We had a great time in ireland this summer! Check back soon for announcements for 2019 trips to Ireland
I mean, every place is beautiful...
But this country pulls you into it's beauty. It's something about the forever green meadows and steep craggy cliffs that engages me. The rain gets me thinking about life and gives opportunities for those famous rainbows (with leprechauns at the end, of course).
The stories too! They're sweeping expansive histories rife with heartbreak and true love and danger and magic. C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia found inspiration here. It's the land of fairies and leprechauns, luck filled clovers and St. Patrick. It's also the place where my family legacy is born.
We're taking a group back to Ireland July 14-23, 2018. We'll see all the amazing sites and beautiful vistas while also visiting with my Irish friends and family, connecting you with new friends across the globe. Come with us and have the adventure of a lifetime.
-Andrew
Visit Ireland with Andrew and Jim lyon
10 DAY/9 NIGHT TOUR
July 14-23, 2018
$2,450.00 per person
INCLUDES ALL LODGING (4* Hotels), BREAKFAST EACH DAY, THREE DINNERS, GROUND TRANSPORTATION, GUIDES, VISAS, ENTRANCE FEES TO SITES
NOT INCLUDING: INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE (estimated price $1,000-$1,300), LUNCH EACH DAY (estimated total: $20 per day depending on how nice of a restaurant you choose), SOME DINNERS (estimated: $20 per meal), TRANSFER TO/FROM AIRPORT (estimated total: $30-45 each way with minimum two passengers), TIPS (estimated $100)
Itinerary
July 14, 2018 - Day 1 - Depart USA
July 15, 2018 - Day 2 - Arrive Dublin: Welcome to Ireland
On arrival at Dublin Airport meet with your driver and your English speaking guide.
A Panoramic Dublin City Tour is the ideal introduction to “Dublin’s Fair City”. The tour will introduce you to the principal sites. You will visit the elegant Georgian squares, famous for its architecture and of course its famous – doors. Highlights of the tour will be a visit to Trinity College, to view the 8th century Book of Kells and the long room with its 200,000 books. No visit of Dublin would be complete without a visit to St Patrick’s Cathedral. As much of the Lyon history in Ireland is connected to the Troubles in Ireland, the group will walk to visit the iconic Post Office. Spend the balance of this day at your leisure in Dublin for some personal shopping and sightseeing. We'll drop the group either back at the hotel or near the Guinness Storehouse for an optional Guinness tour. Overnight Dublin.
July 16, 2018 - Day 3 - Wicklow & Dublin
Today we'll travel southwards towards Wicklow, also known as the garden of Ireland. Visit the Glasnevin Museum. This unique location is Ireland’s largest cemetery, a grand and impressive Necropolis that helps give an overview of modern Irish history. Then visit Dublin Castle, originally built in the 13th century on a site previously settled by the Vikings, Dublin Castle has served a variety of purposes with stunning history and architecture. After the visit, we'll have free time in Dublin to explore and grab dinner at local pubs. Overnight Dublin.
July 17, 2018 - Day 4 – Dublin to Belfast
Today we'll depart Dublin and head north to Belfast with an en-route visit to Downpatrick. We'll learn all about the history behind St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland as we'll be driving the St. Patrick Driving Trail, which runs form Armagh to Bangor. Along the way, we'll visit the St. Patrick’s Centre, an interactive visitor's center with an Irish friend who will guide us all the way to the grave of St. Patrick himself. We'll then continue to Belfast and travel with close Irish family friends to our ancient family ancestral farm. After this short visit, we'll continue into Belfast proper, check-in to our hotel, and have free time to explore Belfast in the evening. Overnight Belfast.
July 18, 2018 - Day 5 – Belfast
A guided city tour is an excellent way to discover Belfast City. The tour will take in the leaning Albert Memorial Clock tower (Ireland's answer to the Tower of Pisa) and the Opera House, which is one of Belfast’s great landmarks. We'll see the Queen's University Botanical Gardens and the Titanic Shipyards. After the panoramic city tour, we'll visit Titanic Belfast, a recreation of the story behind the world's most famous ship right beside the historic site of the original ship's construction. Finally, we'll visit the Crumlin Road Gaol, where Andrew's grandfather was detained for some time during the Troubles. The personal stories shared by family and friends make this jail turned museum come alive with history. We'll have the evening to explore local pubs where Andrew can show you some local Irish music and craft beer for those who are interested.
