Ancient Ireland 10 days from $4,090
Step into Ireland’s storied past on a self-driving journey from Dublin to the Dingle Peninsula, exploring ancient sites and meeting artisans and farmers who carry on timeless Irish traditions.
HIGHLIGHTS
Explore ancient sites from prehistoric Newgrange to the Rock of Cashel.
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� Discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula on coastal walks and visits to ring forts and beehive huts.
Tour the tall ship SS Dunbrody and gain insight into the Irish emigrant experience. �
Stay in a beautiful country manor and a 16th-century castle located on its own private island. �
The itinerary below is a sample of what’s possible. Your Smithsonian Tailor-Made Journey will be handcrafted just for you. Day 1 – Dublin, Ireland Arrive in Dublin, and enjoy a walking tour of the city with your private guide, visiting historic landmarks and seeing the Book of Kells at Trinity College. Day 2 – Newgrange Set out with your private guide on a full-day excursion to the prehistoric sites of the Boyne Valley. Explore sites built well before the Egyptian pyramids, and venture into the inner chambers of the Newgrange passage tomb. Day 3 – Kilkenny Pick up your rental car and drive to County Kilkenny. Visit the private farm of Jerpoint Park, site of the abandoned 12th-century town of Newtown Jerpoint. In Kilkenny, stroll the Medieval Mile and head into Kilkenny Castle on a guided tour. Cap off the day with a tour and tasting at Smithwick’s, one of Ireland’s oldest breweries.
Day 4 – County Wexford and Waterford Step into the shoes of Ireland’s 19th-century emigrants on an interpretive tour of the Dunbrody Famine Ship. Visit the ancestral home of John F. Kennedy, and see the ruins of Dunbrody Abbey. Your home tonight is a 16th-century castle set on its own private island. Day 5 – Waterford and County Cork Delve into the history of Waterford on a private walking tour of its Viking and medieval sites. Then travel west, visiting the 800-year-old Curraghmore estate and the gardens of Lismore Castle. Arrive at Ballymaloe House, a country home where you’ll stay two nights. Day 6 – County Cork At Blarney Castle, explore the battlements and the castle keep, and stroll its exotic gardens. Enjoy a premium whiskey tasting session at the Jameson Old Midleton Distillery. Days 7 & 8 – Dingle Peninsula Join a guided tour of the Muckross House and ride through Killarney National Park on a jarvey, or horse and carriage. Settle into your hotel in the coastal town of Dingle. Take a full day to explore the Dingle Peninsula with a private guide, driving from one ancient site to the next and enjoying coastal walks. Consider heading to one of Dingle’s pubs in the evening to hear traditional Irish music. Days 9 & 10 – Cashel and Celbridge Journey back towards Dublin via Cashel. Visit the splendid Rock of Cashel, a seat of the ancient Irish kings and a medieval Christian site. Your journey ends at an elegant resort in Celbridge, just outside of Dublin.
WHERE TO STAY Cliff Townhouse Georgian townhouse located near Dublin’s main attractions. Butler House Ornate manor house built in 1786 in the heart of Kilkenny, near the Castle. Waterford Castle A 16th-century castle located on a private island just east of Waterford. Ballymaloe House Wisteria-clad country manor built around the remains of a 14th-century Norman castle. Dingle Benners Hotel Boutique hotel with an inviting pub serving craft beers and whiskeys. The K Club Opulent, Old World -style resort west of Dublin.
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