Grand Circle Travel - GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE Ireland in Depth 2022
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GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE
Ireland in Depth
2022
Learn how to personalize your experience on this vacation
®
Grand Circle Travel
Worldwide Discovery at an Extraordinary Value
1
Grand Circle Travel ®
347 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210
Dear Traveler,
At last, the world is opening up again for curious travel lovers like you and me. Soon, you’ll once
again be discovering the places you’ve dreamed of. In the meantime, the enclosed Grand Circle Travel
Planning Guide should help you keep those dreams vividly alive.
Before you start dreaming, please let me reassure you that your health and safety is our number
one priority. As such, we’re requiring that all Grand Circle travelers, Program Directors, and coach
drivers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to departure. Our new,
updated health and safety protocols are described inside.
The journey you’ve expressed interest in, Ireland in Depth vacation, will be an excellent way to
resume your discoveries. It takes you into the true heart of Ireland, thanks to our groups of 42
travelers (with an average of 30). Plus, our Irish Program Director will reveal their country’s
secret treasures as only an insider can. You can also rely on the seasoned team at our regional
office in Killarney, who are ready to help 24/7 in case any unexpected circumstances arise.
Throughout your explorations, you’ll meet local people and gain an intimate understanding of the
regional culture. Visit a working sheep farm where you’ll chat with the owner about rural life and
get a chance to see Ireland’s finest border collies in action. You’ll also learn about contemporary
life in Ireland—and savor a traditional meal—during a Home-Hosted Lunch in a local home. Plus,
a portion of our proceeds goes toward the charitable efforts of Grand Circle Foundation: inside
you’ll also see how your travel dollar helps make the world a better place.
We understand that no two people are the same. That’s why more than 80% of our travelers take
advantage of the freedom to personalize their experience. Join the 50% of travelers who extend
their time abroad. Add the pre-trip extension to Northern Ireland, post-trip extension to Glasgow,
Scotland, or both of these extensions to your Ireland vacation.
I hope you find this Grand Circle Travel Planning Guide helpful. If you have any further questions,
don’t hesitate to contact one of our Travel Counselors at 1-800-221-2610.
Warm regards,
Harriet R. Lewis
Vice Chairman
Overseas Adventure Travel
P.S. For further peace of mind, please know that we are EXTENDING our Risk-Free Booking
Policy through 12/31/21. Learn more at www.gct.com/riskfree-booking.
2
WHAT’S INSIDE
TRIP SUMMARY
It’s Included . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Departure Dates and Prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Freedom to Personalize Your Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
DETAILED DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Travel Documents & Entry Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Rigors, Vaccines & General Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Money Matters: Local Currency & Tipping Guidelines . . . . . . . 36
Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Climate & Average Temperatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
About Your Destinations: Culture, Etiquette & More . . . . . . . . 52
Demographics & History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Resources: Suggested Reading & Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Health & Safety Measures – Vaccines Required . . . . . . . . . . 74
MAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
3
Ireland in Depth
Ireland: Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork, Killarney, Galway
Countries: 1 | Cities: 5
Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland
Experience rural life on a working sheep farm and witness Irish border
collies in action
IT’S INCLUDED
15 days from $2995 • Choose to purchase Grand Circle’s airfare, and your airport transfers,
Including international airfare government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges are included. Or, make
from New York your own air arrangements
Travel from only $200 per day • Accommodations for 13 nights in comfortable rooms with private baths
• 22 meals: 13 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 6 dinners (including 1 Home-
14 days from $2195 Hosted Lunch)
Tour only • 16 included features: 12 guided tours and 4 exclusive Discovery Series
Travel from only $157 per day events: Hurling demonstration • Home-Hosted Lunch • Irish history &
culture discussion • Sheep farm experience
Single Supplement: FREE • Exclusive services of a local Grand Circle Program Director (assigned to no
more than 42 travelers)
MAXIMIZE YOUR • Gratuities on your main trip for local guides and motorcoach drivers
DISCOVERIES & VALUE • Personal headset for all included and optional tours on your main trip
• Private motorcoach land travel
OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS • Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips
all with FREE Single Supplements
• 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next trip
Northern Ireland
5 nights pre-trip from $1195
Glasgow, Scotland
To get a richer view of the Included Features on this trip,
5 nights post-trip from $1695
watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.gct.com/eid2022
Ireland in Depth
4
IRELAND IN DEPTH Freedom to Personalize Your Experience
From spending more time abroad or adding extensions, to
2022 DATES & PRICES choosing your air preferences, our Travel Counselors are here
to discuss your personalization options at 1-800-221-2610.
Visit www.gct.com/personalize-eid2022 for details.
MAY MAY
DEPART FROM: MARCH APRIL 4-14 18-25 JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER
New York $2995 $3795 $4095 $4145 $4395 $4595 $4495 $4295 $3995 $3095
Orlando, Seattle, Tampa $3095 $3895 $4195 $4245 $4495 $4695 $4595 $4395 $4095 $3195
Baltimore, Miami,
Minneapolis, Newark,
$3195 $3995 $4295 $4345 $4595 $4795 $4695 $4495 $4195 $3295
Philadelphia, Portland,
San Diego
Atlanta, Boston,
Chicago, Dallas, $3295 $4095 $4395 $4445 $4695 $4895 $4795 $4595 $4295 $3395
Houston, Phoenix
Denver, Detroit, Los
Angeles, San Francisco, $3395 $4195 $4495 $4545 $4795 $4995 $4895 $4695 $4395 $3495
Washington, DC
Additional departure cities are available. Upgrade to Business Class may be available for the international portion of your flight. Call for details.
MAY JUNE;
MARCH APRIL MAY 4-14 18-25 SEPTEMBER JULY AUGUST OCTOBER NOVEMBER
Land tour only $2195 $2895 $3195 $3145 $3395 $3595 $3495 $3095 $2295
EID2022
Prices are per person. Airfare prices include government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges. All prices and availability are effective as of the date of
this publication, and are subject to change without notice. Standard Terms & Conditions apply, please visit our website: www.gct.com/tc. Every effort
has been made to produce this information accurately. We reserve the right to correct errors.
