Ireland Family Journey: Dublin to the Wild West Coast
From $5,979.00 CAD
About Ireland
From Dublin's lively streets to the windswept western coastline, Ireland comes alive through shared family discovery. Follow clues through historic alleys, take to the pitch for Gaelic sports, and watch sheepdogs sweep across green hillsides. Churn fresh butter on a traditional farm, then stand above the Atlantic at the Cliffs of Moher, gathering moments your whole clan will carry home.
Travel Style
National Geographic Family Journeys
Service Level
Upgraded
Physical Grading
2 - Light
What's Included
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group
Your Family Journeys Moment: Treasure Hunt Dublin, Dublin
Your Family Journeys Moment: Sheepdog Farm Visit & Herding Demonstration, Killarney
Made Together Moment: Muckross Traditional Farms, Killarney
Junior Explorer's Night: The Irish Art of Storytelling & Dinner, Killarney. Arrival Transfer. Gaelic Games activity. Flying boat museum. Sheep dog farm visit. Dublin scavenger hunt. Bunratty Castle Visit. Ring of Kerry day excursion. Cliffs of Moher walk and visitors' center stop. Free time in Dublin and Killarney. Irish stud farm. Farm visit making homemade scones. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
What are the main highlights of this trip?
Embark on a history-fueled treasure hunt through Dublin discovering the city’s most fascinating sites along the way, Channel your inner warrior in a day of traditional Gaelic games including Gaelic football hurling and handball, Learn about traditional life at a local farm, Step inside aviation history at the Foynes Flying Boat Museum, Marvel at the spectacle and majesty of the famed Cliffs of Moher learning about the cliff’s geology, folklore and wildlife on a walking tour, Enjoy a medieval style dinner in a castle.
What is the maximum and typical number of participants on this tour?
Max 22.
What meals are included in this trip?
7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
What are the modes of transportation on my trip?
Private vehicle, jaunting car, walking.
Is there an extra cost for travelling solo?
We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Where will we stay during the trip?
Hotels - 7 nts.
What are the mandatory travel insurance requirements for this trip?
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Itinerary
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Dublin
Welcome to Dublin–your arrival transfer to the hotel is included. Check in and get excited to meet your fellow travellers during a welcome meeting this evening where all families can bond before the Journey ahead. We recommend arriving a day or two early to fully explore this lively city. There are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting.
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Dublin
Step out into Dublin's lively core for an interactive scavenger hunt. Follow clues from ancient Viking foundations, through cobbled lanes, to elegant Georgian squares. The afternoon is yours to shape. Wander beneath the soaring wooden arches of Trinity College's historic library, or browse colorful artisan stalls tucked into quiet courtyards. Later, head to a local pitch for a high-energy Gaelic games session, where local coaches teach hurling and Gaelic football. Run, laugh, and get a real feel for Ireland's sporting passion, before heading back to the city for a relaxing evening.
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Dublin/Killarney
Leave Dublin behind and travel west into the lush heart of County Kildare to visit the Irish National Stud & Gardens. Walk along tranquil woodland trails and meet celebrated racehorses resting in the pastures. Head south to the village of Adare for lunch, where 19th-century thatched cottages line the main road alongside mossy medieval ruins. Share a leisurely meal surrounded by flower-filled gardens, then continue on into County Kerry. By late afternoon, arrive in Killarney, on the edge of the national park where verdant mountains meet still lakes. Settle in for a restful evening beneath the Kerry hills.
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Killarney
Set out along the iconic Ring of Kerry, where the coastline of the Iveragh Peninsula unfolds in dramatic sea cliffs and green hills. Stop at an upland farm to meet a local farmer and watch energetic border collies herd sheep on command. Pass through coastal villages taking in ocean views around every turn. Later, visit Muckross Traditional Farms for a look at rural Irish life. Tour the farm's thatched cottages, visit a vintage schoolhouse, and roll up your sleeves for hands-on scones and butter-making experience – tasting your freshly churned creation on warm crusty bread as you return to Killarney.
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Killarney
Climb aboard a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car for an exciting ride through Killarney National Park. As native red deer graze in the open meadows, your driver, known as a jarvey, shares folklore and stories of the valley while guiding you toward the shimmering waters of the Lower Lake and the stone walls of 15th-century Ross Castle. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore on your own. In the evening, gather for an included dinner and evening of Irish culture.
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Killarney/Bunratty
Follow the Shannon Estuary north to Foynes, home of the Flying Boat Museum. Explore a full-size replica of a 1930s Boeing 314 flying boat and discover how transatlantic flight first began. Sit down to a hearty family lunch at O'Regan's Restaurant. Adults can savour an Irish coffee right where it was invented, learning how warm whiskey, rich coffee, and cool cream were first paired for chilly passengers. After lunch, cross the River Shannon into County Clare. Arrive in Bunratty, check into your hotel, and spend the afternoon exploring the grounds of the castle right next door.
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Bunratty
Drive through the limestone landscapes of County Clare to reach the Cliffs of Moher before the crowds as the morning mist rises off the Atlantic. Take a guided walk along the cliff’s edge, listening to the roar of waves below and spotting nesting seabirds on rocky ledges. Enjoy free time to stroll along the bluffs, soaking in sweeping ocean views. Return to Bunratty for a medieval banquet inside the castle. Dine like royalty, listen to harpists and singers, and toast to a memorable family trip across the west coast of Ireland.
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Bunratty
Depart at any time.
