12 Day - Ancient East by Wild West
From the ancient east to the wild atlantic way...
The 12 Day Ancient East by Wild West Private Tour
Experience Ireland on a wonderful 12 day private tour adventure. Take in the highlights of the east from the mountains of Wicklow to the cobbled streets of Dublin. Then journey west to the wild Atlantic way and uncover west coast life along the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
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Including...
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Your own professional driver guide
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Luxury Private Tour Transport
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12 Nights Boutique & Luxury Style Accommodations
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Full breakfasts each morning
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A selection of activities and sightseeing each day
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Off the beaten path & away from the crowds.
Distance Travelled:
Approx 1,800km
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Highlights:
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Dublin City
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Wicklow Mountains National Park
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Kilkenny City
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Cork & Kinsale
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The Killarney National Park
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The Dingle Peninsula
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The Wild Atlantic Way
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Cliffs of Moher
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The Burren National Park
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Connemara National Park
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Meet the Locals:
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Local Sheep Farmer
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Local Historian
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Local Blacksmith
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Tour Pace: Medium Pace
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Choose Your Style...
Remember you can always change this tour to suit your own pace, interests and requirements. Just contact us and tell us what you would like.
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12 Day Private Tour of Ireland
The Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Collection from Airport (Dublin or Shannon)
& 4 Hour Dublin orientation tour Including Howth
We will greet you with a smaile at arrivals in Dubin Airport ​and from here make our way only 20 minutes to the fresh, breezy coatal village of Howth. Here you have the opportunity to stretch the legs and take some fresh air on a short coastal walk down from Howth head. After this you will have time to enjoy some famous Howth seafood before we make our way to your hotel for your first night in the Emerald Isle.
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Activity Options - Howth Head Cliff Walk, Howth Village Seafood, Fourknocks Megalithic Tomb
Tour Timings - 4 Hours from Airport Collection
Overnight - Dublin City
Day 2
Dublin City Day Tour
Today we will explore the Fair City of Dublin with a guided drive of the wonderful capital of Ireland. We will begin the day by greeting you at your hotel. We will then take a historical driving tour of the main points of interest of the city, including Trinity College, Temple Bar, Dublin Castle and Christ Church Cathedral. You will have the option of taking a tour inside some of Dublin City’s most famous attractions including Kilmainham Gaol and the Book of Kells and many more. You will end your day dropped off at your hotel in the heart of Dublin City.
Activity Options - Dublin City walking tour, Guinness Storehouse, Dublin Castle, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College, Temple Bar, Howth Fishing Village, Malahide Castle, Kilmainham Gaol, The Book of Kells, The Bog Bodies
Tour Timings - 9:30am to 2:30pm​
3 x Overnights - 2 Nights Dublin City at Start of Tour and 1 Night Dublin City at End of Tour
2 x Airport Transfers Included
Day 3
Dublin to Kilkenny City
via The Wicklow Mountains National Park
Today we will begin our travels west with a drive south-west of Dublin into the majestic Wicklow Mountains National Park. Here you will uncover the main attractions and hidden gems of the 'garden county'. Our first stop of the day will be at the stunning Lough Tay where you can soak in the panoramic mountain views. You will then continue to Glendalough where you will learn of the early Christian settlement followed by a walk into the forest and by the lakes. After enjoying a traditional lunch in the mountains you will have the option of enjoying a fascinating sheepdog demonstration with a local Wicklow sheep farmer. Our journey then will continue with a drive across the Wiclow Gap eventually arrriing into the medieavel heart of Ireland - Kilkenny City for your overnight stay.
Activity Options - Avoca Woolen Mills, Powerscourt House & Gardens, Powerscourt Waterfall, ​Irish National Heritage Park, 1798 Exhibition Center, Wexford Town Walking Tour, Ferns Castle Tour, Lady Island Lake Visit, Tacumshane Windmill, Blackwater Village, Tintern Abbey
Tour Timings - 9:30am to 5:30pm​
Overnight - Kilkenny City
Day 4
Kilkenny City to Kinsale
via Ireland's Ancient East
Today you will have time to enjoy Kilkenny City including the fabulous Kilkenny Castle, The Medieval mile or the Smithwicks Brewery. After taking in a taste of Medieval Ireland we will start making our way towards the west through the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East. We will stop on route at the imposing Rock of Cashel. This off the beaten path gem boasts some of the best panoramic views on the island and you will enjoy a fascinating tour with a local guide. We will then continue south west into the Rebel County of Cork. Here you can take time to enjoy the maritime town of Cobh before eventually arriving in the quaint Kinsale Town for your first overnight stay along the Wild Atlantic Way.
