Day : 1
Arrive London (2 Nights)
Number of Days : 1
Welcome to the multicultural melting pot that is London - its culture and heritage shaped by the nations that once contributed to its great empire are found around every turn. Spend your day easing into the energy of a cosmopolitan city that effortlessly blends old and new and is the perfect springboard to a grand adventure through Britain and Ireland.
Day : 2
London Sightseeing and Free Time
Number of Days : 1
Join your Local Specialist today to see the iconic sights, including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, meandering through the picturesque Royal Parks, shopping for the best of British wares on Carnaby Street or delving into natural history and royal heritage at one of the many fascinating museums.
Day : 3
London – Stratford-upon-Avon – York
Number of Days : 1
Meet your Travel Director this morning and travel to Stratford-upon-Avon. Venture through the lush green countryside of Warwickshire to Stratford-upon-Avon to delve into the lyrical legacy of one of the world's favourite writers. Visit Shakespeare's Birthplace and Visitor Centre and see Anne Hathaway's cottage, before arriving in York. Wander along its cobbled Shambles and ancient city walls, and see the magnificent York Minster, one of the greatest cathedrals in the world. This evening, we join our Travel Director and travel companions for a delicious Yorkshire dinner in our hotel.
Day : 4
York – Jedburgh – Edinburgh (2 Nights)
Number of Days : 1
Journeying through Northumberland National Park's dramatic landscapes, we arrive at the remarkably intact ruins of the 12th-century Jedburgh Abbey en route to the enchanting Scottish capital, Edinburgh. During the Edinburgh Festival, enjoy a rousing display of music, dance and precision at the spectacular Edinburgh Tattoo held in the grounds of the beautiful Edinburgh Castle.
Day : 5
Edinburgh Sightseeing and Free Time
Number of Days : 1
Join your Local Specialist this morning for a sightseeing tour through Auld Reekie's elegant New Town, Princes Street and the Royal Mile, enjoying views of the exquisite Palace of Holyroodhouse and Arthur's Seat. Embark on a guided visit of Edinburgh Castle, perched atop Castle Rock. Later, consider a traditional Scottish night out this evening, savouring up the flavours of haggis and exhilarating sounds of bagpipes which fill the air.
Day : 6
Edinburgh – St. Andrews – Pitlochry – Scottish Highlands (2 Nights)
Number of Days : 1
Today, we travel across the Firth of Forth to St. Andrews to view its celebrated ancient university and explore centuries of golf heritage. Our next stop is Pitlochry on the banks of the Tummel River. You could choose to join an Optional Experience to visit Blair Castle, the ancestral home to the Dukes of Atholl, before spending the night at one of Trafalgar's 'Stays With Stories' - Laggan Gaskmore Hotel located within Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands.
Day : 7
Isle of Skye, Culloden and Scenic Highland Excursion
Number of Days : 1
Drive to the rugged coast of Scotland this morning, passing the Glenfinnan Monument commemorating the site where the 1745 Jacobite Rising began. We cross the sea to the Isle of Skye, driving up the Sleat Peninsula and admiring the spectacular scenery of the 'Garden of Skye' before enjoying free time for lunch. Cross a road bridge to view scenic Eilean Donan Castle on the mainland and continue past the lochs and glens of the Scottish Highlands. Pay tribute to the brave men who lost their lives during the final confrontation of the Jacobite uprising on Culloden battlefield, returning to your hotel in Laggan later.
Day : 8
Scottish Highlands – Glencoe – Loch Lomond – Glasgow
Number of Days : 1
Our first stop today is the World War II Commando Memorial, near Fort William, for views of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis. Continue south through the 'Glen of the Weeping', paying tribute to the MacDonald clansmen who were massacred for failing to pledge allegiance to Scotland's new monarchs. Arriving in Glasgow, we enjoy an orientation tour including views of the Cathedral and magnificent George Square. We'll also visit the Necropolis where we'll 'Dive Into Culture' and gain insights into one of Europe's most important 19th-century burial grounds.
Day : 9
Glasgow – Lake District – Liverpool
Number of Days : 1
Cross the border into England and 'Connect With Locals', joining Farmer John and his wife Christine on their Cumbrian working farm for a Be My Guest lunch. Learn about traditional farming methods before continuing your journey through the beautiful Lake District and its landscapes that have inspired poets and painters for centuries. See Lake Windermere, England's largest lake, before travelling to Liverpool, the haunt of Britain's 'Fab Four'.
Day : 10
Liverpool – Chester – Dublin (2 Nights)
Number of Days : 1
The half-timbered Tudor 'Rows' in Chester are our first stop today as we travel to Holyhead in North Wales to catch our ferry across the Irish Sea to Dublin. Soak up Irish hospitality and delicious local flavours during a Regional Meal at EPIC - the Irish Emigration Museum.
Day : 11
Dublin Sightseeing and Free Time
Number of Days : 1
Visit the Guinness Storehouse to learn about Ireland's famous brew, before delving into Dublin's iconic sights with a Local Specialist. See Trinity College, St. Patrick's Cathedral and the stately Georgian Squares. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure or consider an Optional Experience at an Irish Cabaret.
Day : 12
Dublin – Galway – Limerick
Number of Days : 1
Journey to the West Coast and the vibrant cultural centre of Galway, where you will have an opportunity to view Galway Cathedral and Eyre Square, with its tribute to former US president John F. Kennedy, before travelling to Limerick.
Day : 13
Limerick – Ring of Kerry – Cork
Number of Days : 1
Admire Ireland's enduring scenic beauty on one of the most beautiful drives in the world. Circling the spectacular Ring of Kerry, we see mountains, valleys, lakes and sea blend into a soul-stirring landscape. We arrive in Cork and enjoy a delicious dinner at our hotel
Day : 14
Cork – Blarney – Cobh – Waterford – Wexford
Number of Days : 1
In the pursuit of acquiring the 'gift of the gab', we visit Blarney Castle and kiss the famous Blarney Stone, before stopping in Cobh for a walking tour with a Local Specialist. This seaside city was the final port of call for the tragic Titanic on its fateful voyage. This afternoon, we 'Dive Into Culture' during a visit to the House of Waterford Crystal and witness talented master craftsmen at work.
Day : 15
Wexford – Cardiff
Number of Days : 1
We cross the Irish Sea to Wales and its capital, Cardiff, where we will see the Principality Stadium and view the Millennium Centre, National Assembly and Victorian fantasy castle at the heart of the city.
Day : 16
Cardiff – Bath – Glastonbury – Plymouth (2 Nights)
Number of Days : 1
Cross the Severn Estuary to Bath, so named for the ancient Roman Baths that have made the city a popular retreat for centuries. Admire the elegant Georgian façades and visit the Roman Baths, before some free time to explore on your own. We wind our way to mystical Glastonbury to visit the 7th-century Abbey where King Arthur is believed to be buried. Later, we arrive in the city of Plymouth, our home for two nights.
Day : 17
Polperro and Dartmoor Excursion
Number of Days : 1
The springboard to a 'New World' takes centre stage as we start our day with an orientation of Plymouth. View the Mayflower Steps, where brave pilgrims embarked on their epic voyage to America, and see the Royal Citadel overlooking Plymouth Sound. Visit the fishing village of Polperro with its narrow streets and picturesque harbour, before enjoying a scenic drive through the brooding landscapes of Dartmoor, keeping a keen eye out for the area's wild ponies. Our epic adventure through Britain and Ireland almost at its end, we join our travel companions and Travel Director for a memorable Farewell Dinner.
Day : 18
Plymouth – Stonehenge – London
Number of Days : 1
Meander across the Salisbury Plain and visit the mystical ancient monoliths of Stonehenge, whose myths have yet to be fully revealed. We journey back to London this afternoon where we spend our final evening in Britain celebrating a memorable journey with new friends.
Day : 19
Depart London
Number of Days : 1
Say a fond farewell to Britain and Ireland as you prepare to return home with treasured memories of your trip.
