Day 5: Saturday, Sep 22nd. Edinburgh Sightseeing. After breakfast, meet your city guide and take a tour of Scotland's capital city. Start your sightseeing with a drive through the heart of the city along Princes Street, famous for its shops on one side and gardens on the other. See the 18th century New Town with its broad streets, spacious squares and elegant town houses. Stop to visit Calton Hill, one of Edinburgh's main hills, which is set right in the city center. It is unmistakable with its Athenian acropolis poking above the skyline. The top of Calton Hill is an excellent and usually quiet place to come on any day, with its grassy slopes and panoramic views of the city, including down the length of Princes Street and Edinburgh Castle. Then drive along the Royal Mile and stop to visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of Her Majesty The Queen. Take a guided tour of the imposing Edinburgh Castle, perched high above the city on volcanic rock. The remainder of the afternoon and evening are spent at leisure for you to browse, shop, sightsee and dine independently. (B)OVERNIGHT: JURYS INN, EDINBURGH

Day 6: Sunday, Sep 23rd.  Ferry Trip to Ireland, Bus Ride to Dublin, Visit Monasterboice. After breakfast this morning enjoy a beautiful Scottish country side drive to Cairnryan and take a ferry ride across the Irish Sea to Larne in Ireland. Continue our drive south through the beautiful Northeast Ireland country side to Dublin.  Visit Monasterboice (Ireland East, Louth, Collon).  Monasterboice is known for its remains of the monastic settlement founded by Saint Buite in the fifth century. The remains consist of an old graveyard, two churches, three sculptured crosses, two early grave slabs and a sundial. The South church is the older of the two and it stilt has the remains of the chancel arch. The smaller church is situated beside the Round Tower and has no trace of a chancel. The Round Tower is about 100ft high. It is now missing its upper part and conical cap. The door is six feet above ground level and is approached by a modern flight of steps The cross nearest the graveyard entrance is Muirdeach's Cross, an outstanding example of high crosses of the Early Christian period in Ireland. It is a monolith, 17ft high.

Arrive in Dublin, check into our hotel. This evening enjoy a welcome drink with your fellow travelers.  The balance of the afternoon and evening are at leisure for independent activities and dining.  (B) 

OVERNIGHT: BURLINGTON HOTEL, DUBLIN

Day 7: Monday, Sep 24th.  Dublin Sightseeing. After breakfast this morning, set off with a local guide who will show you around the prominent historic buildings and monuments of Dublin.  Dublin is an ancient settlement, founded by the Vikings in the 9th century.  Stop to tour Dublin Castle to see the State Apartments where many state functions are held in the richly decorated chambers. In Trinity College view the 8th century Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript of the gospels. 

Tonight enjoy Doyle's Cabaret in the Burlington Hotel. Start with a four-course dinner of Irish specialties and then sit back and enjoy a wealth of traditional Irish music, dancing, singing and storytelling.  (B, D) 

OVERNIGHT: BURLINGTON HOTEL, DUBLIN

Day 8: Tuesday, Sep 25th. Dunbrody Emigrant Ship & Waterford Crystal. After breakfast, depart Dublin this morning and travel south to the town of New Ross. Here visit the Dunbrody Emigrant Ship. This is a replica of a sailing vessel built in 1845 to transport emigrants from Ireland to North America. The visit will give you an insight as to what life on board ship was like as well as filling you in on the history of the famine years. Then travel inland to the town of Waterford, home of the famous hand-cut crystal. Visit the Waterford Crystal Factory to see how skilled craftspeople create masterpieces of glass. Watch all stages of production from the blowing of molten crystal to the final polishing. In the showrooms you can see a wide range of tableware and special trophies and you will have an opportunity to buy. Then check into your hotel and enjoy some time to relax and settle in before joining your group for dinner.