For specific departure dates, current availability, and detailed pricing, visit www.gct.com/eid2022pricing
SAV FREE SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS
on your main trip and extensions. SHARE YOUR LOVE OF TRAVEL
WITH OUR GOOD BUY PLAN
New travelers you refer will instantly
The earlier you reserve your departure We don’t charge you more for your save $100, and you’ll earn increasing
and pay in full, the more you’ll save—up own room. rewards—up to a FREE trip!
to 10%—plus, you’ll lock in your price.
Each departure has limited solo space For details, visit www.gct.com/va
For details, visit www.gct.com/gbd available—call today.
Publication Date: 11/20/20
1-800-221-2610 • www.gct.com/eid2022
5
Freedom to Personalize Your Experience
Your Choice, Your Trip, Your Way
Extending the length of your stay in a destination can improve your overall travel experience—and allow you to seek out
even more eye-opening cultural interactions. Your local Program Director will help to ensure you’re getting the personalized
experiences you’re looking for. In fact, 85% of our travelers are personalizing their experience in more than 85 countries.
Call us at 1-800-221-2610 to discuss personalizing your vacation today or visit us online at www.gct.com/personalize-eid2022.
Maximize Your Time & Value: 55% of our travelers Back-to-Back Trips: 90% of our travelers who
choose to take a pre- or post-trip extension combined two vacations rated it excellent
See more of the world and maximize your value by taking One of the most common vacations travelers combine with
advantage of your already-included airfare. On this this one is England, Scotland & Wales. If you’re already
vacation, you can choose between Northern Ireland and overseas, why not see more of the region and avoid another
Glasgow, Scotland. international flight? Plus, you’ll save $250 per person when
you reserve two trips right after one another.
“Break Away” Options: 30% of our travelers choose
to arrive early or stay late in their destination Air Options: More than 50% of our travelers
Before or after your main tour or trip extension, “break customize their flights
away” anywhere you’d like to go to do more exploring We make every effort to provide you with non-stop
entirely on your own. flights and acceptable connection times to and from
your destination. You also have several other ways you can
Please note: Our Travel Counselors can help you plan your
personalize your air itinerary, including choosing your
airfare if you’d like to “break away,” however since this option
departure city and airline, upgrading your seat, and more.
is completely on your own, you will need to plan your own
accommodations, meals, tours, and transfers.
Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow, Scotland
Ireland in Depth
6
Ireland in Depth
2022
15-Day Land Tour
EXTEND YOUR TRIP
PRE-TRIP
Northern Ireland
POST-TRIP
Glasgow, Scotland
Your Day-to-Day Itinerary
7
GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL
Grand Circle Travel, founded in 1958 to serve the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP), is
the leader in international travel and discovery for Americans over age 50. Grand Circle vacations have
been recommended by The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, The Los Angeles Times, Travel + Leisure,
The Wall Street Journal, Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel, and others. But our most impressive reviews
come from our travelers. More than two million people have traveled with us, and the overwhelming
majority say they’d gladly do so again.
LAND TOUR
During your Grand Circle vacation, you’ll have reliable assistance available at all times from an on-site
local Grand Circle Travel Program Director throughout your trip. He or she is fluent in English and can
give you an inside perspective on your destinations. You will also be supported along the way by local
tour guides, who lead you expertly through particular sites and cities.
Many Program Directors are graduates of professional education programs for travel guides. In
addition, they receive specialized training directly from Grand Circle, based on what we’ve learned
from past travelers about how to make the trip most enjoyable. Your Program Director offers both
a deep knowledge of the region and a commitment to make this a very pleasant, informative, and
rewarding travel experience for you.
He or she will provide sightseeing trips, handle all travel details, reserve optional tours you choose to
take, oversee your Discovery Series events, and provide any other assistance you may need.
INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE
» Choose to purchase Grand Circle’s airfare, » Exclusive services of a local Grand Circle
and your airport transfers, government Program Director (assigned to no more
taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges than 42 travelers)
are included. Or, make your own air » Gratuities on your main trip for local guides
arrangements and motorcoach drivers
» Accommodations for 13 nights in » Personal headset for all included and
comfortable rooms with private baths optional tours on your main trip
» 22 meals: 13 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 6 » Private motorcoach land travel
dinners (including 1 Home-Hosted Lunch)
» Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per
» 16 included features: 12 guided tours and 4 person, including tips
exclusive Discovery Series events: Hurling
» 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward
demonstration • Home-Hosted Lunch •
your next trip
Irish history & culture discussion • Sheep
farm experience
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
8
WHAT THIS TRIP IS LIKE
GROUP SIZE
» A maximum of 42 travelers, led by a local
Grand Circle Program Director
PACING
» 5 locations in 14 days
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
» Walk 2 miles unassisted and participate in
1.5-2.5 hours of physical activities daily,
including stairs
» Agility, balance, and stair-climbing are
required to kiss the Blarney Stone
» Not accessible for travelers using
wheelchairs or scooters
» Travelers using walkers, crutches, or other
mobility aids must travel with a companion
who can assist them
» We reserve the right for Program Directors
to restrict participation, or in some
circumstances send travelers home, if their
limitations impact the group’s experience
TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION
» Uneven walking surfaces, including
unpaved paths, hills, stairs, and
cobblestones
» Travel by 45-seat motorcoach,
ferry, and boat
CLIMATE
» Daytime temperatures range from 48-67°F
during touring season
» June-August are the warmest months
» Weather in Ireland can be unpredictable and
change quickly
» Rain is common and should be expected
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
9
Ireland in Depth
YOUR DETAILED ITINERARY
BEGIN YOUR TRIP WITH AN OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP EXTENSION
5 nights in Northern Ireland
Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 6 Derry • Visit Belleek
Pottery • Athlone
Day 2 Arrive Belfast, Northern Ireland
Day 7 Explore Athlone • Clonmacnoise
Day 3 Explore Belfast
Monastery • Lough Boora Discovery Park
Day 4 Belfast • Explore Derry • Tullamore • Dublin • Join main trip
Day 5 Derry • Inishowen Peninsula
optional tour
Day 1 Depart U.S. meet your Program Director and your fellow
travelers, including those returning from their
Depart from the U.S. today and travel to
Northern Ireland pre-trip extension. After your
Ireland, arriving on Day 2. Please refer to your
arrival, your Program Director will take you
individual air itinerary for exact departure and for a vicinity walk to explore the area around
arrival times. your hotel, and provide suggestions on how to
maximize your day and explore on your own.
