Irish Journey
Step Back In Time To The Magical Southwest of Ireland

8 Day Tour

April 15-22, 2012 - SOLD OUT
April 22-29, 2012 - SOLD OUT
12-16 travelers $2495 pp dbl occy
8-11 travelers $2895 pp dbl occy

 

Ireland is a magical place meant to be explored by total immersion, not from the window of a bus.  At Lost in Ireland we’ll take you on the countryside paths and through the cobblestone streets of some of the most beautiful towns on the Emerald Isle.  We’ll meet the people, live the culture, walk the spectacular countryside and experience everything about this wonderful land.  We’ll take you to some of the most charming and fascinating areas of Ireland…towns like Skibbereen, Dingle, Kenmare, Bantry, and Killarney. You’ll walk along windswept coastlines where impossibly green mountains end in surf-pounded rocky cliffs, complete with wheeling seabirds. You'll stroll along countryside lanes bordered by rock walls and occasional flocks of sheep...and you'll wander pastel colored villages with pubs aplenty....picture postcard views everywhere you look! And the charm and warmth of the native Irish is legendary. Our adventure spans the wondrous southwest of Ireland, encompassing county Clare, Limerick, Cork and Kerry. Here the Irish heritage is at its peak, with Irish (not English) being the primary language. Get off the beaten path with us, and you’ll marvel at spectacular views that most tourists never see!

Come with us and find the REAL Ireland!

Failte go hEirinn!

Day 1
Shannon, Welcome to Ireland!

Most US flights arrive in Shannon Ireland very early in the morning. Your Go Get Lost group leader will meet you in the airport and guide you to your private transfer. After a beautiful drive throught the enchanting Irish countryside, you'll arrive at your home for the next two nights, a beautiful 5 star hotel, situated on a private 60 acre estate in the country near the historic Gap of Dunloe. Surrounded by the rolling green hills of County Kerry, you'll have complimentary access to horseback riding on the beautiful grounds of the estate or fishing for salmon and brown trout in the river Laune alongside the hotel. Fishing gear is provided and the kitchen will prepare your catch for you! You can even play a round of golf on the estate's own golf course or explore the 12th century ruins of MacThomas castle on the estate!
This evening we'll have an orientation party and then let the estate's chefs prepare a wonderful group "get-acquainted dinner". The Irish are hearty eaters, and here in the southwest you'll find that the rugged countryside reflects the nature of the cuisine! Seafood is a local favorite, with fresh fish from the nearby ocean as well as native salmon appearing regularly. Of course the regional favorite is Irish stew, washed down with mugs of Guinness or Murphy's Irish Stout. For those more inclined to wine, the vintages of all Europe are available as well.

All of the great food, combined with a little jet lag will ensure that you sleep well tonight!

Day 2
Gap of Dunloe, Killarney and the Lakes

After a hearty traditional Irish breakfast this morning we'll begin our day with an easy morning walk through the picturesque Gap of Dunloe. The path is a gently descending trail through a verdant valley thick with ferns, woodlands and wildflowers. The skyline is dominated by the craggy green peaks of Ireland's tallest mountains, Magillycuddy's Reeks. Lunchtime will find us relaxing alongside one of the beautiful lakes of Killarney National Park as we enjoy our meal. Fully recharged, we'll board boats for an afternoon water tour of the world famous Lakes of Killarney. As stream gives way to lake, and then back to stream, our boatmen guides will wander back and forth across the water explaining the rich history and important sites of the area. Eventually we'll arrive at Ross Castle, the crumbling lakeside stronghold that was the last conquest of Cromwell in 1652. Here we'll have transport awaiting us to take us to the nearby town of Killarney. Famed for its abundance of pubs, shops, and restaurants, Killarney is the perfect spot to wander, shop, and perhaps dine. As the light fades on our wonderful day, we'll return to our peaceful estate in the country. Tonight you can choose to stay close to home and dine at the wonderful hotel restaurant, or you can go back to Killarney, only minutes away, to enjoy a pub meal and live Irish music!

