Ultimate Scotland & Ireland Tour

Ultimate Scotland & Ireland

Tours Starts: Edinburgh, Scotland

Tours Ends: Dublin, Ireland

Day 1

Depart for Scotland

Your journey begins on your overnight flight.

Day 2

Arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland

If you purchased airline tickets from YMT, a representative will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to spend at your leisure until the included welcome dinner at the hotel. (D)

Hampton by Hilton Westend or similar

Day 3

Edinburgh

Your first full day in Scotland starts with a comprehensive tour of Edinburgh. The beautifully maintained capital city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and tour highlights include the Royal Scottish Academy, The Georgian House, St. Giles Cathedral, The Scottish Parliament, and Greyfriars Bobby. Your final stop this morning is Edinburgh Castle, home to the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny, and Edinburgh’s oldest building, St. Margaret’s Chapel. Admission to the castle is included for you to enjoy a self-guided tour. The guided portion of the day concludes at lunchtime, after which you are free to remain in the city and explore on your own, or to join our afternoon optional tour. (B)

Hampton by Hilton Westend or similar

Day 4

Edinburgh to The Highlands

Visit one of the most historically significant places in all of Britain—the iconic Scone Palace in Perth. Home of the Earl of Mansfield, it has been the seat of parliaments and the crowning place of the Kings of Scots since the 9th century. Continue to the Highlands to enjoy some free time. Today also includes a visit to the Leault Working Sheepdogs Farm for a 45-minute demonstration of up to eight dogs working as a team to herd sheep and responding to their own personalized commands and whistles. Meet the collie pups, see the orphan lambs and perhaps take part in shearing a sheep. En route to the hotel, see Britain’s tallest mountain range in Cairngorms National Park! (B, D)

Highlander Hotel or similar

Day 5

Loch Ness & Inverness

Enjoy stunning views of Inverness and the Moray Firth as you make your way into the Great Glen, and Loch Ness. Up to 755 feet deep at places, the murky lake has plenty of hiding space for the mythical Loch Ness Monster, or “Nessie.” Take a short scenic cruise across the loch to Urquhart Castle to explore the ruins dating back to the 13th century. Enjoy the afternoon at your own pace, taking in the sights of Inverness, the ancient capital of the Highlands. (B)

Jurys Inn Inverness or similar

Day 6

The Highlands

Our first stop this morning is the historic battlefield site of the bloody Battle of Culloden Moor. Enjoy an innovative interactive exhibit about the battle, as well as area history at the Visitor Centre. Continue to Cawdor Castle, an ancient medieval fortress with three very different and extraordinary gardens. Explore the grounds on a guided tour before continuing to Glen Ord Whisky Distillery for an informative tour and tasting of beautiful Scotch Whisky! (B, D)

Jurys Inn Inverness or similar

Day 7

Isle of Skye & Western Highlands

Your tour takes you to the Isle of Skye, one of the Inner Hebrides islands. You will visit the Clan Donald Centre, a heritage center for what used to be the biggest clan in Scotland, ruling the western part of the country and the islands. A short ferry crossing will then take you back to the mainland and you continue to Inverary. (B, D)

Muthu Ben Doran or similar

Day 8

Argyll & Glasgow

Travel along the rugged shoreline into Argyll. Visit Inveraray Castle, built in 1743 in the Gothic Revival style, and see the extensive collection of pikes, muskets and other weaponry. Enjoy a short break on the banks of Loch Lomond, the largest lake in the country, and continue into Glasgow, the biggest city in Scotland. (B)

Moxy Glasgow Merchant City or similar

Day 9

Glasgow

During a panoramic morning city tour, see the remnants of the monastery at Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis, an ancient cemetery in the middle of the city. Visit George Square, named after King George III and the de facto center of Glasgow. The rest of the afternoon is yours until our final sit-down Farewell Dinner (B, D)

Moxy Glasgow Merchant City or similar

Day 10

Glasgow to Dublin

Fly to Dublin for the next stage of your tour. A YMT representative will welcome you at Dublin Airport and transfer you to the hotel while the rest of the day is at your leisure. This vibrant, colorful city offers a compelling mix of history, culture, traditional pubs, elegant architecture, great shopping and dining. The great thing about Dublin is that the city is compact, so the shops and restaurants, the River Liffey and many of the highlights are all within walking distance of each other and easy to explore on foot. This evening, learn about the days ahead over dinner. (B, D)