This evening take a short walking tour through the older sections of Waterford with a local guide. Walk along Merchant’s Quay where ships docked in former times and see the Clock Tower. Pass the Norman stronghold of Reginald’s Tower and stroll along the Mall to see the City Hall, Theatre Royal and many other places. (B, D)  DINNER & OVERNIGHT: GRANVILLE HOTEL, WATERFORD

Day 9: Wednesday, Sep 26th. Cobh Heritage &. Blarney Castle. After breakfast, depart Waterford and travel along the south coast via Dungarvan and Youghal to Cobh, the harbor town for large ships. Tour the Cobh Heritage Centre, located in the former train station from where passengers embarked for the United States. The exhibition traces the history of emigration from the age of the sailing "coffin ships" during the Famine years of the 1840s to the advent of steamships. Then drive through the outskirts of Cork to Blarney where you may climb to the battlements of Blarney Castle to kiss the "Stone of Eloquence." Also visit the Blarney Woollen Mills, which has an excellent range of Irish products of all types. They will ship and insure goods such as Waterford Crystal for you. You will also have time to browse around the village, charmingly set around a large village green. Then journey west through rugged countryside to Killarney, widely celebrated for its setting overlooking lakes and mountains. After checking into your hotel, you may like to browse around this busy little town before dinner. (B, D)  DINNER & OVERNIGHT: KILLARNEY TOWERS HOTEL KILLARNEY

Day 10: Thursday, Sep 27th. Muckross House, Ring of Kerry, & Skellig Experience. After breakfast this morning, depart the hotel. Just outside Killarney visit the delightful Muckross House, a 19th century furnished mansion with an interesting history and U.S. connections. Then journey around the Ring of Kerry, a full day tour of constantly changing mountain and coastline scenery. See a variety of natural beauty as you drive 100 miles around this scenic route. Cross to Valencia Island by bridge to visit the Skellig Experience, which describes the way of life of early Christian monks who built their monastery on one of the offshore islands. Also learn about the many birds that nest in the Skelligs. A number of stops will allow you to admire the spectacular scenery and take a brief walk around the colorful village of Sneem. Head back to Killarney through Moll’s Gap with stunning views of the Lakes of Killarney. In the evening join your fellow travelers for dinner in the hotel restaurant. (B, D) DINNER & OVERNIGHT: KILLARNEY TOWERS HOTEL KILLARNEY

Day 11: Friday, Sep 28th. Cliffs of Moher & Bunratty. After breakfast this morning, depart the hotel. Leaving Killarney travel via Tralee and Listowel to Tarbert where you take the ferry across the wide mouth of the River Shannon. Drive via Lahinch to view the Cliffs of Moher. The impressive wall of rock rises to a height of almost 700 feet above the churning Atlantic Ocean and stretches for five miles along the coast. See part of the Burren Country, a region of limestone hills containing a wealth of rare flowers and prehistoric stone monuments on the way to Bunratty. Upon arrival visit Bunratty Folk Park, which comprises a collection of farmhouses from different regions of Ireland and a 19th century village street with a pub, school, general store and many other buildings where traditional lifestyles and crafts are demonstrated. Then check into your hotel where you will have some free time in the afternoon. You may choose to relax or explore some of the attractions near your hotel-choose from Bunratty Village Mills and Durty Nelly’s Pub.

This evening join in the fun and feasting at Bunratty or Knappogue Castle. Your medieval-style banquet is served in the Great Hall of the 15^th century castle during which the lords and ladies of the castle transport you in spirit to the Middle Ages with their songs and stories. (B, D)  OVERNIGHT: BUNRATTY CASTLE HOTEL, BUNRATTY

Day 12: Saturday, Sep 29th. Return to the United States. After breakfast this morning, prepare to go home. Sadly, today your Irish vacation has come to its final day. Transfer to Shannon Airport in good time to check in for your flight. You may do some last minute shopping at the duty free stores. Then clear U.S. Immigration before boarding your aircraft and flying across the Atlantic Ocean back to the United States. (B)