional fashion. Try dining in the award winning Herbert Restaurant for a delicious meal that is sure to be memorable.
Choice of Scenic Drive
Option A: Dingle Peninsula Drive
Today, discover the beauties of the Dingle Peninsula on this circular route that forms part of the Wild Atlantic Way. It was once described by the National Geographic Traveler as "the most beautiful place on earth." Drive along the south shore of the peninsula for plenty of vistas of heathery mountains, sandy stretches of beach, stunning green landscapes and rocky headlands. Pause at strategic locations to admire the views and take photos.
Option B: Ring of Kerry
Set off to explore the Ring of Kerry, which consist of over a 100 miles of marvelous scenery. See some of Ireland's highest peaks on one side of the road and a coastline scattered with golden beaches and rocky headlands on the other. There will also be plenty of stops to take-in the scenery and to snap photos.
Cliffs of Moher
Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience
Drive along the scenic coast of County Clare to visit the Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland's most beloved, natural landmarks. See magical vistas, overlooking the shimmering Atlantic Ocean along with Ireland's Western coastline.
Overnight: Gregans Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan
This hotel is set in an 18th century manor house with amazing views of the Burren to Galway Bay. This country style establishment features rooms with garden, bay or mountain views. Try dining at the award winning restaurant or a casual drink at the bar.
Galway Sightseeing & Kilbeggan Distillery
Galway Sightseeing
Travel to Galway and embark on a sightseeing tour to see the principal sights of the city. See the Spanish Arch in the Claddagh area, the City Museum and the Cathedral of Our Lady, which is built on the site of the former county jail.
Kilbeggan Distillery Experience
Travel towards Kilbeggan to visit the Kilbeggan Distillery, which was established in 1757 and is one of the oldest licensed distilleries in the world. Enjoy a tour and tasting of the finished product.
2 Night Stay: Buswells Hotel, Dublin
This unique hotel has operated since 1882 and comprises of five Georgian townhouses. It is located close to Grafton Street and Trinity College. Rooms are designed with your comfort in mind with great amenities. Trumans Restaurant serves fine food and Buswells Bar is a great place to relax.
Private Driver Services Conclude
Your private driver services will conclude after you are dropped off to your hotel in Dublin. Ask your driver to reconfirm your return airport transfer, if applicable, before parting ways.
Hop On Hop Off & EPIC Ireland
Hop On Hop Off Dublin
The Hop On Hop Off Bus Pass allows you to experience all the history and culture of Dublin easily. This two day pass will take you around a loop to different stops and will take approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. Feel free to get off and explore at any of Dublin’s most popular attractions! Stops include places like Guinness Storehouse, The Book of Kells in Trinity College, and Dublin Castle. Your native guide will provide live commentary along the way, pointing out all the famous points of interest, along with where famous Dubliners like James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett spent their time. Included in your pass is a free Walking Tour of Dublin that departs from the Dublin Bus Head Office multiple times a day, and free entrance to the Little Museum of Dublin.
EPIC Ireland
Next visit EPIC Ireland, which celebrates the dramatic story of the spread of Irish culture around the globe, and how Ireland has changed throughout the years. It was voted as "Europe's Leading Tourist Attraction" at the World Travel Awards in 2019.
Dublin Departure
Private Transfer to Dublin Airport
Your vacation ends after breakfast with a private transfer to Dublin Airport. We hope you had a wonderful vacation, and wish you a safe flight on your journey home. We can’t wait to hear all about your trip! Check in with us on any of our social media and website to share your pictures and stories.
Wicklow Town is picturesque, with a crescent pebbled 12 mile beach just north of the village. Pubs and shops line the streets, and the town is known for its harbor. The County of Wicklow is considered the "Garden of Ireland", with rolling hills, pristine lakes and stunning historical relics such as ruins of castles and monasteries.
Excursions
Waterford Shore Excursion- Waterford and Kilkenny Tour - Full Day Tour
Waterford Shore Excursion- Waterford and Kilkenny Tour - Full Day Tour
Travel to Kilkenny. Kilkenny City, situated along the banks of the River Nore, is considered the medieval capital of Ireland because of its remarkable collection of well-preserved castles, churches, public buildings, streets, and lanes Enjoy tea, coffee, scones on arrival. Visit Kilkenny
Castle which stands majestically beside the River Nore on the south side of the city.Visit the Kilkenny Design Centre which is located directly across the road from the Castle and is the centre for many of Ireland’s most famous crafts people.Continue then on to the beautiful Mount Juliet Estate. Here you will enjoy wander around the Estate and lunch in golf club in Mount Juliet. Return to the pier in Waterford the afternoon.
Inclusions
- Private Driver Guide
- Tea, coffee, scones on arrival in Kilkenny
- Entrance to Kilkenny Castle
- Entrance to Kilkenny Design Centre
- Lunch in Mount Juliet Estate
Waterford’s Fine Houses – full day tour
Waterford’s Fine Houses – full day tour
Leaving Waterford this morning we travel through the rich pastures of County Waterford and head for Lismore to visit Lismore Castle Gardens. The castle, which was originally built in 1185 is now the Irish home of the Duke of Devonshire. While Lismore Castle itself is not open to the public, the beautiful and lovingly maintained public gardens are, as is the west wing of the Castle which houses a wonderful contemporary art gallery. The gardens are said to be the oldest continually cultivated gardens in Ireland and they offer spectacular views of both Lismore Castle and the surrounding countryside of the Blackwater valley.
