Signature: Ireland's Dublin, Killarney & the Cliffs of Moher

Welcome to the Fair City. Your expedition begins in Dublin, a capital where medieval history meets a legendary literary spirit. Later, gather with your National Geographic Expedition Leader, National Geographic Expedition Expert and fellow travellers for a welcome presentation that sets the stage for the heritage and history ahead.Enjoy an engaging presentation that sets the stage for your journey through Ireland's ancient east and rugged west, followed by a welcome dinner at the hotel to toast the start of your Irish odyssey.

Meals included: Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.Activity - Your opportunity to meet your Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

The day opens with an experience unlike any other — a private introduction to the passion and pride of Ireland's national sports. Join local athletes for a hands-on session of hurling and Gaelic football, feeling the raw energy and amateur devotion that has defined Irish identity for centuries. Afterwards, stand before the breathtaking illuminated pages of the Book of Kells at Trinity College, where centuries of craftsmanship unfold in vivid detail. After lunch, step into Dublin's layered past on a walking tour led by a formally unhoused guide from a social enterprise, whose personal perspective brings the city's streets to life in unexpected ways. The afternoon concludes with a stop at Sweny's Pharmacy, immortalised in the pages of James Joyce's Ulysses.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - A visit to Experience Gaelic Games offers a hands-on introduction to Ireland’s national sports at a real community club. Led by passionate local coaches, the session combines interactive history with active training in Hurling, Gaelic Football, and Handball, concluding with fun-filled mini-matches that provide a true taste of Ireland’s sporting soul.Activity - Step into the halls of Trinity College Dublin, founded in 1592, to visit the Book of Kells Exhibition and the historic Long Library. Written in the 9th century, the Book of Kells is a richly illustrated document (inscribed in Latin) of the four Gospels in the New Testament. Widely considered Ireland's greatest cultural treasure, it's one of the world’s most famous medieval manuscripts. Continue to the Long Library, a soaring room filled with over 200,000 books, including the library's oldest collections. A must-visit for book lovers, it's also known for its appearance in Harry Potter movies.Activity - Enjoy a walking tour led by a local social enterprise. Hosted by professional guides who have navigated the challenges of homelessness, the experience weaves personal storytelling with the social history of iconic neighbourhoods like the Liberties. This walk offers an authentic and ultimately hopeful view of Dublin, ensuring your presence leaves a direct, positive impact on the local community.Activity - A visit to Sweny’s Pharmacy is a multisensory journey into Dublin’s literary soul. From the scent of the famous lemon soap to the sound of James Joyce’s prose being read aloud in multiple languages, this volunteer-run Victorian gem offers an intimate, unscripted encounter with history. It’s a place where you don't just learn about Ulysses—you breathe it in.

Begin at the EPIC Museum, a vivid digital tribute to the extraordinary global reach of the Irish diaspora — a story of resilience, creativity, and cultural endurance told across continents. Then leave the city behind as the landscape softens into the rolling countryside en route to Kilkenny, one of Ireland's best-preserved medieval towns. After a local lunch, discover the artisanal craft behind Ireland's most celebrated spirit at the Ballykeefe Distillery, where the intricate origins of whiskey-making are revealed in the warmth of a working still. Check into your hotel as the amber light of evening settles over the ancient stone streets, before gathering for dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - A visit to EPIC with a local guide is a journey through the "spirit" of the 70 million people who claim Irish heritage. By combining award-winning digital interactivity with the personal storytelling of a Dublin guide, the experience moves beyond data and dates to reveal the emotional core of the Irish identity—one defined by resilience, creativity, and an enduring connection to the "Old Country."Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Discover the origins of Irish Whiskey at Ballykeefe Distillery. The tour will be a journey through every part of the Ballykeefe operation, which has revived the lost traditions of a family farm distillery, with a unique commitment to environmental protection, carbon neutrality and sustainability.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

