Ireland North Trip Whiskey and Culture 

You land in Dublin Airport in the morning. Meet and greet at the airport and board your coach for downtown Dublin at around 11.30. You’ll find that the River Liffey divides Dublin into two halves. Time for lunch break in a pub in Dublin near the Irish Whikey Museum. This will be followed by a visit to the Irish Whiskey Museum – the first Irish whiskey museum in the world. Take a journey through time in a historic setting that showcases the fascinating history of Irish whiskey. Regardless of the beverage industry, the museum offers a tasting of three of Ireland’s finest whiskeys, led by a professional taster. You will learn to taste the subtle differences between whiskeys and to appreciate the flavors that are included. Before tasting, you will first learn about the interesting history of whiskey, its humble beginnings, its inevitable demise and its current upswing. Finally, relax in the contemporary coffee bar while admiring the beautiful Trinity College complex from above. Transfer to the Roganstown 4* Hotel – Check in Jogging / Walking or Relaxing Dinner at the hotel, overnight with bed and breakfast in the Dublin area.

Today you leave Dublin and make your way to the West Coast. We stop in the midlands to vissit one of the famous whiskey distilleries. The Kilbeggan whiskey distillery was founded in 1757 and is thus the oldest state-approved whiskey distillery in the world. For nearly 200 years, until its closure in 1954, a traditionally distilled Irish malt whiskey was brewed here. Then the distillery became a museum, but in 2007 the working distillery in Kilbeggan was reopened, and visitors can see and smell how the whiskey is made. The tour shows the production of triple-distilled Irish whiskey, from grindings to barrels containing the final product. See and hear how the 19th century water wheel drives the machines. Most of the original machines have now been restored and are in daily use. At the end of the tour you will of course receive a taste of the Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey. lunch break, Afterwards, visit Strokestown Park House, a beautiful fully furnished Georgian manor house built in 1696. The main house has seven bay windows and extends over 3 floors, offering a fascinating insight into Anglo-Irish hegemony. Garden lovers will enjoy a visit to the walled SixAcre Gardens, fully restored to their former beauty and featuring the longest perennial borders in Ireland and England. You can also visit the Gregorian fruit and vegetable garden, where you will find the oldest restored Peach House. Transfer to the 4 * Hotel Breaffy – late afternoon aerobics with Gaby or relax time, whatever you prefer. Dinner at the hotel, overnight breakfast in the Mayo region

Today you will first visit the Connacht Whiskey distillery. The distillery is located on the banks of the beautiful Moy River in a rural setting. Learn a bit more about the unique craft of whiskey making by going through the destillation process during this guided tour. The tour is interactive, so you can really enjoy the experience. Lunch Break, Then you drive to Sligo. Sligo is considered the center of traditional music. The old market town lies at the mouth of the Garavogue directly on the Atlantic Ocean. The city is also known for its deep attachment to the famous Irish poet W. B. Yeats. A visit to Sligo, without paying a visit to his grave in Drumcliff, would be theoretically incomplete (in reality depending on the time).Then we drive to nearby Lough Gill. You take a boat trip on Lough Gill. The Rose of Innisfree tour boat operates on picturesque Lough Gill, in the counties of Sligo and Leitrim. Experience the most spectacular scenery, all from the comfortable boat. On board there is of course a bar. Transfer to the 4 * Sligo Southern Hotel Time for Sports /Relax? Dinner at the hotel, overnight and breakfast in the Sligo / Donegal area.

Today you first explore the cliffs at Slieve League. Located on the southwest coast of County Donegal, this is a sacred moun tain where a Christian pilgrimage took place for over a thousand years. The Slieve League Cliffs are some of the highest and most beautiful sea cliffs in Europe. Enjoy the stunning scenery of the area and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, Sligo Mountains and Donegal Bay. Lunch break and reboard the coach, Afterwards visit the Glenveagh National Park. It covers some 16,500 hectares of breathtaking mountain scenery with lakes, gorges and forest areas. The park is also home to a herd of red deer. The Scottish-style castle is surrounded by one of Ireland’s most magnificent gardens, a fascinating contrast to the rugged environment. In the visitor center you can watch exhibitions and an audiovisual show about the region. Alternatively, the park offers a chance for you to stretch your legs and enjoy nature. The castle was built between 1870 and 1873 and consists of a four-storey, rectangular keep. Transfer to the 4 * Best Western Plus White Horse – Check in Sports or Relax – as you prefer Dinner at the hotel, bed and breakfast – Derry area

