Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland

Included in this tour: 

• Expect an unforgettable evening of music, ceremony, theatre and dance with reserved seats for Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on August 3 to August 17 departures.
• Have a drink at the iconic John B Keane’s Pub in the heart of Listowel to see where he penned some of his most famous works sitting by a blazing fire in a room behind the bars
• Keep your camera handy and relax as you’re treated to the breath-taking vista on a cruise scenic Loch Nesss
• Sip a creamy Irish coffee at a local tavern on the Inishowen Peninsulas
• Discover the histories and lore of York, Derry, Galway, Cong, Waterford, Dublin’s Trinity College, Conwy and Windsor on walking tours with local guides
• All on-tour transportation including shuttles and ferries
• Welcome get-together drink with your group
• 18 dinners (D) including a welcome dinner in London, a Scottish evening in Edinburgh, Taylors Three Rock Pub dinner and show, and a festive Cardiff Castle Welsh banquet.
• Visits and admissions to Book of Kells at Trinity College, Cardiff Castle, Cliffs of Moher, Dunbrody Famine Ship, Edinburgh Castle, Giant’s Causeway, Roman Baths & Pump Room, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and York Minster
• Free Wi-Fi on coaches so you can stay connected along the way
• Deluxe documents wallet and backpack to keep you organized
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & handling of one suitcase per person

Day 1: LONDON ARRIVAL & TOUR
Tour begins 2:00 PM, London hotel. Set out on a panoramic tour of central London with a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dinner.
(D)

Day 2: TOWER OF LONDON & CITY SIGHTS
Explore London on an open-top bus. There are different bus routes as well as a walking tour and a River Thames cruise. Visit either the Tower of London or Kensington Palace. The rest of the day is free.
(B)

Day 3: SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHPLACE & YORK
Head to Stratford-upon-Avon and visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace. See an exhibition about his life and walk through the house which is furnished as it would have been in his day. Journey north to the medieval city of York.
(B, D)

Day 4: YORK MINSTER & SCOTTISH EVENING IN EDINBURGH
Take a walking tour around central York and visit York Minster, renowned for its stained glass. Cross into Scotland and pause to view ruined Melrose Abbey. In Edinburgh dine at a Scottish Evening with a lively show.
(B, D)

Day 5: EDINBURGH CASTLE & GUIDED CITY TOUR
Discover Edinburgh’s highlights on a city tour. See the elegant Georgian “New Town” and the medieval Royal Mile. Tour Edinburgh Castle to view the Crown Jewels of Scotland. On August 3 to August 17 departures, experience the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
(B)

Day 6: ST. ANDREWS & HIGHLAND SCENERY
Travel north to St Andrews, “the home of golf.” Enjoy some free time to explore independently. You may choose to visit St Andrews Cathedral or tour the British Golf Museum. Stop in Pitlochry on the way to Inverness, in the Highlands.
(B, D)

Day 7: LOCH NESS CRUISE & OBAN DISTILLERY
Enjoy wonderful Highland views on a scenic cruise of Loch Ness. Stop at a woollen mill and take photos at majestic Glencoe. Visit Oban Distillery to see how whisky is distilled and enjoy a sample.
(B, D)

Day 8: ISLE OF MULL & IONA ABBEY
Take a ferry ride from Oban to the Isle of Mull and then on to the peaceful Isle of Iona. Visit Iona Abbey, a place of pilgrimage as Scotland's first Christian settlement. Return to Oban in time for dinner.
(B, D)

Day 9: LOCH LOMOND & RABBIE BURNS
Drive alongside scenic Loch Lomond. Stop at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum to learn about the famous poet’s life and poetry. In Cairnryan embark on a short ferry ride to Belfast in time for dinner.
(B, D)

Day 10: BELFAST & GIANT’S CAUSEWAY
Tour the highlights of Belfast and travel along the scenic Nine Glens of Antrim coast. Visit the Giant’s Causeway, hexagonal columns formed over 60 million years ago. Pause at Dunluce Castle and head to Derry.
(B, D)