Day 3
Skibbereen, Bantry & West Cork

After all our adventures yesterday, we'll need to tuck into our Irish breakfast this morning to re-fortify us for our easy day of wandering. Today we'll use our private mini-coach to meander and explore the backroads and small towns, pausing often to walk the countryside and talk to the locals. Although we're starting in County Kerry, we'll soon be in County Cork...West Cork, to be exact. This area is wonderful for those travelers wishing to slow down and see an un-touristed part of Ireland. Our route will be on tiny sinuous roads that twist along rivers, through valleys, around mountains, and pass through lovely small towns. As the morning wears on we'll have ample opportunities to take photos, tramp around a bit, and admire the beautiful scenery. Our main obstacle will probably be the occasional herd of sheep on the road!
By noon we'll have reached the charming West Cork town of Skibbereen, situated on the banks of the River Ilen and known for the lively Irish music sessions in its 22 pubs. Skibbereen also boasts the Skibbereen Heritage Center, which chronicles one of the most important watershed events in Irish history...the Great Hunger of 1845-1861, also known as the Potato Famine. Resulting in the deaths of over a million Irish and forcing the immigration of a million more, the famine reduced the population of Ireland by almost 25% in just over 5 tragic years and became a focal point and rallying cry for independence. We'll have ample time to visit the Heritage Center and experience this sad turning point in Irish history.
While we're in Skibbereen it would be a shame not to visit at least a few of the 22 pubs, if for nothing else to sample some local dishes for lunch! We'll have time to walk off our lunch a bit as we stroll around town a bit, then it's off on the next leg of our siteseeing. Now we'll head west and north, cutting across the Mizen peninsula and its scenic landscape of rolling hills, meadows and farms as we make our way to the quaint seaside town of Bantry, known for its production of mussels and seafood, which can be sampled at many of its (you guessed it) pubs. Once again we'll have plenty of time to wander and explore Bantry before we depart .
As we depart Bantry evening will be falling and we'll point ourselves away from the coast and up into the Shehy Mountains for a wonderful scenic drive on ever smaller roads, eventually arriving at Cronin's Pub, tucked into a picturesque little valley in the middle of nowhere. The best thing about Cronin's is that it's next door to one of the finest restaurants in County Kerry, where they will have a wonderful meal awaiting us! Once again we'll feast on local specialties and regional dishes, and of course there'll be no shortage of Guinness, or perhaps Smithwicks, to top it off.
After dinner we'll have a short drive into the enchanting town of Kenmare, our home for the next two days.

Day 4
Kenmare & The Priest's Leap Walk

The mornings light will let us appreciate the picturesque town of Kenmare, full of window boxes, clean sidewalks, shops and pubs aplenty! Our hotel is perfectly situated in the heart of the action, in the middle of downtown. Best of all, the hotel pub is reknown for having the best Irish music in the area...folks come from all around to hear the lively tunes each night. If you're in here come nightfall and you don't find yourself singing, stomping your feet and clapping your hands with great enthusiasm...then you're a boring soul indeed!
But before we can enjoy the pub atmosphere, we've a long, fun day ahead of us...after breakfast we'll meet our local Irish historian and guide and board the coach for a short drive to the beginning of our walk. On the way we'll have a stop at a unique chocolate factory, where the Lorge family has carved out a reputation as Irish chocolatiers of the first order. After stocking up on supplies (chocolate bars) we'll continue on to the Priest's Leap trailhead. This walk is like a step back in time, and will highlight the stark but beautiful scenery of the rock-studded hills dotted with sheep and lonely farmsteads.
To reward ourselves after our trek we'll pause just outside the town of Ballylicky at a local shop that features all of the unique and delicious local varieties of cheese produced by the farms we passed on our walk today. The proprietor will have a cheese tasting prepared for us, and of course there will be wine (from the Continent) to accompany it. After our cheese extravaganza, we'll have a short trip back to Kenmare.
Tonight is free to wander Kenmare's many streets and byways to find a fun pub to settle into for the evening...don't forget to make it back to the hotel pub for the evenings entertainment, though!