lunch break, Afterwards, visit the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Center. Meet Northern Ireland’s most beloved giant Finn McCool at the Giants Causeway Visitor Center on the north coast of Antrim, which opened in the summer of 2012. According to legend, Finn McCool created the Giants Causeway by building stepping stones to Scotland to challenge the Scottish giant Benadonner. The main themes explored by the new visitor center are mythology, geology, landscape, ecology, culture and social history, based on the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which consists of 40,000 polygonal basalt columns that were created 60 million years ago after a volcanic eruption. You can experience many interactive exhibits and enjoy a short video presentation in five designated, interpretive exhibit areas. The self-guided visit culminates with a spectacular 2-minute audiovisual projection of a volcanic eruption, where the lava overflows the walls and flows to the ground. Afterwards drive to Bushmills in County Antrim. The Old Bushmills whiskey distillery was the first licensed distillery in the world, and was licensed to distill whiskey in 1608. Get a behind-the-scenes tour of the distillery and get to know Uisce Beatha – the water of life. In particular, the “Old Bushmills” Distillery is characterized by being one of the few distilleries where distillation, grinding and bottling are still under one roof. Because only a whiskey, whose production takes place completely in one place, may carry the predicate “single”. Transfer to the 4 * Hilton Belfast Templepatrick. Dinner in the Hotel, Overnight and Irish breakfast – Belfast area.

Today you embark on a panoramic city tour of Belfast. Belfast, the second largest city in Ireland, is surrounded by green hills at the mouth of the Lagan River. The capital of Northern Ireland is a major port and industrial city and also a modern university location. In the heart of the city are important buildings such as Town Hall, a large Renaissance building. Around Queens University, founded in 1845, there is a pretty student district, the Botanical Garden, with the oldest palm house, and many cafes, bars and shops of all kinds. Lunch Break, You will then leave Northern Ireland and return to the Republic of Ireland, where you will visit Slane Distillery. Slane Distillery offers an ideal and at the same time unique opportunity, because the local combination of many years of history and tasty whiskey makes your visit a unique experience. First, visit the centuries-old Slane Castle, owned by the Conynham family since 1785 and located in the historic Boyne Valley on the eponymous river. In the old stables of the estate you will explore the state-of-the-art distillery. The whiskey produced here draws on local ingredients such as the water from the River Boyne and the grain grown on the estate, to guarantee a special purity of this noble drop. Of course, a tasting after the tour is the bestpart! Transfer to Roganstown Hotel 4 * – Check in – Jogging / Walking or Relaxing. Dinner, Overnight and Irish Breakfast in the Dublin area.

Guided Sight Seeing Tour Dublin. Trinity College is probably the best spot to kick off your Dublin tour. It’s at the heart of the capital, packed full of incredible history, and it’s the oldest university in Ireland having been founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. A short southerly stroll from Trinity College takes you down towards Dublin’s premier shopping location, Grafton Street. A statue of Molly Malone sits at the bottom of the street, so it’s impossible to miss. You’ll find that the River Liffey divides Dublin into two halves. Lots of things to discover Lunch in a pub. Visit to Guinness Storehouse – No trip to Ireland is complete without a Guinness tour. During this tour we will learn how to pour the “black stuff” the proper way. The architecture and displays are impressive. When you enter, be sure to retain your ticket as you will use that for your free pint of Guinness at any of the bars of your choosing. A very amazing part of the tour is the Gravity bar on the top floor which provides you a 360 degree view of Dublin. Jameson Distillery Bow Street – The Old Jameson Whiske distillery is located in Dublin’s former market district. In the old walls of the distillery, an interesting museum is housed, in which you can “walk through” the original manufacturing process in the truest sense of the word – including all sounds and smells from the delivery of barley to the bottling of the “good drop”. In addition, a short informative film will be shown in German or English. The interactive experience is a lot of fun and is super informative. Great, personal and very interesting. However, after so much theory, your palate should “form its own opinion” with a glass of Jameson Irish Whiskey. Tasting at the end is what you are looking forward to most, right? Transfer to Roganstown Hotel 4 * Sport or Relaxation Dinner in the hotel, overnight and Irish Breakfast in the Dublin area.

We keep the coach for the evening and take a trip out to Howth , a little coastal fishing village. Tonight you dine in one of Dublin’s famous taverns – the Abbey Tavern. Enjoy a sumptious 3 course meal with live traditional entertainment. As you enter The Abbey Tavern, you will be struck by its old world charm, authenticity and simplicity with original stone walls, flagged floors, blazing turf fires which gives a unique atmosphere. Traditional Irish Music and Dance The evening commences at 7:30pm with a sumptuous three course dinner with a choice of two starters, five main courses and two desserts followed by a complimentary Irish coffee. The show, featuring the award-winning Dancers, Singers and Musicians begins at 8:15pm and showcases Ireland’s wealth of music, song and dance. The Abbey Tavern singers and musicians have a long standing residency here and this ensures that they consistently deliver the best of Irish tradition for their shows. Sing along to some of Ireland’s best loved ballads and songs such as ‘Danny Boy’, ‘Finnigan’s Wake’, ‘The Wild Rover’ and ‘Whiskey in the Jar’. Be mesmerized and thrilled by our dancers footwork and passion as they perform some of Ireland’s oldest dance routines such as ‘The Brush Dance’, and ‘The Sean Nos’ alongside tributes to internationally acclaimed shows. The show finishes at 10pm. Please join us for an unforgettable night at The Abbey Tavern. Overnight and Irish Breakfast in the Dublin area.

Transfer to the Dublin Airport und flight back