Scotland and Ireland Landscapes from Edinburgh - 12 Days / 11 Nights

Discover the best of Scotland and Ireland on a tour that combines spectacular scenery, history and culture. From the majestic Highlands, Loch Ness and elegant Edinburgh, to the iconic Cliffs of Moher, Kylemore Abbey and vibrant Dublin. A complete journey that will also take you to the impressive Giant's Causeway and to the most authentic essence of the Celtic world, through cities full of life, traditions and unforgettable natural scenery.

**DAY 1. EDINBURGH**
Transfer to the hotel in Edinburgh. Accommodation and breakfast at the Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End, Holiday Inn Edinburgh Zoo or similar.

**DAY 2. EDINBURGH**
In the morning we will take a panoramic tour of the city of Edinburgh with our guide, in Spanish, exploring the elegant 18th-century "Georgian New Town" and the historic medieval city known as the "Old Town". You will have the rest of the day free to keep discovering one of the most visited cities in the United Kingdom. Edinburgh is a city with a special charm that won't leave you indifferent: you can visit its impressive castle, Holyrood Palace, the Scottish Parliament and the royal yacht "Royal Yacht Britannia", or simply stroll through its streets and the Princes Street Gardens. Accommodation and breakfast at the Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End, Holiday Inn Edinburgh Zoo or similar.

**DAY 3. EDINBURGH – FIFE – ST ANDREWS – PERTH – PITLOCHRY – HIGHLANDS**
We will leave Edinburgh heading north, crossing the famous Forth Bridge. This cantilever railway bridge is an engineering masterpiece and offers impressive panoramic views of the Firth of Forth, the estuary that separates Edinburgh from the Kingdom of Fife. We will arrive in St Andrews, world-famous as the home of golf and the site of Scotland's oldest university. Founded in 1413, this prestigious university has counted among its students figures as well known as Prince William and Kate Middleton. We will continue towards Perth (The Fair City), Scotland's former capital and seat of the Scottish crown until 1437. There we will have free time for lunch. We will continue towards the Highlands through beautiful mid-mountain landscapes, making a brief stop in Pitlochry, a small Victorian-era town famous as a high-society holiday resort. Dinner, accommodation and breakfast at the Hotel MacDonald Aviemore Highlands, Hotel Mercure Inverness or similar in the area.

**DAY 4. HIGHLANDS – INVERNESS – LOCH NESS – FORT WILLIAM – LOCH LOMOND – GLASGOW**
After breakfast, we will continue towards Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. There we will take a panoramic tour to see some of its main points of interest, such as its castle and cathedral. Afterwards, we will continue along the shores of the famous Loch Ness, home to "Nessie", the legendary monster of its depths, with the opportunity to take an optional boat trip on the loch. Next, we will head towards Fort William, a town at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles, where we will have free time for lunch. We will then cross the Glencoe valley, of spectacular scenic beauty, towards the Trossachs National Park and Loch Lomond, Scotland's largest lake, where we will admire the romantic landscapes of the first national park created by the Scottish government. In the afternoon we will arrive in Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, taking a panoramic tour before arriving at the hotel, to see its main points of interest, such as Glasgow Cathedral, the University or the vibrant George Square. Accommodation and breakfast at the Clayton Hotel Glasgow, Radisson Red Hotel Glasgow, Hampton By Hilton Glasgow or similar.

**DAY 5. GLASGOW – GIANT'S CAUSEWAY – DARK HEDGES – BELFAST**
We will say goodbye to Glasgow and take a ferry across Irish waters to the port of Belfast, in Northern Ireland. After disembarking, we head towards the Giant's Causeway, with free time for lunch along the way. This UNESCO World Heritage wonder is made up of some 40,000 basalt columns sculpted by nature over millions of years, forming a captivating landscape. We will be able to explore its visitor centre to learn about its geological history and the myths surrounding this place. Afterwards, we will head to Belfast through the interior of Northern Ireland and make a photo stop at Dark Hedges, a tree-lined avenue that served as a filming location for the famous series Game of Thrones. Accommodation and breakfast at the Maldron Hotel Belfast City, Ramada by Wyndham Belfast, Holiday Inn Belfast City Centre or similar.

**DAY 6. BELFAST – DUBLIN**
In the morning we will take a panoramic tour of the centre of Belfast, the vibrant capital of Northern Ireland. We will immerse ourselves in its past and understand its present as we travel through its streets. We will discover the story of David and Goliath, and see Cave Hill, the mountain that inspired Jonathan Swift to write "Gulliver's Travels". We will also pass by the painted murals, and understand the differences between the Protestant and Catholic neighbourhoods, and their impact on society. We will visit the Titanic Quarter, a modern urban development built on the site where the Titanic was built, and go into the museum dedicated to recreating its story. Afterwards, we will have free time for lunch. We will set off for Dublin, passing through the Mourne Mountains, and arrive in the afternoon in the capital of the Republic of Ireland, where you will have free time to stroll through its streets. Tonight you will have the option of taking part in an Irish dinner with live traditional Irish folk music (optional). Accommodation and breakfast at the Academy Plaza, Maldron Hotel Parnell Square, Hampton by Hilton Dublin Hotel, Camden Court Hotel or similar.