Day 5
Dingle & The Lake Adoon Walk

After putting away our normal Irish breakfast, Kenmare-style (you should be getting quite good at this by now) we'll board our coach and settle in for a wonderfully scenic morning drive across the Iveragh Peninsula and around Castlemaine Harbour. The rugged mountain landscape will soon give way to coastal views, where rocky cliffs meet pounding surf. Finally our road will cut up away from the coast through the Slieve Mish Mountains and onto the northern shore of the Dingle Peninsula. Here we'll begin todays walk, an easy stroll up through the Connor Pass, with the intense emerald green of the landscape contrasting with the gray windswept rocky cliffs. Rounding a bend in the trail you'll suddenly be rewarded with views of one of the most beautiful and secluded Irish mountain lakes you'll have the pleasure to see! At Lake Adoon the sheep and salmon are probably our only companions as we walk around this mountain gem to the myriad waterfalls on the far side. A perfect spot to enjoy our trail lunch and relax in the sun!
This afternoon we'll make our way into Dingle, a charming, brightly colored little town nestled alongside the sea at the foot of the steep slopes. Extraordinary views abound in all directions...undulating hills, bleak gray-green mountains, thick forests and sandy seashores. The town itself is also known for wonderful location, its friendly locals, and its overabundance of pubs...57 by last count! There are charming and unique pubs at every turn...pubs imbedded in shoe shops, pubs within old-fashioned hardware stores, and even a pub sitting directly on a bridge! And of course most of them feature regional dishes and local Irish music, too.
Our hotel in Dingle has an idyllic location directly on Dingle Bay, with breathtaking views of the sea. Just a few minutes walk takes you into the heart of town, which is great, as tonight is free to wander and explore the charm of Dingle town.

Day 6
The Slea Head Drive & Imeall an Domhain - The Edge of the World Walk

This mornings drive will combine the best of Irish coastal scenery with a wonderful walk and even some cultural stops, and best of all we'll have one of our favorite local guides along with us again to help color in the landscape and history. The Slea Head drive is a panoramic route around the far western end of the Dingle peninsula...we'll stop often for the stunning views of green fields topping grey cliffs that plunge into the surging ocean waves. The rolling landscape is dotted with pastel farmhouses, crisscrossed by stone fences and dotted with sheep...LOTS of sheep! You'll get the eerie impression that the views haven't changed for many centuries, and is likely what the Vikings saw when they waded ashore.
Along our route today we'll have a chance to visit an interesting Celtic museum, and we'll have time to browse at the workshop of one of Irelands most talented pottery makers and native son of this area, Louis Mulcahy. Although Louis chooses to live in one of the more remote spots on the planet, his work is much sought after, having done pieces for almost all the Irish presidents, British prime ministers, several US Presidents, and even the pope!
All of this sightseeing will work up an appetite, so we'll stop for a picnic lunch at a very scenic spot near the town of Ballydavid to enjoy some of the local specialties as we relax and take in the views. Ballydavid is famous as the spot where St. Brendan the Navigator departed to sail west to America in a small hide-covered boat...in the year 530! After lunch we'll go a bit further down the coast and begin a truly extraordinary walk, The Edge Of The World walk. So named because of the ancient belief that this part of the coast was the edge of the known world. Our walk will follow the rugged coastline and provide constant views both of the windswept sea and the inland mountains. For thousands of years these trails were walked by all of the people who needed to traverse this coastline...you'll tread in the footsteps of monks, farmers, vikings, villagers, and soldiers of all kinds.
By midafternoon we'll meet our coach and begin the short drive back to Dingle town. Once again the night is free to roam and hang with the local characters!

Day 7
County Clare & Bunratty Castle Mews

Today we have a relaxing schedule as we depart late-morning from Dingle and make our way northeast and into County Clare. Depending on the group's interests and energy level we'll have several options for activities today along our route. Cultural stops, a short walk, and maybe even some shopping! Eventually by mid-afternoon we'll arrive at Durty Nelly's, Ireland's oldest pub, operating continuously since 1620. The perfect place to have an evening cocktail, especially since it's almost next door to our last night's accommodation, the wonderfully homey Bed and Breakfast of Delores O'Toole...Bunratty Castle Mews. We'll have time to relax and freshen up before dinner, where we have a fun evening of food and Irish storytelling planned.
A farewell dinner at the end of a trip is always a special event...lots of stories to recount about the adventures we shared, addresses and photos to exchange, and plans for future trips to discuss...and of course lots of excellent food and beverages to help the process along!

Day 8
Farewell Ireland!

 

After breakfast today we'll have a group shuttle transfer to the Shannon airport, where our tour will end.

 What's Included On This Tour?


What's Not Included On This Tour?