Celtic Highlights

2012 Season
Departs From: Glasgow

From 1,760EUR

Length:  13 days from Glasgow to Glasgow, or 14 days incl. travel

Overview

This fascinating journey delivers the best of Scotland, England�s Lake District, North Wales, and the Emerald Isle. Begin in lively Glasgow and head north via the �Bonnie Banks� of Loch Lomond to Fort William, Loch Ness, and the Highland capital of Inverness. Travel south, stopping to visit a whisky distillery and Balmoral Castle (when open). Spend two nights in Edinburgh and visit the famous castle and Holyrood Palace. In the Lowland hills, see the blacksmith�s shop at Gretna Green before crossing into England. Delight in the beauty of the Lake District on your way to Grasmere. Explore the North Wales towns of Betws-y-Coed and Caernarvon, then ferry across the Irish Sea to the �Fair City� of Dublin, where an orientation drive shows off O�Connell Street, St. Patrick�s Cathedral, and Trinity College. Visit the Irish National Stud at Kildare. Stop in Blarney and at the popular resort of Killarney. Marvel at the scenic Ring of Kerry, the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, and stunning Giant�s Causeway. Visits to the pilgrimage village of Knock, world-famous Belleek Pottery, Derry, and Belfast are also included, before returning to Glasgow for the conclusion of the tour.

Special Departure:
Tickets for the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included for select departures.

Duration:  13 Days

Schedule:

Start Date	End Date
31 May, 2012	12 June, 2012
07 June, 2012	19 June, 2012
14 June, 2012	26 June, 2012
21 June, 2012	03 July, 2012
25 June, 2012	07 July, 2012
05 July, 2012	17 July, 2012
09 July, 2012	21 July, 2012
12 July, 2012	24 July, 2012
16 July, 2012	28 July, 2012
19 July, 2012	31 July, 2012
02 August, 2012	14 August, 2012
06 August, 2012	18 August, 2012
09 August, 2012	21 August, 2012
13 August, 2012	25 August, 2012
16 August, 2012	28 August, 2012
20 August, 2012	01 September, 2012
23 August, 2012	04 September, 2012
30 August, 2012	11 September, 2012
03 September, 2012	15 September, 2012
06 September, 2012	18 September, 2012
10 September, 2012	22 September, 2012
13 September, 2012	25 September, 2012
17 September, 2012	29 September, 2012
20 September, 2012	02 October, 2012
01 October, 2012	13 October, 2012

City Highlights

Glasgow
Welcome dinner; orientation drive; farewell dinner

Highlands
Guided tour of a whisky distillery

Balmoral
Visit the castle (when open)

Edinburgh
Guided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace

Grasmere
Visit Wordsworth�s village

Liverpool
Guided tour of the Beatles Story

Caernarvon
Admire the impressive castle

Holyhead-Dublin
Cross the Irish Sea by ferry

Dublin
Orientation drive, visit Trinity College

Kildare
Guided tour of the Irish National Stud

Rock of Cashel
Take photographs of this famous landmark

Killarney
Visit the popular resort town

Ring of Kerry
Scenic peninsula drive

Adare
Admire the thatched cottages

Limerick
Orientation drive

Cliffs of Moher
Savor the spectacular views

Galway
Orientation

Knock
Visit the religious site

Drumcliff
Visit W.B. Yeats� grave

Belleek
Guided tour of the pottery factory

Derry
Guided walking tour

County Antrim
Take pictures of Dunluce Castle, visit Giant�s Causeway

Belfast
Guided �Living History� tour

Belfast-Cairnryan
Cross the North Channel by ferry

Note:

Edinburgh Military Tattoo ticket included for departures August 01 through August 22

Day 1   Arrive in Glasgow, Scotland. Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax in Scotland�s largest city. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

Day 2   Glasgow�Fort William�Inverness. Your Celtic adventure starts in earnest with a city drive, taking in the fine 12th-century cathedral, imposing university buildings, and elegant Georgian squares. On the way this morning: the �Bonnie Banks� of Loch Lomond; wild Rannoch Moor; Glen Coe; lovely Loch Linnhe; and Fort William beneath Ben Nevis. In the afternoon, look out for signs of the mysterious Loch Ness monster. Spend the night in Inverness, the Highland capital. (B,D)

Day 3   Inverness�Braemar�Edinburgh. Cross the battlefield of Culloden Moor for a visit to a WHISKY DISTILLERY. On to BALMORAL CASTLE, the Queen�s residence during hunting season (when available). Then, drive through Braemar, home of the Royal Highland Games for over 900 years, and in the afternoon, via Perth to Edinburgh. Tonight, don�t miss our optional Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis. (B)

