TASTE O' IRELAND in 8 days
Dublin - 2 nights
Kilkenny - 1 night
Dingle - 2 night
Galway - 2 nights
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$3189 + air
Single Room = $725 or less
Short on time, but still want to experience Ireland? Then this tour is for you! Ireland is the land of forty shades of green, all the sheep you'll ever want to count, and a warm welcome on every doorstep! It is a mystical place, full of fairy forts, stone circles, ancient passage tombs, and superstitions that run deep. This Taste O' Ireland tour is the perfect eight days of sightseeing and cultural experiences, offering a worry-free journey of the history, culture, music, and cuisine of Ireland.
I've designed this tour to visit my favorite places and have distilled the island into a taste of my favorite destinations. This tour kicks off in Dublin, where you’ll get a solid introduction to Irish history, culture, and charm. Then we will head out into the countryside to experience three distinct regions. You’ll visit ancient monastic sites, fairy forts, geological wonders, and charming villages, all the while enjoying some of the best food, music, and craic on the island!
DAY 1: Welcome to Dublin – Let’s plan to meet today at 2:00 p.m. in our hotel lobby for introductions and a tour overview. Then, join your Exploring Europe guide for a scenic overview tour of Dublin City. Enjoy a stop at the famous Guinness Brewery for a look at the production process and a visit to the panoramic Gravity Bar for your first taste of an authentic pint of the stout brewed here in Dublin. Later, you'll get a traditional dinner at a favorite Dublin pub. The remainder of the evening is free to enjoy more of Dublin or return to the hotel and settle in. Sleep for 2 nights in Dublin. Walking: light. Dinner.
DAY 2: Dublin City - After breakfast, enjoy a city walking tour of Dublin City and a visit to Trinity College, followed by a look at the “illuminated” Book of Kells. The afternoon and evening are scheduled to be event-free for you to experience more of Dublin on your own. Walking: moderate.
DAY 3: Glendalough and Kilkenny - After breakfast, we will leave the big city behind and begin a journey around the island. The first stop is the ancient monastic site of Glendalough, located in the beautiful Wicklow Mountains. We’ll take a peaceful walk along the lakes and through the forest while learning about the monastery and its role in history. Then, travel to the medieval town of Kilkenny, where you will have some free time to experience the town, castle, cathedral, and shops. Tonight, experience a tastebud-tingling dinner at my favorite Italian restaurant this side of Tuscany. Sleep 1 night in Kilkenny. Walking: moderate to strenuous; it’s your choice. Driving: 3 hours. Dinner.
DAY 4: A Bit of Blarney and Kerry – Today, we will travel across the Plain of Tipperary to the little village of Blarney. The castle, known for its famous “Blarney Stone,” is one of Ireland's most popular tourist destinations. After an opportunity to “kiss the Blarney Stone,” you will enjoy a visit to the Blarney Woolen Mills. This huge shopping complex is your one-stop spot for authentic Irish arts, crafts, textiles, and apparel. Later, we will make our way to Dingle at the far southwest tip of Ireland. Tonight’s menu features a selection of fresh and sumptuous locally sourced products. After dinner, join the fun at a pub for a traditional music session or live folk music. Sleep for 2 nights in Dingle. Walking: light. Driving: 6 hours. Dinner.
DAY 5: The Dingle Peninsula – Today, experience some of Ireland's wildest natural beauty and oldest pre-historic settlements on our driving tour of the Slea Head. Enjoy endless fields of "40 shades of green", rock-crashing waves, and all the sheep you'll ever want to count. Back in Dingle, you’ll have the afternoon and evening for shopping, dinner, and music. Walking: light. Driving: 3 hours.
DAY 6: The Cliffs of Moher and Galway - After a drive through the coastal mountains of Kerry, we will take a ferry crossing the River Shannon over to County Clare. Here, you will experience the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, where you’ll find yourself teetering on the edge of a series of 700-foot cliffs perched on the North Atlantic. These cliffs stretch for five miles along the Atlantic coast in County Clare. On a clear day, one can see the distant Aran Islands and the soaring mountains in Connemara and the Dingle Peninsula. We’ll take a scenic drive along the Atlantic coast around Galway Bay and through the rocky terrain known as the Burren. Once in Galway City, enjoy an overview driving tour of the region’s highlights. Then, you’ll have the remainder of the evening to explore on your own, spend your time shopping, wander the pedestrian area, listen to local busker musicians, and experience the “pulse” of this vibrant city. Sleep 2 nights in Galway. Walking: light to moderate, depending on your independent explorations in Galway.
DAY 7: The Aran Islands - Today, enjoy an excursion, by boat, to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands (weather permitting). Once on the island, experience a driving tour of its natural and historical sites and an opportunity to look around in the craft shops. Return in the late afternoon to Galway for a bit of free time. Then let's gather for a grand farewell dinner at a favorite restaurant. Walking: moderate to strenuous, depending on your activity level in the Inishmor countryside. Boat: 3 hours roundtrip. Dinner.
DAY 8: Your tour is over after breakfast – Breakfast is included today, but there are no plans beyond that. Dublin and Shannon Airports are within easy reach by fast and modern airport coaches. Your guide can help with any post-tour plans and travel connections if needed. Sláinte!
Itinerary specifics are subject to change.
