SMALL GUIDED VACATIONS: Travel with luxurious comfort and ease

This tour is ideal for those who love castles and terrific cuisine. Pick up your car, and drive through lush Irish countryside to Wicklow. Delight in the horses, pub, brewery, smokehouse, and a fabulous dinner at the first organic restaurant in Ireland. Afterward, relax in spa… Heaven. From there, explore Wicklow National Park, the monastic settlement of Glendalough, and Avoca with its renowned hand weavers. 

Be amazed by verdant rolling hills on the way to your castle stay in Kildare. On the way, take the time to explore medieval and mysterious Kilkenny, the Smithwicks Experience, and Rothe House and Gardens. The next two nights are in Dublin, an irresistible city that’s easy to love and easy to explore. Consider Trinity College, the Book of Kells, and Grafton Street’s rollicking nightlife and eclectic shops. Celebrate all things Irish during your Guinness Connoisseur experience and Irish Food Trail walk.

Leaving Dublin, you’ll have a private transfer to Dublin Port and then ferry across the Irish Sea to Holyhead, Wales. Throughout your Wales adventure, you’ll stay at a gorgeous Castle and Chateaux. Ply the waters on a Castles and Islands Ribride! Climb into your rental car; you may want to visit Conwy Castle, a UNESCO site, take a cable car to the top of Great Orme, or simply kick back and enjoy your luxurious lodgings. Spend your last night in Manchester, with sweet dreams of castle keeps and delicious repasts. 

PLAN AND BOOK

Included Unique Activities

  • Castle and Island Rib Boat Safari
Dinner at the Strawberry Tree

Dinner at the Strawberry Tree

Guinness Connoisseur Experience

Guinness Connoisseur Experience

Ferry from Dublin to Holyhead

Ferry from Dublin to Holyhead

Private Transfer to/from Dublin Port, Dublin

Private Transfer to/from Dublin Port, Dublin

Rib Boat Safari

Rib Boat Safari

Accommodations

2 Nights

Elegant Eco-Hotel

1 Night

Enchanting Castle Resort

2 Nights

Luxury Boutique 4-Star Hotel

1 Night

Award-winning Country House

2 Nights

Historic Heart of Conwy Hotel

1 Night

4-Star City Center Hotel

Transportation and Guides

  • Ferry across the Irish Sea from Wales to Dublin
  • Compact Automatic Car in both Ireland & Wales
  • Private Transfer from Dublin hotel to Ferry Port

Meals Included

  • Dinner and Wine at Ireland first certified Organic Restaurant
  • Walk-in pantry and Wild Food Ethos tour
  • Dublin Irish Food Trail
  • Ultimate Guinness Tasting Experience

Points of Interest

  • See the Beautiful Waterfall and Grounds of Powerscourt House & Gardens
  • Explore stunning Wicklow Mountains National Park
  • Discover the Medieval Monastic Settlement at Glendalough
  • Visit the Picturesque Village of Avoca
  • Experience a Fusion of Medieval and Modern in Kilkenny
  • Uncover the History of Smithwick's Irish Ale at Smithwicks Experience
  • Discover the Stunning Coastline, landscapes, and picture-postcard towns of Anglesey Island
  • Explore the Eastern Shore of the Menai Strait in Caernarfon & Bangor
  • See the best preserved of King Edward I’s “Ring of Iron” - Caernarfon Castle.
  • Marvel at the gateways and towers of Conwy Castle (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
  • Visit the coastal town of Llandudno and marvel at the cliffs of the Great Orme

Powerscourt House and Gardens, County Wicklow

Powerscourt Waterfall, County Wicklow

Wicklow Mountains National Park, County Wicklow

Glendalough, County Wicklow

Avoca Village, County Wicklow

Kilkenny, County Kilkenny

Smithwick's Experience, County Kilkenny

Rothe House & Garden, County Kilkenny

UNESCO World Heritage sites

Conwy

Conwy

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2026 LOW SEASON

Available Dates

Nov, Dec

From $4,341 per person

2026 MID SEASON

Available Dates

May, Sep, Oct

From $4,618 per person

2026 HIGH SEASON

Available Dates

Jun, Jul, Aug

From $5,034 per person

2027 LOW SEASON

Available Dates

Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec

From $4,775 per person

2027 MID SEASON

Available Dates

Apr, May, Sep, Oct

From $5,080 per person

2027 HIGH SEASON

Available Dates

Jun, Jul, Aug

From $5,537 per person

Your Price Includes

ACCOMMODATION
  • 9-Nights in Unique 4-Star Hotels
TRANSPORTATION
  • Ferry across the Irish Sea from Wales to Dublin
  • Compact Automatic Car in both Ireland & Wales
  • Private Transfer from Dublin hotel to Ferry Port

