Celtic Highlights Tour Scotland and Ireland September 10 th to 23 rd, nights and 14 days

Transcription

1 Celtic Highlights Tour Scotland and Ireland September 10 th to 23 rd, nights and 14 days Join Target Tours on a trip of a lifetime! From the breathtaking scenery to the vibrant cities and small towns, this fascinating tour delivers the best of Scotland, England s Lake District, North Wales, and the Emerald Isle. You ll start and end in Glasgow and overnight in Inverness & Edinburgh in Scotland; Liverpool, England; Dublin, Killarney, Limerick, & Sligo in Ireland; and Belfast, Northern Ireland. Throughout the tour, you ll learn about the history and cultures as you visit some of the areas must-see attractions. For example, you ll enjoy a Living History tour in Belfast accompanied by a Local Guide who will give you a glimpse into life in the city and its history like only a local can. You ll also experience stunning scenery on this Scotland and Ireland tour. Keep your eyes out for the Loch Ness monster in Scotland s beautiful Highlands. Travel through the incomparable landscapes of Snowdonia National Park in Wales, with picturesque villages, mountains, and lakes. Follow Ireland s Ring of Kerry, a 100-mile panoramic drive with sparkling seascapes, brightly colored farmhouses, and the breathtaking panorama of the Lakes of Killarney. Visit the spectacular 668-feet Cliffs of Moher and awe-inspiring Giant s Causeway, composed of thousands of basalt columns formed millions of years ago. But that s not all Globus has also included out-of-the-ordinary experiences just for you. For example, you ll visit the Irish National Stud in Kildare, where you ll enjoy tea and scones at its Japanese Gardens Restaurant. You ll also taste the famous gingerbread crafted in Grasmere in England s Lake District. Or how about a walk with a Local Guide on the old city walls in Derry, Northern Ireland? September 10 th Depart for Glasgow Meet your overnight flight from Halifax to Glasgow.

2 September 11 th Arrive in Glasgow, Scotland Welcome to Glasgow! Transfer from the airport and check in to 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 with wine at your hotel. Dinner Hotel: Radisson Blu Glasgow September 12 th 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. Hotel: Mercure Inverness Hotel September 13 th Inverness Culloden Braemar Edinburgh At Culloden Visitor Centre, hear the story of the crushing Hanoverian victory over Bonnie Prince Charlie s Scottish clans. Drive through the Grampian Mountains to visit Balmoral Castle (except when the Royal Family is in residence), then 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. Hotel: The George Hotel September 14 th Edinburgh Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old New Town and famous scientists, inventors, and novelists who lived there. In the Old Town, drive up the narrow Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland s Crown Jewels, then explore Holyrood Palace (when available). Later, a unique optional excursion: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia once the perfect royal residence for glittering state visits and family holidays. Dinner rounds off this evening. September 15 th Edinburgh Gretna Green Grasmere, 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, to try original Globus Local Favorite Grasmere Gingerbread. In Liverpool, visit the awardwinning Beatles Story, an atmospheric journey into the life, times, culture, and music of the Fab Four. Hotel: Novotel Liverpool

3 September 16 th 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. For a first taste of Ireland, why not join an optional Irish cabaret evening including dinner, dance, song, and laughter? Hotel: The Gibson September 17 th Dublin An orientation drive in the Irish capital includes statue-lined O Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, St. Patrick s Cathedral, and Oscar Wilde s Trinity College. Afternoon at leisure. Tonight, you might want to take in an optional dinner outing to the Guinness Storehouse. September 18 th Dublin Kildare Cashel 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. After your guided tour, enjoy Globus Local Favorite Tea and Scones at the Japanese Gardens Restaurant. On the way to Killarney, stop at the Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick preached, and in Blarney, renowned for its magical Kissing Stone. Hotel: Riverside Hotel September 19 th 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. Have your camera ready for sparkling seascapes, brightly colored farmhouses, subtropical vegetation, and the breathtaking panorama of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. In the afternoon, travel via quaint Adare to Limerick. A suggestion for a very special night out: an optional medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle. Hotel: Clarion Limerick September 20 th Limerick Cliffs of Moher Galway Knock Sligo Motor to the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, rising 668 feet above the Atlantic. Via the limestone plateau of The Burren, reach Galway, a popular seaside destination and a buzzing cosmopolitan center with colorful shops and a busy café and bar culture. Visit Knock, a village that attracts pilgrims from all over the world, then spend the night in Sligo. Hotel: Radisson Blu Sligo

