First solo trip, early May 2017
All by public transportation, no car rentals
I know it is very full and very planned out, but that's what I enjoy
Suggestions would be appreciated!
Day 1:
• Depart Chicago O’hare Airport
Day 2:
• Morning: Arrive in Shannon, Ireland, eat lunch
• 3:30pm: Arrive in Doolin
• 4:30pm: Arrive at hotel and check-in
• 5:00pm: Depart for Cliffs of Moher by bike rental
• 8:00pm: Dinner
Day 3:
• 10:00am: Wild Burren Kayak Tour
• 2:00pm: Return to Doolin, lunch, and relax
• 5:15pm: Cliffs of Moher Ferry Tour
• 6:15pm: Return from tour
• 6:30pm: Dinner
Day 4:
• 8:35am: Depart for Galway
• 10:30am: Arrive in Galway
• 12:00pm: Depart by train for Dublin
• 3:00pm: Arrive in Dublin, check into hotel
• 4:00pm: Guinness Storehouse Tour (1.5 hours)
• 6:00pm: Dinner
Day 5:
• 8:45am: Depart for Kilkenny Day Tour (Collins Day Tours)
o Glendalough
o Kilkenny Castle
• 6:00pm: Arrive Back in Dublin
• 7:00pm: Dinner
Day 6:
• 8:00am: Celtic Boyne Valley Tour
o Loughcrew
o Trim Castle
o Hill of Tara
o Monasterboice
o Drogheda
• 6:00pm: Arrive in Dublin
• 6:30pm: Dinner
Day 7:
• 9 am: Irish National Stud (1.5 hours)
• 12:30pm: Return to Dublin, eat lunch
• 1:30pm: Kilmainham Gaol (1.5 hours)
• 3:00pm: Return to hotel, collect bags, head to train station
• 4:15pm: Depart for Belfast
• 7:05pm: Arrive in Belfast, dinner
• 8:30pm: Check into hotel
Day 8:
• 9:30am: GIANTS CAUSEWAY & ANTRIM COAST TOUR FROM BELFAST
o Bushmills Whiskey Distillery
o Dunluce Castle
o Giants Causeway
o Carnlough
• 6:00pm: Return to Belfast
• 7:00pm: Dinner
Day 9:
• 9:00am: Titanic Belfast Museum (2 hours)
• 11:00am: Collect bags, head to airport
• 12:00pm: Arrive at airport, lunch
• 2:00pm: Fly to Edinburgh
• 3:00pm: Arrive in Edinburgh, collect bags
• 4:00pm: Check-in to hotel
• 5:00pm: Dinner, explore Edinburgh
Day 10:
• 9:30am: Edinburgh Castle (3 hours)
• 12:30pm: Lunch
• 1:30pm: National Museum of Scotland (3 hours)
• 4:30pm: Royal Mile, Arthur’s Seat (3 hours)
• 7:30pm: Dinner
Day 11:
• 6:15am: Depart for Aberdeen (bus)
• 9:10am: Arrive in Aberdeen
• 10:00am: Check into hotel, drop bags
• 11:20am: Dunnottar Castle (2 hours), lunch
• 3:00pm: Aberdeen Maritime Museum (2 hours)
• 5:30pm: Dinner, walk and explore
Day 12:
• 7:15am: Depart for Inverness
• 9:35am: Arrive in Inverness
• 10:30am: Check into hotel, drop bags
• 1:00pm: Jacobite Cruise (2 hours)
o Loch Ness
o Urquhart Castle
• 4:00pm: Rent bike and ride to Culloden Battlefield
• 5:00pm: Arrive at Culloden Battlefield (2 hours)
• 7:00pm: Leave for Inverness
• 8:00pm: Arrive in Inverness and dinner
Day 13:
• 8:45am: Depart for Fort William (bus)
• 10:45am: Arrive in Fort William
• 11:00am: Bus to Glencoe
• 11:30am: Arrive at hotel, check in, drop bags, lunch
• 1:00pm: Glencoe, Lost Valley Walk (5 hours)
• 6:00pm: Dinner
Day 14: Jacobite Steam Train and Travel to Skye
• 9:00am: Arrive in Fort William, walk to train station
• 10:15am: Jacobite Steam Train to Mallaig
• 12:25pm: Arrive in Mallaig, lunch
• 4:00pm: Ferry to Armadale, Skye
• 4:30pm: Arrive in Armadale
• 5:20pm: Bus to Broadford
• 5:45pm: Arrive in Broadford
• 6:00pm: Check into hotel, dinner
Day 15:
• Morning: Isle of Skye Seaplane Tour (~70 minutes)
• 12:00pm: Lunch, collect bags
• 3:45pm: Depart for Portree (bus)
• 4:30pm: Arrive in Portree
• 5:00pm: Check-in to hotel (Cruinn Bheinn), drop bags
• 6:00pm: Dinner, explore Portree
Day 16:
• 9:30am: Skye Bus Tour Departs
o Fairy Glen
o Kilt Rock
o Fairy Pools
o Quiraing
o Neist Point
o Dunvegan Castle or Neist Point Lighthouse
o Old Man of Storr
o Cuillin Mountains
• 7:00pm: Arrive back in Portree, dinner
Day 17:
• 7:45am: Depart for Glasgow by bus
• 2:00pm: Arrive in Glasgow, lunch
• 3:00pm: Check into hotel
• 3:30pm: Kelvingrove Art Gallery (1.5 hours)
• 5:00pm: Dinner
Day 18:
• Return Flight to Chicago