Celtic Connection

Meet your tour director and check into your hotel.

Get a feel for Ireland’s emerald beauty on an excursion around the Iveragh Peninsula on the panoramic coastal route, Ring of Kerry. Along the 112 miles of breathtaking views, you’ll spy 360 degrees of the vast Atlantic Ocean, the Lakes of Killarney, the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks (Ireland’s tallest mountains), and every shade of green known to the Emerald Isle.

During your journey to the capital of the Republic of Ireland, you will stop for a visit to Blarney Castle and kiss the Blarney stone. Dublin is a city steeped in cultural significance and hosts some of Ireland’s finest national treasures including the Book of Kells and the fine cathedrals of Christ Church and St Patrick’s. Dublin’s medieval streetscape is faithfully preserved around Temple Bar, where it provides the backdrop to a vibrant cultural quarter. Stretches of the City’s walls can still be found in Wood Quay and at St Audoen’s Arch.

Stop for a visit to Blarney Castle, the medieval stone structure built on solid limestone around 1466. (The slivers of windows served as a defense, enabling Lord Blarney and his men to shoot arrows at invaders while staying protected from within.) Climb the spiral staircases to the top of the castle to kiss the Blarney stone. Legend promises that if you lean backwards and kiss the stone upside-down, you’ll be granted the “gift of the gab” (the privilege of babbling questionable commentary for seven years). Before you leave, wander the path to Rock Close to ponder the druidic circle of mystical stones.

LEAP Activity | Out of Ireland

Walk a mile in the shoes of an Irish emigrant. Uncover personal accounts of the circumstances that forced these inhabitants out of the country. Reflect on the feelings you would have felt in their shoes and discover how their departure shaped the history of Ireland.

Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Dublin's General Post Office, Phoenix Park, O’Connell Street, Trinity College Book of Kells, and Irish Parliament.

Optional add-on.

LEAP Activity | Failte!

Be Irish for a day! Experience firsthand how Irish farmers tend to their land and animals. Learn all about traditional Ireland: speak their native language, dance a jig, or play the bodhran, a traditional Irish drum made from goatskin.

Stunning Edinburgh hides a horrific past. Witch burnings. Plague. Murder. Ghosts. Everyone in Scotland has a ghost story to tell. Hear a handful on this guided tour through some of Edinburgh's most infamous spots. Be prepared to be spooked by tales of the ghouls and apparitions that are said to haunt this old city still.

Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of the Edinburgh Castle, Crown Jewels, St. Margaret's Chapel, and Holyroodhouse Palace.

Perched high on a volcanic rock, Edinburgh Castle makes for an imposing and impressive sight. Explore this medieval castle, learn about its significance in Scottish history and appreciate its magnificent panoramic views of the city below.

LEAP Activity | Scottish Steps

Learn the art of Scottish dancing at a social gathering, or Ceilidh, (pronounced “Kay-lay”). Dance to live music as an instructor shows you some traditional steps.

Travel to Inverness via St. Andrews and enjoy a tour director-led sightseeing tour of St. Andrews.

Visit Culloden Battlefield and Loch Ness as you travel to Fort William.

The often dense mist that covers the Isle of Skye might convince you that you've actually stepped into the clouds. Visit this scenic part of the Hebrides, an island that combines mountains, lakes, and green fields into one of the most beautiful landscapes in Scotland.

Enjoy a tour of the Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument.

Board flight home or extend your stay with a two-day trip to London.

Extend your stay | Two days in London

Not ready to go home just yet? Spend two extra days in London. Travel back to the spots you enjoyed most or explore a new part of the city.