Welcome to Dublin. On arrival, pick up your car at the airport and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon you can explore this capital city with its many historic buildings, Georgian streets, and colorful gardens. Take the opportunity to visit some of the many attractions such as the Christchurch Cathedral. You can also visit the Guinness Storehouse, once an operational plant for fermenting and storing Guinness, that houses an exhibition dedicated to the Guinness story. After visiting the exhibition, you are invited to the Gravity Bar to enjoy your pint of Guinness.

(Accommodations, Dublin Area)

This morning, head towards Boyne Valley, a World Heritage Site and one of the largest and most important prehistoric megalithic sites in Europe.

Begin your discovery with Loughcrew Cairns, the largest complex of passage graves in Ireland. Inside Cairn T, the largest of the tombs, lies a cruciform chamber and a corbelled roof as well as probably some of the most beautiful examples of Neolithic art in Ireland. One of the great secrets of Loughcrew is the Vernal and Autumnal Equinox illumination at sunrise in Cairn T when the backstone of the tomb is illuminated by a ray of sunshine.

Next, continue to Trim, one of Ireland's Heritage towns, dominated by the impressive medieval Trim Castle dating from 1173. The largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, the twenty-sided tower, which is cruciform in shape, was protected by a ditch, curtain wall and moat and the massive three storied Keep, the central stronghold of the castle, was built on the site of an earlier wooden fortress.

(Breakfast, Dublin Area; Accommodations, Meath Area)

Today you'll travel to Celbridge and visit Castletown House, Ireland's largest and earliest Palladian style house, built between 1722 and 1729 for William Conolly. On your tour you'll discover the diverse and fascinating history of Conolly family members and get the chance to view the stunning architecture, furniture, and vast collection of paintings within the rooms.

In the afternoon, visit the Irish National Stud, the only stud farm in Ireland open to the public offering daily tours, and the Japanese Gardens located on its grounds. Learn about Ireland's world class reputation for the breeding of the thoroughbred horse at the horse museum and take a walk through the artistically and horticulturally significant Japanese Gardens.

(Breakfast, Meath Area; Accommodations, Kildare Area)

After breakfast, depart for the medieval city of Kilkenny where you'll visit Kilkenny Castle. The 12th century castle was remodeled in Victorian times and is set in extensive parklands. Explore the central block, which includes a library, drawing room, and bedrooms decorated in 1830's splendor, as well as the Butler Art Gallery, whose exhibitions of contemporary art are housed in former servant's suites.

Continue to Jerpoint Park where you will unearth the unique history of a deserted 12th century medieval town called Newtown Jerpoint. Here you will discover the Tomb Effigy of St Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra, as well as enjoy a sheep dog demonstration with sheep or geese!

Next, visit the Ross Tapestry Exhibition, a massive community initiative conceived in 1998 that features fifteen striking embroidered panels depicting events around the Anglo- Norman arrival in the South East of Ireland, specifically the founding of the town of New Ross, Co. Wexford by William Marshal and Isabel de Clare.

(Breakfast, Kildare Area; Accommodations, Wexford Area)

Start the day with a walking tour of Wexford town, founded by the Vikings who named it Waesfjord (meaning 'harbor of mud flats'). The town's convenient location near the mouth of the Slaney encouraged landings as early as AD 850 and the remnants of its Norman occupancy in 1169 can still be seen in the grounds of the Irish National Heritage Park.

Visit the ruins of Selskar Abbey, a 12th-century structure that replaced a pre-Christian temple dedicated to Odin. The complex, which is part of the Westgate Heritage Tower, was the location where the first Anglo-Irish treaty was signed.

Continue to Hook Head where you'll discover the natural beauty and tranquility of the unspoiled Hook Peninsula-the untouched ancient Ireland you've been longing to visit. From the 6th-century monk who kept the beacon of Hook Lighthouse aflame to warn sailors of possible shipwreck, to the arrival of Strongbow in 1170, who vowed to take Waterford 'by Hook or by Crook', to the famous Knights Templar who strategically placed their Irish headquarters here, the Hook Peninsula is an area where heritage runs deep.

(Breakfast & Accommodations, Wexford Area)

This morning depart for Wicklow and pay a visit to Wells House and Gardens in Gorey, a stunning Victorian Walled house and garden en route. From golden sandy beaches to rolling hills and valleys, Wicklow's unique topography means that yet another stunning scene awaits just minutes away no matter where you are in the county.

Enjoy a visit to the monastic site at Glendalough, an early Christian ecclesiastical settlement founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. Set in a glaciated valley with two lakes, the monastic remains include a superb round tower, stone churches and decorated crosses. At the Visitor Center, check out the interesting exhibition and an audio-visual show.

This afternoon visit Killruddery House, home to the Earls of Meath since 1618 and the most significant Elizabethan Revival mansion in Ireland. Killruddery is unique in having one of the most extensive early formal gardens, in their original style, surviving in Ireland today. Laid out in the 17th century and enhanced in the 19th century, they are amongst the most important of their type in Ireland and the UK.

(Breakfast, Wexford Area; Accommodations, Wicklow area)

On your last full day in Ireland, you may choose to spend your day in Dublin. Take a walk in Temple Bar Cultural Quarter, one of the oldest parts of Dublin, enjoy an Irish Coffee in one of the pubs, and visit Trinity College to see the famous 9th century Book of Kells. After viewing the Book of Kells, visit the Long Room built in 1745 that contains over two hundred thousand books and manuscripts of the Trinity's oldest volumes.

Alternatively, spend your day visiting Howth, a picturesque fishing village situated at the foot of a huge rock peninsula. Howth, a huge rock massif with footpaths ideal for small walks, offers beautiful views of Dublin Bay and numerous options for seafood restaurants.

(Breakfast, Wicklow Area; Accommodations, Dublin Area)

Travel to Dublin Airport for your return flight home...or continue on to your next Avanti adventure!

(Breakfast, Dublin Area)