Coastal Gems of the Emerald Isle featuring the Wild Atlantic Way

Arrive at Shannon Airport and meet your Travel representative who will accompany you to the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis. Get acquainted with this picturesque town on a short stroll later with your Travel Director. This evening, your adventure kicks off with a Welcome Reception and Dinner featuring rousing music and dancing by local performers.

Ireland’s venerable storytellers, seanchaí, were the caretakers of Celtic lore. This morning, listen as Eddie Lenihan, a premier folklorist/seanchaí, relates tales of folk heroes, mythology and the supernatural. Then set off to the breathtaking Wild Atlantic Way! Follow expert Tony Kirby across the arresting, karstic limestone terrain of the Burren on a walk rich with geological, archaeological and botanical insights. Nearby, see Poulnabrone, a portal tomb over 5,000 years old, and the magnificent panorama of the Cliffs of Moher looming over the ocean.

Ferry across Galway Bay to rugged Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands, where Gaelic is the language of choice and ancient stone walls crisscross the land. Inhabited since 3,000 B.C., Inishmore is dotted with prehistoric stone forts. See the most impressive, Dun Aengus, perched cliffside over the Atlantic.

With its brightly painted pubs and street performers, spirited Galway is alive with artists, students and food lovers. Walk down its medieval cobblestone lanes with your guide to see Eyre Square, Lynch’s Castle, Galway Cathedral and other highlights. Head on to Westport and check in to the Westport Plaza Hotel. After you’ve settled in, take in the charms of this lovely Georgian town along the Carrowbeg River on a guided stroll.

After a fascinating talk about how renowned Irish painters captured their culture on canvas, journey up the coast this morning. Soaring cliffs, sheltered beaches and rocky headlands paint a jaw-dropping landscape as you explore the country’s largest offshore island. See the Deserted Village of Slievemore with more than 80 abandoned stone cottages, a moving testament to the effects of the Great Famine. After lunch on the island, round out your day with a lesson on making the perfect Irish coffee.

Witness Connemara’s brooding scenery of dramatic mountains and windswept bogs that writer Oscar Wilde described as a “savage beauty.” Take in the grandeur of Croagh Patrick, considered Ireland’s holiest mountain, where St. Patrick is said to have fasted for 40 days in 441 A.D. Afterward, watch border collies herding a flock on a working sheep farm and chat with a family member about sheep farming. Continue to stunning Kylemore Abbey, a former 19th-century castle, for a tour of the house and Victorian walled gardens.

Revel in the majestic countryside known as “Yeats’ Country,” beloved by the Nobel poet laureate William Butler Yeats and visit his grave at Drumcliffe Cemetery. In colorful Donegal, enjoy free time and lunch at leisure. Then feel like you’re standing at the edge of the world at Slieve League, Europe’s highest accessible sea cliffs. Take a guided walk that rewards you with dazzling views across Donegal Bay. Admire County Donegal’s splendid, untouched landscapes on your way to the Rathmullan House along Lough Swilly.

Enjoy a leisurely morning at the hotel. Perhaps you’ll check out the walled gardens or stroll to the sandy beach just steps away. Later, meander through Donegal’s small towns and villages on a culinary tour of their exciting food scene driven by up-and-coming chefs serving authentic dishes with innovative twists.

Within this pristine, remote park in the Derryveagh Mountains, you’ll discover stately, 19th-century Glenveagh Castle nestled by Lough Veagh. Enjoy a guided tour, lunch and free time in the lush gardens. This afternoon, visit the former home of a renowned portrait artist that boasts an eclectic art collection. Afterward, sip an Irish coffee and take in the cheery ambience of Leo’s Tavern, owned by present and former members of the band Clannad, including Enya and Moya Brennan.

Check out of your hotel and travel into Northern Ireland to Derry-Londonderry. On a walking tour inside the old town’s 17th-century fortified walls, learn about the city’s history and why it’s also known as Doire and Londonderry. After lunch there, visit the natural wonder, Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and marvel at the intriguing basalt columns. Today’s travels conclude in Glaslough, where you’ll check in to The Lodge at Castle Leslie Estate.

Established in the 1660s and still owned by its founding family, Castle Leslie sits on 1,000 acres graced with sparkling lakes and ancient woods. Spend your final day savoring this idyllic setting. Breathe in the fresh air on one of the estate’s countryside walks, go fishing or boating on Glaslough Lake, or find the perfect spot for a relaxing picnic lunch. Tonight, at a Farewell Reception and Dinner on the estate, share highlights of your remarkable Irish adventure with your fellow travelers!