Iconic Ireland: Emerald Landscapes and Aran Islands
About the Trip
September 8–19, 2025 | 12 Days
Uncover Ireland’s enchanting landscapes and rich history on this epic 12-day adventure. Begin in Belfast, discovering architectural marvels and the iconic Titanic Experience. Experience the mystical Giant’s Causeway and savour authentic Irish whiskey at the Old Bushmills Distillery. Delve into history in Derry before a unique stay at Lough Eske Castle in Donegal. Explore Sligo, Galway and the ancient forts and cliffside views of the Aran Islands. Explore the breathtaking panoramas of the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and the Ring of Kerry. Conclude in Dublin, where a full-day exploration includes Christ Church Cathedral and the Guinness Storehouse. Conclude your adventure with a lively dinner and Irish performance. An unforgettable journey awaits you in the Emerald Isle.
Member Exclusive Benefits
We reward all our CAA Members on our Extraordinary Explorations® tours/cruises.
- Plaza Premium Lounge pass†
- 50 CAA Dollars®^
- 25% savings on CAA Travel Insurance◊
Extraordinary Experience
CAA has curated an exceptional experience unique to your tour. Details of this experience are listed below:
Private Off-road Tour of Inis Mór with Gourmet Lunch
Explore the rugged scenery of the Aran Islands with this memorable off-road experience. Discover Inis Mór off the beaten path with local guides in a private, customized Land Rover. Tour Dún Aonghasa, the largest prehistoric stone fort of the Aran Islands, and enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch as you take in the cliffside views. Immerse yourself in the culture, language, history and nature of this ancient landscape and leave with extraordinary memories.
Package Includes:
- Return airfare from Toronto or Winnipeg to Dublin
- Return ferry from Rossaveel Pier to Inis Mór
- One-way ferry from Killimer to Tarbert
- 2-night stay in first-class accommodation in Belfast
- 1-night stay in first-class accommodation in Donegal
- 2-night stay in first-class accommodation in Galway
- 2-night stay in first-class accommodation in Killarney
- 3-night stay in first-class accommodation in Dublin
- 10 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners and 2 tastings
- Land transportation via first-class motorcoach
- All bridge, ferry and road tolls
- Sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary
- Professional English-speaking tour director throughout
- Destination transfers
Iconic Ireland: Emerald Landscapes and Aran Islands
Activity Level: Active. Discover Ireland's enchanting landscapes and rich history on an unforgettable 12-day adventure filled with iconic landmarks.
Day 1
Depart Toronto or Winnipeg on your overnight flight to Dublin.
Day 2
Belfast – Arrive in Dublin and meet your guide. Stop in Louth on your way to Belfast. See the city then enjoy a welcome dinner this evening. (D)
Day 3
Belfast – Journey to the famous Giant’s Causeway, the only World Heritage site in Northern Ireland, and taste authentic Irish whiskey at the Old Bushmills Distillery. (B/T)
Day 4
Donegal – Visit the iconic Titanic Belfast building and take the Titanic Experience. Tour Derry then stay overnight at the stunning Lough Eske Castle in Donegal. (B/D)
Day 5
Galway – Explore Lough Eske Castle then visit W.B. Yeats’s grave in Sligo before continuing to Galway. (B)
Day 6
Galway – Your Extraordinary Experience awaits with a private Land Rover trip across the Aran Islands, a tour of Dún Aonghasa and a gourmet picnic lunch. (B/L)
Day 7
Killarney – View the incredible Cliffs of Moher, travel to Kerry via Burren, then take the Shannon ferry on a memorable short journey across the majestic Shannon Estuary. (B)
Day 8
Killarney – Enjoy a full-day tour of the Ring of Kerry, taking in the sights including Killarney National Park and the Lakes of Killarney. (B/L)
Day 9
Dublin – Onwards to Dublin, stopping at Blarney Castle and the Blarney Woolen Mills Store. After lunch on your own, visit the Rock of Cashel. (B)
Day 10
Dublin – Enjoy a full-day guided tour of Dublin. Visit EPIC the Irish Emigration Museum, then Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin Castle and the Guinness Storehouse. Finish at the Gravity Bar. (B/T)
Day 11
Dublin – Free day to explore. This evening enjoy dinner at The Merry Ploughboy with live traditional Irish music and dancing. (B/D)
Day 12
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Toronto or Winnipeg. (B)
B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | D - Dinner | T - Tasting
Terms & Conditions
*All CAA Member prices are per person, based on double occupancy, in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated and are subject to change without prior notice until final payment is paid. All prices are correct at press time and apply to new bookings only, based on availability at time of booking. To receive CAA Member-exclusive benefits, there must be one valid CAA Member travelling per booking. Non-members booking Extraordinary Explorations will not receive Member-exclusive benefits.