Day 4   Edinburgh. Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old �New Town� and famous scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the �Old Town,� drive up the narrow Royal Mile to EDINBURGH CASTLE to admire Scotland�s Crown Jewels, then explore HOLYROOD PALACE (except when the Queen is in residence). Later, a unique optional experience: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia to see how the Royal Family and crew of 240 lived and worked on board. Dinner rounds off this optional evening. For departure numbers August 1 through August 22, tickets are included for tonight�s performance of the world-renowned MILITARY TATTOO. (B)

Day 5   Edinburgh-Lake District, England-LIverpool. On the way through the history-steeped Lowland Hills, stop at Gretna Green. Then, leave the land of the Scots and journey into England through the tranquil Lake District to Grasmere, home of poet William Wordsworth. In Liverpool, take a guided tour of the award-winning BEATLES STORY, an atmospheric journey into the life, times, culture, and music of the �Fab Four.� (B,D)

Day 6   Liverpool-North Wales-Dublin, Ireland. Travel to lovely Betws-y-Coed, then through the incomparable landscapes of Snowdonia National Park and over breathtaking Llanberis Pass. After a stop at Caernarvon, cross Britannia Bridge to the Isle of Anglesey for a photo stop at tongue-twisting Llanfair.... At Holyhead, board your FERRY and cross the Irish Sea to Dublin. (B)

Day 7   Dublin. An orientation drive in the Irish capital includes statue-lined O�Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick�s Cathedral. Then, visit Oscar Wilde�s TRINITY COLLEGE, famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells and the magnificent Old Library. Afternoon at leisure. Later, why not join a optional Irish cabaret evening including dinner, dance, song, and laughter? (B)

Day 8   Dublin�Kildare�Blarney�Killarney. Horse-racing country this morning. Drive across the Curragh to visit the IRISH NATIONAL STUD at Kildare, whose thoroughbreds command respect on the racecourses of the world. On the way to Killarney, stop at the Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick preached, and in Blarney, renowned for its magical Kissing Stone. (B,D)

Day 9   Killarney�Ring of Kerry�Adare�Limerick. Follow the road known as the RING OF KERRY for a spectacular 100-mile panoramic drive around the island�s southwestern tip. In the afternoon, travel via quaint Adare to Limerick, where an orientation drive features St. Mary�s Cathedral, King John�s Castle, and the stone where the Treaty of Limerick was signed in 1691. A suggestion for a very special night out: an optional medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle. (B)

Day 10   Limerick�Cliffs of Moher�Galway�Sligo. Motor to the spectacular CLIFFS OF MOHER, rising 668 feet above the Atlantic. Via the limestone plateau of The Burren you reach Galway. Hear about the infamous Lynch Stone, commemorating the day Mayor James Lynch Fitzstephen hanged his son for murder. Visit Knock, a village that attracts pilgrims from all over the world, then spend the night in Sligo. (B,D)

Day 11   Sligo-Derry, Northern Ireland�Giants Causeway�Belfast. A rich string of attractions awaits you today: the grave of native son and poet W.B. Yeats in Drumcliff; BELLEEK POTTERY, renowned for its exquisite cream-colored Parian china; and in Derry, walk the city walls in the company of a Local Guide. After lunch, drive to Dunluce Castle, then visit awe-inspiring GIANT�S CAUSEWAY. Stay in Belfast tonight, Northern Ireland�s seat of government. (B,D)

Day 12   Belfast�Glasgow, Scotland. On this morning�s �Living History� tour in the company of a Local Guide, learn more about this fascinating city where the Titanic was built. Board your FERRY for the crossing of the North Channel to Cairnryan on the west coast of Scotland. Back in Glasgow, celebrate the success of your journey with a farewell dinner tonight at your hotel. (B,D)

Day 13   Glasgow. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Meals:  Full English breakfast (B); 7 three-course dinners (D) with choice of menus, including a welcome dinner and a farewell dinner in Glasgow

Hotel Information:  GLASGOW Novotel (F), INVERNESS Ramada (F), EDINBURGH The George (SF), LIVERPOOL Novotel (F), DUBLIN Royal Marine (SF) at Dun Laoghaire, KILLARNEY Killarney Towers (SF) or Scotts (F), LIMERICK Clarion (SF), SLIGO Clarion (SF) or Radisson Blu (SF), BELFAST Stormont (SF), GLASGOW Radisson Blu (SF)


Terms and Conditions

Note: Flights are NOT included with the Tour and unless otherwise stated above transfers are also NOT included.

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