Day 2 Arrive Dublin, Ireland
Tonight, get to know your fellow travelers over
• Destination: Dublin
a Welcome Drink and briefing.
• Accommodations: Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane
or similar Dinner/Evening: Tonight is yours to relax or
explore independently, with dinner on your
Activity Note: Your Program Director may be
own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant
traveling on the Northern Ireland pre-trip
recommendations.
extension, in which case you will be assisted
by a Grand Circle hotel representative until
your Program Director arrives with the rest of Day 3 Explore Dublin
your group. • Destination: Dublin
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Morning/Afternoon: Arrive in Dublin today
• Accommodations: Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane
and begin your Ireland tour. A Grand Circle
or similar
representative will meet you at the airport
and escort you to your hotel, where you’ll Breakfast: At the hotel.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
10Morning: Begin your discoveries of Dublin, observe the technique behind pouring a perfect
Ireland’s political and cultural center. Dublin glass of “the black stuff” during a pint-pulling
is amazingly rich in literary history—Yeats, demonstration, and enjoy a glass on the house
Shaw, Beckett, Joyce and other literary at the Storehouse’s Gravity Bar at the top level,
immortals have walked its streets—and its which features 360-degree panoramic views
architecture and museum collections are of Dublin.
second to none.
After your tour, the rest of the day is yours to
Begin your discoveries with a guided panoramic spend discovering Dublin at your own pace.
tour of the city’s sights, which will include a
Lunch/Afternoon: Yours to do as you please.
stop at Trinity College to view the ancient Book
Your Program Director will be happy to
of Kells. Believed to have been crafted in AD
recommend a spot for lunch and free time
800, the Book of Kells is a stunningly illustrated
activities.
collection of the four Gospels of the New
Testament. Perhaps you’ll wander to St. Stephen’s Green,
a 22-acre public park designed in the Georgian
After your tour, you’ll have the rest of the day
era. Its history is as rich as its landscaping.
to spend in Dublin as you wish.
Among many points of interest, a memorial
Lunch/Afternoon: Yours to do as you please. garden to W. B. Yeats features a Henry Moore
Your Program Director will be happy to sculpture.
recommend a spot for lunch and free time
Or maybe you’ll visit the National Library of
activities.
Ireland, whose collection includes manuscripts
Dinner: Get to know your fellow travelers spanning a thousand years. The library
during an included Welcome Dinner at regularly exhibits selections from its archive of
your hotel. historic and modern Irish photographs, prints,
and drawings. You could also choose to follow
Evening: You have the freedom to spend the
the enlightening route walked by Leopold
rest of your evening as you wish—ask your
Bloom in Joyce’s Ulysses, including Eccles Street
Program Director for recommendations.
and Bachelor’s Walk.
Day 4 Dublin • Visit Guinness Storehouse • Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent
discoveries this evening, with dinner on your
Optional Traditional Irish Night
own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant
• Destination: Dublin
recommendations.
• Included Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodations: Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane Or, join us for an optional Traditional Irish Night,
or similar for a hearty three-course meal accompanied
by lively tunes from local musicians. Feel free
Breakfast: At the hotel.
to raise your voice and join in the chorus as the
Morning: Learn about the history of Ireland’s merriment takes you away into the evening.
famous brew during a tour of the Guinness
Storehouse, a seven-story museum located in
a former brewing factory inside the St. James’s
Gate Brewery. You’ll also have a chance to
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
11Day 5 Dublin • Visit Glendalough • Avoca Day 6 Explore Kilkenny • Hurling
Handweavers • Kilkenny demonstration
• Destination: Kilkenny • Destination: Kilkenny
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodations: Pembroke Hotel or similar • Accommodations: Pembroke Hotel or similar
Breakfast: At the hotel. Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Depart for Kilkenny, stopping along Morning: Partake in an exclusive Discovery
the way at Glendalough to tour the ruins of the Series event as you learn about hurling, an
monastery, founded in the sixth century by energetic and uniquely Irish sport similar to
St. Kevin. field hockey or lacrosse, with traditional Gaelic
roots. The Irish have been playing the game
Among the monks’ great achievements was
since the Celts invented it 2,000 years ago, and
manuscript writing and copying, including
take an immense amount of pride in the game.
the creation of the spectacular Book of
Glendalough around 1131. Now at the Bodleian You’ll learn all about the game as a former
Library at Oxford, the book—containing player demonstrates his skillful moves, and
historical chronicles, genealogies, and you’ll watch as an expert craftsman masterfully
religious poems—is one of the most important transforms a plank of ash into a hurley (the
and beautiful Irish manuscripts from the stick used to play the game) in his workshop.
pre-Norman period.
Then, explore Kilkenny, a medieval city
Then, continue on to the river town of Avoca, straddling the banks of the River Nore, on
made famous by the Avoca Handweavers. This an included walking tour with your Program
clothing manufacturer is Ireland’s oldest line Director. Your tour will take you to the
of business, active since the early 1700s. Here, sprawling gardens of Kilkenny Castle, an
you’ll meet with some of the handweavers 800-year-old stronghold that lords over the
when you visit Avoca’s mill, which happens to city center. Though originally designed to
be the oldest of its class in all of Ireland. defend a crossing over the River Nore, the
castle’s grounds today provide a peaceful place
Lunch: On your own in Avoca—ask your
for locals and visitors alike to stroll about
Program Director for local restaurant
and admire the impressive artisanal floristry
recommendations.
on display.
Afternoon: Continue on to Kilkenny, where
Lunch: Conclude your tour of Kilkenny with an
you’ll arrive later today and check into
included lunch at a local restaurant.
your hotel.
Afternoon: Free for your own discoveries—ask
Dinner: Included at your hotel tonight.
your Program Director for recommendations.