4 September 21 st Sligo Derry, Northern Ireland Giant's Causeway Belfast First highlight today is Derry, situated on the banks of the Foyle River, and a walk on the old city walls in the company of a Local Guide. After lunch, take your photographs of Dunluce Castle, then visit aweinspiring Giant s Causeway, composed of thousands of strangely symmetrical basalt columns jutting out to sea. Stay in Belfast tonight, Northern Ireland s seat of government. Hotel: Stormont Hotel September 22 nd Belfast Glasgow 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 with wine at your hotel. Hotel: Novotel Glasgow September 23 rd Flight from Glasgow to Halifax Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Transfer to the airport for your flight home to Halifax. Included Return airfare with Westjet from Halifax, NS to Glasgow All transfers All accommodations Full English breakfast daily 7 three-course dinners with wine and choice of menus, including a welcome dinner and a farewell dinner in Glasgow All attractions as outlined in Summary Itinerary An expert Globus Travel Director when departing Glasgow and for the duration of the land portion of the tour Guaranteed Departure Highlights GLASGOW - Welcome dinner; orientation drive, farewell dinner CULLODEN MOOR - Visit the battle site s visitor center BALMORAL - Visit the castle (when open) EDINBURGH - Guided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace GRASMERE - Visit Wordsworth s village, Globus Local Favorite try original Grasmere gingerbread LIVERPOOL - Visit the Beatles Story

5 CAERNARVON - Admire the impressive castle HOLYHEAD-DUBLIN - Cross the Irish Sea by ferry DUBLIN - Orientation drive KILDARE - Guided tour of the Irish National Stud, enjoy Globus Local Favorite tea and scones at the Japanese Gardens Restaurant 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 CLIFFS OF MOHER - Savor the spectacular views GALWAY Orientation KNOCK - Visit the religious site DERRY - Globus Local Favorite Guided walking tour on the city walls COUNTY ANTRIM - Take pictures of Dunluce Castle, visit Giant s Causeway BELFAST - Guided Living History tour BELFAST-CAIRNRYAN - Cross the North Channel by ferry The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be seen or visited on this vacation: Price: Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast Liverpool - Maritime Mercantile City Old and New Towns of Edinburgh Please contact us for rates. Prices include air, land, transfers and taxes. Proof of out-of-country medical insurance required. (Can purchase insurance through Target Tours. Please contact for a quote.) Price subject to change based on costs of airfare to be confirmed in October Deposit of $750 per person due at time of booking. Second Deposit of $1000 per person due on December 1 st, Date To Book: May 30 th, Final payment due June 30 th, 2017.

6 Tour Director and Driver Your Globus Tour Director and Driver play an important role in making your vacation as memorable and hassle-free as possible. While optional, gratuities are a great way to show your appreciation. The suggested industry guideline is $3.00 to $6.00 per person, per day for your Tour Director and also your Driver. This should be extended on a voluntary and individual basis at the completion of the tour. No gratuity is required for your Target Tours escort. Travel Insurance Your tour price does not include travel insurance. If you are covered, we advise you to look into coverage details, if there is a deductible, if you need to pay up front, and where to call in case of emergency. We highly recommend medical, trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage. If you would like a quote, please call our office at Target Tours P.O. Box 2693 Charlottetown, PEI C1A 8C info@targettours.ca