Celtic Classic
****************************
2024 TOURS NOW AVAILABLE
SAVE $300 PER COUPLE!
****************************
Rich landscapes, history and legends will surround you in these two glorious Celtic nations. From Dublin to Glasgow, the highlands to St Patrick this extensive tours offers you just the right balance of the past, the present and the people of Scotland & Ireland. Breakfast daily, outstanding dinners, and delightful hotels complete this first class tour.
Itinerary
Day
1
Glasgow
Saturday
Welcome to Scotland! Meet your tour guide at your designated pickup point before undertaking a panoramic tour of Glasgow. You will see Glasgow's highlights including red sandstone Victorian buildings, delightful parks, and the River Clyde, once important for shipbuilding. We will visit Glasgow Cathedral, one of Scotland's most magnificent medieval buildings, Glasgow Cathedral is the only one on the Scottish mainland to survive the Reformation of 1560 intact. There will also be time to visit the extensive and varied art collections in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Afterward we check into our hotel where we spend our first two nights.
Dinner/Overnight — Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow
Day
2
Burns Country
Sunday
Depart for Rabbie Burns Country, where the first stop of the day is Burns National Heritage Park. The museum is the focal point of this beautifully landscaped park where visitors can cross the Brig o’Doon and visit the poet’s birthplace.
Later, continue to Culzean Castle in Ayrshire. Culzean is surrounded by surging seas, lush forests, and secret gardens.
Overnight — Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow
Day
3
Loch Ness & Inverness
Monday
Depart Glasgow for Inverness travelling along Scotland’s West Coast and Loch Ness. Highlights of the day include Loch Lomond, dramatic Glencoe, a visit to Urquhart Castle and a cruise on Loch Ness in search of Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster.
Dinner/Overnight — Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness
Day
4
Isle of Skye
Tuesday
Today a day trip to the Isle of Skye, one of Scotland’s most beautiful islands. First stop is Portree, capital of the island. You can enjoy some free time here, exploring the multi-coloured harbour, or warming up by a real coal fire in a local pub. On our return to Inverness, you will visit Eilean Donan Castle.
Dinner/Overnight—Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness
Day
5
Culloden & Speyside
Wednesday
Today we head to Perthshire via Culloden Moor, site of the 1746 Battle of Culloden. Before leaving Speyside, stop at Kincraig for an impressive display from the Working Sheepdogs. On arrival at your hotel, you will be welcomed with “wee dram!”
Dinner/Overnight — Dunkeld House, Dunkeld
Day
6
St Andrews & Falkland
Thursday
Depart Perthshire for Edinburgh via the Kingdom of Fife. Enroute you will stop for a distillery visit at Kingsbarns Distillery. This tour is the perfect introduction to Scotch whisky. You will visit our exhibition space, go on a guided tour of our distillery and then be led up to one of our tasting rooms to try our new make spirit and two samples of our Kingsbarns single malts including our award-winning ‘Dream to Dram’. A shop and café await you at the end of the tour. After the distillery tour, we will travel to St. Andrews, home of Scotland’s oldest university and capital of golf, and then on to Falkland to visit the village and the Palace, built by King James V in 1539. It became a favourite retreat of the Stuart Dynasty including Mary Queen of Scots.
Overnight — InterContinental Edinburgh The George
Day
7
Edinburgh
Friday
After an early breakfast in the hotel, you will enjoy an exclusive, pre-opening tour of Edinburgh Castle. You will then enjoy a panoramic city tour of Edinburgh which features the “New” and the “Old” towns. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the city further. Tonight, you will attend the Spirit of Scotland Show, an evening of traditional entertainment and dinner at The Royal College of Surgeons.
Dinner/Overnight — InterContinental Edinburgh The George
Day
8
Scotland to Ireland
Saturday
Today we bid farewell to Scotland and fly to Dublin for the Ireland portion of your journey. Today is leisurely as we all gather in our hotel in Malahide overlooking the Irish Sea in north County Dublin. This evening you will meet some new travelling companions at the welcome reception followed by dinner.
Dinner/Overnight—Grand Hotel, Malahide
Day
9
Boyne Valley & Cooley Peninsula
Sunday
Head north through the majestic Mountains of Mourne into Saint Patrick’s Country to visit the grave of Ireland’s Patron Saint and the Saint Patrick Centre which tells his story. Afterwards we drive to Strangford, where Game of Thrones is filmed, before arriving in Belfast late afternoon.
Dinner/Overnight—Europa Hotel, Belfast
Day
10
Titanic Quarter
Monday
A guided tour of Belfast City Hall is first on the agenda this morning. In the afternoon, visit the shipyard where the Titanic was built in 1909. The evening is free in Belfast.
Overnight—Europa Hotel, Belfast
Day
11
Giant's Causeway & Derry
Tuesday
This morning we drive north via Carnlough, Glenariff and Ballycastle on the North Antrim Coast. We visit the Giant’s Causeway and then Dunluce Castle enroute to Derry. A local guide will tell the "Story of Derry" on a walking tour of this historic walled city.