Evening: You have the freedom to spend the
Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent
rest of your evening as you wish—ask your
discoveries this evening, with dinner on your
Program Director for recommendations.
own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant
recommendations.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
12Day 7 Kilkenny • Visit Waterford Crystal Arrive in Cork late this afternoon, where, after
factory • Cahir Castle • Cork checking in to your hotel, you may choose
to relax, explore independently, or join an
• Destination: Cork
optional orientation walk around the city with
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner your Program Director.
• Accommodations: Maldron Hotel South Mall
or similar Dinner: Enjoy an included dinner with your
fellow travelers tonight.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Evening: You have the freedom to spend the
Morning: Travel from Kilkenny to the city of
rest of your evening as you wish—ask your
Cork today, stopping en route to visit Waterford
Program Director for recommendations.
and Cahir Castle.
In Waterford, you’ll tour the Waterford Day 8 Cork • Explore Cobh •
Crystal factory, prized the world over as the Home-Hosted Lunch
standard for the highest quality lead-cut
• Destination: Cork
crystal. Founded in 1783 by George and William
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Penrose, the Waterford branch of the company
• Accommodations: Maldron Hotel South Mall
is now part of a worldwide operation that
or similar
includes such notable brands as Wedgwood and
Royal Doulton. Breakfast: At the hotel.
You’ll learn about the organization’s history, Morning: This morning, ride to Cobh
and witness a glassblowing demonstration (pronounced “cove”). This picturesque town
before free time to explore further or shop their long served as the main harbor for the city
fine products. of Cork, and is dominated by the spire of St.
Colman’s Cathedral, which contains the largest
Lunch: Depart for Cahir, and enjoy an
carillon in Ireland. A local historian will give
independent lunch upon arrival. Your Program
you some insight into Cobh’s history during an
Director can offer a number of restaurants to
included tour this morning.
choose from.
Cobh was a major emigration point for families
Afternoon: Enjoy a tour of Cahir Castle. In
who left the country during the Great Potato
its time (13th-15th centuries), Cahir Castle
Famine, when some two-and-a-half million
featured a state-of-the-art defensive design,
emigrants departed this port for North
and is now one of Ireland’s best-preserved
America. Here you’ll discover the story of Irish
castles. Situated on a rocky island in the River
emigration and the era of the great ocean liners,
Suir, the castle still boasts its keep, tower, and
when Cobh was a very active port. This was
much of its original structure. The last Lord
the last place the RMS Titanic dropped anchor
Cahir died in 1961, at which point the castle
before heading across the Atlantic on her tragic
came into state stewardship.
journey in 1912.
Here you can also pay tribute to the victims
of the RMS Lusitania at a quayside memorial.
In 1915, this ship was sunk by a German
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
13submarine off the coast of Cobh, with a loss of the castle to the Crown. The McCarthys built
1,196 passengers, including 127 Americans. This the present castle with its 85-foot-high keep in
action helped bring America into World War I. 1446, replacing an earlier castle.
Lunch: Learn about contemporary life in Though the Blarney Stone gets all the publicity,
Ireland—and savor a traditional meal—during the castle’s tower house and surrounding
a Home-Hosted Lunch in a local home, an gardens are superb in their own right. The
exclusive Discovery Series event. castle’s grounds also include caves, dungeons,
and a rock garden of ancient trees and
Afternoon: In the late afternoon, return to
weathered stones.
Cork, where the rest of the day is yours to
explore independently. After your tour, you’ll set off for an exclusive
Discovery Series event at a working sheep farm,
Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent
where you’ll chat with the owner about rural
discoveries this evening, with dinner on your
life, and get a chance to see Ireland’s finest
own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant
border collies in action.
recommendations.
Lunch: Arrive in Killarney this afternoon and
Day 9 Cork • Visit Blarney Castle • Sheep enjoy an independent lunch.
farm experience • Irish history & culture Afternoon: You’ll have some free time to relax
conversation • Killarney or explore independently in Kilarney.
• Destination: Killarney
Before dinner, enjoy an exclusive Discovery
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Series discussion with a local resident for a
• Accommodations: Killarney Towers personal perspective on rural Irish life and
or similar growing up on a small farm in the 1950s.
Activity Note: Today’s exclusive Discovery
Dinner: Included at your hotel this evening.
Series farm visit is an outdoor event and is
weather-dependent. It will not be conducted in Evening: You have the freedom to spend the
wet, muddy conditions. rest of your evening as you wish—ask your
Program Director for recommendations.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Bid Cork farewell and begin your Day 10 Killarney • Optional Dingle
transfer to Killarney. Experience tour
On the way, stop for a visit to Blarney Castle, • Destination: Killarney
where a 129-step staircase leads up a tower • Included Meals: Breakfast
to the famed Blarney Stone. According to • Accommodations: Killarney Towers
legend, anyone who manages the backward or similar
lean to kiss it receives the “gift of the gab”—a
Breakfast: At the hotel.
smooth, soothing way with words that at best
mean nothing. Morning: Free for your own discoveries—ask
your Program Director for recommendations.
The word “blarney” was coined by Elizabeth I
to describe her endless and fruitless discussions
with Dermot McCarthy over his surrender of
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
14Or, join a full-day optional tour as we venture Day 11 Killarney • Explore Ring of
out along the Dingle Peninsula. You’ll stop first Kerry • Optional National Folk Theatre
at Tralee’s Kerry County Museum, where you’ll
performance
enjoy the fascinating experience of a recreated
• Destination: Killarney
medieval street. Then follow the rugged Dingle
Peninsula, tracing a path of wild mountains and • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
some of the most spectacular coastline Ireland • Accommodations: Killarney Towers
has to display. or similar
Please note: The National Folk Theatre optional
On a clear day, you can see the famed Blasket
tour is available on late May-early September
Islands, rising like jewels from the Atlantic
departures only.