†Plaza Premium Lounge is based on one voucher per person and applies to departures from Canadian airports where applicable. Subject to availability.
^CAA Dollars awarded per adult Member. To earn and redeem CAA Dollars, you must be a current CAA Member in good standing (CAA Membership dues paid in full by membership expiry date). CAA Dollars will be credited at time of departure. For more information on CAA Dollars, please visit www.caasco.com/caadollars.
◊CAA Travel Insurance, an Orion Travel Insurance product, is underwritten by Echelon Insurance. Twenty-five percent (25%) Member savings is made up of a ten percent (10%) Member savings as well as a promotional fifteen percent (15%) savings when you purchase an Extraordinary Explorations tour through CAA Travel, applies to CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba Members in good standing (CAA Membership dues paid in full by membership expiry date). This promotional offer is valid until December 31, 2025. Ten percent (10%) Member savings applies to Members in good standing of all other CAA clubs. Savings apply to the total premium excluding applicable taxes. Minimum premium applies. Visitors to Canada Insurance is limited to promotional savings. Certain exclusions, limitations and restrictions apply. Subject to change without notice. A Medical Questionnaire may be required to purchase travel insurance.
Extraordinary Explorations vacations are organized and booked by CAA Travel (South Central Ontario) Inc. and CAA Manitoba (“CAA Travel”) on behalf of CAA Club Group (o/a CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba). In the event of an increase in any of the cost factors, CAA Travel reserves the right to increase the price whereby the provisions of the Travel Industry Act shall prevail. CAA Extraordinary Explorations packages are 100% non-refundable at final payment. CAA Travel service fee for cancellation prior to final payment varies by program. For full payment terms and conditions, please ask your CAA Travel Consultant. CAA Travel reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule any tour departure in accordance with operating requirements (minimum number of participants) or circumstances beyond its control. Additional fees for checked luggage or other incidentals may be incurred and vary according to itinerary and airline. Air schedules with some tours are not available at press time and may include several connections or forced overnight at passenger’s expense. CAA Travel strongly recommends the purchase of trip cancellation and emergency travel and emergency medical insurance at the time of booking.
Please note: Participants must be able to embark and disembark cruise ships and coaches without assistance as well as have a good level of mobility for walking tours in destinations where stairs and traditional cobblestone streets can be challenging. International transportation vehicles and facilities may not meet accessibility standards.
Flight
IncludedTour Itinerary
Day 1
Depart Toronto or Winnipeg on your overnight flight to Dublin.