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Activity Options: Rock of Cashel, Killarney National Park, Jaunting Cars, Kilkenny Castle
Tour Timings: 9:30am to 5:30pm
Overnight: Kinsale, County Cork
Day 5
West Cork Adventure
Today is all about stunning scenery and delectable cuisine as we journey into West Cork. We will start the day with a fascinating historical walking tour of Kinsale Town where you will learn the important maritime past of the southwest of Ireland. We will then take a trip onto the the Beara Peninsula, a place fast becoming known for its homegrown cuisine and in particular its sumptuous cheeses. Our stops in the colourful villages include Clonakilty and along the way will offer you the perfect opportunity to sample the local stock. There are ample choice of activities on this stretch including traditional farm visits, heritage sites such as stone ring circles and abbeys and some of the finest beaches Ireland has to offer. We will arrive back in the evening at the picturesque town of Kinsale where we will spend the night with a host of bars and live music to entertain all.
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Activity Options - Whale Watching, Skibbereen Heritage Centre, Clonakilty Beach, Charles Fort Visit, Mizen Head Visit
Tour Timings - 9:30am to 5:30pm
Overnight - Kinsale, Co.Cork
Day 6
Kinsale to Dingle Town
via The Killarney National Park
Todays journey will take us from The Rebel County of Cork into the magical Kingdom of Kerry. This day of exploring will bring us on an adventure through quaint towns and villages of West Cork and across the Cork & Kerry Mountains. We will enjoy a spectacular stop at the Killarney National Park where you can walk the lakes or take a horse and cart trip around the park. You will also enjoy some beautiful heritage sites such as Muckross House, Muckross Abbey and lots more. We will end the day with a drive across to the Dingle Peninsula where you will enjoy a fun filled evening listening to live Irish music and enjoying the atmosphere of the ample pubs and bars.
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Activity Options - Cobh Titanic Experience, Charlesfort Fortress, Michael Collins Exhibition, Torc Waterfall Walk, Muckross House and Abbey Walk
Tour Timings - 9:30am to 5:30pm
Overnight - Dingle, County Kerry
Day 7
Exploring The Dingle Peninsula
& The Slea Head Drive
​Today we will continue our journey around the incredible Dingle Peninsula. We will explore the area with a stunning coastal drive around Slea Head, along the way encountering a number of archaeological sites such as beehive huts, ring forts, ogham stones and lots more. This is a day of incredible stonework masterfully created by our ancestors. There are also plenty of options for activities including brewery’s, whiskey distilleries, ancient archaeological sites and a boat trip to meet the famous resident Kerry dolphin - Fungi. Being in the bay since 1983 he is everyone's favourite along the Wild Atlantic Way. After exploring Dingle Town with it’s many craft galleries and excellent eateries we will retire to our hotel for our second night stay in Dingle town.
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Activity Options - Whiskey Distillery Tour, Brewery Tour, Boat Trips, Island visits
Tour Timings - 9:30am to 5:30pm
Overnight - Dingle, County Kerry
Day 8
The Dingle Peninsula to Clare
via The Wild Atlantic Way
Today we will leave the beautiful Dingle Peninsula for a drive north across the stunning Connor’s Pass. This mesmerising drive offers plenty of photo opportunities of the landscape where the mountains reach the sea. We will then take a stop at the Blennerville Windmill, a remnant of Ireland’s past before we continue through the town of Tralee and onto the Shannon Estuary. Here we will take a boat trip across the mouth of the Shannon arriving in The Home of Irish Music - County Clare. We will take a trip around the Loop Head Peninsula where we will discover hidden gems such as The Little Ark and Loop Head Lighthouse before we end our day with a picturesque drive to Spanish Point where you will overnight alongside the crashing waves of the Wild Atlantic Way.
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Activity Options - Loop Head Lighthouse, Adare Village, Horse Riding on the Beach Blennerville Windmill, Listowel Castle, The Writers Museum Listowel.
Tour Timings - 9:30am to 5:30pm
Overnight - Spanish Point, County Clare
Day 9
Clare to Galway
via The Cliffs of Moher & The Burren GEOPARK
After breakfast we will avoid the main tourist crowds with an early visit to one of the highlights of our trip - The Cliffs of Moher. Standing over 220 meters high this stunning coastal attraction offers some great cliff walks along the atlantic edge. After taking in the best of the cliffs we will continue our Wild Atlantic Way journey this time heading towards the home of the Irish language - County Galway. We will pass through one of the national parks of Ireland - The Burren. This moonlike landscape offers a host of great activities for you to fill the day including Cliffs of Moher Boat Trips, Nature Walks, Caves and local perfumeries and chocolatiers. The journey continues with more stunning coastal drives before we arrive in County Galway passing the quaint fishing village of Kinvara and along the way and finally ending in your nights destination of Galway City.
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Activity Options - Ailwee Caves, Burren Perfumery, Burren Chocolatier, Kinvara Village, Dunguaire Castle,
Tour Timings - 9:30am to 5:30pm
Overnight - Galway City
Day 10
Galway to Rural Mayo
via The Connemara Region
This day takes us deep into the western frontiers of Ireland and into another National Park - Connemara. This remote and desolate environment showcases some of the most dramatic scenery on the island with its rolling hills, stone walls, rivers & lakes. Our drive will take us to the floating village of Cong where you can enjoy the tranquil surrounds, lakes and rivers before continuing our journey across the beautiful Joyce Country Drive. Here you can take in a fascinating Sheepdog demonstration with local farmer Joe Joyce. After enjoying the best of Connemara we will continue our drive to the Killary Fjord where we will leave Galway and pass into Mayo. We will then arrive in the evening at your homely boutique family farm cottage stay in the remote village of Carracastle in rural Mayo for a stay off the beaten path and away from the crowds.
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Activity Options - Private Hawk Walk, Sheep Dog Demonstration, Heritage Farm Visit, Kylemore Abbey Tour, Cong Visit, Quiet Man Cottage
Tour Length - 9:30 to 5:30pm
Overnight - Ireland West Farm Stay - Rural Mayo - www.irelandwestfarmstay.com
Day 11
Rural Mayo to Dublin City
via an Irish Heritage Experience
Today you will rise early on the farm to meet some of the local villagers. Farmer and heritage expert - Eddie Joe will take you on a short walk through his farm to the blanket bogs of Mayo. Along the way, you will learn of the old and new Irish farming traditions including working the bogs, cutting the peat and you will hear Irish folklore and rural history along the way. Our next stop is at the cosy Barroe Rock Forge where Pat, the local blacksmith will recreate for you the old Irish amulet of the Nine Irons, used by our ancestors for good health and good harvest. This is a day away from the tourists and off the beaten track in real rural Ireland. After a day in Carracastle we will continue our journey back to Dublin City across the River Shannon and through the midlands stopping at the ancient capital of Connaught - Rathcroghan along the way to learn of Queen Maebh and ancient Ireland’s mythology. You will finally arrive back in Dublin City in time to enjoy the bars and live music of the modern capital of Ireland - Dublin City.
Activity Options - Choice from:
Blacksmith Workshop with Pat / Artisan Cheese Factory with Helen & Danilo / Music by the Fireside / Sheepdog Demo
Tour Timings - 9:30am to 5:30pm
Overnight - Dublin City
DAY 12 - AIRPORT TRANSFER
Accommodation Options
on the 12 Day Ireland Private Tour
Where would you like to stay?
We offer a varied portfolio of boutique and luxury options of accommodation from the exclusive to the less expensive. We believe variety is the spice of life and we encourage a mix style of accommodations to enhance your private tour experience. All of our partner accommodations are of the highest standard and offer a special, memorable, local experience.
Below you will find some examples of our partner accommodations.
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5 Star - Castles, luxury hotels & city hotels
4 Star - Manor houses, deluxe hotels and city hotels
3 Star - Country houses, gourmet hotels & retreats
Speciality Lodgings - B&B's, guesthouses & farmhouses
Others - Hostels, Private Rentals, Camping, Glamping & Quirky
We will tailor the tour using your accommodation option.
