Taste of Wales & Ireland

12 days
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4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
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USTOA

Group Tour
Combine Ireland with its Celtic neighbor, Wales! Start in historic Chester and explore dramatic castles and stunning mountain scenery of Snowdonia. Travel along the sweeping coastline with colorful villages and cross to Ireland by ferry. Finish in Ireland with Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry and Cliffs of Moher. End in Shannon or extend to Dublin.
From$2,051
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Enjoy the great start with a train ride on a narrow-gauge steam train to admire the beautiful scenery of the Snowdonia National Park
    • See the Welsh Castles & Scenery
    • Experience Tenby Evening Walk
    • Visit St David's Cathedral
    • Visits and admissions to Chester Cathedral
    • See the National Slate Museum, Harlech Castle, Pembroke Castle, Lovespoon Workshop
    • Explore Killarney and admire the famous lakes on a jaunting car ride through the Killarney National Park to Ross Castle
    • Skellig Experience, Cliffs of Moher and Bunratty Folk

What's this trip about?

    Combine Ireland with its Celtic neighbor, Wales! Start in historic Chester and explore dramatic castles and stunning mountain scenery of Snowdonia. Travel along the sweeping coastline with colorful villages and cross to Ireland by ferry. Finish in Ireland with Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry and Cliffs of Moher. End in Shannon or extend to Dublin.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityManchester
End CityDublin

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • Europe
  • United Kingdom
  • England

Attractions

  • London
  • Stonehenge

Activities

  • Culture
  • History
  • Nature

Trip includes

    • Sightseeing by luxury coach
    • Professional tour director
    • 11 nights in hotels listed
    • Full breakfast daily (B) except on day 1
    • Welcome get-together drink
    • Walking tours of Chester, Conwy, Tenby and Waterford
    • Sheepdog trials in North Wales
    • Narrow-gauge train ride in Snowdonia
    • Ferry rides from Wales to Ireland and across the River Shannon
    • Horse-drawn jaunting car ride in Killarney
    • Walking tour of Galway and Tullamore Dew Visitor Centre
    • Dublin open-top bus tour with a visit to Guinness Storehouse or General Post Office Museum
    • Visits and admissions to Chester Cathedral, National Slate Museum, Harlech Castle, Pembroke Castle, Lovespoon Workshop, St David’s Cathedral, House of Waterford Crystal, Blarney Castle, Blarney Woollen Mills, Skellig Experience, Cliffs of Moher and Bunratty Folk Park
    • Audio headsets and group photo
    • Deluxe carry-on backpack, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
    • All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person
    • Free Wi-Fi on coaches and in hotel lobbies

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Itinerary

Day 1: Manchester Arrival & Chester

Meals: Dinner

Your trip starts at 2:00 pm when you meet your tour director at your Chester hotel. Chester is about 30 miles from Manchester Airport so ensure that you have arranged a transfer. Set out on a walking tour to see medieval streets with lovely half-t...

Day 2: Sheepdogs & Conwy

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Cross into Wales and drive to Llangollen and across the scenic Horseshoe Pass. Visit a farm to watch trained dogs herding sheep and stop for photos of 13th century St Asaph’s Cathedral. Drive to Conwy, a compact medieval town which i...

Day 3: North Wales & Snowdonia Train Ride

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Tour North Wales, starting with a train ride on a narrow-gauge steam train to admire the beautiful scenery of the Snowdonia National Park. Pause for photos of Mount Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales and take a look around the typica...

Day 4: Harlech Castle & Tenby Walking Tour

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Today experience the magnificent Welsh coastline. Visit the mighty Harlech Castle, one of the “Iron Ring Castles” that were built along the coast by the English in the 13th century. Take a look around the attractive Georgian town of ...

Day 5: Lovespoon Workshop & Pembroke Castle

Meals: Breakfast

Drive around scenic Pembrokeshire, a region of gentle rolling hills and indented coastline. Watch the ancient Welsh tradition of hand carving at the Lovespoon Workshop. Tour Pembroke Castle, an imposing 12th century fortress to explore the laby...

Day 6: St David’s Cathedral & Ferry to Ireland

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Journey through colorful coastal villages on the way to St David’s, the smallest city in Britain. Visit the imposing 12th century St David’s Cathedral, named for the patron saint of Wales, to view the magnificent carvings and take a ...

Day 7: Waterford Crystal & Killarney

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Visit the House of Waterford Crystal to learn about glass blowing and cutting and admire one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Then see Waterford’s ancient buildings on a gentle stroll with a local guide. Travel to Blarney Castle to kiss the f...

Day 8: Ring of Kerry & Skellig Experience

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Embark on the Ring of Kerry drive – a winding route with mountains and coastal views. Cross to Valentia Island by bridge to visit the Skellig Experience which describes the austere lives of early Christian monks on the nearby islands and savor a casual lunch. Pause at Moll’s Gap for stunning views before returning to Killarney.

Day 9: Cliffs of Moher & Medieval Banquet

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Take a ferry ride across the River Shannon Estuary to visit the Cliffs of Moher, majestic walls of rock, which extend five miles along the coast. Drive through part of the Burren and continue to your hotel. Visit Bunratty Folk Park t...

Day 10: Dublin & Taylor’s Three Rock Pub

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Travel to Galway for a walking tour around the principal areas of Galway city before traveling to Tullamore to visit the Tullamore Dew Visitor Centre, which explains how whiskey is distilled. Sample some whiskey at the end of your to...

