Day 1: Arrival & Medieval Kilkenny
Dublin Airport Collection
On arrival at Dublin Airport, you’ll be met by your private driver-guide and begin the journey south toward Kilkenny. Leaving the capital behind, the landscape quickly becomes more rural, with open farmland and smaller towns replacing city streets. The drive provides an easy introduction to Ireland outside Dublin, while your guide sets the scene for the days ahead.
Kilkenny Castle
Your first stop is a private tour of Kilkenny Castle, along the River Nore. Inside, you walk through a sequence of rooms that show how the castle changed over time, from its early defensive role to a long-term family home. After the interior visit, you’ll have time to walk through the parkland behind the castle and see how it fits into the wider town.
Smithwick’s Experience
You’ll depart the castle and head to the Smithwick’s Experience, located on the site of a former Franciscan abbey where brewing took place for centuries. During the guided visit, you’ll learn how Smithwick’s became one of Ireland’s best-known ales, and how brewing shaped life in Kilkenny long before modern industry. The experience concludes with a tasting, providing a relaxed, social way to end the day.
Drop-off at Kilkenny accommodation
Day 2: Cashel & Cork
Collection at Kilkenny Accommodation
Leaving Kilkenny, you travel southwest through gently rolling countryside toward County Tipperary. Small villages and open farmland define this stretch, with the Rock of Cashel soon becoming visible from a distance.
Rock of Cashel
The Rock of Cashel stands alone above the surrounding plain, its cluster of medieval buildings immediately recognizable. Walking through the site, you move between the cathedral, chapel, and round tower while your guide explains its importance as both a royal seat and a religious centre. The elevated position offers expansive views across the countryside, which helps explain why the Rock became such a powerful symbol in Irish history.
Jameson Distillery Midleton
Continuing south into County Cork, you arrive at Midleton Distillery, home of Jameson Irish Whiskey. The guided visit takes you through historic distillery buildings, explaining how Irish whiskey is made and what distinguishes it from other styles. After learning all about the production process, the experience concludes with an exclusive whiskey tasting.
English Market
Back in Cork city, you’ll stop at the English Market, which has been serving locals since the 18th century. Inside the covered hall, you can browse stalls selling seafood, meats, breads, and regional specialities. It’s a great place to eat and a chance to experience Cork’s everyday food culture rather than a formal dining stop.
Drop-off at Cork accommodation
Day 3: Blarney & Killarney National Park
Collection at Cork Accommodation
This morning, you leave Cork behind and travel west into County Kerry. As the road begins to rise and lakes and woodland appear, the scenery signals your arrival in one of Ireland’s most scenic regions.
Blarney Castle
Just outside Cork, you’ll visit Blarney Castle, one of Ireland’s most famous landmarks. Climbing the narrow stone staircases, you reach the battlements where the Blarney Stone is set into the wall. You’ll have the opportunity to kiss the Blarney Stone, which legend says grants the “gift of the gab”.Whether you choose to kiss the stone or not, the walk through the castle gives a real sense of its age and character. Afterward, there’s time to explore the extensive grounds, including wooded paths and quieter corners beyond the main tower.
Jaunting Car Ride through Killarney National Park
On arrival in Killarney National Park, you’ll experience the landscape by traditional jaunting car. Travelling at a gentle pace, you pass lakes, tree-lined paths, and historic estate scenery, allowing you to take in the park without rushing. It’s a surreal way to experience the park, as you get a sense of what Irish transport was like in the 1800’s.
Torc Waterfall
From the heart of Killarney National Park, the road winds through woodland and along the edge of the lakes before reaching Torc Waterfall. Your guide leads you through a forest path to the base of the falls, where water runs down a series of rocky steps fed by the surrounding hills. The setting feels cool and shaded, and the sound of the water carries through the trees, making it a straightforward but worthwhile stop as you move deeper into the park.
Celtic Steps – Evening Show
In the evening, you’ll attend Celtic Steps, a lively performance celebrating Irish music and dance. A shuttle service operates from central Killarney, returning you to town after the show, making the evening easy and relaxed after a full day.
Drop-off at Killarney accommodation
Day 4: Kerry Scenic Route
Ring of Kerry (Option A) or Slea Head (Option B)
Collection at Killarney Accommodation
Today is dedicated to a full scenic day in County Kerry, with your driver-guide helping you choose the best route based on interests, weather, and pacing.