Ocean. One of Ireland’s largest Irish-speaking
areas, the peninsula has attracted many Breakfast: At the hotel.
writers and artists for the inspiration the wild
landscape offers. The movies Ryan’s Daughter Morning: On this morning’s included tour,
and Far and Away were filmed here, as well as you’ll discover the Ring of Kerry, a drive that
scenes from Star Wars: The Last Jedi. traces the coastline of the Iveragh Peninsula
and offers breathtaking views. There is
Lunch: On your own—ask your Program always something new to appreciate in the
Director for local restaurant recommendations. combination of ocean, islands, mountains,
Or, if you’ve chosen to join our optional tour, light, and ever-changing weather patterns. We
you’ll stop in the fishing town of Dingle to ride most of the way, making scenic stops.
enjoy an included lunch of locally caught fish
and chips. The first town along the route is Killorglin,
where an elegant eight-arched bridge crosses
Afternoon: Free for your own discoveries—ask the River Laune. Then you’ll advance to the
your Program Director for recommendations. If water’s edge at Kells, an attractive fishing
you’ve chosen to explore the Dingle Peninsula village with panoramic viewing points.
today, you’ll enjoy more of the Wild Atlantic
Way’s stunning scenery as you make your Lunch: On the return to Killarney, your route
way back toward Killarney, arriving late this takes you through the picturesque village of
afternoon. Sneem, where you’ll have an included lunch.
Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent Afternoon: Make your way back to Killarney,
discoveries this evening, with dinner on your pausing along the way to enjoy the scenery
own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant of Ladies View, named after Queen Victoria’s
recommendations. ladies-in-waiting. The vistas of lakes and
mountains remain magnificent today.
Upon returning to Killarney, you’ll have the rest
of the day at leisure to explore independently.
Perhaps you’ll choose to ride on a jaunting car
(a traditional Irish horse-drawn carriage) for a
tour of the lush forested environs of Killarney
National Park.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
15Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent house the guests of Cornelius O’Brien, County
discoveries this evening, with dinner on your Clare’s legendary Member of Parliament from
own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant the 1830s until he died in 1857.
recommendations.
Lunch: You’ll have time for lunch on your own
Or, join us for an optional performance by at the Cliffs of Moher.
the National Folk Theatre, the country’s
Afternoon: Depart the cliffs and travel along a
only repertory company, with an included
scenic coastal road to discover another natural
three-course dinner. Using traditional
Irish wonder, the Burren. Its name is derived
Irish disciplines, the group offers a cultural
from a Gaelic word meaning “stony place,”
experience dramatizing the essence of
and it is like no other place in Ireland. Instead
Irish culture.
of peat bogs and pastures, you’ll find a surreal
moonscape full of huge limestone crags.
Day 12 Killarney • Visit Cliffs of Moher &
the Burren • Galway Despite this seemingly inhospitable setting,
a diverse array of plant life—including wild
• Destination: Galway
orchids and rock rose—thrives here. Alpine
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
plants nestle in crevices beside temperate
• Accommodations: The Galmont Hotel
species. The white, deeply crevassed limestone
or similar
conceals “micro-environments” rich in
Breakfast: At the hotel. potholes and hollows. The ample rainfall
and strange topography have resulted
Morning: Bid farewell to Killarney and begin
in a paradoxical profusion of arctic and
your transfer to Galway, stopping along the
semi-tropical vegetation growing side by side.
way to discover a few more treasures of the
Emerald Isle. Finally, you’ll arrive in Galway later today,
where, after checking into your hotel, you’ll
First, ferry across the River Shannon and drive
set out with your Program Director on an
along the coast of County Clare to visit the
orientation walk.
majestic Cliffs of Moher. These precipitous
rock formations—towering more than 700 feet Dinner: Included at a local restaurant with your
above the crashing ocean surf at their highest fellow travelers.
point—offer breathtaking panoramic views of
Evening: You have the freedom to spend the
Ireland’s Atlantic coast, and provide nesting
rest of your evening as you wish—ask your
sites for tens of thousands of seabirds. If the
Program Director for recommendations.
wind is strong, the sea foam and spray flies up
and over the cliffs along with the rain; while on
clear sunny days, fantastic views can be seen Day 13 Galway • Optional Connemara &
from every angle. Kylemore Abbey tour
• Destination: Galway
Over the centuries, people have also made their
mark with towers, quarries, and well-worn • Included Meals: Breakfast
paths, but they’re almost lost in the scale and • Accommodations: The Galmont Hotel
grandeur of the sea cliffs. One that does stand or similar
out is O’Brien’s Tower, a huge structure built to Breakfast: At the hotel.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
16Morning: Spend the day at leisure, exploring famines of the 18th and 19th centuries. Today,
Galway on your own. The city’s compact center only the shells of their homes remain—set
spans both sides of the River Corrib. In the amidst hundreds of miles of stone walls.
center of Eyre Square stands the Quincentennial
Return to Galway late this afternoon.
Fountain, constructed in 1984 to mark the
500th anniversary of the Royal Charter granted Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent
by King Richard III that created Galway as an discoveries this evening, with dinner on your
independent city-state. own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant
recommendations.
Nearby are some of the oldest streets in
Galway, narrow winding lanes that curve
in and around old wooden buildings, often Day 14 Explore Galway
meandering off toward the Corrib and the • Destination: Galway
docks. Yet turn a corner and you will find • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
modern Galway—certainly one of the liveliest
• Accommodations: The Galmont Hotel
cities in Europe. Artists and musicians crowd
or similar
the sidewalks and almost every pub seems to
offer live music. Breakfast: At the hotel.
Or, join us for an optional full-day journey Morning: Join your Program Director on a
through the Connemara region of Galway. walking tour through Galway. This enchanting
Once home to more than two million Irish, it city is a medley of narrow lanes, wood and
still retains its regional heritage, as you will stone shop fronts, and bustling restaurants
discover while we ramble around its lakes, and pubs. Originally presided over by the
mountains, and bogs. local O’Flahertys, Galway was taken over by
Anglo-Normans and became a thriving center
You’ll visit the former Gothic mansion of of trade and commerce by the 14th century.
Mitchell Henry, now the home of Benedictine
nuns and better known as Kylemore Abbey. Your tour will take you to Galway Bay, which
You’ll have time to wander both the mansion Spanish galleons once regularly called “home”
and the Victorian gardens. Then cruise Killary, a during their western voyages. Galway declined
charming fjord. after being damaged in battle with the forces of
Oliver Cromwell in the mid-17th century, but
Lunch: On your own—ask your Program regained its prosperity and vitality in modern
Director for local restaurant recommendations. times. Today, Galway remains a merchant
Or, if you’ve chosen our optional tour, you’ll town, but it is also a burgeoning center for
enjoy an included lunch and Irish coffee during technology and a lively bohemian mecca.
your fjord cruise.