Leaving Lismore we visit nearby Cappoquin House, which is an eighteenth century mansion built on the site of an old Fitzgerald Castle overlooking the River Blackwater. It was designed by the Cork architect, Abraham Hargreave. The Keane family have lived here for the last 300 years. It is little changed from the handsome building completed in 1779. In the house are many reminders of the Afghan war of 1839 in which General Sir John Keane later created Lord Keane of Ghuznee and Cappoquin played an important role. The garden is on a south facing slope crowned with two huge arboretum rhododendrons and planted with unusual trees and flowering shrubs.
Returning to Waterford, we visit Curraghmore House, which is owned by the Marquis of Waterford and has been home to his ancestors since 1170. Some 2,500 acres of formal gardens, woodland and grazing fields make this the largest private demesne in Ireland and one of the finest places to visit in Ireland. The interior has exceptionally fine plasterwork and a guided tour of the main reception rooms of Curraghmore House can be arranged by prior appointment. This tour takes in some of the finest neo-classical rooms in Ireland which feature the magnificent plaster work of James Wyatt and grisaille panels by Peter de Gree. The superbly landscaped gardens beside Curraghmore House, incorporate a shell house, the interior of which was designed by Catherine, Countess of Tyrone, in 1754. May and June are the best months to appreciate azaleas, rhododendrons, through exceptionally fine trees may be enjoyed at any time.
Your driver with then transfer you back to your ship.
Excursions
Dublin: Highlights of Dublin City - 8 hours
Dublin: Highlights of Dublin City - 8 hours
Ireland, known affectionately as the “the Emerald Isle” is renowned for its excellent hospitality and you can be assured of a warm welcome by your guide and driver, who will meet you at the port. Discover the history, literary heritage and culture that lies behind Dublin’s elegant Georgian architecture and famous landmarks, during your full-day tour.
Founded in the 16th-century, Trinity College is Ireland's oldest university and holds the Book of Kells, a greatly treasured example of early Irish manuscript illumination. History lovers may opt to visit the nearby Treasury of the National Museum or EPIC - the interactive museum commemorating the emigration of 10 million Irish. For those interested in art, the National Gallery houses a superb collection.
Afterwards make a lunchtime pit stop at the Guinness Storehouse, where you learn how a pint of the world-famous Guinness is created. The heart of the building is modelled on a giant pint glass, which would hold approximately 14 million pints of Guinness beer if filled! Enjoy a complimentary pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar, which boast 360-degree views of the capital.
Complete your touring this afternoon, with a visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland and final resting place of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels. Here, take a guided tour of the impressive staterooms which are a longtime symbol of British rule in Ireland, before being transferred back to your ship.
Highlights:
- Admire the grandeur of St Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland and final resting place of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels
- Pour yourself a pint of Ireland’s finest at the Guinness Storehouse to discover the country’s most famous export
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Private transport by Mercedes E-class or similar for 1 and 2 passengers, VW Caravelle (7 passenger seats) or similar for 3 and 4 passengers and 12-seater or similar for 5 and 6 passengers.
- Expert local guide for 8 hours of sightseeing in Dublin
- Entrance fees to all sights and museums
- All taxes
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
- Supplement for public holidays
- Anything not specifically mentioned in the "inclusions" list above
Dublin - Dublin City & Powerscourt - Full Day Tour
Dublin - Dublin City & Powerscourt - Full Day Tour
Upon arrival in Dublin Port, you will meet with your private driver/guide and transfer directly to Powerscourt House & Gardens in Co. Wicklow
This stunning 18th Century Stately home comprises 
extensive gardens, which are open to the public; as is the Main House. There is a lovely restaurant in the house, overlooking the gardens and Wicklow Mountains, which offers the finest in Irish artisan, home cooked cuisine. The 34,000 acres of this estate extend along both shores of the River Dargle . Powerscourt is one of the finest properties in Europe, designed and laid out by Daniel Robertson between 1745 and 1767. This property is filled with splendid Greek and Italian-inspired statuary, decorative ironwork, a petrified-moss grotto, lovely herbaceous borders, a Japanese garden, a circular pond and fountain with statues of winged horses, and an occasional herd of deer. Opportunity for shopping at Avoca Handweavers now located in Powerscourt House. Enjoy lunch here at Powerscourt or at a traditional Irish pub in the city centre.
Upon your return from Powerscourt Estate, your private driver guide will take you on your tour of Dublin City.
Whilst Dublin is a vibrant and bustling city, by European standards it is a small city with a population of just over 1 million people. Much of Dublin’s streetscapes are adorned with beautiful 18th century townhouses and a
number of city parks, such as St. Stephen’s Green and indeed Merrion Square. The highlights of any tour in Dublin may include a visit to Trinity College, the Guinness Storehouse… and –if time permits –St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Following the city tour, your driver will return you to your ship.
Inclusions
- Private Driver Guide
- Entrance to Powerscourt House & Gardens
- Lunch
Dublin: An Introduction to Dublin - 4 hours
Dublin: An Introduction to Dublin - 4 hours
Disembark for a city adventure this morning accompanied by your expert guide and driver. Your tour of Dublin begins with the impressive Trinity College; Ireland's oldest university. Explore the Old Library, which houses 200,000 antiquarian texts and the oldest surviving harp in Ireland. Here you will see the world-famous Book of Kells; a fabulous example of early Irish manuscript illumination. Hand-crafted by monks, it contains the four gospels and has been resident at Trinity College since the 17th century. Continue to St. Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland, where you have the opportunity to see a memorial to Jonathan Swift, the author of 'Gulliver's Travels', who became Dean of St. Patrick's in 1713. Afterwards you are transferred back to port.
Highlights:
- See the world-famous Book of Kells, a fabulous example of early Irish manuscript illumination
- Continue to St Patrick’s Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland and home of a memorial to the writer Jonathan Swift
Tour Can Operate: Morning/ Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Private transport by luxury car or minivan
- An expert local driver-guide for 4 hours
- Entrance fees to all sights and museums
- All taxes
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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