DINING OPTIONS INCLUDED

  • Dinner and Wine at Ireland first certified Organic Restaurant
  • Walk-in pantry and Wild Food Ethos tour
  • Dublin Irish Food Trail
  • Ultimate Guinness Tasting Experience
INCLUDED UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
  • Castle and Island Rib Boat Safari
POINTS OF INTEREST
  • See the Beautiful Waterfall and Grounds of Powerscourt House & Gardens
  • Explore stunning Wicklow Mountains National Park
  • Discover the Medieval Monastic Settlement at Glendalough
  • Visit the Picturesque Village of Avoca
  • Experience a Fusion of Medieval and Modern in Kilkenny
  • Uncover the History of Smithwick's Irish Ale at Smithwicks Experience
  • Head Back in Time at Rothe House and Gardens - a 17th-Century Merchant's Townhouse
  • Stroll the cobblestone-lined Grafton Street in the Temple Bar
  • Visit Christchurch Cathedral -  Dublin's Oldest Building
  • Take in the stunning campus of Ireland's top university, Trinity College
  • Marvel at Dublin Castle - the Heart of Historic Dublin
  • Meander down O'Connell Street - Dublin's Main Thoroughfare
  • Discover the Stunning Coastline, landscapes, and picture-postcard towns of Anglesey Island
  • Explore the Eastern Shore of the Menai Strait in Caernarfon & Bangor

Prices Based On

  • All Taxes & Fees Included
  • Prices are Per Person based on 2 people traveling together and sharing a room.
  • Traveling Alone? No Problem. Just Ask Us for a Single Supplement Price.

"Family vacation"

Randi Whitaker

TN

I don’t think I could sing their praises enough. I wanted to explore Scotland but had no idea how to begin planning. I didn’t have to do anything. It was all taken care of. I just had to show up, I had no stress the whole trip.

This was the first of many trips to come. I’ll definitely be a return customer.

"Family Vacation"

Amber W

Texas

Amber M knocked it out of the park AGAIN! As always, she provided great insight and excellent service throughout the process. Clients had a wonderful time and loved the quality of the tours and professionalism and knowledge of the drivers and guides!

"Multiple itineraries all over the world!"

Megan Paylor

Nashville, TN

As a travel advisor, I get requests for trips all over the world. So far Authentic Vacations has helped me plan trips for clients throughout Europe, Iceland, and Australia. And my clients always come back happy and eager to plan another! I have worked with everyone, but most extensively with Ellie and Michelle, and I can’t say enough good things about them. They are thorough, kind, knowledgeable, and always willing to help get the job done! Highly recommend the entire crew at Authentic, and will keep coming back!

"So glad we booked our UK vacation with Authentic"

Lori N.

Illinois

This review is long overdue. We booked a 2 week vacation in the UK through Authentic Vacations and are so glad that we did!! Amber was our advisor, and she took my wish list and crafted a great trip that provided exactly what we were looking for. It was so nice to have it all pre-arranged for us so that we could just go and not have to worry about anything. The hotels were great choices and the tour companies that Amber booked were really good ones. Communication was clear and easy, and the company kept all of its commitments. Thank you, Authentic Vacations! Nice job!

"A Complicated Itinerary Made Easy"

Susan G.

Scottdale

Lauren did an excellent job with my clients! She was so helpful in a very unique and complicated trip for a solo traveler. We combined it with some Air BnB that my client did and lauren was so great! Thank you again for being amazing to work with!

"Pleasure, Memory Tour in Ireland"

Howard R.

VA

YES! Joleen put together a wonderful itinerary for my return trip to Ashford and Dromoland Castles in Ireland. The drivers and transfers were very pleasant and always on time with very comfortable luxury transports. The castle hotels were exactly what I expected but I think Joleen must have said things in the booking process because it seemed as though they may have stepped their normal attention to details up a bit. The upgrade at Dromoland was unexpected but much appreciated! Truly felt like a prince at both locations and all things went as planned without any problems. Thank you, your staff and especially Joleen for all that was done to make this a trip to remember!

"My clients were SO happy with their Italy trip"

Nicole K.

Missouri

I worked with Ellie at Authentic Vacations to plan a client's trip to Italy. Not only were the clients SO happy with the itinerary that Ellie crafted, but as the travel advisor, working with Authentic made the whole process seamless and stress-free!

My clients toured around Florence, Rome, and Tuscany. They were sending me pictures throughout their trip, letting me know that I "nailed" the itinerary. Authentic Vacations and its staff really understand the destinations and what travelers are truly looking for.

On the travel advisor side, it was an absolute joy from start to finish working with Ellie. She was always quick to respond and available to help in any way. I truly can't wait to work together in the future!

"Fantastic Vacation in Scotland"

Alison E.

Louisville

My clients just returned from Scotland and Ireland and had a fantastic vacation. I appreciate the fast responses and knowledge in creating custom itineraries and have confidence that everything will be perfect for my clients. I love working with Authentic Vacations!

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