July 19, 2018 - Day 6 – Belfast to Derry
Depart Belfast and journey to Derry via the town of Antrim and the North Antrim Coast. Along the way, we'll visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Giants Causeway on the North Antrim coast. We'll have some time to hike along the jagged Northern Coast at the Giant's Causeway for those who are interested. Non-hikers can explore the visitor's center and eat a warm Irish stew. As we continue on, we'll stop to view the stunning Dunluce Castle - upon which C.S. Lewis famously based his Chronicles of Narnia castle: Cair Paravel and the site of the Iron Islands in HBO's Game of Thrones. We'll then continue on to tour Derry. Founded in the 6th century by St Columba, Derry is the second largest city and port of Northern Ireland. Derry has a heavy historical past and has suffered a lot through violence. Today Derry enjoys the advantages of the new peaceful atmosphere in Northern Ireland politics and its city centre is again lively and pleasant. You will appreciate a walk in the colorful and well looked after historical city, which boast good shopping, pubs and cafes. Dinner is included tonight at our hotel. Overnight Derry.
July 20, 2018 - Day 7 – Derry to Galway
This morning travel south toward County Galway. This is the longest day of driving, about 4-5 hours, and we'll stop along the way in the Connemara region. Connemara is a land of lakes and rivers, bogs and mountains. A land of small villages where Gaelic is still the primary spoken language and where little has changed, little since the beginning of time. In fact, Andrew's grandmother spoke only Gaelic when she boarded a ship to America. It is without a doubt the wildest and the most romantic part of Ireland. Connemara is a vast peninsula bordered by the arid and rocky coastline of Galway Bay in the south ~ a land characteristic for its stone walls and thatched cottages. Finally, we'll arrive at our hotel in Galway City and have some time to explore the winding, lively streets of the university port city before eating dinner together at a favorite local restaurant in Galway City. Overnight Galway.
July 21, 2018 - Day 8 – Cliffs of Moher and Burren Region
This morning, we'll travel through the Burren National Park, an exceptional mixture of Arctic and Mediterranean landscape, on our way to the Cliffs of Moher - perhaps Ireland's most scenic and sought after attraction. On a clear day, the Aran Islands are visible in Galway Bay as well as the valleys and hills of Connemara. If we're lucky, we'll see a rainbow stretch across the sky from cliffside to castle, as happens many days of the year. There will be some time for leisurely walks or more instensive hikes around the Cliffs of Moher before we head back to Galway City for dinner. Overnight Galway.
July 22, 2018 - Day 9 – Galway to Dublin
After a leisurely morning at our hotel, we'll return to Dublin for some last minute souvenirs. In the evening, we'll have one final farewell dinner with traditional Irish music, dancing, and a full Irish meal. Overnight Dublin.
July 23, 2018 - Day 10 – Return to USA
After a final farewell breakfast at the hotel, we'll depart for Dublin Airport for the return flight home. Because of the time difference, it's likely you'll arrive back home on the same day.
LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
*Andrew W Lyon Travel can help book your flight to Dublin or you're welcome to book your own flight and meet the group at the first hotel in Dublin. Feel free to contact Andrew W Lyon Travel team representative for Andrew Lyon's flight itinerary if you'd like to arrive on his flights and transfer to the hotel in Dublin with him.
**Please note: With all Andrew W Lyon Travel trips, we try as best we can to get the best value for price and to give you all the anticipated expenses on a trip. Please take note of exactly what's included in the trip price and what is not included, and be sure and budget for those 'not included' expenses during the trip. Some other travel operators sometimes advertise a lower price, but later add on unexpected prices once you're abroad - we work hard to ensure that you aren't surprised by any additional charges. If you have any questions about that, please contact us.