Day 11: Independent Dublin Sightseeing

Meals: Breakfast

Spend a full day in Dublin so that you may use your vouchers for an independent open-top bus tour around the city and a visit to one attraction (valid for 48 hours). The bus stops at all the principal city center attractions and you may alight at each stop or stay on the bus to do the complete tour.

Day 12: Depart Dublin for Home

Meals: Breakfast

Your tour ends after breakfast.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,051
Price per day$171
Single supplement (single occupancy)$593
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with CIE Tours.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

CIE Tours Reviews & Ratings

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Jason

Jun 2024

Written on

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We used CIE for an amazing tour of Ireland. The food and the locals were amazing. Here is my issue: we were told that another CIE tour from Scotland would be joinin...

E

Exasperated

Dec 2023

Written on

Terrible Company

I waited 20 years for my dream trip to Scotland and Ireland and splurged $7000 on this tour. The second half of touring Ireland was great, the first portion in Scotl...

P

Pam H

Apr 2022

Written on

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME/MONEY WITH CIE!

I gave this return 1 star only because that’s the lowest possible option, otherwise they would receive 0 stars!!! I had a trip planned for September of 2021 to Icela...

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CIE Tours

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For the 2015 season we will celebrate 83 years of travel excellence! During this time CIE Tours International has provided travellers with the highest quality holidays to Ireland and Britain and we continue to improve our tours and our services.

Over the years we have built up an enviable reputation for security and reliability with satisfied clients throughout the world. We set our own high standards for delivering excellent holidays with state-of-the-art luxury coaches; prompt and pleasant customer service; the best hotels; and carefully chosen visits and entertainment.

Our coach tours are fully inclusive with no optional extras to purchase at your destination. You pay one price and we insist that our tour directors focus solely on your enjoyment. Once you pay the deposit, we guarantee our land tour prices.

If you prefer to travel independently, we offer self-drive and chauffeur-drive programs for Ireland with a wide range of hotel accommodation, which can be booked in advance, as well as popular B & Bs. Whichever way you like to travel, choose one of our fine holidays from our website and enjoy the greatest travel experience ever!

What makes CIE Tours unique?

Sightseeing Visits: CIE Tours includes a variety of attractions on every tour for an interesting travel experience. Check each tour itinerary to see exactly which places are featured. Admission costs are included in the tour price so that you don't waste time paying as you enter each attraction.

Guaranteed Departures & Prices: We guarantee most of our land tour departures which are updated daily on our website. We guarantee land tour costs will not increase, once you have paid your tour deposit, to protect you against international currency fluctuations.

Group Airport Transfers: As a newcomer to an airport, it's great to have someone meet you. We include complimentary group transfers on the starting and ending date of tours at times specified on each itinerary. If you arrive or depart later than our tour dates, you may purchase a transfer from us.

Travel Documents: On arrival CIE Tours will supply coach tour clients with tour vouchers, maps, ticket wallets, destination information, rain poncho, carry-on backpack, phone cards, VAT tax card, luggage tags and a strap. Self-drive clients receive accommodation vouchers and listings, ticket wallets, luggage tags and a strap. Use the tags and strap on your baggage for easy identification throughout your holiday. All you need to supply is a valid passport and, if driving, a current drivers license.

Leisure & Spa Facilities: Most of the hotels we use offer wonderful leisure facilities and spas. When you travel on a coach tour, you will have some free time most days and may like to enjoy some relaxation and spa serenity! So be sure to pack a swimsuit and workout clothes.

History & Geography: People who choose to travel in Ireland and Britain usually have an interest in the long history of the region and, as you tour around, you will visit a lot of ancient cities, churches and castles. All of our tour directors are well trained in the background information of the places and incorporate this history into their narratives in a manner that is fun and easy to digest. Similarly they are able to give you facts on the geography of the regions you travel through, giving you an insight into climate, farming, weather and other topics.

Coach Touring & Sightseeing: Some people think that on a coach tour, all you do is sit on the coach all day. Not true with CIE Tours! We have created balanced and varied days of sightseeing with plenty of stops for taking photos, shopping, lunch, snacks and bathrooms. You never travel for longer than two hours without getting off the coach.

Fully Escorted Coach Tours:

See what you get on a CIE coach tour

--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain Luxury coach travel, daily sightseeing and a professional tour director

--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain Speedy group check-in at hotels

--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain All breakfasts and most dinners including special dinner/shows

--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain Airport transfers and baggage handling

--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain Prepaid hotels, meals and admissions help you control holiday costs

--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain Comprehensive tour documents

Selection Of Itineraries: Touring by coach is a holiday with a capital H! CIE Tours International offers the widest range of itineraries. Depending on your available time and budget, you can choose an ideal tour. All of our programs are carefully planned to permit full enjoyment of your holiday.

Luxury Touring Coaches: Travel in the height of comfort with CIE Tours and sit back and let an expert do the driving! Our state-of-the-art coaches feature panoramic windows for optimum viewing while reclining seats, individual climate controls and a public address system ensure your well-being.

Your Tour Director: CIE Tours could not exist without our great locally employed tour directors they are the envy of the travel industry. From the moment you land in Ireland or Britain, your tour director is there to welcome you, handle your luggage, drive you from place to place and give you a daily commentary. Tour directors make history and culture come alive and create a superb experience with daily doses of humour, information and assistance.

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Logistics

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
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Meals Included

11 Breakfasts and 8 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
cie-TasWalCie

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