Lunch/Afternoon: Yours to spend in Galway as
Afternoon: Today’s optional tour continues you please. Your Program Director will be happy
as you travel through the Inagh Valley to the to recommend a spot for lunch and free time
coast, where you’ll see the deserted village of activities.
Clough Na Mara and discover a sense of the
hardship the Irish experienced during the Dinner: Gather with your Program Director and
fellow travelers at your hotel for an included
Farewell Dinner.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
17Evening: You have the freedom to spend the Morning: After breakfast, transfer to the
rest of your evening as you wish—ask your airport for your flight home. Or cross the sea
Program Director for recommendations. to join our optional post-trip extension in
Glasgow, Scotland.
Day 15 Galway • Return to U.S.
• Included Meals: Breakfast
Breakfast: At the hotel.
END YOUR TRIP WITH AN OPTIONAL POST-TRIP EXTENSION
5 nights in Glasgow, Scotland
Day 1 Galway, Ireland • Glasgow, Scotland Day 4 Glasgow • Visit Loch Lomond
Day 2 Explore Glasgow Day 5 Glasgow • Visit Robert
Burns Museum
Day 3 Glasgow • Edinburgh optional tour
Day 6 Glasgow • Return to U.S.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
18OPTIONAL TOURS
During your trip you will be able to book optional tours directly with your Program Director. He or she
will ask you to confirm the payment for these tours by filling out a payment form. Optional tours can
only be purchased with a credit or debit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards.
We also accept Visa and MasterCard debit cards, but it must be a debit card that allows you to sign for
purchases.
In order to correctly process these charges, there can be a delay of 2-3 months from the date of your
return for the charges to be posted to your account. Therefore we ask that you use a card that will not
expire in the 2-3 months following your return.
Please note: Optional tour prices include gratuities for local guides and motorcoach drivers, are listed in U.S.
dollar estimates determined at the time of publication, and are subject to change. Optional tours may vary.
Traditional Irish Night National Folk Theatre performance
(Day 4 $95 per person) (Day 11 $95 per person)
Enjoy a night of craic (a ubiquitous Irish Enjoy a performance of Siamsa Tíre—the
word with no real English equivalent, loosely National Folk Theatre of Ireland, and the
translated to “having a good time”) at a local country’s only repertory company. Using
restaurant as you savor a hearty three-course traditional disciplines, Siamsa Tíre offers a
dinner, followed by an evening of lively cultural experience dramatizing the essence of
entertainment. A group of local musicians takes Irish culture. You’ll also enjoy a three-course
the stage after dinner to play some traditional dinner before the show.
Irish music into the night.
Please note that this optional tour is available on
late May-early September departures only.
Dingle Experience This optional tour is available on late May-early
(Day 10 $95 per person) September departures only.
Venture out along the Dingle Peninsula,
stopping at Tralee’s Kerry County Museum,
Connemara & Kylemore Abbey
where you’ll experience a re-created medieval
(Day 13 $95 per person)
village. Then follow the rugged peninsula,
tracing a path of wild mountains and some Once home to more than two million Irish
of Ireland’s most spectacular coastline. One residents, Connemara retains its regional
of Ireland’s largest Irish-speaking areas, the heritage, as you will discover while rambling
wild landscapes continue to inspire writers around its lakes, mountains, and bogs. Visit
and artists. We’ll stop in the fishing port of the former Gothic mansion of Mitchell Henry,
Dingle, to enjoy locally caught fish (and chips) now the home of Benedictine nuns and better
for lunch. known as Kylemore Abbey. You will have
time to wander both the mansion and the
Victorian gardens. Then enjoy lunch as you
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
19cruise Killary Harbor, a charming fjord-like
inlet. Lastly, you’ll see the deserted village of
Clough Na Mara, where only shells of 18th-
and 19th-century houses remain—set amid
hundreds of miles of stone walls.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
20PRE-TRIP
Northern Ireland
INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE
» Accommodations for 5 nights » Exclusive services of a local Grand Circle
» 6 meals: 5 breakfasts and 1 dinner Program Director
» 6 included tours: Belfast, Giant’s » Gratuities on this extension for local guides
Causeway, Londonderry, Belleek Pottery, and motorcoach drivers
Clonmacnoise monastic site, Lough Boora » All transfers
Discovery Park
PRE-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY
Northern Ireland beckons with rich history and natural beauty. In a truly timeless extension, you’ll gaze in
wonder at the curious rock formation of the Giant’s Causeway and bow your head in a rustic churchyard,
pausing along the way to stroll the cobbled streets of Londonderry. You’ll also tour historic Athlone, Lough
Boora Discovery Park, and more.
Day 1 Depart U.S. in the development of industries like linen,
rope-making, and shipbuilding, with the
Depart from the U.S. today on your flight to world’s largest dry dock. The city’s Victorian
Belfast, Northern Ireland. heritage can be seen in the stately buildings of
this area and at Belfast’s Grand Opera House.
Day 2 Arrive Belfast, Northern Ireland
This afternoon, get acquainted with the area
• Destination: Belfast
around your hotel on an orientation walk.
• Accommodations: Europa Belfast or similar The balance of the day is free for you to relax
Breakfast: At the hotel. after your overseas flight. Gather in the late
afternoon with your fellow travelers for a
Morning/Afternoon: Arrive in Belfast today. Welcome Drink and briefing from your Program
You’ll be met at the airport by a Grand Circle Director.
representative who will assist you with the
transfer to your hotel. Dinner/Evening: Tonight is yours to relax or
explore independently, with dinner on your
Belfast is a robust northern metropolis of own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant
nearly half a million people. This is a scenic recommendations.
city, situated between the waters of Belfast
Lough, the Belfast Hills, and the forested slopes
of Cave Hill. Belfast was the catalyst of the
industrial revolution in Ulster, and specialized
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
21Day 3 Explore Belfast Day 4 Belfast • Explore Derry
• Destination: Belfast • Destination: Derry
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner • Included Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodations: Europa Belfast or similar • Accommodations: City Hotel Derry or similar
Breakfast: At the hotel. Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: On a panoramic city tour this Morning: Today, we travel from Belfast to
morning, you’ll see Belfast’s compact center Londonderry, or simply Derry as the locals refer
in Donegall Square, which is dominated by the to it. On the way, we’ll stop to view the Giant’s
elaborate City Hall. Causeway, an amazing geological formation of
approximately 40,000 basalt stones—some as
You’ll also drive through West Belfast’s
tall as 130 feet, and mostly hexagonal in shape.
