Ireland Hopper ITINERARY GUIDE The NEW small group tour; semi-escorted tour for the independent traveler. Not sure where to start with planning your vacation? Rather than driving yourself (Self-Drive) or following a strict schedule with a group of strangers on a crowded bus (Fully-Escorted), our Hopper Tours will provide you with one-way transportation between towns, accommodations, a flexible itinerary and optional day tours, and attractions. ITINERARY OPTIONS: Structure you need, flexibility you want. We ve created base itineraries to give you the best introduction of each country, with extensions to enhance your trip if you would like to stay longer. CITY-CENTER ACCOMMODATIONS: Be at the center of it all. Our select hotel locations are easy and accessible to popular attractions, shopping, restaurants, pubs, and public transportation. TRANSPORTATION: Sit back and enjoy your ride. Airport transfers and town-to-town transportation with 70% less time required on a bus or on the road than fully-escorted tours. FREE TIME, TOURS & ATTTRACTIONS: Do what you want, when you want. Tenon Tours will provide you with available day tours and attraction options to choose from, so you can customize your trip to fit your interests and budget. All items listed in BLUE are optional, so you may choose how to spend your time. All items listed in RED are included in your package. Please note: some red attractions/tours are listed as a choice between two.
NORTHERN COAST PRE-TOUR Friday- Northern Coast Pre-Day 1: Tour beings in Belfast Once you arrive and transfer to Belfast city-center you can start your Belfast Hop On/Hop Off Bus Tour and visit the Titanic Museum. Be sure to give yourself plenty of touring time. It s an incredible exhibit. If you are looking for more to do, then take a famous Black Taxi Tour. Enjoy an evening in Belfast at your leisure. Saturday- Northern Coast Pre-Day 2: Belfast Today you will enjoy an excursion along the North Antrim Coast that will surely take your breath away. This tour will take you to sights including *Carrickfergus Castle, the Giant s Causeway (Ireland only UNESCO World Heritage Site), the ancient ruins of Dunluce Castle, the world s oldest licensed whiskey distillery at Bushmills, and the world-famous Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. Sunday- Northern Coast Pre-Day 3/Hopper Day 1: Transfer from Belfast to Dublin Say goodbye to Northern Ireland as you head to Dublin in the Republic of Ireland to begin the Ireland Hopper.
Ireland Hopper: NORTHERN COAST PRE-TOUR MAP
IRELAND HOPPER Sunday- Hopper Day 1: Tour begins in Dublin You will have this day at your leisure to check out the shops on Grafton Street, explore the Trinity College campus, or use Dublin s Hop On/Hop Off Bus Tour. You also have the choice to visit the Guinness Storehouse or Old Jameson Distillery. This evening you ll enjoy a Dublin Pub Crawl* with host to get acquainted with other Tenon Tours travelers. Monday- Hopper Day 2: Transfer from Dublin to Galway Spend the morning in Dublin, then take a relaxing ride across the country to Galway. Get your bearings in Galway with dinner and pints at the pubs on Shop and Quay Street. Tuesday- Hopper Day 3: Galway Today is yours to do as you please. We suggest the featured day tour visiting the Connemara Region and Kylemore Abbey. Don t feel like touring today? Try your hand at one of Ireland s most spectacular golf courses, Galway Bay Golf Resort. Wednesday- Hopper Day 4: Galway Another day to experience Galway at your own pace. Go on a self-guided walking tour of the city, walk along the River Corrib, and visit the silversmiths in the Claddagh for an authentic Claddagh ring, or today s suggested tour is a trip to the Aran Islands-considered the last guardian of Gaelic culture and Europe s easternmost point.
Thursday- Hopper Day 5: Transfer from Galway to Killarney During this peaceful journey, you will make a stop to visit the majestic Cliffs of Moher. Check into your hotel before enjoying the rest of the afternoon at your own speed. You might consider a leisurely Jaunting Cart Ride with an entertaining Irish driver or explore Killarney National Park at your own pace. Friday- Hopper Day 6: Killarney You will another day to explore Co. Kerry. You can choose to join our trip around the famous Dingle Peninsula or the Ring of Kerry-two of Ireland s most popular scenic areas that won t disappoint. Saturday- Hopper Day 7: Transfer from Killarney to Co. Clare (standard itinerary) OR Dublin Head to Co. Clare to finish your journey with last-minute shopping and a farewell toast. Tonight you will enjoy the entertaining send-off at your Farewell Dinner with Traditional Irish Music and Dancing. Finish your night with some last minute pints and rest up, so you don t miss your flight. Sunday- Hopper Day 8: Tour ends in Co. Clare (or Dublin)
Ireland Hopper: MAP
SOUTHERN CASTLES POST-TOUR Saturday- Southern Castles Post-Day 1/Alternative Hopper Day 7: Transfer from Killarney to Cork Finish exploring Killarney before your mid-day transfer. This morning you may want to take one of the most scenic Horseback Rides through Killarney National Park you could ever imagine. Continue your travels to Cork in the afternoon. Once you arrive, you can choose to take a half-day tour to Cork City Gaol (Jail) and visit Blarney Village, home to the famous Blarney Castle and Stone. Kiss the stone to get the gift of the gab. Sunday- Southern Castles Post-Day 2/Alternative Hopper Day 8: Cork Enjoy the day in Co. Cork. If you prefer sites a little off the typical tourist lists, visit Cobh. Cobh is the last port of the Titanic. Here you can visit the Queenstown Story to learn about the main emigration point for more than three million Irish people and visit the Cobh Heritage Center to trace your Irish roots. We also suggest visiting the town of Kinsale, the gourmet food capital of Ireland. To build up your appetite for an amazing meal, we suggest the Kinsale Walking Tour, which is an acclaimed introduction to this quaint and extraordinary harbor town. Monday- Southern Castles Post-Day 3: Transfer from Cork to Kilkenny Continue your journey to the medieval village of Kilkenny. Today you can choose to enjoy the Black & Gold Kilkenny City Train tour or visit the Smithwick s Experience. Spend your night with wine and cheese on the patio. Tuesday- Southern Castles Post-Day 4: Transfer from Kilkenny to Dublin Before you leave Kilkenny take the chance to check-out Kilkenny Castle. You ll finish your journey with a transfer back to Dublin to do some last-minute shopping and a farewell toast. Tonight you will enjoy an entertaining send-off at your Farewell Dinner with Traditional Irish Music and Dancing. Finish your night with some last minute pints at the local pubs in Temple Bar and rest up, so you don t miss your flight. Wednesday- Southern Castles Post-Day 5: Tour ends in Dublin
Ireland Hopper: SOUTHERN CASTLES POST-TOUR MAP