Britain & Ireland Discovery (Classic, 22 Days)

Guide

From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination. York: Your Travel Director will show you the York Minster, the city walls and the medieval Shambles during your orientation of the city. Sligo Bay: Explore this scenic town during an orientation with your Travel Director. Cork: Your Travel Director will show you the Grand Parade and South Mall, along with City Hall and the Opera House. Chester: During your orientation with your Travel Director see the Jubilee Clock, the cathedral, city walls and famous black and white Rows. Cardiff: Learn more about Wales' capital and cultural hub, Cardiff, as you enjoy an orientation of this vibrant city with your Travel Director. Plymouth: During an orientation tour with your Travel Director, see Plymouth Hoe and the Citadel before continuing to the Barbican and Mayflower Steps. Afterward, explore a quaint Cornish fishing village.

Meals

11 Dinner with Wine (DW) 21 Breakfast (B) Stratford-upon-Avon: Get to know your fellow travelers during your Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. Wick: Whiskys are known for their distinctive flavors, often bursting with the power and subtlety of the sea. Share a wee dram with a master distiller who imparts the age-old techniques. Killarney: Choose from a fine selection of local restaurants on your Dine-Around Evening. Dublin: Visit the Guinness Storehouse to learn about Ireland's national drink. Cornwall: Celebrate the culmination of your travels in style with delicious wine and local cuisine.

Others

Choose between two carefully selected activities Dartmoor National Park: Learn about the history of stone circles and indigenous traditions from your knowledgeable Local Expert and enjoy a scenic exploration across the rolling valleys of Dartmoor National Park. Alternatively, cruise the scenic Plymouth harbor, where 400 years ago the Mayflower set sail for America. Plymouth: Set sail on a relaxing cruise from Plymouth harbor, where the pilgrims left over 400 years ago. Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary. Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels. We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door. Orkney Islands: Cruise to the windswept Orkney Islands on a full day guided journey. Come face-to-face with relics spanning human history, from pagan stone circles to reminders of wartime tragedy. Join a Local Expert for a fascinating journey into the history of this remote part of the world. Londonderry: There's no better way to experience sightseeing than with one of Northern Ireland's best storytellers, Ronan, as he takes you on a tour inside the city walls. See the Gothic Guildhall and the Georgian houses of Shipquay Street. Kilkenny: Visit Kilkenny Castle with a Local Expert. On a guided tour, learn the history of this magnificent castle and that of the powerful family that came to call it home for so many centuries. Giant's Causeway: Visit the legendary Giant's Causeway, site of wonders. At the visitor center, learn about the efforts to protect biodiversity and ecosystems, participating in habitat restoration. The National Trust charity has been undertaking replanting activities in Innisfree Farm, adjacent to the Causeway. By sowing a field of Herbal Ley seed mixes containing up to 17 different species, they have prioritized biodiversity and quality food production leaving a low carbon footprint. This experience advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land. Bath: Visit the incredibly well-preserved Roman Baths. Discover 2000 years of history and learn how this hub of culture is pioneering new educational investments to benefit the community. Its school educational program actively supports local schools and students to learn about the cultural heritage of the region. The Roman Baths experience advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education. Oxford: See the spires and colleges of this world-famous university town. Stratford-upon-Avon: Learn about the life of William Shakespeare, arguably history's most famous writer, when you visit his birthplace. Then enjoy some time to explore this pretty town with its iconic Tudor houses. Grasmere: Learn about the life of the poet William Wordsworth and visit his grave. Gretna Green: Visit the spot where runaway lovers were married. Edinburgh: Your Local Expert walks with you inside the walls of the Edinburgh Castle to view the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny and Mons Meg. Edinburgh: Explore the city with your Local Expert as you travel along Princes Street to see the Scott Memorial, the neoclassical Adam facades of New Town and the official Scottish residence of the King, Palace of Holyroodhouse. Edinburgh: A hush descends and eyes turn to the castle. The skirl of the pipes rises and drums crack the night air as a tide of tunics and tartan flood from the drawbridge. For a limited time in August, witness the incredible spectacle of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. St. Andrews: Visit the university town where the famous beach scene from 'Chariots of Fire' was filmed and see the golf course where the sport was created. Inverness: At the exciting Culloden Visitor Center, discover why the Battle of Culloden lasted only an hour yet changed the Highland way of life forever. Inverness: See the River Ness, Inverness Castle and beautiful scenery as you explore the history of this Highland city. Loch Ness: Soak up the scenery and hear intriguing tales of Nessie during a cruise. Wick: See the world's shortest street, Ebenezer Place. John o' Groats: Visit Britain's most northerly, yet tiny, mainland village. Eilean Donan: Stop for a photo of this gorgeous castle. Glasgow: See the grand public buildings, including George Square and St. Mungo's Cathedral. Cairnryan: Board your ferry to cross the Irish Sea. Belleek: Enjoy a guided tour of the porcelain production process and meet some of the specialist craftspeople. Galway: Enjoy an orientation tour of the many landmarks in Galway such as the Lynch Memorial, Church of St. Nicholas, Spanish Arch and Eyre Square. Limerick: See King John's Castle, St. Mary's Cathedral and the treaty stone. Adare: Experience a village walk through the main street lined with thatched cottages. Ring of Kerry: Venture into a world of towering cliffs, lush lakelands and remote villages, as you journey the magical Ring of Kerry. Blarney: It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. But to do so, you must dangle from the ramparts! Visit Blarney Castle and see the famous Stone of Eloquence. Dublin: A Local Expert will show you Dublin's elegant Georgian squares, O'Connell Street and the Custom House. Dublin: Board the ferry to return to mainland Britain. Conwy: See Conwy Castle, the magnificent medieval fortress still towering over the town after 700 years. Climb the restored spiral staircase, scale the great towers and walk a complete circle around the battlements. Admire the unbroken town walls of Conwy down and enjoy amazing views out across the craggy mountains of Snowdonia. The spectacular castle was built by King Edward I and his architect Master James of St George in just four years between 1283 and 1287. Bath: During an orientation you will see the Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge and Bath Abbey. Looe: Journey to the quaint coastal town of Looe. A holiday hotspot in the Victorian era, explore its comely stores and winding streets at leisure. Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Transport

Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available). If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport. Killarney: Meet passionate restaurant owners John and Freda at their beautiful guesthouse in Killarney, where you'll hear more about their farm-to-table concept, while enjoying a delicious meal made from fresh ingredients sourced within a five mile radius. John and Freda have a policy that all food is sourced locally from farms and the coach of the Emerald Isle. On the farm they also grow and harvest all their own fruit and veg. They educate their visitors about sustainable consumption and the benefits of eating fresh homegrown produce. This experience advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption & Production. Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.

Accommodation

Stratford-upon-Avon: The MacDonald Swan's Nest Hotel is a 17th century, riverside hotel with the town centre only a five minute walk away. Highlands: Hotels in the Highlands area are mainly traditional and much simpler in style, typical of the region. York: The Hilton York is situated within the city walls, close to the York Minster and the best this city has to offer. Edinburgh: The Apex City of Edinburgh Hotel is located in the heart of Grassmarket in Edinburgh's city centre, just minutes from The Royal Mile. Inverness: The traditional Columba Hotel provides enviable views over the River Ness and Inverness Castle. Wick: The Norseman Hotel is nestled in the viking town of Wick, overlooking its river. Isle of Skye: Boasting an incredible location by Broadford Bay, The Dunollie Hotel is set at the base of outstanding mountains. Glasgow: The Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow features award-winning architecture, boasting a stunning atrium and rooms with wall-to-ceiling windows. Limerick: The George Hotel Limerick is a modern, centrally-located boutique hotel and provides the perfect base for exploring what wonders Limerick has to offer. Killarney: In the heart of the town centre, the Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa overlooks Killarney National Park and is the perfect location to enjoy the stunning scenery and the local 'craic.' Waterford: Dooley's Hotel Waterford has been family-run for generations and is conveniently located inside Waterford’s City Centre. Dublin: Trinity City Hotel is situated on a historic site, in the heart of Dublin, adjacent to Trinity College Dublin. Chester: The Hallmark Hotel The Queen, Chester is set in a grand Victorian building and has just undergone a multi-million pound restoration. Cardiff: Clayton Hotel Cardiff is located in the heart of the city on St. Mary Street, just a short walk from Cardiff's premium sporting facility, Millennium Stadium. Cornish Countryside: Enjoy the best of Cornish hospitality at the plush St. Mellion International Resort, featuring a unique blend of contemporary style and unique facilities sprawled across 450 acres of peaceful countryside.

Hygieneprotocol

All guests travelling with Insight Vacations through December 31, 2022 are required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, which may include a booster shot to keep the vaccination status current and valid, depending on the travel destination. Children not eligible for vaccination and/or booster at the time of travel must provide a verifiable and negative Covid-19 test result, taken within 72 hours prior to the start of the tour (taking time zones into consideration) for all tours departing until December 31, 2022. While highly recommended, COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are no longer required for guests traveling with us from January 1, 2023 onward. It is your client’s responsibly to comply with specific vaccine and/or booster requirements imposed by airlines and/or authorities in the destinations visited, as well as requirements for accessing restaurants and venues, which may be more restrictive than the above. No refunds will be given if they are unable to undertake some or all of their vacation due to failure to comply with these requirements.

Others

Arrival and departure airport transfers outside of scheduled times. Other meals, snacks and drinks. Pre and post tour accommodation. Single supplement (Optional).

Flights

International and domestic flights not included.

Optional

Optional experiences are available on this tour for an additional cost and will be provided to you with your finalised travel documents.

Insurance

Insurance not included. Travel insurance is required for all of our tours.