Scotland and Ireland

Flight to Glasgow

Once in Glasgow, board your coach and travel to the city of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Take a panoramic tour of Edinburgh, one of the most fascinating cities in the world. No one can resist the charm of its arches and alleys, its spectacular setting and its strong cultural energy. You will discover the medieval quarter, the Royal Mile, Saint-Gilles Cathedral, mansions with neo-classical facades and Charlotte Square. After lunch, visit Edinburgh Castle which dominates the city center. It caps the top of an extinct volcano transformed by glacial erosion into a steep peak with three almost vertical faces. Despite its unassailable appearance, it often changed hands over the centuries and struggles between Scots and English. Check into your hotel at the end of the day. Meal included : dinner.

Enjoy a tasty Scottish breakfast at the hotel to get the day off to a good start. Then, embark on a mini-cruise to the Falkirk Wheel site. Designed to connect the Union Canal estuary to the Forth and Clyde Canal, this mechanical marvel doubles as a boat lift and replaced a system of 11 locks. Then, head by coach to Stirling to visit its castle. The strategic dominance and incomparable architecture of Stirling Castle make it one of the most imposing buildings in Scotland. It is a symbol of Scottish independence and a source of national pride due to its historical importance. Also make a photo stop at the William Wallace monument, which commemorates this Scottish patriot and his triumph over Edward I’s army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Rising like a proud and sturdy tower above the hills, it is one of Scotland’s most distinctive landmarks. Then continue on to Perth, where you can settle into the hotel for the evening. Meals included: breakfast and dinner.

Today, take a seat aboard your coach and explore the landscapes of Loch Ness. Loch Ness is a surprising lake in the Highlands with the largest volume of freshwater in Scotland. It is known around the world for its legendary inhabitant: The Loch Ness monster, Nessie. Visit the Loch Ness Exhibition Center where you can learn about the legends around Nessie and where you can admire all manner of artefacts related to this strange creature. After lunch, visit Urquhart Castle on the shores of Loch Ness. Discover 1000 years of an eventful history and a number of objects related to the castle, including a working catapult. Finally, end the day with a trip to the Fort William area for the night. Meals included: breakfast and dinner.

After breakfast, depart for Glasgow through Glencoe. The road to Glencoe is one of the most spectacular in Scotland with its mountain scenery and secluded lochs. Glencoe means ‘the valley of tears’ and its melancholy atmosphere recalls the terrible Glencoe Massacre, perpetrated in 1692. Stop by the visitor’s center to learn more about this sad event as well as the history of the valley and the geological phenomena of the sector. After lunch, cruise past Loch Lomond by coach, Britain’s largest body of freshwater from the Highland Rift. Stop in Luss to take some photos and enjoy the view of the small islets in the middle of the loch. The landscape of this area has greatly influenced the history and literature of Scotland and inspired the first tourists to venture into the Highlands of Scotland. Find out why for yourself! Then continue to the Glasgow area and settle into your accommodation. Meals included: breakfast and dinner.

Start this day with a panoramic tour of Glasgow, a city in full revival; vibrant, daring and trendy, it evolves at high speed. Its Victorian architecture is now taken by storm by trendy bars, luxury restaurants, all animated by an intense nightlife. Better yet, the music scene to be discovered in the countless venues, where some of the best artists in Great Britain perform. Then leave by coach for Cairnryan. Once there, take a lunch break before boarding the Cairnryan Ferry with your luggage to Ireland. Once in Belfast, it’s time to go to your accommodation and enjoy a free evening. Meals included: breakfast and dinner.

This morning you will drive along the beautiful coastal road of the “Glens of Antrim”. The road, which runs along the coast of Antrim, crosses landscapes so varied that you always look forward to discovering what is hidden behind the next promontory. On the sea side, we discover vast stretches of shore and steep cliffs. Inside, the “glens”, narrow valleys carved by torrents descending from the highlands of moors and peat bogs, are today punctuated by forest plantations. Visit the Giant’s Causeway and its visitor center. The Giant’s Causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of 40,000 polygonal basalt columns, formed 60 million years ago after a volcanic eruption. Today, the visitor center explores major themes from mythology, geology, ecology and social history. Return to Belfast after your visit and enjoy free time to explore the city at your own pace. Meals included: breakfast and dinner.

Following your Irish breakfast at the hotel, take a city tour of Belfast. Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, has a population of around 300,000. It is an important industrial, academic and port city. The city retains visible traces of recent conflicts, as evidenced by the murals of the Catholic and Protestant districts. Belfast is changing rapidly and there is an atmosphere of peace and optimism. Then visit the Titanic Belfast Museum. Located in the heart of the city, this museum opened in April 2012 to coincide with the centenary of the launch of the transatlantic. Highlights of the tour include the breathtaking views of the ramps from which the Titanic was launched, and the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea in the unique ocean exploration center. Then, after lunch, depart by coach to Dublin to end this fabulous journey. Meals included: breakfast and dinner.

Dublin awaits you today for your last day in Ireland. Discover with your local guide a young, lively city that is both intimate and welcoming. Stroll through its historic and Georgian quarters, walk on Grafton Street and take a peek at its famous breweries, distilleries and Irish pubs. You will also see the National Gallery of Ireland which features a collection of works by Irish and European artists, including Yeats, Goya and Rembrandt. You will visit Trinity College Library, the largest in Ireland, which holds a collection of over 200,000 ancient books, including the famous Book of Kells. After a free time for lunch, visit Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, built in honor of Ireland’s Patron saint. Admire this Gothic-style construction and its splendid interior adorned with funerary monuments, such as the Boyle Family Memorial and the tomb of Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver’s Travels). Once these tours are over, take the rest of the day to explore the capital. Meals included: breakfast and dinner.

Coach transfer to Dublin airport and return flight home.  Meal included: lunch (to be confirmed according to your flight schedule).