This morning, Kilkenny reveals its medieval soul on foot. A local guide leads you through the city's historic lanes — including the atmospheric Butter Slip, a narrow medieval passageway worn smooth by centuries of footfall. Step inside the commanding ramparts of the 12th-century Kilkenny Castle, where grand halls and richly decorated ceilings speak to the ambitions of the Butler dynasty. Visit the former stables, now a design centre alive with contemporary Irish craft. After a traditional lunch at a historic inn once owned by the legendary Dame Alice Kyteler — Ireland's first recorded witch — explore the soaring Gothic heights of St. Canice's Cathedral. The evening is yours, whether spent in a candlelit pub or along the quiet riverside paths that wind through the city.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - A tour of Kilkenny blends the narrow, stepped history of the Butter Slip with the aristocratic grandeur of Kilkenny Castle. From the stables-turned-design-hub to the vibrant, hand-painted ceilings of the Picture Gallery, the experience offers a perfect balance of medieval grit and artistic elegance.Activity - St. Canice’s Cathedral offers a profound sense of continuity, bridging the gap between its 6th-century monastic roots and its current role as a vibrant center of Kilkenny life. Whether you are marvelling at the medieval effigy tombs, listening to the choral echoes in the nave, or conquering the Round Tower, it remains the definitive landmark of the "Medieval Mile."Activity - A lunch at a medieval inn is an immersion into the darker, more atmospheric side of Ireland’s "Marble City." Established in 1324 by the notorious Dame Alice Kyteler (the first person in Ireland to be accused of witchcraft), the building is a labyrinth of stone, shadow, and local lore.

The Rock of Cashel rises dramatically from the surrounding plain — a cluster of medieval ruins perched atop a limestone hill that has witnessed the sweep of Irish history from the 4th century onward. Explore the ornate Romanesque chapel and weathered high crosses before lunch. The afternoon in the Gaeltacht town of Ballyvourney, meet a local archaeologist whose National Geographic-sponsored work is preserving Ireland's ancient holy wells for future generations. In the fading light, he connects the threads of modern science and ancient spiritual tradition in a way that stays with you long after you've left. The day concludes in Killarney, the storied gateway to the wild kingdom of Kerry.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - A visit to the Rock of Cashel is a journey through 1,500 years of Irish history. From the pre-Christian legends of the Devil’s Bite to the Gothic grandeur of the cathedral ruins, it offers a visceral connection to Ireland’s royal and ecclesiastical past. The combination of the Cormac’s Chapel frescoes and the panoramic views over the Golden Vale makes it an essential stop in Ireland’s Ancient East.Activity - A tour of Ballyvourney is a rare opportunity to explore the "thin places" of the Irish landscape through the lens of modern archaeological preservation. Guided by a National Geographic sponsored archaeologist, you will move from the ancient stone huts and holy wells to the 13th-century monastic ruins, gaining an insider's understanding of how Ireland’s medieval past is being meticulously saved for the future.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

The rugged Dingle Peninsula unfolds like a painting — a landscape of salt-sprayed cliffs, ancient stone huts, and vast Atlantic skies that stretch beyond the edge of the world. Peer inside the extraordinary clocháns, dry-stone beehive huts clinging to these hillsides for over a thousand years. Walk the wide sands of Inch Beach as the Atlantic breeze rolls in off the water. In Dingle, one of Ireland's last living Gaeltacht towns, the Irish language drifts from doorways and fishing boats bob in the harbour. Browse a local pottery studio before returning to Killarney — where a free evening awaits, perhaps in one of the town's legendary music pubs or along the shimmering lakeshore.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Trace the rugged contours of the Dingle Peninsula on a comprehensive circuit defined by Gaelic culture and Atlantic drama. From ancient dry-stone dwellings to sheer cliffs that plunge into the churning surf, every turn reveals a new layer of Irish history, mythology, and breathtaking coastal geometry.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - A stop at Inch Beach serves as a sensory palate cleanser. Between the roar of the surf, the calls of the red-billed choughs foraging in the dunes, and the panoramic mountain views, it is a place that makes one feel remarkably small in the best possible way. As you scan the horizon, imagine the massive camera crews of 1969; this stretch was a primary location for the Oscar-winning film Ryan’s Daughter. The vastness that once made it perfect for the silver screen is exactly what makes it feel so tranquil today.Activity - The Fahan Beehive Huts can be found on Slea Head, which is part of the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. Here, there is a fascinating collection of clochans, or beehive huts, some of which are underground and others standing. A visit here is a sensory journey into Ireland’s early Christian past. Located along the spectacular stretch of coast, these stone structures cling to the southern slopes of Mount Eagle, overlooking the vast, churning Atlantic.Activity - A visit to Louis Mulcahy Pottery is often the artistic highlight of the Slea Head Drive. Located at the westernmost tip of the Dingle Peninsula in Ballyferriter, it’s far more than a retail shop—it’s a working studio where the rugged, salt-sprayed landscape of West Kerry is literally baked into the clay.Activity - A Dingle orientation walk is a loop of color and character. From the salty breeze of the harbor to the sloping streets of the town center, it provides an immediate feel for the town’s "bohemian-meets-traditional" spirit. It’s a place where Irish is spoken in the hardware stores and the world’s best seafood is served in cozy, wood-paneled snugs.

