Grand Britain & Ireland Tour

Your day starts with a visit to the city of Stirling, Scotland's heritage capital which is the home to the finest collection of historic buildings in Scotland. Here you visit the Royal Palace, the jewel of Stirling Castle’s crown and view the King and Queen’s apartments. You also see the original, famous Stirling Heads and the wonderful Royal Kitchens. Then you continue your journey to the lovely village of Dunkeld on the banks of the River Tay. Here you find the Hermitage - a protected site featuring a stretch of magical Perthshire forest. Also known as part of the Perthshire Big Tree Country the Hermitage is home to the giant Douglas firs that you can admire while you make your way to the Black Linn waterfall. Today your journey ends in Pitlochry, a cozy resort town located amongst the stunning scenery of Highland Perthshire.

You start the day with a tour of the Blair Castle, the ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl and home to Europe's last remaining private regiment, the Atholl Highlanders and discover the unique story of this castle. As you drive north into the Cairngorms National Park you take in the amazing scenery, learn some more about the wonderful wilderness of Scotland: five of the six highest mountains of United Kingdom are located within the park, huge forests of ancient native trees are found here as well as cascading waterfalls and rich wildlife. You then continue to Culloden Moor - the site of the final Jacobite Rising where the Jacobites were finally defeated by government soldiers in 1746. Explore the Culloden Visitor Centre, located beside the battlefield, that features artifacts of the battle and interactive displays that reveal the background to the conflict. Your last stop for today is a visit to the 4000-year-old Bronze Age cemetery complex - Clava Cairns. This exceptionally well preserved prehistoric site casts a light upon the distant history of Highland Scotland. Finally you are taken to Inverness.

Together with your private guide-driver have a first stop by the famous Loch Ness - Scotland’s legendary lake - best known for the alleged sightings of a monster. Enjoy a boat ride from the Dochgarroch Lock (at the head of the Loch Ness) to Drumnadrochit where you tour the Urquhart Castle. During the tour you discover the greatest castle in the Highlands and its 1,000 years of dramatic history and distinctly Highland heritage. Your next stop is the Invermoriston where you have a great photo opportunity at the old Thomas Telford bridge that crosses the spectacular River Moriston falls. You then drive past the Five Sisters of Kintail - a high mountain ridge rising steeply from Glen Shiel to a maximum height of 3,501 feet. The five distinctly pointed summits are a well-known landmark. The day is crowned with the iconic Eilean Donan Castle, one of the most recognized castles in Scotland used as the backdrop for countless famous movies. It is perfectly situated on a tiny island, surrounded by water and magnificent scenery. It is certainly a "must-see" Scottish castle! After you cross the Skye Bridge your spectacular journey towards the Isle of Skye ends and you are taken to the hotel. *Note: a cruise is available from April 15 to October 15.

Together with your driver-guide, you drive to Armadale where you may visit the Armadale Castle and Gardens and the Museum of the Isles (entrance tickets not included). You take a ferry over the sea from Skye (Armadale) to Mallaig, taking in the beautiful views. Upon arrival you have the Jacobite steam train ride on the famous West Highland Line described as the greatest railway journey in the world! During the ride you cross the most famous bridge in Scotland - the Glenfinnan Viaduct featured four of the Harry Potter movies. In about 2 hours after you arrive in Fort Willam.

Enjoy a scenic drive to Glasgow via Glen Coe and Inveraray Castle which is considered as one of the most spectacular drive in Scotland. This narrow valley of Glen Coe is where the bloody massacre of the MacDonalds took place in 1692. Glen Coe with its mountain peaks carved out by the glaciers and volcanic explosions is also an iconic film location: it is featured in the James Bond's Skyfall and Harry Potter movies. Here you have a chance to visit the Glencoe Visitor Center and Exhibition (entrance tickets not included). One of the main highlights today is the amazing Inveraray Castle featuring in Downtown Abbey. You will visit the romantic Castle & Gardens on the shores of Loch Fyne and discover one of Scotland’s finest stately homes. The way to Glasgow from the castle goes along the Loch Lomond and the western part of Trossachs National Park.

In the morning you meet your driver-guide to explore Ireland's countryside on the way to Cork. The first stop during your trip is the Rock of Cashel, the site that was the he Seat of the High Kings of Munster and where St Patrick converted King Aengus to Christianity. The Rock of Cashel is a spectacular group of medieval buildings set on an outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale. Your trip continues with a stop at the stunning Blarney Castle where you have the chance to kiss the famous Stone of Eloquence. *Please, note: you may add a journey on gorgeous Dublin – Rosslare railway line that passes Killiney Bay, the Avoca viaduct and the waterfront in Wexford town to your route today.

After breakfast you travel with your driver-guide along the wild and rugged south and west coast, which is part of Ireland’s famous Wild Atlantic Way route. Today is all about the very best Irish scenery and truly breathtaking panoramas that present a new vista with every mile. During the day you enjoy a number of magnificent photo stops. You first make a stop to view the beautiful scenery at the Old Head of Kinsale. You then travel along the coastline to Skibbereen and around Bantry Bay - one of the world’s largest natural harbours. There is time for lunch in the picturesque village of Kenmare and then you make your way through the most stunning part of the Ring of Kerry (its "short route" ) along the Killarney National Park.

This day is dedicated to a memorable day tour to the Dingle Peninsula - a journey that takes in the wild and rugged beauty of the Slea Head Drive - once cited as 'the most beautiful place on earth' by the National Geographic. The peninsula is littered with archaeological remains and secluded sandy beaches. Dingle Town is one of Ireland’s quickly disappearing Gaeltacht regions where Irish is the first language.

Your first stop is the famous Bunratty Castle and the Folk Park where you enjoy its sights as you stroll from house to house of the charming village street. Afterwards, you make your way to The Cliffs of Moher - a sheer precipice that stretches for 5 miles along the Wild Atlantic Way. The Cliffs of Moher are one of the most impressive coastlines in Ireland. Today you pay s visit to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre to see the exhibition dedicated to this natural wonder and the region. After the tour, you continue your journey and have time to see the Burren Region followed by a scenic drive to the city of Galway.