Protestant neighborhood of Shankill Road, and
the Catholic neighborhood of Falls Road, where As Northern Ireland’s premiere landmark, and
large, vivid murals painted on the sides of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll be free
buildings express the feelings that still run deep to decide for yourself whether the Causeway is
on both sides. Though the names of these areas a result of accelerated cooling of lava outflows
were much in the news during “the Troubles,” 60 million years ago. Or is it the work of the
the gate in the Peace Wall between them now legendary Irish giant, Finn MacCool, in his
stands open. attempts to a) woo a distant lady giant, or b)
meet a Scottish giant in battle to determine who
Lunch/Afternoon: Yours to do as you please.
was the stronger giant?
Your Program Director will be happy to
recommend a spot for lunch and free time Lunch: On your own at Giant’s Causeway—ask
activities. Perhaps you’ll top for lunch at your Program Director for recommendations.
Brannigans or The Oval Bar for traditional Irish
Afternoon: You’ll arrive in Derry in the
pub fare.
afternoon, where you’ll set off on a guided walk
The city’s main shopping district is just atop the city’s walls, which have stood around
north of Donegall Square along several the city since the 17th century.
pedestrian-only streets. Belfast’s most famous
Dinner/Evening: Early this evening, you may
historic pub, the Crown Liquor Saloon, is also in
join your Program Director for a vicinity walk
this area (it’s always packed, but worth a look
in the neighborhood surrounding your hotel.
for its gaslit Victorian architecture even if you
The remainder of the day is yours to spend at
can’t get a seat).
leisure. Dinner will be on your own.
Or you might head for Belfast’s Golden Mile
neighborhood or the beautiful Botanic Gardens, Day 5 Derry • Inishowen Peninsula
with the campus of Queen’s University nearby.
optional tour
Dinner: Enjoy an included Welcome Dinner at • Destination: Derry
your hotel tonight. • Included Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodations: City Hotel Derry or similar
Evening: You have the freedom to spend the
rest of your evening as you wish—ask your Breakfast: At the hotel.
Program Director for recommendations.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
22Morning: Today is yours to spend in Derry at the origins of the structure, which dates back
leisure. You might visit the Tower Museum, to 1700 BC, and admire the views from the
with exhibits illustrating the maritime history hilltop vantage.
of Derry, or the Guildhall built in 1890 and in
Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent
the Gothic architectural style, similar to its
discoveries this evening, with dinner on your
London counterpart. Today, it’s the seat of the
own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant
local government.
recommendations.
Or, join an optional full-day excursion to
the Inishowen Peninsula, a peaceful place of Day 6 Derry • Visit Belleek
pastoral solitude jutting out into the Atlantic on
Pottery • Athlone
Ireland’s northern edge. First, you’ll visit the
• Destination: Athlone
Monreagh Heritage Centre, a small museum
whose artifacts and exhibits tell the story of • Included Meals: Breakfast
the Ulster Scots, who migrated from Great • Accommodations: Sheraton Athlone Hotel
Britain during the Plantation of Ulster in the or similar
17th century. Breakfast: At the hotel.
Then you’ll travel to Ulster American Folk Morning: Set off on your day-long drive to the
Park and spend some time walking the picturesque town of Athlone, first stopping at
grounds. This fascinating facility tells the Belleek Pottery near the coast of the River Erne.
story of emigration from Ulster to America A world-renowned brand established in 1857,
in the 18th and 19th centuries and provides Belleek Pottery is known for the production
visitors with a “living history” experience on of unique, intricately decorated china. Stop
its outdoor site. In the Folk Park, costumed at the Visitor Centre where a member of
guides and craftspeople recreate the past in the organization will tour you through the
an outdoor museum that includes a weaver’s impressive facilities.
cottage, forge, schoolhouse, log cabin, church,
and a 19th-century Ulster street. The Ship After the visit, continue your journey with
and Dockside Gallery features a full-size a stop for lunch and some free time in
reconstruction of an early 19th-century sailing Carrick-on-Shannon, a traditional village set
ship of the type that carried thousands of along the River Shannon.
emigrants across the Atlantic. A major indoor
Lunch: Your explorations of
exhibition, “Emigrants,” complements the
Carrick-on-Shannon include lunch on your
outdoor site.
own. Your Program Director will provide
Lunch: On your own—ask your Program options for local fare.
Director for local restaurant recommendations.
Afternoon: After lunch, continue to follow the
If you’re on the optional tour, your Program
River Shannon as you depart for the remainder
Director will indicate lunch spots at American
of the journey to Athlone. This little town is
Folk Park.
full of hidden gems that most comparable
Afternoon: At leisure. If you choose to join itineraries leave undiscovered, which you’ll see
the optional tour, you’ll discover the Grianan tomorrow during several guided tours.
of Aileach, an Iron Age stone ring fort resting
atop a high hill, after lunch. You’ll learn about
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
23Upon arrival in Athlone, the rest of your Then, experience a fusion of the natural and
afternoon is at leisure to settle in or explore the the man-made at Lough Boora Discovery Park.
surrounding area. The verdant park itself is home to unique flora,
as well as a slew of birds and fish who thrive in
Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent
marshland habitats. And in the Sculpture Park
discoveries this evening, with dinner on your
area, you’ll find 24 sculptures inspired by the
own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant
rich industrial and natural history of midland
recommendations.