**DAY 7. DUBLIN – ATHLONE – GALWAY**
After breakfast, we will begin with a brief panoramic tour on our way out of Dublin, allowing us to see different areas of the city and its contrast between historic areas and more modern neighbourhoods. We will leave the capital to begin our journey towards the west of Ireland. Our first stop will be Athlone, located practically in the geographical centre of Ireland and crossed by the River Shannon, the longest in the country. This strategic location has made the city an important connection point between east and west since the Middle Ages. A highlight is Athlone Castle, originally built in the 13th century by the Normans and rebuilt on several occasions throughout its history, especially after the siege of 1691 during the Williamite wars. We will also be able to enjoy its lively riverside walk and local atmosphere, characteristic of a city with a trading and river-going tradition. We continue on to Galway, known as the "City of the Tribes", in reference to the fourteen Anglo-Norman merchant families who dominated its political and economic life between the 14th and 17th centuries. Located on the west coast, on the shores of the Atlantic, Galway is today an important cultural centre, famous for its festivals, traditional music and young, dynamic atmosphere. Dinner, accommodation and breakfast at the Hotel Connacht, Shannon Spring Hotel, Lough Rea Hotel & Spa or similar.

**DAY 8. GALWAY – WESTPORT – CONNEMARA – GALWAY**
After breakfast, we will cross some of the country's most characteristic landscapes until we reach Westport, one of the most attractive and lively towns in the region, with views over the River Carrowbeg, where we will have time to stroll through its well-kept centre, enjoy its local atmosphere and go shopping, as well as buy food for lunch, to be enjoyed later on. We will continue towards the Connemara region, a territory of great natural beauty, famous for its lakes, valleys, mountains and small villages, which for centuries has inspired poets and painters. Through these landscapes we will reach the spectacular Kylemore Abbey, a former Victorian castle built on the shore of a lake and surrounded by an incomparable natural setting, originally the residence of the Mitchell Henry family and later transformed into a convent by Benedictine nuns. In the afternoon, we will return to Galway, taking a walking tour of this lively university city, getting to know the Catholic cathedral, the Spanish Arch and its central High Street, famous for its vibrant atmosphere, shops and traditional Irish pubs, where there will be time to enjoy live music and try the local beers. Dinner, accommodation and breakfast at the Hotel Connacht, Shannon Spring Hotel, Lough Rea Hotel & Spa or similar.

**DAY 9. GALWAY – CLIFFS OF MOHER – LIMERICK – CORK**
This morning we will set off towards the Cliffs of Moher, crossing The Burren, which in Gaelic means "rocky terrain". The cliffs, an imposing stretch of limestone facing the Atlantic, are UNESCO-recognised and offer incomparable views over the ocean, rising up to 200 metres above sea level and stretching for 8 kilometres. We will spend time admiring them and visiting their visitor centre, as they are one of Ireland's main postcard images. We will then head to Limerick, taking a panoramic tour of the city, the fourth most important in Ireland, founded by the Vikings on the banks of the River Shannon. We will have free time in Limerick for lunch. We will continue on to Cork, enjoying a tour of the English Market, an iconic market in the city centre. We will also see St Anne's Shandon Church, the "Four Faced Liar" clock and the Protestant St Fin Barre's Cathedral. Cork is a city built on water and home to an important commercial port, from which countless ships set sail for the New World during the Great Irish Famine. We will have free time to stroll through its streets. Dinner, accommodation and breakfast at the Cork International Hotel, Radisson Blu Cork, Garryvoe Hotel, Actons Hotel Kinsale or similar.

**DAY 10. CORK – KILLARNEY AND THE RING OF KERRY – CORK**
Today we will dedicate the day to exploring the Ring of Kerry, one of Ireland's most famous and spectacular scenic routes. It is a circular route of around 170 kilometres crossing the Iveragh Peninsula, offering some of the most impressive landscapes in the west of the country. Along the way we will pass inland lakes, light sandy beaches, green hills and coastal cliffs, a natural environment shaped by the last glaciation more than a million years ago. The landscape changes constantly, alternating views of the Atlantic Ocean with quiet valleys and gentle mountains, creating one of Ireland's most recognisable postcard images. Along the route we will pass through charming coastal and rural villages such as Waterville, Sneem and Cahersiveen, each with its own character and strong ties to local traditions. At some of these points we will have free time, ideal for strolling, buying Irish crafts and, weather permitting, having lunch at one of the region's traditional pubs, where you can experience authentic local life. After completing this unforgettable tour of the Ring of Kerry, we will begin the return journey to Cork, once again crossing the changing landscapes of south-west Ireland. Dinner, accommodation and breakfast at the Cork International Hotel, Radisson Blu Cork, Garryvoe Hotel, Actons Hotel Kinsale or similar.

**DAY 11. CORK – ROCK OF CASHEL – KILKENNY – DUBLIN**
After breakfast, we will leave Cork behind to begin our return journey to Dublin, travelling through the interior of the country and visiting the impressive Rock of Cashel. This emblematic fortified complex, predating the Norman invasion, was for centuries the seat of royal power in Munster before being handed over to the church. The site is closely linked to the legends of St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, and also to one of the most tragic episodes in the country's history, the 1647 massacre, in which around 3,000 people lost their lives at the hands of Oliver Cromwell's troops. We will continue to Kilkenny, where we will have free time for lunch and a brief visit. We will be able to stroll through its charming streets and take photographs of the imposing Kilkenny Castle, a medieval fortress that belonged to the influential Butler family until 1935. Finally, we will head to Dublin, where we will have the rest of the afternoon free to enjoy the city, stroll around or do some last-minute shopping on Irish soil. Accommodation and breakfast at the Academy Plaza, Maldron Hotel Parnell Square, Hampton by Hilton Dublin Hotel, Camden Court Hotel or similar.

**DAY 12. DUBLIN**
Free day in Dublin to enjoy the city at your own pace. End of services.