International Series (1 of... Lots) A WALKING TOUR OF IRELAND

It's time to turn up the heat with our group and bring the next level of adventure to the table!


IRELAND

SPRING 2012

In the hills of Connemara, you can hear the echoes of ancient Celtic legends. On the rugged Dingle Peninsula, you’ll be swept up in the harmony of sea and shore. And in the wild moonscape of the Burren and atop the towering Cliffs of Moher, you’ll discover the authentic Ireland that’s inspired generations of poets and writers. Ireland’s ineffable charms are impossible to fully capture, but this Walking Tour comes awfully close.

Trip costs include:

Round-trip air transportation with a major airline and airport transfers A professional local guide at the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher and Killarney National Park 8 nights accommodations in well-located hotels including baggage handling Buffet breakfast (B) daily; 1 lunch (L); 3 three course dinners, including wine or beer (D) Private deluxe motorcoach 5 escorted walks

The Walking on Tour:

This is a physically demanding walking tour. Travelers should be able to walk comfortably http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/5/9/3/event_30578291.jpeg over hilly or uneven terrain for two hours at a time. Travelers should be prepared for some steep inclines and difficult hikes. Hiking boots are a must. If you don’t have them, sturdy, comfortable athletic shoes are highly recommended. Backpacks and walking sticks are also recommended.

We will visit:

Ireland

Shannon Galway Killarney Cork Region

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Galway

Your trip begins with a regularly scheduled overnight flight to Shannon aboard an internationally recognized airline.

Day 2 - Galway

Admire the patchwork landscape of the Emerald Isle as you touch down in Shannon. Our guide will greet us after we clear customs and will accompany us to our hotel in Galway. Tonight, meet your fellow walking enthusiasts at an included dinner.
Included meals: breakfast (in flight), dinner

Day 3 - Galway

Venture out for our first scenic stroll this morning in one of the most breathtaking examples of the Irish countryside, Connemara National Park. Amble through the vast wilderness and a stunning patchwork of lush valleys, mountains and mystic lakes. Then pay a visit to Kylemore Abbey, originally built by Mitchell Henry in 1866 as a palatial gift for his new bride. This former country estate in the midst of the Irish Highlands is now home to an order of Benedictine nuns, who have maintained the estate’s buildings and Victorian walled garden.
Included meals: breakfast
Included entrances: Kylemore Abbey

Day 4 - Killarney

Journey south today for a guided walk along some of Ireland’s most mesmerizing coastline. Hike through the Burren, a limestone plateau where fields of rock are interspersed with wildflowers. Here, you’ll pass a fascinating array of stalactites, stalagmites and waterfalls. Then stroll along the majestic Cliffs of Moher, rising out of the Atlantic Ocean to heights of 600 feet. Rejuvenate from your walks with an included pub lunch. Upon your arrival in Killarney, enjoy an included dinner.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5 - Killarney

When Muckross House and the surrounding woodlands and moors were donated to the Irish state in 1932, Ireland’s first national park was born. Today, Killarney National Park has grown to 25,000 acres of diverse ecological landscapes from red sandstone mountains to extensive bogs and lowlands. Pass through the ornate halls of Muckross House at the park’s core. Then follow in the footsteps of a local guide on a walking tour through the park’s most awe-inspiring areas.
Included meals: breakfast
Included entrances: Muckross House

Day 6 - Killarney

Make our way along the dramatically rugged terrain of the http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/6/3/3/event_30578451.jpeg Dingle Peninsula on a guided walking tour of this most western tip of Ireland. Beyond its breathtaking views, the Dingle Peninsula is shrouded in the traditions and legends of Irish culture. As you wander past secluded harbors and seaside cliffs, your guide will point out archaeological sites and ancient ruins dating back to the Mesolithic Period. After some free time to explore the fishing port of Dingle, your tour director will introduce you to the Gallarus Oratory, a tiny, beehive-shaped church. Made entirely of stacked stone, the Oratory has weathered countless storms—and remained completely dry—since it was built nearly 1,300 years ago.
Included meals: breakfast
Included entrances: Gallarus Oratory

Day 7 - Cork Region

Today begins with a scenic drive through the Caha Mountains of the Beara Peninsula, revealing dramatic views of the sea below. Stop in Glengarriff to board your boat to Garnish Island for a one-hour walk. Much of the island’s charm resides in the contrast between the cultivated gardens and the glimpses of wild seascape and barren mountains beyond. This evening, arrive at your hotel in the Cork region for an included dinner.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 8 - Cork Region

Spend a free day in Kinsale, ranked as one of Ireland’s most popular resort towns. Its maze of narrow streets winds around gourmet restaurants, yacht-filled harbors, art galleries and charming pubs. However, this quaint town also boasts historical significance. The Battle of Kinsale, fought here in 1601, marked a turning point in Irish history. Alternatively, you can join an optional excursion walk along Kinsale’s beautiful coast and a tour director-led visit to Charles Fort, a star-shaped fortress built to protect the town’s harbor.
Included meals: breakfast

Day 9 - Limerick

This morning, take part in one of Ireland’s most time-honored http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/6/a/1/event_30578561.jpeg traditions by puckering up to the legendary Blarney Stone during a tour director-led visit to Blarney Castle. Continue toward Limerick, stopping to wander the paths and groves of Doneraile Wildlife Park, an 18th-century landscaped park that’s home to countless deciduous trees and deer herds. Celebrate your last night with an optional medieval feast at Bunratty Castle, the Emerald Isle’s most complete medieval castle set within a re-creation of a 19th-century Irish village.
Included meals: breakfast
Included entrances: Blarney Castle

Day 10 - Shannon

Continue on our tour extension to Dublin, or transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Included meals: breakfast
(In case of early morning departure, breakfast may be served in flight.)

For all who are intersted RSVP so we have an idea... We will be holding a get together in the second half of 2011 for all intersted...

For Full Disclosure !!! - This is through a travel agency we are working with on some of trips... and I am working with them to build a little website for our trip... They did say that if we as organizers bring this together, we would be able to have 2 free passes... We will be passing those savings on to our meetup group and other events!!!

Here we go!!!!....