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DAY 01: BEGINNING YOUR EXPLORING TOUR Depart North America via jet service to Shannon, Ireland. Meals will be served in flight.
DAY 02: SHANNON / LIMERICK Upon your arrival in Shannon, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Limerick. This afternoon enjoy an orientation drive featuring St. Mary's Cathedral, King John's Castle, and the Stone where the Treaty of Limerick was signed in 1694. Visit Bunratty Folk Park, a "village" of thatched cottages, farmhouses, and shops, depicting 19th century Irish life. Then enjoy a special Irish welcome: a traditional Ceili with dinner, wine and folk entertainment.
DAY 03: LIMERICK / RING OF KERRY / KILLARNEY A full day of splendid scenery with a stop first at quaint Adare with its pretty thatched cottages. At Killorglin on Dingle Bay, the setting for Ryan's Daughter, join the famed "Ring of Kerry" for a 100-mile panoramic drive around the island's southwestern tip.
DAY 04: KILLARNEY / WATERFORD This morning drive across the Kerry Mountains for a visit to Blarney, renowned for its castle and magical Stone of Eloquence. Continue via Cork, Youghal and Dungarvan to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings in 853, and visit the world famous Waterford Crystal Factory. See Reginald's Tower on your way to the hotel.
DAY 05: WATERFORD / DUBLIN Today's northbound agenda: Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; Ireland's oldest Handweaving Mill at Avoca; views of the Wicklow Mountains; the Glendalough Visitor's Center with its fascinating audiovisual show and the ruins of St. Kevin's center of Irish Christianity. Overnight in Dublin.
DAY 06: DUBLIN This morning's tour in the capital includes the statue-lined O'Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, Phoenix Park, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Visit Oscar Wilde's Trinity College, famous for the 1,200 year old Book of Kells and the magnificent Old Library. The afternoon is at leisure for your personal exploration or shopping. This evening enjoy an Irish dinner and cabaret show.
DAY 07: DUBLIN / NORTH WALES / CHESTER This morning cross the Irish Sea from Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead on the Welsh Isle of Anglesey, where a photo-stop at the tongue-twisting Llanfair is a must. Then a scenic drive through Snowdonia National Park, over spectacular Llanberis Pass to Llangollen, home of an international contest for poets and minstrels. Arrive at the walled city of Chester, the historic country town on the River Dee.
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DAY 08: CHESTER / LAKE DISTRICT / EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND This morning take a walking tour of Chester. See the Roman remains, the characteristic black and white half-timbered buildings, and the two tiered arcades called the "Rows". Then head north to the tranquil Lake District, often considered to be the finest of England's national parks. After driving along Lake Windermere, visit William Wordsworth's beloved Grasmere. Gretna Green where the blacksmith used to wed runaway couples, and Moffat Woollen Mill are milestones on the way through the history-steeped Lowland Hills to Edinburgh.
DAY 09: EDINBURGH Today enjoy this "Prince of Cities". Drive along Princes Street and the Royal Mile, and hear tales of some truly intriguing characters: the Bodysnatchers, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Greyfriars Bobby. History comes alive as you tour mighty Edinburgh Castle and the Queen's Holyrood Palace. The afternoon is at leisure. Tonight enjoy a Scottish Evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of Haggis.
DAY 10: EDINBURGH / YORK Visit the magnificent Floors Castle, the stately home of the Duke and Dutchess of Roxburghe. Then south past the house of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the abbey ruins at Jedburgh, into wild Northumberland National Park. Later inspect a section of Hadrian's Wall, the Roman coast-to-coast defense against marauding northern tribes. Afternoon arrival in York, England's most complete medieval city. Stand in awe in front of the great structure of York Minster, then wander through the maze of quaint streets including the narrow Shambles. Overnight in York.
DAY 11: YORK / STRATFORD / BATH Leave Yorkshire and its associations with James Herriot, skirting Robin Hood's Sherwood Forest. In Stratford-upon-Avon take your pictures of Anne Hathaway's Cottage and visit Shakespeare's birthplace. Savor vistas of the Cotswolds on your wy via the medieval market town of Stow-on-the-Wold to the elegant Georgian city of Bath.
DAY 12: BATH / LONDON In Bath this morning see the amazing excavations of the Roman Baths. Then try to figure out the prehistoric mystery of Stonehenge. Visit the picturesque Salisbury with its vast cathedral, the ultimate in Early English Gothic, before arriving late in the afternoon in London, the British Captial.
DAY 13: LONDON Morning sightseeing includes all the famous landmarks: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace and the area's splendid museums, Knightsbridge with Harrods, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, and Westminster Abbey. Highlights are a visit to St. Paul's Cathedral and the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (if held). The afternoon is at leisure for your personal exploration and last minute shopping.
DAY 14: LONDON / NORTH AMERICA Transfer to the airport for your return flight to North America.
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