Your tour ends in Galway city on Day 8. Getting back to Dublin Airport is easy with one of the private airport coaches. The coaches are WIFI equipped, modern, heated, and air-conditioned. A professional driver will zip you back to Dublin in about three hours. Prices range from €14-22. We suggest arranging your Dublin flight departure no earlier than 12:00 noon (a Galway departure at 6:00 a.m. or earlier is suggested).
Transportation by coach and/or minibus from your Dublin hotel to your final Dublin hotel.
7 nights’ accommodation in traditional hotels, guesthouses, and B&B’s. All rooms have private en-suite baths.
All tips and gratuities to guides, drivers, restaurant, and hotel staff.
A guaranteed Small Group consisting of 6-18 participants.
All breakfasts and four of your dinners.
Traditional dining experiences at some of David's personal favorite restaurants. Eating well is a priority and you’ll enjoy fine regional fare featuring the best the locale has to offer.
Water is included with all meals. Soda, beer, wine, spirits, coffee, and tea are your responsibility.
All tours and admissions at no extra cost: Comprehensive Dublin walking and driving tour covering all the essential sights in the city ▪ a visit to the Guinness Storehouse and Gravity Bar ▪ Entrance to the Book of Kells and Trinity College library ▪ Glendalough Monastic site and the Wicklow mountains ▪entrance to Blarney Castle and its famous kissing stone ▪ Dingle Peninsula Driving Tour ▪ The Blasket Centre when open ▪ The Cliffs of Moher experience ▪ Galway City orientation tour ▪ Full-day excursion to Inishmoor Aran Island, weather permitting ▪ and much more! (Itinerary specifics are subject to change).
A full-time Exploring Europe guide and local experts dedicated to bringing to life the art, history, and culture of the tour destinations.
David’s tour handouts are delivered electronically and detail each day’s historical and cultural experiences.
Free luggage tags and David’s custom-designed drawstring backpacks.
Our Unconditional Tour Price Guarantee, once locked in, will never change.
$50 Tour Alumni discount for each David McGuffin tour you’ve taken prior to this travel year.
Anything not listed above in the "inclusions" area is not included in the cost of your tour.
If you do not want to sign up online:
You may download a tour application and send it to us with payment.
-OR-
You may return it by:
- FAX 1-800-570-1351
- Email - info@davidmcguffin.com
- email - take a photo of the form with your smartphone and attach it to an email
- TXT - take a photo with your smartphone and TXT to 904-612-8149
Walking and Physical Activity: We have planned this trip to provide maximum tour experiences. The basic nature of Europe does require some degree of physical activity to get out and see the sights, especially in the big cities. To help you plan, we’ve included a daily projection of physical activity. Here is the key for our walking activity ratings:
Light – Walking done on level surfaces with some hills and elevation gains. Two miles or less of required walking during the day.
Moderate – Walking done on paved and gravel paths and cobbled city sidewalks. To enjoy the full tour experience, some uphill and downhill walking is expected, as is standing while viewing sights or museums. Four to six miles of walking per day.
Strenuous – Walking done on rugged and rocky paths and city-cobbled sidewalks. There will be steps and stairs. Up to three hours standing in museums or experience sites. Up to eight miles of walking per day.
Your Choice – No matter what your walking ability, we will help you find alternative ways to enjoy and experience all Europe has to offer. To get the most out of our tours, you should be able to operate at the light level every day with spurts of moderate and strenuous.
Now that you’ve decided to join this tour, we are sure you’ll have some questions. Don’t worry. We are here to help you through each aspect of your tour from start to finish.
David’s Video: Ireland: The David McGuffin Tour Experience
To truly understand a David McGuffin tour, you have to see it to believe it. This film documents the journey of four travelers on David’s “Taste of Ireland” tours. Filmed on location in Ireland, we hope it will give you a sample of what to expect on a David McGuffin tour to Europe. IRELAND: The David McGuffin Tour Experience
David's Audio & PDF Destination Guides to Ireland
Education and cultural immersion are essential to fully engaging in the David McGuffin tour experience. We believe you'll experience and appreciate more around the Emerald Isles if you know a little about the sites, the history, and the experiences. David's downloadable and printable Destination Guides are designed to provide historical background and practical information about our destinations in Ireland.
Additionally, you can put DAVID IN YOUR EARS by downloading his Audio Destination Guides and listening to them before and while visiting locations in Ireland.
All resources can be downloaded, printed, and installed on your audio or mobile device from here. https://davidmcguffin.com/dg-ireland/
David's TRAVEL TALK TUESDAY broadcasts and Video Series Blog.
David began weekly episodes of Travel Talk Tuesday in December 2020, when we were deep in the pandemic lockdowns and had no hope of travel. He has been rolling out episodes ever since! When David is not traveling in Europe, he presents a LIVE broadcast on Zoom and Facebook. Check it out on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM Eastern Time. Or look up an episode and watch the recording here: Watch them here.
David’s 60 Seconds destination videos
Join David as he shares impromptu moments from his travels in Ireland. Watching these short 60-second segments are a great way to experience David’s travel style and adventures. Watch David’s Explore Ireland and Scotland.
David’s Blog Articles
David and his team have answered many travel-related questions, and they are all tucked away on his blog. But, no need to go there. Type in a keyword in the search box at the top or bottom of this page (find the small magnifying glass icon), and you will get results for your query.
Please send us an Email or give us a call.
We are happy to answer your travel questions and give advice and suggestions. tours@davidmcguffin.com or 800-570-1351.