Option A: Ring of Kerry
The Ring of Kerry follows a circular route through mountain passes, lakes, open moorland, and Atlantic coastline. Your guide manages the timing to avoid the busiest sections, stopping at viewpoints overlooking bays and offshore islands. The variety of scenery changing constantly throughout the day makes this one of Ireland’s most rewarding drives.
Option B: Slea Head Drive
Alternatively, you may choose the Slea Head Drive on the Dingle Peninsula. This coastal route loops around the western edge of the peninsula, with the Atlantic on one side and views toward the Blasket Islands on the other. Stone walls, early settlement sites, and scattered farmhouses give the drive a strong sense of place, and your guide will stop at viewpoints to explain how this remote landscape shaped local life and culture.
Our tour planners can walk you through both options and help you decide which is best for you.
Drop-off at Killarney accommodation
Day 5: Clare Coast & The Burren
Collection at Killarney Accommodation
Leaving Kerry, you travel north toward County Clare. You’ll pass through quiet country roads, small villages, and open farmland before the landscape begins to change to stone walls and rocky ground.
Cliffs of Moher
At the Cliffs of Moher, you walk along the cliff paths and take in views that stretch for miles along the Atlantic coast. The scale of the cliffs is immediately apparent, with the land dropping sharply into the sea below. Spending time at different viewpoints allows you to appreciate how extensive the cliffs really are, rather than experiencing them as a single photo stop. It’s often one of our guests’ favorite attractions on their tour, and it’s easy to see why!
Doolin
After the cliffs, you continue to Doolin, a small village known for its strong connection to traditional music and local food. It’s a relaxed place to stop for lunch, with pubs and cafés that still feel rooted in everyday life rather than tourism. The slower pace here makes a welcome contrast to the dramatic coastline.
Caherconnell Stone Fort & Sheepdog Demonstration
In the Burren, you’ll visit Caherconnell Stone Fort, an early medieval ring fort set within the rocky landscape. As you walk through the circular walls, your guide explains how families once lived and farmed in this challenging environment. The sheepdog demonstration brings that story to life, showing how traditional skills are still used in the region today.
Drop-off at Galway accommodation
Day 6: Connemara
Collection at Galway Accommodation
Heading west into Connemara, the landscape opens up quickly. Towns become fewer, stone walls stretch across bogland, and mountains rise in the distance.
Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden
Kylemore Abbey sits directly beside a lake, backed by the Connemara mountains. Inside the former private home, you walk through restored rooms that reflect 19th-century life, while learning how the building later became a Benedictine abbey. The story feels personal rather than grand, shaped by evolving circumstances. After the house, you’ll have time to walk through the walled garden, where glasshouses and planted beds show how the estate once supplied itself.
Killary Fjord Cruise
Later, you’ll take a cruise along Killary Fjord, Ireland’s only fjord. From the water, the steep-sided mountains feel close and enclosing, with changing light and weather adding to the atmosphere. The calm pace of the cruise provides a different perspective on Connemara’s landscape and a gentle end to the day.
Drop-off at Galway accommodation
Day 7: Dublin Highlights
Collection at Galway Accommodation
Leaving the west coast, you travel east across Ireland toward Dublin. The change in scenery naturally breaks the drive, as it moves from open Atlantic landscapes back into the capital.
Trinity College Dublin
At Trinity College, you walk through the main courtyards before entering the Old Library. Here, you’ll see the Book of Kells, one of Ireland’s most important manuscripts, with your guide explaining its details and symbolism. The visit continues into the Long Room, where shelves of historic volumes stretch beneath a high vaulted ceiling, creating one of Dublin’s most recognizable interiors.
Guinness Storehouse
You finish the day at the Guinness Storehouse, located within the original brewery complex. Moving through the exhibits, you learn how Guinness is brewed and how it became closely linked to Dublin’s identity. Your Guinness expert will even show you how to pour your own pint! The visit concludes at the Gravity Bar, where you can enjoy a “pint of the black stuff” with views across the city.
Dublin Airport or Hotel Drop-off
Your private driver-guide transfers you to Dublin Airport or to your accommodation, bringing your private journey across Ireland to a close.