Ireland’s raised bogs. From rocks to metals and
much more, Irish artists have used materials
Day 7 Explore Athlone • Clonmacnoise found in the boglands to produce their striking
Monastery • Lough Boora Discovery Park • pieces. As you walk the grounds, you might
Tullamore • Dublin • Join main trip talk with your Program Director about the
• Destination: Dublin history of the Irish boglands’ industrial impact,
particularly in terms of the current shift away
• Included Meals: Breakfast
from peat harvesting as a main source of
Breakfast: At the hotel. electricity.
Morning: Set off on your discoveries of Finally, stop in nearby Tullamore for lunch and
Athlone today. First, you’ll head to the ruins some free time.
of Clonmacnoise Monastery by motorcoach
for a guided tour. You can feel the history in Lunch: On your own in the quaint town of
what remains of the monastery’s very walls; Tullamore—ask your Program Director for local
the building itself was founded by Saint Ciarán restaurant recommendations.
in the year 544. In its centuries of existence,
Afternoon: At leisure. You might visit the
and largely due to its ideal location along the
Tullamore Dew Distillery for a taste of its
River Shannon, the monastery functioned as
famous whiskey. A little later, you’ll transfer to
a center for learning, religious worship, and
Dublin to begin your main Ireland in Depth tour.
even artisan crafting. Today, the ruins serve as
a reminder of the monastic practices that were
a crucial part of Irish religious life until the
twelfth century.
OPTIONAL TOUR
Inishowen Peninsula a tribute to the history of Irish emigration
(Day 5 $60 per person) to America. Finally, explore the Grianan of
Tour the peaceful Inishowen Peninsula, Aileach, a hilltop stone ringfort whose origins
starting at the Monreagh Heritage Centre, trace back to the Iron Age. You’ll tour the fort
which tells the story of the Ulster Scots—Gaelic and admire the views from atop the high hill.
immigrants who came from Great Britain
during the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th
century. Then, set off for your next destination,
Ulster American Folk Park, where you’ll witness
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
24POST-TRIP
Glasgow, Scotland
INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE
» Accommodations for 5 nights » Exclusive services of a local Grand Circle
» 10 meals: 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners Program Director
» 3 included tours: Glasgow, Loch Lomond, » Gratuities for motorcoach drivers on
Robert Burns Museum your extension
» All transfers
POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY
Experience the warmth and charm of Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. Study its contrast of modernist chic
and old-fashioned Victorian elegance, and expand your Scottish discoveries with day trips to peaceful
Loch Lomond, the largest lake in all of Great Britain, and the birthplace of Robert Burns, one of Scotland’s
national heroes.
Day 1 Galway, Ireland • Glasgow, Scotland Day 2 Explore Glasgow
• Destination: Glasgow • Destination: Glasgow
• Included Meals: Dinner • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodations: Radisson Blu Hotel • Accommodations: Radisson Blu Hotel
Glasgow or similar Glasgow or similar
Morning: Transfer to the Dublin airport for Breakfast: At the hotel.
your flight to Glasgow, Scotland.
Morning: Tour Glasgow, the largest city in
Lunch: On your own in the airport. Scotland. Glasgow’s incredible collection of
museums, theaters, and performance halls and
Afternoon: Arrive in Glasgow in the late
seamless blend of Victorian and art nouveau
afternoon. Check into your hotel and take a
architectural styles set the city apart as one of
quick vicinity walk of your surroundings.
the UK’s most refined destinations.
Dinner: Get a taste of Glasgow’s
Its famously friendly people and wealth
history—literally—during an included dinner
of welcoming parks ensure a hospitable
at one of the city’s oldest restaurants.
atmosphere. You’ll witness Glasgow’s many
Evening: You have the freedom to spend the highlights this morning on an included city
rest of your evening as you wish—ask your tour with your Program Director, using a
Program Director for recommendations. hop-on/hop-off bus service.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
25Enjoy a guided tour of historic Glasgow Lunch: On your own—ask your Program
University, whose halls of learning have Director for local restaurant recommendations.
produced such luminaries over the centuries If you’ve chosen to join our optional tour, you’ll
as Adam Smith and John Baird. On your tour, enjoy an included lunch aboard the Britannia.
you’ll admire the stunning Gothic architecture
Afternoon: Free for your own discoveries—ask
of the campus, including the renowned
your Program Director for recommendations.
cloisters, an undercroft of fluted columns and
soaring arches. Or, your optional tour continues in Edinburgh,
with a panoramic tour of the city’s sights,
Lunch: Enjoy an included picnic lunch at the
followed by a free afternoon to explore
university after your tour.
independently. You might choose to visit
Afternoon: Free for your own discoveries—ask Edinburgh Castle, which overlooks the city
your Program Director for recommendations. from a perch atop a long-extinct volcano. A
royal dwelling has been located here since the
Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent
twelfth century, and the castle’s St. Margaret’s
discoveries this evening, with dinner on your
Chapel—the oldest surviving building in the
own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant
city—dates to this time.
recommendations.
Perhaps you’ll browse the shops and pubs of
Day 3 Glasgow • Edinburgh optional tour the Royal Mile, the city’s main thoroughfare.
Or, pay a visit to Holyrood Palace, whose
• Destination: Glasgow
carefully designed additions over the centuries
• Included Meals: Breakfast
have made it one of the most admired buildings
• Accommodations: Radisson Blu Hotel in the British Isles. The palace was completed in
Glasgow or similar 1501 and was the site of the marriage of Mary,
Breakfast: At the hotel. Queen of Scots and Lord Darnley in 1565, and of
much subsequent intrigue.
Morning: Enjoy a full day to explore Glasgow
at leisure. Perhaps you’ll visit its Kelvingrove Return to Glasgow later today.
Art Gallery & Museum, a Victorian Cathedral
Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent
featuring a stunning variety of exhibits, or
discoveries this evening, with dinner on your
stop into a tea shop to sample the locals’
own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant
favorite drink.
recommendations.
Or, enjoy an optional tour of Edinburgh,
Scotland’s bustling capital. You’ll start Day 4 Glasgow • Visit Loch Lomond
with a visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia.
• Destination: Glasgow
Commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II in 1954,
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
the vessel was perhaps most famously used
• Accommodations: Radisson Blu Hotel
by Prince Charles and Lady Diana for their
Glasgow or similar
honeymoon cruise.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
26You can also read