Clayton Hotel Leopardstown or similar

Day 11

Dublin

This morning, enjoy a tour of the highlights of this richly historical city. See the Bank of Ireland, built in the 18th century to house the Parliament; and Leinster House, where the government convenes today. Visit the famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral, originally built in 450 AD and rebuilt in 1191. The afternoon is at leisure, giving you plenty of time to visit Trinity College, Henrietta Street’s Georgian mansions, or to take a stroll down Grafton Street in the center of Dublin. (B)

Clayton Hotel Leopardstown or similar

Day 12

Dublin to Waterford

Today we visit the Rock of Cashel—a cluster of historic ruins towering on a hilltop 200 feet above the surrounding plains. We continue to Waterford, Ireland's oldest city and home to the famous crystal. Enjoy an illuminating tour of the factory and learn about the manufacturing process and Waterford’s history. There will be time to browse the gift shop, and marvel at the largest Waterford Crystal collection in the world. (B)

Fitzwilton Hotel or similar

Day 13

Waterford to Killarney

This morning, continue to Cork for a guided Jameson Experience distillery tour of the Midleton Distillery. Learn about history, heritage, and whiskey production before enjoying a comparative tasting of Scotch, American and Jameson whiskey. Also included in today's visit is a complimentary drink at the bar! Next, we visit Blarney Castle, one of Ireland’s oldest and most historic. You’re free to climb the 125 steps of the spiral staircase to kiss the Blarney Stone, which legend says will grant you the quintessentially Irish “gift of the gab.” Our tour ends today in Killarney, our home for the next two nights. (B, D)

Killarney Oaks Hotel or similar

Day 14

Ring of Kerry Excursion

This morning take one of Europe’s most famous drives, the Ring of Kerry. This long loop takes us through spectacular scenery—lakes, rivers, historical landmarks, and charming villages on the Iveragh Peninsula. Back in Killarney this evening, you’re free to relax at the hotel or explore the quaint town at your leisure. (B)

Killarney Oaks Hotel or similar

Day 15

Killarney to Galway

Today we visit Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, where we’ll see one of the most complete and authentic medieval fortresses in the country. Built in 1425, the castle was restored in 1954 to its former glory. It now houses an exquisitelydetailed living history museum that gives you a taste of what country life was really like in turn-of-the-century Ireland. Next, drive through the scenic Burren area, stopping to view the picturesque Cliffs of Moher, sheer sea cliffs with incredible views of the north Atlantic. Arrive in the Galway area by late afternoon. (B, D)

The Connacht Hotel or similar

Day 16

Galway to Sligo

Today, we travel through the beautiful and rugged landscape of the Connemara region. We’ll visit the palatial Kylemore Abbey, nestled at the base of Druchruach Mountain, which took 100 craftsmen 4 years to complete. Our drive continues through Westport into the Sligo area by late afternoon. (B, D)

Sligo Park Hotel or similar

Day 17

Sligo to Belfast

This morning, enjoy a short visit to Belleek Pottery, a porcelain company founded in 1884, for a lesson on its history—with time to buy souvenirs in their store. Next, visit the Ulster American Folk Park and learn about 300 years of Irish emigration to America. Continue to Belfast, your home for the next two nights. (B)

The Malone Hotel

Day 18

Giant’s Causeway

Today, we’ll enjoy a relaxing excursion along beautiful coastal roads, and take in the stunning seaside cliffs and endless Atlantic Ocean. We’ll spend time exploring the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with remarkable rock formations that tower up to 40 feet in the air. The stacks are said to be 50 million years old, and according to myth, were part of a road built by the legendary giant Finn MacCool. On the way back to Belfast, stop at Glenarm Castle for free time for lunch and a visit to the stunning 18th century gardens on the castle grounds.

The Malone Hotel

Day 19

Belfast and Dublin

This morning we visit Titanic Belfast, the $150 million Titanic visitor experience in the city where the unsinkable ship was built. You will see full-scale reconstructions and learn about the Titanic’s conception through to her infamous maiden voyage and tragic end in 1912. The journey continues to the discovery of the wreck, and into the present day with a live undersea exploration center. We will then enjoy a panoramic motor coach tour of Belfast, taking in the impressive Parliament buildings at Stormont, Belfast City Hall, and the murals of the Falls Road. In the afternoon, we drive south to Dublin for our final evening in Ireland, and a farewell dinner at the hotel. (B, D)

Clayton Hotel Leopardstown or similar

Day 20

Depart Dublin for Home (B)

Note: This tour is not suitable for those who have difficulty walking. The included sightseeing and optional tours will involve walking and standing, steps, stairs and uneven ground at ancient sites and other locations. Accommodations used throughout this tour are commonly situated in rural, scenic areas and local amenities may be limited.

Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Hotels may differ depending on date. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tour vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights. Please ask your Travel Consultant for more information.