Day 11: INISHOWEN PENINSULA & DERRY SIGHTSEEING
Take in the scenic views of the Inishowen Peninsula as you sip an Irish coffee at the Seaview Tavern. In Derry, join a local guide for a walk around the medieval city walls. 
(B, D)

Day 12: DONEGAL & GALWAY
Travel through the Blue Stack Mountains to Donegal town to enjoy leisure time to explore independently. Continue your drive south passing through Counties Sligo and Mayo. Stop at Knock Shrine. In Galway, join a local guide for a walking tour before dinner.
(B, D)

Day 13: CONNEMARA & “THE QUIET MAN”
Take in the stunning scenery of Connemara and in Cong take a short walking tour to see movie locations from “The Quiet Man.” Enjoy lunch at Eddies of Clonbur before travelling back towards Galway via Maam Cross. The afternoon is free for you to explore Galway at your leisure.
(B)

Day 14: CLIFFS OF MOHER & KILLARNEY
View the majestic Cliffs of Moher, which rise 700 feet (200m) above the foaming Atlantic Ocean and cross the River Shannon Estuary by ferry. Stop at J B Keane’s Pub in Listowel for a drink with your group before heading to Killarney.
(B, D)

Day 15: RING OF KERRY & SHEEPDOGS
Tour the gracious 19th century Muckross House beside the tranquil Muckross Lake. Journey along part of the scenic Ring of Kerry route, stopping at a local farm to watch trained dogs herding sheep. Head to the delightful town of Kenmare for lunch and leisure time. Return to Killarney for a free evening.
(B, L)

Day 16: BLARNEY CASTLE & WATERFORD
Kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence” at Blarney Castle or stroll the gardens. Shop at the Blarney Woollen Mills before heading to Cobh to visit the Titanic Experience. Continue to Waterford and after dinner take a walking tour.
(B, D)

Day 17: WATERFORD CRYSTAL & TAYLOR’S THREE ROCK
Watch molten glass being transformed into shimmering trophies at the House of Waterford Crystal. Tour the Dunbrody Famine Ship, a replica of one used during the 1840s Famine. In Dublin, enjoy dinner and entertainment at Taylors Three Rock Pub.
(B, D)

Day 18: DUBLIN & BOOK OF KELLS
Take a guided walking tour through the campus of Trinity College to view the illuminated manuscript of the Book of Kells. Afternoon and evening are free.
(B)

Day 19: FERRY TO WALES & CONWY
Take a ferry ride from Dublin to Holyhead and drive to Conwy. Take a guided walk around the walled town and tour Conwy Castle, a huge 13th century fortification built by King Edward I.
(B, D)

Day 20: SNOWDONIA & BRECON BEACONS
Travel through Snowdonia National Park to view the highest peaks in Wales. Cross the scenic Brecon Beacons National Park. Tour Cardiff, visit Cardiff Castle and dine at a fun Welsh banquet this evening.
(B, D)

Day 21: ROMAN BATHS & GLASTONBURY
Visit the Roman Baths and Pump Room, renowned for the mineral-rich hot springs. Stop in Glastonbury, associated with King Arthur and head to Cornwall.
(B, D)

Day 22: ST. IVES & MEVAGISSEY
View the majestic pilgrimage island of St. Michael’s Mount. Continue to the seaside town of St. Ives to enjoy a brief walking tour of the main sights and admire the array of beautiful sandy beaches surrounding the town. Browse the charming village of Mevagissey.
(B, D)

Day 23: STONEHENGE & WINDSOR CASTLE
Marvel at the vast monoliths of Stonehenge. Continue to Windsor to visit Windsor Castle, residence of The Queen. After dinner take a brief walking tour around the historic town.
(B, D)

Day 24: TOUR ENDS IN WINDSOR
Your tour ends after breakfast.
(B)

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner