Are you ready for a unique, off the tourist map, real Ireland experience? Join us in May and experience the Irish Heartlands
Are you ready for a unique, off the tourist map, real Ireland experience? Join us in May and experience the Irish Heartlands
Tour Begins
Tour Ends
Dublin
Dublin
Highlights
Itinerary
Dates
Map
Tour Highlights
An Authentic Local Experience
Journey to the sacred center of the real Ireland as we celebrate the ancient fire festival of Beltane on The Hill of Uisneach. Enjoy food, music, meet lots of friendly locals, and immerse yourself on a journey back in time for an authentic experience to the real Ireland of an ancient past we've long forgotten, but a past that remembers us well!
Experience the heart of Dublin and Galway - two of Ireland's most vibrant cities
Trip Highlights
Hill of Uisneach Bealtaine Festival
Athlone Castle
Trim Castle
Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange)
Rathcroghan Archaeological Site
Cliffs of Moher
Loughcrew Cairns
Dublin Hop-On Tour
Meals and Dining
6 Breakfasts (B), 1 Welcome Dinner (D)
Hotel for 6-Nights
Dublin (2 nights)
Mullingar (3 nights)
Galway (1 night)
Ancient Ireland Beltane Festival Tour 7 days | 6 Nights | 7 Meals
B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner
Day 1 - Arrival in Dublin and Independent Sightseeing
Upon arrival, your tour begins in Dublin. From the airport,head to your hotel (transport provided for those guests booking airfare through us.)where you can store your luggage and collect your passes to the Dublin Hop-On bus. The Hop-On route goes by many of Dublin's top attractions where you can step off at your leisure and explore. Some popular attractions include The Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Gaol, The GPO Museum, and EPIC Irish Emigration Museum. Dinner is on your own.
Day 2 - Exploring The Land of 5000 Dawns
After breakfast, (B) join your group for a visit to Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange), built over 5000 years ago and one of the most significant prehistoric structures in the world.Your visit to the passage tombs lasts about two hours after which your group continues to the Loughcrew Cairns, also known as The Hill of The Witch, another set of passage tombs with many fascinating alignments to Brú na Bóinne along with many other prehistoric structures in Ireland. Arrive in Mullingar and after check-in at your hotel,join the rest of your group for a welcome dinner, (D) followed by independent time to meet lots of friendly locals and visit Mullingar's pubs.
Day 3 - Connacht and Queen Medb
Continue your experience immersed in Ancient Ireland today as your tour immerses you in part of the Táin Bó Cúailnge, (Cattle Raid of Cooley). After breakfast, (B) Your tour heads to County Roscommon where you visit Rathcroghan, ancient royal seat of Connacht and residence of the legendary Queen Medb. After an orientation in the visitor center, your group visits many of the archaeological sites around the area including a visti to what some believe to be an entrance to the Irish Otherworld at Oweynagat (Cave of the Cats). Note that for safety reasons, we do not enter the cave. Return in the afternoon to Mullingar where dinner is on your own.
Day 4 - Trim and Beltane
Today will be a long one so be sure to have a hearty breakfast (B) before your group heads to the town of Trim and a tour of Trim Castle. While many remember Mel Gibson in the movie "Braveheart," did you know that most of the movie was filmed at Trim Castle? The largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, Trim Castle was constructed around 1176. Your tour includes a locally guided tour of the three-storied Keep. After Trim, your group returns to Mullingar where lunch and afternoon free time before re-gathering for the evening to join the Beltane festival at The Hill of Uisneach, the sacred center of Ireland. Take a short walking tour around the complex followed by free time to listen to the music, poets, numerous demonstrations, or grab a bite to eat from local food vendors. The fire ceremony begins at dusk and return to your hotel in Mullingar is expected around midnight.
Day 5 - Cliffs of Moher and Galway
Your tour departs Mullingar this morning after breakfast, (B) and heads to the Cliffs of Moher with a stop photo stop in Kinvara along the way at one if Ireland's most photographed castles, Dunguire Castle. There is ample time at the Cliffs of Moher to enjoy the visitor center as well as explore the varied views along the cliffs. Your day concludes in Galway with dinner on your own and free time for a little shopping or to enjoy the music in the many local pubs.
Day 6 - Athlone and Dublin
Your tour returns to Dublin today after breakfast (B), and includes an immersive journey through 5000 years of history with a stop at Athlone Castle on the banks of the great river, Shannon. Before leaving Athlone, step into Sean's Bar, oldest in Europe. After hotel check-in on arrival in Dublin, the rest of the day is yours to shoe, dine and explore Dublin with dinner on your own.
Day 7 - Depart from Dublin
Your tour ends today after breakfast. (B). For those booking airfare with us, airport transfers will be arrange to allow sufficient time to process through Dublin airport and USA Pre-Clearance for return flights to the USA.
All prices listed below are per person, based upon double-occupancy. If you would prefer a single room, we are happy to accommodate your request and apply a single-room supplement of US $425. US dollar prices are approximate based on conversion rates at time of publication. All charges will be be made in local currency, (euros) at the time of purchase.
We cater to all styles of travel including private groups of all sizes, group and small group tours, and self-drive packages. Whether a day, a few days, a week, or multi-week, we can handle all your arrangements and make sure your visit to Ireland is absolutely grand!
By sharing a few details about yourself, your group, and your preferences, our Ireland vacation consultants will get right to work putting together options for your exclusive package. In most cases, you should receive a response within 24 hours with pricing options.
