Malahide Castle - Day 3

Departs in the afternoon (4 hours) - $59 USD

Set on 250 acres of park land in the pretty seaside town of Malahide, Malahide Castle was both a fortress and the private residence of the Talbot family for nearly 800 years. They owned it from 1185 to 1973, when the last Lord Talbot died, and his family bequeathed it to the city of Dublin. Furnished with beautiful period furniture together with an extensive collection of Irish portrait paintings form the National Gallery, Malahide Castle is a window into the gentrified past of Ireland. The Talbot family history is on display in the Great Hall, wth portraits of the family telling the story of their role in Ireland’s stormy history. After the castle tour, you’ll have time to explore the gorgeous Talbot Botanic Gardens, which were largely created by Lord Milo Talbot between 1948 and 1973. Finally, spend some time exploring the surrounding town that is filled with charming shops and lovely seaside views.

Irish Cabaret Night - Day 4

Evening w/ dinner (4 hours) - $119 USD

Enjoy this special evening of Irish food, music and live entertainment. Dinner will be served first, giving you a taste of traditional Irish dishes. You’ll then be treated to a live show of Irish music and dance. Join in the fun as you partake of a merry and memorable experience.

Powerscourt & Glendalough - Day 4

Departs in the morning (8 hours) - $99 USD

County Wicklow has some of the wildest and most spectacular mountain scenery in Ireland, as well as many of the country’s most important historic sites. Your first stop is at the picturesque village of Enniskerry, where you’ll visit Powerscourt Demesne, an elegant country mansion with the finest formal gardens in the country. Then continue on to Glendalough, which became famous throughout Europe as a center of Christian learning before it was sacked by Vikings crusaders in the tenth century. You’ll also see St. Kevin’s Cross, where the saint lies buried, the remains of the 6th-century cathedral, and the remarkable Round Tower, used by the monks as a place of refuge.

Castle Banquet Dinner - Day 8

Evening w/ dinner (4 hours) - $125 USD

Dine like a royal guest inside the Dunguaire Castle, a 17th-century castle overlooking Galway Bay. Sip on a goblet of mead and learn the history of the castle before proceeding up the spiral staircase to the banquet hall, where you’ll enjoy a sumptuous, four-course dinner followed by an evening of Irish entertainment.

Please note: This excursion is seasonal from April to October.

Aran Islands - Day 9

Departs in the morning (9 hours) - $99 USD

Ferry west across Galway Bay for a guided tour of Inis Moor, one of the three remote Aran Islands, an outpost of Irish culture that has remained essentially unchanged over the past few centuries. The islanders, most of whom subsist on fishing and farming, still wear traditional Aran dress and speak the Gaelic tongue. The rugged way of life that endures here has inspired many literary works, including J.M. Synge’s play Riders to the Sea. Local crafts produced here include Ireland’s popular hand-knit Aran “fisherman” sweaters. Here, you’ll visit Dun Aongus Fort. Please note: This tour in-volves a fair amount of walking over somewhat rugged terrain. Travelers should be accustomed to moderate physical activity and walking.

Please note: This excursion is weather dependent. Weather conditions may also result in a rough transfer.

London Sightseeing - Day 3

Departs in the morning (4 hours) - $85 USD

A local guide leads comprehensive sightseeing of London. Highlights of the panoramic tour include views of Westminster Abbey (setting for royal coronations, weddings and funerals), the Big Ben clocktower, the Houses of Parliament, 10 Downing Street, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, and a stop outside St. James’s Palace, where you might glimpse the ceremonial Changing of the Guard (seasonal).

Windsor Castle - Day 3

Departs in the afternoon (5 hours) - $85 USD

Travel to Windsor for a guided visit with Blue Badge Guide to the world’s largest inhabited castle. Founded by William the Conqueror in 1070, Windsor has been the preferred royal retreat for the past 900 years and is still in use by the Royal Family. Step inside the State Apartments and St. George’s Chapel (closed Sundays), where the Knights of the Garter ceremony takes place. View the exhibit of royal treasures on display within the castle. You’ll then have time to stroll through the town of Windsor and have a look at Eton College, a prestigious prep school that both Princes William and Harry have attended.

Please note: Windsor Castle is occasionally closed when in use by the Royal Family; a visit to Hampton Court will be substituted when necessary.

Oxford & Stratford - Day 4

Departs in the morning (8 hours) - $99 USD

Oxford is not only the home of Britain’s oldest university, it is also one of England’s most interesting cities. Walk through the quad of one of the illustrious colleges and pass by the Sheldonian Theatre, where graduation ceremonies are held. (Fourteen prime ministers are graduates of Oxford.) Then continue through the rolling English countryside to Stratford-upon-Avon. Here, you’ll visit Shakespeare’s birthplace, where you can stand in the actual bedroom where the Bard was born. Also stop in nearby Shottery to visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, where a young William Shakespeare courted his bride-to-be.