Dinner/Overnight—Kee’s Hotel, Donegal
Day
12
Ben Bulben & Clew Bay
Wednesday
We travel south thru’ Donegal and on to Belleek to visit the world famous porcelain factory. We then continue to Westport on Clew Bay.
Dinner/Overnight—Westport Coast Hotel, Westport
Day
13
Connemara
Thursday
Enjoy a visit to Kylemore Abbey on the shores of Kylemore Lough and cross picturesque Maam Valley. This afternoon there will be free time to explore Westport.
Overnight—Westport Coast Hotel, Westport
Day
14
Galway & Cliffs of Moher
Friday
We will make our way to Galway City for some free time, before driving along the southern shores of Galway Bay, traversing the Burren region, and viewing the mighty Cliffs of Moher. An optional medieval banquet at Knappogue Castle is on offer tonight.
Overnight—Radisson Blu, Limerick
Availability
| Room Type | Double | Single |
|---|---|---|
| May 4 | $5999.00$5999.00 | $7699.00$7699.00 |
| May 11 | $5999.00$5999.00 | $7699.00$7699.00 |
| May 18 | $5999.00$5999.00 | $7699.00$7699.00 |
| May 25 | $5999.00$5999.00 | $7699.00$7699.00 |
| Jun 1 | $6199.00$6199.00 | $7999.00$7999.00 |
| Jun 8 | $6199.00$6199.00 | $7999.00$7999.00 |
| Jun 15 | $6199.00$6199.00 | $7999.00$7999.00 |
| Jun 22 | SOLD OUT | SOLD OUT |
| Jun 29 | $6199.00$6199.00 | $7999.00$7999.00 |
| Jul 13 | $6299.00$6299.00 | $8099.00$8099.00 |
| Jul 27 | $6699.00$6699.00 | $8699.00$8699.00 |
| Aug 17 | $6699.00$6699.00 | $8699.00$8699.00 |
| Aug 24 | $6399.00$6399.00 | $8399.00$8399.00 |
| Aug 31 | $6399.00$6399.00 | $8399.00$8399.00 |
| Sep 3 | SOLD OUT | SOLD OUT |
| Sep 7 | $6399.00$6399.00 | $8399.00$8399.00 |
| Sep 10 | $6399.00$6399.00 | $8399.00$8399.00 |
| Sep 14 | SOLD OUT | SOLD OUT |
| Sep 21 | $6399.00$6399.00 | $8399.00$8399.00 |
| Sep 28 | $6399.00$6399.00 | $8399.00$8399.00 |
| Oct 5 | $5999.00$5999.00 | $7699.00$7699.00 |
Prices are land-only per person in Canadian dollars.
Arrival & departure transfers included for those who have air booked in conjunction with tour.
Dinner at hotel prior to Tattoo performance on Day 7 for July 27 & August 17, 2024 departures.
Early opening tour at Edinburgh Castle not possible for July 27, Aug 3, 10 & 17, 2024 departures.
Child rate 7-11 years sharing with 2 adults: $2999.
All triples are on request (Grand Central & Dunkeld House does not have triple rooms suitable for 3 adults; 2 rooms may be booked at this hotel).
Tour Highlights
- Culzean Castle
- Loch Lomond
- Loch Ness
- Urquhart Castle
- Culloden Moor
- Eilean Donan Castle
- Glencoe
- Kincraig
- Portree
- St Andrews
- Falkland Palace
- Titanic Experience
- Giant's Causeway
- Walking Tour of Derry
- Belleek Factory
- Kylemore Abbey
- Cliffs of Moher
- Galway Bay
- Connemara
Tour Inclusions
- Transportation throughout by luxury touring coach
- Services of an experienced driver and local touring guide
- 14 nights accommodation in first class hotels
- Full breakfast daily
- 8 table d'hote evening meals
- Scottish evening with dinner & entertainment
- Visit the top voted tourist attraction in Europe - Titanic Experience in Belfast
- Working Sheepdog performance at Kincraig
- Guided tour of a whisky distillery & Cruise on Loch Ness
- Visit Eilean Donan Castle, the famous 13th century castle in the Highlands
- Exclusive, pre-opening tour of Edinburgh Castle
- Panoramic tours of Glasgow & Edinburgh
- Walking tour of Derry City with local guide
- Admissions to: Culzean Castle, Urquhart Castle, Culloden Moor Visitor's Centre, Eilean Donan Castle, Falkland Palace, Titanic Experience, Giant's Causeway, Belleek Pottery, Kylemore Abbey, Cliffs of Moher
- Baggage handling charges
- The Famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo included on July 30, Aug 6, 13 & 20, 2022 departures (in lieu of Scottish evening)
- One-Way flight from Scotland to Ireland