Depart Killarney continuing through the beautiful countryside, pausing in the postcard-perfect village of Adare — its thatched cottages and manicured gardens offering a gentler side of the Irish landscape. In the historic market town of Ennis, enjoy a hands-on Irish dance experience with local experts introducing you to three distinct styles — from the precise footwork of céilí to the soaring athleticism of sean-nós. Feel the heartbeat of Irish culture through movement and the kind of shared experience that needs no translation. The evening gathers the group for dinner, reflecting on a day that moved between scenic beauty and tradition.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - A stop in Adare offers a blend of architectural charm and aristocratic luxury. It is a village designed to be walked, where you can move from a medieval abbey to a fashion boutique in minutes. Whether you are browsing the Irish woollens at the Heritage Centre or enjoying a Sunday Roast in a 200-year-old cottage, Adare provides a refined, picturesque pause on the road to the Southwest.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - An Irish dance experience in Ennis provides an authentic "triple-threat" introduction to Gaelic culture. By mastering the soulful improvisation of Sean-nós, the communal joy of the Céilí, and the disciplined power of Step Dancing, you’ll walk away with more than just a few steps—you’ll have a genuine connection to the rhythm of the West of Ireland while getting hints and tips from a former Riverdance dancer

Stand at the edge of the world. The Cliffs of Moher rise over 700 feet above the churning North Atlantic — a wall of ancient rock that has humbled visitors for centuries. Afterwards, step into the otherworldly silence of Burren National Park, where a limestone landscape unlike anywhere else in Ireland stretches to the horizon. Marvel at the megalithic portal tomb of Poulnabrone Dolmen — a 6,000-year-old monument predating Stonehenge — and attend a presentation on the conservation work that earned this region a National Geographic World Legacy Award. This evening, enjoy a festive farewell dinner, celebrating the legends, landscapes, and connections made throughout this Irish odyssey.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - A visit to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren is a journey through 330 million years of history. You move from the soaring heights and salty spray of the Atlantic cliffs to the quiet, alien beauty of the Burren’s limestone hills. It is an experience of "vastness and detail"—where a massive sea stack is as compelling as a single blue gentian growing in a crack of stone.Activity - A visit to Poulnabrone today is an encounter with Neolithic empathy and celestial timing. Beyond the "big stones," it is the story of a community that cared for a child with special needs, used quartz to bring light to the dead, and built a territorial "billboard" that still hums with the sound of the wind. It is less a cemetery and more a 5,000-year-old anchor for the human spirit.

After a final Irish breakfast, take a last look at the rolling green hills of County Clare. A private transfer is provided to Shannon Airport where your expedition concludes. Continue on carrying with you the spirit of the ancient wells, the echoes of traditional music, and the enduring beauty of the wild Atlantic coast.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - You will be met at your hotel and transferred to Shannon Airport at the end of your adventure.