Enjoying Country Life
- 6 Nights
- On Request
- Dublin/West/Southwest
Spectacular landscapes, interesting places and Whiskey Distilleries
From Dublin to Galway, Killarney and Cork, discover the landscapes and coasts of Connemara and Kerry and try a variety of special Irish whiskeys.
Small Group Tour / Date on request / Price on request / 6 nights
Tour Highlights
- Distilleries in Dublin, the Midlands, Galway, Burren, Dingle, Cork
- Boglands and lakes in Connemara
- Cliffs of Moher and Burren
- Killarney National Park and Killarney
- Slea Head Dingle coastal drive
- Cork City
Summary
Ireland is known for its diverse landscapes and its Atlantic coasts, both of which we will look at extensively on this trip.
Ireland is also known for its whiskeys. The name comes from the Gaelic “Uisce Beatha”, which means “water of life”. One of the earliest distilled beverages in Europe, the earliest record of Irish whiskey dates back to 1405, some 90 years before it was first mentioned in Scotland. On our trip we will hear and taste what makes Irish whiskey so special. In addition to the well-known large distilleries such as Jameson and Tullamore Dew, to name just a few, many new local distilleries have been founded in the last ten years. There are now over 2,000 in Ireland. This tour takes us from Dublin to Galway, to Killarney and Dingle in Kerry and south to Cork.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Dublin Airport
Welcome to Ireland – a taxi will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. In the afternoon a German-speaking tour guide will meet you at your hotel and take you on a walk of Dublin including a visit to one of the many distilleries in the capital. The evening is then at your leisure, maybe you fancy a ‘pub crawl’.
Overnight stay including breakfast in a hotel in Dublin city centre
Day 2: From Dublin via Tullamore to Galway
This morning you have time to explore Dublin some more before I pick you up at your hotel around lunchtime. We travel then to Tullamore in the midlands, here we visit the brand new whiskey experience for Tullamore Dew. From here, we head west to Oranmore outside Galway. A lovely little village at the shores of Galway Bay.
Galway City is only 6 miles away and is great city for a night out or you might want to watch the Irish dance show ‘Trad on the Prom’.
We are happy to organise tickets and a taxi for one of the evenings.
Overnight stay including breakfast in the Armorica Guest House in Oranmore or similar
Day 3: Connemara and Micil Distillery in Galway
Today we drive to the lonely boglands of Connemara, the wild landscape west of the culture city of Galway. The northern part of Connemara is characterized by mountains and lakes, the southern part, on the other hand, by deep sea bays and the view of Galway Bay and the hilly landscape of the Burren. We could take a walk in the Connemara National Park or visit the famous Kylemore Abbey, once a ‘dream castle’, later a boarding school for girls, today a popular stop for visitors to Ireland.
Our whiskey today can be sampled at the Micil Distillery, the first distillery in Galway for over 100 years. It is managed by Pádraic Ó Griallais, a 6th generation distiller who is passionate about continuing a 170-year family tradition. The distillery’s roots go back to 1848 when Pádraic’s great-great-great-grandfather, Micil Mac Chearra, started making poitín from a small distillery in Connemara.
Overnight stay including breakfast in the Armorica Guest House in Oranmore or similar
Day 4: Burren – Cliffs of Moher – Burren Distillery
Our journey today brings us from Oranmore to Killarney in Kerry, it leads us through the stony landscapes of the Burren to the famous Cliffs of Moher, which tower over 200 m high over the Atlantic Ocean. On a walk along the cliffs we will have magnificent views over the coastline and out to the Aran Islands. We continue through the lovely little town of Adare with its church and thatched houses to reach Killarney surrounded by mountains and lakes.
Our distillery today is the Burren Distillery, in the Burren area there is a long tradition of small distilleries, the Burren distillers are now reviving this tradition,
“It was a long way from conception to construction of the micro-distillery in Ballyvaughan – I wanted to respect the legacy of the Burren and do something special and sustainable. This has resulted in a micro-distillery that will only produce 150 barrels of single estate whiskey annually. ”Noel Ó Lochlainn.
Killarney has many nice pubs and there is also an Irish dance show ‘Celtic Steps’ here, we would be happy to organize a visit to the show for you.
Overnight stay including breakfast in the Old Weir Guest House in Killarney or similar
Day 5: Dingle and Slea Head Coastal Route
Today we drive north from Killarney, out onto the Dingle Peninsula. Look forward to a day with fantastic views. After an hour’s drive, we start the day with a walk on the fantastic Inch Strand, from here you have a view of the open Atlantic Ocean. We continue west via the town of Dingle until we reach the most westerly point of Ireland. Here you look out over the Blasket Islands and the wild sea. Along the coast we travel back to Dingle, this colourful town in a sheltered bay. On the outskirts of town we visit the Dingle Distillery. Three young Irishmen already had experience with beer brewing when they decided in 2012 to distil whiskey. They still do that successfully today. You will be able to see for yourself whether they have succeeded with making a great whiskey.
