The Gardens of Ireland & Beyond - Travel Experience

The Gardens of Ireland & Beyond

A Luxurious Exploration of Ireland’s Historic Estates, Landscapes, and Culinary Heritage

Plan Your Journey

Highlights

  • Explore Ireland’s most iconic gardens: Powerscourt, Killruddery, Japanese Gardens, Tourin, Dromana, Bantry, Muckross, and Kells Bay
  • Guided by a Gardens & Stately Homes expert
  • Enjoy exclusive, private tours of family-owned estates, including Tourin House (Jameson family) and Dromana House
  • Private tour of the Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens, revealing Ireland’s horse-racing legacy
  • Visit to The Burren, a unique limestone landscape rich in wild flora and ancient history. Storytelling session with a local expert in the Burren region.

Stay at Ireland’s finest properties: Dromoland Castle, Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa, The Merrion Hotel, Ballymaloe House, Muckross Park Hotel

Fine dining in top venues including Sika Restaurant, Ballymaloe’s Farm-to-Table Kitchen, and Yew Tree Restaurant


Overview

Experience the beauty, heritage, and charm of Ireland through its most scenic regions. This thoughtfully curated itinerary takes you from the lush landscapes of Wicklow through the vibrant culture of Dublin, onward to the rolling countryside of Cork, the coastal beauty of Kerry, and the dramatic terrain of Clare. Along the way, enjoy privately guided visits to renowned gardens, historic estates, and cultural landmarks. Savor delicious local cuisine, immerse yourself in the stories of Ireland's past, and relax with comfortable, chauffeur-driven travel. From elegant towns to hidden natural gems, this journey blends relaxation, discovery, and authentic Irish hospitality—offering a rich and memorable taste of the island’s timeless allure.

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DAY8
Day 1

Arrival in Dublin

Welcome to Ireland! On arrival at Dublin Airport, you will be met by your driver at the arrival hall and head to the Botanical Gardens. You will have a tour of these unique gardens for a couple of hours. Once finished, you will make your way back to the vehicles and continue to Powerscourt.

Day 2

Exploring Killruddery & Powerscourt Gardens

Meet your Driver & Garden Guide at the lobby of your hotel this morning and begin exploring the Irish East coast, best known as the Garden of Ireland. Just south of Dublin, County Wicklow is a wild pleasure garden of coastline, woodland, and mountains. Take your time exploring two splendid houses and gardens today, Killruddery and Powerscourt House and Gardens. A truly magnificent combination of the aristocratic themes of French and Italian formal gardening. Powerscourt Gardens stretch over 47 acres and offer visitors a sublime blend of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, statues, ornamental lakes, secret hollows, and rambling walks. Designed from 1731 onwards, with the desire to create a garden which was part of the wider surrounding landscape, the gardens are now composed of The Walled Garden, The Italian Garden, The Dolphin Pond, The Japanese Gardens, Pets Cemetery, and Pepperpot Tower, among other features and attractions. With a pair of canals, beech alley, and even an open-air theatre, it is a magical place to visit with a variety of plants to wow. After you visit these gardens, you will return to Powerscourt for the final night in the hotel.

Day 3

Irish National Stud Farm & Japanese Gardens

Leaving Wicklow behind this morning, you will checkout before meeting your driver-guide. You will be heading towards County Cork for the next two nights. First you will make your way to the Irish National Stud for a private guided tour of the Stud Farm & Japanese Gardens. Learn about the importance of the Horse Racing and Breeding Industry to Ireland, and for such a small country, it is a world leader in the industry. From here your journey continues south. You will be staying in Ballymaloe House.

Day 4

Private Tours at Tourin House & Dromana Estates

Tour further south to Cork today, where you will enjoy a very special private visit at Tourin House and Gardens – home to the Jameson family, of Irish Whiskey fame. You will be welcomed to Tourin by one of the three Jameson Sisters, who are the 9th generation of the family. Here where history meets the present day, enjoy a tour of their home and gardens, along with coffee/tea and of course a glass of Jameson Whiskey. Once finished, you will visit the Dromana House & Gardens for a tour of these exceptional gardens, which are the home of the Villiers Stuart family and a true hidden gem. Kristin Jameson will be joining you at Dromana House and will have lunch with you at Dromana House.

Day 5

Seaside Villages, Bantry House & Garnish Island

This morning explores the vibrant seaside town of Kinsale before touring to Kerry via beautiful West Cork Villages. Take some time to enjoy Bantry House and Garnish Island. Before checking into your next hotel, Muckross Park.

Day 6

Victorian Splendor & Coastal Garden Adventures

Together, you will visit the world-renowned Muckross House & Gardens. A magnificent Victorian mansion and one of Ireland’s leading stately homes. It is beautifully situated amidst the spectacular scenery of Killarney National Park, Ireland’s premier National Park. Then on to the next exceptional gardens, Kells Bay House and Gardens. Commanding a wonderful vista overlooking Dingle Bay and the peninsula, Kells Bay Gardens cover 20 hectares in a short V-shaped valley between the Ring of Kerry and the sea. Once finished, you will continue along the Ring of Kerry until you arrive back at Muckross Park Hotel.

Day 7

Into The Burren: Wild Beauty & Castle Luxury

Today, you will depart Killarney and travel towards County Clare. As you will be exploring The Burren, from the Gaelic word Boireann. This is Ireland’s most famous natural garden – an area of limestone rock covering imposing, majestic mountains, and tranquil valleys with gently meandering streams. With its innate sense of spiritual peace, an extraordinary array of flora and wildlife, and megalithic tombs and monuments older than Egypt’s pyramids, the Burren creates a tapestry of colour and a seductively magical aura which few people leave without wanting to experience again.

Day 8

Farewell to Ireland: Departure from Dromoland Castle

Goodbye Ireland! Departure day. You will be met by your chauffeur in the lobby of your hotel, where you will enjoy a comfortable private transfer to the airport in time to catch your flight home. We hope you enjoyed your Garden & Historic Homes with Foodie highlights journey around Ireland!

DAY 1

Arrival in Dublin

DAY 2

Exploring Killruddery & Powerscourt Gardens

DAY 3

Irish National Stud Farm & Japanese Gardens

DAY 4

Private Tours at Tourin House & Dromana Estates

DAY 5

Seaside Villages, Bantry House & Garnish Island

DAY 6

Victorian Splendor & Coastal Garden Adventures

DAY 7

Into The Burren: Wild Beauty & Castle Luxury

DAY 8

Farewell to Ireland: Departure from Dromoland Castle

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