Day 2
Belfast
Upon arrival to Dublin, meet your guide and drive to Belfast. On the way, stop in Louth to visit the Monasterboice High Crosses, surrounding churches and magnificent round tower. Your arrival in Belfast starts with a panoramic city tour that covers breathtaking architecture including Queen’s University, the Titanic birthplace, Cathedral Quarter and Queen’s Quarter. Witness the world-famous Belfast murals, Crumlin Road Gaol and the loyalist Shankill Road. Finish the day with a welcome dinner. (D)
Day 3
Belfast
Journey to the North Atrim Coast and visit the famous Giant’s Causeway. Renowned for its hexagonal columns of layered basalt resulting from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago, the Giant’s Causeway is the only World Heritage site in Northern Ireland and has attracted visitors for centuries. Next, experience a taste of authentic Irish whiskey with a visit to the Old Bushmills Distillery which can trace its roots back to 1608 when a royal license was granted to a local landowner to distil whiskey in the area. (B/T)
Day 4
Donegal
A memorable day awaits you at Titanic Belfast. Extending over nine galleries with special effects, full-scale reconstructions and innovative interactive features, the Titanic Experience is the world’s most authentic retelling of the iconic Titanic story, from her conception in Belfast to the present day. Later, on the way to Donegal you’ll tour the historical city of Derry, the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland with a history that goes back to the 6th century. Your unique overnight stay is at Lough Eske Castle in Donegal, a stunning historic estate where powerful clans and wealthy landowners ruled for centuries. (B/D)
Day 5
Galway
Spend the morning exploring the beautiful grounds of Lough Eske Castle before continuing to Galway in the afternoon. En route, stop in Sligo and visit W.B. Yeats’s grave in Drumcliffe Cemetery at the foot of Benbulben, a stunning flat-topped mountain. Discover the remains of a round tower and high cross constructed in the 11th century when a Christian monastery existed on the site. (B)
Day 6
Galway
Your Extraordinary Experience awaits you in the Aran Islands. Take the passenger ferry from Rossaveal Pier to Inis Mór for a tour of Dún Aonghasa, the largest prehistoric stone fort of the Aran Islands. Marvel at the iconic landscape, local landmarks and unique sites on this ancient island as you explore by private Land Rover. Stop for a gourmet picnic lunch as you take in the cliffside views. (B/L)
Day 7
Killarney
Today you’ll walk the safe, paved pathways to view the incredible Cliffs of Moher that sit on Europe’s most westerly tip in County Clare. Their natural beauty and spectacular vistas have inspired artists, musicians and poets for generations. Travel onwards to Kerry, stopping in Burren, famous for its lunar-like limestone landscape and unique flora. Then, take the Shannon ferry on a memorable short journey across the estuary linking the iconic tourist destinations of the Banner County of Clare to the Kingdom of Kerry. This is a lovely experience as you sail across the majestic Shannon Estuary. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the dolphins that can sometimes swim near the ferry. (B)
Day 8
Killarney
Enjoy a full-day tour of the Ring of Kerry including stops at Killorglin, Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen, Waterville, and Coomakesta Pass with its magnificent views over Derrynane. Travel on via Sneem, Moll’s Gap, Ladies View, Killarney National Park and along the Lakes of Killarney. (B/L)
Day 9
Dublin
Onwards to Dublin with a few visits along the way. First, visit Blarney Castle to kiss the famous Blarney Stone, then shop for Irish knitwear at the Blarney Woolen Mills Store. After lunch on your own, visit the Rock of Cashel, set on a dramatic outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale with a round tower, a high cross, a Romanesque chapel, a Gothic cathedral, an abbey, the Hall of the Vicars Choral and a 15th-century Tower House. (B)
Day 10
Dublin
Meet with a local guide for a full-day exploration of Dublin. Start with a panoramic sightseeing tour including O’Connell Street, Phoenix Park and Leinster House. Next, visit EPIC the Irish Emigration Museum, to uncover the story of Irish emigrants and how they shaped the world. Afterwards, enjoy a self-guided visit to Christ Church Cathedral, begun in 1038 by King Sitric Silkenbeard, the Danish Viking King of Dublin. Stop at Dublin Castle, a short walk from Trinity College, before visiting the Guinness Storehouse for a tour that takes you step by step through the brewing process. Finish your day at the Gravity Bar with a complimentary pint of Guinness while enjoying the panoramic views over Dublin city. (B/T)
Day 11
Dublin
Today is a free day to explore this marvelous city. In the evening, prepare to be entertained with a dinner at The Merry Ploughboy that includes a highly entertaining performance of live traditional Irish music, song and Irish dancing. (B/D)
Day 12
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Toronto or Winnipeg. (B)
B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | D - Dinner | T - Tasting