Overnight stay including breakfast in the Old Weir Guest House in Killarney or similar
Day 6: From Killarney to Cork
Today we are travelling to the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland, on a tour I will tell you many interesting facts about the history of the city on the River Lee and you will have the opportunity to explore Cork on your own before we visit the distillery of one of the most famous Irish whiskeys, Jameson. Originally distilled in Dublin, Jameson is now produced in a large distillery in Midleton, east of the city of Cork. An excellent tour will tell you much about the history of this whiskey and of course a tasting is included in the visit.
Overnight stay and breakfast at the Midleton Park Hotel in Midleton or similar
Day 7: Departure – Cork to Dublin Airport
It is time to say goodbye. From Cork City a comfortable intercity bus will bring you directly to Dublin Airport to catch your flight back home.
If you would like to extend your stay in Cork or spend a few more days in Dublin, please talk to us.
Services included in the tour price:
- 1x overnight stay including breakfast in a Dublin City Centre Hotel
- 2x overnight stays including breakfast in the Armorica Guest House in Oranmore or similar
- 2x overnight stays including breakfast in the Old Weir Guest House in Killarney or similar
- 1x overnight stay including breakfast in the 4 * Midleton Hotel in Midleton or similar
- City tour Dublin with a local city guide and distillery visit
- Bus journey to Dublin Airport
- German and English-speaking tour guide and support throughout
- Round trip according to the itinerary (changes reserved)
- All trips take place in a modern minibus
- Information material about your trip
- Entry fees and bookings:
- Visit to a Dublin Distillery
- Tullamore Dew Distillery Tour
- Micil Distillery Tour
- Cliffs of Moher
- Burren Distillery Besuch
- Dingle Distillery Tour
- Jameson Distillery Tour, Midleton
Services not included:
Flights, personal expenses, gratuities, food and drinks
The journey home is arranged individually.
Tour Prices:
The costing for this tour is based on a selection of 4* Hotels and Guest Houses, please talk to us if you prefer to stay only in hotels or in luxury accommodation.
Travel price per person and number of guests (without flight): on request
Our Terms and Conditions are essential for this and all future business relationships. You can review our Terms and Conditions on this website or we will send them to you on request.
Tours with Andrea – why are they unique?
If you prefer to travel in a small group of likeminded people, friends or family, if you are looking for excellent personal service and an easy way to travel while you have the freedom to follow your own interests, I prepared these tours for you.
Together we will explore Ireland, the highlights and the hidden corners. I will introduce you to Ireland’s culture and history and also find you culinary treats and specialities. You will truly discover this beautiful country.
I will personally prepare your travel with you and by the time I meet you at the airport it will be as if we have met before.
Please choose from wonderful tours relating to different themes and a variety of regions. Or contact me about a bespoke individual tour programme.
Insider Tips
You will see hidden places away from mass tourism and you find stops and routes on our itinerary that you will not find on a standard coach tour. I have many contacts all across Ireland to use for any special requests.
I love Ireland
I will show you the genuine Ireland. I live in the country you are visiting. During the Winter time I go and find new ideas and contacts, excellent accommodation and interesting places.
Small Groups
We travel in small groups, meeting local people. We have an abundance of leisure to relax and unwind. We have the time for unplanned detours, should the opportunity arise.
Our Services
We are here
We are at home here, we have the local knowledge and contacts to give you a truly unique experience. If you are not used to driving on the left hand side you will enjoy being chauffeured free of worries. We book your accommodation, events and activities and I am there for you to support you if needed.
Transport
Our vehicle for chauffeured tours is a practically new Volkswagen Transporter for maximum 8 guests, for 2021 we are limiting our guest numbers to 6. Sitting a bit higher than in a limousine you will have a great view and see more of the landscape passing by. For extended tours we have plenty of room for your luggage.
Sustainability and climate change
Environmental awareness is an important part of our travel philosophy. We prioritise partners and businesses who engage themselves in climate protection. The preservation of Ireland's natural habitats and precious historic sites is important to us. To counter CO2 emissions caused by travel we will plant a native Irish tree for each guest on one of our extended tours. Only a small part of Ireland's extensive forests is still existing today, with your help we want to support the natural reforestation of this island. Talk to us to find out more.
Peace of Mind
Andaire is registered with the Irish Tourist board and you will see the white and green logo of the Covid-19-Safety charter on our website which shows you we have been educated in infection control and adhere to strict hygiene measures and are also subject to spot checks. You can find us on the Directory of Covid-19 Compliant Businesses. Our chauffeurs and vehicles are fully licensed and insured.
